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We had a really nice Christmas. My friend Hope made me a wreath and gave it to me the Sunday before Christmas:
Santa came to Emily's classroom a few days before Christmas:
On Christmas Eve, we went to Dave's sister's house to celebrate with his family. The kids got to exchange gifts and play, and they all had a blast. Dave's mom wanted a picture of all of her grandkids together, so we thought it would be funny to hand them all a beer or a wine cooler. LOL
When we got home on Christmas Eve, the kids had pajamas to open so they could wear them for Santa:
Christmas morning, we opened our gifts and then Dave's mom came over to see what the kids got and give them more gifts. Then we went to my mom and dad's house to open more gifts and eat. It was a good day. Here is the mother's ring Dave got me:
Cameron and his PSP, which is the only thing he really wanted:
Emily holding her Cabbage Patch Kid, sitting in her new chair:
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My friend Patty asked me to make her some chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies, but she said she would have to pay me later. I gave them to her for Christmas! Here are her chocolate chip cookies:
And her sugar cookies:
These are the chocolate chip cookies I made for my family:
And the peanut blossoms:
And the spritz cookies:
The buckeye balls I made--they are Dave's favorite candy. Cameron calls them "buck eyeballs"
Yes, I did make sugar cookies for us. Here are the kids decorating them:
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Don't assume that you understand your husband. When he speaks, really listen and, if there is any room for doubt, ask a question or two so that he has ample opportunity to make himself plain. The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them. Ralph Nichols Think generous! Lori <>< Copyright © 2001-2008 Lori J. Byerly All Rights Reserved http://www.the-generous-wife.com |
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The Coming Year
by Oswald Chambers
As we go forth into the coming year,
let us go out with the patient power of knowing
that the God of Israel will go before us.
Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us.
It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return,
but God can transform this destructive anxiety
into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future.
Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands,
and step out into the invincible future with Him.
"...the Lord will go before you,
and the God of Israel will be your rear guard."
Isaiah 52:12 |
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Add the following seven super foods to your shopping cart and you just might unlock the key to longevity. Sue Moores, MS, RD, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, explains how these foods delay the onset of aging and the risk of age-related disease. YogurtDairy is often difficult to digest, but gentler yogurt is an easy way to get the calcium you need -- and more. One serving a day delivers a dose of healthy probiotics -- "good" bacteria that helps promote a balanced intestinal environment. "As we age," Moores says, "we can lose bacteria in our intestine, making it more difficult to prevent digestive diseases." The probiotics found in yogurt, namely acidophilus, serve as a natural defense against potentially harmful organisms. But all yogurt is not created equal: Read the container's nutrition label to ensure that the brand you choose contains active cultures. SalmonAs the anti-aging ambassador of marine cuisine, salmon has omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats that reduce inflammation in the body, warding off a laundry list of age-related ailments: arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, and more. Plus, "fish is brain food," proclaims Moores. Its oils have been shown to strengthen memory performance and decrease the slowing of mental faculties as we get older. BlueberriesFor a fruit that is often marginalized to muffins, we are sorely overlooking this power berry. Blueberries are another essential "brain food," because they consist of loads of phytonutrients, or plant chemicals, recently touted for their role in preventing age-related neurological disorders. Moores advises, however, to head straight to the source -- consuming dietary supplements in place of the pure berry is not guaranteed to provide you with as many of its benefits, not to mention the fruit's tasty pleasures! Red BeansAll beans are gold mines of age-defying nutrients, but research shows that red beans hoard the greatest amount of antioxidants -- key components in the quest for prolonged youth. These substances, such as vitamins D, E, and A, are believed to repair damaged cells in the body, and in doing so might avert the development of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, and cancer. Red beans are also packed with another longevity champion -- folic acid -- a dementia preventative. Flax SeedIt has been estimated that 30 to 40 percent of all cancers can be prevented by lifestyle and dietary measures alone, and flax is the gastronomic superstar of deterrence. The seed also promotes youthful, supple skin because of its high concentration of oils that, like salmon's omega-3s, lower the amount of inflammation in the body. Quinoa"We tend not to eat as much when we consume foods that are high in fiber," says Moores, because they fill us up with fewer calories. The result? Consistently ingesting less helps us maintain a healthy weight and decreases our chances of developing diabetes. Light and fluffy quinoa (pronounced keen-wah) has the dynamite nutritional content of the healthiest grains, but it is actually a plant seed, and it's jam-packed with protein, iron, B vitamins, and minerals, too. KaleAlthough often passed over in favor of its cousin cabbage, kale's crisp, dark leaves are bursting with micronutrients, potassium, and carotenoids, all essential for lowering risks of heart disease and even cataracts. Low-calorie kale is also calcium-rich, and its high concentration of vitamin A has been linked with a reduced incidence of cancer. |
