Friday, December 31, 2010

Christmas Cello...


Still playing in my car... My favorite new Christmas CD. Loved it! Especially O Come, O Come, Emmanuel with all the cellos and Jon Schmidt on the piano. Beautiful!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Major Pettigrew's Last Stand...


Major Pettigrew's Last Stand made the perfect final book of the year. Hard-to-put-down, sweet and charming. I loved it.
I may write more, but I don't want to spoil anything. You read it, then we'll have a chat.
......
OK. I just have to post one of my favorite quotes from the book. .. to entice any of you who've missed this little gem.
"That's what love is about... It's when a woman drives all lucid thought from your head; when you are unable to contrive romantic stratagems, and the usual manipulations fail you; when all your carefully laid plans have no meaning and all you can do is stand mute in her presence. You hope she takes pity on you and drops a few words of kindness into the vacuum of your mind." pg. 298

Monday, December 20, 2010

Sing Choirs of Angels...

These photos are horrid, I know. But say a little prayer for these angels. They are going to watch over the preemie babies in an Arizona NICU for Christmas.
Actually, they will be a visual representation of the many, many angels who are always watching over those precious babies...
Merry Christmas babies...
Grow strong so you can go home to the families that love you.

peg dolls, doll, little peg people. peggies, wedding cake toppers, cake toppers, cupcake toppers, birthday, decorations, painted, anniversary, available in love boxes shop...

Families can be together forever...



CUSTOM Forever Families are available at:


ThE LoVE BoXeS SHoP...


peg dolls, doll, little peg people. peggies, wedding cake toppers, cake toppers, cupcake toppers, birthday, decorations, painted, anniversary, available in love boxes shop...

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Charlie & Lola How Many More Minutes until Christmas?


I adore this little Christmas DVD. It is darling and full of the fun little things children say and do with the magic of Christmas in the mix.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Holy Family...






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Custom Engagement or Anniversary Couple...

Fun to make from an old photo...


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Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Very Secret, but True Story of Santa Claus...

Once there was a man who loved Jesus very much. His name was Nicholas. He did everything he could to follow the words of Jesus. He tried to be kind. He tried to feed and clothe the poor. He looked after the widows and orphans. He visited those who were sick and those who were imprisoned. The more he did these things, the happier he was. The greater his happiness, the more he knew that Jesus was real and that Jesus Christ was his friend.

It wasn’t very easy for Nicholas because during the time he lived, there were so many desperate people in terrible need all around him. Many of them suffered greatly. The people didn’t have nice homes like so many people do now. They were easily cold and easily hot. They didn’t have taps to draw clean water from and it was considered a great luxury to be able to eat every day.
Nicholas noticed that of those who suffered, often children suffered most. Every day he did some little kindness to help alleviate the discomforts of the children. He brought them food and helped them when they were sick. He played with them and smiled at them. Nicholas remembered the words of Jesus when he said, "if ye do it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" and "suffer the little children to come unto me."

Nicholas was given a gift, a special feeling in his heart and he knew how much Jesus loved the little children. As Nicholas did everything he could to bless the children, they came to love him very much and they knew that Nicholas loved them.

It is said that Nicholas became a great and wealthy man, but that he used all his wealth to bless the lives of those who needed help and that in the end he had given away a great fortune.
Like other men, Nicholas passed away. I don’t know how, but one day he got old and sick and his human body died. I am sure that there were many, many people who were very sad and that all the children missed him very much.

... But this is where the magic of Santa Claus begins. Magic that has lasted a thousand years.

Because St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus left a legacy for all of us more magical than flying reindeer or toy factories at the North Pole. That magic is made of a love and of obedience to the words of Jesus. Each of us can, by following the words and example of Jesus, make a little magic for those around us. It can be as small as a smile or a surprise wrapped in a pretty package or as big as an act of kindness or service that helps someone who needs help.

When we place gifts under the tree, in Christmas stockings, or on the sofa in Santa’s name, we become part of Santa’s secret magic. We show love, we give a quiet kindness with no fanfare and no credit. And, like Santa Claus, we honor the name of the Savior who loved children and whose birth we celebrate on Christmas day.

Is Santa Claus real. YES! He is real as long as we continue to remember where his magic comes from....
So... I have question for you... Would you like to be one of Santa’s helpers??

Yes!?! I thought so.

Then, follow me....

We love you...
Merry Christmas...
Love Mom & Dad...

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Denise's Hot Fudge Sauce...

Hot Fudge Sauce

1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 squares (2 oz.) unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 cup LESS 2 Tblsp. evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Melt the butter and chocolate together in a glass bowl in the microwave. Stir in sugar in 4 or 5 portions, being sure to blend in sugar thoroughly after each portion. The mixture becomes very thick, dry and grainy. Now stir in milk very slowly, mixing well as you add it. Cook on med. power 4-5 minutes longer, until slightly thickened, stirring frequently. Add vanilla.

Saturday, November 06, 2010

Self Portrait...






LoVE BoXEs SHoP...


peg dolls, doll, little peg people. peggies, wedding cake toppers, cake toppers, cupcake toppers, birthday, decorations, painted, anniversary, available in love boxes shop...

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Brooke's very special occasion Buttermilk Syrup...

Here's the Buttermilk Syrup recipe:

2 sticks of butter
2 cups sugar
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla

Please use a large pot to make this. (Once you add the baking soda, it bubbles like cauldron.)

Melt butter, then add sugar and buttermilk. Bring to a boil and boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla and baking soda. Stir well.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Mormon Handcart Box...



Grace shall be as your day. All is well! ~William Clayton

Alicia's Easy Pumkin Cookies and Cake too!

1 box of spice cake to one small can of pumpkin and 2boxes for 1 large can of pumpkin then just add chocolate chips and bakefor 15 min more or less depending on size of cookies. Don't add theeggs, oil or water. Just spice cake + pumpkin.

Btw, I also like to make a spice cake following the directions, add the can of pumpkin and sprinkle a 9 X 13 cake with chocolate chips and serve with whipped cream

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Martha's Mac & Cheese...


I can now cross this recipe off my bucket list... And, you can make it too, it's not as big a deal as the long, LONG instructions make it seem (I'm apparently intimidated by a large amount of wordiness). You just have to swallow hard and shell out $12 for cheese and you're almost there.

You can easily divide this recipe in half; use a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish if you do.
Serves 12
6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or
1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
1 pound elbow macaroni

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
2. Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.
4. Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.
5. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Very sweet...

Kevin’s Different World”
Kelly Adkins, (Kevin’s sister)
READ the entire article HERE...
Copyright © Kelly Pinson Adkins
I envy Kevin. He is my older brother, and he thinks that God lives under his bed. At least that’s
what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to
listen, “Are you there, God?” he said. “Where are you? Oh, I see. You’re under the bed . . .” I
chuckled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin’s unique perspectives are often a source
of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he’s 6’ 2”), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 5–year-old, and he always
will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them. I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?

Saturday, September 04, 2010

More Pink than most folks can take...


But not me!
We found the perfect little night stand at...
Tammi's Finders Keepers..
in American Fork... Make a visit... It's so cute!