Parties!

Grace had her Halloween party today in school and this is the treat we brought! It was fun and I have to say I LOVE chocolate covered pretzels of any kind so we decided to make "ghosts!" it was really easy and fun!

I used white chocolate disks, we get them at our bulk food store. I used about 1 1/2 Cups but you could easily use a bag of white chocolate chips. I made 52 pretzels with this much chocolate.

Melt the disks in a glass bowl 25 seconds at a time stirring between times, it doesn't take long to melt white chocolate. It's much faster than milk chocolate.

Stir well. Dip 3/4 the way down the pretzel, let excess drizzle off and lay on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper.

Melt just a few Tbs. of milk chocolate chips in a small bowl, pour into a ziploc baggie and cut off a tiny end on the bag, make it tiny maybe like a toothpick size or it will come out too fast, if it's too fast put it in the freezer for a minute. Use milk chocolate to "pipe" on the eyes and mouth! VOILA! place in freezer for a few minutes and package any ole cute way you want to!!! fun times....This was Grace watching the Halloween parade in the halls after her class had already walked through the parade! She's a pirate, a girl pirate....couldn't talk her into Tinkerbell this year! lol

Share a little thing!

Operation Christmas child is an AWESOME ministry and I'm so excited and proud to be a part of it! This Sunday our church will start putting out the word that it's time to fill a shoebox with goodies for a child and donate it to Operation Christmas child. A child somewhere "out there" will receive this box and it might be the ONLY gift they get the entire year. I hope you can be part of this ministry somehow this year! Our family is planning to make a "family date night" out of it and go shopping for our shoebox items this Friday night! Our kids decided last year they wanted to make a box of their own and they paid for the contents themselves, wrote a letter and put a photo in the box! It's exciting to see a spirit of "giving" in your children especially during a time of year where it can be about "getting!" If you have never done a shoebox or heard of it go to Samaritan's purse website and read ALL ABOUT IT! Basically you fill a shoebox for a boy or a girl with goodies they would enjoy ( suggested items are listed on the sight) and find a drop off point, donate $7 for the shipping and off it will go to a delighted little child! God told us to spread His love, this is a perfect way!

I hope you enjoy this video clip too that Veggie Tale put out to go along with Operation Christmas child! it's so great to see the looks of delight on these kid's faces and realize how blessed we really are! I hope I'm that excited about receiving Christ's gift to me!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?

Saving on holiday shopping!!

Well....like it or not, the holidays are just around the corner, and if you've been inside of any store you're finding that out!! If you happen to be a bargain hunter NOW IS THE TIME to searching out those great deals and coupons. I have some friends that have pointed me in the right direction for some great deals! In my blog roll there's a button for Frugal Girls and in the list one for Money Saving Mom, just two great sights for finding good deals for holiday giving.

Can I stress HOMEMADE HOMEMADE HOMEMADE....Now I'm not so crafty as far as actually "making" a gift....but I do enjoy making tags, or cards and FOOD items! I love to find a unique gift and add something homemade to it. For instance one year a friend gave me a pair of cute gloves with some really nice hand lotion tucked into the gloves and tied with ribbon. Another oldie but goodie, a cute basket (which you will find everywhere right now on sale especially if you have Hobby stores) with cookies laying on a cute Christmas towel. Another great one I received from a good friend just last Christmas was the DVD set Holiday Inn (a good old fashioned holiday movie) with the cutest old fashioned ornament attached. This same friend who is always so creative (BETH!) got me an adorable Santa Mug with a matching Tea towel, a cool knife and a g. card to a Kitchen store........So as you can see HOMEMADE doesn't have to mean your painting something or sewing something, unless you know how then that's even better! ha I love to make Friendship tea (it's in the archives of my blog) for gifts and you could put that in a basket with a cute mug. These gifts can be as expensive as you want them to be......I guarantee when someone gets a thoughtful gift from you they will love it!! If you don't have alot to spend, go all out on the "presentation". There are tons of blogs and websites for holiday giving, if you want more ideas get Googling!! Hope you enjoy these......I'd love to hear any great ideas you have! I know some of you make awesome cards, crochet, bake, knit.....on and on!!! Why am I talking about CHRISTMAS gifts now? Well.....this time of year alot of Hobby stores start their holiday sales, grocery stores are starting to put holiday staples on sale and the coupon booklets start adding in candy, toys, games and movies.......it takes a bit more time than something store bought but if you have the time ....take it!! ENJOY!

