Six Tablescape Themes with White Dishes

Oh what a night!!  We had a fabulous time at our church's Christmas Ladies night on Friday.  We call it Sights and Sounds of Christmas.  My sister-in-law, Nancy did a great workshop on tablescape ideas using white plates.  She showed the ladies 6 different themes.   Please bare with us, if everything on the table isn't straight and all cutlery in the correct spot.  I was her "right hand" and we did this mini workshop in 15 minutes.  There were 3 groups of ladies that saw this workshop and we only had 5 minutes in between to basically dump everything from each place setting in a separate basket and start over again with the next group.  Phewf!!   I knew you would want to see her great ideas, so Nicole took some pictures! :)

Red & White

A simple red place mat sets off the white dishes so well.  The ladies were encouraged to think outside of the box with tree ornaments, and use them for more than hanging on a tree.  The little glass mitten is a tree ornament used as a table decoration, or take home favor for your guests.  A chocolate wrapped in red foil adds some more of that festive color.  A quick idea for a pretty place card is a simple gift tag.

Black & Silver

A black place mat is the perfect beginning to this square place setting.  I love these silver chargers.  Nancy shared two options for napkins.  A grey napkin tied with a black satin ribbon, and decorated with tree ornaments.  The black napkin has a simple silver napkin ring.  She found sticky strips of rhinestones at the Dollarama, and attached a few to the silver napkin ring, and some more to the front of the stemware base.  It really gives them some bling!!

Brown & Gold

Chocolate brown and gold are beautiful together.  Nancy tied the napkin and cutlery together with a gold piece of raffia.  More tree ornaments are found in this place setting with the gorgeous pine cones.  A chocolate treat for each guest is tucked in this pretty gold box (Dollarama).  A little bit of fresh cedar really adds a lot of holiday cheer to your place settings.   

Frosty Blue

What a great tablescape theme for the holidays, or for a special dinner during the chilly winter months.  The place mat for this place setting is a plastic snowflake (Dollarama).  They are so pretty.  The stemware is also sitting on a small mirror snowflake.  She continued the blue theme through the charger, and round tree ball and also by standing a blue place card up against a clear candle holder.  The little present in the bowl is a tree ornament that is battery operated, and changes color.  

Children's Gingerbread Table

Nancy has three sweet little grandsons.  I'm sure she was thinking about them as she pulled this children's place setting together.  The place mats are two pieces of scrapbooking paper.  They will be perfect for occupying the boys with the crayons you see at the head of the plate.  The crayons can be stored in the cute little gingerbread house box.  Note on the top right corner of the red paper that she has traced a gingerbread cookie cutter and then cut it all out except for the bottom.  She folded the paper up and it has become her place card!  The other option for a sweet place card is the candy cane easel she made by gluing three candy canes together and placing a cute little card in it with the child's name on it.  What could please the children at your table more than a holiday cracker, and gingerbread cookies. 

Rustic Log Cabin

This is my favorite.  I just love the relaxed, cozy feel of this theme.  Nancy started this place setting by folding a warm scarf and placed it so the fringe hung down over the edge of the table!  The cutlery could also have been placed inside those sweet little mittens (another tree ornament).  The little black pot could be full of beans, homemade soup, chili...oh yum!  A mason jar/mug containing hot apple cider, and birch bark as a place card really adds to the rustic decor.  Pine cones, greenery and a plaid ribbon...she hit this one right out of the park!!!  

Thank you Nancy, for the inspiration and very creative ideas you shared with us! We are ready to set our Christmas table now!! :)


Tanya

Joining:
Christmas Link Up
Table Top Tuesday

Red Pepper Jelly

A super versatile item to have on your shelf this holiday season. 

It's perfect to:

~give as a gift with a seasonal spreader knife attached with ribbon

~take to a party hostess as a thank you

~serve with crackers & cheese as a quick appetizer when company drops by

~taking munchies to a party?  Grab a bottle of jelly.  Pick up a box of crackers and block of cream cheese on the way.  Pour the jelly over the cream cheese and serve with crackers and cute little Christmas spreader.  

