Christmas Cards

I don't know if I ever wrote about Christmas cards before-- which would be very surprising since it's my favorite part of Christmas!  I love receiving cards from all of my friends, acquaintances and family. Sometimes it's the only time of year I hear from people and I love to know what they are up to. We usually tape up cards, but this year I only put up the first half of the ones that came and the rest are in the card holder, but all thoroughly enjoyed! Some are handmade, some are photos of themselves, their children, one horse, etc. Some come with wonderful letters! One family who we haven't seen since my kids were in Preschool and they moved down to North Carolina, send a photo card with a long letter every year. It's been amazing watching those kids grow up, with the oldest in college now! I love how people chose to express their Christmas greetings-- my priest always sends beautiful cards, this year with a part of a Dutch painting of the baby Jesus. Some are silly and fun. Some are from people Craig works with and it's always nice to see a different side of people-- the personal one that you don't always hear about. I used to make my own card every year but sometimes it's just not possible with the amount of time it takes and the cost (one would think it would be cheaper but many times it's not!).  Minted was my choice this year because they hire lots of different designers and I think they are really well done. The kids thought it was sort of cheesy to have them "pose" for their photo but I took it right after school and in a matter of about 30 minutes, my cards were created, designed, and submitted for printing! That is pretty quick.  The letter took longer, but, I know lots of people like to hear what we've been up to during the year. I still keep in touch with their Montessori teacher from 11-12 years ago! I can never understand how people don't write anything when you haven't seen them in awhile. I think it's a generous thing to do to share your life with someone and then there's that person that sends a card with nothing but their signature and they can't even say a Merry Christmas in their own words! I always wonder what is wrong. Or the relative that never sends one back-- I just don't get it. But then, I don't understand a lot of people-- I don't understand why we are on this earth if we're too busy to care about anyone else but ourselves. At least for five minutes. But enough about the scrooges! I love all the cards and letters from warm-hearted people who share a piece of themselves every holiday season. I am so thankful for them and I keep them in my prayers all year, as well as those scrooges who have lost their way in life. Joy and love is there when you look for it! So, thank you for your Christmas card! I keep many of them and treasure them each year!

Merry Christ Mass!

We celebrated Christ's birth by going to Mass at the Christmas Eve Service. Just hours before, it started to snow outside! Caroline and I were jumping up and down because it looked like Christmas. It also felt like Christmas. My teenage daughter reminded me this year that Christmas is the word for Christ's Mass-- the feast day of Christ in the Catholic Church, and where, of course, the Christian churches around the world share their history of Christmas. I love celebrating the Eucharist and I love the Mass.

Nathaniel didn't let us sleep in too long on Christmas morning because this is his favorite day of the year!  We stayed home this Christmas because Craig is always traveling for work now and the kids are so busy with school, that they all needed a break and wanted to be at their home. It also lets me prepare special meals. I made Chateaubriand (beef tenderloin) stuffed with mushrooms and spinach on Christmas day and Craig's favorite crab pasta on Christmas Eve. I don't know if you remember that I wrote about the beef a couple years ago when I first made it-- if you want the recipe, let me know and I'll send it to you.

Ellie couldn't wait to see what was in her stocking! She was the first to get a treat out of it. She loves holidays and opened her presents (which are already chewed apart... ahem.)

Caroline and Nathaniel joined the iPhone5 generation and also got a couple games...

My mom got Craig his college sweatshirt, which surprisingly he didn't even have one! Now he can cheer on his team appropriately dressed!

My stash has a little of everything I love: a Le Creuset skillet (which will last a lifetime +), a Scottish wool tartan scarf from British Goods in Maine, chocolate from Éclat in West Chester (which was rated #1 by bon appetit magazine and yes, it's great!), a bon appetit magazine subscription from Nathaniel, an authentic rope bracelet by Kiel James Patrick from Caroline, a watch I can wear when kayaking and exercising, and a K.K. Slider t-shirt! I am very lucky. The kids bought presents for me and each other with their own money this year.

Here is a quick snapshot of our white Christmas...

We did the traditional Christmas brunch, except that Craig cooked it this year-- smoked salmon scrambled eggs with toast and mimosas. 

