Happy Monday from the big apple!!! Look what happened this morning! More pics to come.
DIY Christmas Card Holder
When I went to this craft/holiday gift show in Tupelo a few weeks ago, I spotted the cutest Christmas card holders. The only problem was, they were 50ish dollars. I’m not crafty-mcgee over here or anything, but I thought that I could duplicate them on my own for way cheaper. I was very pleased with the final product!
Here’s what you do to make one to hold your own Christmas cheer:
You need:
- One canvas, piece of wood, or whatever other medium you can dream up. I found this burlap canvas at Hobby Lobby for $11.99.
- Acrylic paint. If you don’t already have some, get some red, green, white, or even gold if you’re feeling fancy. This was about $5.00 for me.
- Burlap ribbon. I got mine for around 3.99 (after 50% off) for a big spool of it.
- Hot glue gun
- Paint brushes
- Pencil
- Clothespins. .99 cents of Fred’s.
- Total cost: $21.97 (this could be even cheaper if you already have paint, or if you use an old piece of wood from the shed or something).
What to do:
- Paint your canvas with whatever background color you choose. I chose a bright Christmas red. Let dry.
- Paint big polka dots all over your canvas. Don’t worry about them being perfect. Slightly asymmetrical or messy dots are cute! Let dry.
- Write lightly with your pencil whatever saying you want to use. You can skip this step if you’re confident in your handwriting skills. I just don’t have the prettiest handwriting, so I felt more comfortable having a sketch to follow. Some other ideas for saying are Joy to the World, Peace on Earth, Santa Mail, Ho! Ho! Ho!, you get the picture.
- Paint over your pencil with your green paint. Note: I originally tried to use gold, but it did not show up well, so I switched to green. Let dry.
- Flip over your canvas. Cut your burlap ribbon into 3 long strands, about 32 inches long. Hot glue the strands across the bottom of the back of the canvas. Next, cut about a 24 inch long strand. Position the strand in a loop, or upside down “u” towards the top. Hot glue ribbon down. Let dry.
- Use some more burlap to create a big bow. Tie your bow on the top of your previously glued down loop. Make sure that the bow will sit on the top of the canvas so it can be seen.
- Clip your clothes pins on the ribbon and hang from the wall. Pin all of your family and friend’s cards up to enjoy throughout the season!
Merry Merry Christmas!
Slow-Cooker Potato Soup
Y’all. This soup is hearty, creamy, and just plain soul-warming. The cayenne gives it a kick, so those who fear the spice, beware.
Enjoy!
What you need:
- 6 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 2 smallish onions, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and thinly chopped
- 2 14.5 ounce cans chicken broth
- 1 bottle beer (or up the chicken broth to 3 cans)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 up all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1.5 cups milk
- toppings: sour cream, cheese, bacon, saltines
What to do:
- Combine first 9 ingredients into crockpot. Cook on high for 3.5 hours.
- During last 15 minutes of cooking, add flour, milk, and sour cream. Stir until blended. Enjoy!
Andes Peppermint Bark
Another month in the Leftovers Club! My partner this time was Angela at Mind Over Batter. Head over to her blog and check out her delicious recipes! I can’t wait to try the Banana Maple Caramel Corn. In honor of Christmas, I made peppermint bark. This is too easy and too good not to make. Who doesn’t love Andes mints? I used to stuff my pockets with them when I was leaving Benihana’s (totally normal). Anyways, when I spied Andes peppermint crunch on the shelves, I couldn’t wait to use it to make peppermint bark! It’s less crunchy than normal peppermint bark because of the creamy nature of Andes mints, which I loved as a different twist! 
Andes Peppermint Bark
What you need:
- One package chocolate almond bark
- One package vanilla almond bark
- about 3/4 bag Andes Peppermint crunch
What to do:
- Line a cookie sheet with wax paper; set aside. Melt the chocolate almond bark in a double broiler (or a pot of boiling water with a glass bowl on top). This should take about 10 minutes or so. Once melted, pour chocolate onto cookie sheet and spread until smooth. Let cool for at least an hour (you can put it in the fridge or freezer to expedite the process).
- Repeat steps to melt the vanilla almond bark. Once chocolate bark is cooled, pour vanilla bark over and spread until smooth. Sprinkle with Andes peppermint crunch. I used about 3/4 of my bag. Tweak as you like!
- Let cool for 1-2 hours (or overnight). Break into pieces and enjoy!
Check out everyone else’s recipes this month!
A Very Merry Playlist
Confession: I’ve been listening to this since November 1st. Whoops! Christmas music is just the best. Listen to the whole playlist here.
Monday Musings
First of all, if you weren’t watching the Iron Bowl Saturday, you were just wrong. Although I’m still a little under the weather, you better believe I was running around screaming like a mad woman (or really eager Auburn fan) when this happened. There are not many games that I would watch again on ESPN classic, but I could watch this one over and over. SEC CHAMPIONSHIP Y’ALL.
It was all things Christmas around here this weekend. Wednesday, I only worked a half day so Sam and I decorated for Christmas. 
Thursday, we had Thanksgiving with my family at Grandmommy’s. Afterwards, we decorated her sweet little tree and headed over to our house to watch the Egg Bowl.
Friday, we headed to Memphis and I FINALLY got to see this girl for the first time since she’s been preggers! I cannot wait for baby F to get here.