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

¼ cup Jalapeno peppers - a small can of Old El Paso or from a jar (250ml can/jar for a double recipe)

2 small fresh Jalapeno peppers (remove the seeds and the white parts)

¾ cup sweet red peppers in small pieces (2 large)

1 cup vinegar

3 tbsp lemon juice

5 cups sugar

½ bottle Certo (liquid)

Preparation:

Place all the peppers (Jalapeno and sweet red) in a blender with ½ c. vinegar.  Blend into a puree.  Pour into large pot and add remaining vinegar, lemon juice and sugar.  Add Certo and bring to a boil for 1 minute.  Remove from stove top and skim.  Pour into sterilized jars.  Makes 4  8oz. jars.

Gwyneth

Glass Block Christmas Decoration

I have a great quick craft idea for you this morning.  Have you seen these neat glass blocks in your local craft and hardware stores?  Their uses are endless.  They were initially created for the building supply industry.  They were, and still are, stacked and used as privacy windows as well as indoor privacy walls.  

They are now made with a hole in them so you can push a string of lights inside.  I tied it up with a pretty ribbon, just like you would a Christmas package and added a glittery poinsettia!  Voila!  I have a beautiful Christmasy nightlight for my kitchen, or any room in my house.  Or I can give it as a gift to that hard to shop for person that already has everything!! ;)

Gwyneth

PS.  Google Glass block crafts for hundreds of other ideas to use. 

Take 5 with Kathy - "It is finished..."

Two Fridays ago, I was one very happy girl! My deck is finally finished!! Watching the guys pack up all their gear and leftover materials filled me with a giddy feeling as I realized the project was completed. It took longer than expected due to some unforeseen circumstances and a few rainy days, but the end result is a sturdy, well-built beautiful deck which we will enjoy for years to come. Yes, there’s some landscaping waiting for spring, but before too long a fresh blanket of snow will cover the muddy ground. A few weeks ago I wrote about keeping the end in sight and now that it’s done, I find it pretty easy to visualize a green lawn and pretty flowers skirting the new deck.

I’ve been thinking about some other things that are finished for the time being…the grass stopped growing, so no more mowing until spring…the leaves have fallen and the trees will rest for the winter months…my gardens are sleeping until the warm sun returns and awakens tender shoots…our winter tires are installed and summer ones stored away…we finished cleaning up the garage after its seven-week stint as a temporary storage/work area for the carpenters…my lawn ornaments and gardening supplies are put away...and I also finished the shopping necessary to fill two Samaritan’s Purse shoeboxes that will be sent to children in needy areas of our world (a very worthwhile cause which we have enjoyed contributing to for many years).

Usually by this time I have most of my Christmas decorations up but I’ve been having trouble feeling the “Christmas spirit”. However, with deck completed and the clean-up done, I find myself gradually thinking about other things. On Thursday, I helped decorate Christmas trees at our church and that did it! I came home suddenly anxious to start my own decorating. Since I now have a kitten that longs to be into everything and everywhere he’s not supposed to be, I may have to modify the decorating somewhat.

Attending our church’s “Sights and Sounds of Christmas” ladies event Friday evening ensured my mind and heart were geared up for season preparations. What a delightful time of singing familiar Christmas carols, learning how to make beautiful while inexpensive wreaths out of coffee filters, sharing lots of laughs as two ladies and their children entertained us with their “cooking show” (I plan to use the recipes), “ooh-ing” and “awe-ing” over tablescaping demonstrations, and chatting between mouthfuls of delicious cheesecake. Many thanks to the women who organized such a festive evening!

As I prepare for this special celebration, I’m always reminded to keep the true meaning of Christmas forefront in my thinking and inner spirit. It’s so easy to become caught up in the gift buying, parades, baking, decorating, parties, chocolate truffles, apple cider, ribbons and bows that I need to pause often and realize why we even have this season. Truly it is the time we rejoice over the birth of Jesus Christ some two-thousand years ago. We focus on Mary and Joseph, the virgin birth, the manger, the shepherds, the Bethlehem star, the wisemen, and the angels. We light candles, sing Christmas carols, visit loved ones and friends, share in gift-giving, and enjoy family traditions we associate with the season.

