Last year I told y’all about our family Advent Christmas tradition. We LOVE this part of the season. It’s a time for us to enjoy each other without the craziness of the retail shopping world. I’m just not really into hitting up all the stores for great deals on battery operated toys and things I have to dust. That’s not how I roll. Instead, we spend time together and make memories for Annie. In lieu of putting gifts into the pockets of our Advent calendar, we put slips of paper with family activities on them. Barry didn’t use to be the type of person that enjoyed Christmas, but after starting this tradition, he is actually starting to soften up and enjoy the holidays…..it might also have something to do with the goodies I keep around the house. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Amen. [Read more…] |
Archives for November 2011
Kitchen Tip Tuesday (11/29/11)
I try not to do things that make additional dishes for me to wash. I don’t have a dishwasher (by choice). I AM the dishwasher. Sometimes when I have a pan of bars like this, I can get tired of washing the spatula over and over. Yes, I could put the bars in a different container – but then I have ANOTHER dish to wash. And when we have granola bars, we’re into them all day long. That’s a lot of washed spatulas. |
So, I solve the problem by just leaving my spatula in the pan and putting a shower cap over it. I normally use an ugly white spatula, and it doesn’t photograph well…..sorta like me, with my mouth always open. Par. I wash it one time…..so that leaves me time to do other various things like dust. *Cough* |
Meal Plan for 11/29-12/5
-Breakfast: Butternut Smoothies, biscuits, fruit -Lunch: Baked Potatoes, salad -Dinner: Zesty Calzone, fruit, chips |
-Breakfast: Sourdough Pancakes, fruit, nuts -Lunch: Leftover Calzone -Dinner: Cajun Ground Beef Skillet, green beans, corn [Read more…] |
Personalized Gifts – Placemats From Storybook Pages
Today is the last day in the Natural Holiday Blog Carnival…..I know you’re as sad as I am. Today we are all covering homemade gift ideas and gift inspirations…..and I might get ousted from the group. This is NOT natural. It includes laminate, which I’m pretty sure wasn’t around in the Garden of Eden. It also includes a laminating machine…..ditto on the Eden thing. Oh, and a printer. Gosh…..I’m just not with it this week, am I? But, I saw this idea online and I HAD to do it – had to. I didn’t have any choice. By now you know I’m a total bookworm. If I see ideas for gifts that involve books, I’m all over it – especially if it’s a way to recycle something that otherwise wouldn’t get any use. That’s natural – right? Recycling. Yep. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it. [Read more…] |
How to Love December 26th
Happy Sunday everyone! I have enjoyed this past week thoroughly and I hope you have as well. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all because it is about food, family, and remembering the reasons you have for being thankful. Period. No gifts, no funky costumes (unless you count your fat pants as a costume). I usually take off the week of Thanksgiving to try to do some deer hunting and this year was no exception. I’m a bit odd when it comes to my hunting style, though. While I am always on the lookout for a nice deer for the freezer, I’m equally interested in the quiet as an opportunity to think and reflect on things that the busyness of life have just kept me from considering. It is a time I cherish each year. [Read more…]
Crock Pot Applesauce Cake
I’ve finally started delving into the world of sweets in our Whole Foods journey …and boy is it fun! Barry is relieved. I think he thought I’d never make another dessert. Now I’ve got dessert ideas churning around in my head all day long. It’s a happy place to be. Applesauce Cake has always been a favorite of mine. I like the strong cinnamon flavor and I love how it pairs so well with vanilla ice cream. Seriously – what doesn’t pair well with vanilla ice cream? I tried this version in the crock pot because I thought it would help for the holidays since it would free up your oven for doing other various things – like baking turkeys or ham. It turned out great! Let’s crock. [Read more…] |
Our Thankful Box
It seems to me as the years pass by, that Thanksgiving is becoming the “forgotten holiday.” Stores put out fall decorations early, but before Halloween is over, they put Christmas stuff out and put “fall” items on clearance – as though the holiday is totally over. This saddens me. That’s one reason I came up with this Thanksgiving tradition of the Thankful Box.
People put their Christmas decorations out as soon as Halloween is over…but, I boycott. I won’t put out Christmas things until after Thanksgiving is over. It’s my way of “sticking it to the Man.” I never want Thanksgiving to be forgotten in the Myers house. By creating Thanksgiving traditions, I am making sure that the holiday has a proper place of importance. Because y’all – it’s important in this life to be thankful. [Read more…]
Honey Pumpkin Pie
I look forward to Brandy’s guest posts each month! Today she’s sharing her mother’s AWESOME recipe for Pumpkin Pie. If you’ve not made yours yet, then today is your lucky day! [Read more…] |
Meal Plan for 11/22-11/28
-Breakfast: Overnight Baked Oatmeal with maple syrup, fruit -Lunch: Sandwiches, fruit -Dinner: Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce, noodles, green beans |
-Breakfast: Leftover Baked Oatmeal with maple syrup, fruit -Lunch: Leftover Spaghetti, green beans -Dinner: Cheeseburger Pizza, fruit, chips [Read more…] |
Whole Wheat Vegetable Pizza
Today we’re talking about Real Party Food. I love a good party. I’m a party animal y’all! Someone says “Party!” And I say “Where at?!” Actually, I’ll be truthful. I should be called Stacy The Wallflower. I love parties, but I am usually physically attached to the wall or a corner chair. I like to be in the back and watch. My idea of a good party is when I can escape to the kitchen and help with refilling bowls and cutting up cantaloupe. For some reason, I always fear I’ll make a gigantic fool of myself in front of everyone – food down my shirt….a popped open button right in the middle of my chest…..toilet paper on my shoe…..my skirt tucked in the back of my leggings. Yeah – I dream about this stuff. It’s safer to stay against the wall where no one can see your rear.One of my favorite party foods of all time is Vegetable Pizza – made withPillsbury Crescent rolls and ranch dressing mix. Since these aren’t foods we buy anymore, I thought I would have to do without it. But then I got ornery and decided to make my own. You’re not going to take away my favorite party food, BUSTER! Let’s party! [Read more…] |