Saturday, we had Thanksgiving with the Moody’s! No pics, but it was full of yummy food (and a bundt cake disaster from yours truly), hanging out, and celebrating an Auburn win!!! I mean, I can’t even. Happy Monday and War Eagle!
via.
Grateful
I have loved reading people’s 28 days of thankfulness on Facebook, blogs, or other forms of social media. Although we should be equally as grateful for these things everyday, our fallen selves seem to forget that. We get caught up in the hurriedness of life and are consumed with selfish thoughts rather than filling our minds of the blessings that Christ has given us. I’ve found that as I’ve made this list and taken time to dwell on my blessings and Christ’s love for me, that I can’t help but to have an outflow of love and kindness on others. When I am in my self-consumed bubble (which I am far too often), it never fails that I’ll get annoyed with the people of Walmart or traffic or some other insignificant thing. But when I strive to fill my heart and mind of things above, I realize I have no idea what this person meandering slowly down the aisles of Walmart is going through. It’s ridiculously judgmental of me to get huffy; and it sure isn’t an example of Christ love if I give them dagger eyes when for taking up the whole aisle. I fail at this daily, but this leads me to the number one things I’m thankful for:
- God’s grace, unconditional love, and constant pursuit of my heart when I am so lacking.
- Sam.
- My mom. It’s so fun becoming an adult where your mom becomes more than just your parent, but also your best friend.
- My dad. He gives me such wisdom and encouragement! I love him so!
- My sister. She always makes me laugh and tells it to me straight.
- Wonderful in-laws. I always hear horror stories about in-laws. I am so thankful for Mark and Sheila for raising the man that I love and for loving me as their own. My bro-in-laws aren’t too shabby either :).
- New friends.
- Old friends.
- July 20, 2013 and celebrating with all our loved ones! It was the best/most fun/hottest (temperature wise, not attractiveness wise) day ever!
- Graduating.
- Passing my boards.
- Time for rest.
- A new job.
- Travel.
- Hope Church.
- My grandmommy and the fact that she lives in Tupelo!
- An occupation where I am able to continue to learn and I will never know everything.
- My patients who give me their sweet elderly wisdom daily.
- My hot pack and a husband who will rub my back after a long day’s work.
- Taco Tuesdays. Tuesdays seriously make the week because Mexican food is just that good.
- Weekends! I never looked so forward to sleeping in as I do now that I’m a working woman.
- A king size bed. Splurging on our bed has been the best things for us abnormally tall folk.
- Adventure.
- Auburn football y’all. Can’t wait for Saturday!!
- Friend Reunions! Can’t wait for the next one!
- All the celebrations over the past year.
- A husband who takes care of me when I’m sick. I’ve been sick all week and Sam has not allowed me to leave the couch when I get home from work.
- First holidays as a newlywed! We decorated the tree yesterday and it was so fun!
Happy happy Thanksgiving!!
Reeses Pieces Cookies
Time to get rid of your fall colored candy! Because as of Friday, it’s everything red and green around here. I still had some Reese’s Pieces left over from my fall bark, and I was craving something sweet (let’s be real, this isn’t really a craving, but a constant state for me), so I whipped up some cookies! These were so good!! I like my cookies a little on the rawer side, but Sam likes his more done (house divided y’all). This batch was more to my liking-gooey and soft.
Recipe for Reeses Pieces Cookies
slightly adapted from good ole Nestle
What you need:
- 2 and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks…yep), softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 34 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup Reeses Pieces
What to do:
- Preheat oven to 375˚. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, sugars, and vanilla extract in large bowl until creamy
- Add eggs, one by one, and beat well after each egg. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in chocolate chip and Reese’s pieces.
- Roll into balls and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes.
Monday Musings + Weekend Shapes
Happy happy Monday! I have such a full heart after seeing family this weekend! Friday, I got to watch my first Okolona basketball game (and victory!).
Saturday, we made french toast and headed to Memphis to see fam! We watched football and ate delicious food with my in-laws. We had the best kind of Sunday morning, full of pancakes, chatting, and piddling around before heading to the church house.
Yesterday afternoon, we got to spend time with my fam and help decorate the tree! The Memphis stint ended with a giant plate of Germantown Commissary BBQ nachos, naturally.
Also, Iron Bowl in 5 days!!!! Go Auburn Go!
via.
Gilded Finds
In honor of the holidays being right around the corner, I’ve compiled a list of all things gold that I would love to have in my house. 1. This tray is so fun! 2. Gold and polka dots?! Love. Perfect to add some holiday cheer to your den. 3. I love this table runner for both Thanksgiving and Christmas! 4. This Alice+Olivia clutch is the perfect accessory for winter soirees (and with a good price to boot!) 5. I have been eyeing this gold flatware from West Elm. It would go perfectly with my china don’t you think? 6. I always love a good Kate Spade stud. 7. Monogrammed mugs in gold! Anthro for the win! 8. I have a new found love for linens and these napkins are so festive! 9. Love the homey feeling of this kitchen towel. 10. Another tray, I just love both! This would go perfect on my coffee table. I would use it all year round! 11. These gold-dipped tumblers are beautiful! 12. How pretty is this gold polka-dotted decanter (and it’s from Target, so it’s super cheap!)
See here for the whole collection.
It is well. 