Two Giveaway Prizes... You know you want one! come on in and enter

I finished my ornament for the ornament exchange...

and I made an extra one for a giveaway!!!

I've also been making more Christmas Domino Necklaces.... and I made one for a giveaway!!!

ok, so here's what you'll need to do...

comment!  

that's right, all that is needed is a comment... let me know what you are hoping to get for Christmas!  I love hearing other peoples wants and desires!  I think we all do!

I will choose a winner #1 for the ornament and #2 necklace by random.org on Friday December 3rd at 10pm
Let's start December off right!! win win win

It's all just around the corner

It seems that December is just around the corner...

a few days away actually...

THE darkest month of the year,

I saw this cute little advent box last year for an enormous amount of money... but the holiday spirit was surrounding me... and I bought it and never made it (sad face)

 

as you can see... I MADE IT THIS YEAR.

It was pretty fun.

 and that is how I spent my Thanksgiving weekend.

along with a little black Friday shopping, cleaning, laundry, finishing up the key ornaments for the ornament exchange, mailing packages, attending 3 craft shows with a friend, cleaning the front room and getting it ready to paint, cutting trees to have enough greenery to decorate 12 tables...

AND finding out there will be a wedding in the next year... our family is growing!!!

yes sireee bob, It IS the holiday season!

What a way to start the day...

 I woke up to this on my phone this morning....

looks like it's going to be a long busy busy busy year!

 so congratulations to Kieri and Russell, they've known each other and been best friends since High School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here they are in the Senior Musical: Pajama Game, Russell played the Dad!

Kieri has a mic on and that's the weird thing on her chin.

and here they are going to the Senior Ball:

 oh oh oh It's going to be a fun year!

Food Fun Friday-Apples and Cranberries Baked in a Pumpkin

In staying with our healthy eating... for desert we had: Apples and Cranberries baked in a pumpkin.  Next time I will make sure that I have LOTS of apples.  You need to fill it to almost overflowing!!  I would add about 3 more apples, but not adjust the sugar because it was WAY too sweet.  (I'll bet I could have added the Agave I bought at costco)  It was really good and certainly fed our sweet tooth. 

oh yeah, and let me add healthy eating is hard... I really wanted cheesecake.

This was found at:  http://eatathomecooks.com/2010/11/apples-and-cranberries-baked-in-a-pumpkin.html 

these are her photographs

 Apples and Cranberries Baked in a Pumpkin

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 pie pumpkin
• 2 small apples, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries or 1 cup whole, fresh cranberries
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 Tbs. butter

Cut the top off the pumpkin.  .
Once the top is off, scrape out the seeds and stringy stuff.
Stir the apples, cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon together.  Fill the pumpkin with this delicious-smelling mixture.  Dot with butter.
Bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for an hour to 1 1/2 hours, until the pumpkin inside is tender when you poke it with a fork.
To serve, spoon out some baked pumpkin from the edges, along with the apples and cranberries.  Here’s a better photo of the pumpkin when it came out of the oven.

This can be made this with both dried and fresh cranberries.  The dried are sweeter.  Fresh bring a nice tartness and look a bit prettier.  Use whichever you have on hand, because both taste delicious.  This will serve 4-6 people as a side dish, depending on how big the pumpkin is.

Wednesday Wisdom

snow snow and more snow

Now I don't know about you, but "most" people say they love snow, sure it's cold, but it's so cozy and fun to play in and just so wintery...
Well I don't like it one bit.  I don't mind snow if I'm inside and don't have to go anywhere... but when you have to go out in the snow, and drive in the snow, that is another story.

Yesterday morning at 7:15 I drove to work with no snow on the ground.  by 8:15 it was snowing like crazy and didn't stop till about 7pm.  We got to leave work a little early, but the roads were awful.  I have a new car that is all wheel drive (bought just for the snow situations) but it is still extremely white knuckle on the roads.  You don't really have control of your car, and everyone else is in the same situation. 

