Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Hostess appreciation, I think every hostess enjoys even a small token of appreciation, and not just during the holiday season. Most of us will be visiting friends and family during the Christmas season and I want to encourage you to find a little something to take.
Speaking of giving, I want to invite you to enter a FABULOUS give away.
My friend Karen Ehman is doing herI'll be featured this Sunday, December 4.Log on to Karen's site everyday to be entered in her give away.
Now, back to hostess gifts...
I'm always on the hunt for things to add to my gift drawer and here are a few things I've added to my hostess gift collection.
Remember, your gesture of appreciation doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive.
Here are a few suggestions.
Fragrant Candles. I especially like giving this particular fragrance during the Christmas season.
I actually found a few of these on clearance at the end of last year.
Thymes - Fir fragrance
Paperwhites. You can plan them in any container yourself or you can purchase a DYI kit for your hostess to enjoy planting with their family.
Monogrammed paper napkins. Anything monogrammed really.
A decorative tray filled with a homemade cheese ball. Add some packaged crackers and a spreader.
I'd love to hear what you like to give or receive as hostess gifts.
Monday, November 28, 2011
Happy Thinking my lovelies
Friday, November 25, 2011
Happy Post Turkey Day friends,
Perhaps you're spending your day like this, shopping for all those Black Friday deals...
Or maybe, you're still sleeping off your turkey coma.
You might be getting a head start on your Christmas decorating...
NOT ME...
I'm at home cooking again today.
I'm getting ready for the last NC State home game tailgate party.
Check out one yummy dessert from Tyler Florence for the
I think I'll be adding this one to our menu.
Happy post turkey day!!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Happy Thanks giving my lovelies,
Here are are few ideas for your tables and our recipe for Greek stuffing.
Here's how we enjoy stuffing. I hope you enjoy it too. Greek Traditional Turkey with Chestnut and Pine Nut Stuffing | |
INGREDIENTS:
| 1 cup chestnuts 2/3 cup butter 1/4 cup orange juice 1/4 cup tangerine juice 2/3 cup lemon juice 1 (10 pound) whole turkey salt and ground black pepper to taste 1/2 pound ground beef 1/2 pound ground pork | 1/4 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup uncooked instant rice 1/4 cup pine nuts 1/4 cup raisins (optional) 1/3 cup butter 1/2 cup chicken broth 2 tablespoons brandy 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper |
DIRECTIONS:
| 1. | Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). |
| 2. | Make a small incision on sides of each chestnut, and place in a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until toasted. Remove from heat, peel, and chop. |
| 3. | Melt 2/3 cup butter in a saucepan, and mix in the orange juice, tangerine juice, and lemon juice. Rub the turkey inside and out with the mixture, reserving some for basting. Season turkey with salt and pepper. |
| 4. | In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, ground pork, and onion until beef and pork are evenly brown and onion is tender. Drain grease. Mix in the rice. Stir in the chestnuts, pine nuts, raisins, 1/3 cup butter, broth, and brandy. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Continue cooking until all liquid has been absorbed. Stuff all turkey cavities with the mixture, and tie in place with kitchen twine. |
| 5. | Place turkey on a rack in a roasting pan, and loosely cover breast and thighs with aluminum foil. Pour about 1/4 inch water into the bottom of the pan. Maintain this level of water throughout cook time. Roast turkey in the preheated oven 3 to 4 hours, brushing occasionally with remaining butter and juice mixture. Increase oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) during final hour of roasting, and remove foil. Cook turkey to a minimum internal temperature of 170 degrees F. |
Monday, November 21, 2011
Happy Monday my lovelies,
I found this on a decorating blog I enjoy so much and find great spiritual and decorating inspiration.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Isaiah 5:11, “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and SORROW AND MOURNING SHALL FLEE AWAY!”
Friday, November 18, 2011
Happy Weekend Lovelies!
I'm wishing you a weekend filled with relaxation and some "you time"
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Oh Lovelies,
I'm so excited to share this amazing project my sweet friend Gwen has put together for me.
Gwen is one of those sweet friends that will help you with anything!!
She is not only gracious and precious, she is one of the most talented women I know.
She can see beauty in anything and everything, no matter how worn or torn it might be.
I've had a large white pre-lit wreath for years, but never knew quite how to decorate it.
I've hung this wreath is different rooms over the years and dressed it in a number of different colors and themes, but I think you will agree that what Gwen has put together
is well... just stunning.
BUT wait, here's the BEST part.
Gwen only spent $24.00. That's right friends, Gwen put this together for less than $25.00.
How did she do that?
Gwen volunteers at a local Habitat Restore and regularly shops our GoodWIll stores where she finds the most wonderful treasures.
That's where Gwen found everything for my wreath.
Before I reveal Gwen's FABULOUS handiwork... think about the spiritual application of what
my friend Gwen did for me.
