Throwback Thursday

I wanted to share this picture of me today for a special reason. The other day I posted and ask if anyone remembered Christmas corsages. I said I remembered always wearing one on my little coats when I was a girl. Well in my Facebook memories it popped up today where my uncle had taken me to see Santa when I was 6 years old. I still have the photo. Check out on my coat. It's my Christmas corsage I was talking about. Just thought that was neat and I would share it with you. Have a great day.

Been having fun...

I haven't posted since I went to Dollar Tree. Sunday at work, my buddy and I were in playful moods all day. He went and found him an elf hat and changed his name badge from Jonnie to Head Elf. Well, of course I no longer wanted to be Brenda so he made me one saying Mrs. Claus. Since we were already having a good day, we decided to have our photo made by the Stampede photo department. They did a great job.

Then they gave us a basket of snowballs to choose from and said to act like we were throwing them at the camera, but me and Jonnie being who we are decided he would act like he was throwing it at me since we are always having fun and picking on each other. Jonnie doctored it ups some and added some words and snowflakes and we have had over 70 friends like or comment on it on Facebook. They all know we like to have fun. It was a blast.

Monday I decided to do a trip to Dollar Tree and Target. Target has this $1 - $3 section and I scored a few good things for a dollar each. First was a 5 x 7 notebook that I can keep all my Christmas notes and Black Friday ads in. The pages don't have lines so it will be perfect for whatever I need to get me through the holidays.

I found this Washi tape for my Happy Planner December layouts. I'm going to work on them next week to plan my December.

This little shadow box sign was too cute. I have a display in mind on how to use it when I decorate for Christmas.

The kids always like a tree in their room at my house. Since it is a beach theme decor, I knew a regular little green tree wouldn't work. Then I found this sparkly one at Target. The color is like a shiny sea glass color. Now to find some beachy ornaments for them to decorate it with.

I did make a stop at Walmart and found this set of three bags that I fell in love with.

So I brought them home and stuffed them with fiber fill for an easy peasy craft. I love the way they turned out. I think I will put them under the tree. 

I have been planning on buying letters to spell joy and painting them a washed out color. Target had them already the color I wanted for just a buck a piece. I came home and used a gold frame I already had and some fabric I bought last week and put it together with some little trim from my stock. I am so in love with this. Can't wait to hang it.

I stopped by Dollar Tree for a wreath, ribbon and balls. I got this and made another craft. It's not big and fluffy but where I want to hang it doesn't have room for big and fluffy so it is perfect. I had to check you tube on how to make a bow. It turned out okay.

The fabric is also for an ornament frame I am making. It was a brown frame but I wanted green so I got that painted Monday as well. I found some burlap for the background in a pale green so I got it instead of brown. Can't wait to do this one on my next day off.

It rained the entire day non-stop. When I got home that morning from shopping I put my warm jammies on with my reindeer socks and got warm before I started my crafting. Even managed to watch a Christmas movie and fix a good supper. It was a great way to spend my day off.

Dollar Tree Christmas Craft Ideas

I am heading out this morning to make a run to Joann's, Dollar Tree and Walmart. I am going to make it a fast "run in and get what I need" trip at each place. Because I want to craft this afternoon to finish up some things for Christmas. Because Dollar Tree has some wonderful selections for quick easy crafts, I checked their website for DIY ideas. I like this simple little wreath.

Talk about super simple decor ideas. This would be really cute on my entry table.

My daughter is on a cupcake baking craze at the moment. I think she made 72 yesterday for Thanksgiving. I will have to share this idea for her to make some at Christmas for her work party. 

I just love this. The cool thing about it? It is made of Christmas gift bags.

This one would even last through January with some snowmen displays in blue to represent the rest of winter.

My Mamaw Eden and my mom passed down their love of poinsettias to me. Of course since I was born two weeks before Christmas it is almost a given that I would love poinsettias. Not to mention, I like shiny and sparkly. So naturally I love this.