Daily life.....

Here is picture for thought I am sharing

FOR TODAY October 17th

Outside my window...The sun is setting and it's really cold!

I am thinking...of snuggling up on the couch for tv. time with my family soon

I am thankful for...all the times in the past God walked with me in my dessert places

From the learning rooms...making October crafts and one daughter learning to knit!

From the kitchen...Chicken fajitas, mmm

I am wearing...blue track pants, a t shirt and my robe! I told you it was cold!

I am creating...order around the house, or trying to, getting out hats/gloves etc. and putting away BEACH TOWELS!

I am going...to sit on the couch the rest of the night, or until I move to a hot tub later!

I am reading...316 Pelican Court by Debbie Macomber

I am hoping...the rest of the weekend lasts a long time!

I am hearing...Mickey Mouse DVD!

Around the house...only 2 loads of laundry left (for today anyhow) and candles lit

One of my favorite things...Hot baths in cold weather, hot cider with a plain donut dipped in!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Lunch with friends Sunday, getting a notebook ready for Christmas shopping, I've already bought a few things and I want to keep track of what I've got! haha

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ Go here if you want to join in the fun!

Cookies!

I have to say, these are probably THEEE best oatmeal cookies I've every had!! I tweaked a recipe I found in a Cookie cookbook I have! delicious!! It's the first time I've made these!

Oatmeal Cranberry Crispies

1 stick butter

1/2 C. Shortening

1 C. packed brown sugar

1 C. white granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 ts. vanilla

2 1/2 C. old fashioned oats

2 C. flour

1 ts. baking soda

1 ts. baking powder

1/2 ts. salt

1 C. Craisins

1/2 C. chopped walnuts

1/4 C. shredded coconut

In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs one at a time, beating well. Beat in vanilla. Place oats in blender or food processor until slightly ground. (I think this was key to the texture of the cookie, you wouldn't have to do this but like I said, I think it really made the recipe and you could fool anyone into thinking it wasn't oatmeal if they don't like it). Combine oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in Craisins, nuts and coconut. You may have to stir these in by hand, since it's stiff by this point.

(Bake at 350* for 12-14 mins.)

Place in balls/or scoops 2" apart, flatten with fork in criss cross design. Remove to wire racks. Makes 4+ dozen

I was thinking these would be fabulous with 1/2 dipped in white chocolate and dipped in crushed Pistachios at the holidays! "MMM I LOVE ME A GOOD OATMEAL COOKIE, as Paula would say! "

This was so cool!!

I got this in an email today and thought it was SO cool and encouraging!! enjoy!

CHEROKEE LEGENDDo you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone.He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until, the rays of the morning sun, shine through it.He cannot cry out for help to anyone.Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm.The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!Finally, after a horrific night, the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.If you liked this story, pass it on. Moral of the story: Just because you can't see God, doesn't mean He is not there. 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.'

And again apples!

Are you all starting to figure out I love APPLE stuff? the funny thing is I don't really enjoy an apple all on it's own very much! I like a wedged up apple with CARAMEL dip! As a matter of fact I remember the year I was pregnant with Jordan I ate a ridiculous amount of apples and caramel dip at a Harvest party we went to at a friend's house! I was SOOO sick in the night I don't think I ate an apple for a long time after that! haha Apples are just one of my families favorite things to eat in Fall especially!!! mmm mmm Today it's apple crisp with Vanilla butter sauce! of course the sauce is Optional, you can always just eat it plain...less fat that way! ha Or icecream is a favorite too!

Apple Crisp

6-7 apples, cored, peeled and cut into chunks

1/2 C. packed brown sugar

1 ts. Cinnamon

1/2 ts. Nutmeg

1/4 ts. Pumpkin pie spice (if you have it!)

