What Are You Thankful For?

Good Afternoon!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am looking back over this year and thinking about all I have to be thankful for.

This year has been filled with so many challenges and victories.

Earlier in 2012 my dad was put in the hospital and it was scary.  At one point we almost lost him but I am so grateful that he is doing much better.  Later in the summer my Dad & Mom, and my sister came to visit.  Happy for another year with them.

 And those lovely kids who give me the drive to do what I do.

 

 Then we got this little guy..an answer to prayer for my girl.

 (That's a story in itself)

Thankful for my extremely hot, husband!  

Who works so hard for our family.  Thankful for new work opportunities that came his way.  He has been such a big supporter of my dreams as well.

Which leads me to...

This year marked the official beginning of my business. 

Thankful for Sara who created my logo and just "got me" when we met.

She also cleaned up my site since I am technically challenged : )

For the new people I have met..

Project Ladybug

Eric Stromer and fellow Canadian Bloggers (Lynne Knowlton)

Emily Henderson (HGTV)

 

Also, for all my clients thus far!  Thank you for your trust in me for your homes and commercial spaces.  Looking forward to new clients in the coming year : )

Most of all I want to thank God (and no this is not like an AMA speech) for truly all He has walked with me through.  He gets my ultimate Thanks.

Hope your Thanksgiving is full of looking at the true joys of life.  God bless!

You Won't Be Able To Eat Just One

Good Morning!
I decided to share a previous post I wrote from a couple of years ago on one of the dishes I make for Thanksgiving.  It deserved to be posted again because it is flat delicious!
Enjoy!



 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I know like many of you we are all getting our recipe lists in order. I thought it would be great to share some recipes with all of you. So, I will be posting more often as the Thanksgiving Day approaches and letting you know what will be on my plate..yum : )



Oh, these are so good!!!! Cheddar, Bacon and Fresh Chive Biscuits. Believe me these are so easy to make and take no time to cook. They are so delicious that you will have to make a good amount of them cause you can't eat just one.

Here is the recipe:

yield: Makes 12
active time: 25 minutes
total time: 55 minutes



6 thick-cut bacon slices
3 3/4 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus melted butter for brushing
2 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 12 ounces)
1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
1 3/4 cups chilled buttermilk
Honey (optional)


Position rack just above center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, then chop coarsely.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter cubes. Blend until coarse meal forms, about 30 seconds. Transfer flour mixture to large bowl. Add cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and chopped bacon; toss to blend. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring to moisten evenly (batter will feel sticky).
Using lightly floured hands, drop generous 1/2 cup batter for each biscuit onto prepared baking sheet, spacing batter mounds about 2 inches apart.
Bake biscuits until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Brush biscuits lightly with melted butter. Let cool 10 minutes. Serve biscuits warm or at room temperature with honey, if desired.


Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cheddar-Bacon-and-Fresh-Chive-Biscuits-357231#ixzz15kgs0vi1

Happy weekend and happy prep time for the countdown to Thanksgiving!

Tablescapes For Thanksgiving

Good Morning!

I have been seeing a lot about decorating your fireplace mantle for fall but not a whole lot about tablescapes.  So, since Thanksgiving is just around the corner here are some inspirations that you can take and use in your own home.

(Haleh Design)
Candles a must and fall vegetables for the blessings we have all had this past year.

(The HandMade Home)

Vibrant colors and florals

(DIY Your Way)

Love the bluish steel colored pumpkins and gourds on this table.  You can also see the long candlesticks in the small white pumpkins.

This is probably my favorite from Centsational Girl

(DIY Your Way)

I am hosting a breakfast at my house and I think I just might have to make these poms.  So lovely.

I hope this gives you all some great ideas for your table decor, I know it did for me : )

BTW...

Working on my fireplace in my living room now.  Trying to get it done before this party.  It will be beautiful when all complete : )

An Edible Wreath?

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving : )

My in-laws are here from Canada and it truly has been a wonderful visit.

The day after Thanksgiving every year we go and cut down our Christmas tree.

We got two this year : )  It was so much fun!

Starting the decorating process with my daughter..

(living/dining room tree)

Speaking of decorations.. I add more decorations every year and I want to share one with you that my daughter and I did last year.

I love Angelo Surmelis blog.  If you are not following him I encourage you to go check him out.  I found this post on some very creative Christmas wreaths and one in particular took my breath away.  It was the first one.  The marshmallow one.

I decided I wanted to make this as well.

Here is the tutorial on how to create it.

