Five Simple Things: November 2013

Nov 21, 2013

Nov 20, 2013

Visions of Sugarplums Blog Event Dec 2 thru 6 - Mark your calendars!

Visions of Sugarplums

Blog Event

Dec 2nd-6th, 2013

Giveaways every day!

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

Nov 19, 2013

Spreading Sunshine

I am so bad at posting these.

I have been holding on to this for awhile

until I had time to link up blogs. That wasn't

happening so I just decided to post it now.

Who doesn't enjoy reading random facts after all?!

A big shout-out to Kim @ This Ole Mom

for nominating me for this award!

"Thank you Kim"

the rules...

1. Acknowledge your nominating blogger (thank you Kim!)

2. Provide 11 random facts about yourself.

3. Answer your nominating Blogger 11 questions that they provided for you.

4. Pick 11 Bloggers to nominate for this award.

5. Post 11 questions of your own for those 11 Bloggers to answer for you.

11 Random facts about me-

1. I love wrought iron furniture

2. I enjoy old movies (40's, 50's)

3. I wear an apron when I'm in the kitchen (no pearls

just the apron)

4. I make a list for everything

5. I think 11 facts are really hard to think of

6. fall is my fav season

7. winter/snow is my second favorite time of the year

8. I don't enjoy longggg road trips

9. I enjoy reaching my destination after a long road trip!

10.Organizing is another favorite hobby of mine
11.I enjoy baking more than cooking

Answering Kim's questions for me-

1. What is your favorite television show ?

Food Network's Pioneer Woman

2. Do you have children ? How many?

We have four children

3. What is your favorite food ?

spinach

4. How long have you been blogging ?

five years

5. Where is one place you wish you could travel to ?

Italy

6. Do you have pets ? How many ? What ?

7. What is the one favorite dish you like to cook ?

pot roast

8. Does your family have a special family tradition ? What?

we have many, but watching

The Muppet's Christmas Carol at the

beginning of the Holiday season is a fav,

9. What is one thing your friends don't know about you ?

10. What is your favorite song?

right now, I've been listening to

old songs by Dean Martin!

11. Do you have a favorite movie ? what ?

The Italian Job & White Christmas

If you have not received this blog award yet, feel free to play along

...I'm passing it on to each of you.

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

Nov 17, 2013

What's on Your Christmas List? - organization

I know Christmas is coming when the kids start emailing me their Christmas lists...complete with hyper links!

(Gotta love having teenagers!)

Knowing the weeks ahead will be busy with shopping, planning & celebrating, I created a fun tablet to keep track of clothing sizes, store lists and purchases.

"Note to elf..." (Oh Christmas Puns)

materials used:

kraft cardstock,

Christmas scrapbooking paper,

Marthat Stewart punches,

seam binding ribbon,

Stampin' Up ink,

and

Joy's Life stamps:

Wintery Puns & Oh Christmas Puns

Elf definition (Wintery Puns)

This is a super simple project.

You can make this with any size tablet. Use something you already have perhaps.

After measuring your specific tablet, cut cardstock accordingly, scoring the center to accommodate the height of your tablet. Embellish with pretty paper and a ribbon closure if you wish.

(comment below if you need specifics)

I like to get my shopping done early so I can enjoy all the fun & festivities of the beautiful Christmas holiday!

Have you starting your holiday shopping yet?

Merry Christmas!

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

I wrote this post while designing for JoysLife.com.

Nov 14, 2013

Thanksgiving Ideas -Winner Announced

Iris

Congratulations Iris!

Please email me

your contact info.

Thank you all for playing along!

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

Nov 12, 2013

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Turkeys - kids Thanksgiving table

Time to decorate the kids Thanksgiving table.

We need something simple,

something fun,

something that won't break

and hey, let's make it edible too!

Enter...the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Turkey!

just look at their plump foil covered bodies! yum!

Although this craft will be for the children to make, I assembled a few turkeys to create this sweet little table decor that will welcome the kids to their very own table.

They say you are what you eat, and I found that to be true! I certainly was 'gobbling' the entire time I was creating these delicious little fellows!

We pre-punched & cut all the necessary parts so the kids will have all they need to create their own turkeys at their table.

