Things I Made For Christmas

This year opened a whole new world for me...Crafting, who knew?

I "made" a few gifts this year, and wanted to share a few of them...
My Sister-In-law's Great Grandmother "nearly" finished a quilt, so for Christmas, I helped it along a little and finished it up..hopefully doing it justice.
It is entirely hand quilted and full of fun scrap fabrics.
I also made a scrap fabric journal for my sister-in-law and sister, these photo's are before I attached the buttons, but you get the picture...
You can see the tutorial here from Happy Together.
(She's a craft genius BTW)


This is coincidentally the fabric that I used to make
her a quilt last year for Christmas.
And then, my favorite little craft of the year....
a little piece of my heart.

When my grandmother died the week before Christmas,
I had to quickly fly out for the Memorial Service.

For the first time, I had to leave my
little Lily behind...sniffle sniffle.

That day, I quickly went to my sewing machine
and sewed her this little heart.
I then stitched it up with red embroidery thread.

Right before I left,
I gave it to her and told her to
hold onto my heart because
I'm coming back for it...

Thanks

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Final Thursday Thoughts of 2009

Pretty pathetic that I've only had about 4 Thursday Thoughts
for all of 2009,
but why not finish it off with a bang!

I was driving in my car this morning, thinking about my life and where I wanted it to go...yup, I'm the driver for MY life
(or so I think I am)...

Anyway, I was thinking about how my life had changed since I woke up to the reality
that we don't have endless amounts of fake money through credit cards.

That was a year ago..almost exactly. In some ways,
life seemed easier then because I was blissfully ignorant.

But in NEW ways, life is WAY more sweet.
I have had to change my perspective on life, and learn
(yes, I said learn)
to cherish my family and spending time together.

I did not grow up in a family that spent that much time together, but when we did, I truly enjoyed it. I want those treasured memories for my children...
but it does not come naturally for me. I REALLY have to work at "creating" quality, family time.
That's why my New Year's Resolution is to invoke a Weekly Family Night.

Brian, my husband, remembers having them
growing up and they are some of his favorite childhood memories.

I have learned to accept the fact that I am not a "natural" family person, but when I do settle into that role, there is nothing sweeter...

Have an amazing blessed New Year and resolve to cherish your family every day of your life...

Thanks

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Menu Plan Monday- Week of December 28, 2009

It has officially been one year since Brian and I stopped using credit cards...woo hoo! This week, in honor of continuing to pay down our debt, I am going to have a "Use What's in The Pantry, Freezer and Fridge " Week... Aside from Milk, Butter and Eggs, I am not going to purchase anything extra. Here's what we have leftover from Produce Last Week: The Lemon Poppyseed Winter Salad from Last week was AMAZING!! I highly recommend it! FL BASIL
CA BROCCOLI CROWNS
COLLARD GREENS
CUCUMBERS
GREEN LEAF LETTUCE
CARROTS, JUICE
YELLOW PEAR SHAPED CHERRY TOMATO – HOLIDAY GIFT
ZUCCHINI
GREEN PEPPERS
CLOVER SPOUTS
DAISY TANGERINES
ROME BEAUTY APPLES
BOSC PEARS
KIWI
BANANAS
YELLOW ONIONS
MANGOS
Breakfasts: Oatmeal( Slow Cooker), Eggs & Toast, Egg BLossoms with Turkey Apple Sausages, Cinnamon Buns Treat for New Year's Morning

Lunches: Leftovers, Chicken Salad, Mac N' Cheese

Snacks: Mango Orange Smoothies, Banana Sour Cream Bread

Dinners:

Monday: Easy Pork Tenderloin served with Collard Greens, Sauteed Yellow Squash and Zucchini, Leftover Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday: Split Pea Soup (Using Leftover Ham Hock from Last Week)

Wednesday: Leftovers

Thursday: Fiesta Beef Soup served with Cornbread

Friday: Honey Garlic Glazed Meatballs (Served all Day in Slow Cooker) w/ Fried Rice, and Bok Choy, Carrots and Green Beans
Saturday: Garlic Broiled Chicken served with Leftover Veggies Cooked Up!
Sunday: Beef Stew w/ homemade rolls Well, that's about it for now! Thanks!




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Christmas Letter Idea...

Sometimes when you don't have any money, you are forced to think outside the box....hence my Christmas Letter Blog...why? Because blogs are free...free and free. Plus, I can make it as long as I want and don't have to worry about printing out color pictures. Here is the link to my Christmas Letter Blog... I would encourage you to write a Christmas Letter, even if only for yourself. It is a great way to look back on the year, document important (or really unimportant) things in your family's life.

In my Christmas Card, I just printed small squares that said to visit the site for our Christmas Letter...that way, the people who Actually Care...probably 3% can go read it, and I don't waste my ink cartridge on those who don't

Thanks!
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Menu Plan Monday- Week of December 21, 2009

Well, I'm a day late...and it feels like I won't be able to catch up with anything in my life until after Christmas. I have the exact feeling I dread during Christmas time, the feeling that I won't get it all done.