It looks like it could snow again so we might be stuck inside all day. Nathaniel really wants to see "The Hobbit"-- he's been waiting for months. I hope we can get out to do that this week.

I hope you had a special Christmas-- giving and receiving joy! It's not the gifts (even though I was pretty blessed this year) but the love that we give each other that's important. Because it's the love that God gave us that we are celebrating!

The Christmas Story

Diane just posted this adorable little video on her blog and I had to share it with you (I might be the only one who hadn't seen it yet?)...




I had to remove the post with the flash mob because it didn't have a button to start it... it automatically played which caused problems with my blog {sorry!}. Hope you saw it because hearing the singing is always uplifting!

If you didn't read my post about chocolate yet, well, do... and also don't miss the comments because Becky and Diane posted two more fabulous looking chocolatiers on there!  (We're not talking about Hershey chocolate, even though I only live 40 minutes from there, but REAL chocolate that is worth every single bite!)

Have a beautifully delicious day! ;)

preoccupied lately

I have been a little busy with a fun logo for a track coach. I just sent this to him but haven't heard what he thinks. I won't tell you all the initial requests, but let me say that it wasn't easy! I did it all in Adobe Illustrator. We'll see what he says!

ethereal confections

I wish my job could be finding the best chocolate in the world!  Until someone actually offers me that position, I'll share what I find with you: Ethereal Confections in Illinois is a little heaven in a box! The nom noms are to die for. Sea salt on top of chocolate, filled with peanut butter (and other extravagant flavors). They have lots of different yummies to indulge in! And the best part: the nom noms are gluten free! A license to indulge fully! Yes, they do mail order! I just found these on Wednesday at my favorite local grocery shop.

I put Éclat's chocolates on my Christmas list this year because they are just that good! So many different  amazing flavors to choose from! They do mail order too. The owner is a Master Chocolatier and they are in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

What these two chocolatiers have in common is that they have studied their craft under some of the best chocolatiers in the world, and they use extraordinary ingredients. The chocolate is superior in every way to any other I've tasted (and no, I haven't been to Europe yet, so I'm just comparing chocolatiers in the States.) Every place I visit, I always pop into the chocolate shops and I can say that these two come out on top! They will not disappoint. It's pure heaven in your mouth.

sweet 16

Caroline turns 16 today! Nathaniel and I each made her a card and Craig wrote a long letter to her... we were all crying after reading them! 16 years has gone by way too fast. But we're having fun today-- she was surprised with 16 gifts, the first being her Driver's Ed manual!...

And the last gift was the big one-- her own laptop! She has been wanting one for awhile and now she's all set to write her novel wherever the mood strikes! She can also take it along to college in a couple years.

There is a lot of love in this family...

She asked for a vanilla cake with vanilla icing. I used one of Sara Foster's recipes but substituted gluten free flour (I tasted a little already and it tastes good... phew!). The icing was a blast to make-- over the double broiler and lots of whipping! I'm always very nervous about cakes turning out, especially on birthdays. This one is a triple-layer. Hopefully they'll all stay on there. I think I'll put a chop stick in the top, just in case!



Caroline's birthday always kicks off the Christmas season for us...

Christmas is just a week away! Now to go wipe away some more tears from this emotional week and get ready for a good birthday dinner!

♥ love bug here

♥ The love bug has shown up again to ask you to wish Caroline a Happy 16th Birthday tomorrow (12/17)!  She is trying to get away with no one knowing but we won't let that happen! :D  Now this little elf is off to create a birthday card...

☃Sending joy & jingles your way! ♫♪♩

Last night

Last night I read more of that book. I was shocked and moved by what that little boy saw. He described heaven like many scriptural passages do but he was only turning 4. There was no way he could have known. He said his great grandfather found him. He had never met him as he passed away before he was born. He said his sister found him in heaven-- he didn't know his mother had a miscarriage before he was born. He said he prayed for his father when he was there because he could see him in the room where he was praying and waiting. I am seriously thinking that this was not made up. That means I have a son or daughter in heaven right now, waiting for me and Craig and the kids. I was crying last night, and on and off all day. He said there were many children there. I'm sure there were.

