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Holidays/Parties

Valentine's Day

Valentines Day Nostalgia

How about a walk down memory lane?  Here are a bunch of valentines/love themed posts from the New Nostalgia archives.  Enjoy!

Our family tradition is for the kids to wake up to a breakfast table full of treats and small gifts.  Sugar for breakfast on Valentines day!!  Todd gives the girls a few bucks to spend on me for Valentines Day.  They get so into it, I always love to see what they chose for me.

 

This mosaic Valentine coloring pages post is one of the most popular with google search engines.  It has been viewed many, many times on the blog.  Who would have thought it would be so popular?  My youngest just came in the room and said “Ooo, I remember that!  I want to color that when I get home from school.”  For the link and 4 more designs to choose from, click here.

 

White Chocolate Raspberry Valentine Bites–this is the perfect snack for little ones to have on Valentines Day, or even for a loved one to wake up to for breakfast!

 

Healthy Valentine Chocolate Mudballs.  They make great gifts for co-workers or

the neighbors

!  My youngest girl had so much fun helping me make these last year.  It is an easy, 6- ingredient recipe

no bake

recipe!

Healthy Chocolate Mudballs

1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup chocolate chips 
1/4 cup sesame seeds

Cook the peanut butter on honey over low heat until melted. Add remaining ingredients. When cool enough to handle roll into ooey gooey mud balls.
This batch made 12 balls, next time I will double the recipe.

 

For many people, Valentines Day can be a drag.

 

A reminder of what you don’t feel.

A reminder of a desire that has not been granted.

A reminder that even if you have a love, they will never fulfill the void.
A reminder of a heart that is broken.

 

If you are one of those people, I want you to know that

YOU ARE LOVED

Creator God

wrote

you many, many love letters.  Here is one that puts a few of His many words towards you and me, into one.   Below is a taste, click through to read and listen to the entire

Fathers Love Letter.

…You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb. 
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. 
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love. 
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 
1 John 3:1…

 

 

Going Green Valentines Holders.  These are made from paper grocery sacks.  They are really cute, and once the stencil is made, quite easy for little ones to trace, cut and make a little work of art on the inside.  For older kids, it is fun to tuck a dollar bill or 2 inside.  For co-workers or teachers, a gift card fits!

 

Homemade Valentine Gift Bags made from envelopes!  These are really cute, perfect size for little treats or gift cards.  You can send the envelopes through the printer and print whatever your heart desires on them.  Use any fun ribbon for the handles.

 

Homemade Valentine Treat Containers.  These are so fun and my girls LOVED making them.  Pretty printed paper and stickers make this a super easy project.  Put toys, money or treats inside.  Even just a little love note would be great, too!

 

Last but not least, Chocolate Fudgy Buttons!  We make these whenever a quick, sweet treat is called for.  They taste amazing, you would never know they only take minutes to make!

Fudgy Buttons

4 Tbls butter or margarine

3 tsp. baking cocoa

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. milk

4 Tbls creamy peanut butter

In a small saucepan, melt the butter; remove from heat.  Add cocoa and mix well.  Stir in sugar. (will be quite thick) Add milk and stir until smooth. (you will feel like you should add more milk- don’t.  The peanut butter will make it creamy and perfect) Add peanut butter and mix well.  Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper; roll into balls and flatten with your thumb.

What are your Valentine’s Day plans?  Traditions?

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Valentine's Day

Awesome Valentine Ideas

Awesome Valentine Ideas

1. A Valentine surprise in their lunch

2. Valentine pancake hearts for breakfast.

3. Heart-shaped melons kabobs. This would be cute done with cheese, too!

4. Need a heart-shaped cake but no heart pan? No problem!

5. Valentine garland. So whimsical!

 

1. I {heart} U card. For Valentines day or any day!

2. Valentine cupcakes-kisses and hugs.

3. & 4.How to crochet a heart

5. Kiss stickers – Staples sells stickers that fit kisses perfectly and they have a free template you can download so you can print out stickers at home. Cute table decoration.

