Christmas Decorating

I wrote a post on fall decorating, so I thought a Christmas one would be fun, too.

Come with me on a tour of our home (if you are so inclined):)

We keep the Christmas cards/newsletters we receive in this tin "Merry Christmas" container.  Of course, the ones with pictures go on the refrigerator.

This is the second year we have done a silver, black, white and sparkly Christmas tree.

We made the marble looking balls last year (click here for how-to).  We made silver pipe cleaner snowflakes(there is one bottom left corner) and paper circles with mini round mirrors in the center of them (up top by star toward the right).  This tree is a favorite of mine because my girls little hands created most of the ornaments, and because it is so sparkly, especially at night with the lights low.

The basket of books hold all our children's Christmas books.  We have a tradition of buying a new one every Christmas.  We try to get through them every year, usually grabbing one to read as a family after dinner, if we have time.  I have a favorite this year, click here, it is a must see!

This is a broken bookshelf that I now use as a magazine holder.  I had some extra Christmas balls so I thought they would look merry hanging on the top.  I think they are happy, do you?

My sister in law (the same one who made this journal for me) bought me the 2 candles and middle center piece for my birthday this year.  Does she know how to pick the best gifts or what??  She knows I love circles, my eyes did a little dance when I took the polka dot candles out of the gift bag.  I  just love them.  The glass holder has Christmas balls in it.  She gave me the extra balls which were fun using in other parts of my house (like the magazine rack above).  The 2 trees I found at a garage sale.  My table is set for a Christmas ladies lunch, which I will write about soon.

We do not have a mantle, so the windows are our stockings home.  These are fun, fuzzy cream ones.  I am concerned for them, after 4 years they are looking a bit dingy.  I am not sure how to wash them, any suggestions?  This chair is usually in the living room corner where the tree is now.  I have to say I love it here, and use it more often.  I sit in it at night, covered in my cozy blanket with hot tea and a book.

Here is where I used some of the extra balls from my birthday gift.  Ha!  My same sis-in-law bought me those shiny red ball candle holders, too!!  Ok, she really rocks.

I don't really like what I did here, but I am too lazy to think about it and change it.  I do love the little nativity snow globe.  My daughter collects snow globes, and we could not pass this one up last year when we saw it.  It plays the song "Away In A Manger"

The nativity set on the lower shelf is one we have had a long time.  It is falling apart, but we still put it out every year.:)  It still very special and my girls love it.

If you look closely, there are 3 mason:) jars behind my peace sign.  We use them for a behavior/reward system we use for our girls.  Again, a future post!

On to the kitchen.  Pretty simple in here.  There is my favorite Christmas mug from my Carma friend.  It came with a coffee gift card in it.  Perfect gift in my opinion! I'm spoiled.

These are usually filled with Christmas candy, but I thought these decorative balls

 would be a bit more healthy!

Saying hello from our throne room.  The little star ornament was handmade from Nepal

and given to me by my aunt who works with Tiny Hands International.  If you have not yet, check out this post about the awesomeness of this ministry.

This is hanging above the throne.

The sunroom.

We got snow today!

Isn't this pillow happy?  A gift from my mom.  She knows about my round obsession.

This is our "Jesse Tree."  It is a new thing we are trying this year.  The kids are loving it.

I will tell you about it soon!

This year we put our family/memory tree upstairs.  Usually it is in the basement.  We had such a fun family night decorating this tree.

 

Every ornament on this tree has a special memory connected to it.  I will post about that coming up soon, too!  (Boy, I got a lot of blogging to do!)

Thank you for coming on my Christmas Decoration Tour with me!

I Pray You Are Having A Very Blessed Christmas Season!