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Alka Seltzer...it's not just for colds anymore! Drop two Alka Seltzer tablets into the toilet bowl, wait twenty minutes, then brush and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China. Sprinkle some baking soda into your vacuum bag to help reduce musty/pet smells being spread throughout your house when vacuuming. |
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Don't Throw Your Money Away by S. L. Simmons Five easy tips to save $590 on your food budget this year Would you like to help the planet and save an easy $590 this year? It's not a gimmick. Many families can save an easy $590 without even having to give up their lattes from Starbucks, turn down the heat, or ride their bikes to work. All it takes is a little better menu planning. According to research from the University of Arizona, the average American family throws out nearly $600 in food annually, often due to good intentions but poor follow through. Research shows that most food shopping is done on the weekends, when shoppers are fresh and well rested. With good intentions to eat healthy, they buy an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables with plans to make healthy foods, perhaps a fresh fruit salad and green salad with dinner each weeknight. Then Monday comes and brutal reality strikes. The enthusiastic, health conscious shoppers from the weekend come home from work tired, hungry and cranky, order carry out pizzas with garlic fries and the family soda special, and forget about the tasty fresh produce sitting forlornly in the crisper. Or maybe they don't forget about the produce. They may even feel guilty about it. But they order the pizza, soda and garlic fries just the same. By the end of the week, the fruits and vegetables, wilted and spoiled, are tossed in the trash. Then the weekend comes, and the tired, fast food aficionados are once again transformed into the enthusiastic, health conscious, well-intentioned grocery shoppers, and the vicious cycle repeats. If the above description matches what goes on in your household, how can you stop this cycle of produce and budget abuse and save money on your food expenses this year? Try the tips below. 1. Buy canned, frozen or dried fruits and vegetables instead of fresh. Sure, fresh produce tastes great and is highly nutritious, but be a realist. If your family is throwing out perishable food regularly, then cut back on how much fresh food you buy each week. Buy fruits and vegetables that will keep until you really have the time to prepare and eat them. Frozen mangos and frozen strawberries placed in a blender with some apple juice makes a tasty, healthy smoothie. 2. Grocery shop several times a week and just buy enough fresh food for a few days at a time. In my family, we have found that it is less complex to plan two to three days out than it is to plan for a whole week. Plus shopping more often makes it easier to know what is in the fridge and be able to use up leftovers before they spoil. 3. Get a slow cooker and make your meals in the morning before you go to work or get tired out from doing housework and taking care of the kids. With slow cookers, you can start baked potatoes, baked apples, baked winter squash and a wide variety of soups and casseroles with fresh vegetables in the morning and come home later in the day to a house filled with great aromas. A healthy meal will be waiting for you and your family. 4. Plan your meals in advance and only buy what you need to make those meals. For easy weekday meal ideas, I like to buy cookbooks with dishes you can make with three to five ingredients. I've learned to avoid cookbooks that have "simple," "fast" or "easy" in the titles. What is simple, fast and easy for someone who loves to cook and whose only job is to write cookbooks for a living often means meals you can make in under an hour or two. I'm more into what can I make that is healthy in 15 minutes or less. Simple is a relative term often abused by cookbook authors, but three ingredients is three ingredients. 5. Buy fruits and vegetables with long shelf lives to keep on hand for those times when you find you do have the time and energy to prepare and cook fresh produce. These include apples, potatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage and winter squash. Diced onions and root vegetables, tossed with a little olive oil and roasted in the oven, make a great side dish in about 10 minutes of prep and 25 minutes of baking time. Sliced carrots, onions and cabbage stir fried in a wok with a little sesame oil is another simple and healthy side for a quick week night meal. If you can reduce waste and save $600 from your food bill each year, in twenty-five years, you will have saved $15,000 (or more if you invest your savings each year and let the interest compound). _________________________ S. L. Simmons is a frugal mom of two who enjoys finding creative ways to live simply and inexpensively. Visit her web site at http://www.alwaysfrugal.com/frugal-living.html for more tips on saving money, household budgeting and living frugally. Copyright 2008 Always Frugal. Reprinted with permission. Take the Next Step: - Can you use an extra $600 this year? Me too. So let's try the above tips and save money on our food expenses this year. |
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Hair Care on the Cheap by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant Maintain a great style that's easy on your wallet Shampoo and hair styling products go right down the drain along with the money you spent on them. And doesn't it seem like yesterday that your kids all had haircuts? Now they're looking shaggy already! The following tips can help you can maintain a great style that's easy on your wallet. If you like expensive brands of hair care products, scan the weekly flyers for Rite Aid and Walgreens. Both drug store chains often promote free-after-rebate sales on premium shampoo and other hair care products. You can also apply manufacturer coupons towards them and, in essence, get paid to purchase your items at these stores. Instead of spending the approximate $30 on shampoo and hair care products for my family annually, I'm paid an average of $6 per year. Both chains let you enter receipts online so there's no need to clip UPC symbols or mail in anything. Instead of springing for premium or salon brands, try out a less expensive one. A top sales representative for Nexxus once told me privately that if you can't afford her products to use Suave's line. When I can't score rebate shampoo and conditioner, I've also found that White Rain shampoo or conditioner, $.75 for a 16.5-ounce bottle at Dollar General, does a good job at cleaning and conditioning my hair. Some dollar stores accept manufacturer's coupons. Familiarize yourself with the brands they carry and use coupons accordingly for deep discounts on good brands. As another strategy, send away for free shampoo samples (see sites below). Even if you have a favorite brand, several stylists have told me that occasionally switching shampoos will rev up your hair. Don't over-use products. Many people over age 30 do not need to wash their hair daily. In fact, doing so can damage hair and dry out the scalp. Try skipping a day and see how it goes. Reduce the amount of shampoo and styling products you apply to your hair. Would a smaller dab of gel work just as well? Consider re-purposing less expensive products to do the job of a more expensive one. Marlene, a mom of three girls in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, uses diluted conditioner in a spray bottle for her children's de-tangler instead of purchasing pre-made de-tangler. A few pennies' worth of conditioner is a far cry from the usual $3.69 for Johnson's No More Tangles. Marlene's dad, another thrifty consumer, uses petroleum jelly as a styling aid. He's in his 70's and has a beautiful head of hair. I'm not sure that the petroleum jelly can take credit, but at least it doesn't seem to damage his hair. Many hair styling smoothers and leave-in conditioners are very concentrated and if you dispense a small amount in your hands and thin it out with water, it works even better than full strength. Without question, hair coloring, straightening and perms at salons cost more than doing it yourself at home; however, going au natural has become in vogue. Many top stylists urge their clients to work with, not against, their natural texture and color. Consider all the celebrities sporting silver locks, such as George Clooney and Jamie Lee Curtis. With proper care, gray can be great. Since it's often dryer and coarser than the pigmented hair it replaced, it's important to condition gray hair more often and to treat it gently. Go easy with chemicals to straighten or curl it and skip tight hair accessories or braids. Your haircut can determine how much styling product you use and how often you'll need a haircut. Consult with your stylist as to what type of cut would complement your looks and require little maintenance. If you can go eight weeks between haircuts instead of the prescribed six, you'll save. Complex cuts can also be difficult for less expensive salons to achieve because their stylists often have fewer years of experience. By switching from an inverted bob with a stacked back to a simpler, one-level bob, which the lower-priced salon can easily handle, I save about $150 annually (six $25 haircuts per year compared with six $50 haircuts). During the summertime, I sometimes skip a few cuts since I put my hair up in ponytails and buns so much anyway. The extra length makes it easier to secure. If you live in a larger city, consider surrendering your locks to a beauty school student. Many schools give free haircuts to allow their students practice on live clients. And don't worry. They're carefully supervised by an instructor, so you're sure to get a great look. Ready to lose some major length? Some salons offer free or discounted haircuts if you donate the hair to organizations such as Locks of Love, which makes hairpieces for cancer patients. Learning to cut your own hair and that of your family's can also reap a big savings. Again, simple styles will help out here. Invest in a good set of haircutting shears and clippers to keep your girls' and boys' hair looking neat. A $60 haircutting set will easily pay for itself within six months for most families. And perhaps your savvy with the shears will increase until you're cutting your spouse's hair, too. |
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Great advice from Solomon:
"There is no use thinking of what might have been."
Ecclesiastes 1:15
(The Living Bible) |
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This is the most heartwarming story I have read in a long time. I just wanted to share it with you!