Don't know why.. but driving in snow really freaks me out.  I also don't like walking on the black icy parking lot at work, but I really really really hate driving on snow/ice.  Last night they said that it might get down to 0 with wind chill... hello? this is Washington not Montana or Minnesota.  We are right on the water!
I wonder when the sun comes up what it really is like??????? 'cuz right now I can't see a thing.

my poor Rosemary bush.

A Change is a-commin'

Another weekend down the drain... try as I might I can never fit enough into a weekend to get it all done.

I did manage to get all my sheetmusic ornaments done.  They look ok, but not like I thought they would.
I also got all my key ornaments done, and now I just need to print out the saying that goes with them.

 

 This year feels a little bit different.We don't usually have any of our kids here for Thanksgiving, but we won't have any for Christmas either and frankly my house looks like an episode of hoarders..NOT because I'm a hoarder or anything (sarcastic font used here...) but I am going through everything... ok not really the best time of year to do that... but certainly a necessary time to do that.  The change is approaching fast.  There is lots to be done, and preparation is key... KEY... get it..  well anyway... I am still prepping my mother for the change and that is a whole 'nother story.  She has NEVER liked change.  She will not change.  She just won't.  so...  sometimes you have to let nature take it's course.   She has been sick these last couple of weeks, bronchitis and has had no energy and still after a couple of weeks is just tired and feeling lousy. After this time of sickness and realizing she is getting a little bit older (83 but still "not elderly") she HAS AGREED TO THE CHANGE!!!!   now I just need to get HER (queen of the hoarders... hey where do you think I got it!) to go through HER things and downsize.  I told her that we are both having to downsize.
 
I love lists.  I have made up a list of the next 3 months with each week a different room.  Well at least I have a different room each week because week one I'll have bathrooms, and week two I'll have HER bathrooms.  Yes changing two households is not going to be fun.  I'm tired already.

...and you've noticed by now I'm not using the actual word, 
we'll just say change for now.

Food Fun Friday-Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

 This is a simple recipe.. but yummy.  It is from the Nov/Dec Midwest Living magazine

2/3 C Vegetable Oil

1/2 C Sugar

2 tsp ground Cinnamon

1 16oz package small Pretzels

In a large roasting pan combine oil, sugar, cinnamon and stir.  Mix to coat the pretzels.

Bake, uncovered, 300 degrees for 30 minutes.  Stir twice during cooking time.  Spread on wax paper to cool. 

I put them in a storage plastic bag and then in a paperbag.

My VT's are going to love 'em

Now USUALLY I make my Thanksgiving Blessing Mix.

But the ingredients are just too tempting.

yes, way to tempting since I bought the bugles last month and then quickly ate them!  so.... not to cause me further frustration in making something that is not healthy (chocolate)  I made these beauties.  Mr. Produce said they were great!  (especially warm!)

Wednesday Wisdom

Oh Snap

I am a bit of an impatient person… (understatement just ask anyone who really knows me)

I am having a hard time seeing results from my “weighty issue”.

Maybe I need one of those rocks with the word ----patience----   imprinted on it????

Would that help?

Would I take the time to read it? Ponder it?

Nah

About the only thing that works for me to remember something is to put a rubber band around my wrist.

Maybe I should SNAP it when I feel like I want some of the left over Halloween candy bars that some irritating person brought into work for people to munch on.

Snap

Or pick up a pkg of ON SALE cookies at the store
Snap
or at the end of the day when I am so tired there is no way I am cooking dinner...let's just stop at the Brand New sparkly Taco Bell...
snap snap snap


oh snap  
well last night I just went home and didn't cook anything.  Didn't eat anything but sunflower seeds and a glass of milk.    yep, if I can't have taco bell I don't want anything.
Maybe tomorrow will be better!  WHAT IS THIS SLUMP I'm IN.. normally Im a positive person.
I need to find my happy light!

crafting Fool

I had a great weekend of organizing, and cleaning and crafting
I am making some of my domino's as ornaments.  

