Cooking and Crafting!

Image credit: bonnetgirls.com
Ahhh the joyous scent of gingerbread cookies and chocolate all in one afternoon really is too much for the senses isn't it??? Actually, not really for us. See I had decided that the kids and I would bake yesterday afternoon, we would sit on the kitchen table and whip up something Christmasy and laugh and joke and have fun............problem is, it didn't quite go that way.

The kids couldn't decide what they wanted to do, one wanted to do Christmas Chocolate Trees and the other was determined to do the Gingerbread cookies, and of course I'm caught in the middle, I can't exactly take one over the other right???

So it becomes an easy decision, at least for me and my sweet tooth who was jumping for joy at this moment....Well, you make both of course!

The ingredients came out, the icing, the paintbrushes and the color pallettes, the baking pans and the gumdrops and everything else we would need. No amount of work is too much when you see their faces, their laughs and their giggles and the excitement, boy you would think they have never set foot in a kitchen.

Curt came home in the middle of all this and was only too happy to jump right in and decorate some gingerbread cookies too and the funny thing??? He's actually better at it than any of us LOL
He made the 2 in the bottom right corner, the boy and the girl, how adorable are those???


Here's the christmas cakes, the kids each got their own and decorated it whichever way they wanted, it turned out that they didn't really care about color or sprinkles, the only questions we heard over and over was "can we eat now?", "are they ready?", "can I try it to make sure it's good?".


The earlier part of the day I had spent sewing, let me tell you something, you don't really realize how much you miss your sewing machine until you sit down, hit the pedal and see the beautiful stitches coming out, then suddenly your mind is overwhelmed with ideas and thoughts and the next project that you can't wait to get going on. My fingers literally ITCH to start another one.

I'm working on Jasmine's doll for Christmas, I don't really know exactly what it will look like it's one of those "plan as you go" projects and it's pretty fun............while I was working on hers, I was also working on Nicholas' little Blue's Clues doll and I have to tell you, it turned out darn cute. It's not a traditional one of course, it's homemade and it has hand sewn spots and mouth and eyes etc.....it took me about an hour from start to finish so it's not bad at all.

I also finished sewing and stuffing the Snowmen Ornaments, I am going to leave the twig arms out though because for the life of me I can NOT find twigs around here......seriously, what is going on??? Who took all the twigs at Luke AFB??? LOL

Here's the pile waiting to be finished and embroidered and then all that's left is to finally hang them on the tree.

I was looking through some of my favorite crafty blogs out there and one of the ladies had posted this photo. This is near where she lives and is a place that she goes to with her family for picnics and to enjoy the scenery. How I wish I had this view everyday of my life, it's so serene and just beautiful, truly reminding of how amazing our Lord is.

I can just imagine waking up every morning and sipping my coffee while looking out at this spectacular sight. Pure joy!!!

I snapped this picture of Lola and Nicholas, he's watching tv and she's just sitting there on the arm of the couch, I just love catching the pugs doing what they do best.........being cute as all heck.


Well my sewing machine is calling me and I just recently got reacquainted so I can't ignore her can I?

Before I leave though, can I ask my usual readers, you know the ones that comment frequently.....can you please email me at bourlandcs@msn.com with your addresses???
Barb, Elizabeth, Sherry and Eden, I already have your cards on the way though, so no need to resend your addy's :)

Sewing Curtains for the Living Room
Working on Jasmine's Rag Doll
Finishing the Snowmen Ornaments
Mailing out Christmas Cards



Mr St. Nick - 1pm on Lifetime
Under the Mistletoe - 3pm on Lifetime
Private Practice - 8pm on ABC
Comfort and Joy - *Christmas Movie* at 10pm on Lifetime (I'll be recording this one to watch the next morning)



For lunch we're having Grilled Cheese and Tomato sandwiches, chips and Iced Tea.

Dinner is Chicken Spaghetti from the Pioneer Woman Cooks....I'm so excited to try this one I just can't wait.