*This post is linked up some great holiday round-up tours:

Julia's Hooked On Houses Tour

Rhonda's Holiday House Tour

Funky Junk Interiors Holiday Tour

The Nativity Story /Family Movie Night

Above is a preview of the movie "The Nativity Story." We watched this as a family (minus our youngest who was 5 last year, because of the "murder of all firstborn sons" scene) last December.  It is a beautiful movie, and it really made an impression on my older girls (they were 7 and 9), they are both so visual, it really helped bring the story to life for them.  I would like to make a tradition of watching it every year, so I plan on making some homemade popcorn and some fudgy buttons so we can snack, snuggle and watch it together on a near- future family movie night!

Most Friday nights you will find us at home, in the basement with popped corn, cozying up on the couch and watching either recored tv or a movie as a family.

During the summer months and during the month of December, (summer break and winter break) we buy the Blockbuster Monthly Movie pass. (it is called the Blockbuster total access in-store subscription)  It allows 2 movies out at a time, unlimited amount of time, for 30 days, one fee.  This is our little family splurge, it replaces going to the movie theatre as a family, so really, it is quite inexpensive comparably.  We usually get the deal that allows us to rent wii games, too, so that is super fun when the cousins are over for summer/winter break sleepovers.  The best part is NO late fees!!

I love it.  We are able to catch up on the movies we missed throughout the year.  Todd and I have had many fun date nights watching a movie in our basement once the kids go to bed.  Who needs a movie theater?

When we don't have the pass, we watch recorded tv as a family, like "Amazing Race" or "American Idol," on the weekends.  As you can tell, we are a family who likes our tv!

Sugar Frustrations & Andes Mint Cookies!

I am looking forward to January.  Why? Since Halloween, I feel like sugar and processed foods just keep hanging around at the Bowman house! I have yet to figure out how to do the holidays in a balanced way.   It is important to me that my kids experience candy treats and seasonal goodies, some of our best memories and traditions are made from these goodies, but it is starting to drive me nuts seeing all the junk hanging around here!
Before this quadruple- whammy sugar season (Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years) I was able to keep our home pretty much sugar free with very little processed foods, so when we would go to a party or a family function, I was at peace letting my girls eat whatever their little hearts desired, because I knew they were getting what their bodies needed at home.  But then, boatloads of Halloween candy came into our home, Thanksgiving and all its pies and yummy leftovers were in our home, and now and all our yearly, traditional Christmas recipes are merrily making their way into our home!  Agghhh!

For now, I am going to just embrace the season, try to remember that we have come a long way in our eating habits, and know that January is coming!

I would like to be more purposeful about creating a recipe box full healthy treat ideas for the years to come, so I am excited to be participating in a "Healthy Holiday Eats And Sweets" blog carnival coming up on December 8th.  I think I will get some great recipes that still make the holidays special and yummy, but do it using whole foods that are real and nourishing.

Until then, here is one that is not!:)  This cookie recipe is one that I make every year at Christmastime.   It is so easy, and has 2 of my favorite holiday flavors, chocolate and mint!  They are simple, pretty and oh so yum.   I double the batch, make a bunch of balls and freeze them until needed.

Andes Chocolate Mint Cookies
1 box Devils Food Cake Mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
Andes mints, unwrapped and cut in half

~Dump all into a large bowl, beat until combined.
~Roll into one inch balls.  (I just use a pampered chef small scoop and skip the rolling)
~Bake @ 350 for 6-7 minutes. (Don't over bake, you want them soft.)
~Immediately, push an andes mint gently down in the center of each cookie.
~Wait a minute or so, then take a toothpick or tip of a knife and swirl the melted mint into a circle, creating swirly beauty. (my girls love doing this part)
~Let cool so the chocolate will set before putting on a platter.

The First Christmas

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." 

Luke 2:8-14

Best Ever Hot Chocolate Part 2

I wrote this post on The Best Ever Hot Chocolate a few days ago, and had a reader ask for ideas on how to adjust this a recipe for someone who is a teetotaler.  I think it is a great question, as I know there are many people, with reasons I completely respect, for choosing to not consume alcohol.