 

1. Wear and make a Valentines hat!

 2. Free printable pie box template.  Recipe included.

 3. Yogurt with strawberry flowers.

 4. Valentine popcorn bags.  Simple!

 5. Valentine boiled eggs.  Too cool.

1. Frozen pink milk hearts.  When they melt, the milk will turn pink.

2. Tissue paper roses.

3. Homemade window clings

4. Pretty in pink cupcakes. Use pink frosting, sliced strawberries, use red sprinkles!

5. Valentine math!

——

Update: if there is no link, it means the site no longer exists…so sorry for any inconvenience!

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

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Frugal/ FUN/DIY/ Holidays/Parties/ HOME/ Kids/Family/ Simplifying

A Super Simple Yet Special Birthday

That sweet little face is my middle girl back when she was 9.  Last week she turned 11!  Where or where has the time gone?
We usually budget in birthday parties for our 3 girls.  I love a good party and an excuse to have one.  We usually do not buy our kids birthday gifts, as grandparents are amazingly generous so our kids get plenty of gifts, and we consider a birthday party their gift.  This year, my little 11-year-old-to-be asked “Mom, if I save my money for a new Kindle Fire will you pay for half of it?”  I told her that we would, but we would have to use the money we usually set aside for a party.  She like this idea, she thought it was totally worth it.  She saved her money, and is LOVING her new Kindle Fire,
Her birthday was last week, and I wanted to do something to make her feel special on her day, despite not having a big birthday party.  At the end of the day, she said “Mom, this was one of the best birthdays ever.” Success!
Here is what her day entailed:
She woke up to a sea of pink balloons on her floor.  I was sneaky the night before and when I peaked in her room in the morning, she was laying in bed, hitting one pink balloon in the air with the biggest, best birthday girl smile on her face.  She loved it and just giggled at me. That was so worth the 2.00 dollars I spent on balloons and the fact that I almost passed out blowing them up!  I got this great idea from my Pinterest Parties Board. 
{source: Parents.com}

Once my birthday girl was up, she was greeted by her favorite breakfast.  We call it “Toad In A Hole”–so appetizing, huh?  It really is good.  I wanted to make it extra special so I made it pretty with a flower cookie cutter and sliced fruit. 
{our usual “toad in a hole”}

{flower cookie cutter} 
{special birthday breakkie!}

She loved her special breakfast.  She also loved that I had to pick her up early from school to take her to a quick doctor checkup for a knee injury that is now healed. He gave her a GREAT birthday gift, telling her she could participate in P.E.  After sitting out since October, this was awesome news. 

 I had some returns to make at the mall, so she came with, and as we walked by the soft pretzel stand at the mall we both took a whiff and of course had to get one!  Getting out of school early and a couple buck pretzel made her feel very special.

In the meantime, little sister got home from school and I left her instructions to frost some cupcakes that I had baked earlier.  I used the same mix cake mix and frosting mix that I use in my Gooey Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes.  I knew little sister would LOVE getting to help, and I also knew I would come home to cupcakes that would be drenched in decorating sugar.  I was right!


Little sister also took time to make super cute and creative homemade party hats.  Loved!

{my youngest, laughing at me wearing her hat creation while doing a birthday jig}

I sent a quick text to the neighbor girls mom, and she agreed to let her 2 girls come over for some birthday cupcakes and…

..a hot chocolate bar!  Another idea from Pinterest, but we kept ours very simple.  The girls had caramel candy sticks to stir their hot chocolate.  They melted quickly into the hot chocolate and gave it a caramel-ly flavor.  Fun!

{my oldest, enjoying her caramel stick}
I took a few balloons from the sea of pink in her bedroom and taped them on the wall.  I wanted to copy the below idea also found on Pinterest, but kept it simple instead.

