A Little Change

During the Christmas season, I want my home to feel especially festive. But, I don't enjoy doing major clean-up after the holidays or spending a lot of money. Luckily, small changes have a major impact.

To prevent a cluttered feeling, clear your "to be decorated" surfaces and store those year-round decorations in your Christmas decoration storage containers. When you are returning the decorations to storage, they'll just trade places with the others. So easy!

Beyond decorating the Christmas tree, creating a beautiful centerpiece for your dining room table is a nice place to start. Most of us have a glass vase in the basement or kitchen from a bouquet of flowers. This is a perfect time to reuse it. 

Cut a few twigs from the base of your Christmas tree to line the outside of the vase. Then, fill the vase with some of your favorite holiday decorations. I spent less than ten dollars on a cranberry garland and some cinnamon pinecones.  If you buy a garland, use wire cutters to trim a few short sections to line the inside of your vase. Fill the center of the vase with pinecones. If you have additional garland, you could lay it like a wreath around the vase to give the centerpiece a fuller look.

Other ideas: I considered using fresh cranberries and stringing them to make a garland, but am hoping to pull my centerpiece out of my Christmas box next year. Another option would be to collect pine cones and twigs from your backyard, if you have lovely, large pine trees. Or, fill the vase with ornaments that you didn't use on the tree.

Abundance.

This is a time of year when so many people express thankfulness.
From Thanksgiving on, you hear people talk about their sentiments of thankfulness.  And we all spend time showering one another in gifts as a sign of our love and thankfulness for our relationships.

Yet, it also seems to be a time when so many people seem exasperated and overwhelmed.

I am fully aware of how much there is to "get done."  From decking the halls, to buying or making gifts, to baking and sending cards, to traveling and celebrating.

It is undeniably a busy time of year.  But, we have created it to be like that.  It feels this way due to our own expectations of ourselves and the pressures we put on ourselves.

I'll admit, there are many things I hope to accomplish prior to December 25th.

But, I also admit, when I look at what Christmas is truly about, none of it matters except for the state of my heart and that of those around me.

I am sure that when Jesus was born, the manger was not covered in sparkly lights and there weren't hot cookies being served.  Cards weren't sent out explaining all Mary and Joseph had done over the preceding year.  And the manger certainly wasn't perfectly clean and tidy.

But, one thing I am sure about is that Jesus was surrounded by His family.  And they were all abundantly thankful for the gift they had been given.  They felt love and thankfulness and an abundance of gratitude.

And that's all that really matters.  It is all so simple when we get down to it.

And for that I am abundantly thankful.

DIY {from coast to coaster}

I had this idea that once I got my own apartment, I was going to turn into a DIY queen.  I envisioned myself creating incredible holiday decorations, having Sundays full of homemade projects, and giving my friends handmade gifts, to which they'd say, "where did you get this? it's lovely!"

I quickly learned, though, that a new venue does not necessarily mean new habits. Or, more importantly, new skills.

I was in desperate need of coasters, as the ones I took from a local bar were not really matching my decor.

I decided that instead of buying the ones I really wanted, I would try to save a buck and make them myself.

Although the start up costs ensured I spent almost as much as the coasters from Kate Spade, I like the way they turned out, and next time, I won't have to buy quite as many supplies.

To make them you'll need:
- Cork-board circles
- A hot glue gun and sticks
-Anything to decorate them (I found that flat buttons worked the best, and if you have extra ones around your house, using them would eliminate the primary cost - and would make it so your coasters are eco-friendly, budget-accommodating, and recycled)

To make them, I hot glued each individual piece to a cork-board circle. Initially, I tried using little paper flowers and although they looked cute, they haven't held up against condensation the way the buttons have.

I've also found that the coasters with only one color of buttons looked cuter (granted I'm a minimalist).

If I were doing it again, I would have gotten glitter and made sparkly coasters for the holidays, too.

Happy crafting!

Vegetarian Meatballs

Years ago, my dear friend, Kristi, gave me a recipe for vegetarian meatballs.

It has since become a family favorite of ours.  I have tweaked it quite a bit to make it our own and it is not only delicious, but simple and healthy...and we have pleased many a meat-eater with them as well!

Vegetarian Meatballs

ingredients:

1 c finely ground pecans
1/4 c shredded parmesan or cheddar cheese
1/2 c cottage cheese
4 eggs
1 Tbs chopped onion
1 c breadcrumbs
1/2 t oregano
salt and pepper

directions:

1) Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well combined.  Occasionally I will have to add additional breadcrumbs to make it a "meatball" consistency that will stick together when formed into balls.

2) Place meatballs into a 13 x 9 baking dish coated with cooking spray.

3) Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

We love ours served over whole wheat pasta with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese on top!

You can also use different nuts according to what you have on hand.  I have used almonds, walnuts, pecans or all three depending on what is in our cupboard.  Walnuts are one of the healthiest nuts around, so that is one I tend to use often in these!

Enjoy!

Sustainable gift guide...

Since I've only recently put myself on a budget, this holiday season is coming as a shock.  Have there always been so many reasons to purchase?

Gifts I want to buy, gifts I have to buy, things I want to buy for myself (party dresses!), things I have to buy for myself (food. meh.)...

I decided if I'm going to spend, I'll attempt to support companies that have sustainable business practices.

Although, it's been easier said than done.

Why are eco-friendly clothes always cotton and cream? And when they do use color, do they have to be earth tones? I'm a warm.  The clothes always feel so obviously earthy.

I have recently stumbled upon People Tree and I couldn't be happier about it.  The company supports Fair Trade and organic clothing; everything is handmade and from all over the world. They were also named the Most Sustainable Fashion Brand and the Global Fashion Awards. And, as if I wasn't already hooked, Emma Watson is designing a line for them next summer.

Since it's a UK based company, I better shop now so I can have these lovely gifts in time for Christmas...

For her...

1. Grace fleece jacket
2. Check weekend bag
3. Sash prom dress
4. Draped Neck Tunic
5. Shaggy short cardigan
6. Long socks
7. Flower gloves
8. Blue egg shell set
9. Pearl border skirt

For him...

1. John stripey top

2. Warwick joggers

3. Guys beanie

4. Organic cotton bedlinen

5. Guys cool tee

6. James stripey cardigan

7. Peter polo top

8. PT pocket scarf

9. Jude V neck

And! Right now, you can win a Fair Trade stocking, too! Happy Friday!

A Simple Binder

Nothing makes a home feel as cozy and welcoming as a good meal. While we definitely have regulars that tend to appear on my husband's meal request list, I don't like to get stuck in a cooking rut. If you're like me, you're always on the hunt for a new favorite recipe. I often visit the Food Network website for ideas, but my favorite place to find my dream dinners is in Cooking Light.

I recognize that subscribing to a magazine may not be the most eco-friendly thing to do. But, my recipe saving system has limited my guilt about that. For a long time, I saved my issues of Real Simple and Cooking Light, knowing that the information and recipes in them were too valuable to recycle after a single use.

I found a simple, three-ring binder in my basement. I bought a couple packages of page covers. Then, I sat down with a stack of magazines. I used an exacto knife to slice out the recipes that I loved or really meant to try. Then, I sorted them into piles based on the type of dish they would create--dessert, pasta, soup, bread, side dish, breakfast, etc. (Use as many categories as your heart desires.) Now, whenever I am planning a dinner party, brunch or family dinner and feel stumped for ideas, I simply open my binder. And, since it keeps me from buying new cookbooks, I guess it is a little green after all.

*In the end, I recycled the portions of the magazines that I did not save for the binder.

'Tis the Season

I love the preparations that precede Christmas.

I adore the music.  I love the decorations.  I enjoy the celebrating.  I get so much joy in shopping for friends and family.

However, every year as December 25th approaches, I find myself trying to clear some of the clutter in my mind that accompanies the festivities and I consciously try to spend time to savor the true meaning of Christmas.

This year, a particular verse that has given me pause is Mark 10:21.  

It states: Jesus looked at him and loved him.  "One thing you lack," he said.  "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me."

Wow. That convicts and challenges me.  

Thinking of how much more we could do for the poor.  

How much less time I could spend thinking of materialistic things. 

How much more could my true goals be eternal and not of this world.

I am not confessing to have it all pulled together or to even be close.

But I do know as Christmas approaches, my prayer is that my focus is on Christ.  And even as we enjoy giving gifts this season, that we would look most forward to the amazing gift we will one day receive in eternal life with our Lord.