Then the shooting in Connecticut happened. It is a sad day but I can't help but keep thinking about what is happening in heaven right now. I do know that God, Jesus, Gabriel and every soul that was on this earth, is there waiting for those poor people who just lost their lives. I hope they make it there. I hope you do too. As crazy as it sounds, I have no doubts anymore. I challenge you to read this book and not feel the same way.

Let me lend you a hand...

or an arm?

(part of my illustration)

I am knee deep in Super Hero stuff, Birthday planning, classwork, and of course-- Christmas preparations! I can't say that I feel overwhelmed but I'm sure I'll need a break eventually. Throw in taking care of everyone every day, and well, I'm beginning to feel somewhat like a Super Mom! Maybe someone does have an extra (Silver Surfer) arm to lend me?? I think all Moms are Super Moms. That's how we get everything done... it's how we roll...

One of my friends lent this book to me: Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. It is about a pastor's son who had complications from a ruptured appendix and they realize that he has been to heaven during the surgery. I am only half way through the book, which is short, but I am only reading it right before I fall asleep. I know what you're probably thinking-- it is hard to believe. Of course it is because we don't hear of people having these experiences every day. I am not going to doubt it. I had to stop right after the surgery part though because it is all too familiar. Not the going to heaven part, but my appendix ruptured when I was in 6th grade and the doctors told my parents that I could have died. My family doctor had diagnosed the pain as a hernia and put me on medication. Of course that was a week or two before it ruptured. Then the surgeon didn't see that the poison formed a large abscess on the left part of my abdominal area. So I went almost two weeks with poison in my body. Actually longer than this little boy but that doesn't matter. What mattered was that eventually they got it all out of me and my surgeon wrote up the whole thing in a medical journal that year. So, after I read this I was wondering if this little boy's surgeon read that article because they treated him the same way my doctor had done. I am thankful for surgeons, but maybe not so much for family practitioners who get diagnoses wrong. I am thankful to be alive! I always have been. I was thinking about the fact that I never doubted the existence of God as I was growing up-- it really didn't matter what I was taught in Church or at home. It was just something I knew. To this day, even when I get totally frustrated with the world (Craig calls me his Little Man Tate), I know that God is there and He is watching over me and maybe everything will turn out okay. I am also not someone who will pressure anyone into believing because I can't do that anyways. But I do know that God didn't want me in heaven back then and I hope that I'm living out His plans alright (though I know I have some big mistakes in there too! Thank You God for Grace!). I always kid with Craig that if I had been Catholic as a young adult before I met him, I probably would be a nun right now and he fully agrees with that!  Anyways, this is a pretty good book so far. I'm a little annoyed that these parents feed their children junk food all the time which doesn't help with a healthy appendix-- the appendix does serve a purpose in the alimentary system! It shoots digestive probiotics and enzymes into the intestines when they are irritated. If you have allergies that affect the digestive system, as Celiacs do, then you have a greater chance of getting appendicitis. And Todd Burpo says in one part that he just wants a prescription from the doctor to make his son feel better. Oh, if only he had homeopathy, then all the symptoms could be calmed and possibly even the avoidance of the rupture in the first place. I hope that someday more parents learn homeopathy so they have a powerful way to help their children when they need it most.

For me, homeopathy is my Super Mom Power! ;) That, and a supportive husband and children. That's where those extra arms come from! :D

Happy Saint Lucia's Day!

I almost forgot until Olivia sent me an email this morning!  I can't get Caroline to go along with this tradition but we like to celebrate anyways! Hope you're having a good day! ☆

some new blogs to check out

I spent hours... HOURS doing anatomy/physiology homework today and what is needed is some down time. So of course that involves food. (Cranberry orange sauce is cooking on the stove because it not only tastes good but makes the house smell d e l i c i o u s !)  I found some cool new blogs so here is a short list if you're looking for more to peruse:

A Cozy Kitchen : That's where those yummy spiced potato latkes pictured above come from!

Pink Basil : Smokey Pepperjack Potato Soup... need I say more?

Crunchy Betty: This one has a bunch of homemade recipes for just about everything for your skin and hair. Thanks Amy!