I have this poem to go with them:

The key is a symbol of the innkeepers key.  I hope it will remind you that "each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!" Neal A. Maxwell

  I'll print it out in fancy print and paper... haven't done THAT yet... but it's coming!!!

I also saw a picture of a cool ornament.. now I'm trying to figure out how to make it, how to measure&cut&roll&place&rip&glue&color
well I haven't perfected it yet as you can see...

but I'm keeping busy doing what I love!!!

feeing a little melancholy- That's what Saturday's are for

Weekends usually are the reward for making it through the week.  I usually get up earlier and stay up later to make use of every minute.  But I am also drawn to a little melancholy for my family.  So first and foremost... an update on 9month Carson, our cute grandbaby, although he is growing up so fast.... and yes I feel like I'm missing out.

I've been listening to Taylor Swifts new album, and I love this song:




(Taylor hasn't "shot" a video yet so this is just the words). 
My little girls are all grown up.
And now I'm trying to figure out my job.

yep that's what Saturday's are for!!!

You're little hands wrapped around my finger
And, it's so quiet in the world tonight
You're little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming
So, I tuck you in
Turn on your favorite night light
To you, everything's funny
You got nothing to regret
I'd give all I had, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It can stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you
Just try to never grow up, and never grow up

You're in the car on the way to the movies
And, you're mortified
You're mom's dropping you off
At, fourteen there's just so much you can't do
And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots
But, don't make her drop you off around the block
Remember that she's getting older too
And don't lose the way that you dance around in your PJ's getting ready for school

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It can stay this simple

And no one's ever burned you
Nothing's ever left you scarred
And even though you want to
Just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad get's home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all you're little brothers favorite songs
I just realized everything I had is someday gonna be gone

So, here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder than I thought it would be
So, I tucked myself in and turned my night light on
Wish I'd never grown up
I wish I'd never grown up

Oh, I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
Could still be little
Oh, I don't wanna grow up
Wish I'd never grown up
It could still be simple

Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
Just stay this little
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up
It can stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you
Won't let no one break your heart
And even you want to
Please, try to never grow up

Oh, whoa
Don't you ever grow up
Oh, whoa
Never grow up
Just never grow up

Food Fun Friday- Crockpot Oatmeal- Steel Cut

healtyhealthyhealthyhealthy...      hey folks.. I'm reallllllllly trying here.

Costco has STEEL-CUT oatmeal at a really good price.  I've always read that the steel-cut oatmeal is the best for you (something about all the nutrients aren't striped away)
I made overnight crockpot oatmeal before here , in fact it was my very first Food Fun Friday.  I used Groats,  but today I used the steel cut oatmeal.  The same but different. Still, this is a nice warm addition to these cold rainy mornings.   AND ... it's easy sneezy

Crockpot Oatmeal using Steel-Cut Oatmeal
8 Cups water
2 Cups steel-cut oats
1/4 teaspoon salt
Combine all ingredients in a 5 quart slow cooker and turn on low heat.  Cover with lid and cook 8 hours.  Fruit pieces can be added with the ingredients at the start or right before serving if you prefer.

Those are the official directions.  I added some cinnamon.(I would add a lot more next time)  After 10 hours of cooking, it was a little bit watery.  I like my oatmeal thick so I can add milk.  There wasn't much flavor.  It would be so much better if you added a little maple syrup!  or just a little bit of stevia or truvia sugar!  Or anything else to give it FLAVOR... any suggestions???? 

I would have been hard pressed to get my girls to eat this when they were young.
Maybe it's because my father grew up so poor, but he LOVED oatmeal, and cream of wheat, and grits and other warm grainy "cereals".  He loved oatmeal, so of course I loved oatmeal. 

war is hell

Veterans Day-

My father served in the Army.

My x-father in law served in the Army. 

I spent 14 years moving around the world as a Navy wife. 

I've watched the war movies from all the wars.  War is awful.  War is sick.  War is inhumane.  War is uncomprehendable.  