I first saw this cutie on Pinterest, then changed it up a bit to make it easier on little fingers. I punched holes for the eyes & backed them with black paper, thus eliminating the need for small pieces such as googly eyes or gems. The beaks are simply gold paper folded over then cut into pointed triangles.

too fun!

hmm, I'm thinking maybe I need to reserve a seat for myself at the kids table this year!

Give-Away!

Comment below for a chance to win
one Joy's Life stamp set,
your choice!

For addition chances,

also comment on my

November 9th post,

November 10th post &

November 11th post.

Give Away winner announced here!

November 14, 2013

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

Nov 11, 2013

Wine Glass Name Place-Cards - Thanksgiving

Autumn burned brightly,

a running flame through the mountains,

a torch flung to the trees.

~ Faith Baldwin

Bringing a bit of nature to the autumn table setting.

These are pretty self explanatory.

The name card simply sits on the acorns and the leaf sets behind the name card. Larger leaves are optimal, however smaller leaves can be taped by their stems to the back of the card in order to sit at the proper height for your particular glass. (as I did here.)

This wine glass photo gives you a peek at the wooden table-top on my new farmhouse table hubby made me. I've been ~~nagging~~ encouraging him to finish it for the holidays. Thank you babe, I absolutely love it!! I'll post full table pictures another day.

Give-Away!

Comment below for a chance to win
one Joy's Life stamp set,
your choice!

For addition chances,

also comment on my

November 9th post &

November 10th post.

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

Nov 10, 2013

Pumpkin Bread Recipe - Moist & Delicious

Quick & Easy Pumpkin Bread

This is such an easy recipe, you'll make it again and again.

We do!

The kids even make this recipe, I'm a truly blessed Mother!

wrapped in wax paper & jute twine.
banner stamped with Joy's Life: It's All Fall Puns stamp
in Versamark & white embossing powder.

Makes great gifts too!

Pumpkin Bread

3 Cups Sugar

4 Eggs

1 Cup Crisco (solid shortening/oil)

Cream together.

Then add:

2/3 Cup Water

1 Teaspoon Cinnamon

3 1/3 Cup Flour

1 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Teaspoon Nutmeg

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

2 Cups Cooked Pumpkin

1 Cup Chopped English Walnuts (optional)

Mix and bake in loaf pans 1 hour @ 350 degrees

makes 2 regular & 1 small loaf pans

9 small loaves

I have a few non nut lovers in the family, so I omit the walnuts. still tastes awesome!

Enjoy!

Give-Away!

Comment below for a chance to win
one Joy's Life stamp set,
your choice!

For addition chances,

also comment on my

November 9th post.

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

Nov 9, 2013

Thanksgiving Table ideas blog hop - Joy's Life stamps

Welcome to
Joy's Life
November blog hop!

hop starts @ JoysLife.com

Need some creative ideas for

your Thanksgiving table?

Check out what the team
has been creating!

Here's mine.

A little something to gobble.

Fall trail mix.

Kraft cardstock, SU! window punch, crinkled paper ribbon,
jute twine, SU! Shades of Nature leaves stamp (retired),
Memento ink & Versamark ink, embossing powder,
Joy's Life: It's All Fall Puns stamp set.

I was inspired by this cute little treat holder on Pinterest. I thought it would be a perfectly sweet addition to each place setting on my Thanksgiving table.

Fall trail mix:

peanuts, salted

butterscotch chips

raisins

M&M's, seasonal colors only!

candy corn, if you have any leftovers from halloween

Give-Away!

Comment below for a chance to win
one Joy's Life stamp set,
your choice!

I'll be posting more
Thanksgiving inspirational
ideas over the next few days.
(Comment on each day's post for more chances to win.)

I'll post a winner on Thursday, November 14th.

Thanks so much for stopping by,
your next hop stop is our super creative
Stacey!

full hop list here!

♥ Follow Me On Bloglovin'

Nov 8, 2013

Inspire Me Fridays weekly link-up

Welcome to Inspire Me Fridays!

Thank you all so much for sharing your creativity each week, YOU inspire all of us!

Also, a big thanks to those who have posted & shared my linky party button on your blogs, your support is very much appreciated!

Inspire Me Fridays features...