Top 13 Posts of 2013

Tomorrow begins a new calendar year, and I thought it'd be fun to take a look back at my most popular posts in 2013.  I think y'all are trying to tell me something...

 

 

Thirteen:

 Cute Food Crafts for Easter

 

 

Twelve:

 Snickers Stuffed Snickerdoodles

 

 

Eleven:

Ice Cream Sundae Cake {a recipe. or perhaps, a general guideline}

 

 

Ten:

Back to School Sweet Treats

 

 

Nine:

From the Archives: Easter Crafts and Activities

 

 

Eight:

Snow Much Fun: 9 Simply Splendid Snowman Crafts

 

 

Seven:

Freezer Cooking: Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

 

 

Six:

Another Sappy Post

 

 

Five:

Back to School Apple Treats

 

 

Four:

I made modeling chocolate (and a trampoline cake)

 

 

Three:

DIY Subway Art

 

 

Two:

Sensory Playroom: DIY Crash Pad

 

 

And, your number one post from 2013:

Sensory Playroom: DIY Ball Pit

 

 

Yup, you're definitely trying to tell me something.  Nine of these posts involve food, nine involve DIY or crafts, six involve both food and crafts, and five are compilations (want me to draw the Venn diagram?).

 

I guess we know what I'll be blogging about in 2014, don't we?  ;)

 

Blessings to you and your people in this coming year! <3

Chicken Chili Verde (no beans)

A couple of weeks ago, I was in need of some inspiration.

I just couldn't.  Could not.  Come up with a menu plan for the week.

Have you been there?  Nothing sounded good.  Except tacos.  And Hubby frowns upon us having tacos for 7 nights in a row.

What's a girl to do?  I took it to Facebook.  I listed the meats and veggies I had in the house, along with the fact that we had a whole fresh pineapple that needed to be eaten soon, and within hours I had several great suggestions, some of which we tried that week.

My favorite of those suggestions was from my fraternity sister, Bert, who suggested Chicken Chili Verde from LowCarbGal.  I was skeptical.  My kids don't eat beans (a tragedy, I know), and it says "chili" right there in the title.

But!  According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of chili is:

1 a :  a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency —called also chili pepper

 b usually chilli plural chillies also chil·lis chiefly British :  a pepper whether hot or sweet

2 a :  a thick sauce of meat and chilies

 b :  chili con carne

No mention of beans what-so-ever.  And there are also no beans in this perfectly spiced shredded chicken, which is made in the slow cooker.  The chicken can then be eaten plain or used with your favorite toppings for tacos, nachos, tostadas, or even for soup.  Everyone liked it, and everyone ate it in a slightly different way.

Thank you to LowCarbGal for the recipe!

Chicken Chili Verde

{Source}

1 1/2 lb boneless chicken breasts
1 1/2 cup bottled salsa verde (a 12 oz jar)

1/2 medium onion, chopped

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 tsp ground cumin (I really like cumin, so i use a bit more than recipe calls for)

1 tsp minced garlic or 2 cloves, crushed

1 to 2 tbsp jarred, sliced jalapenos (less or more, depending on how spicy you like it)

2 tsp chicken bouillon granules (low sodium is best)

1. Place the chicken breasts into your slow cooker.
2. Add the onion, bay leaf, pepper, cumin, garlic, jalapenos, chicken bouillon (use low sodium) and salsa verde on top.
3. Cover, set it to low and let cook for 9 – 10 hours.
4. When time is up, take a fork and shred the chicken right in the slow cooker.
5. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese and chopped cilantro on top.

Makes 5 servings.

Enjoy!

Room for a Little One

 Merry Christmas, my friends!  Blessings to you and your family on this holiest of days!

 

I wrote this blog post a couple of years ago, but it's been on my mind and in my heart this season, so I thought I'd share it with you again... Enjoy

 

*******

 

One of my favorite ways to count down to Christmas is to wrap up all of our children's books that have Christmas or winter themes, and then open and read one as a family each day in December until, on Christmas day, we open a wrapped Bible and read the Christmas story, as told in Luke 2.  It's so nice to take time, in the busy-ness of the season, to sit quietly (or, some of us sit not so quietly) together as a family, reflecting on what it's really all about, and this practice ensures that we don't miss out on reading any of our favorite Christmas stories in December. 

 

We're actually not counting down this way, this year--I brought out all the books at once and Bubby and I have been reading them daily.
 

One of my favorites is Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale, written by Martin Waddell, and illustrated by Jason Cockcroft.

 

In this book, the animals in the barn make room in the stable for others, including their enemies, to come in and find shelter from the cold night, saying, "there's always room for a little one here," until Tired Donkey comes along, led by Joseph, carrying Mary.  The book reads, "Joseph was cold and Mary was weary, but there was no room at the inn."  And then,

"Come inside," Kind Ox called to Tired Donkey. "There's always room for a little one here." Tired Donkey brought Mary into the stable.  Joseph made her a warm bed in the straw, to save her from the cold of the night.  And so Jesus was born with the animals around Him; Kind Ox, Old Dog, Stray Cat, Small Mouse, and Tired Donkey all welcomed Him to the warmth of their stable. 