Gorgeously Green: Haven't really read anything yet but my friend Michelle recommended it... looks good!

Delighted Momma: I mentioned this blog before-- she's an esthetician who posts wonderful recipes for homemade skincare-- that work!

That's the short list. If you've found some lately, please copy the link in the comment box!

How many more days until Christmas Eve... 14!!! And 7 days until Caroline's 16th Birthday! :D

they're almost back!...

Dan Stevens and Michelle Dochery

In January, Downton Abbey's Season 3 is airing! Did anyone catch the "Revisiting Downton Abbey"  that aired this evening? PBS is offering the DVD's to the third season with a $120.00 donation. Amazon UK already has them for sale at a fraction of that cost. I think I'll just wait a bit longer-- something to look forward to after Christmas!!! ;D  hee hee hee Get the popcorn ready! Will Bates remain in jail? Will Anna ever get to live with her husband? Will the Crowleys have enough money to keep up the estate? Will Lady Mary actually wed Cousin Matthew? Will that ugly sister actually find a man? Will the youngest have a baby? Will Benedict Cumberbatch show up as a character (seriously... that guy is in EVERYTHING lately!!) Sooo many questions!!! I'm just looking forward to more of the Lady Dowager's witty one-liners. And I'm pulling for Bates' release and for him to reunite with Anna. January can't come soon enough!

Hugh Bonneville

p.s. If you live in the U.K. and you have already seen it, please don't write any spoilers on here! Merci!

Potato Leek Soup recipe

Mmmm... I am making this right now because it's that time of the year again! I went to search for my post and for some reason the search tool couldn't find it. Well, I found it myself. So here's the link to the recipe if you want to make it too! (I was also smart this time and pinned it on my Pinterest board!)

love bug jingle

Because we need a little jingle in our step!  Happy St. Nicholas Day! ❄ from the love bug ♥

update on appropriation bill letter

I just received a response from one of my senators, Sen. Pat Toomey (R) and he responded that "the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) at the United States Department of Agriculture completed an environmental impact statement regarding the potential effects of genetically modified alfalfa on December 23, 2010. This review concluded that certain herbicide resistant Alfalfa is unlikely to pose a risk to wild or domesticated crops and wildlife. As a result of this conclusion, APHIS announced its decision to grant nonregulated status to this species of alfalfa on January 27, 2011. Currently, no legislation regarding APHIS's decision on genetically modified alfalfa is pending before Congress."  

This did not address the actual rider to the bill before Congress right now and also proves that Congress is not interested in regulating GMO crops ... at all. Obama appointed Tom Vilsack in 2008, a Senator from my state of PA, as the Head of Agriculture. Well, guess what? Tom Vilsack is a proponent for GMO biotechnology! Of course! And guess who submitted the tests on environmental impact on GMO alfalfa? Tom's group! I would love to see those tests! Of course it was a foregone conclusion-- why even spend all that money to do them? They would never say that they were unsafe.

As long as our government is full of GMO supporters and people making money from it, then we'll never get a fair testing done by our government or even recognized if it's a third party. Even when the facts of what it's been doing is staring them squarely in the face!

You can read more about what happened with GMO sugar beets here. Excerpt as to the damage:

This past June, in California, a farmer who sprayed 1,000 acres of pasture with 2,4-D inadvertently damaged 15,000 acres of cotton and a pomegranate orchard, Western Farm Press reports. The drift reached as far as 100 miles away from the sprayed land.

By the way, I just read an article that stated the gliadin in GMO wheat, not the gluten is what people have developed an intolerance to. It also causes an opiate response in your brain, causing you to eat 400+ more calories than you would normally. Obesity calling. Read more here.
*****************************************************************************

I just wrote Sen. Toomey back and referred him to that article above. I also reiterated my point that we need to make sure that we have protection from crops being planted before being proven to be safe when the issue is in court, otherwise it's like a car manufacturer selling cars without first passing the safety inspections. We need to protect our freedom to consume healthy non-GMO food! 

dear santa...

Add this one to my Christmas list (if Santa can find it!). Who doesn't like K.K. Slider?! I'm suffering from a slight addiction to Animal Crossing. They missed me after being away since 2007...

p.s. I'd love one of these too if you can find it!...

if only I had time to do this...

