Baby Jesus, What do you see?

Alivia, my 2yr old was being super cute the other day while I was sorting thru Christmas cards.  She picked one up with a manger scene and started telling a story that resembled her favorite books.  It inspired me to use the cards to make her a book telling the story she's been reciting.  Hope you enjoy it.  What stories can you use your Christmas cards to tell?

For more of my ideas for up-cycling Chrismas cards, click here.

Oh, Christmas Cards!

A small part of my card collection!

     If you are like me, you've got piles of Christmas cards that you've been collecting over the years.  I love getting Christmas cards; I love hearing from friends and family far and near, and looking at all the beautiful artwork on the fronts of those cards.  My favorites are the cards that include personal notes or pictures of the senders and their families.  I have boxes of these cards stacked in my basement, and now I've got a plan for them!   I'm going to share my 3 favorite ideas for using those cards---up-cycling, I think they call it!

1: Magnets and Ornaments
Here's what you need:
various cards cut into shapes (I used circles, but I think stars, hearts and triangles would work too).    
Ribbon or yarn
glue

glitter (optional)
magnets

Start by cutting shapes from the cards.  

Glue the ribbon onto the back of your shapes as hangers.  Use glitter to decorate around the edges.   For magnets, just glue the magnet to the back of your shapes.   You'll have beautiful ornaments for your home and tree in no time!

Magnets

My homemade Christmas-card ornaments

2:  Frame them
What you'll need:
Cards
Frames in sizes of choice

In larger frames, make an eye catching collage of interesting cards, or frame individual cards and group the frames together.  You'll have your home looking Christmas-y in no time!

A collage of framed Christmas cards

3:  Tell a Story
     What you'll need:
      Cards to tell your story
      Contruction paper
      yarn and tapestry  needle

Cut out the pictures to fit your pages and glue.  Write the words for your story, Use the yarn to hold your page together,  and Presto!, your toddler will love telling the Story over and over and over.  (For the younger set, try just gluing interesting cards into a book, without the story.  Your little one will love looking at all those cards over and over and over).  To read the whole story, click here.

A story inspired by my 2 yr old
yarn/tapestry needle

How do you upcycle your Christmas cards?  I'd love to hear about it!

Christmas Scents

I love citrus season!  I mean, what's not to love about Clementines from Spain, or Californian Mandarins, or those giant sized Indian River Grapefruit from Florida?  I got to thinking...seems like such a waste to throw away those deliciously fragrant peels.  Surely there has to be a way to recycle them into something.  Those of you who know me well, know that my sense of smell is both my best friend and worst enemy.  I love the sweet smell of vanilla or the minty-ness of peppermint or the spicy scent of cinnamon.  Any of those than put my brain in a happy place.     So I decided to use those orange peels (and apple peels) with some fragrant spices and make a lovely simmering  potpourri that will make my home smell yummy and inviting.   

To try this for yourself, here's what you need:

Peel of 1 orange

1/2 tsp cinnamon

dash nutmeg

6 whole cloves

(if you've got a peel from and apple...throw that in too)

Throw the above in a saucepan filled half-full of water.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer to make your house smell wonderful!  (You might want to set a timer to remind yourself to check on the simmering pot so you don't boil all the water out).  

What other Holiday recycling ideas do you have?  Have you tried making a potpourri from any other common items in your kitchen?   

Making Sense of the Chaos and Clutter

Damon proudly displays his art folder

     I love being a mom!  I have the two most wonderful children in the world!  However, there are plenty of challenges to keep me guessing.  Before I had kids, I was very regimented about keeping a clean and orderly home.  Everything had a place, and everything in its place.  Then my first child came along.  During my pregnancy, a rough one, I slacked off a bit with the cleaning and organization, promising myself that after the baby was born, I'd get back on schedule.  Ha!
     Now that I've had my second child, who is now 2 1/2, I've come to appreciate the chaos and clutter that now so beautifully graces my home.  But as much as I love having my children's artwork around decorating the doors, walls and refrigerator...at some point we needed to find a way of organizing it, and keeping the mess under control.

     This is our solution:  We buy a standard sheet of poster board...which are usually 2/$1 at the dollar store.  Then the kids decorate them, I add a label including their name, the year, and grade.  We fold it in half (decorations on the outside), and staple it together, making a HUGE folder to store all of the papers and crafts they make.  It keeps everything together and in its place.  The folder is artwork itself, and makes a great keepsake and place to store all the papers that we just can't bear to throw away.

I'm not a moron. Really.

"Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God's family, respect God, honor the king." 1 Peter2:17 

I am blessed to live in the greatest country in the world.  I am thankful to be an American, or should I say a citizen of the United States of America.  I am thankful for the men and women who have fought for my freedom, and continue to fight for it's sake today.    Recently, I have been saddened.....no, sickened...by the disrespectful posts I've read on a certain "social media site."  The Anti-Obama statements are just plain distasteful...whether you agree with the man or not.  As a citizen of God's family, I am required to respect the people He has placed in authority over me...and this includes Mr. Obama.  I believe that God is sovereign, and yes, He placed our current president in office for a reason.  You and I may not ever understand His reasons for many things, but I have faith.  So while the purpose of this blog is not to stand on my polital "soapbox," I do have a few things to say:

1) Please stop telling me that "the right to bear arms" means it is my responsibility to carry a gun.  I grew up in a home with guns.  My dad was a hunter.  Thankfully there is not a tragedy written into our story because of a curious child.  My dad was careful.  So I am not against you owning a gun, nor do I think your choice to carry a gun makes you pro-crime, pro-guns.  Just as my choice to NOT own a gun does not make me anti-guns.  It is a personal choice that I am thankful to have the freedom to make because I live in the USA.

2) Please stop implying that I am a moron because I do not think exactly like you.  I do not think you are a moron because you have your own opinions.   Yes, you have the right to have your own opinion and you can express it.  But those who disagree with you also have that right, and they are not morons.

3) Please stop discriminating against Mr. Obama because you believe he is Muslim.  Maybe he is.  Maybe he isn't.  Does it matter?  One of the most amazing things about this country is freedom of religion...for me, for you, and for the President.  I am thankful to live in a country where I am permitted to worship God anyway I want.   And if the President is Muslim, or Mormon, or Christian, I am sure he is happy to be able to practice his religion without discrimination.

And if being a free thinker makes me a moron...then I wear the label proudly.

My Favorite Granola

     So I've been working on this recipe for a little while now, and I've finally perfected it.  It is super easy to make, and super delicious to eat.  Enjoy!

Pecan and Raisin Granola
3 cups old fashioned oats
1/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup pecans
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup canola, olive, or vegetable oil
2 tbs. water
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 cup raisins (or dried cranberries)

Preheat the oven to 250*F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

In a medium bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Set aside

In a small saucepan, combine oil, water, and syrup.  Over medium heat, bring to a boil, then pour over the oat mixture.  Stir until thoroughly combined.  Spread mixture out on prepared baking sheet.  Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes, until dried and lightly toasted.  Allow to cool.  Add raisins; package.