The book ends with these words: "that cold winter's night, beneath the star's light...a Little One came for the world."

I always tear up as I read those words.  The welcoming kindness of the animals is so touching, especially in contrast to the cruelty of the world.  No room.  There was no room in the inn, as Jesus entered our earthly world, and it seems many still declare "no room" in our world for Jesus, in countless ways, unintentional and intentional.

The words of this song, "While You Were Sleeping," from the album "Peace on Earth," by Casting Crowns, have been running through my head this month.  Please enjoy (if you read my blog via facebook or email, you will need to visit my blog at http://bluefield5.blogspot.com/ to view the video):

My friends, my prayer for each of you this season is that you will make room in your heart, and in your life, for a Little One, who came to save the world.

Tuesday's Tip: Remember to give the medicine

Have you ever had to give your kids medicine?  Have you ever forgotten whether or not you've given your kids their medicine?

It's a huge issue for me.  It's not that I forget to give it, it's that I forget that I've already given it...or not.  And I really, really do not want to double dose.

I finally bought one of those pill organizers for myself because I kept forgetting whether or not I'd taken my meds yet that day.

 

And that works just fine for my daily medications, but what about for medications that are liquids or need to be refrigerated?  Those don't work too well in the little boxes.  Bubby is finishing up his second round of antibiotics for an infection today and it's been especially difficult to remember whether or not he's gotten his dose each morning and evening this time around.  Could it be that there's something else on my mind?  An upcoming holiday, perhaps? 

 

That's where today's tip, from The Happy Home Fairy, comes in. 

 

Use a sharpie to make a grid on the bottle, and mark off the appropriate square each time you give the med.

 

{Source}

Genius, I tell you.  Thanks, Happy Home Fairy!

Well...maybe I do...

Remember when I said I don't do windows?  I might just have to rethink that.  I had revelation last week, courtesy of Money Saving Mom.  Crystal shared her 2 hour cleaning plan.  Which apparently she's shared before, and apparently I have consistently ignored when she's shared it before.

I mean, other people's cleaning plans?  They rarely work for me.  So why would I take the time to read yet another?  But for some reason, I did, and that's when it jumped out at me.

Click here and see if you can spot it.  Go on.  I'll wait.

Did you see what I'm talking about?

First of all, what a great plan.  Seriously, sometimes don't you just need someone to tell you where to start?  And what order to go in?  My number one difficulty with cleaning is I don't know where to start.  I don't know how to decide which messes take priority over the others.  And then I keep getting distracted.

But what really made me rethink my position on window cleaning was item number 8:
Take some window cleaner and spot clean the main glass windows/doors/mirrors (3 minutes).

Spot clean?  I can spot clean those puppies?  In 3 minutes?  Wha?  Why?  Why have I not thought of this before?

You see, the biggest obstacle to me cleaning windows is not actually that my kids will make them dirty again.  I mean, I wash their clothes and dishes and clean the bathrooms and vacuum all the time, and those are dirty within minutes, too.  No, the biggest obstacle is that it's so much work.  We have beautiful wood lattice-work on our windows, so in order to clean the windows, I either have to clean each little rectangle separately, which is a royal pain, like washing 16 windows instead of one, or take the lattice out, which is also a royal pain because it doesn't come out easily and the little clips break or fall out.

But not anymore!  Not now that I know I can clean just the spots that need cleaning.  I can spray cleaner on my paper towel or microfiber cloth or whatever, and clean just the parts that need cleaning.

Mind.
Blown.

Last Minute Gift Ideas with 1-Day Shipping

So, it's almost Christmas.  And you're still looking for a few last minute gifts.  Well, I am here for you, my friends.  Amazon has got thousands of items available with free 1-day shipping.  That means if you order them by the 23rd, they will arrive in time for Christmas.  Click on the banner or link below to browse available items.

 

Shop Amazon - Free One-Day Shipping on Last Minute Gift Ideas

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To avoid being charged the $79 membership fee, simple cancel your free trial before the end of the 30 days.  Although after taking advantage of these benefits, you might decide it's worth continuing.

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Still not finding what you want?  Or don't have time to browse around?  Go with the gift you know they'll love: an Amazon gift card.  For a limited time, receive a free gift box and free one-day shipping!  Click on the banner or link below to find the perfect gift.

Shop Amazon - Holiday Gift Cards with a Free Gift Box and Free One-Day Shipping

Road Trip Tool Kit: Mad Libs

Remember waaaaaay back, like 2 years ago, when our family went on a loooooong road trip, that ended up being even longer than we intended?

And remember how I promised to let you know how we survived all that time on the road with our kiddos ?   Yeah.  That hasn't happened yet.  I figured out why.  It's because it's too much to include in just one post.

So, with many of us planning to hit the road in the next week or so, I thought I'd share one little gem that has been a lifesaver for us on more than one occasion.

Mad Libs.

That's right: they don't just reinforce nouns and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, they're also quite silly and fun, and a great way to ease tension and pass the time in an enclosed, moving vehicle.

We keep half a dozen Mad Libs books in our vehicle at all times.  Even our youngest passenger enjoys filling in the blanks (he doesn't know what the parts of speech are called, but we just explain it to him.  Oh yeah, he's learning, too!) and listening to the resulting hilarity. 

