Gifted Magazine

If you haven't started your holiday shopping yet please make sure to read this post!  One of my favorite blogs, Creature Comforts, has put out a holiday gift guide called Gifted.  It is a great online magazine full of ideas for everyone on your gift list.  I always struggle with ideas for my husband and after reading this magazine I have more than a couple great ideas.  Click here to head to the magazine.

Oh, make sure to look for their specials deal alerts, they have been very kind to negotiate discounts with some stores!

Gifted Magazine via Creature Comforts

Glowing Green

Since the holiday season has officially started I thought I would highlight a favorite morning drink in our house that is also incredibly healthy and will help you get through the season.  The smoothie is full of veggies and fruit and leaves you feeling light, yet still full, and after a few days you do start to crave more.  It is also a favorite of my little one's and "Mommy's soup" is requested almost daily.

I had read about the glowing green smoothie from Kimberly Snyder in her book The Beauty Detox Solution.  I found the book fascinating to read and she provided some interesting digestion information to "chew" on.  To get the recipe please click here. 

Kimberly Snyder

What's for dinner?

I hope everyone had a good holiday.   Here is what we'll be having for dinner next week...

Monday - Stuffed Acorn Squash with Quinoa and Pistachios

Tuesday - Crispy Chicken and Apple Salad

Wednesday - Sushi

Thursday - Thai Ginger Chicken Salad

Friday - EJ's Simple Ribs

Saturday - Dinner Out

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving. 

Pinterest

I am so thankful for my family, words can not describe how wonderful life is with you.

Leftovers

While you are working on preparing your feast for tomorrow, it is also a good idea to think about leftover options.

Bon Appetit has me thinking about bbq pulled-turkey sandwiches, turkey blue cheese and red onion sandwiches, cranberry sorbet,

Bon Appetit

Martha Stewart has a terrific slide show which includes turkey chili, turkey cobb sandwiches and salads, turkey sweet potato and watercress salad, and Thanksgiving shepard's pie. 

Martha Stewart

Better Homes and Gardens also has some great ideas for Thanksgiving leftovers liked herbed turkey and waffles, the anything frittata, and turkey spinach toss. 

Better Homes and Gardens

Last but not least this turkey cranberry monte cristo looks so good from Paula Deen.

Paula Deen

Seating Assignments

I have found a lot of fun, easy ideas for name cards that I thought it would be fun to highlight some of them.

Celebrations At Home had this cute name card that goes in a muffin...a perfect idea because everyone is always starving when they get to the table...

Celebrations At Home via Pinterest

I love the pears and pushpins from Country Living.  And the old photos on the table are such a unique idea!

Country Living

Martha Stewart had some great, EASY ideas:

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

Turkey Day

So we are just a few days away from Thanksgiving and here are some great, quick ideas for the big day.

These edible acorns are so cute and would make a great take away gift.  All you need are hershey kisses, mini chocolate chips, peanut butter, and some mini nutter-butter sandwiches.

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This drink looks delicious, and would be perfect either before or after the big event!  It is simply ginger ale, cider, and bourbon in a 2:2:1 ratio.

Pinterest

I think these turkeys full of nuts are so cute.  And a great way to get your kids involved, they can trace and cut out their hands!

Pinterest

As you are rolling and baking your dinner rolls, pop in a little note of thanks.  They will be a wonderful surprise to your friends and family.

Pinterest

Volunteering

Pinterest

Today is Family Volunteering Day, and although my little one is just a wee bit young to volunteer, I am joining up with a friend for some good, fun, volunteering this morning.  I hope you have something fun planned today!

What's for dinner?

Here is what we are having for dinner next week...

Sunday - French Onion Soup (we didn't have it the other week)

Monday - Roasted Vegetables and Chickpeas

Tuesday - Creamy Parsnip Soup

Wednesday - Quinoa Salad with Pears, Spinach, and Maple Dressing

Thursday - HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Friday - Leftovers

Saturday - Swiss Chard with Poached Egg Salad

Thankful Thursdays

This week's way to give back is to adopt a family for the holiday season.  As a child we always adopted a family for Christmas and it was so much fun getting to shop for the children.  It really taught me the spirit of the season and was also a wonderful reminder of how blessed I was (and still am!)

I know there are various ways you can find a family to adopt, you can contact:

• A local church
• Your community center
• Salvation Army (They are also doing an Adopt An Angel online with JC Penny)

Salvation Army

What is for breakfast?

If you have family visiting you next week for the holidays one thing to think about is what to make for breakfast Thanksgiving morning.  Our family likes to start the day off right with a bloody mary bar and a large spread of cheeses, cured meats and dried fruits. 

As a child we always had a breakfast casserole.  My mom always made the same one and I was never a fan of it (it was called Breakfast Before since you prepped it the night before).  But I saw this link on Pinterest for 34 Breakfast Casseroles and thought it might have a few more ideas that might be really good to try.  To go to the website click here.

Recipe 4 Living via Pinterest

Waxed Leafs

I found this great craft idea to do with your children that also could be used in your Thanksgiving decor. 

Pinterest

Waxed Leaf Directions

1.  Make sure leaves are completely dry.

2.  Melt beeswax in a double-boiler. (New wax or old, leftover candles work well for this.) 

3.  OPTIONAL - If you want to scent the wax add a few drops of cinnamon oil.

4.  Once the wax is completely melted dip the leaves (one at a time) in the wax, holding them by the stems.  Hold them over the pot to drip and then lay them on waxed paper to dry.

A Martha Thanksgiving

This week's Thanksgiving ideas come from the one and only Martha Stewart!

