Blogmas Day 3: Our Thanksgiving in review

Yesterday's bake goodies activities; I decided to be a good girl and not make the full of sugar pancakes for my breakfast, instead I made healthy ones out of almond flour. I am currently trying to cut out gluten. They were gross and I was slightly disappointed, I plan on trying a different recipe in the near future. Actually a friend (wholesomelyfit) posted some chocolate peanut butter, gluten free, veagan ones I want to try! Yesterday's advent activity was to bake goodies, I decided we would make our popcorn bark or mix or whatever you want to call it. Wednesdays we have a book study group come over so I thought it would be the perfect snack for tonight. Mackenzie loved helping make it, and it's a super easy one to make. You can view how I make it  here, but basically you fill a lined cookie sheet with chex cereal, popcorn, pretzels and drizzle white chocolate on it. Then add other fun toppings, we did one with graham crackers, mini chocolate chips, and mini marshmallows for a smore's flavor, and one with eggnog candy corn I got from Winco.

Today's advent activity is to watch a Christmas movie. Easy request to fill except when we actually have to pick one movie!

Here is the scripture we are reading for the day. I hope you and your family are enjoying these scriptures too.

Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
    and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling[a] together;
    and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
    their young will lie down together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious

Here are how all the Thanksgiving decorations turned out. I did back out of the coffee filter poms, which made me sad. I realized I just didn't have time to make them. I am thinking Christmas but, not super sure. I really love the look of them.

As usual once the fun started I put down my phone and forgot to take pictures. Mondo borrowed a turkey fryer from a guy at work. O my! That turned out to be one of the best turkeys ever. I think I need to buy him one as a Christmas gift so we can have more fried turkey!! Everybody loved the turkey and it cooked in half the time. If you haven't tried fried turkey I would recommend it!! We had lots of food including Whole 30 butternut squash apple soup, garlic mashed potatoes, individual candied yams, homemade cranberry sauce and so much more!! For dessert my mom and I made a bunch of mini pies, my sister in law brought peanut butter brownies with a whipped peanut butter topping, and my aunt brought ice cream. It was enough to put you in a sugar coma. After dinner we sat and looked at black friday ads plotting our shopping and then after dessert everyone left to get rested up for SHOPPING!! More on black friday later.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving too!! I will see you tomorrow but, don't forget to enter to win free lularoe leggings, here!!

Thanksgiving decor and food!

One day at work a guy asked me what I was in charge of for Thanksgiving, I proudly responded; "Decorating!". He laughed and laughed and laughed. He told me that Thanksgiving was about the food, Christmas and Halloween were for decorating but Thanksgiving was for the food. I explained that the food doesn't taste as good if the room doesn't look as pretty! So here is how I plan on decorating for Thanksgiving. I will take pictures when I have everything set up to show you how it turned out.

To start off my mom's house has these two huge walkway openings that are screaming for decorations.  I plan on making these coffee filter pom pom's to hang from there.

Show me cute

I have been currently working on these Paper Bag Flowers to hang on the wall in the dining room.

Pinterest

For the table I like to keep it simple, you do have to have lots of room for food. I typically do a butcher paper table cloth to keep clean up easy, this year I think I will go with white table cloth with Paper bag placemats, crayons and newspaper leaves.

Pinterest

Pinterest

Pinterest

You can see how I have decorated in the past and my tips for a stress free holiday here! 

The Silverware printables, I plan on putting crayons in not silverware.

Now this is the holiday of lots of food and Mondo and I are helping cook. We are in charge of the turkey, he wants to fry it, and cornbread stuffing. Mondo always makes sweet potatoes because nobody else will make them with marshmallows. We also started a new tradition a couple years ago of serving soup with dinner.  I think I want to make this butternut apple one from whole 30 recipes Instagram. My mom and I are planning making mini pies so you can not feel so guilty for trying all the pies. Our list is pumpkin (duh!), apples, pecan, lemon meringue and these cranberry cheesecakes! This is also to add all the food everyone else is bringing, my sister in law and Aunt plan on bringing dessert too! Every holiday or party I always like to make a mocktail, it is so much fun! This Thanksgiving I plan on making this one, cranberry punch. Although, this cranberry pineapple looks yummy too. 

Which one do you vote for?

I can't wait to see and taste all this yummy food. Wednesday while mom and I are baking pies I think I need to taste test each one, you know make sure the mini version tastes as good as the full size!! What do you plan on making for Thanksgiving? Any favorite recipes??

Don't forget to check back Dec. 1st for the 25 days of blogmas and a giveaway!

Dorinda

Heart Ponders

Here are a few things that have been on my mind the past few weeks.

1. Prayer. I have been feeling a calling and drawing to spend more time in prayer. Not just my fleeting one sided conversations that go on through the day but, to sit at His feet and hear Him speak to my heart. The books by E.M. Bounds have been fueling this desire. With it has come a hunger for His Word. I know that He speaks to us through His Word so, I am constantly reading it, I started a one year bible study in my logos app. I no longer listen to the radio but instead sermons and teachings. I desire to be a true prayer warrior, like in the bible the ones Kings called on to get their prayers answered.