I made the original recipe (click here for recipe) minus the Godiva Liqueur, and added another teaspoon of sugar.  I am drinking a cup right now, and it tastes creamy and good. (I used whole milk for creaminess.)  I have a few ideas to make it even better.

My first idea would be to make Homemade Chocolate Sauce, and add a teaspoon or 2 in place of Godiva Liqueur.   This recipe is from Small Notebook (I love this blog, one of my favorites), I put this on my "homemade gifts to make sometime" list.

The next idea I had is quite exciting!!   I owe the inspiration to my Grandpa Earl, who is a huge fan of Werther's Original Candies.  They had a way of showing up in his overalls' pockets, which delighted my girls whenever they got to see him.  When we go to Missouri to visit Grandpa and Grandma, there is always a bowl of them sitting in the entryway, inviting us to help ourselves. I will never eat a Werther's Original candy without thinking of grandpa!

Back to my idea,  I think it would be delicious to drop a Werther's Original candy into the mug along with the Dove Chocolates.  I like that it would keep with the theme of dropping candies in the mug.  In fact... I will call it Candy Drop Hot Cocoa.  Who wouldn't want to drink something with a name like that?  I have never tried this in Hot Cocoa, but I have dropped them into a steaming cup of coffee and they would slowly melt, giving my coffee a great buttery, caramel-y flavor. If you wanted faster dissolving, you could crush the candies before adding.  The Werther's hard candies come in a variety of flavors--Mocha, Butterscotch, Irish Creme, Vanilla-- how fun would it be to experiment with all of those?  Werther's also sell a soft caramel chew, which might dissolve easier.

Candy Drop Hot Cocoa

8 oz milk

11/2 tsp sugar

3 Dove Chocolates

2 Werther's Originals Hard Candy-any flavor (can crush for easier dissolving)

 or Werther's Original Soft Caramel Chew

Microwave milk in mug until hot (about 11/2 minutes).  Add Sugar.

Drop in Dove Chocolate Candies and Werther's Original Candies.

Give it a whirl until Chocolate is dissolved and enjoy!

Here are some other ideas to add to a plain mug of hot chocolate to make it special:
~Marshmallows
~Crushed Candy Canes or a few drops of peppermint extract
~A few drops of almond extract
~Crushed Peanut Butter Cups to melt into it- oh yum.
~Espresso Powder
~A bit of flavored cappuccino
~Any flavor of powdered or liquid creamers
~A pinch of cayenne and some cinnamon for a Mexican Hot Chocolate
~A spoonful of Raspberry Jelly
~Red Hot Candies

All this talk of Hot Chocolate brings back a child hood memory.  My mom would have us make Hot Chocolate and accompany it with Buttered Toast.   She showed us how to cut the toast diagonally in half and dip it into the Hot Chocolate.  I know it sounds like soggy yuckness, but the saltiness of the butter mixed with the sweet chocolate was quite tasty!

PS.  Can you tell my healthy eating goes pretty much out the window during the holidays?  We still get all our nutrients from real food, but we definitely add more processed foods and sugar foods than normal.
I'm completely at peace about that, as long as my family holds on to their good health throughout the season and as long as we keep it to a minimum.

A Meaningful Christmas

Have you seen this video?  It is one I would like to watch at the beginning of every Christmas season.  

I saw it last Christmas, and I really do think the message is sinking in for me.  Todd and I have taken pretty drastic steps to reevaluate our budget, think through our spending, and work towards a lifestyle that will enable us to give more of what really matters.  This video excites me, motivates me, and reminds me why living frugally and simply is important to us and what it can accomplish.  

At Home Salad Bar

I love salad bars.  REALLY, I do!  There is just nothing like a good salad full of fresh veggies and lots of yummy toppings.  I love the variety and all the bright beautiful colors.
Salads are really a great way to get those servings of vegetables in each day.  I try hard to have a salad with every family dinner, and I often make one for myself at lunchtime.  If I have some soup on hand, I will make a smaller salad, but if not, I load up the entire plate and top with pasta or chicken to make it more filling.