I believe it’s necessary to go one step further, however, and reflect on why Jesus came to earth as a little baby. Why did He take on human form, subject Himself to the most humble of birthplaces, and grow up in the home of a carpenter? He was born into Jewish heritage yet His own people didn’t recognize He was the One prophesied by Isaiah, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6) They expected Him to come as a King, a ruler of their people as verse 7 says, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever; the seal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Isaiah further foretold the reason for Jesus’ coming, “…Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Saviour comes!” (62:11) An angel appeared to Joseph, who was engaged to the virgin Mary, and said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” That was His purpose in coming! When Jesus met with the Samaritan woman she said, “…I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, ‘I who speak to you am he.’” (John 4:25-26)

When Christ died on the cross for our sins, He cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) The work He had come to do was accomplished. Although God’s plan had been in motion since before the beginning of time, the earthly fulfillment began with ...a BABY!

Until next Sunday,

Kathy

Coconut Flour Muffins

These muffins are a great gluten free option.  They are made with coconut flour, which has a fairly mild coconut taste. They can be made with blueberries or raspberries or chocolate chips. Because coconut flour isn't standard (I think the amount of moisture may vary somewhat), I tried to compensate for this with the amount of water or coconut milk.  I always double this but use only 5 eggs, instead of 6.  I put all wet ingredients into the blender, including banana.  

- Gwyneth

Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

·         3 eggs (room temperature - important)

·         1/3 cup coconut flour

·         ¼ cup melted butter

·         ½ teaspoon vanilla

·         ¼ teaspoon salt

·         ¼ cup sugar substitute equivalent (liquid preferred) I use Agave Nectar

·         ½ teaspoon baking powder

·         2-5 Tablespoons water or coconut milk if needed (see below)

·         ½ cup raspberries or blueberries or chocolate chips

·         1/2 mashed banana (very pureed)

·         Small amount of orange rind zest and a squeeze of orange juice

Preparation:

     Heat oven to 375° F. Prepare pan with a generous amount of butter or muffin paper liners. This recipe makes six "regular"-sized muffins.

1) Whisk or beat the eggs or put into blender until whites and yolks are well mixed and add softened butter. Add salt and vanilla and mix until combined. If using liquid sweetener (preferred, as it is zero carb), add at this point.  Add orange zest, orange juice and banana and blend well.

2) Mix the remaining dry ingredients -- coconut flour, baking soda, and sweetener if using powder.

3) Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. Now you will mix in water, one tablespoon at a time. The coconut flour will absorb the liquid from the wet ingredients like crazy. You want to get it to a consistency that will hold up the berries, but not is too thick. I usually end up using about 4 Tablespoons of water.

4) Gently mix in the berries and divide among 6 muffin cups. Bake for about 15 to 18 minutes, or until just turning golden on top but cooked through.

Nutritional Information (using raspberries, zero carb sweetener, and an average of three available coconut flours): Each muffin has 2 grams effective carbohydrate plus 3.5 grams fiber, 4 grams protein, and 132 calories.

Two GREAT Gift Ideas!

It is always around this time of year that my brain starts to go a little mushy.    If I don't keep myself organized, then I quickly become overwhelmed.  That is such an awful feeling.  So along about the first week of November I start making lists.  A shopping list, a baking list, a "to do" list...these are all on my iPhone  so they go with me everywhere.  I update, and cross off as I go!  

Do you make lists?  Well if you do, please put these gift ideas on your list right now.  Your friends and family will love them.  I made them last year and had such positive feedback that I am telling you about them again.  