Homemade gifts for the family!

Usually we buy all the gifts for our children but this year we're saving up for our trip to South Africa and really don't want to blow the budget, let's also not forget that every year we tend to overdo it in presents and half the time within a few days they're forgotten, just added to the toy boxes or shelves in their rooms, only to come out once a year if they're lucky enough to be played with.

So I decided that I would go ahead and make some homemade Christmas gifts for the kids and hubby. For Curtis I'm going to make him a basket with different snacks, beer, a movie etc. He loves playing computer games and he loves watching movies, so I think this would be the perfect gift basket for either one of those hobbies.
Since I know he doesn't read my blog now that he's back on the Flight Line, I can safely discuss here without ruining the surprise.

Here's two ideas for the baskets:

Movie Buff Basket

Old Movies that he likes - War Movies, Vampires, Action etc
Popcorn
20 oz. bottled soda - Root Beer or Coke etc
Candies
Gift Certificate for Blockbuster
Movie magazine

Gamer Basket

Computer or video games
Small bag of chips
Slim Jim pack
20 oz. bottled soda or even a beer
Gaming magazine
Gift certificate to a Gaming Store

The kids are each getting a Gift Basket too, Jasmine is into Fairies so I'm thinking a basket with:

Book on Fairies
Glitter lip gloss
Diary with lock and key
Tinkerbelle bookmark
Notecard set
Plastic comb and mirror set
Candies

Nicholas loves Scooby Doo, Dora, Blue's Clues and Toy Story so I'm going with:

A book on either one of these themes
Small stuffed toy
Craft or playdough set for one of these themes
Coloring Book
Candies

The possibilites are endless and it can even be items from the Dollar Store. I mean really, the kids don't care where it comes from!


For Jasmine and Nicholas I've also decided to give them each a few homemade things. Jasmine is getting a rag doll that I'm working on, Nicholas wants a Blue's Clues handmade doll, so we'll see how that one goes.
They're each also getting their own Hot Chocolate Mix and Cookies or Fudge, all with their own names and labels so there's no more fighting over who gets what or "why does he always have to have what I want?" whining. LOL

Oh Curt is getting some Fudge and Cookies too.

Hot Chocolate Mix

Ingredients
1 8-quart box powdered milk
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
15 ounces powdered chocolate drink mix
8 ounces non-dairy coffee creamer
Mini marshmallows (optional)

Instructions
1. Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Use 1/3 cup of mix per 8 ounces of hot water.
2. For a unique taste, use a flavored coffee creamer, such as vanilla or Irish cream.

There ya have it, that's my ideas for some homemade gifts for the family, they're inexpensive and they're made with love, what's better than that???

We're also making some Reindeer Food to sprinkle outside the house on Christmas Eve, we have to make sure that Santa sees our house right???

1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup red or green sugar crystals (as used for cake decorating)

Be sure to take this magic food and sprinkle on the lawn,
On Christmas, Santa's reindeer travel miles before the dawn.
The smell of oats and glitter path will guide them on their way
And you'll wake up to Santa's gifts next morn on Christmas Day!

And here's some printable Magic Reindeer Food Tags. I use the small baby food jars for this, but I've also used little baggies, include the little tag and there ya go :)

I just started my new Madeline Hunter book "By Design" and I'm only about 5 pages in and already loving it. There's nothing like discovering a new author and then realizing that you have so many of her books to get through, it's like being a kid and being told that for the next year you can go into the candy store and try whatever candy you want. That's how I am with books, truly truly an obsession I have to say. Throw me in a book store and give me a cup of coffee and then let me be, I promise I will be the happiest person you've ever seen.



Here's some new books that I'm hoping Santa will bring:

Lori Foster - Servant The Awakening
I'm a HUGE HUGE Lori Foster fan, if you've been reading my blog for a while you know that I used to work with her by making graphics for her Cafepress store and Writers Get togethers etc. I love her work and now she's going a bit different, well actually a LOT different, she just published her recent work which is not a romance novel per say, here's what she says:

For you romance readers, yep, there's a romance. Even my dark side can't conjure up a book without some sexy romance in there. There's also fun banter, a hunky hero, and lots of excitement.