2. Thanksgiving. I got the book 1,000 gifts for Christmas. I am only half way through but, it is about one woman's journey seeking Thankfulness. I have started my list of 1,000 things. Every night I write down 3 and reflect on the day. I thank Him for the day He has given me! Did you know before each miracle Jesus gave thanks! Thanks is the answer to our troubles!

3. Worries. My mom has always told me I was great at the what if game. As I grew I got better! Although no one wins at the What if game, God reminded me that my worries are lack of Faith in Him. So, I remind myself not to worry for God is good!

4. Being a woman. This fueled by the women's tea I am speaking at, at end of February. I want to be the Woman God has called me to be! I am woman hear me Roar! I have special giftings and talents only a woman can use. I want to use those to better my family, this world and to spread His love.

These are few of the things my heart has been pondering and I wanted to share them with you. What are your heart's ponders?

Next week Valentine goodies!!

apparently Max likes fritos and pb!

Dorinda

Thanksgiving goodies!!

Yay!! It's a day of thanks!! I love Thanksgiving! And not just for the shopping the day after. I love being around family!! I also love all the FOOD!!

So here is a quick treat that has become a family favorite and I am sure yours will love it too. You are probably thinking; wait a minute I already have a ton of cooking to do and you suggest I add another!! Why, yes, yes I do!! HEHE!! This stuff is that good that I know you will love it!! It is so simple to make you can tell hubby to make it. Wait, who am I kidding like he will make it! Okay, pass it off to the kids. Wait, another bad idea, they will either a; eat it all before it's made or b; make a HUGE mess. You better make it!!

Before I give you the instructions I feel I should give a warning, okay, 3 warnings.

1. This stuff is highly addicting. You may have to make a new batch daily.

2. It's is super simple which only adds to the addicting behavior, you don't mind making another batch because it is too easy to make.

3. This is way fun to make. Inspires a lot of creativity. Which adds to the addicting behavior as well as the easiness. You probably have all the ingredients. 

With that said go ahead, make it. I Dare You!! I Triple Dog Dare You!!

Supplies:

2 cupsish Chex cereal

2 cupsish pretzels (I prefer sticks)

2 cupsish popcorn (I prefer airpopped, but you can do microwave)

3 cupsish melted white chocolate (I prefer white)

2 cupsish candy (for mine pictured I used holiday candy corn and marshmallows, I have used m&m's and sprinkles)

bowl to melt chocolate

spoon to drizzle chocolate

cookie sheet

parchment or waxed paper

Take your cookie sheet and cover with parchment paper.

Pop popcorn

Melt chocolate until it drizzles

cover cookie sheet with chex cereal

Drizzle some chocolate

cover next layer with pretzels and popcorn

Drizzle chocolate

Scatter candy

Drizzle last of chocolate

(add sprinkles)

Let harden

Break up into chunks serve

Some people have added flavoring to the chocolate. That would be yummy!!

Here is how my second batch turned out!!

Enjoy!!! And don't forget tomorrow is Black Friday!!

P.s. Should I do blogmas again??

Turkey, turkey here I come,

Dorinda

Black Friday!! Survival Bag

I know my mom did a post on Black Friday and her survival guide. I figured I would do one a little different. My survival guide deals with my choice of clothes and the bag. So, let's jump right in!!

The outfit: plan the outfit the day before. I say day because the night will get busy and you will just want to crawl right into bed. So, the sooner the better. I recommend comfortable, cute, loose. NOT PAJAMA'S!! I know my mom said that in hers and that it is tempting but, come afternoon while you still are shopping if you are in your pj's you will feel tired and lazy. No, longer wanting to continue your fun day. Looking cute you will want a cup of coffee but, to continue this adventure and not waste an outfit.

My go-to outfit is; leggings, tank top, loose t-shirt dress or sweater tunic, boots, scarf, thick socks. Reasoning behind each piece, leggings and a tank; to make trying on outfits easy, especially if not wanting to wait for a waiting room. Boots, scarf, thick socks; dressing in layers so I don't have to carry a thick coat with me throughout the stores. Loose t-shirt dress or sweater tunic; this keeps me comfortable, cute, and not having to worry about sucking it in all the time. Scarf; to hide any upcoming spills, and a simple accessory to keep you dressed up.  Boots; easy, comfortable shoes to slip off to try on new shoes. There we have it my go to black Friday outfit.

The bag; again another item to pack the day before. I would recommend choosing a larger bag and inside putting smaller bags to keep you organized. Wallet; the obvious, id, credit cards (only choose 2), cash, coins, coffee cards, frequent buyer cards. Clean everything else out, keep it minimal. Snacks; granola bar, trail mix and maybe an energy shot. I also like to take a small candy bar to get my sugar up quick. Extras; I like to pack thin socks to try on shoes, bobby pins, hair ties. Pen and paper; Pre write out shopping list, stores and items, as well as your budget. Car charger; if you are like me you play on your phone too much, take the phone charger to plug in while driving from spot to spot. Make up; concealer stick, and lip gloss. As you go through out the day you will need some touch ups. Randoms; hand sanitizer, gum/mints. No yucky coffee breathe here!

That is about it! Here are my top 5 Black Friday shopping bags.

one/two/three/four/five

I realized I never blogged about our halloween season too late? Up next what to wear thanksgiving day!!

Tis the Season FOR SHOPPING,

Dorinda