*Family Traditions...One Story At A Time*: 11/1/08

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tuesday Tradition #35

This a new tradition that was started 2 years ago with my friends. We get together the day before Thanksgiving and make homemade pies and rolls together. It's so much fun and a huge life savor for me because One, I don't have my own "mixer" (yet) and Two, I can't cook worth a crap. So my very sweet and best friend CMommy saves my life!

This year we're making Pioneer Woman's pie crust. Looks very, very yummy. I'm going to be making 2 pumpkin pies and a chocolate silk. Now CMommy has the most incredible rolls you'll ever eat!! They're so good!! I can make 2 entire large cookie sheets full and my small family of 7 will EAT EVERY SINGLE ONE BY Friday afternoon....talk about serious carb over loading! Woo-hoo!Maybe I can get her to share the recipe! It's fabulously delicious!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Deepest Gratitude

I actually had a different post for today....but changed it after the events of the past few days.

I'm sort of crying at my freaking computer right now. Ugh! I'm a "closet-crier"....I HATE to be upset. (okay, so why did i just tell you....) I avoid it. I can't stand the feelings it brews up in me...I'm a little confused right now. Crying because I feel sadness, but also because of the deepest gratitude that I can possibly feel.

Over the past year or so it seems that so many people around me have been faced with unexpected illnesses, traumatic experiences, challenges and sadness. All the while, I keep holding my breath that I may never personally experience what they're going through within my own family or my self....selfish of me, yes. But I feel for them and I do want to take it away. Confusing.

Last night I was writing in my journal....almost jotting down all the trials that my friends and some family have had to face. Some minor and others very upsetting. It was actually a long list...I shut the journal and pushed it away with anger because of this LONG list of trials. Why? Why do these good people have to go through so many challenges? I happened to have the scriptures sitting right next to me ;O) and looked for something to answer my question. I searched through and found something that stood out in Acts....it went something like this: Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Hum...Hum....Hum....

In the meantime, I've carried a warm feeling amongst all this anxiety because I've come to the complete understanding that my Heavenly Father has blessed me, my children and my husband beyond anything I can ever understand. I almost feel a sense of peace....because I actually "KNOW" that his watchful eye is constantly on my family. I don't know why...but I just feel it. I feel the deepest gratitude for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. My heart has finally realized that I'm so blessed, beyond anything I could have ever imagined, hoped for, or asked for. Maybe my begging prayers of safety and peace are being answered, or maybe my stubborn heart is finally softening up to actually feel it. I don't know...but my "worldly" mind and thoughts have probably clouded this feeling for awhile...thank goodness He's patient with me.

Wow...this was way off of what I ever share on my blog. But I just felt the need to express my gratitude...after all it is Thanksgiving...the week of celebrating Thankfulness and Gratitude. Thanks for letting me spill my guts....it hurt a little bit, but I feel better now. I'm still a little awe struck that I, ME, of all people could be so-so-so very blessed.......

Friday, November 21, 2008

My Husband Rocks ♥ Fridays!

My hubby really-really rocks! He's done a few big-time rockin' things in that past few weeks! Today I'm going to share the first one.....

He worked from home one day a week ago. I was having a stressful morning, busy, tired, twins were being naughty little tots, other kids all had a bad morning...it was just ONE OF THOSE DAYS. Well, I was doing laundry and trying to stay somewhat caught up on the disaster in our house when He said...

"Come on! It's ready."

"What's ready?"

"Just come on babe."

"Where are the twins?"

"Asleep!"

"What?"

So I followed him and he led me outside....it was an unusually cold day in Florida. He had a toasty fire in the outdoor fireplace, two lounge chairs pulled up next to it, a tray of hot tomato soup, my favorite sandwich - Grilled cheese, tomato and mustard, and 2 Diet Cokes! Seriously! He did that...we enjoyed about 45 minutes of peace and quite, great conversation, yummy food on cold Tuesday morning. How rockin' is that?

For more My Husband Rocks visit My Great Adventures! Help get participation to 150 and then I can do my giveaway on her blog!!!

List of FREE Digi Scrap Downloads! Confessions of an Ex-"Traditional" Scrapbooker!