There are also paranormal elements and some gore, thus the L. L. Foster name. It's still me, just my initials.

Nicholas Sparks - The Choice

Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life - boating, swimming , and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies -- he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, THE CHOICE ultimately confronts us with the most heartwrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

Jan Karon - Home to Holly Springs

The beloved Episcopal priest returns to his childhood town of Holly Springs, Miss., where he reconnects with old friends and battles some old demons. The novel is thick with Father Tim's past, as Karon uses flashbacks to shed light on his early adulthood, especially his transition to seminary. In Holly Springs, his penchant for getting near strangers to open up to him—and his earnest, moving reflections on faith, prayer and the risks of love—are reassuringly present. His wife, Cynthia, is on stage far less than he, but when she appears, she is charming and insightful, as usual.

Finishing up the Jar Mixes
Working on Jasmine's Rag Doll
Sweeping and Mopping the Floors
Washing the bed linens and remaking the beds
Dusting


A very cool Christmas - 1pm on Lifetime
Christmas on Chestnut Street - 3pm on Lifetime
Holiday Wishes - 10pm on Lifetime



Dinner tonight is Barbecue Ribs, Corn on the Cob and Mashed Potatoes.

Hate, HATE shopping on the holidays!

This is the reason why I refuse to participate in the Black Friday sales. I have absolutely no patience for the big crowds, the impatient people, the traffic and the push and prod as you try to get through a store. Then there's the ones that just stand in the middle of the store causing a huge traffic jam while they stare aimlessly at NOTHING and babble on the little borg looking cellphones. NO.PATIENCE.PEOPLE!!!

Anyway, most of the kids presents are bought, the christmas cards are almost ready to mail out and pretty soon I can just sit back and enjoy....for now, there's still stress and the last minute rush coupled with trying to figure out just what my husband wants for Christmas. Are all men this hard to buy for???

While out shopping this weekend, we stopped at the World Market and boy was I happy to find some favorites of mine from back home.
I'm sure my family will laugh when they see this:


Oh yeah baby, Crunchie, Flakes, Aero......*drool*

Anyway, before we went shopping we stopped at Curt's squadron, they were having a little Christmas get together for the kids, they had a jumping castle, some retired Air Force members playing Christmas songs with bells.....some snacks and drinks and Curt's Jet was on display next to a Christmas tree for families to get pictures taken. Problem is, we left before we got a chance to take ours, but I was able to snap one of the kids and you can see Curt's name on the Jet.


It was raining and cold that morning and as we were standing in the hangar, the kids and I looked outside and spotted a rainbow across the sky, right above the flight line Jets. Isn't that beautiful??? There's something so magical about rainbows!


I just finished adding my menu for this week as well as a recipe for Slow Cooker 3 beans and Sausage.


While I'm talking of food, I'm so excited cause Kelli's Winter Seasonal Delights Magazine just came out today, you won't believe the amazing food and crafts and goodies that she has in there, I've already gone through all of it and now I plan on going back to make the crafts and the recipes included. Again Kelli, AWESOME AWESOME job!

I have to tell you guys, I've been loving tv lately. Did you all watch Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters last night?!?!?!? Oh my gosh, they were sooooooo good.
But what I've really been enjoying lately are all the Christmas movies on tv, I watched quite a few on Lifetime yesterday and there were some good ones this afternoon too, but tonight we have "A Dad for Christmas".

Nineteen-year-old Matt is stunned; his girlfriend has arranged for a couple to adopt their newborn baby. Unable to stop the adoption from happening but just as unable to imagine giving up his son, Matt spirits the infant away from the hospital. But the father soon ends up in court, where it's up to the judicial system and the child's mother to decide where the newborn's home lies.

