Monthly Archives: November 2015

Thanksgiving Table Setting Inspiration: DIY Kraft Table Runner

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ThanksgivingTableI got a jump start on my Thanksgiving table setting this afternoon and pulled together all of the bits and pieces I had posted about earlier. I love the softness of the white pumpkins, touches of the gold wishbones and acorns, and then a little depth of color from the figs I pillaged from our sleepy garden. Of course I had to add a few printable items in there too. Gratitude and name cards are all the occasion calls for. Hopefully writing down what we are thankful for ahead of time instead of on the spot, we will be more creative. Of course we are all thankful for loved ones and health – that goes without saying – but cozy slippers and that perfect cup of coffee in the morning are not to be forgotten!

I’m all about an elegant table, but I don’t like things to get too fussy either, so the addition of the kraft table runner with the hand drawn white marker “chargers” finished everything off perfectly. After everyone is seated I will let the kiddos have fun and draw all over the table…the distraction gives us big people a little more time to enjoy the annual feast!

Thanksgiving Feather Name Cards: Freebie

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IMG_3342Thanksgiving is just a few days away!! Yikes! I need to be in full planning mode now. To help you out with your table scape, here are the feather name cards I mentioned last week. Print them out for free and you can either lay them flat (cut top off at fold) or write on them. I attempted some calligraphy…not my strongest suite, but it’s fun to try new things.

Also, make sure to print out the free matching gratitude cards as well 🙂

Tomorrow I am going to start a mini set-up of my table and I am going to try my hand with some kraft paper down the table and some white marker decoration…let’s hope it turns out. If it does, I will post pictures 🙂

 

Loaded Berry Smoothies

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Usually when the weekend comes, I am ready for a smoothie and this one is by far my favorite (after much trial and error), not only for the flavor, but also for the loads of good healthy stuff in there. And the best part? You can’t even tell all the good stuff is in there! Yahoo!

My kids know what goes in these since they are used to me piling in all sorts of healthy things in their foods, but if they can taste it, they won’t eat it. This power house is a sure way to get some healthy spinach (or kale), vitamin packed berries, ground flax, chia seeds, hemp seeds and protein packed greek yogurt in to their diet. Did I say flax, hemp, chia and spinach?! Oh yes. I. Did. Here is the secret to any smoothie tasting good (if you haven’t figured this one out already). Bananas. I’ve tried leaving them out, but they just don’t taste as good…a little bland. There is no science to the exact measurements so feel free to adjust to your taste buds 🙂

So here is the recipe…easy as…a smoothie…

2 cups frozen mixed berry blend (or any frozen berry you prefer)

2 very ripe bananas

2 cups fresh spinach or kale (not packed)

1/2 cup nonfat greek yogurt

1-2 tbsp ground flax

1-2 tbsp chia seeds

1-2 tbsp hemp seeds

add water to desired consistency (start with one cup and add more if needed)

*If your berries are on the tart side, add a hint-o maple syrup or honey to doctor it up

 

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth – voila!

3D Printing – Thanksgiving Place Setting Idea

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WishbonePlaceSettingMy husband recently bought a 3D printer…not for any particular reason (that I know of), other than it’s cool and novel, and he is a sucker for anything new and curious in the tech world. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the whole concept because anything you can dream up, you can print. Say wha?!

He’s been printing little trinket things like a crazy, some cool, some not so much. But then he printed a little turkey place card holder for thanksgiving…it looked like a mini raw turkey, but it got me to thinking…what about some wishbones for the thanksgiving table?! Ask and you shall receive 10 little wishbones that he then painted gold for me. Kind of cool, huh? Anyway, I was playing around with my place setting this afternoon. I still have some revisions to make (boxwood sprig may be swapped out for some feathers), but my general concept is coming together.

I just love this time of year for the idea of gathering with family, eating warm comforting foods, and for the sentiments of the season!

Come back in a day or so for some free printable feather design name cards that match the gratitude cards I posted earlier this week…bonus! Also, early next week I am going have my Thanksgiving table scape put together for some easy, modern, yet rustic ideas.

Hosting Made Easy: Elegant (And Lazy!) Cheese Board

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Cheeseboard

I hosted some girlfriends the other night for appetizers and drinks and I wasn’t in the mood to make a million little fussy apps, so when I’m feeling lazy, this is my go-to version of a cheese board. It may be the lazy way out, but it’s always a show stopper and pleases the crowd because there is something for everyone to pick away at. And it’s also perfectly seasonal for this time of year. Cheese, crackers, nuts and dried fruit all arranged on a giant platter, board or whatever you can find. How can you go wrong?!

 

Merry Christmas, Eh?

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I was struggling in coming up with a new Christmas invitation design over the last several weeks and so I was thinking while in the shower – yes, that deep thinking shower scenerio 😉 I’m Canadian by birth right, and while I have essentially grown up American, I still feel my roots there and get comfort in knowing I’m from there. And when I come across a fellow Canadian, there is always something familiar about them.

So back to my thought process…while in the shower, I was trying to come up with something different, because Lord knows there are a million templates for everything and anything out there these days. So I asked myself what makes me unique from my friends…and…well…I’m Canadian. And who doesn’t love some of their quirky words they use?! Within the next few hours, I came up with this bad boy, and I have to say, I am quite taken with it. You can find it in my Etsy Shop and other coordinating items that I will be posting about soon! Eh?

Eggnog Cinnamon Donuts – Yum!

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Can I just say these donuts are yummy, festive and easy. I made these on Friday, it’s now Monday and the last one was just downed this morning by my four year old. And it was a big batch! I adapted the recipe from Ina Garten and let’s face it, her recipes are pretty amazing! If you don’t have a donut pan, you could easily make these in to muffins, but I strongly urge you to get yourself one (or two) for baking donuts (so much healthier than frying!). The family will love you for it!

Here’s the recipe so you can get your donut on:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten
1 1/4 cups light or regular eggnog
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
For the topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 doughnut pans well.

Into a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Stir the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined.

Spoon the batter into the baking pans, filling each one a little more than three-quarters full. Bake for 17 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then tap the doughnuts out onto a sheet pan.

Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Dip each doughnut first in the cinnamon sugar, either on one side or both sides.