I ran across this video this past week and wondered to myself how far beneath my privileges am I living? Such good food for thought. It makes me want to try to live better so that I can "partake of an abundant feast of spiritual opportunities and universal blessings". Who doesn't need that?! I love the reminder at the end that as we strive reach our potential, "we will be able to do all things through Christ who strengthens us." What an incredible promise!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Lighter Cooking - a success and a dud
I tried a couple of "light" dishes for dinner last night. The dessert wasn't all that good. I really dislike going to the trouble of making a healthy dessert, and then just wishing I had eaten a yogurt or an apple instead. Such a waste! Oh well. The cupcakes actually looked delish, but...
Don't ask me why I have a photo of the cupcakes that I didn't like, while not having a photo of the dinner that I did like. Hmmm.
For the main dish, I made a light taco casserole. It was actually good (despite the "lightness"), and I would make it again. I got the recipe from sixsistersstuff.com, and made a few changes.
Light Taco Casserole Recipe
tortilla chips (I used Baked Tostitos, so they had lower fat)
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
onion powder
garlic powder
3 T. taco seasoning
1 can black beans, drained
1 cup crushed tomatoes
2 c. shredded fat-free or reduced-fat cheese
other toppings to taste: fat free sour cream, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, salsa
In a large skillet, cook ground beef until browned. Add onion powder and garlic powder -- just a shake of each. Add taco seasoning, and continue stirring and cooking to mix in the seasonings. Add black beans and crushed tomatoes. This is part of where I changed the recipe. The original recipe called for salsa instead of crushed tomatoes, but for whatever reason, I really don't like salsa when it is cooked. The peppers take on a weird taste to me. Weird, I know. So, I substituted crushed tomatoes, and it is perfect since the dish has plenty of taco seasoning to give it that spicy flavor.
Mix well while cooking to thicken and blend all of the ingredients.
Line the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish with tortilla chips. Gently press down the chips to break into bite-sized pieces. Spread the meat mixture over the chips. Top with cheese.
Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
Let individuals add their own toppings once they have scooped the hot meat and cheese mixture out of the pan. Yummy served with additional tortilla chips.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Valentines Day Mantel and Garland
I wrote a blog post yesterday about the Valentines decor on my mantel. After I looked at the finished post, I realized it just didn't cut it. It definitely was lacking, even by my low-key Valentines decorating standards. So, re-routed the post and decided to make a garland to spruce things up a bit. I wanted to use things I had on hand, and I LOVE vintage book pages, so I decided to start there. A few years ago I bought a box of tattered old books that were literally falling apart. They cost next to nothing on eBay. So, now when I want to make things out of old book pages, I don't feel bad using them.
To make the garland, I removed twelve pages from one of my books and cut a "V" out of the bottom of each one.
The I folded back the top edge about 1/2".
Through the years I have collected vintage Valentines. They are perfect for this, although I didn't want to attach them directly to the banner (I hate to do anything permanent to them). So, I made color copies of some of them on card stock and then cut each one out.
I then used double stick tape to attach the copies to the little book pages.
To finish it off, I laid red and white bakers twine across the fold at the top of each page, then put some double stick tape under the flap and sealed it down.
So easy! I did the whole thing from start to finish while watching Biggest Loser last night.
And there are lots of ways you can display garlands... doorways, walls, bookshelves, windows, mantels, etc.
I've got a few other things to put around, but just enough to whisper "Its Valentines Day".
To make the garland, I removed twelve pages from one of my books and cut a "V" out of the bottom of each one.
The I folded back the top edge about 1/2".
Through the years I have collected vintage Valentines. They are perfect for this, although I didn't want to attach them directly to the banner (I hate to do anything permanent to them). So, I made color copies of some of them on card stock and then cut each one out.
I then used double stick tape to attach the copies to the little book pages.
To finish it off, I laid red and white bakers twine across the fold at the top of each page, then put some double stick tape under the flap and sealed it down.
So easy! I did the whole thing from start to finish while watching Biggest Loser last night.
And there are lots of ways you can display garlands... doorways, walls, bookshelves, windows, mantels, etc.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Week-by-Week Food Storage Plan
This week is basically the 5th week of January, so we have a week off from gathering our food storage items. This is a good time to make sure all of the January items are gathered and/or bought. If you need to work on clearing space for your food storage, it would also be a perfect time for that! We'll start February's list next week, so enjoy the "breather" this week, and we'll get right back at it in a week!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Baby Blanket Tutorial
Wow. What a week! I'm still floating around a bit... unable (and unwilling) to stop thinking about the birth of our grandson. He is a beautiful baby and he is blessed to have been born in such a sweet, loving little family. And we are so excited to be his grandparents!
I'm slowly but surely getting back to reality and recognizing that there are things to do around here. Contrary to what you may think, my "nesting" only covered so much... I've got oodles of things on my list to clean, to make, to do, to create. And I love it!
I have got to think about getting some Valentines decorations up. I'm pretty sure last year it came and went without me putting up a single Valentine item. I've got to get things in gear this year... we have a pretty major event happening in our home around Valentines Day. I'll get more into that in a later post.