Being in the military means war IS your job.  Supporting your fellow service men and women and country is your job. 

I get the emails with pictures of our soldiers in foreign countries.  I see the mess that they are trying to clean up, and the mess that they are living in.  The service men and women are dedicated to their jobs.  

The service men and women need our prayers.

Veterans Day with it's war heros and survivors.... I salute you and again pray for peace.   

War is hell and it makes me sad.

Wednesday Wisdom

Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.
Hosea Ballou

I finally got to go back to Seattle!

 

I love Seattle!

We drove to Bainbridge Island and picked up Mr. Produce's sister and took the Ferry to SEATTLE

THE shopping mecca!  ( he didn't know what he was in for!!)

 We had a great time, and only went to a couple of stores.... Macys, Nordstrom Rack... and walked around Pike's place!  oh oh it was raining by then so cut that walk a little short!

 And I have to tell you that for the first time in my life I went into Anthropologie, and let me tell you that store did NOT disappoint!  I didn't even make it up to the clothes, I was lost in houseware, and dishes and fabric and of hardware... all so artistic  I wanted everything.  Santa better get a bigger sled this year.  When I looked up pictures for Anthropologie I knew I had found MY place when I saw this picture:

For those of you that know my love of vintage Christmas ornaments ( see here here) ...well lets just say, I am seriously ordering a catalog and parking myself (during the next snowstorm) on the couch with a rag for all the drooling I am going to do. mmmmmm and think I'll just print this picture out to enjoy now. and.....I love their pictures... and I just browsed over their line of sweaters... expensive but beautiful.

Random thoughts swirrling round my head

This is a little long, but I really like most of these,  I mean I like them so much I wanted to number them from 1-10 on a scale of which I liked the most...is that weird????
maybe just a little....
       Truisms:   
 -I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear   your computer history if you die.
-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
*-There is great need for a sarcasm font.  
-How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
-Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty   sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.  
-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I   don't want to have to restart my collection ...again!!
-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.  
-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the   Donkey - but I'd bet my last quarter everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, eyes closed, first time, every time.

Food Fun Friday-Orange and Arugula Salad

We've been trying to eat healthy, so I'm always repeating my mantra:  healthy, healthy healthy...

I found this recipe that is easy easy easy.. well except for a little time consuming pealing and seeding the orange (ok, ok, I used a mandarin orange... and I guess you could make it even EASIER on yourself and just use canned mandarin oranges!!!)  not a full meal (haha Mr. Produce is laughing!!!) but a nice start to a 'light' meal!

Orange and Arugula Salad

 Ingredients

• 1 softball-size seedless orange
• 1 bag of arugula
• Juice of 1/2 lemon
• EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil for drizzling
• Salt and freshly ground pepper

Blogville-Money Saving Mom-Budgetwise Home

I have a thing about saving money... I figure most of us do!

A while back I wrote a blogville about Money Saving Mom  here

I

but wait.... there is MORE out there... like Budgetwise home: here
"helping you decorate your home on any budget"  
go... check it out... pretty great stuff like Cleaning, Color 101 and free decorating ideas.

Next is:    Hip to Save: here
she has all sorts of useful information like Coupon-ing 101 and freebies and information on stores and restaurants and a great NEW HERE? page where you really DO feel welcome.  Lots of stuff here folks! 

 and last but not least, there is the Black Friday Ad 2010 site:  here

you know that day after Thanksgiving when some people go shopping and FINISH their Christmas gift giving shopping?  (and you know who you are Sue)  Where this is the place to go to find out about each and every store under the sun and what sales they are offering this year.  If comparison shopping is your thing, you will be here a long while... or you could just sign up for their daily emails, like I do.

Wednesday Wisdom

We need to introduce into our homes content that is 'virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy.

Quinten L. Cook
who btw was in my stake presidency while I was growing up, I listen when he talks.

just one of those days

today is just one of those days,  so when in doubt... pull out a picture of the grand baby!  

I almost feel better already,
almost
only I really don't