Want to save a little money?  Don't have time to get to the store before setting off on your road trip?  There are tons of printable mad libs online.  Just check with your favorite search engine.

Gift idea for the Impossible-to-Buy-For (and Blueberry Syrup recipe)

My parents, like many people, don't need any more stuff.  But it's Christmas, and I wanted to give them a gift.

Do you have anyone on your list who's impossible to buy for?  You want to give them something, but you just don't know what?  I've had this dilemma for years, and usually in the past I've solved it by donating to charity in their honor.  And for my parents, that's a cool gift.  I think they like that they raised their kids to be generous.

But I still just wanted to give them something.  Some thing.

I bounced around some ideas with my friend J while we were walking one day.  More than one day, actually.  One by one, I rejected J's ideas, but she's resilient.  She kept coming back with more.  Thank you, J, for not giving up on me!

The perfect gift idea for someone who doesn't need any more stuff is something they'll use up.  Like an experience, or postage stamps, or food.  My parents aren't all that in to experience gifts, and postage stamps are definitely a last resort, so that left me with food.

I don't necessarily like giving food gifts, especially at Christmas, because number 1, there's already so much food around at this time of year, and number 2, pretty much everyone I know is trying to eat healthfully--I definitely don't want my gift to sabotage good intentions.  But we finally settled on a themed gift basket full of fun, and healthy, breakfast foods.  These are things that I know they'll use and appreciate, and it's not just more stuff.

And...I wanted to take a picture, but forgot, so...sorry.  You'll have to make due with a list.

First, I cut the flaps off a box that everything would fit inside, and wrapped the box, leaving the top open.  Sure, I could have used a basket, but then my parents would have had to decide what to do with the basket when all the innards were gone.  So I decided to go with something disposable.  Then I added:

• Whole wheat waffle mix
• Fruity oatmeal
• Almond pancake mix
• Apple muffin mix
• Cranberry walnut scone mix
• Praline syrup
• Blueberry syrup (recipe below)
• Homemade Applesauce
• Christmas Tea
• Almond butter
• Cashew butter
• Whisk
• Kitchen towels

Obviously, if you're going to make a gift basket for someone, tailor it to their tastes--these are things I know my parents will love. 

I used different types of containers to package the mixes: some mason jars, some peanut butter jars, some plastic bags, and some plastic bags inside paper bags.  I wrapped some of the items in color coordinated papers and left some unwrapped.  It was a thing of beauty, I tell you. 

You'll just have to take my word for it.

I think they liked it.  And I know they'll use it.  And that makes this the perfect gift.

*****

 

Oh, how I wish y'all could have smelled my house when I was cooking up this blueberry syrup.  So fragrant and fruity.  I don't even particularly like blueberries and my mouth was watering.  My parents shared some of this with the group while they were visiting--by all accounts it was very yummy, particularly when combined with redi-whip on top of homemade whole wheat pancakes.

 

Blueberry Syrup

from Put 'Em Up Fruit by Sherri Brooks Vinton

Makes about 3 cups.

 

 

1. Combine 1 quart (about 1 1/2 pounds) fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 c. sugar, 1/4 c. bottled lemon juice, and 1/4 c. water in a non-reactive pan.
2. Slowly bring to a boil, then simmer for 5-10 minutes, until the berries fall apart
3. Strain through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on, then discarding the solids (I added some blueberry solids back into one of my jars of syrup, and saved the rest to use as an ice cream topping)

Store in refrigerator in a covered container for up to 3 weeks, or process half-pints in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.

 

Note: fruit syrups are typically thin.  If a thicker syrup is desired for serving, combine 1 c. blueberry syrup and 1 T. cornstarch in a small pan.  Bring to a boil and simmer until the mixture thickens.  Do not add cornstarch prior to canning.

 

Art in the early morning

My children are master procrastinators when it comes to personal hygiene, including the taking of showers, but this is new: none of them has ever created a work of art about it before...

 

"No Shower"

by Bubby Bluefield

 

 

 

All great art comes from a sense of outrage. 

~Glenn Close

 

Art is the desire of a man to express himself,

to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in. 

 ~Amy Lowell

 

Anyone who says you can't see a thought simply doesn't know art. 

~Wynetka Ann Reynolds

 

(Art quotes courtesy of Quote Garden)

Tuesday's Tip: Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Have you been there?  Have you taken a bite so large you can't chew it?  Our kids have, from time to time, and let me tell ya, it ain't pretty.

Because when your mouth is so full that you can't even chew, the only thing you can do is spit something out.  And spitting things out is wasteful and no fun, so it's better to take more manageable bites.  And while it might take longer to finish eating if you're taking smaller bites, you will, at least, be able to finish.

True with food; true with other obligations in life.

When my plate is full, so to speak, of obligations, so many that I'm not able to fulfill them all, it's paralyzing.  I look at my schedule and realize I've got too much to do, and instead of taking a step, just one step, I shut down.  All I can do at that point is spit out some of my obligations.  It's why I try to build a little bit of grace into my schedule, so I don't have to renege on commitments that are too much to handle.  It's why I take smaller bites of life.  I may not be able to do everything I'd like to do right now, but I will get to it eventually, and have a much more pleasant experience along the way.

