Blue for Thanksgiving?

Although different then I originally planned my Thanksgiving Table all came together quite nicely. Remember a few weeks ago I made some acorn napkin rings. Well I only had enough acorns for 6 rings and was having 10 guests.  When it came time to set the table I just wanted to put everyone at my dining room table and squeeze in 11. It just seems like we only get together for the holidays and why not be together and enjoy the wonderful food and conversation at the same table. My acorn napkin rings can wait for another time. My Wedding China is a blue and purple floral, and since I happen to have some gorgeous Jum Shore Pilgrims that have blue in them and a very nice table runner in blue I just put it all togther and it worked beautifully.
Here are the some of the photos

Who says you have to always use traditional colors for the holidays.  With a White backdrop a colorful table was very nice for Thanksgiving. 

Saturdays with Sisters!

My sisters and I used to always get together on Saturday and bake a batch of Nestles Chocolate chip Cookies, and try to solve lifes problems.   I still tend to bake cookies whenever my sisters are over for a visit, but as we've gotten older we  aren't together as often and that ritchual has kind of gone by the wayside.
I still love making cookies and it always reminds me of days gone by when we would try to come up with new ways to get siked on life.  Karen, always the positive one tries  to share new insites about communication.  One phrase that comes to mind often is if you want to G E T you have A S K.  Simple enough theroy, but sometimes we forget to do just that.
Today I would like to share with you a receipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies that I made a few times this fall. A small twist on the beloved Chocolate Chip Cookie.

you start with the basic cookie ingredients....

1 1/2 cups butter

2 cups brown sugar

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 16oz can pumpkin

4 cups flour

2 cups oatmeal

2 tsp soda, 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp salt

2 cups chocolate chips

3/4 cup chopped pecans

Mix it all up and drop by teaspoonful onto a cookie sheet...

And bake for about 12 minutes at 350* and Yummy ,Yummy, Yummy.  A great receipe to share with your sisters or family this holiday weekend.  That don't last long even though this receipe makes oodles and oodles. A couple of my dear friends from my  church family  shared this receipe with me about 20 years ago and I make it every year.  It's awesome!
And don't forget you may want to order a cute apron from the Shop at Moore from the Heart. I love this one, only $16.00. 
Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

  

Saturdays with Sisters!

Can you believe  December is only a week and half away?  And then only four weeks til Christmas!  Which means we only really have three weeks of shopping, and only three weekends to get the wrapping and decorating done.  Oh my Gosh... we've got to get started and get busy right now.  I'm not feeling panic or anything about the holidays and getting the shopping done.  Well thank goodness for my sister Susan.  She  is so good at thinking through ideas and coming up with lists to calm yourself down about all there is to do. We were out shopping yesterday and once again she was dropping me hints about not to get worried do things one at a time and so on.  Today she has some wonderful tips about gift giving .  Gather your thoughts before you even leave the house...now there's an idea!

                                             Gift Giving Ideas

The holidays are upon us and it is definitely time to make a gift giving plan. Remember planning ahead is my top money saving tip. Make a list of people you plan to buy a gift for, set a price and stick with it. I think it will be a great year for useful gifts, a few categories to consider are:

1. Food –You can’t go wrong with a traditional tray of goodies to share with a neighbor or the gang at the office, but think about what might be considered your specialty – a jar of salsa, chili, or spaghetti sauce. How about a fresh baked loaf of bread, muffins or tortillas. Remember packaging can be everything so add your own special label or cellophane and think “gourmet”.

2. Beauty – Luxurious lotion, fresh smelling shower gels, colorful lipsticks or nail polish. How about a salon quality brush or hair care products.

3. Hobbies – What hobby does this person enjoy and what supplies might they need. Golf balls, paint brushes, a sharp pair of scissors? A how-to book, dance lessons or favorite music on a CD.

4. Entertainment – A classic board game or puzzle is a fun gift for a family. Movie tickets, DVD with some microwave popcorn or a magazine subscription.

