It was an almost perfect Saturday...
Plenty of good tailgating treats...
Great company...
2 great football teams...
An awesome Armed Forces tribute...
and an amazing sunset...
and for 3 loud, stadium shaking quarters I got to witness my Gamecocks dishing out a little kryptonite to Tim "Superman" Tebow and the Florida Gators. Too bad, we couldn't just stop the clock then...but it was so much fun, that even the loss was tolerable. Definitely good times!
Be sure to pass this information along to anyone that you know who is or has served in the military. It is the least that we can do for those who have done so much to secure our freedom. Thanks to my brother, father-in-law, and all of the other men and women who have given so selflessly for the sake of others.
Golden Corral’s 9th annual Military Appreciation Monday dinner is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2009, from 5 to 9 pm in all Golden Corral restaurants nationwide (note that it is NOT on the actual Veterans Day). The free dinner meal is open to anyone who served in the US Military and is open to all veterans, retirees, active duty military members, and members of the National Guard or Reserves.
Free “Thank You” Dinner
Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Applebee’s is supporting military veterans again this year by offering military members and veterans a free meal on Veterans Day. Simply show proof of military service, including showing up in uniform, military ID, military service organization ID (VFW card, etc), a picture of you in uniform, or other proof, and select a free meal from a special menu. For more information, visit the AppleBee’s Veterans Day page.
The holidays are fast approaching and business is about to pick up for your dishwasher. Get her all gussied up for those special days.
Chris at Just a Girl is hosting her annual "I Can Make That Party" today and I am joining in. If you love making handmade gifts for the holidays, you do not want to miss this party! There are tons of ideas to be found. Be sure to stop over and check it out.
I whipped up this Mocha Sugar Body Scrub for a birthday gift for a friend, but it would be perfect for teachers, neighbors, girlfriends, really any special gal on your Christmas list. The chocolatey, coffee smell would be a great perk up in the morning and is perfect for those like me, who love the smell of coffee, but don't drink it!
Here is what you need:
- 1/2 pint jar ( I love these Elite Ball jars--the square shape is so cool!)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 3 tablespoons cocoa
- 3 tablespoons coffee grounds
- large pinch of cinnamon
- large pinch of nutmeg
- 3-4 tablespoons almond or olive oil
Here is what you do:
- Mix dry ingredients thoroughly.
- Add oil to desired consistency.
- Put in your jar and pretty it up with a scrapbook paper label and some ribbon.
Things to note:
- Best used in the shower, a little messy, but your skin will be amazingly soft after!
- Almond oil can be found at health food stores and is a little pricey. Also, anyone with tree nut allergies would not be able to use a scrub made with almond oil. For these reasons, I opted for olive oil. You do sacrifice a little of the yummy smell that comes with almond oil, so adding a little essential oil in a fragrance of your choice would be fine, but really the coffee is frangrant enough.
- This disclaimer is for those clumsy like me and would seem to be common sense, but I want to cover my bases. Oil is slippery, when it gets on the shower floor, that floor will become slippery. Be careful--you don't want your mother-in-law or boss slipping and cracking open their tater in the shower (well, maybe you would, but I don't want to be responsible!), so use responsibly.
Now, head on over to Chris' party for more great gift ideas! Only 46 days til Christmas!
Yep, its another casserole. Sorry, but its cold and it just makes me want a yummy, one dish dinner. This is really good and of course, gets extra points for using the crock pot, since I can just throw it together and forget about it until we are ready to eat. Give it a try!
Crockpot BBQ Chicken & Cornbread Casserole
1 pound of cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut in 1-inch chunks
1 cup frozen or fresh corn
1 bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce (18 oz)
1/4 cup hot water
Cornbread topping:use a mix and follow the directions on the box (minus the oil or butter)
I used a 4 qt round crockpot for this---it was the perfect size.
Spray the inside of your stoneware with cooking spray.
Cut up the chicken and sweet potato, and add to the crock. Add the corn.
Empty the contents of the barbecue sauce bottle, and then add 1/4 cup of hot water to the bottle, shake, and pour that out, too. Mix well with a spoon.
In a separate bowl, mix together the cornbread topping.
Spread the topping on to the chicken mixture. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. If you are planning on being out of the house, cook for the shorter amount of time. You can always switch to high to brown the top when you get home.
Don't you just love when you or one of your children are trying to complete a project and the magic marker starts to run out of ink?
The holidays are coming and that can mean drop-in guests and last minute get together invitations. This quick snack is one of my favorite and is always a hit wherever I take it.
1 box/16 oz.Oyster crackers
Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 250°F. for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Fall is officially here and that can mean rain and wet weather. Why not recycle a common household item to make lugging that wet umbrella around a cinch?
I don't know what it is about cool weather that makes me want a good casserole for dinner, but it is just so comforting. This one was delish and easy. Enjoy!
1. Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
The Rev and I have had a full past month, with 3 deaths in the church in the past 3 weeks, midterms for the Rev, my car breaking down, and all kinds of drama, so we decided to take a little us time today. We took a picnic and Scarlett and headed to Stone Mountain State Park to take in the beauty of fall. We did get a little stuck in some mud briefly and forgot silverware, so we were forced to fashion a "spid" or "loon" out of the take out container lid to eat our macaroni and cheese, but all in all, a nice afternoon "away."
I can't believe that I made it as long as I did before someone shared this with me. I learned this working for an internet based company a few years ago and it makes computer work so simple.
Tip #36
Let your computer keyboard do the work for you with these simple shortcuts.
This chocolatey quick bread earned me a Blue Ribbon at this year's county fair. Enjoy!
Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 5-by-9-inch loaf pan.
(Peanut Butter Bread, Chocolate Cherry Loaf, Chocolate Cocunut slice Cookies, Strawberry Jam - all 1st Place)
(B/W Photo - 1st Place, Color Photo - 2nd Place)
(Oxidized silver & amazonite earrings - 3rd Place, Winter Wreath - 3rd Place)
October is Ministry Appreciation Month and as a pastor's wife, I would be extremely remiss if I didn't let you in on life on the other side and the myriad of reasons you should show your pastor, his family (and any other ministry staff in your church) some love.
I want to preface all of this by saying that I have been on the other side of the pulpit, so to speak, sitting in the same pews that you occupy, totally oblivious as to what my pastor REALLY did for the kingdom and his congregation....so, this is all said in love....let's put on our steel toed boots and get through it together...
5 Things Your Pastor Wishes You Knew
1. He works more than 3 hours per week
Yes, I know that most of us only see our pastor on Sundays and Wednesdays, but truth be told, he works every day. He doesn't punch a clock and work normal hours like you or I do, but he spends countless hours visiting shut ins and the ill, tending to grieving families, counselling soon-to-be-wed couples, helping families in the throes of crisis, visiting prospects, attending community meetings, answering countless phone calls and that doesn't even begin to touch the anywhere from 5-20 hours that he spends on his sermon and the studying it requires. One of my favorites from when the Rev was in Youth Ministry was when we would return from a week long youth mission trip only to have a church member ask how our vacation was. What? Are you kidding me? Seriously? The next time you find yourself about to complain about the numbers of hours that you are working, remember he is doing it, too--even if you don't see it all.
2. He is not Superman
He is human, just like you. So often the Rev and I hear, "I have never met a pastor (or pastor's wife) like you." and I think what they are really saying is "Wow, you are real people." Yep, sure enough, we are. We hang out at home in grungy clothes, some Saturdays we forget to brush our teeth if we don't go anywhere, we laugh and cut up, shoot, every once in a while the Rev even swats me on the butt and sometimes in public (GASP!). One of the greatest gifts that you can give your pastor is the freedom to be himself--he'll be much better equipped to love you and be loved, when you remove the element of expected perfection.
3. He is not an army of one
His calling was never intended to be carried out alone and this is perhaps the area where most church members fail, myself included. So many times we see something that we could be doing better or differently in the church and rather than working to get it done, we make our little to-do list and pass it right off to the pastor ('cause you know he only works 3 hours a week....). Here is a thought, the next time you see something that needs to be done, do it, then tell your pastor about it! The Rev gets so excited when this happens, when someone takes ownership and initiative and owns their part. It shows growth and in those moments, he feels like you are a team working towards the same goal--saving souls and changing lives. Now, don't go painting the sanctuary magenta and blame it on me when your deacons ask about it, but you get my drift.
4. What is yours is his
When you rejoice because your child gets saved at VBS, so does he...when you cry because your teenager is going down the wrong path and won't turn around, so does he...when you experience pain at the ending of your marriage, so does he...when you agonize over end of life issues with your parents, so does he...he smiles with you in times of success and prosperity and weeps with you in times of failure and despair. Many a night, he ends a phone call with you during a time of need, unable to sleep, just as you are, because he feels your burdens. And he does it gladly, it is a part of the call. But you must also remember this, if he isn't doing any of those things with you, it is most likely because you haven't let him in on what is going on. He can't be your pastor, if you won't let him.
5. He is responsible to a much HIGHER authority than his church members
I can't stress this one enough. Does your pastor love his church members? Yes. Does he want the church to equip itself to better reach the lost? Of course. Does he want to see the kingdom grow? Absolutely! Is he going to do things the way that YOU think he should? Nope. He is going to do them the way that God tells him to. Ouch, I know, but that is the way it has to be. Tread carefully when you gripe at how your pastor is doing things, because if he is doing them with the proper leading, your gripe is really with God. Just saying...
Now, go do something nice for your pastor (ooohhh, and his wife!) Love you guys!
Stacie
Have you ever slammed on the brakes on the way home from the grocery store? Only to find groceries all over the trunk or back seat?
This is one of my all time favorites that Mom used to make. Its perfect when you want to take a casserole to a friend or a potluck and YUMMY!
A few months back, one of my favorite inspiration websites for jewelry making held an earring swap. The deal was that you sent Beading Daily a pair of earrings, which they would randomly mail back out to a participant. Then of course, they would send you a pair of earrings. Its been a while, so when the Rev came in today and said that I had a package from myself (we had to send a SASE), I was like what? Then I remembered the swap.
Just so you know, I sent these earrings to whomever received them--I haven't heard from them yet, so I have no clue who got them. I titled them "Something Old, Something New," since they were a combination of hand antiqued brass wire and Amazonite rondelles.
I received these beautiful copper and silver earrings titled "Cinnamon Sugar" from Susan at Buffaloe Gal Crafts in Chesapeake Beach, MD. Thanks, Susan!
Stacie
They say that every cloud has a silver lining, but I am willing to bet that no one ever found that lining while polishing silver.
Took this great taste-of-fall snack mix to a picnic this weekend. I love that you can make it entirely in the microwave, no oven required!
In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal and almonds.
In 2-cup microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter, brown sugar, corn syrup and cinnamon uncovered on High about 2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute, until mixture is boiling; stir.
and only because it is for a sweet baby-to-be, I let some Tar Heels paraphernalia into our home. Now, pick your jaw up and calm down, it won't happen again, I promise!
Did you ever see the movie Psycho? It made me scared to take showers for the longest time. If the Psycho heebie jeebies leave you only able to take baths, you can still put that shower curtain to good use.
OK, here is a great new recipe that we tried out this past week. Quick, just a few ingredients, and easy--a definite winner at our house.
That is exactly what I have managed to accomplish this week. It has been raining for almost 2 weeks straight, which is killing my sinuses, combine that with the BLAH that is unemployment and it is just dragging me down. I have several projects half started, which I will finish in this next week or so and share with you, but for now, I've got nothing...wait, I do have a few bits of randomness to share...
OK, you can tell me, I won't tell anyone that you have one...Everybody has one of those drawers, you know a junk drawer that you would be mortified if any guest opened and forget about actually trying to find anything in it. OK, deep breath, let's tackle it together.
Don't really remember where I came across this recipe, but if it is yours, DON'T GET ANY CLOSER!, because this stuff is so good, it makes me want to smack someone. If you like chocolate and peanut butter and the combination of salty and sweet, this one is a must try.
Chocolate Frito Candy
Put the Fritos and the pretzels in a large Ziploc bag and smash them up. Set aside.
Put the butter, the brown sugar, peanut butter, and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring often.
Stir in crushed pretzel and Frito pieces.
Refrigerate for about an hour, or until candy has set completely. Break into pieces.
we did this...(and because I don't want anyone to agonize over long division, that's 5 years...)
I am always up for a challenge, so when a friend asked me if I could do a baby shower cake for her using fondant, I said OK. Mind you I have never used fondant, never made a tiered cake, and have really only decorated one other cake, unless we can just count slapping some rainbow chip icing on as decorating...
So, I just got new contacts lenses and glasses and noticed that I have quite a few spare contact lens cases laying around.
Linked to Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam Stacie
Here is a great little picnic, cookout, tailgate side dish for you to try. It is super yummy!
Snickers Caramel Apple Salad
6 (2 1/4 oz.) Snickers candy bars, chilled
6 apples (Granny Smith and/or Red Delicious)
1 (12 oz.) container Cool Whip
1 (5 oz.) box instant vanilla pudding (dry mix – do not prepare!)
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping or caramel apple dip
1/2 cup chopped honey roasted peanuts
Mix cool whip and dry pudding mix together.
Chop apples and chilled Snickers.
Mix cool whip mixture, apples and Snickers together.
Heat caramel sauce a bit in the microwave- just enough to drizzle, not enough to heat up salad.
Drizzle caramel sauce over salad and sprinkle peanuts on top.
Chill for at least an hour and enjoy!
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