Seeing beauty in the worn, tattered and torn.
Scouring the "forgotten" and "thrown away" for treasures.
Scooping up throw "aways" to be used for something beautiful.
Isaiah 43:19"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (NIV)
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Isaiah 64:8
“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter;
and all we are the work of Your hand.” (NIV)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Hello my lovelies,
I put this together in literally three minutes.
The bowl is something I use everyday on my kitchen table, it's usually
filled with Japanese fishing floats.
Today I added six battery operated LED candles that came with a remote.
I found these at Marshall's Home Goods.
I added colorful strings of beads from Target and leftover ornaments.
Voila!! Instant decor.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Happy Tuesday my lovelies,
It's that time of year again...
You know what I'm referring to, that time of year when each of us drags out the boxes and bins in order to make our home lovely and festive just in time for the holidays.
I did that just yesterday. I'm a bit under the weather and I needed to stay home most of the day waiting for a repairman to arrive, so... I began decorating our home for the holidays.
One thought kept coming to mind as I wrestled with the lights, garland and ornaments.
"Do I spend as much time on my interior "spiritual" life as I do making our home lovely and festive?"
What about you friend, as you begin getting your home ready for family and festivities, how is your "interior life"?
As you ponder your answer, here's another quick recipe to add to your holiday cookbook.
Easiest Cream Cheese Dip 
Ingredients:
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
24 ounces salsa
Directions:
Pour half of the salsa into a food processor, add the softened cream cheese and then add the remaining salsa.
Blend until all cream cheese and salsa is mixed well.
*Refrigerate the dip for 2 to 3 hours before serving. You can make this up to three days before needed.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Serve with cut veggies, crackers, tortilla chips or top potato skins with a dollop of dip.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Happy Monday my lovelies,
The Armed and Dangerous Conference with the precious ladies at Crossover Community Church in High Point was more wonderful than words could ever express.
Linda Pendry and all the ladies on her team truly gave their all to make this conference just fabulous. I can't thank everyone enough for all of your sacrificial and hard work; I know the Lord was honored by the work of your hands.
A million thank yous for treating me so royally and welcoming me and Tom so warmly.
Rhonda Love, you are named perfectly sister; I can't recall the last time so much love and hospitality was lavished upon Tom and me.
I can't wait to see you and Linda at She Speaks 2012.
Preparing for battle begins on our knees.
What an absolute blessing to meet "Purple Grandma" with her sweet family.
If you want to meet some of God's best girls, you have got to meet this family.
Check out Tammy, her mom Kathy, Rhonda Love, me and Linda Pendry.
These ladies are but a few of the powerful team at
Here's a yummy recipe to add to you November menu.
Pumpkin Dip
Mix:
Two blocks cream cheese, softened
4 C. powdered sugar
Add in:
30 ounces canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ginger
Place in a bowl or small pie pumpkin (not a jack-o-lantern pumpkin) that has had the top cut off and been hollowed out.
Serve with apple slices or gingersnaps, graham crackers or vanilla wafers.
2 Corinthians 1:4
(NIV)
(God) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Hi lovelies,
I'm busy preparing to speak to the awesome ladies at the Crossover Community Church Retreat "Dare to be Armed and Dangerous" in High Point, NC beginning tomorrow.
I can't wait to share all the blessings we will witness.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Are you an always on the "go" kind of girl?
Always being on the "go" means it takes some effort and intention to "be still".
Share your experience with choosing to be still and the results that followed.
These images always foster my stillness.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Happy Monday my lovelies,
I've been in a cleaning, organizing and donating mood lately.
How wonderful to find "long lost" items hiding in the back of closets and dresser drawers, but what has been even more rewarding is to letting things go.
I mean how many pair of black slacks does a girl really need?
Are you holding on to something unnecessarily?
How is that decision affecting the way you live your life?
Maybe your closets and dresser drawers are neat, tidy and organized; perhaps
you're holding onto something from your past.
Maybe you're holding onto a grudge or maybe bitterness is cluttering your mind and your heart.
If you are, I want to encourage you to consider:
Close your eyes - Pray and ask the Lord to help you...
Clear your heart - To make room for the peace of Christ.
Let it go - To experience the wholeness you're longing for.
Please check out Lisa Whittle's newest book [W]holeI recently completed a study of [W]hole with Lisa Whittle and a group of extraordinary women. Each of us discovered things hiding in our own spiritual closets and [Whole] offers the encouragement to deal with them.
As you ponder your decision, check out these inspirational dream closets.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Zephaniah 3:17, For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
Friday, November 4, 2011
Happy Weekend my lovelies,
I'm off to spend the day with one of my sweetest friends. Nancy is preparing for her destination wedding next week, and she's been very gracious to carve out some girl time for me.
Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is only 20 days away, so get your Thanksgiving decorating juices flowing, check out these tablescapes.