*****************

And speaking of bites and obligations, we have the final Christmas treat line-up.

It includes (drum roll, please...):

{Source}

 

• Tree Cake Pops (amazing how much better looking Bakerella's are--it's like we didn't even make them from the same recipe or something...Or maybe she just has a little tiny bit more practice...)
• Peppermint Oreo Truffles (been looking forward to these all year)
• No Bake Reese's Bars (so easy...like, put them together in less than 5 minutes easy...and so delicious!)

{Source}

• Snickerdoodles (the misunderstood "Christmas" cookie)
• Swirly Sugar Cookies (easy to make, but so impressive looking.  You can even use pre-made sugar cookie dough)
• Oreo Snowman Faces (Pinterest strikes again.  Saw these and HAD to make them.  Decided not to fuss with the "pops" part, though)

 

{Source}

• NutterButter Reindeer (ditto)
• Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies (they've been in the freezer since national cookie day)
• Marshmallow Snowman Pops (AKD wanted to make these for his teachers, with a little note that says I'm SNOW happy you're my teacher.  Came up with that pun all on his own.  I'm so proud!)

  

  {Source}

 

Little Cookies and Turtle Thumbprint cookies also made the list, but I had to let go of them.  I even got as far as making the dough for the Turtle Cookies before realizing it was too much.  It's in the freezer, and I'm sure they'll taste just as good in January.  Even better, perhaps, because they're not in competition with all the other delicious treats.

So here's how the progress stands as of this moment.  The Tree Cake Pops, No Bake Reese's Bars, Oreo Snowman Faces, Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies, and Marshmallow Snowman pops are done. Completed.  Finis.

The dough for the swirly sugar cookies is ready to be sliced and baked.  The snickerdoodle dough is made, but still needs to be shaped and baked.  The oreo truffle innards are chilling but need to be dipped, and the Nutter Butter Reindeer are still but a twinkle in my chocolate-loving eye.

Oh, and I did make Peppermint Bark as well, but I'm not counting it since it's mostly gone...

How are you doing with your Christmas preparations?  Did you bite off more than you can chew?  Feel free to spit some out, my friends.  You'll savor it more if there's less on your plate.

Me?  I'm gonna go take a nap. *Hugs* everyone!

Processing: Lessons Learned at the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Processing Center

For many years now, I've been involved with Samaritan's Purse packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  If you're not familiar, Samaritan's Purse collects Christmas gifts for children all over the world.  Small toys, school supplies, and hygiene items are packed into shoeboxes.  Over the past 20 years, over 100 million children in over 130 countries have been blessed by receiving a box.

For the past 4 or 5 years, I have wanted to volunteer at a shoebox processing center--ever since I learned of their existence.  At the processing center, volunteers take out any inappropriate items, add filler items if needed, tape up the shoeboxes and pack them for shipping.  When a volunteer at the processing center closes the box, the last thing they see is the first thing a child will see when opening his gift.

Gives me goosebumps.

Last week, I finally got the opportunity to go, along with a group of moms from my kids' school.


MomoftheWildThings, Court, Me, A,  J,  Beautiful Perfect Woman,
(more than a) Bible Study Girl, Sara
Not pictured: Leslie
What a good looking group we are!  Beautiful, inside and out. 
Love these incredible women.
Want to be more like them.

We heard lots of stories while we were at the processing center, a couple of which really touched my heart.  There was the story of a shipment that was delayed for months.  Weather, customs, and other delays kept happening until finally it was August and the shoeboxes arrived at their destination. August!

There was one little girl who was particularly disappointed by all the delays.  She was so excited to finally be receiving her shoebox, and when she opened it up, there were balloons, streamers, noise makers...all kinds of supplies for a birthday party.

It was her birthday.

Chills!

This is what one member of our group saw when she opened up a shoebox

Another shoebox made its way to a little boy in a small village in Africa.  He opened up the box and inside there was...a bunch of white socks.  That was it.  A box full of white socks.

The volunteers who were helping with the distribution tried to take the box from him and give him another one, but he wanted to keep it.  Turns out this boy had burned his feet severely, and needed clean socks to protect them from infection.

God knows which box is meant for which of His children and will get it there in His perfect timing.

We were so blessed by our time in the processing center, and we are definitely planning on making this an annual outing.  I want to urge you to help with this incredible effort by packing a shoebox, volunteering at a processing center, or donating money--it is such a worthwhile endeavor, and a mighty blessing to the children, their families, and their communities.  It takes just a little love to make a huge difference in a child's life.

To help you out, below I've shared just a few of the things we learned about packing shoeboxes after sorting through hundreds of them in a few hours.

For more information about Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child, click here.


Consider packing a box for an older or younger child.

When packing a shoebox, you get to decide if it's for a girl or a boy, and there are 3 age categories to choose from.  By far the most common boxes we saw were for 5-9 year old girls, followed by 5-9 year old boys.  It makes sense--that's the easiest age to pack for--but as a mama to two boys in the 10-14 category, it made my heart heavy to think about all those older and younger children either not getting a box or getting a box that is not age appropriate.