{great idea from Martha Stewart.  Could put a dollar bill in each balloon!}

{my oldest, enjoying her cupcake}

It was great fun, and actually felt like a party even though it really was not, (not like our usual birthday parties) and my sweet girl felt very loved on her birthday.  It goes to show that simple, cheap touches are enough!

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Valentine's Day

White Chocolate Raspberry Valentine Breakfast Bites

I think the raspberry is pretty much perfection, just how it is.
But when I saw this idea on Sasha Libby via Pinterest, I knew my girls would have a blast stuffing raspberries with white chocolate chips and popping them in their mouths.  They did..:)
Cute, huh?
These would be great at a Valentines Day brunch or a fun 4th of July snack.
My girls called them candy.
That made me happy.
13
FAMILY/ Holidays/Parties/ Spiritual

My Plan For True Happiness In 2012-Happy New Year!

My friend, Duane Scott of “Scribing The Journey” shared a facebook status about a group he was going to be a part of, and I immediately wanted to be part of the group, too!  The group is called “Read through the Bible in 2012” and I am giddy excited to be a part of it!  It is a group of people, committing to read through the Bible in 2012.  There are many suggestions of reading plans, and lots of encouragement already happening at this group!

I went to work trying to figure out a plan that would work best for me.  I recently bought a Nook book reader, so I knew I would need to be able to read the Bible from it to be successful.  I take it everywhere, and life provides many opportunities to pick it up and read–i.e. waiting in the car when picking up kids!

I was excited when I found the “One Year Chronological Bible” version. I love the idea of the Bible in chronological order.  Those who have read this version commented on how it reads more like a story.  One said that right after reading about David going to battle in one part of the Bible, you then get to read the Psalm he wrote of his thoughts and fears during that battle.  Pretty cool.

When I think of the words, “Happy New Year,” I know that true happiness means knowing my Creator more.  Resting in His plan for me.  The grace and peace He brings, no matter what comes my way…that, my friends, is true happiness.  What better way to find this than to read His Words?

_______________________________
Have you ever read through the Bible?
Is it something that you would ever want to do?
Is there a reading plan that you love?

Would you like to join Read through the Bible in 2012 group?  We would love to have you.  If so, click here.

13
Holidays/Parties

Simple & Frugal Holiday Card Tip



**This is a guest post from Robyn at Minimalist Knitter.  

Rather than let some other company make our cards for us, I took this HILARIOUS photo. I grabbed of Owen recently (he looks so frustrated at the reindeer hat I couldn’t resist!), and using Picnik (free site!) created our card ourselves. Uploaded to Walgreens and had them print as a photo, and then sent in regular envelopes.

Simple, perfect for our family this year.

NEXT YEAR: use the postcard option at Walgreens.com. It costs under $1.00 per postcard, and ends up being about what we spent anyhow between printing out photos, buying envelopes and the return address labels. Write a note on the back of each one (feels more personal that way), use a holiday stamp, and send!

Bonus to this? I can order exactly how many I need and I won’t have any random supplies laying around. Plus, who doesn’t love a postcard?!

________________________


A little about Robyn:
“Many folks believe minimalism and knitting to be on opposite sides of one another, that the two cannot co-exist. Through my writing on my blog, my free e-book, and continuing to strive towards a life of simplicity, I hope to prove these folks wrong!”
Something I lOVE about Robyn:
“I decided to use my knitting to live a remarkable life by knitting One Hundred Hats for charity over the course of one year!  Thanks to the support of amazing friends and family I completed my goal … and promptly set another challenge! This time the challenge is much larger, spanning the course of my life – I am knitting and crocheting TEN THOUSAND items for charity in my lifetime!”
Her contact information:
I love hearing from you all! The best way to contact me is by e-mail – rmcdevine@gmail.com

You can also check me out on Twitter @minimalistrobyn

Don’t forget to join the Minimalist Knitter’s Ravelry group!