I keep looking for ideas for Christmas centerpiece for the dining room and one for the kitchen. This might be cute in the dining room. It occurs to me that one vase with the pretty balls and twiggy things would make an inexpensive gift for those you want to get something for but when you are on a tight budget.

When I saw this, I thought what a cute idea to take to someone who is in the hospital or nursing home at Christmas. I will have to remember this. I would make one for Mom except she already has a display of poinsettias that she sets out every year to kick off the season. My sister goes to visit and helps her decorate. 

This is a great idea for a wreath. Simple and easy but cute.

Another easy wreath. I think you can even buy the bow pre-made there. If not, you can always you tube it to find instructions. One of the strips of 12 balls they sell, one wreath and one bow. A cute little piece of decor for just $3.00. 

Well, I am so happy about getting to go shopping today and then having time to craft that I am going to go get ready and leave soon. Have a great Monday.

Thank you to our Veterans

Thank you to my family for the generations that have served. My Daddy, Luke Garretson.

My nephew Jake Garretson

Daddy's brother, my uncle Kenneth Garretson.

My mom's dad, Papaw Eden.

My mom's brother, my uncle Charlie Eden. 

Some much needed craft time.

 Give a woman a candy dish and she'll put candy in it. Give a Crafter a candy dish and she will a bow on it and craft her own candy. Well, that's what I did yesterday. I wanted to "make" some candy for Christmas that I saw on Pinterest. I decided that I wanted to put it in my vintage Fenton glass hobnail basket. I'm not sure how old it is but the lady that gave it to me had been married over 40 years and had received it at her wedding shower. So I'm guessing it is about 40 - 45 years old. I had some red burlap so I tied a bow around it just for the Christmas holiday.

I gathered up my pipe cleaners, tulle and ribbon and sat down to watch Christmas with the Kranks because it was rainy, cold and dreary. A perfect day for a Christmas movie and a craft. 

I simply cut my pipe cleaners in half, twisted them together. then I wrapped tulle around them, twisted each end and tied with a ribbon. Sometimes I had to use a drop of hot glue to hold the tulle together on the back, sometimes the twisted did the job. But you can see how cute they turned out and each one is different patterns.

I was working on other things yesterday as well such as some painting for an upcoming craft and gathering some of my Christmas craft supplies together to take inventory to see what else I could make. I still need to make more of the candy. But between baking and laundry, I didn't have time to finish. I will make some more tonight when I get home. But for now, here is how it is looking.

At the end of the day, I had a sense of satisfaction and celebrated with one of the brownies, two of the cookies and a glass of ice cold milk.

Friday Foto Friends

Meet my friend, Randy. I work with his wife, Amanda. They have two great children.

He is an avid hiker and the whole family takes treks all over the Great Smoky Mountains. On his days off and before he has to be at work, many times he can be found out exploring what nature has to show us. I got permission from his wife to share some of his recent photos to showcase the beauty of The Smokies this time of year.

Some of their happiest family moments come from spending their days in our mountains.

He has photographed many things over the years, all with his cell phone. He loves snakes and share many, many, many pics of snakes he finds and can tell you all about the species. But I tease him and tell him I need advance notice before he posts his snake pictures. I just can't bring myself to post them because I have a great fear of snakes. However, just to show you his talent for getting up close and personal with great patience here is a friendly butterfly he was able to photograph.

And a great close up of one of the lingering clovers.

Early November found him hiking up to Newfound Gap (elevation 5048 feet) and then on up to Clingman's Dome (elevation 6600 feet) in the hopes of finding an early snowfall. He wasn't disappointed. Check out the gorgeous "white stuff ". I love snow but I do admit I am glad that it is up over 5000' instead of down here in the valley this early.

It had to be really cold up there, because checkout the close up of these twigs.

His views must have surely been breathtaking.

I am a sucker for photos of frosty tree tops against blue skies so this was my favorite.

I hope you enjoyed taking some hikes along with Randy and his family. His pics never cease to amaze me. Thank you, Randy for always being willing to share your experiences with us who consider a hike to be a long day shopping.

Want to try a new recipe?