Martha has 19 Thanksgiving dinner menus online so if you are not sure what to make or want something new to add to your traditional menu click here.

Martha Stewart

These finger puppets are so cute, and will certainly keep little hands busy at the dinner table.

Martha Stewart

This table is so pretty, and seems fairly easy to assemble.

Martha Stewart





Saturday Thoughts

Pinterest

What's for dinner?

Here is what we are having for dinner next week...

Sunday - Grilled Salmon with Mustard-Wine Sauce with Broccolini

Monday - Autumn Couscous Bowl

Tuesday -  Roasted Pear - Spinach Salad  (I will add roasted chicken to this to make it a dinner meal)

Wednesday - Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Cauliflower, Caramelized Onion and Raisin Vinaigrette

Thursday - Spaghetti Squash with Tomato Sauce

Friday - Swiss Chard, Snap Peas, and Beef Stir-Fry

Saturday - Biba's Ricotta Squash Gnocchi

Thankful Thursdays

This week's Thankful Thursday is highlighting Food Banks.  You can easily find your local food bank through the Global FoodBanking Network. 



GFN



You can then find your local food bank so you can contact them to volunteer.  Some locations need your time to sort food items, take care of paperwork, make deliveries, and serve food.  If you can't give your time, they will always take a food donation.  



GFN



As you are stocking on food for the holidays, buy a few extra items to donate, it will mean so much.



Monkeying Around

I have just discovered a wonderful app for toddlers.  It is Monkey Preschool Lunchbox.  My little one just loves playing the games.  There is matching, counting, puzzles, and color and number identification.  It is really great and educational for these young little minds.  And, if you need a few minutes to yourself this is a great tool as well...they'll be entertained so you can get something done.

You can download it from the App Store for just 99 cents!

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox



Monkey Preschool Lunchbox



Rock The Vote!

In the U.S., today is election day, please, get out there and vote!

"Every citizen of this country should be guaranteed that their vote matters, that their vote is counted, and that in the voting booth, their vote has a much weight as that of any CEO, any member of Congress, or any President."

{Barbara Boxer}

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Gobble Gobble

Here are this week's Thanksgiving ideas:

I prefer to decorate with things found in nature, fruit, vegetables, flowers, etc.  I think this table from Midwest Living is just perfect for autum and Thanksgiving.

Midwest Living via Pinterest

Here is another great way to documents the things you are thankful for, and a great craft to get the children involved with: 

Parents via Pinterest

The cookies look so cute and Country Living provides a couple of ways to use them in crafts rather than just eating them!

Country Living

Kind Over Matter has collected a number of free Thanksgiving printables to check out!

Kind Over Matter

What's for dinner?

Here is what we are having for dinner next year...

Sunday - Meatballs with Garlic Bread

Monday - Orecchiette with Cauliflower

Tuesday - Dinner Out

Wednesday - Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup

Thursday - Roasted Acorn Squash with Sage Sausage - a family recipe.  For recipe see below:

Friday - French Onion Soup

Saturday - Risotto with Butternut Squash, Leeks and Basil


Roasted Acorn Squash and Sage Sausage

It will be posted soon, I need to get the recipe from Grandma!

Thankful Thursday

Every Thursday this month I intend to highlight opportunities to volunteer your time and organizations that need your help. 

USO.org

You can help out USO by writing letters to service men and woman.  USO sends care packages and likes to put personal notes of support in the boxes. 

You can get your children involved by drawing pictures to include in the letters.

USO.org

To find out more please click here.


USO also has a book drive for the service men and woman to send to their families.  Donated books are sent to the troops, they then make a dvd of them reading the book and the dvd and book are sent to their family members. 

I think this is such a touching thing to do and will certainly be picking up a number of books to send.  To find out more on this opportunity please click here. 

USO.org

*Please note that I am not a spokesperson for these organizations, nor do I have any affiliation with them.

Yummy Bread Week 5

I found this recipe from the November 2011 edition of Martha Stewart Living.  I have adapted it to try to make it even more healthy!

Parsnip-Rosemary Muffins - Adapted from Martha Stewart
Makes 14

Ingredients

Vegetable oil cooking spray
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 large eggs, plus 2 large egg whites
1 cup grated parsnips (about 2 parsnips)
3/4 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
Course sea salt

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line muffin tin with cupcake liners.  Lightly coat each with cooking spray.

2.  Whisk together flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

3.  Whisk together yogurt, oil, eggs, and egg whites in a medium bowl.  Fold yogurt mixture into flour mixture, then gently fold in parsnips and rosemary until combined. 

4.  Spoon batter into muffin tins until each is 3/4ths full.  Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each comes out clean (about 25 minutes).  Transfer pans to wire racks and let cool for 10 minutes.  Turn out muffins onto racks and let cook completely.

Happy November!

I am so excited it is November.  I love this month, the weather is generally nice and crisp, the trees are still full of color and most importantly at the end of the month is Thanksgiving!

I will be posting some fun Thanksgiving ideas every week...here are this week's.

I have already collected my limbs for a thankful tree to go on our kitchen island.  I think rather than using circles, I am going to use cut-out leaves and each of us in the family will have to write something we are thankful for every day.

Flickr via Pinterest

I love decorating with pumpkins and love having them all over.  This a great idea from Heather Bullard. 

Heather Bullard via Pinterest

These hand print turkeys are so fun, and would make great Thanksgiving Day cards to send to loved ones who won't be with you during the holiday.

Floortje's Blog via Pinterest

Continuing on with the turkey theme, these Turkey Pops are so cute, and I have seen some using the light Oreos and also the darker ones. 

 My Creative Life via Pinterest