Not sure what to pack for the older kids?  Try items that will help them learn a skill or earn a living.  We saw a great box for an older boy that had hand tools, bungee cords, and fishing equipment in it.  Consider a sewing kit and some fabric for an older girl.

Don't pack food.

The only food items that can go in the boxes are hard candies and gum.  We had several boxes come through that were jam packed with yummy things like Pringles, Cheez-its, and Rice Krispie Treats, which all had to be taken out of the boxes.  Even fruit snacks can't be sent in shoeboxes.  It made us so sad to think about someone packing all that food out of love, thinking they're doing a great thing, and having it all be a waste (items that are taken out of the boxes are donated to other agencies, so the food did help someone, just not in the way intended).

Do include personal hygiene items, shoes, and clothes.

I know they're not as fun to pack as toys and school supplies, but imagine how it would feel to not have a toothbrush or soap.  I was surprised by how many boxes did not contain these basic supplies.  Clothes and shoes can be hard to come by, too, and we heard so many stories of seemingly random items going to exactly the right person.  Just do it.  Another thing to think about--if you're packing a box for an older girl, consider packing feminine hygiene supplies.

Think about how items will be used.

We had a lot of boxes come through with art supplies, like colored pencils or crayons, but nothing to write on.  Do pack school and art supplies, but consider how they will be used and make sure you pack paper to write on and a pencil or crayon sharpener.  If you pack a flashlight, pack extra batteries, or pack one that's crank-powered.  Just think about how an item will be used long term.

Consider donating filler items.

If you live near a processing center (Atlanta; Charlotte; Boone, NC; Denver; Honolulu; Minneapolis; Orange County, California; Dallas/Fort Worth) , consider dropping off a bunch of filler items, rather than packing shoeboxes.  When we needed to remove something from a shoebox, or a box came through that was kind of empty, we would put a filler item or two (or ten) into the box.  We had one box come through the line that had colored pencils in it.  That's it.  Just one box of 12 colored pencils.  So we filled it up with filler items, but, and sorry if I offend you by saying this, but the filler items sucked.  Seriously.  There were these weird plastic things that even we didn't know what they were for, some ball-point pens, just weird random stuff that no one wanted so they donated it to Operation Christmas Child.  Next year, instead of packing several boxes, I will pack just one or two, and then donate a bunch of filler items.

Consider your container.

I know lots of people like to pack gift items in plastic shoeboxes, and that's a great idea because the container is reusable, but consider this: It costs Samaritan's Purse the same amount of money to ship a container of shoeboxes whether it contains 9 boxes, or 22 boxes.  Plastic shoeboxes are bulky and oddly shaped and take up more space in the container, so we can't pack as many per carton.  In addition, many of the plastic boxes are already cracked by the time they get to the processing center, and can't be used anyway.  A great compromise is to use a sturdy cardboard shoebox, and pack a lightweight reusable tote bag inside.  We all have way too many of those anyway.

Also consider the size of your box.  We saw some boxes come through that were huge!  They must have contained boots.  And I know the donors thought bigger is better, but all we could think about was that we could have made 3 regular size shoeboxes from that one big box.  And how about the kids who receive the boxes?  It's great for the kid who gets the big one, but how does everyone else feel about receiving the smaller ones, after seeing one child get a big box?

Follow your shoebox.

This is a great feature.  Samaritan's Purse asks for a donation of $7 per box to help with shipping costs.  It's completely optional, and even if you don't donate, your box will get to the child it's meant for, but if you make your donation online, you can then print out a barcode label for your box.  The barcode will be scanned in the processing center, and when your box gets to where it's going, you'll get an email saying where it went.  So cool, and a great way to help your kids learn about geography.  I was the scanner person for most of our shift, and while I had lots of barcodes to scan, I was surprised that there wasn't a higher percentage.

Shop Year 'Round

You might be wondering why I'm telling you all this right now.  After all, the national shoebox collection dates have passed, so unless you live near a processing center, a box packed now will have to wait until next years' collection.  Well, yes, that's true, but consider shopping year 'round for shoebox items.  You'll be able to pick up items inexpensively if you're always checking for clearance items and sales, and you'll spread the cost out over the year as well.  If you end up with too much stuff, remember you can donate it to be used as filler items, or just save it for the following year.

Finally, consider shopping for a cause.

As you know, I'm an Amazon affiliate, which means that when you make a purchase through my links to Amazon, I will receive, at no extra charge to you, a small commission.  This year, my commissions are going to Samaritan's Purse and Operation Christmas Child.  So far this year I've earned over $120 in commissions for Operation Christmas Child, thanks to all of you!  So if you have any last minute Christmas shopping to do, please consider going through my Amazon links.

Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Did you know that it was national cookie day last week?  I know!  I really wish they had given me a little more warning, so I could properly prepare.  Luckily, cookies are never far from my thoughts, so even though I only heard about national cookie day that morning, I was able to whip together this delicious concoction with ingredients I already had on hand.

 

These chocolate cookies are soft and delicious, chewy with a slight peppermint flavor infused throughout, and little pockets of peppermint crunch and semi-sweet chocolate goodness.  Perfect at Christmas time, or any time of year.

Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

1 c. unsalted butter or margarine
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
3/4 c. baking cocoa
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 c. brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 t. vanilla extract
1 c. Andes Peppermint Crunch baking chips*
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c. coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Melt butter or margarine (I used 1/2 c. of each) and cool to room temperature.
2. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.
3. so Beat together butter, sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in large bowl until creamy.  Beat in the eggs.
4. Gradually stir in the flour mixture 1/3 at a time, just until blended.
5. Stir in peppermint crunch, chocolate chips, and nuts.
6. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough 2 inches apart onto an ungreased or parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are set.
7. Allow to cool on baking sheet for about a minute, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

*  You could also use Peppermint Crunch Andes candies, chopped.  You might be tempted to use crushed candy canes in this recipe, and while that would give you a delicious peppermint flavor, I would advise against it, because the candy canes will melt, leaving holes in the cookies.

The One Time

AKD wants to make a hammock.

Let me say that again. 

AKD, my thirteen year old son, wants to make a hammock.  I love that he likes to make things--some people would find such a task too intimidating--not my boy--he knows he can do anything.

It started in August, when we gave Hubby this hammock for his birthday.

 

AKD fell in love immediately...but he didn't love the price tag.  What's a boy with limited earning opportunity to do?  Make it himself, of course.  Resourceful, that kid.

 

My boy made a plan and a budget for the project, and then went about raising funds.  The budget hinged on getting his material for at least 40% off--totally doable, considering that the fabric store honors competitor's coupons and the competing craft store has 40% off one regularly priced item coupons out all. the. time.  His grandparents gave him a combination of money and a gift card for Christmas, so he was all set.  AND the fabric store had a 60% off coupon out right after Thanksgiving.  Score.

 

We set off to get AKD's material, so excited that the project was finally under way.  We arrived at the fabric store, scooped up the fabric, and AKD dutifully waited in the cutting line with his bolt.  When it was AKD's turn, he confidently strode to the counter and asked for 3 and a half yards.  The fabric cutter then informed my boy that the fabric was on sale.

 

On sale is usually a good thing.  I mean, my mantra. 

 

 Why pay full price when you don't have to (and you very rarely have to)?

 

But did you catch that thing up there about the coupon being good for a percentage off a regularly priced item?  Yeah.  That.  The coupon could not be used on the fabric because it was on sale, so the sale price placed that material firmly beyond AKD's budget.

 

Ugh.  The one time you don't want something to be on sale.

 

I totally tried to get them to charge us full price.  It's not signed as being on sale, I said.  Surely, they can adjust the price for us at the register, I said.  But no.  The could not, or would not.  AKD thought I must be feverish or something, and I must say, I did feel a little ill.

 

And so we wait.  I'm checking the price online once or twice a week, hoping for it to not be on sale.  And every time I check, that link to a printable 40 or 50 % off coupon is just taunting me from the top of the page.

 

Still on sale, by the way.  For a better price now than right after Thanksgiving, but still beyond the budget.

 

*Sigh*  Patience...

Christmas Poke Cake

As I mentioned, we had a houseful of guests for Thanksgiving.  Prior to their arrival, I sent out a poll, asking them to indicate their one or two favorites from a list of dessert choices.  Because, as we all know, dessert is the most important part of the meal.  So important, in fact, that we had dessert for supper on Thursday.  Just dessert. 

Only one person responded, which I took to mean they were leaving dessert selection up to me.  No worries.  I can deal with that.

We ended up having pumpkin pie (Hubby's choice), brownie pecan pie (ShepGDad's choice), and this little gem I stumbled upon that wasn't even part of the original poll.

This stuff is so, so, so yummy.  Seriously delicious.  Even more delicious, in fact, than it sounds, if you can believe it.

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Here's what you need to do:

Christmas Poke Cake

(adapted from here)

1. Bake a chocolate cake in a 9x13" pan.  You can use a mix or bake it from scratch.  Or get your sister in law to make it.  Whatever works.
2. When the cake is cool, use the handle of a wooden spoon to poke holes in the cake, about an inch apart.  The more holes, the better, in my opinion.
3. Over the holey cake, pour a mixture of one 14.5 oz can of sweetened condensed milk and 1 c. liquid peppermint dairy creamer (I used Coffee Mate's Peppermint Mocha flavor--don't worry, there is no mocha, just peppermint), taking care to make sure most of the mixture goes down into the holes.  To accomplish this, I usually use a glass measuring cup to mix it.  Then I can use the cup's pouring spout to direct the flow into the holes.
4. Whisk together one 12 oz jar hot fudge sauce and 1/4 c. liquid peppermint dairy creamer.  Yeah, right.  Have you ever tried to whisk room temperature hot fudge sauce?  Here's a tip: heat it up first.  Add 1 c. crushed oreos to the mixture, and spread on top of the cake.  Are you still with me?  Amazing already, isn't it?
5. On top of the fudge mixture, spread an 8 oz container of cool whip. 
6. Sprinkle with Andes Peppermint Chips (the pink ones--we found them at Walmart, of all places) and crushed oreos, as much or as little as you want.  OK, maybe not quite as many as you want, depending.  Just make it look good.
7. Cover and refrigerate (or throw it in your auxiliary refrigeration unit, aka the screen porch or garage) for several hours to allow the flavors to blend.
8. Eat and enjoy!