You may be surprised to know that I have all four of my baby blankets finished to the point of binding, and one of them completely bound and finished. Now that is progress!
Since these are pretty quick baby blankets to work up, I thought I'd do a tutorial. I've made ten or so of them -- Bob and I give them to the ladies in the ward and neighborhood who have just had babies.
You will start with two pieces of coordinating fabric -- one in cotton and one in cotton flannel. In this photo, the little birds are the flannel piece. You can make your blanket any size you want, but I generally make mine about 1-1/4 yards by the natural width of the fabric (about 44").
I also don't use batting. This is a light type of a baby blanket that can be folded small and stowed easily in a diaper bag.
Next, square the top piece of your blanket (which is the regular cotton piece, NOT the flannel piece) so that all sides are square and the edges are straight.
The next step is where your fabric stash will come in handy...
Find two or three pieces of coordinating fabric (be sure it coordinates with both the front and back of your blanket pieces) that you can cut some small decorative circles from to add to the top piece of the blanket.
To make the fabric circles, make 3 circle templates out of card stock that are 6", 4-3/4" and 3-3/4". Trace the circles onto the wrong side of the coordinating fabrics, and cut out with pinking shears. Cut one large, two medium, and one small circle.
Next, pin each of the circles in place on the top piece of your blanket. I usually place the largest one in a corner (keeping it about 4" from the sides), and then place the others in close proximity, wherever it "looks right".
Sew the pieces in place, removing the pins as you go. Do a straight stitch about 3/8" from the edge of the circle.
Now lay the flannel piece down (right side down), and the top piece of the quilt on top of it (right side up). Flatten it out nicely so that there are no creases in the fabric. (Iron the pieces if you need to.) Match the sides the best that you can, then pin along all four sides. Using the squared top as your template, trim away any excess fabric from the back piece. Both pieces should be the exact same size at this point.
Sew around the edge of the blanket about 1/2" in from the edge, removing pins as you go. These stitches will not show -- they are there to hold the blanket together as you are binding it.
These are my four blankets all at the point of needing to be bound.
The next step is cutting the binding strips. I cut my binding on the bias so that it doesn't fray and get all stringy when it is washed. The ruler shows the angle I should use when cutting -- a 45 degree angle. Cut the strips 2-1/2" wide, and cut enough to make about 200" of binding. When you cut the binding, use a rotary cutter with a pinking edge to give the binding a decorative edge.
You can use any coordinating fabric for your binding. I like the looks of mixing and matching binding, and having the strips being a variety of lengths.
After cutting the strips, cut off the ends so that they are a straight edge (instead of an angle edge) and sew together strips.
Press seams open along the strip of binding.
Next, fold binding in half, and press.
Start sewing binding around edge of quilt, starting down about four inches from the beginning edge of the binding so that you leave a "tail" of binding that isn't sewn to the quilt.
Sew about 3/8" from the edge of the binding.
When you come to the corner, sew down to the bottom edge of the quilt, and then stop.
Finish sewing the binding down. Take the tail that you left at the beginning and fold the end under about an inch. Pin it in place and then sew down the binding down so that it is completely attached all the way around.
At this point, sew one more time around the whole blanket between the original line of stitching and the edge of the binding.
And this is the finished product. Scrappy and cute!
Now to finish the other three.... I'll get to them in a while. For now, I'm off to hold my grandbaby for the afternoon!
I'm slowly but surely getting back to reality and recognizing that there are things to do around here. Contrary to what you may think, my "nesting" only covered so much... I've got oodles of things on my list to clean, to make, to do, to create. And I love it!
I have got to think about getting some Valentines decorations up. I'm pretty sure last year it came and went without me putting up a single Valentine item. I've got to get things in gear this year... we have a pretty major event happening in our home around Valentines Day. I'll get more into that in a later post.
You may be surprised to know that I have all four of my baby blankets finished to the point of binding, and one of them completely bound and finished. Now that is progress!
Since these are pretty quick baby blankets to work up, I thought I'd do a tutorial. I've made ten or so of them -- Bob and I give them to the ladies in the ward and neighborhood who have just had babies.
You will start with two pieces of coordinating fabric -- one in cotton and one in cotton flannel. In this photo, the little birds are the flannel piece. You can make your blanket any size you want, but I generally make mine about 1-1/4 yards by the natural width of the fabric (about 44").
I also don't use batting. This is a light type of a baby blanket that can be folded small and stowed easily in a diaper bag.
Next, square the top piece of your blanket (which is the regular cotton piece, NOT the flannel piece) so that all sides are square and the edges are straight.
The next step is where your fabric stash will come in handy...
Find two or three pieces of coordinating fabric (be sure it coordinates with both the front and back of your blanket pieces) that you can cut some small decorative circles from to add to the top piece of the blanket.
To make the fabric circles, make 3 circle templates out of card stock that are 6", 4-3/4" and 3-3/4". Trace the circles onto the wrong side of the coordinating fabrics, and cut out with pinking shears. Cut one large, two medium, and one small circle.