With Thanksgiving just two weeks away, I am sure many of you are starting to make your menu and shopping list. If you are like me, you may even be thinking of making something different or in addition to your normal choices for desserts. I thought I would share two of my favorites in case you would like to try something new. First is the Reese Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle. You don't have to use a trifle bowl, you can also layer it in a deep baking dish.

Box of Duncan Hines Chewy Brownie Mix for 9x13 pan

16 Individual Reese Cups

2 boxes vanilla pudding (3.4 oz size)

12 ounces Cool Whip

3 cups milk

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 tsp. vanilla

Make brownies per box directions for chewy brownie (2 egg recipe) and bake in a 9 x 13 pan and let cool. Cut into squares about 1" in size. (If you turn them out of the pan onto a cutting board, when they come out of the oven you can cut them easier with a pizza cutter once they cool.) 

In a mixing bowl, mix 2 boxes of vanilla pudding with 3 cups of milk (Ignore pudding recipe on box). Whisk until well blended. Whisk in peanut butter and vanilla. Once it is blended good, fold in 1/2 cup of Cool Whip. Cut up 16 individual Reese Cups into quarters. Set to side. 

In a trifle bowl, layer one layer of brownies. Spoon 1/2 of the pudding mixture over the brownies. Spread on 1/2 of the remaining Cool Whip and top with 1/2 of the chopped Reece Cups. 

Repeat process, starting with the remaining brownies, then the remaining pudding and remaining Cool Whip. Top with remainder of the brownies. Keep refrigerated until ready to eat. I usually do my brownies and cut up my Reese's the day before and then throw the rest together the day we are going to have it. If you refrigerator your Reese cups until ready to use them, they cut up easier and spread in the layers easier. This is my most requested dessert.

The next on my list of recommended desserts is a lemon pound cake with home made glaze. 

I start with the Duncan Hines Deluxe Lemon Supreme Cake Mix. You can use a greased and floured tube pan, a couple of loaf pans or simply use a 9 x 13 cake pan. Instead of the directions on the box, make the cake as follows: 

1 Pkg Duncan Hines Deluxe Lemon Supreme Cake Mix 

1 Package lemon instant pudding Mix (4 serving size)

1/2 C. Crisco Oil

1/2 cup Sprite and 1/2 cup of lemon juice.

Zest from one lemon

4 Eggs

Use the baking temp and time per the box but watch it till it tests done, it may take shorter or longer depending on your oven.

I make mine in a Bundt pan and it is to die for. For the glaze, I use confectioner sugar and just a little milk then add the zest of another lemon, a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice and a splash of sprite to get it the right texture. I like it thick enough to cling to the cake but thin enough to run down over the sides when I pour it on. I take a skewer and poke a few holes in the top so it drains inside as well to keep it moist. Here is the first time I ever made it which was also the first Bundt cake I ever made so I just thought the picture looks delicious.

And thinking about Thanksgiving, if you are like me your week leading up to it is slammed with things to do to get ready. So I like to have something I make ahead of time and freeze for the days I'm too busy to cook a meal. My go to item for the week before is a big pot of School Cafeteria Style Veggie Soup. I make it one day and freeze it in portions so if I need something quick and easy to eat, I get out a bowl of this and heat it up and fix a grilled cheese to go with it and I'm not in the kitchen forever nor do I have a big mess to clean up. 

School Soup

1 48 oz. can tomato juice

1 lb. fresh lean ground beef

1 bag frozen mixed vegetables

1 14-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, mashed and with juice

2 potatoes, diced

2 med. onions, diced

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

(Note it calls for lima beans but I leave them out)

Bring tomato juice to a boil. Slowly add crumbled ground beef. Cook until beef is separated. Add onions, mixed vegetables, potatoes, salt and Worcestershire sauce. Cook over medium heat until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.

Add more salt if desired.

Well, there you have it. Some new ideas for recipes for the holiday. These are not stock photos. These are actual recipes that I have made exactly like I am posting them so I know they are good. And they turned out so good that I took pictures as I made them so I could have them. If you try any, let me know. I would love to hear your results.