Thanksgiving, part 2

Well, Thanksgiving is over, our bellies are probably STILL full, and today we get back to the grind. All of my kids started back to school today, though I know some districts are still off. I can't complain...the boys did have off all week last week, but I think I would have preferred them to go the beginning of last week and have off today to 'recover' a bit from all the weekends' hustle and bustle. Oh well...funny thing, the district didn't ask my opinion! Kate's back-at-it today too (but she's getting out of a day at the end of the week, as I'm letting her off school to work at my sister and brother-in-laws poinsettia show - an annual tradition).

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner, and not only was the food DEEEE-licious, the setting was amazing too. My sister had her creative juices flowing and her home was totally decked out for Turkey Day. (Of course, none of my pics turned out very well...) There was lots of games, laughter and fun. And while I'm not a big 'Black Friday' shopper, I did pick up a few gifts and had an amazing mini-getaway with my hubby, we had another dinner with Todd's extended family (aunts, uncles cousins, etc., totally - to my estimation - between 50 and 60 people, and someone said that there were about 25 who couldn't make it....that's a BIG family!) and now I'm ready to move on to Christmas! I'm thinking today will be a little low-key here as my little guy isn't feeling great, so I think I'll get out some decorations and do my cards (yeah, didn't get them done earlier as I thought I might...but it's still not December 1st yet!!). Sip some hot chocolate, and maybe watch Miracle on 34th Street. And in a little bit (once I get the stuff together for a picture) I'll also be posting my "Countdown to Christmas" drawing later on today!!

Thanksgiving

Well, I am officially into full holiday mode! I've already been playing Christmas music for a week or two, because it helps me to get into the mood to get busy making my Christmas crafts that are piling up on my to-do list. I'm brainstorming and crafting and busily trying to figure out creative (and cost-effective) gifts that everyone will love. Some of them are done (or at least in process) and I'd love to show you, but alas...I can't chance the receivers taking a peek here and ruining the surprise!

However, I really can't bring myself to actually get out any decorations before Thanksgiving is past. I'm one of those people who feels like I don't want to miss out on Thanksgiving trying to rush to get to Christmas. And, by January 1st I tend to be sick of all things 'merry and bright' (well, not that bad...I don't like, turn into the Grinch or anything, but after a solid month of holidays, I'm ready to move on), so I like to pace myself. In addition to Thanksgiving Day, we also celebrate our anniversary Thanksgiving weekend, so I like to savor the entire weekend all in its own rite.

This year, with money being tight we weren't sure we'd be able to do much to celebrate our anniversary (17 years!!!). However, our credit card has a 'purchase points' program, and we had some built up - just enough to use to get a nights stay at a hotel not too far from home. So we are having a mini-getaway - at no cost! We used all the points for the hotel, so we might not be able to do dinner out...but we'll make the best of it, and get all dressed up to eat a pizza in our room if need be! We have realized over the years what a precious thing our marriage is, and we really try to celebrate it in some fun way that we really get to spend some time just enjoying being together. I'm counting down the hours til my hubby whisks me away! (Well, not literally...but almost!!)

I do have some posts coming up I can't wait to share with you...some fun and creative Christmas decor (I can say 'creative' without bragging, because most of the ideas I took from someone else's blog!) as well as a furniture re-do that has kept me busy of late. I also will be doing my giveaways (because my love language is 'gifts' and I just LOVE to give people things!) as the official 'kick off' to the season. And, I received some more books from Zondervan that I am currently reading to review, so I'll be sharing that as well. One of the books is on advent, so I'll be posting some of the ideas I get from that about some little ways to keep this next month filled with meaning.

But for now, I better get going. Our family tradition is to always prepare the Thanksgiving feast all together the day before, so I'm going to be heading out to pick up a few items at the store and then off to peel, stuff, mash and roast! Mmmm...I love holidays for so many reasons...not the least of which is YUMMY food! Happy Thanksgiving, all!!!!

these are a few of my favorite things...

The past few days I've been enjoying browsing blogs of people listing their favorite things so I thought I'd get in on the action. I know, nothing thoughtful or amazing here, just a little random info for you. So, while it doesn't include "raindrops on roses" or "whiskers on kittens" (and right now you are singing that in your head, aren't you?!?), here are a few of MY favorite things (my 'Top 10', in no particular order):

1. Thriftstores!!!!! I am finding many treasures at these the past few weeks, and it's become almost an obsession. I literally wonder, if I haven't hit my favorite shops for a few days what gems might be there, and what I might be missing. My local favorites are:


and Evergreen Consignment. Let me know if you know any other really good ones!!

2. These... mmmmm....



3. Thursday nights...
4. Don't care whether they win or not, I still love 'em...
5. All the creative blogs that have been inspiring me to do all manner of projects, especially this one (cuz it links me to hundreds more DIY projects)!
6. All sorts of lovely jewelry, uniquely crafted by my fav artisan -my sis! (And, oh yeah...did I mention some giveaways coming up? Well, one of those will be an awesome original set from the Betsy Collection! You'll want to check back...the fun will start next week!)