Tomorrow on Lifetime you can watch:

A very cool Christmas
Christmas on Chestnut Street
Holiday Wishes

I've got some other projects going on here, still trying to finish all the Snowmen Ornaments and I also have a Rag Doll that I'm making for Jasmine for Christmas plus a little Blue's Clues doll for Nicholas......OH and the jar mixes and fudge and cookies and stuff that I need to make for gifts for the teachers and friends etc. I just hope I have the time to get it all done!

Anyway, I'm heading out for the night, the laundry is all washed and put away, the dishes are done and the living room is clean. I'm going to indulge in a hot bubbly bath with my next book. I just finished "By Possession" last night and just like the first in the series, I really enjoyed it, now I'm starting on "By Design" can't wait.

I leave you with a couple pics of my little Christmas village and the outside decorations, we're keeping it very simple this year, just a few icicle lights around the house and a snowman and some reindeer. Plain and Simple but gets the point across and no matter how much I try to get a good picture with the camera, unless you're seeing it in person it just doesn't do it justice.


God Bless.

The grocery shopping has been done, the bills have

been paid and now I'm gearing up for Christmas shopping tomorrow. Now I don't always do this, as a matter of fact, this is EARLY for me, I'm one of those shoppers that loves the rush, the adrenaline pumping shopping that comes with realizing that you are 1 week or a few days away from Christmas and have yet to buy a single present. Crazy???? I think so but I don't know what it is about being out there doing last minute shopping that really brings home the holidays for me.

Anyway, I decided to try it differently this year, so tomorrow we're hitting the stores. What's funny is that even though hubby and I both drive we like doing it together, we only go alone for each other's gifts, when it comes to the kids we go together WITH the kids. Ahhhh but you may wonder just how that is possible???? Easy, we hit the stores and switch off kids as we go, let's say me and Nicholas go buy Jasmine's stuff while Curt and Jasmine get some of Nic's......then we go to the next store and switch over, I will take Jas and he takes Nic. It's fun!

We've decided to set a budget this year and not go over it no matter how much we want to. It's so easy to get carried away and end up spending a small fortune on each kid. One thing we do is buy gifts for each kid and then buy some for them together........stuff that they will both enjoy doing.

Here's an example of some of the items that I'm looking at so far, just some ideas for joint gifts.

Kids:

Moon Sand Kit - My kids are fascinated with moon sand
Motosea Plug and Play - Something I know they will have a blast playing
Playdough Kit - Who doesn't love play dough?
Cranium Superfort Carnival Clubhouse - This is the only thing that they've begged for
Land Before Time "The Wisdom of Friends" - They LOVE Land Before Time
Five Little Monkeys Board Game - They love board games and this would be fun for them
Books - Here's a list of the best Christmas Children's books

As you can see I have a list of just a few items that I know the kids like or want and from there I can pretty much buy anything similar, doesn't mean it has to be exactly the same.

Last night I got into bed and since all my shows were reruns I was happy that my Netflix movies had come in. I had been waiting for so long to see Georgia Rule so it was the perfect opportunity. I LOVED IT.......really truly LOVED IT!

It was such a good movie and I'm not a Lindsay Lohan fan by all means, but this movie was really good. It's a good story, it's heartbreaking at some points and funny at others and it's filmed in Hull, Idaho. LOL
I know I know, I miss Idaho but seeing it in the movie made me miss it even more LOL

Anyway, if you're interested in learning more about the movie, go here for the story or here for the trailer.

Tonight we're all sitting down as a family to watch The Santa Clause 3......can't wait!

It's actually raining right now and it feels good. It's been a long time, now that I think about it, it's only rained once since we moved here back in July, can you believe that???

So it's humid and raining and cloudy and dark and I'm loving it, I have a sweater on and sweat pants with my little winter booties. Hahaha, I know, it sounds weird but I just love them and knowing that there's not many cold days here in Arizona, I always welcome a chance to wear them.