Homemade Body Lotion

This really is THE BEST body lotion.  I love it, and anyone that tried it, loved it as well.  This is on my "to do " list!! (click on the name above the pictures for the original post and recipe)




Soothing Bath Salts

I strongly recommend stashing a few of these away for yourself, before you give them all away.  They are perfect for those evenings when you have just completed a shopping or baking marathon.  Your feet and back hurt, and you need a good soak before heading off to dreamland.  Start the warm water running in the tub and empty a bag!  You will be so glad you did.  



~Tanya

Joining:
Make It Yourself Monday

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (coconut flour)

This delicious muffin recipe is a wonderful addition to a wheat and grain free diet.  My kids are always on the run and play a lot of sports so they find that muffins made with coconut flour satisfy their hunger.  They are packed with protein to sustain them.  My daughter, Sarah (from Virginia) made them yesterday and forwarded me the recipe, so I baked them up this a.m. and just had to share.  It’s an exciting adventure finding and experimenting with new flours and ingredients.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!     -Gwyneth  :)

 Printable Recipe

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 cup coconut flour

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

dash of salt

dash of cinnamon

1 Tbsp brown sugar (I used coconut sugar)

6 eggs

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp olive oil

¾ cup coconut milk

3 Tbsp agave

½ tsp vanilla

2 bananas

1 cup chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients together and whisk lightly.  Put wet ingredients into blender and mix until blended.  Add to dry ingredients and mix in chocolate chips.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 mins.  Check often so as not to burn but make sure they cook through as this mixture is quite dense.  

Take 5 with Kathy - "Remember..."

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and it is also being observed in many other countries of the British Commonwealth. Our American friends refer to it as Veteran’s Day. We specifically remember the armistice signed at 11:00 AM on the 11^th day of the 11^th month, 1918, which brought an end to the First World War. As other great wars have been fought and ceased, we also remember the many civil conflicts, acts of terrorism, and on-going hostilities that shatter the lives of people around the globe. We must never forget.

Remember those who have fallen

Their ultimate sacrifice

The unselfish gift

Of life

For those left behind

 

Remember the innocent

Caught in the crossfire

Thoughtlessly robbed

Of a future

Helpless victims snuffed out

 

Remember the wounded

Bloodied hands reaching skyward

Being quickly drained

Of hope

Lying in chilled muddy fields

 

Remember the survivors

Grieving widows, terrified orphans,

The agonizing pain

Of living

Without precious loved ones

 

Remember the devastation

Burning rubble, splintered homes

The putrid stench

Of death

Lying forgotten in the streets

 

Remember the homeless

Trudging wearily in mass

Bearing the weight

Of what’s left

Only memories to take forward

 

Remember the aftermath

Teary hollow eyes

Surveying twisted ruins

Of a homeland

Devoid of all familiar

 

Remember the rebuilding

Landscapes taking new shape

Hills crudely formed

Of debris

Someone once called home

 

Remember the price

Paid on our behalf

Forget not the blessing

Of freedom

Take nothing for granted

 

Remember…

We must remember…

We will not forget…

 

“Remember what happened long ago; acknowledge that I alone am God and that there is no one else like me. From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.” (Isaiah 46:9-10, Good News Translation)

Until next Sunday,

Kathy

Gwyneth's Breakfast Smoothie

Do you grab a quick coffee and fly out the door in the morning, only to have your belly start to growl and your energy slump a couple hours later?  To make this smoothie takes no more time than to brew a pot of coffee, and you will be so glad you did.   :)

Printable Recipe

1 cup of blueberries

1 handful of organic spinach

½ organic banana

1 Tbsp coconut oil

1 Tbsp chia seeds

1 scoop protein powder

1 cup of coconut milk

Blend in magic bullet and enjoy this delicious start

to your day! 

Gwyneth   :)

Real Women: Real Life ~ The Blessings of Down Syndrome

This is Canadian Down Syndrome week.  (Nov 1-7)  We thought it the perfect week to share, our friend, Denise's story and how Down Syndrome has blessed her life.