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Holidays/Parties/ RECIPES/ Sides

Cranberry Apple Citrus Vinaigrette & Eating Plant Strong During The Holidays


Keeping my food intake plant strong during the holidays is a little bit challenging, but not impossible.


How do I plan on doing it?


1. I’m not going to stress about it.


2. I plan on indulging a bit.


3.  I will start my day with a green smoothie, which will give me a big head start on getting my fruit and vegetable servings in, provide all my protein needed for the day, and get in my Omega’s from chia.


4. Most of our Christmas celebrations are pot-luck style, where everyone brings a dish to share, so I am planning on making one that is plant strong, to load my plate with and share with others.


I have decided not to stress about small amounts of dairy and sugar, and just enjoy what the season is about.  I am focusing on getting in my servings of plants each day, and as long as I do that, having a bit of junk along with it seems just fine.  I do notice that I don’t feel too well when I do indulge in foods I am not used to eating (sweets, meat and cheese), so that keeps my portion sizes to a minimum, which is not a bad thing.


One way I plan on keeping plant strong, especially during our FIVE Christmas celebrations coming up, is by bringing a dish that is mostly green.  I want it to be delicious and festive, one that everyone can enjoy, but I also want it to be one I can fall back on, one that I can fill the majority of my plate with, leaving less room for foods that won’t make me feel very good.  The below recipe of Cranberry Apple Citrus Vinaigrette, drizzled on a salad of greens, fruit and nuts is the perfect dish to bring in my opinion!


Another reason I choose to bring a plant strong dish is that I never want to put extra stress on my hostesses due to my different eating habits.  It is amazing what I can find at a potluck- style dinner that is plant strong, as long as I do not stress about small amounts of food that I usually do not eat.


I have been surprised at how letting go of a few of our family traditions involving junk food has been just fine this year.  We have plenty left that do involve tastes of the season, so my kids are not even missing my traditional “Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies.” Neighbors and my husbands co-workers have kept some yummy treats in our home, which we love.  This frees me to “just say no” to doing my own traditional Christmas baking. We did make our traditional sugar cookies, but I kept it very simple and minimal by buying a kit from Trader Joes, which made just enough to enjoy for one evening!  Love that, no leftovers to tempt us. 


So what green recipe am I planning on bringing to at least 2 of our Christmas celebrations?


A Salad of Greens,


Topped with Candied Pecans from Trader Joes, Apples, Pears, Clementines and Dried Cranberries,


Drizzled with Cranberry Apple Orange Vinaigrette! Delish!!

Cranberry Apple Orange Vinaigrette


Cranberry, maple, apple, and clementine make one lovely stand-out holiday dressing. This festive cranberry dressing is sweet with a light tangy aftertaste. Feel free to use more or less maple syrup to adjust to your own taste buds. You can also use any type of sweet citrus that you prefer.
Yield: just over 1 and 1/4 cups
Ingredients:
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup, or adjust to taste
  • 1.5 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup + 1 tbsp fresh clementine or orange juice (or use bottled)
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper
1. In a medium pot, heat the cranberries, maple syrup, and vinegar over medium heat until the cranberries burst, about 7-10 mins.
2. Slightly cool cranberry mixture and place in a blender along with the rest of the ingredients (except salt and pepper). Blend until smooth. Now add salt, 1/4 tsp at a time, to taste. Blend again. Adjust other ingredients to taste if necessary. You may want more maple syrup than I used. I liked this dressing with a bit of tart aftertaste to really let the cranberries shine. Place in fridge to chill. Should keep in fridge in an air-tight container for up to 5-7 days.

_____________________________________
Yum!  I made this as part of our Thanksgiving dinner and it was a big hit.

I do think my nephews are going to miss my famous Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Lil’ Smokies, but I just can’t bring myself to handle all that raw meat.  I am out of practice!

What are you thoughts on eating healthy through the holidays?

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