Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from 2011

Our Family Favorite Christmas Movies

It's a Wonderful Life The Bell's of St. Mary's A Charlie Brown Christmas Samantha's Christmas A Christmas Carol The Nativity Story Veggie Tales: The Star of Christmas Kingdom Under the Sea: The Gift Bible Hero Classics: A King is Born

Celebrating Advent

(picture taken from Budget Wise Home ) I have seen some really neat ideas online on how people celebrate Advent in different ways.  The definition of advent is a coming into place, view or being; arrival.  As we move into December, we want to really keep our focus on Christ and what He did for us.  Here is a list of things we plan to do for Advent.  Do you celebrate Advent and if so, what are your traditions?  We don't have a fancy calendar.  We printed off pictures of the creche and wrote things on the backs of those pictures.  We then hang them up and depending on how the day goes, we pick one thing instead of going in order.  This helps ensure we actually get everything done regardless of what kind of day we have.  Here goes.  Our Advent List: 1. Learn about a famous piece of art like the Madonna and Child with Saints 2. Read a Christmas story 3. Get our Christmas Tree and decorate 4. Make ornaments for the tree 5. Make goodies to take to neighbors

Homemade Salad Dressings

I will be honest, I've had a hard time finding dressing recipes that I really like.  Thankfully, I've gotten a few thanks to my friends Kim and Jen as well as combining some good online recipes.  Hope you like them as well as I do.  They are frugal, healthy and yummy! Ranch Dressing and Dip  I think this tastes very similar to the ranch dressing from Logan's Roadhouse.   Ingredients: 1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 teaspoon dried chives or 1/2 tablespoon fresh, chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1/4 teaspoon onion powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper milk or buttermilk  Directions: 1. In large bowl whisk together all ingredients with the exception to the milk or buttermilk.  This will make a dip. If you want dressing, just add a few drops of milk/buttermilk at a time till you reach your desired consistency.   2. Refrigerate at least 1/2 hour before serving.  The more it

Turkey Day Leftovers

Here is a stockpot that has the turkey carcass, onions, celery, carrots, thyme and parsley.  I also poured in the juices from the turkey then added in water to cover the bones well. Here's a bowl of soup we had made for tonight.  When the stock was done I poured everything through a sieve and just kept the broth.  I threw all the dark meat into the pot and some fresh chopped carrots.  In a separate pan I made some basmati rice.  I don't like making it in the soup pot because all the leftovers become mushy.  So what we did was put a spoon of rice in the bowl, a scoop of cooked sweet potato and some of the meat and carrots out of the soup pan.  I then drizzled the broth over the top.  We ended up seasoning only with salt afterwards.  This was lovely!  Just one of many leftover ideas.  I have more ideas posted below.  Have fun! Pot Pie Bone Broth Soup Turkey Avocado Wrap White Turkey Chili Turkey Tacos Turkey Escarole Soup Turk

Pumpkin Cheesecake With Natural Sweeteners!

Mmmm, Pumpkin Cheesecake with no guilt! Baby loves it!  Jon trying to make sure to eat it all quickly before brother asks for some.  lol! I found a recipe online that was changed up from a regular pumpkin cheesecake recipe.  I did a little changing of my own as you'll soon see.  This recipe was fabulous!  I would definitely use less butter for the crust next time but that's the only thing I'd change up other than the changes I've already made that you see below.  I hope you enjoy this as much as we do.  It's fabulous! Pumpkin Cheesecake by Miss Lizzy Ingredients Crust: 1 3/4 cups ground almond and/or almond meal (I used almonds and pecans. I also added in some salt) 3 tablespoons honey (optional - I did not add this) 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 stick melted salted butter Filling: 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup sour cream 1

One Month to Live - Book Review

"Time once spent cannot be reclaimed.  Once an hour, minute or moment is over, it's gone forever.  However, we can redeem the remaining time we have." The thing I've really been needing is true down time - time without the computer or making notes on what I can do/get done next.  True down time!  That will only happen if I make the decision to make it happen.  If you feel like you don't have enough time to have some down time - the reality is you can't afford not to. "A regular time of rest and recovery…" is essential according to this book.   "…we're designed to require rest and to crave beauty." Lately I've been in a season of my life where I feel like I need to purge so much of what we have in our home.  Most of what we have acquired has been free or very inexpensive.  I think that is one of main reasons why we have so much stuff.  Couple that with us being home educators with 3 kids and that also adds "st

Gentle & Simple Ways to Detox

(Borrowed Picture) Here's a few things that are easy to implement and can have more of an impact on your body than you might realize.  Especially if done more often than not.  There are many other things you could do but I tried to focus on things the average person can do without having to go out and buy a whole bunch of new foods and such.   1. Drink lemon water.  Some people like to drink warm water with 1/2 fresh squeezed lemon.  I don't do well with this so I drink mine at other times during the day. 2. Drink chlorophyl water.  I get mint flavored from Nature's Sunshine.  It tastes pretty good and mild.   3. Take detox baths.  This can be done by adding the following into your warm bath water.  Make sure to fill it up.  Make sure it's dissolved well.  Make sure to drink some water before, during and after to get the toxins moving out.  Soak from 20 - 40 minutes for the average person and rest for at least 1/2 hour afterwards.  Since I have ad