5 Ways To Express Gratitude At Thanksgiving {Gimme Five For Friday}

Thanksgiving is the time of year to bring to mind all of the blessings and reasons to be thankful in our lives.  We spend way too much time focusing on all of the things that we think would make our life complete and sometimes forget just how fortunate we really are. If we have our families and our health, we are truly rich beyond measure.  Here are five ways to express gratitude during the Thanksgiving season:

1.  The Thankful Tree:  A tree with notes of thankfulness on each branch.  This could be notes written only by you or by every member of the family.  What a great feeling to read a note that someone is thankful for you!


2.  Thanksgiving Tablecloth:  This is such a sweet, sentimental way to cherish the memories of Thanksgivings over the years.  Every year, everyone signs the tablecloth (just a king size white sheet) with colored permanent markers and then it is embroidered onto the tablecloth to be there forever.  This family has been doing this for over 30 years. 



3.  Operation Gratitude:  Send a soldier overseas a care package to show your gratitude and support for all they do. There is also a special deal going on  with Hickory Farms for the holidays. Plus, if you “Like” its page on Facebook during the month of November, Hickory Farms will donate $.10 to Operation Gratitude (Max. donation $10,000 valid through 11/30/12).  Please ask all your friends to “Like” the page too — those dimes will add up fast and make a huge difference for our Military!

4. Invite someone unexpected to spend Thanksgiving with you:  While you are obsessing over your new napkin rings, there is probably someone you know who will be spending Thanksgiving alone.  Maybe a coworker or a neighbor that has no family nearby.  Invite them to spend Thanksgiving with you and make their holiday a little brighter while you realize their good company is yet another reason you have to be thankful. 


5. The Thankful Bucket: Fill it up with all of the things you are thankful for.  Then, after everyone has filled up, take turns reading aloud all of the reasons to be thankful.  All of our buckets should be full! 

There are so many ways we can express our gratitude- little acts of kindness towards others, thank you notes, baking goodies, handmade gifts, our prayers.  How will you express your gratitude?  Does your family have any traditions of showing thankfulness? 


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Five Southern Thanksgiving Favorites (Five For Friday)

I know right now you may be thinking of Halloween but I’m dreaming of Thanksgiving!  What’s not to love about this holiday, rich in history, in which we spend time with those we love the most, remember all that we have to be grateful for, and feast on the most delicious meal of the year?

I love the traditional Thanksgiving meal, complete with turkey and dressing (known outside of the South as stuffing).  There is nothing more mouthwatering than seeing a big spread on the table of all your favorite dishes. And there is nothing more comforting than Southern cooking for Thanksgiving. Hey, comfort food is what we do best!  We've been passing down and perfecting our recipes over generations. Our food is one of the many reasons we're famous for our gracious hospitality.   

Here are five great (and easy) recipes for some of the best side dishes and casseroles you can serve, with a Southern flavor.

1.  Christy Jordan’s recipe for cornbread dressing.  This is dressing, not to be confused with that stuff made by Stouffer’s or Pepperidge Farm.  What makes her version extra special is she makes it in the crockpot! 


2.  Traditional Southern Sweet Potato Casserole with roasted miniature marshmallows on top. You can make it with pralines on top if you live anywhere else but if you live in the South, it better have marshmallows.

3.  Paula Deen’s Creamy Macaroni & Cheese, another great crockpot recipe.  The secret behind this is using a can of Campbell’s condensed cheddar cheese soup.

4.  Squash Casserole.  For many years this is what I always brought on Thanksgiving.  This recipe is very similar to what I made except instead of topping with crackers, I covered it in lots of cheese like in the photo below.

5.  Old-fashioned creamed corn.  I can’t tell you how long and hard I had to look to find a good recipe for authentic creamed corn. Just so you know, whole kernel corn sitting in a cream sauce is NOT creamed corn. 