One of my favorite things in my kitchen is my Salad Spinner.  It is so much more economical to buy a head of green leafy lettuce or romaine, than buying the pre-packaged stuff.  It takes no time at all to give it a rinse and a spin...in fact, it is so easy that my 6 year old is the official salad spinner in this house.  She begs me to be the one to wash the lettuce, break it into pieces and pack it into the spinner.  She has so much fun watching the lettuce twirl, and has become quite the salad- eater since owning the job as the "Bowman family salad spinner."  She even asks for seconds now, which is a miracle since not too long ago she spent a nice chunk of our dinners fussing about having to eat her salad.  I have found that if we pass the toppings around the dinner table and let the girls help themselves, (I put out a plate with a variety of chopped vegetables and fruit) they are much more likely to eat it.  I tell them they have to have at least 3 different colors on their salads, and since they are artistically minded, it often turns into make a "pretty salad" time.  I am proud to say (after much doubt that I ever would) that they are all 3 salad eaters.  Yippee!

**Look at all that water!

I love this salad spinner because it spins and stores.  There is alway lettuce washed and ready to go for sandwiches or to break up for tacos.  It is amazing how long the lettuce will stay fresh in the spinner, ours never gets wilted before we eat it.  I buy a head of lettuce every week so we always have it on hand.

I am much more likely to eat a salad if I know it is in my refrigerator ready for me to throw it together.  I have put my lovely mason jars to good use, and fill them up with chopped vegetables, which has made my refrigerator transform into my very own at home salad bar.  It also makes throwing together a plate of toppings at dinner time a breeze.

**please excuse the green tinge of these pictures.  I've got to remember to turn off my under the cabinet lighting before snapping photos!!

As far as dry toppings, sunflower seeds are very healthful and give good crunch.  I also love a sprinkling dried cranberries.  I often make my own croutons by keeping the ends of homemade bread (throw them into freezer in a ziplock until read to use), cube them, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt or what ever seasoning you like.  Toast in oven just a few minutes until golden.
As a substitute for croutons, I will take crackers (like Wheat-Thins) and break up a handful and sprinkle it on my salad.  I learned that little trick by watching my bro-in-law.  (the same bro-in-law that taught me to put Baked Lays Potato Chips in my Subway sandwich:))  I guess we both like an added little crunch! We almost always have a box of crackers on hand, so I do this often.

Other toppings I like to add are grated cheese, hard boiled eggs, (these make great snacks- I try to always have some in the refrigerator, my girls love them and are now even making their own egg salad for sandwiches!) whole wheat pasta, (another thing I try to have on hand in the refrigerator, which we use up especially on the weekends, my girls help themselves to it for lunch and sprinkle with parm. cheese) and fresh fruit--chopped apples, clementines, grapes, strawberries, etc.

I try to keep dressings simple.  Todd and I just drizzle ours with a good quality olive oil and a good quality balsamic vinegar.  It really is delicious AS LONG as you buy the good stuff.
My girls love the spray dressings that are out by Wish-Bone, Wish-Bone Salad Spritzers, particularly the Red Wine Mist.  It is full of red wine vinegar and they love that tang.  I have tried to make my own homemade, but have bombed twice.  I even tried filling the Wish-Bone bottle up with my homemade dressing, but it didn't fool them!
Oh well.

I love seeing my family eat their salad! I have found between drinking our green smoothies and eating salads, that it is very easy to get our fruits and vegetables in.  It takes a little rinsing and chopping up front, but the health benefits for my family make it very worth it!

**make sure you buy the green stuff!  Romaine lettuce and Green Leafy lettuce have seven to eight times as much beta-carotene, and two to four times the calcium, and twice the amount of potassium as iceberg lettuce.  Spinach is another green that is amazingly good for you, so throw some of that in, too.  As a general rule, the darker green the leaves, the more nutritious the salad green.

***This post is linked to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday.
                                        The Inspired Room