A Marshmallow World
While you’re picking up marshmallows for hot chocolate, buy a few extra bags to make this easy (30-minute!) winter-white wreath. Insert about 150 toothpicks halfway into a 12-inch flat foam wreath, then skewer a marshmallow onto each toothpick. Refrigerate overnight to set. (Birds may fancy this one, so consider hanging it inside.)

Let me tell you..it didn't take me 30min.  because I bought a straw wreath (never do that and a much larger one) but I did because the store didn't have the size foam wreath I wanted.  It was very hard to do (putting the toothpicks in the straw and messy).  It ended taking us several hours.  Go with the foam wreath and I guarantee it will go smoothly..hahaha.

Here is how ours turned out.

Those are cranberries.  A different take and a good first attempt.  Spending time with my daughter...priceless!

It is hanging in our home again this year.

What crafts have you been doing for the Holiday season?  Would love to see.  Send them to me and you may be a featured on the blog.

Have a great week!

A Thankful Heart

This is the time of year where we stop and take a look around us and take inventory of our blessings.

I know I write a blog about decor and our renovations for our home but today I want to go a little deeper.

This past year for my family has been a trying one where you felt like you were drowning but we also saw people come alongside as angels.

My husband  a little over a year ago had no work, like so many in this economy.  We were in a place where for us we had to trust God.  It was hard because we had 3 little ones.

Even during those hard times somehow, someway our needs were met.

For our family this situation made us stronger.  It could have torn us apart but we made the choice (it always comes down to that) to make it through together.

I am grateful to Heartland Community Church for walking with us and now my husband is the music director there.

As I sit at the table this Thanksgiving...

I look at the blessing of my children

 I look at the blessing of my husband who refused to quit

 The blessing of all the wonderful people who helped us this past year

and most of all to be able to reach out to the HAND that is so much bigger than our own.

And for all of you I wish you nothing but the fullness of this Holiday.  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving : )

That's a Big Candle

 Happy Friday!

Not too long ago we took a trip ...

 My kids were so exhausted.

We thought it would be a treat to stop half way at the place with the Big Candle : )

That really is a mighty big candle!

 This place is amazing

 It's like stepping into Holiday Paradise : )

They have hundreds of candles that you can only get from this store and the scents are amazing!

Holiday decor for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 I fell in love with this.  

Here is how they got the grain sack to stand up..

  chicken wire.

 This place is massive.  They told me they are going to double the square footage of this store in the very near future.

 Jellies and Sauces

 I love that they put a little restaurant in the store.. it gives you more time to think about what you want to buy and doesn't disturb your shopping groove : )

Their food is all made from scratch

My son waiting for his chili and was it worth the wait!

The bathrooms are amazing!  Yes, I did take pics in the bathroom..heehee

My new favorite saying..

In the men's bathroom

No, I didn't take the pic my husband did.  LOL

This store is a must to go visit.

Check out the websites

http://outletstore.warmglow.com/

or

http://warmglow.com/

What's On Your Plate? : Thanksgiving

Good Morning!
I decided to share a previous post I wrote from a couple of years ago on one of the dishes I make for Thanksgiving.  It deserved to be posted again because it is flat delicious!
Enjoy!



 

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I know like many of you we are all getting our recipe lists in order. I thought it would be great to share some recipes with all of you. So, I will be posting more often as the Thanksgiving Day approaches and letting you know what will be on my plate..yum : )



Oh, these are so good!!!! Cheddar, Bacon and Fresh Chive Biscuits. Believe me these are so easy to make and take no time to cook. They are so delicious that you will have to make a good amount of them cause you can't eat just one.

Here is the recipe:

yield: Makes 12
active time: 25 minutes
total time: 55 minutes



6 thick-cut bacon slices
3 3/4 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus melted butter for brushing
2 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 12 ounces)
1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
1 3/4 cups chilled buttermilk
Honey (optional)


Position rack just above center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, then chop coarsely.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter cubes. Blend until coarse meal forms, about 30 seconds. Transfer flour mixture to large bowl. Add cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and chopped bacon; toss to blend. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring to moisten evenly (batter will feel sticky).
Using lightly floured hands, drop generous 1/2 cup batter for each biscuit onto prepared baking sheet, spacing batter mounds about 2 inches apart.
Bake biscuits until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Brush biscuits lightly with melted butter. Let cool 10 minutes. Serve biscuits warm or at room temperature with honey, if desired.


Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cheddar-Bacon-and-Fresh-Chive-Biscuits-357231#ixzz15kgs0vi1

Happy weekend and happy prep time for the countdown to Thanksgiving!