P.S. Right now you can print a $1 off coupon for Coffee Mate Creamer.  Just click here.
P.P.S. You can use the leftover Peppermint Mocha Creamer in your hot chocolate.  A-maze-ing.

Too Busy

Have you heard that saying, too busy not to pray?  Well, this girl is too busy not to exercise.  And pray.  Good thing I can do them both at the same time (see: Prayer Walking.  See also: working out with Jill makes me feel like I'm going to die and when one feels as if she is going to die, praying just come naturally).  For the first time in recent memory, I have scheduled my workout time, making an appointment with myself, so-to-speak.  Or with my friend J.  Or with my frienemy, Jill (you know, TV's toughest trainer?).  And writing it down

I don't know why I'm surprised that it's actually working.  Probably because of all the times I've made the appointment, but haven't written it down and it hasn't happened.

Anyway, on Monday I mentioned that this week is quite possibly the busiest week I've ever had.  I used to have a full time job and I think this is busier even than way back then when I was commuting for an hour each day and working for 8.5.

One of the things that's making me busy is medical type appointments for my kids.  Yup, all three of them have appointments of one kind or another this week.  Bubby went to the dentist on Tuesday.  AKD has a vision appointment later today.  And MC is having surgery on Friday. 

Oral surgery, that is.  But still, it involves not eating or drinking (even water) for 6 hours before his appointment because he's undergoing general anesthesia.  It's a fairly routine procedure, but, even things that are routine have ample opportunity to go awry.

MC has extra teeth.  We're thinking somehow some shark DNA got spliced into his genome.  Maybe during that summer I was cloning dinosaurs?  His upper front middle baby teeth fell out as normal, and his permanent teeth grew in, but MC also has two extra unerrupted teeth up there.  The worry is that they will continue to develop and cause problems for his permanent teeth, so out they come, bright and early Friday morning.  General anesthesia is necessary because they're going to cut an incision in his upper palate right near the gum line, and then drill the teeth out.  And when one's upper palate is being cut open, it's a good idea to be perfectly still.

We're all ready with the Tylenol with codeine and the soft foods, and the DVDs are all lined up for the movie marathon.  Now all we need is a covering of prayer.  You can even exercise while you do it.

Thank you, friends.

Tuesday's Tip: Painting Clean Lines

Well, as you know, in addition to starting a new decorating trend, Hubby and I are making some changes in our bedroom, including painting the walls.  It is absolutely amazing to me how much better the room looks with a fresh coat of paint.  Seriously.  Such an easy and inexpensive update.  So worthwhile.

And...apparently I have a water spot on my camera's lens.  And exposure issues.
It's really a deeper red than that, like a red delicious apple...

If you're one of my Facebook friends, you know that we were having a bit of a crisis over here when we decided to paint the wall behind the bed a gorgeous shade called Red Delicious.  Apparently, red is the most difficult color to paint.  Why no one told me this before we decided on our colors, I may never know.  And just so you know, don't panic when your first coat comes out all blotchy.  Just keep applying the paint in even strokes from floor to ceiling, and if it's not already too late for you, gray is the best primer for reds.  Five coats later, our wall is just the color I wanted it to be--I love it.  And yes, you read that right: five coats.  Hubby definitely deserves an award.

Anyway, I wanted to share a little tip I picked up for creating clean paint lines, like, for instance, between the walls with your main color on them and your accent color wall.  You can use painters tape, but sometimes a bit of the paint still seeps under and it ends up just looking messy.  Head on over to House of Hepworths for the simple how-to.

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Welcome to December

Uffda.  My head is spinning.  Our November ended with a house full of guests, which was busy and wonderful and loud and joyful and went by way too fast.  But it was a little disorienting to wake up this morning, after spending several days outside of our normal routines, and launch straight into one of the busiest, craziest week of the year.  My feeling of seasonal confusion was compounded when I realized that our kids' winter break begins in less than 3 weeks.  That means that anything I want to do before Christmas I need to get done in the next 18 days. 

Seriously, how did this happen?

I have so much I want to do between now and then! 

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 Since Thanksgiving weekend was just, well, yesterday, the fall décor is still in place.  The Christmas tree is up, and the lights are on, but the ornaments have yet to make their way to the branches.  We are uncertain of the condition of the outside lights, and based on our collective schedule over the next few weeks, they might not go on this year.  All of the other decorations are nestled snug in their boxy resting places and it is iffy that they will make an appearance.  I love all that stuff, I really do, but it'll have to take a back seat to the truly important Christmas preparations.

You know what I'm talking about, right? 

Yes!  The cookies. 

I know!  You've been waiting for this all year, just like me, haven't you?

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The list isn't final just yet*, but I will tell you that 3 of my boys said they wanted snickerdoodles and one of them said he wanted little cookies.  I'll let you decide who requested what. 

What this means is that number 1, snickerdoodles are a Christmas cookie (who knew?), and number 2, I get to decide ALL of the other treats!  Which is right and good because I'm the one who's making them.

If you'd like to get an idea what I'm thinking, check out my Christmas Treats pinboard, keeping in mind that I've kept last year's pins and I'm not planning on repeating many of the treats from last year.