7. SPRAY PAINT!!!!! (and the little nozzle, even though mine has been giving me some grief, overall, it's a wonderful little gadget). I'm fairly addicted to spray paint, though, not sniffing it, just using it...on anything and everything!!!! (Did you know there is even spray paint for fabric?!?! Yep, people are even spray painting their upholstered furniture these days!!)
8. This stand. Still loving it, still wanting it, still can't find it.
9. Gettin' rid of tons of junk this way, and finding a few deals as well!



10. And lastly, helping to restore my sanity...
Of course, like I said, these are all 'fluff' stuff that I enjoy. The really important things in my life, aren't 'things' at all... such as my Lord, my family and my friends...and all the things associated with them. Those are what really give my life meaning. But these 'extras' sure are fun!

How 'bout you? What are some of the things that are putting a smile on your face lately?

adoreableness

All he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth....

(Well, not really...but isn't he just too cute?!?!)

Adoption - A Covenant of Love

There are a couple good giveaways that I'm planning to post soon, and some really delicious recipes I'm planning to share, but first I wanted to share a story about some friends of ours and ask if you would consider helping out.

Friends and fellow church planters in Chambersburg, PA, Doug and Jen Lehman (and their boys Shiloh and Elijah) are preparing for a very special addition in the upcoming months. They are in the process of adopting a little girl from Nepal! As you can imagine, this is a very costly process. In order to help defray the costs, the Lehmans and their family and friends have put together a wonderful cookbook that they are selling. I just got mine this week and can't wait to try some of the wonderfully-yummy recipes! The front page of the cookbook, Which is titled "Favorites from our Table" with the sub-line "Adoption - A Covenant of Love", tells this about the Lehmans' journey of adoption:

We have been blessed with two biological sons, Shiloh and Elijah, who fill our lives with much joy and energy. In the past, we have talked about the possibility and desire to adopt but not until the fall of 2008 did it become a burning desire in our hearts. God used a book called "Daughter of China" to bring us to a place of being ready for this incredible journey. Our hearts connected with the continent of Asia and originally we were thinking of adopting from China, but through research realized the wait for adopting from there was 3-4 years. At the beginning of January 2009, we found out the country of Nepal had recently reopened to adoption and we immediately knew this was the country we were to pursue.

We have seen God's hand at work over and over again in this process...here are a few of the ways: telling the boys they would have a sister and the priceless expressions of joy on their faces, all the paperwork, home study, etc. going smoothly and our family and friends being so supportive through words of encouragement and prayer.

Our dossier (all the official adoption paperwork) was submitted to the Nepali Ministry on June 14, 2009. The next step is for our family to be matched with a little girl, then we will travel to Nepal for 2-3 weeks to complete the adoption and bring her home. God knows who she is and every detail of her life. We know He is at work and is taking care of her. As we wait, we rest in confidence that His plans and timing are perfect.

Until 4 become 5...

Now, here's the really cool part where you can help. I am offering you an opportunity to purchase a cookbook to help this wonderful family, while at the same time gaining some new recipes to try for your own family! Wouldn't it be fun to add a new dish to your Thanksgiving feast? These could also make great Christmas gifts, or even bridal shower gift! As a young bride I received a few cookbooks very similar to this (put together by 'real' people as opposed to the Martha Stewart/Emeril Lagasse variety with daunting dishes I would never even attempt!) and they became my lifeline for coming up with meals on a daily basis!

If you'd be interested in helping this family be united with their precious little girl, I'd be thrilled to tell you how to go about ordering a cookbook. The cost is just $15 (plus $3 S/H). Just leave a comment, with your email address, so that I can give you the Lehman's information - where to send the check and request - in order to get your cookbook shipped. (I'd rather not post it here, as it will be sent to their own home address). Thanks, in advance, for your help! I know you'll reap a blessing in return!

dirty dishes

Let me just say...I hate dishes. They are an exercise in futility. The minute they are all cleaned up and put away, more suddenly appear, cluttering up my counters and taking over my already-small kitchen. Since my kitchen is so...shall we say 'petite'...even just a few dirty dishes makes the whole thing look an utter mess. However, as I loaded the dishwasher yet again the other morning, I thought about how very thankful I am to have a dishwasher, and that because of that fact, my kitchen can go from disaster to tidy in just a few minutes. I cannot imagine my life without it. I grew up without a dishwasher, and doing the dishes was the very bane of my existence. Well, that might be a little dramatic...but I really did hate it. A lot. Especially drying and putting away; I'd rather wash any day.

Anyway, now, being the mom of a somewhat large family (in relation to the average...not the Duggars...well, or several of my neighbors...)... Okay, let me try again...6 of us make a lot of dishes! So I'm super-eternally-grateful for my little Kenmore. While thinking about this the other day, a poem sprang to my mind that my mom always had hanging above our kitchen sink. (Our house was a half-double, so there was no window above the sink). I think it was very smart of my mother to hang it there, for we spent many hours gazing at it while scrubbing.

Thank God for dirty dishes
They have a tale to tell
While others may go hungry
We're eating very well.
With home and health and happiness
I shouldn't want to fuss
For by the stack of evidence
God's been very good to us!

Choffy

If you are looking for a healthy alternative to coffee OR if you are searching for a unique Christmas gift this year, I have the answer for you! It's a wonderful thing called "Choffy"...it's not coffee, but it is beans that you brew it the same as coffee. The beans, however are organic cacao beans! Yes, folks, we are talking about brewed chocolate!!

Now, I can't imagine not loving something that is brewed chocolate. For me, right there...'nough said. But it gets better. Choffy is actually very, very good for you. Just as dark chocolate has 'real' health benefits (you know, legit ones that go beyond "it just makes me happy"), one being the fact that it is loaded with antioxidants. Here's what the website says about Choffy:

While it brews like coffee and supplies you with long lasting energy, Choffy promotes whole body wellness without the negative effects found in other drinks.

The energy they're referring to comes from something called "theobromide". Here's how Choffy explains the gloriousness if this healthy caffeine-alternative:

Theobromine: This gentle yet long lasting stimulant provides you with a healthy energy lift by dilating the cardiovascular system making the heart’s job easier. Theobromine does not affect the nervous system therefore delivers energy withut a crash or the other negative effects of caffiene.

Can you imagine the goodness that this must be? If you click on the logo below, you can visit their website and find out even more benefits to Choffy, and order some if you like. Now, keep in mind, I have not yet tried Choffy, so I will admit, I'm not speaking from experience on this product, but I would very much like to try it. And I will say, it's pretty pricey...along the lines of a 'gourmet' coffee...at $15 a bag. But as I said above, with the holidays coming, this might be just what you're looking for for that person that has everything. It's pretty doubtful that they have Choffy! And, if you feel a sudden urge to order an extra bag to send to me, that would be alright too! ;)

trash to treasure

EDIT: I posted this a few days ago, but I linked up to A Soft Place To Land's Do-It-Yourself Day today (Tuesday, Nov. 10) so I'm adding a few notes about the tray below for those of you who may be visiting from that link. I made-over the tray below simply by spray-painting it! Yep, Rustoleum primer and a few coats of textured spray paint. That's all there was to it! And now, back to the previously scheduled post...




It's been a few days since I posted because I've been a busy little bee, out thrift-store shopping, brainstorming creative ideas and doing a little decorating. Have a mentioned that I am simply LOVING the concept of 'trash to treasure'? I've been so utterly inspired by the creativity of other bloggers, and I'm finally getting into the groove myself. This week I hit 2 local thrift shops, Liberty Ministries Thrift Store (the proceeds of these stores goes to prison ministry) and Goodwill. Dare I even admit...I've gotten stuff at these places this week that are going to be Christmas gifts!! Of course, they will be 'repurposed' and tweeked and made lovely, so I'm quite sure the receivers won't mind a bit (or even know, unless I choose to reveal my secret)! I am posting some pics below for you to see some (not even all, because some of it has already been put into process) of the treasures I found, and a few glimpses of what I'm doing with it all. And by the way, the most I spent for any one thing was $4!!

First, here's a sampling of what I found:
And there was this little number:
Which is now this:
These lovelies were from the other week: (the pic doesn't show well how roughed up looking they were...they really weren't in great shape)
But with a little spray paint and some adorable little bottles sitting atop them (also from Liberty this week) they have become part of the in-progress quest to make my bathroom 'work' (aesthetically speaking; the plumbing is all just fine)...in spite of the gray and pink floor tile. (Some day, SOME DAY this tile WILL be gone and I will have a loverly bathroom!) I still think they need a little 'something' more...but they're still pretty cute.
I don't know if you see these pieces in the pic above, but I found a cute wooden stand, and a glass dome lid separately for less than $1 each. Paired them together and plopped my little clearance pumpkin from last fall in the middle for a new little table centerpiece (on my $2 leaf place mat from Walmart).
I'm so excited to get on with my Christmas projects...and just to give you a teaser, I'm planning a little giveaway coming soon to kick off the holiday season!! Stay tuned!!!

LTN fun

Here's some pics from Light the Night. I'm especially happy about how the Super Readers costumes turned out (my Luke was Super Why, Betsy's Lily was "Princess Presto", Elley was "Wonder Red" and Evie was "Alpha Pig". In case you don't know who the Super Readers (from PBS) are, I'm posting a picture of them to get an idea how cute these costumes really turned out!!) Admittedly, I had the easiest of the costumes for that, so major kudos to Bets for her creativity and resourcefulness.
Kaitlyn was "Giselle" from the movie "Enchanted.


The boys were pretty agreeable and easy when it came to costumes. They were both thrift store finds, totally $7 (yep, for both!!).

Jeff Gordon,


Luke Skywalker.


And a few other pics from the night.

Anna the Indian....not sure it was determined if she was Pocahontas or Sacagawea.

Giselle and her best friend Dorothy