I found this compiled list of blogs/websites that offer FREE digital scrapbooking downloads. For the life of me I can't remember where I found it!! I'm thinking it was one of my handy-dandy mom sites that I go into, but whoever did it I wish I could remember where I saw it to give you credit! Anyway, I saved it and have referred to it 100's of times! I love this list! I also posted it on Little Scrapbook Shop as well.

If you’re looking to start digital scrapbooking and would like to save some money in the process, visit these sites and see what you can grab for free! If you have a site and it's not on here, please leave it on the comment section and I'll update it to the list!

http://www.shabbyprincess.com/default.asp
http://store.scrapgirls.com/category.php?cat=21
http://happyscrapgirl.blogspot.com/
http://www.rackettyscrappety.blogspot.com/
http://www.littledreamerdesigns.com/
http://www.designerdigitals.com/
http://www.gingerscraps.blogspot.com

http://scraporchard.com/
http://ikeagoddess.blogspot.com/
http://raspberryroaddesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.sunshinestudioscraps.com/
http://vivianefreebies.blogspot.com/
http://www.weedsandwildflowersdesign.com/
http://www.scraphead.com/
http://www.myscrapbookart.com/
http://tracimurphydesigns.com/
http://www.the-lilypad.com/index.php
http://www.sweetshoppedesigns.com/
http://www.simplysarahdesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.scrapmatters.com/cms/
http://www.scrapbookgraphics.com/xcart/home.php
http://scrapbook-elements.com
http://scrapbook-bytes.com/
http://www.scrapartist.com/

http://ellielash.com/blog/
http://www.peppermintcreative.com/
http://bestscrapfreebies.itopsites.com/
http://mistycatodesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.memorymakersmag.com/
http://www.jenwilsondesigns.com/
http://www.hodgepodgeart.typepad.com/
http://happyscrapgirldesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.ginamillerdesigns.com/shoppe/
http://fishinmom.blogspot.com/
http://www.digitalscrapbookpages.com/
http://www.digitalfreebies.com/freebies.php
http://www.digitaldivasdesigns.com/
http://www.digiscrapdepot.com/freebies/
http://digifree.blogspot.com/
http://www.cottagearts.net/
http://www.catscrap.com/
http://bitsoscrap.blogspot.com/
http://www.atomiccupcake.com/
http://www.scrapgoo.lliella.com/
http://pineappleplantation.blogspot.com/
http://angeltown.typepad.com/
http://imaginebyfran.blogspot.com/
http://www.godigitalscrapbooking.com/blog/?p=33
http://lifebeginswithlove.blogspot.com/
http://scrapandrea.blogspot.com/
http://amandaheimanndesigns.com/blog/
http://sugarsnapscraps.blogspot.com/
http://www.funkyplaygrounddesigns.com/store/home.php
http://www.creatingkeepsakes.com/

http://frostedillusions.blogspot.com/search/label/Freebie%20Kits

http://vicki20.blogspot.com

http://misschifis.blogspot.com/search/label/Freebie

http://www.snapnscrapfreebies.com

http://digi-designs.blogspot.com/

Thursday, November 20, 2008

$200 Giveaway! Merry Christmas To You ♥ From Me!

DON'T MISS MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY YET!!
I ♥ my bloggy friends! I'm so Thankful to have found this amazing world that I didn't know existed just months ago.
So I want to give you a Thanksgiving/Christmas present you can't live without!
Staring today and running until 11:59 pm on Friday, December 5th, I'll be giving away my best giveaway yet! Cherish Bound story products, story starters, chat cards, and even publishing!!
Don't miss out!!! You'll love everything in this giveaway!

$200 of Cherish Bound goodies!!!!!!!!

♥Gathering Chat Cards♥
♥Child Chat Cards♥
♥Sassy Binder♥
♥Notebook Pages♥
♥Writing & Publishing Guide♥
♥Vacation Dailies♥
♥Looking Back, It's My Life, A First Time For Everything Mini Story Starters♥
♥Recipe & Top Ten Mini Story Starters♥
♥Best Friends, Reflections of a Parent, I Did It, & All About Me Story Starters♥
♥Photo Bracelet♥
♥$29 in Cherish Bound Publishing!♥

Here's how you can enter!!