If this is all you served for Thanksgiving (with the turkey, of course), your dinner would be memorable.  But a typical Southern Thanksgiving doesn’t stop there!  First of all, there is often not just a turkey but also a ham.  We also must have giblet gravy and cranberry sauce.  And there is always, always biscuits.  There also needs to be a few more casseroles, including green bean casserole, corn casserole, and anything else we may have that can be turned into a casserole.  Then, probably some greens or butter beans and maybe some mashed potatoes.  And if that is not enough, we will probably have a seven layer salad or fruit salad or macaroni salad.  Then, there are the desserts…
But that’s another post! 

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Five Ways To NOT Get Stressed Out (Gimme Five For Friday)

I spent all day sick in the bed yesterday.  Did I have the flu or a virus?  No.  I was suffering from something that affect us all from time to time:  stress.

I suppose it’s not hard for a mom of five kids who works outside the home, is responsible for all of the housekeeping, shopping, errands, appointments and extra activities, and run a blog and online shop to get stressed out from time to time.  Sometimes I just start to feel like I can’t get it all done.  I get that “overwhelmed” feeling. 
 Eventually, if I keep having that feeling, it leads to anxiety or worse, a splitting headache, nausea, and weakness. I just had to rest and try to let my brain “reset”.  It’s hard to believe something like a little stress can leave you in pain and unable to function.  Luckily, I have a loving partner who was able to handle everything for me that night (from dinner to helping with homework) and since I work with him during the day, give me the day off.
So, how could I have avoided this happening?  If I would have remembered to do these five simple things, I would have been able to relieve some of the stress I was feeling.
 
 
1.  Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew.
This is so much easier said than done.  Don’t overschedule yourself.  Allow plenty of time to get to appointments and to arrive at your destination.  I get so stressed rushing to get kids to one place on time and leaving in time to pick up other kids.  Don’t agree to participate in every event or volunteer for things you know you really don’t have time for.  Delegate tasks to other members of the family.  Even small children can help (and are usually the most willing). Time is more valuable than money.  Spend it wisely.
 

 
2.  Prepare Ahead Of Time
This is one of the easiest things that you can do to allow yourself a little breathing room.  Plan ahead,  gather everything you will need for a task the day before.  For example, if you are going grocery shopping on Thursday, plan to spend some time on Wednesday preparing your meals, list, and coupons.  If you have kids that need you to pick out their clothing (or at least approve their outfits), don’t wait until in the morning to find that skirt you had in mind has a stain in it or there is a hole in your son’s jeans or your daughter’s socks don’t match.  If you are really organized, do laundry on the weekend and plan the week’s wardrobe on Sunday.  If that is too large of a goal, have outfits (including shoes and accessories) ready to go the night before.
 

 
3.  Exercise
This is the best thing to do to relieve stress.  Taking a daily walk or doing yoga regularly can help your body and mind to unwind.  Reducing your everyday stress levels increases your ability to stay calm under pressure.  I have been neglecting this one big time.  I used to walk in the mornings and it was the perfect way to start the day.  I would clear my thoughts and enjoy nature. I also exercised for thirty minutes or more at least three times a week.  It gave me plenty of energy to get through my day.   It helped me rest better at night too.
 

 
4.  Take A Time Out
If you feel that you are about to explode, just step back from the situation.  I used to go lock myself in the bathroom for a few minutes.  I did this to keep from beating my kids senseless or screaming my lungs out.  If you are a mom, you know what I mean.  If you are not able (if you have really small children) to step away, take a deep breath and try to say the alphabet backwards in your head.  Visualize the most relaxing beach or comfy cabin you can and go there in your mind, just for a moment.  Not doing this can often result in saying or doing things you regret.  As parents we need to set an example of controlling our emotions for our children not of blowing up.  Also, make sure to have some time for yourself everyday.  Make it a priority, just as a meal would be. 
 

 
5.  Get Enough Sleep
Nearly a third of Americans are sleep deprived.  This affects our health, well-being, performance, mood, everything!  Don't stay up half the night working on that blog post. (Guilty!) You will be so much better in every way if you just get enough rest.  Your mind and body need it. You are not a machine.  If you do not sleep, you will eventually crash.  Not to mention how cranky you will be.  Did you know that lack of sleep increases the risk for a variety of illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.  So, put all those tasks aside.  Turn the TV, phone, and computer off and catch some ZZZs. 

 
Whether you’re a full-time working mom or a stay-at-home mom, there’s a good chance you are stressed out.  In fact, around 90% of all moms are.  If you are a single mom, you certainly are.  But, even those of us who are married still have most of the responsibilities for our household.  It can be depressing, feeling like so much of the burden is on your shoulders.  But there is nothing more rewarding than being a mom.  Our families and children are a blessing and a gift from God.  I believe God put women in this role simply because we are so strong.  We sometimes forget about that. This is what we were made to do. Remember those beautiful little faces looking up at you.  They are the real reason we do all that we do.  Our children are precious and they don’t stay little long.  Try to treasure these times, even if they are hard, even if they are so frustrating, because you will look back and miss it.  You will wish you could get it back.  These stressful times will be your “good old days”. 
 

 
After I slept for nearly 18 hours (yes, seriously), I felt so refreshed and I felt so much love for my kids.  I felt a peace I hadn’t felt in a while, just because I haven’t let myself.  I was so busy taking care of everything else, I was neglecting myself.  I promised myself then to make sure I did the things I needed to do for me to avoid feeling like that again.  If you find yourself struggling with the same challenges, I urge you to do the same.  Stress can accelerate the aging process, increase the likelihood that you’ll have depression, anxiety, headaches, obesity, diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and gastrointestinal problems.  No one wants that.  You can’t always change the things in your life that cause you stress.  But you can change the way you deal with it. 





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Five Fall Front Porches (Gimme Five For Friday)

One of my favorite things about fall is to see all of the gorgeous front porches decked out for fall.  They are just so warm and welcoming.  They make you want to come inside and enjoy a slice of pumpkin pie or a mug of warm apple cider.  You can create that same welcome home ambience even if you don’t have a lot of money or even a front porch.  You just have to work what you’ve got! 


 I love this porch (same porch as the first picture).  It’s got it all.  I love the corn husks on both sides of the entry.  Bales of hay,bushel baskets, and the scarecrow (hard to make out in this photo) add to the country harvest feel.  The baskets as well as the urns are filled with beautiful mums.  You are just drawn up the steps to the front door by pumpkins that are graduated in size as you go up.  Everything about this design pulls you in and up to the front door and the warm glowing light within.

 This one is similar except this is fall decor that doesn’t include pumpkins.  Lots of vibrant fall color with leaves, mums, gourds,and baskets of apples.  Apples are on the giant wreath and even apples that have been stabbed by pitchforks and rakes.  So much fall goodness!

 
This front porch is so balanced.  Pots of mums and hurricane lamps line the steps alongside small white pumpkins.  Paper lanterns and hanging baskets draw your eye up and the focus in the middle is a beautiful autumn wreath on the door. 


 It just can’t get any more welcoming than this!  Bring out the welcome wagon or wheelbarrow or any type of cart you may have and fill it with gourds, bittersweet and paint a greeting onto a pumpkin.  Or grab an old bike and adorn it with baskets of pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns. 

 Fall branches with beautiful golden leaves, a few pumpkins, and a whispy grapevine wreath make for a simple yet gorgeous entry.

Which picture is your favorite?

Are you welcoming fall at your front door?  I would love to see!

You can share your fall decor and more at Gettin’ Krafty With It on Tuesdays (link stays up until Friday). 

For photo sources and more fall front porches and other fantastic fall inspiration, visit my Fall/Thanksgiving Pinterest board! 

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Five Fun Apple Crafts (Gimme Five For Friday)

Nothing says September is here like apples!  In most places, it is harvest time!  The time of the year to enjoy apple pie and hot apple cider and all of the other yummy things that we get from apples.  Not to mention the fact that it is back to school time and the apple has long been a symbol of knowledge.  So, what more reasons do we need to make some fun apple crafts?
Here are five super easy apple crafts that even the kids can get involved with:

1. Terra Cotta Apple

Children have been bringing an apple to the teacher for years and this is a fun twist on the old tradition.  Start with a small terra cotta pot (3-4 “) and paint it red.  Turn the drainage tray upside down to make a lid.  This is very similar to the acorn I made recently.  Paint an old wooden knob black or brown and glue it to the lid to make a handle that looks like an apple stem.  Use a leaf from an old artificial flower arrangement or make a felt leaf and attach it with glue next to the “stem”. 
 

 
You can then fill it with candies or small supplies like paper clips or erasers and present it to the teacher for a unique gift!


2.  Yarn Apple

This is a very quick and easy craft.  When it comes to crafts, I am all about instant or close to instant gratification.  I used a wooden block but any small item will do (cardboard, whatever) and wrapped it with yarn.  Keep wrapping until you have completely covered the item and you have a rounded shape.

Cut off the yarn and tuck in the end.  Cut a piece of brown pipe cleaner or use a small stick and push it into the top for a stem.  For a leaf, I used a piece of corker ribbon (ribbon that has been curled) and inserted it under the yarn.  I used a toothpick to push it in where it wouldn’t be seen through the yarn. 

You could use more pipe cleaner for the leaves also.  It would be so cute to make a little bucketful of these.


3.  Apple Wreath

This would make a great classroom decoration for back to school.  It is so simple to make with a cardboard ring and paper apples.

  I posted a tutorial here if you’d like to try it.

 
4.  Plastic Bottle Apples

I shared this on Facebook a while back.  This is a great recycling project.  The bottoms of plastic bottles are shaped just like the bottoms of apples. Simply cut off the bottoms and cut a slot to fit two pieces together.  You can paint them, fill them, decorate them.  So fun!  Here is a link to the tutorial from Krototak.

 
5.  Paper Plate Apples

This is from a party that was all about apples!  Use red paper plates and white card stock to make these awesome apples.  Add some seeds with a sharpie marker. 
 

See the details and more great apple ideas from Two Shades Of Pink!

 

 

How about them apples?

 

 
Enjoy them now because everything will be all about pumpkins for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Grab some supplies and make some apples!

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DIY Giant Photo Booth Style Photos

This is another one of those inspired by Pinterest projects.  Ahh...where would we be without Pinterest? I've been dying to do this ever since I was inspired by these two photos.

I first saw this from the film “The Joneses”:

Then, I saw this from Girl In Air:

I knew I wanted to do something similar but I wanted to use pictures of all five of my kids in one column. This is how I did it:

First, I took some close-ups of each of them. While editing my photos I made sure to adjust the shape to square (cd cover) using Picasa and also to add a thick black border.  

 I went online to Staples because you can get black and white engineering prints for only $1.97 each!  The site is not very user friendly.  You have to make an account then log in and upload your photos.  As of right now, I cannot remember my username and password (I hope I figure it out soon)! 

When you search for the photo to upload, you have to start typing in the name of the photo to upload.  So, just a heads up to name your photos and don’t just use numbers or you will have a hard time.  After uploading the photos for the project select black and white prints and 18 x 24 size.  You can choose the larger prints but they cost more.  Also make sure to select to fit to page.  Preview and make any changes needed then go to checkout.  Don’t bother trying to save because I was never able to open up my saved project or go back to it and had to start all over.  For my five prints plus shipping was @ $20. 

After the prints were delivered, I went to Home Depot and bought a piece of 4 ft. x 8 ft. foam board ($11).  The board I got was 1/2'” thick.  I had them cut it in half (2 ft. wide).  I knew that the board would be a little bit too long so I laid out the photos and marked with pencil to determine how much to cut off.  I cut off the excess with a razor knife. 

Then I sprayed the board with spray adhesive and placed the picture on top.  I used my brayer to smooth the photo over the board.

The only problem I ran into is that I ran out of spray adhesive about half way through. Instead of waiting until I got some more, I used mod podge to adhere the photo to the board.  It worked okay but not as well as the spray, especially around the edges and corners.  So, if you do this, make sure you have plenty of spray adhesive!  I left it to dry overnight.

The next morning, I painted the sides and anywhere any white was showing with black acrylic paint.  I left that to dry all day.

I love it! 

The whole thing is about 7.5  feet tall!  I still haven’t mounted it to the wall. I plan on using command strips. They should hold it without putting any holes in the wall.  I just couldn’t wait to show YOU!  I love seeing the kids like this, larger than life. I know in the blink of an eye, this moment will be over and they’ll be grown. 

By the way, this still counts as Five For Friday since there are five pictures and five kids!  Yeah, I can do that. :)

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Five Beauty Products In Your Kitchen (Five For Friday)

I’ve got a post for all you hot mamas out there to keep you looking gorgeous using just what’s in your kitchen cupboard! 

 Let’s face it, beauty products are expensive.  Most of what we’re paying for is that pretty package or the fancy name brand.  The actual stuff it’s made of can sometimes be scary. Not to mention the fact they just don’t deliver on all the promises.  Every time this happens, we go out and buy something else to replace the last thing that didn’t work until we have a whole cabinet full of overpriced, chemical-laden crap that we don’t even use. 

Now, I’m going to give you a list of 5 of the best ordinary ingredients that can do extraordinary things for your appearance:

1. Crisco

Yes, I said Crisco.  Many people think that shortening=lard (animal fat). Actually, the main ingredients in Crisco are soybean and palm oils.  Both of these ingredients are well-known as being great for the skin.  Doctors at Duke University Hospital refer to it as “Cream C”.  Plastic surgeons often recommend crisco because it speeds healing.  Gynecologists have even recommended it for vaginal dryness. (I don’t know if I would go that far!)  It gets rave reviews on Makeup Alley.  many actually refer to it as their “Holy Grail” of skin care and claim that it moisturizes as well as Creme de la Mar (one of the most expensive creams on the market).  Women use it as a cold cream and a makeup remover, as well as an overnight cream.  It can also be used along with your usual moisturizer to help lock in the moisture. It relieves dry, itchy skin and helps with eczema.  It also make a great heat protectant for flat ironing hair.  It is unscented and you can whip it to give it a lighter feel and even add essential oils for fragrance.

2.  Baking Soda

I’m sure you’re probably aware of the whitening benefits of brushing your teeth with baking soda.  But did you know that it works great to deep clean pores and treat acne?  It is also makes a wonderful face and body scrub.  It leaves skin super soft.  Some people like to add it to shampoo once a week to cut down on product buildup and some use it regularly to control dandruff.  I have even heard of it used as a deodorant.  Baking soda has antibacterial properties so it’s perfect for cleaning skin, teeth, and hair.

3.  Coffee

You already love your coffee but now, you’re going to love it so much more when you can use it to reduce cellulite!  Use the grounds alone or make a paste with yogurt that you apply to thighs and wrap with Saran Wrap.  You can also use the grounds (best to use while still warm) as a facial mask to tighten, brighten, and refresh tired, dull skin.  Brew up some dark roast and use as a hair rinse after conditioning to add richness to brunette, auburn, or dark blonde hair. 

4.  Sugar

To get the softest skin ever, use regular granulated sugar.  Sugar produces glycolic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, which is a well known ingredient in many skin care products.  You can make a homemade sugar scrub by combining 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (or other oil such as almond oil, coconut oil, or even baby oil)  and a few drops of your favorite scented essential oil.  The sugar rinses away clean with no stickiness.  All that will remain is baby soft skin.

5.  Extra Virgin Olive Oil

It's not just for cooking a healthy meal.  Some of the best hair care products I have ever used contained olive oil.  The same with skin care.  Why not just go straight to the source and save some serious money?  Make sure you get cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.  By not using heat, all of the nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins are conserved.  It only takes is a few drops to tame frizzy hair and leave it shiny and soft.  Massage EVOO into your cuticles to help moisturize, repair, and protect.  You can use EVOO while shaving for silky smooth skin.  You can wash your face with olive oil because oil dissolves oil.  The oil will carry away unwanted dirt, oil, and other impurities and leave you with clear, dewy looking skin.  It actually helps clear up acne!  Use it as a makeup remover and it will condition your eyelashes too.  It is another one of those things that many women just swear by for moisturizing their skin and hair.    

Have you ever tried any of these natural beauty products?  Do you have one that is your "Holy Grail"?  

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