The kids are begging me for some so I'll have to ask my stepmom and my grandmother back in South Africa to make them a pair. I don't know how to, they made mine for me LOL

I'm off to do some housework and then cuddle on the couch with Nicholas for a bit before Jasmine and Curtis get home.

Have a wonderful friday, God Bless,

Christmas Gift Ideas and some other thingies!

It actually feels like winter today, it's cold and cloudy outside, the house is dark save for the christmas tree lights, a couple candles and a few very soft lights around the house and I LOVE it. Now where's my next book to read????

I have to tell you I finished my third book last night, I did the bookaholic thing, got into the book around 9pm and didn't stop until I was done, which happened to be at almost midnight. I am tired today but you know it was well worth it when a book is good.

I finished "By Arrangement" a 14th century book by Madeline Hunter and I loved it.

Outraged by her unwilling betrothal to a common merchant and infatuated with a handsome knight of the royal court, medieval Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn pleads with her fianc? to end this misalliance arranged by King Edward of England. For personal and political reasons of his own, David de Abyndon refuses to renounce the marriage and begins a gentle but resolute seduction of his innocent bride. As Christiana awakens to the painful realities of her first love and becomes a part of David's London world, she learns to cherish the husband she first despised. David tries to shield her from his old enemies and a mysterious French familial connection as he secretly assists King Edward in planning an invasion of France. This first novel in a planned trilogy intertwines the difficulties of David and Christiana's marriage with a subplot that contains both political and personal peril as well as a lively cast of secondary characters. Just enough historical detail of 14th-century England enhances a love story that culminates in the sacking of a French city and the revelation of David's true identity.

The next books to follow this one are "By Possession" and "By Design" which I have and of course am going to read next.

Yesterday I mentioned going to Africa and I think I got some of you confused with the way I worded it, I am NOT going there for Christmas, I'm going next year May. For some reason I made it sound like it was only a month away, maybe wishful thinking???? Who knows!

I can't wait though, I know time will fly by and before long I will be on an airplane heading home to Johannesburg, seeing my wonderful family, going to Kruger National Park and hopefully Mozambique where I was actually born. I think it would be great if Curt and the kids could get to visit my birth country.

Anyway......sorry for the confusion.

I also mentioned The Cinnamon Bear and gave you a link, well this morning I had a comment from The Erskine Family mentioning that I should direct you to The Cinnamon Bear main page so that you can get ALL 26 episodes, not just the first 6 audio files. YIPPEE! I'm already there and can't wait to start playing these for my kids....we've decided to start on December 1st and listen to one at a time every day through the 26th. I just hope I can keep the kids away from the rest of the story!

Now for some Christmas ideas, I'm trying really hard not to overspend this holiday. With the upcoming trip to Africa we need to save almost $6000 just for the air tickets themselves, so no wasting money on unnecessary stuff. Christmas is one of those holidays where I feel that everyone tends to go way overboard and personally I prefer homemade gifts, so I'm trying to cut down on expenses.

I've been searching around for some ideas and here's some I found:

1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Child's artwork, framed
3. Journal with special inscription inside
4. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
5. Pretty Stationary set
6. Home baked bread, in pretty inexpensive tins, include recipe
7. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
8. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds in a pretty basket
9. Special coffee cup filled with candy
10. Movie theater gift certificates
11. Board games
12. Specialty cookbook
13. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
14. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes
15. Puzzles
16. Personalized cookbook

Now if you're also looking for some great sites with wonderful inexpensive items, you may want to take a look at these, I just get lost there especially with so many cute victorian and such items.

Collectionsect.com
Lakeside Collection
Harriet Carter
Klutz - This one has some great toys and gifts for kids that are inexpensive and just adorable

And those are just a few to look through, I have to say that the Collections ETC is my favorite one though :)

Again, if you're looking for my Slow Cooking Thursday post, it's just below. Have a wonderful thursday everyone, I'll be back tomorrow!