Next, pin each of the circles in place on the top piece of your blanket. I usually place the largest one in a corner (keeping it about 4" from the sides), and then place the others in close proximity, wherever it "looks right".
Sew the pieces in place, removing the pins as you go. Do a straight stitch about 3/8" from the edge of the circle.
Now lay the flannel piece down (right side down), and the top piece of the quilt on top of it (right side up). Flatten it out nicely so that there are no creases in the fabric. (Iron the pieces if you need to.) Match the sides the best that you can, then pin along all four sides. Using the squared top as your template, trim away any excess fabric from the back piece. Both pieces should be the exact same size at this point.
Sew around the edge of the blanket about 1/2" in from the edge, removing pins as you go. These stitches will not show -- they are there to hold the blanket together as you are binding it.
These are my four blankets all at the point of needing to be bound.
The next step is cutting the binding strips. I cut my binding on the bias so that it doesn't fray and get all stringy when it is washed. The ruler shows the angle I should use when cutting -- a 45 degree angle. Cut the strips 2-1/2" wide, and cut enough to make about 200" of binding. When you cut the binding, use a rotary cutter with a pinking edge to give the binding a decorative edge.
You can use any coordinating fabric for your binding. I like the looks of mixing and matching binding, and having the strips being a variety of lengths.
After cutting the strips, cut off the ends so that they are a straight edge (instead of an angle edge) and sew together strips.
Press seams open along the strip of binding.
Next, fold binding in half, and press.
Start sewing binding around edge of quilt, starting down about four inches from the beginning edge of the binding so that you leave a "tail" of binding that isn't sewn to the quilt.
Sew about 3/8" from the edge of the binding.
When you come to the corner, sew down to the bottom edge of the quilt, and then stop.
Fold the binding over the next edge of the quilt so that the quilt edge is lined up with the center fold of the binding. Fold binding up and pin to keep in place. Continue sewing binding starting from the corner of the binding where the two corners meet.
When you come back around to the place where you started the binding, check your lengths and cut the end edge of the binding (not the tail that you left at the beginning) so that it is about an inch away from where you originally started attaching the binding. It will be overlapped by the "tail" that you left as you started sewing the binding.
Finish sewing the binding down. Take the tail that you left at the beginning and fold the end under about an inch. Pin it in place and then sew down the binding down so that it is completely attached all the way around.
At this point, sew one more time around the whole blanket between the original line of stitching and the edge of the binding.
And this is the finished product. Scrappy and cute!
Now to finish the other three.... I'll get to them in a while. For now, I'm off to hold my grandbaby for the afternoon!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Wyatt makes his debut today!
Photos are going to do this post way more justice than any words...
 |
| Bob and Wyatt |
 |
| Dayna and Wyatt |
Life doesn't get much better than the way it is this moment, this day! Wyatt Ash was born this morning at 9:40-ish and weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs. 9 oz. He is as beautiful a baby as they come, and it was instant love for all of us. Whitney and Mike are going to be amazing parents for this sweet little baby!
On the way home from the hospital this afternoon, Bob mentioned that its amazing how instantly and completely we have an unmeasurable love for a little baby that we are just laying our eyes on for the first time! I remember that same exact feeling when each of our four children were born. My heart could not possibly be any more full!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
January Week 4 - Paper Supplies
First things first... no grand baby yet.... still waiting....
This week we're on January Week 4. The items to collect and store this week are as follows:
| Paper
supplies: paper towels, paper plates, paper cups, plastic utensils, napkins,
Kleenex, toilet paper |
Store the items you will need on hand for the upcoming year. Weigh each item as to what your family would use, but keep in mind that long-term emergencies may require some different items than what you would normally use. If you don't really use paper towels, you probably won't need many rolls, but you may want to consider storing some (because they may come in handy for some emergency use). Same with plates, cups and utensils.
If storing a whole year's supply of toilet paper seems overwhelming, just buy a few large packages and start with that. You can add to your stockpile later on, but get at least a few of everything in storage!
One thing that is nice, is that once you've collected these items, you don't necessarily have to rotate through them, which means next year, you wouldn't need to buy anything additional this particular week. Sometimes I will run out of something and run down to get a box of Kleenex or some napkins, or something. If I don't get around to replacing it, I know that next year, when I go through the inventory, it will show that I'm one package down from what I should have, and I'll know I need to restock.
One thing that is nice, is that once you've collected these items, you don't necessarily have to rotate through them, which means next year, you wouldn't need to buy anything additional this particular week. Sometimes I will run out of something and run down to get a box of Kleenex or some napkins, or something. If I don't get around to replacing it, I know that next year, when I go through the inventory, it will show that I'm one package down from what I should have, and I'll know I need to restock.
So, now we are done with January! To go back and review what January's items are, go to the "Week-by-Week Food Storage Plan" tab.
Again, if you would like a complete copy of the plan, as well as the coordinating inventory sheets, just leave a comment along with your email address, and I'll send one off to you!
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