Leave a comment & tell me a story you would love to tell your family
Follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/cherishbound176
Sign up for my newsletter (see top-right sidebar, already get it, just remind me in your comment and it counts!)
Post on your own blog about the Power of Story and how Cherish Bound can help you tell your stories. (5 entries for every post!! Just make sure you link back and let me know in the comments!)
Add me to your favorites (top-right side bar-I'm already a favorite? Remind me...and It counts :O)
Refer a friend and have them mention you in their comment (5 entries)
Register at my Cherish Bound home page (VERY bottom) www.findcaptureandshare.com (if you're already a customer it won't let you do it twice ;O)

There you GO!! I can't wait to give this amazing gift package away!
GOOD LUCK! And many blessings to you and your family!!
US Residents only. And PLEASE don't forget to leave your email!! You have to be able to give your shipping address if you win!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Wordless Wednesday: Elfing Around

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Tuesday Tradition #34

Thanksgiving is NEXT WEEK!! I promised myself that this year I would not be surprised or shocked to realize that Thanksgiving was just days a way, but I am. It always comes so quickly, but I have taken the time to plan out a few things other than the menu. I'm not totally planned out (wish I was that good...) but I've got my "Thanksgiving Agenda" planned and hopefully I'll be able to pull off an enjoyable and relaxing holiday with my gang.

Here are 3 fun family traditions that you can do now and prep for next week. These are some fun things you can actually do ON Thanksgiving day if you need to fill some extra time up. We spend our Thanksgiving at home with just the 7 of us and there can be an hour or two here and there that allows board children to find trouble or simply drive me up a wall. So here's what we'll be doing on Thanksgiving day...other than eating and stuffing our faces full of grub.

1. Pick a fun family holiday movie to watch. This is great day to watch The Christmas Story, Polar Express, Rudolph, Miracle on 34th Street, Elf...and the list goes on. We catch the NFL games first and then pop a movie in.

2. How about a fun holiday craft or make some gifts? This year I'm loving the vinyl lettering! You can put this stuff ANYWHERE! But this year, we're going to be making some "tiles" with vinyl lettering. You better get your lettering ASAP though....and go down to your local Home Depot or Lowe's and buy some clearance tiles for cents!

3. And don't forget to take a family picture for your holiday cards. We always try and take one on Thanksgiving...however, we have to take it ourselves because we all want to be in it and we have no one else to help us take it. So we go with the old "timer" thing. Sometimes we look like we actually got dressed up and went somewhere and other times...well, it's the thought that counts right?

Start planning some fun things to do over the 5 day break! Lots of food, blessings and family traditions! Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Dinner Blessings #5

One of my most favorite foods of all time has been and always will be.....

MEATLOAF!!

I know, of all the foods in the world...meatloaf? But it is. I love a few other things just as much, but this is one of my top favs. I'm a big-time carnivore. Had I lived 2 million years ago I would have been a T-rex. Seriously...

So I'd like to share my favorite meatloaf recipe with you.....and if you have one please share it using Mr. Linky on your blog or post it in the comment section. I'd love to see all the "meatloaf" recipes out there. I make it at least 2 times a month. So show me what you've got!

I wish I could give credit for this recipe, but I actually found it on a written piece of paper about 10 years ago in my church's kitchen. I snagged it...it look dusty. I don't think anyone was looking for it, but I took it, made it, and fell in love...so that's why I call it...

Sunday Meatloaf

2 pounds ground beef
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup BBQ sauce
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 pound bacon strips, uncooked

Sauce
2 cups ketchup
2 cups brown sugar

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT bacon, ketchup and brown sugar. Put in a large 9x6 loaf pan. Cut bacon strips in half and place on top of meatloaf to cover. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Remove and drain excess juices (fat). Spoon ketchup/brown sugar sauce over the top. Save some for serving at the table too. Return to oven for about 15-20 more min. Let stand for a few minutes before serving. (I'm hungry just typing this!!!!)

Enjoy and please share yours! I can always use a new Meatloaf recipe....well, my family would love the variation!
Ps...don't forget Homemaker Monday over at 11th Heaven's Homemaking Haven!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

The Famous Northpole.com Recipes!

Here are TONS and TONS of holiday favorites!!! Just click on the name of the cookie and BAM....the recipe is there! Enjoy these yummy Christmas treats!!

A Little Bit About Moi...