5. Accessories – Some warm gloves, quality socks, stylish scarf or an adorable apron from Moore from the Heart
                                           $mart $avings from $ue
 

Moore from the Heart is Open for Business!!!

I have an exciting announcement to make today.  I am officially opening my online store, Moore form the Heart.  As you will notice at the top of the page there is a box that says "Shop Moore form the Heart".   Clicking on that will take you directly to my online store.  Some of you may remember that I used to own a 'bricks and mortar" store by the same name, Moore from the Heart.  With my online store I hope to offer some of the same items that I sold in the store and some exciting new things.  I will be adding new things weekly,  check back often to see all my new merchandise.  through my blog I will be showcasing some of these great products.  I hope you Enjoy Shopping!

Saturdays with Sisters!

My niece is expecting her first child any time  now and all of the sisters are waiting on pins and needles for the news... But as you might imagine my sister Karen the mom of my niece is a little more anxious than the rest of us.  She wrote another beautiful article in the Yuma Sun Newspaper a few months back, soon after her visit to the doctor for the ultrasound of her new little grandbaby. I am certain you will agree Karen has the most wonderful way with words.  Her story will again touch your heart....  http://www.yumasun.com/articles/daughter-62826-little-many.html

And how Blessed I am that she is my Sister!

Thanksgiving is coming!

Thanksgiving is only a couple of weeks away so It's time to start taking care of some of the little things that I want to do ahead.  One of those things was making new napkin rings.  After walking all summer in the wooded area near my house I enjoyed watching the change of seasons as fall approached.  There are some beautiful Oak trees where I live and it's always fun to watch the acorns drop and the squirrels eat them up.

 Well this year I decided that acorns would be my inspiration for Thanksgiving.  So one day in late
September I picked a bucket of acorns off the trees while they were still green.

Not sure if they would turn brown, I just left them in the bucket for a few weeks and one day,  as I was walking by the bucket...what do you know  the bright green had turned a goreous chocolate brown.

A week or so later I decided to assemble the napkin rings and to my surprise the beautiful dark brown was now a light brown.  I made a tutorial on how to make the napkin rings, but my new camera was in movie mode and all I came out with was 10 short clips.  Not great

photography.  Oh well!

With some left over brown ribbon and wire, I glued  wire to the ribbon and folded it in half then glued the acorns on with a glue gun.  After about 4 inches of acorns & I folded it into a ring and tied the rest of the bow in a loose knot..   Simple  no cost decorating!

I found these cute  napkins with the Preamble written on them, at Cost Plus after the 4th of July and I thought they might be cute tiying it in with Thanksgiving, being Thankful for our freedom and all.  I also have this cute pumpkin with the flag on it.

I also picked up these cute
paper plates and nakins at Hobby Lobby for my dessert.  They are very cute with the napkin rings too.

not sure which way I'll use them.  I will post a photo of my Thanksgiving table when it's all said and done.

Dayspring Giveaway

One of my favorite fellow bloggers Beneath my Heart is doing an awesome  $50.00 giveaway to Dayspring. As you know Dayspring is the parent company to my  Blessings Unlimited, in fact they sell some of the same items.  So be sure to Check out her site  http://www.beneathmyheart.net/

Saturdays with Sisters!

Another great Saturday  today, spent with some of my sisters, so I' dragging my feet a little  in getting this posted.  Kathy the artisit in the family particiapted in the Artist Coalition Marketplace today and my other sis Sue and I went and visited and offered  her our support.  She had some beautiful new paintings, one that was attracting alot of attention was "Chapel at Talquepaque" in  a beutiful building in Sedona, AZ. 
It's a gorgeous painting!, don't you think?

And her newest painting is is titled 'O'keefe's Painted Dessert".  Kathy just spent a week in New Mexico at  Ghost Ranch, the home of Georgia O'keefe for many years.  She was able to stay a week and take some painting classes, and while she was there she painted this beauty...

Kathy also sells her artwork in the way of note cards.  Susan bought this  one to send to her son away at school. Perfect memory of Flagstaff, AZ

Don't forget to check out her blog and website to see all her newest pieces. http://www.kathrynwillisart.com/