In light of that feeling, I am crossing one thing off my list and actually doing my menu plan!
We are receiving are produce share today...here is what it will be:


FL BASIL
CA BROCCOLI CROWNS
COLLARD GREENS
CUCUMBERS
GREEN LEAF LETTUCE
CARROTS, JUICE
YELLOW PEAR SHAPED CHERRY TOMATO – HOLIDAY GIFT
ZUCCHINI
GREEN PEPPERS
CLOVER SPOUTS
DAISY TANGERINES
ROME BEAUTY APPLES
BOSC PEARS
KIWI
BANANAS
YELLOW ONIONS

Fruit Share: Cantaloupe, Asian Pears, Persimmons


Here is this weeks Menu Plan:

Breakfasts: Special this week: Egg BLossoms, Danish Oven Pancake, Christmas Morning: Crepes served with Berry Compote, Fresh Whipped Cream and Powdered Sugar...mmmm

Lunches: Leftovers, Chicken Salad, Quesadillas

Dinners:

Monday: Chicken Fajitas using This Recipe served with Rice and Beans & Salad

Tuesday: Beef Stew from last Sunday that I didn't make on Sunday

Wednesday: Having early Christmas Dinner w/ mom and stepdad- making Baked Ham w/ Spiced Sugar Rub served with a Sweet Potato Granola Crunch Casserole, Green Bean Casserole and of course I have to have my indulgence...Pillsbury Crescent Rolls....I could eat a whole tube of those things.

Thursday: Going to Christmas Eve Party... going to make these: Maharani Cupcakes

Friday: Herbed Rib Roast, Collard Greens, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Winter Fruit Salad w/ Poppy Seed Dressing, and store bought stuffing dolled up w/ mushrooms, celery and onions

Saturday: um, can you say Leftovers?

Sunday: Slow Cooker Turkey w/ leftover stuffing, and anything else we have


Desserts: Angel Cookies, Linzer Cookie whatever else I can make...gotta love a good excuse to make sweet things right?

Thanks

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Menu Plan Monday- Week of December 13, 2009

I felt like last week was the beginning of the "party and event" Christmas season...which in some ways irks me because I feel pulled in so many different directions and that in a way I am forgetting what this time is all about. Nevertheless, I had a great time at all of the events I went to, how's that for cliche' ?

Here is the list of produce we still have left from the Organic Produce Share:

Green Beans
Baby Bok Choy
Cucumbers
Basil
Lacinato Kale
Red Romaine
Sweet Potatoes
Yellow Squash
Meyer Lemons
Cara Cara Oranges (Navel Oranges)
Orlando Tangelos
Red Seedless Grapes
Watermelons
Satuma Mandarins

Here is the low-down for our meals this week!

Breakfasts: Eggs & Toast, Pancakes, Granola w/ Milk, Pancakes, Oatmeal( Slow Cooker)

Lunches: Leftovers, Mac N Cheese, Chicken Salad Sandwiches, PB&J, Easy Snack Wraps

Snacks: Apple Squares, Muesli Bars, Hummus & Veggies

Dinners:

Monday: Red Romaine Salad w/ Chicken & sautee'd Yellow Squash

Tuesday: Herbed Chicken Nuggets, Cranberry Sweet Potato Bake Green Beans

Wednesday: Hearty Harvest and Ham Stew- uses Kale

Thursday: Bok Choy, Carrots and Green Beans I'll add 1 Chicken Breast into the stir fry...

Friday: Pizza Margherita

Saturday: Turkey Burgers w/ Broccoli, Sweet Potato Fries and Cucumber Salad (Recipe Below)

Sunday: Slow Cooker Beef Stew for Football Sunday!!



Desserts: Maharani Cupcakes- Uses the Lemons & BASIL!! Crazy!


Cucumber Salad:

3 Cucumbers Sliced- Peeled or Unpeeled
1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 t. Celery Seed
1/4 t. Pepper
1 T. Sugar

Put all ingredients into plastic sealable container and close lid. Shake around till all cucumbers are coated with vinegar and other ingredients. You can serve then, or let them marinate and become almost like pickles! Enjoy :)

Thanks


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Okay, I'm Jealous...

There, I said it...
There aren't many women who can say they are jealous
of their husbands craft skills,
but I can say...

that

YES,


I am jealous.


He's knitting up some pretty
cool projects for family for Christmas,
and he's pretty darn good at it!
He just knit these adorable fingerless mittens for Lily...
she thought she was pretty cool wearing them
to the Boat Parade this past weekend...
thank goodness it was cold enough for her to wear them!
Click Here for the Pattern!

He's also making this....
a cozy for your coffee.



Next thing you know, he'll be doing the dishes...
a girl can dream right?

ps- Did you notice that it's snowing on my blog?
Living in Florida, I have to get it somewhere!

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