The Blessings of Down Syndrome

When my husband and I were married at the age of 30, we planned to start a family soon.  After 8 years of marriage passed with no pregnancies, we were quite sure we would not increase our family by giving birth so we started down the path of adoption. 

After three years in the adoption process, I became pregnant and had a miscarriage after only 10 weeks.  Many women go through this in their lives and it is heartbreaking.  It was for me too.  I truly felt this was my last chance at becoming pregnant, as I was 40 years old.  However, less than a year later – I was pregnant again.

This time we were much more guarded and waited with baited breath as each week passed.  Week 17 passed and everything looked great.  Week 20 came and we had a check-up appointment at the IWK, our local hospital for women and children.  We sat in the waiting room for hours, and began to notice people who had arrived after us, were being seen before us. Odd. Then I saw a doctor come out, pick up our file, which had been sitting on the counter for a long time and called us in.

When she took us in the room and sat down across from us, I saw her face and felt as though I was going to pass out.  “I am so sorry to tell you this, but your recent test results indicate there is a great possibility your child has Trisomy 18 or Trisomy 21.”  She could see we didn’t know what she was talking about, so she quickly and gently added, “Trisomy 18 is fatal for the baby, and Trisomy 21 is Down syndrome.” I didn’t hear much more after that, as the world seemed to be suddenly crashing in around us.  She let us cry and hold each other for a while until she sent us upstairs for more tests. 

In a stupor, we went up the elevator to have an ultrasound to search for markers for this rare, but deadly condition.  None were found. We would come back each week for several weeks to look for Trisomy 18 markers and there were none to be found… needless to say these weeks were agony as we kept this information to ourselves.  During these weeks of testing there were some indicators for Trisomy 21, or Down syndrome.  Short legs… slightly smaller head measurement… They would continue to remind us, “There is still time to make a decision.” 

Even though we were terrified, we told them an abortion was out of the question for us – and they did not hint at that option again.  This was an extremely emotional and scary time.  I couldn’t help but think of others in similar situations that would be easily influenced at such time, out of fear, possibly causing them to make a different decision.

We prayed constantly and almost desperately clung to Psalms 139:13-14…

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

We didn’t know for certain whether our precious boy would have Down syndrome until he was born… but we did know that God had created him with precision, complexity and a deep, deep love.  

The night he was born… it was confirmed he had the extra chromosome and our lives changed forever. 

I can’t tell you I was happy at this news, because I wasn’t.  I was terrified.  I immediately worried about his future.  I didn’t want my child to have any issues, problems or hardships – I wanted him to have a perfect life. (That’s realistic, isn’t it?)

What I can tell you is that since the day of his birth, this child has enriched our lives in ways I could never have imagined!  Yes, it will take him longer to walk, talk, drink from a straw and eat with a fork and there will be many therapy sessions to get him there… but when he accomplishes these things – what a celebration!

And we celebrate daily!  

My prayer is for all those women finding out their unborn child has Down syndrome.  I want them to know their child is exactly the way God created them to be.  Their child will be beautiful, funny, smart, sneaky, giggly, creative, loving, stubborn, silly, enthusiastic, sensitive… and so much more!    

We’ve come to be so thankful that God chose to bless us in this way.  It’s very hard to explain it, but we are so proud of our son, so honoured to be his parents, so excited about his future.

On our son’s first birthday we were on the other side of the world meeting his sister for the first time.  They are two months apart in age and today are best buddies at almost 3 years old.  She teaches her brother his letters and numbers and he teaches her patience and compassion - and how to belly laugh at the silliest things!

God had a plan for our family that we never imagined, and His plan is absolutely perfect.

Denise

Precious Max

Take 5 with Kathy - "Give me your bowl of rice..."