Toss the apples in brown sugar and spices and pour into sprayed 9x13 baking dish

In same bowl cut in:

1 stick butter

1/2 C. flour

1/2 C. Sugar

1/2 C. dried oatmeal

1/2 T. cinnamon

1/2 C. chopped nuts, walnuts or pecan are good

Cut all these ingredients together in the bowl and sprinkle over apple mixture! Bake 40 mins. at 375*.

Vanilla Sauce:

1 stick butter

1/3 C. sugar

3 T. cornstarch

1 1/2 C. water

1 T. Vanilla

Melt butter in saucepan, add sugar and cornstarch, water and Vanilla, and stir occasionally for 5-7 minutes until it comes to a boil. Boil 1 minute, serve over apple crisp!! ENJOY!!

Daybook!

I am thinking...About Fall things and holidays coming up particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas

I am thankful for...being a mom and wife!

From the learning rooms...to pray for someone daily we normally might not think of

From the kitchen...Funfetti Vanilla Cake!

I am wearing...Pink sweater and jeans

I am creating...bookmarks

I am going...to church tonight to teach 1st-5th grade

I am reading...Parenting your teen: Being the Mom your kids need/311 Pelican ct. by Debbie Macomber

I am hoping...the weekend is great! and relaxing!

I am hearing...Kirk Cameron pledge a renewed love to his wife, a GREAT movie!!

Around the house...lots of clean clothes piled up ha

One of my favorite things...Fall and holidays and holiday music!!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Making Apple Crisp, going to the movies, making steak, making cards, lovin on my family!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/ This the website where you can join in the fun for the Daybook!!

Prayer

I heard a man speak yesterday on Prayer and he said so many great things but one thing that stuck out was how when we pray we forget the times He's been so faithful to us and we forgot to keep on praying! So I hope to find more time and just "pray!" When the day gets so busy it seems that prayer and time in the word is what goes on the end of the list sometimes! The man also said "God LOVES to hear us pray!"










Through every pain every tear there's a God Who's been faithful to me
When my strength was all gone when my heart had no song Still in love he's provided
Faithful to me
Every word He's promised is true What I thought was impossible I've seen my God do
He's been faithful to me, faithful to me
Looking back He's the love and Mercy I see
Though in my heart I have questioned and failed to believe
He's been Faithful to me, Faithful to me
when my heart looked away

The Many Times I could not pray
Still my God was faithful to me










The days are spent so selfishly
Reaching out for what pleased me
Even when God was faithful to me










Every time I come back to Him
He is waiting for open arms
and I see once again










He's been Faithful to me
Faithful to me









These are a few of my Fall decorations! I love the relaxing feeling of Fall!

Calzone!!

Stuffed Calzones....just the word sounds yummy! This was so good, I saw it on Food network so I tweaked a bit to fit our family!

1 loaf frozen whole wheat bread dough (thawed) OR any pizza dough you like (keep in mind it takes several hours to thaw frozen dough!) we loved the Whole wheat bread dough!

1-16 oz. container of Ricotta (a cheaper idea here that I use: Put a 16 oz. container of low fat Cottage Cheese in a food processor and it

will thicken it up like Ricotta in just a few seconds)

1 bag reduced fat Mozzarella cheese

1 bag frozen broccoli

Olive Oil

Parm. cheese

1 jar of your favorite marinara sauce

Roll dough out into a large circle like you would for a pizza, place on baking stone or pizza tray. Steam Broc. for 3-4 mins. in the microwave. Mix Ricotta cheese, Mozzarella cheese and steamed Broccoli together in a large bowl. Spread this cheese mixture over half of the crust. Fold the crust up to meet the other side, like a half circle. Pinch edges together and seal with a fork. Cut 3-4 slits in the top to let steam escape, brush the top with Olive oil and sprinkle with Parm. cheese. Bake at 400* for 20-25 mins. until golden brown. Let sit for 5 mins. before cutting!! Serve with Marinara over the top or on the side!

This just oozed cheesy bubbly goodness and reminded us of stuffed shells or stuffed pizza......definitely what we call a 5 for 5 meal...which doesn't happen often! meaning 5 out of 5 of us liked it!! This served us for dinner with 2 pcs. leftover! MMM MMM GOOD!