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Keep your word. When you tell your husband that you will do something (or not do something), then follow through. He is important and when you keep your word you are respecting him and your relationship. An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. Proverbs 24:26 NIV Think generous! Lori <>< Copyright © 2001-2008 Lori J. Byerly All Rights Reserved http://www.the-generous-wife.com |
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Our husbands need our kindness. It's that gentle consideration and helpfulness that warms them and opens their spirit. I really think that God gave women a unique kind of grace and beauty and an ability to be gentle and gracious (not that guys can't have those things, just think we have a feminine brand that guys hunger for). So the next time you talk to your husband, let gracious words fall off your tongue and the next time he needs some help, offer it with a smile and a gentle pat on the arm. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile. Mother Teresa |
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Spiced Peach Muffins These muffins are big, high-crowned affairs that seem to explode right out of the muffin cup. We make them here with peaches, but they're also delightful made with blueberries, blackberries or raspberries. Yields: 16 muffins Ingredients: * 4 1/2 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour * 1 teaspoon salt * 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder * 2 cups dark brown sugar * 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice * 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg * 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon * 2 eggs * 3/4 cup vegetable oil * 1 1/4 cups milk * 4 peaches, diced (not peeled) or 3 cups small whole berries or other fruit, diced * granulated sugar Combine flour, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in eggs, vegetable oil and milk, then gently stir in fruit. Grease 16 muffin cups, and heap batter into cups; they'll be very full. Sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until muffins test done. |
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Brag on your man. :) Find an opportunity to tell someone good things about your husband. If he overhears he'll feel great. If he hears it after the fact from someone, he'll be deeply blessed that his wife is bragging about him behind his back. I can live for two months on a good compliment. Mark Twain Think generous! Lori <>< Copyright © 2001-2008 Lori J. Byerly All Rights Reserved http://www.the-generous-wife.com |
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Cheddar Cheese Popovers 4 T. butter 1 1/3 cups flour 1/4 t. dry mustard 2/3 cup water 2/3 cup milk 4 eggs 1/2 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese Preheatoven to 375. Place eight 6 oz. custard cups on baking sheet. Measure 1 1/2 t. butte rinto each cup. Combine flour and dry mustard in large bowl. Gradually stir in water and milk until blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until mixture is smooth. Fold in cheese. Place baking sheet with custard cups in oven 3 to 5 minute suntil butter melts and custard cups are hot. Fill cups 1/2 to 2/3 full with batter. Bake 45 minutes. Do not open oven until end of baking time. Remove popovers from cusstard cups; serve at once. makes 8 |
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This is a little late for Christmas, but will be good advice for next year... Check Your List Twice |
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Lemon Cream Coffee Cake |
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O'Connor's Famous gingerbread 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1 t. baking soda 3/4 cup molasses 2 cups flour 1 t. ground ginger Powdered sugar, optional Sweetened whipped cream, optional Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating at medium speed of mixer. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine buttermilk and soda. Add to sugar mixture, mixing well. Add molasses to sugar mixture, mixing well. Sift flour and ginger together. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture, mixing well. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13 x 9 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. If desired, serve gingerbread dusted with powdered sugar or topped with a dollop of whipped cream.makes 15 servings Source: Sr. Mary Agnes Casey, Sinfully Good, The Catholic Library Association, Haverford, Pennsylvania |
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Dutch Chocolate Pudding Recipe courtesy Georgia Downard Show: Cooking Live Episode: Less is More: Shoestring Budget Gourmet Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Yield: 4 servings 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3 tablespoons cornstarch Pinch salt 2 1/4 cups milk 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped 2 tablespoons, butter 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Whipped cream (optional) In a heavy medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk in about half of the milk to make a smooth paste and stir in the rest. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil and begins to thicken, about 6 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring, for 1 minute longer, until smooth and very thick. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the chocolate, butter and vanilla, stirring until they are both melted. Pour the pudding into 4 dessert bowls or one larger serving dish. Place a sheet of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pudding to prevent a skin from forming on top and refrigerate until firm. (This will take about 30 minutes for individual dishes, longer for the large bowl.) Serve plain or topped with the optional whipped cream. |
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Listen calmly to your husband when he's having a bad day or facing stressful problems. You can offer him a bit of sympathy, encouragement or understanding, and possibly be a sounding board if he needs one. A friend is someone who helps you when you're down, and if they can't, they lay down beside you and listen. Author Unknown |