Who doesn’t love a great story? A couple weeks ago I read one which impacted me greatly. It is so relative to the topic we’ve been studying in our church’s women’s Bible study that I just had to tell it to them on Wednesday. So, I thought I’d share it with you as well. It’s an old legend from India which goes as follows:

A beggar man was sitting on the side of the road waiting for someone to toss him a coin or two. In his hands, he held a bowl of rice. From a distance, he heard the sound of horses trotting along pulling a carriage behind them. He suddenly realized it was the carriage of one of the royal princes, the Rajah. Anxiously he hoped the Rajah might throw him a coin. As the carriage came closer, the Rajah unexpectedly stepped down and approached the beggar.

“Give me your bowl of rice,” the Rajah said.

Upset, the beggar grasped the bowl of rice closer to himself. Hesitantly, he picked out one grain of rice and handed it to the Rajah.

“Thank-you,” said the Rajah, “Now, give me your bowl of rice.”

The beggar felt insulted and angry and clutched the bowl even closer. After a few moments, he parted with one more grain of rice.

The Rajah thanked him again and threw something into the bowl. Then he returned to his carriage and left.

The beggar looked down at his rice and noticed something sparkling in the sunlight. He reached into the bowl and held up a single grain of pure gold. Startled, he looked again and found another golden grain! Excitement filled his being as he searched the bowl for more gold, but alas, there was none. As reality began to sink in, he discovered for each grain of rice he had been willing to give to the Rajah, the prince had given back an equal amount of gold.

“Wait, please!” the beggar cried as the carriage drove away. “If I had only known what you would do for me, I would have given you all of my rice!”

But it was too late.

This story has powerful implications for all people. It reminds us that God, the King of Heaven, has extended an invitation, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live…the Holy One of Israel…He has endowed you with splendor. Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:1-3a, 5c-6)

God’s desire is that I surrender my whole life to Him. I cannot pick and choose which “grains” of my life I will hand over to Him and expect to receive the full abundance of blessings and promises that He has in store for me. How often I hesitate and agonize over some areas of my being and stubbornly hang onto them because I cannot trust Him to replace them with something much better…something more satisfying and beyond my imagination. Why do I find it so difficult to let go and enjoy the “richest of fare” that is waiting for me? I wonder how many times I have shrunk back instead of thrilling in the nearness of His loving presence.

What are the riches that God longs to give you and me? Here are a few that come to mind:

·         Eternal life (John 3:16)

·         The right to be called a child of God (John 1:12)

·         A place reserved in Heaven (John 14:2)

·         Fullness/abundance of life (John 10:10)

·         The peace of God (John 14:27)

·         Deliverance from the darkness of sin (John 12:46)

·         Answers to prayer (Mark 11:24)

·         Eternal glory (II Corinthians 4:17)

·         His power in our weakness (II Corinthians 12:9)

·         Grace to the humble (James 4:6)

·         The ability to resist the devil and temptation (James 4:7; I Corinthians 10:13)

·         Forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43)

What a feast He intends for us to enjoy both now and forever! The extent of our joy, however, is dependent on how willingly and completely we surrender the grains of our “bowl of rice” to the Lord Jesus Christ. For the past couple days the song, “Take Me Over”, by Michael W. Smith has been my prayer,

“Jesus, Jesus, Take me over now …I surrender

Everything I have, I lay it down…All of me.”[i]
 

Until next Sunday,

Kathy

---

[i] http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=65787#_

Coconut Flour Biscuits

Printable Recipe

Hypoallergenic coconut flour has a pleasant flavor that’s slightly nutty and mildly sweet without a strong “coconut” taste. Cup for cup, it provides more protein than wheat flour and ten times more fiber, most of it the healthy soluble type. It has fewer net (absorbable) carbohydrates than any other flour. Plus, it contains lauric acid, a fatty acid found in mother’s milk that possesses antiviral, antifungal and antimicrobial properties.

Enjoy! - Gwyneth

Coconut Flour Biscuits

2/3 cup coconut flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp sea salt

Mix these ingredients in bowl (I use wire whisk) to get air out

½ cup butter (or coconut oil)

6 eggs

4 Tbsp Agave

I used cold butter and beat these ingredients in Kitchen Aid

Add wet ingredients in with dry and spoon into well greased muffin tins

Bake at  400 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes