Links and Lists

Bryce Canyon, UT

While away I didn't have regular Internet and because of that had some massive pile up in email, google reader, pinterest and facebook reading.  Some of it I just couldn't do or read.  (sorry)  But those I did get to read were fabulous!

Maybe you already have taken the time to read or see these things, or have already made and done them...but just in case you missed it...here are some of my favorite things that I had piled up:

1. If you remember our foray into homemade toothpaste...you might remember I am looking for things to use.  This one popped up on my reader and it looks like I might like it a lot.  I will be making it soon.  (and putting it in a pump like this looks like such a good idea!)
2. A while back I found hemp hearts in Costco.  My oldest and DH love them on pretty much everything, but I am struggling on what to put them on.  These look like they would fit the bill...chocolate makes everything taste good right?!
3. Have you seen the Sean Rapier skit?  The one that he starts his stand up with all the things we say as we start our talks in Sacrament meeting?  You haven't?  I didn't either until I read MMM's post from the other day.  Here it is in case you missed it too. Watch it, you will be glad you did.
4. Ok, we all know I love preparedness.  You didn't know?  Sorry...I love preparedness stuff.  One of my greatest passions is food storage.  This encompasses so very much.  Sometimes when we actually have a food storage...we don't have a place to put it.  For this reason, this little booklet was something I pinned right away when I saw it!
5. I am not a big fan of sweet potatoes, but they are growing on me.  I have a few dishes I like with them in it.  I am going to try these out, but fry them...because everything tastes better fried.  :)
6. I love photography...have a whole board on pinterest (even if it is one of my smallest ones) devoted to ideas and tips.  This looks like an awesome way to send out your Christmas card without the missive that seems to accompany it.  Love it!
7. Coming soon I am posting a fun series...well, I think it is fun.  It is going to be called "Summer Camp".  I have guest posters and a couple giveaways and some printables.  Yay!  This is one of the things I wanted to include but didn't quite make the cut.

Well, that was a bit longer than usual, but I hope you found something you didn't see before, or could use.

Cheers

Thank - full

My heart is full.

This season is such a wonderful one.  I love the reminders all around us.

We get to start off with Thanksgiving (in October for us) and continue on with Christmas.  I only hope that I can continue with this amazing feeling through the whole year.

We are so blessed. 

I am so thankful for my elder brother, Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice.

I hope your Christmas is Merry, and you can enjoy this season of thankfulness and joy.  I will post again on the 26th, I have my little family that I am super excited to spend time with.

Cheers

Parentially Thankful

Today I am thankful for my parents.  My parents are so amazing.  They were wonderful to me growing up, and are wonderful grandparents to my children.  What a blessing to have them both.

Cheers

Thankfully Stable

I am thankful a for a hubby that provides so well for our family.

We are so blessed in this time of unsettlement (is that a word?!) in the economy to have a job that provides so well for our family.  We are able to have the necessities and even have some extras.  We are able to homeschool, I am able to stay home with our children, and we are able to show our children some pretty fun things.  We are so blessed.

On a side note, this was our spending money a couple years ago for Mexico...I find it really funny that it is all in US funds and we live here in Canada!  :)  It was the most $$$ we have ever held in our hands.  (in cash)  I just wish it was in Canadian cash because it would have been more!  (that was when we were above par)

Cheers

Thankfully Geeky

In our house we rarely take life very seriously.  We love to laugh and have fun.

I am thankful for these little men that make our life so much fun.

Cheers

Eternally Thankful

My Christmas present from my Dad.  This is his photo of my temple.

We are so blessed to have 2 temples (One of them in the process of being built) that are day trips, and one that is only 6 hours away. That is 3 temples in our province! 

What a blessing it is to be sealed for all Eternity with my family.  I am so grateful for the opportunity, if I am worthy, to live for eternity with these people I love so very much.

Cheers

Thankfully Funny

Today I am grateful for the unexpected giggle I get when I read the REALLY bad translations from Chinese/Japanese into English from the cheap stuff from the dollar store!

Is it just me?

Please tell me I am not alone in getting a giggle when things are obviously translated wrong.

They did a great job on the French, but the English?!

Ha ha!

Cheers

Seasonally Grateful

While winter is not my favorite (by far!), I am thankful for the change of the seasons.

We are so blessed to have 4 distinct seasons and I love them all.

(Spring and Summer are still my favorite though!)

Cheers

Virtually Thankful

When my computer died (temporarily) because of a virus, I realized how grateful I was for technology.

We had to downsize for living in this new place and almost all of our school is done on the computer.  This is wonderful.

I have also made some amazing friends, kept in touch with others, and found wonderful ideas all because of the blessing that technology is.

Cheers

Check it:

I have to update this to add this:

Over the course of the next 12 days I would like to do a 12 days of gratitude.  Each day I will post something I am grateful for/thankful for.

This starts Day 1:

I love this man!

He does beautiful work too.

Cheers

Kate:  I have no idea what pattern it is...this is a blanket he pulled out of his box that he started 10 years ago, but finished last week.  The yarn is just Bernat...the rest of the details are not something I know because I do not crochet... :)

Merry Christmas

From our house to yours.

Christ in Christmas

....Make Room....

Homemade VS "Pretty" Trees

You know the type right? 

Beautiful, perfectly decorated trees with coordinating ornaments and garland.

Wonderful to look at.  Beautiful and awe inspiring in others homes...

I am just not that kind of girl.

I had a person ask me where our "other" tree was when they saw mine.

It has been a few years since I had a tree skirt. 

I buy a package of loose tinsel for my dh (he loves the tinsel to drape from the branches) and a string of beads almost every year from the dollar store.

EVERY single ornament on my tree is homemade.

I know it is not one of those beautiful trees that so many have but I have never had the desire to have it any other way. 

Let me tell you why.

One year I was having a particularly rough Christmas/year.  Nothing was going as I figured it should, I was feeling fat and ugly, I was feeling friendless...you get the picture.  It was not a good year. 

One day, out of the blue, I had a woman show up at my doorstep.  She had a plate of cookies and this little wreath ornament.  She said she just had a feeling that she should drop it off and let me know how much she admired and respected me.

Something I have many of all over my house is nativities.  This one is lovingly made my my little boy who is only 5.  He glued each Popsicle stick together on his own and he knows what the story is. 

Given to me one year as a gift topper...I don't remember the gift, but the topper, I keep and rehang every year.

 When dh and I were first married we met Kevin.  Him and his wife were our first married friends.  13 some years later we are still friends with him and we see him often.

One of the first years he spent on his own without his wife, he made me this whole set of beautiful ornaments.  I will have to post it sometime.  Each one takes about an hour to make (I made a set one year for my mom...I know how long it took him!) and is very detailed.  Each year I take this out and look forward to finding a place for each different piece.

I know I mentioned before that my Mom makes ornaments each year.  This is a tradition she started many years ago (I have MANY from growing up).  Now instead of each child of hers, it is each grandchild that receives a lovingly made "Grandma ornament".  This is one.

Here is another.  (My boys get a kick out of the fact it is a fork...never fails to entice a giggle)

Another.  (look closely, there are even little antlers on his head.  His body is a bell too, just to make it even more fun!)

I really try hard to find things that the boys can make every year.  This is ours from last year.  There are 3 of these little snowmen hanging on my tree.

Cutest little penguin made from a light bulb.  One of those super Saturday crafts.

Another inspired visiting teacher.  Same year as the first story.  I also treasure this woman's friendship.  She is an amazing woman.

So now I ask you, do you really think my tree ugly?! 

I love Christmas, the feeling of giving, the Christ centered music, the beautiful messages put out by everyone.  One thing I treasure each year though is putting up my tree.  I love to take each ornament up and reflect on the stories behind each one and remember Christmases past.

How about you?  What is your favorite thing to do for Christmas?  What is your favorite memory?

Cheers

Buttons, Collections, and Gingerbread Men

Please tell me I am not alone in my collection.  I have a large pickle jar of buttons.  You know the size right?  The HUGE jars that LOTS of pickles come in?!

Today we sorted buttons. 

I love buttons...the shapes and sizes and colors and textures...

Did I mention I love buttons?! 

I get really excited to find a new bag of assorted buttons...or get some really cool ones from friends (like that HUGE white one above)  Buttons are really great!

I had to part with some of my buttons today though because we made a variation of these:



Found here via here

Ours were made of paper because I didn't want to do the work of sewing them, and buying supplies.

I think that they did pretty good.  I didn't help at all except to thread the buttons.  Super easy and cute craft to keep the boys busy this afternoon.  Maybe I will do real gingerbread....

Please feel free to share your collections with me...I will not judge, so far you have seen 2 of my pickle jars...the jellybellies (here) and now my buttons.  :)

Cheers

Christmas Baking

Last night we had a Christmas party and I was to bring dessert.  I love cranberries.  Christmas is cranberry flavored things in my mind.  :)  So, I made this little recipe by putting a few different recipes together...and it really does taste better than it looks. 

Cranberry Pie Squares

1 C Butter or Margarine
1/2 C Brown Sugar
21/2 C Flour

Mix and pat into a large cookie sheet (and of course I used my stone).  Bake at 350 F for 15 min.

Filling:
1/2 C Butter or Margarine (melt)
2 C Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Flour
3 Eggs
4 Tbsp Milk
2 Tbsp Vanilla
1 pkg of Cranberries (3 C)
1 tsp Cinnamon

Mix and spread on crust.  Bake at 350 F for 25 min. 
After cooled you can drizzle chocolate on top for a fancier square, these are sweet, but tart.  It was the perfect pairing (my opinion) of yummy filling with cranberries.  I ate LOTS to test it before we took them.  :)

Cheers

Snow...Inside

Image Credit

I LOVE having snowflakes as decor.  I love paper snow...not so much the cold stuff though. :)

Anyway, I followed a link to some AMAZING snowflake patterns. (seriously detailed)

If you want to make some yourself, HERE, HERE, and HERE are the patterns.  We found that after you fold them, they are a bit tricky to cut, but my 11yo and 9yo could do it fine...not so much my 5yo, I had to make much thinner paper ones for him. 

(it kept my boys busy for 3 hours!  I had two of each of the 28 patterns, it was WONDERFUL!)

Cheers

The Star

For Christmas there are many decorations out there that people love.  Personally I love the star.  I have so many nativity type decorations, but my ultimate favorite is the star. 

Here is a really simple decoration I am taking to my VT sisters this month.

Very simple.  Here are a couple steps you can follow.  (sorry for the lack of pictures, to be honest I didn't think about it.)  I know I got the idea somewhere, maybe familyfun?  Sorry I can't remember what source it came from.

1.  Find a cookie cutter the same shape you want your stars (or other shape) to be.
2.  Wrap thicker jewelry wire around a few times (we did about 4) to get the shape of your cookie cutter.
3.  Carefully remove and wrap around the shape to re-enforce it.  (the edges, if you click on the pictures you can see it in the detail that there is a wrap to make all the layers stay together)
4.  Using thinner wire (I use florist wire) start randomly wrapping around your star.  I placed a few beads on some, used gold wire on some as detail, and left some plain.  I like them all so choose what you like best.
5.  If you are hanging them, add a hanger.

My kids made the ones on the floor picture.  They loved it.  I could make 2 to their one, but they were easy enough that almost any age could do it. 

I love Christmas.  I am hoping to post quite a few different Christmas themed things this year, just a mish mash like always. 

What are your favorite things about Christmas? 

Cheers

Celebrating CHRISTmas

When you hear the words celebrating Christmas, what do you think?  There are so many that get worked up over the distinctions and the ways to celebrate it. 

I have been contemplating how we celebrate Christ on Christmas. 

This is the reason of the season.  So, how do we celebrate the season and what are we going to do?

We haven't had Santa in our celebrations for many a year...but is that enough?

I wonder.

For the past few weeks I have been reading a few different things on blogs, news reports, and different articles.  There is a huge controversy to what people will do for Christmas.  Many scorn the idea of Christ openly, many "boycott" different stores if they don't acknowledge Christmas. 

 It is so hard to concentrate on Christ when we become wrapped up in gifts, money, and what not. 

I think back to the pioneers and the joy that they would have if they received only a small token, a hand carved wooden horse, a doll, etc.  How have we become the society that has lost sight of  what a joy that was to make or receive a small gift from a loved one or neighbour?

How can I find joy in the simple?  The small?  How can I become less of a commercialized person?

I want to be like the pioneers.  I want to be the kind of person who finds joy in the simplest gifts and doesn't get wrapped up in the finding and acquiring of material things.  I want to make my Christmas celebration Christ centered and focused on Him.

I am trying. 

This year I am hoping to be a little better. 

Next year, even more.

Day 2

I am grateful for...

1. ...crystal trees that were cheap. I couldn't find "bluing" here but I went to my favorite educational store and she had little trees for $3! What fun to see it grow.
2. ...having that educational store here. The lady is happy and willing to help, also willing to find something with her suppliers if she doesn't already have it in stock!
3. ...seeing an old movie I used to love, buying it, and my boys loving it too!
4. ...getting to learn how to make tamales, and even getting to take some home to eat. Mmmmmm, yummy!

5. ...the fact that even though my boys want to go see a movie in theaters, they don't nag me, and when we do go, they are thrilled to be there!

6. ...being able to afford to take the whole family to the movie (HOLY COW it is pricey! No wonder we never go to the theater! Review on Avatar after Christmas)

7. ...having a huge gift basket given to us by P's boss. We knew it was coming, but it is still a blessing and very welcome!

8. ...being able to teach a skill and having it received and used!

9. ...being with my sis and s-i-l to make cookies. Good times! :)

10. ...having a Mom that wants to do family dinners and organizes them.

11. ...having the skill and knowledge (given to me by a loving Father in Heaven) to help my kids when they are sick.

12. ...ONLY 2 MORE DAYS!

Day 3

I am grateful for...

1. ...rebate cheques that come in the mail. (just in time for Christmas too)
2. ...yummy cookies and the will power to only eat 1 (well, maybe 2 if you count the dough I ate!)
3. ...my niece being so good while I had her yesterday.
4. ...the fun that my boys have with said niece, she is really darling and fun.
5. ...fun toys at Grandma's house. The boys don't even mind going to babysit the house while we wait for Grandpa's window.
6. ...Christmas packages in the mail. They are all on their way and it makes me feel so good.
7. ...the Friend. My parents buy us a subscription every year and the boys love to read it each month.
8. ...my Dad's computer. (without which this post would not be here! I am using his while we wait for his window to be installed!) :)
9. ...technology that lets us be anywhere and do almost anything with our stuff. (texting far away, accessing email on any computer, public hosting of blogs, etc.)
10. ...ebay. Where I find anything I can't find here.
11. ...etsy. Where I find everything else!
12. ...the ability to make what I need, want or desire, and the money to do so. (within reason)