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*I seriously must be delusional if I think I'm going to get more than a couple varieties made in the next 18 days.  Or more realistically, in the 5 day period during the next 18 days when I'm not crazy busy with other stuff.  But this is the season of hope, my friends, so hope I will.  It's all I've got...

Glazed Cinnamon Scones

Welp...here it is Friday already.

My friend, (Girl Scout) Cookie Mom, asked me to email this recipe to her OVER two weeks ago, and I thought to myself, self, I bet a lot of your friends and readers would like this recipe.  You should blog it.  And then send the link to (GS)CM.

Yeah, well, the drier went on strike, the paint color was wrong, and this is the busiest week ever.  And did I mention the people will begin to arrive on Monday?  And the people....They're planning to stay.

Please forgive my silence, friends.

***********

Here's something I bet you didn't know.  Scones taste good.  Actually, scones taste better than good.  Scones taste incredible.  Seven out of 7 taste-testers agree.  And fight over who gets the last one. 

Here's another something I bet you didn't know.  Scones are easy to make.  I know!  Who would have thought?  Scones sound so fancy that they must be difficult, or at least time consuming, to make.  And guess what?  These ones taste like cinnamon rolls.  Without the hours and hours of prep.  It's just about 25 minutes from start to flaky, melt-in-your-mouth cinnamon goodness. 

You're welcome.

I adapted the recipe from here, and I'm gonna go ahead and use her picture because the last time I made these, they were gone before I remembered I was gonna blog about them.  Also?  Her pictures are prettier than mine.

 Yeah.  That's all that was left by the time I got the camera out.



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See?  Much nicer.  And might I just add that I am happy to see that I am not the only blogger in the world whose cookie sheets are less than pristine. 

 

I did make some changes to the recipe, though, so you can stick around here for that...

 

Glazed Cinnamon Scones

2 c. flour

2 T granulated sugar

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t salt

1/2 c (1 stick) butter

1 egg, separated

3 T honey

1/3 c. buttermilk (or 1/3 c milk, mixed with 1/2 t lemon juice*)

 

Topping:

1 T light brown sugar

1 T granulated sugar

1/2-1 t ground cinnamon

 

Glaze:

1 c. powdered sugar

1/2 t vanilla

1 T milk

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Cut in butter** until crumbly.

 

Separate egg.  Set egg white aside.

 

In a separate bowl, mix egg yolk, honey, and buttermilk (I just mix these in the glass measuring cup I measure the milk into--no need to get another bowl dirty).  Add to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.  The dough will be a bit crumbly.

 

Gently form dough into a ball and dump onto a greased cookie sheet.  Roll or pat out to half an inch thickness and ~8" diameter (or shape these in a 8" round cake pan, then dump onto the cookie sheet).  Cut into eight equally sized pieces, and pull each piece out a little so it's not touching the pieces next to it.

 

Whisk egg white until frothy and brush over the tops of the scones.  Mix topping ingredients together and sprinkle over egg-white brushed scones.

 

Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, mix together glaze ingredients, adding a bit more milk if necessary.  Drizzle over the scones after they're baked.  Eat warm.

 

You may have noticed that this recipe is basically biscuits with cinnamon/sugar topping and glaze on them.  Yup.  Now you know the secret.  That's what scones are.  So much less intimidating now that you know that, right?

 

Enjoy!

 

* If you're using the milk/lemon juice mixture in place of buttermilk, mix the milk and lemon juice together before you do anything else--it needs a little bit of time to "activate" before adding to the recipe.

 

** I used cold butter in this recipe, since I the kids didn't want to wait for it to soften on the counter.  The cold butter really did a number on my pastry blender (next time I'll use table knives instead), but I think the butter being cold made the scones fluffier and oh-so-tender.  So it's up to you whether you want to let it soften or use it cold.  And yes, use real butter for this recipe.  Totally worth it.

 

 

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

I think my family's very favorite thing to eat for breakfast is cinnamon rolls.  Which is kind of a bummer, because cinnamon rolls, done right, take a long time to make.  Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, my boys actually prefer the cardboard-esque cinnamon-rolls-in-a-tube.  I kind of feel like a failure because of my kids' obvious lack of discernment when it comes to breakfast sweets.

I tell you this so you will know why I'm always on the lookout for things that taste like cinnamon rolls, but don't take as long to make as cinnamon rolls.

I don't even remember how I came across this recipe, but I knew immediately that I was going to have to try it.

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And so I did.  And we loved them.

 

You know how, with some recipes, you're kind of afraid to try them because they look complicated?  Yeah, that.  Don't let these intimidate you, my friends.  They are super easy, and so very worth it.

 

And just in case you're considering just making your favorite pancake batter recipe and swirling the cinnamon in, don't.  These sour cream pancakes are fluffy and delicious--the perfect compliment to the cinnamon filling.

 

 

To make these, you will need:

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

• 4 tablespoons of melted butter
• 1/4 cup of firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Pancakes

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons of sugar
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 cup of sour cream
• 1/4 cup of milk
• 4 tablespoons of melted butter
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

For instructions, visit Melissa over at No.2 Pencil.