"Through the bitter frost and snow" -- 37 Christmas ornaments pattern book by Modern Folk on etsy. I think it would be a great table runner just as it is! I just love this.

Monsanto is up to their sneaky ways again...

If you are in the U.S., please help stop Monsanto from passing a rider that would allow them to plant GMO crops where courts already ruled it illegal. It took me all of 10 minutes to write to my State Rep and State Senators online (follow the links). If enough people speak up, we can call attention to this illegal act and stop it!:

Tell Congress to Dump the Monsanto Rider

 

Congress is back in session, and it has to address how to fund the government in the coming year.  The dangerous “Monsanto” rider is still on the table for the 2013 Appropriations bill, and we need to stop it!

 

Though cloaked in "farmer-friendly" language, this" farmer assurance provision" is simply a biotech industry ploy to continue to plant genetically modified (GMO) crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally. The provision undermines USDA's oversight of GMO crops and interferes with the U.S. judicial review process.  It is also completely unnecessary and offers "assurance" only to biotech companies like Monsanto, not farmers.

 

We need legislators who are willing to stand up and say no to this dangerous rider!  Representative Peter DeFazio (D- OR) has authored a "Dear Colleague" letter opposing the biotech rider and is urging his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join him. Please tell your Representative to support the DeFazio Dear Colleague letter opposing the biotech rider!

 

In addition, Senator Inouye, as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, is in a key position to stop this rider.  We need everyone to ask their Senators to urge Senator Inouye to stand firm against the rider.

 

There is only a short period of time for Congress to resolve the Appropriations Bill before the end of the lame duck session. Please take action today!

 

TAKE ACTION

 

1)  Contact your US. Representative, and urge him or her to sign on to the DeFazio letter opposing the biotech rider in the 2013 Appropriations bill.  If you don't know who represents you, you can find out online at www.house.gov or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

 

Message:

My name is ___, and I am a constituent.  I am calling to urge Representative ____ to strongly oppose the “farmer assurance provision,” section 733, currently included in the House Fiscal Year 2013 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  Congress must protect the few safeguards we have in place for genetically engineered crops, not eliminate them to appease a handful of chemical companies.  I urge my Representative to sign on to the letter by Representative DeFazio opposing the biotech rider.

 

2)  Contact both of your U.S.
Senators, and urge them to ask Senator Inouye to stand firm and not allow the biotech rider in the Senate version of the 2013 Appropriations bill.  If you don't know who represents you, you can find out online at www.senate.gov  or by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Message: 

My name is ___, and I am a constituent.  I am calling to ask that Senator ____ to strongly oppose the “farmer assurance provision”, section 733, currently included in the House Fiscal Year 2013 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  I ask that my Senator urge Senate Appropriations Chairman Inouye to oppose this dangerous and non-germane rider.  Congress must protect the few safeguards we have in place for genetically engineered crops, not eliminate them to appease a handful of chemical companies.

 

MORE INFORMATION

 

Though wrapped in a "farmer-friendly" package, the biotech rider (section 733) is simply an industry ploy to continue to plant GMO crops even when a court of law has found they were approved illegally.

 

The provision is intended to force USDA to grant temporary permits and deregulations of GMO crops even if a Federal court rules that USDA hadn't adequately considered the environmental or economic risks to farmers. This would negate any meaningful judicial review of USDA's decisions to allow commercialization of GMO crops.

 

If a GMO crop approval was shown to violate the law and require further analysis of its harmful impacts (as several courts have concluded in recent years, for example with GMO alfalfa and GMO sugar beets) this provision would override any court-mandated caution and allow continued planting and commercialization while further review takes place.

 

The judicial review process is an essential element of U.S. law and serves as a vital check on any federal agency decision that may negatively impact human health, the environment, or livelihoods. Yet this rider seeks an end-run around such judicial review by preemptively deciding that industry can set its own conditions to continue to sell biotech seeds, even if a court may find them to have been wrongfully approved.

 

Further, it forces USDA to approve permits for such continued planting immediately, putting industry completely in charge by creating loophole approvals tailored to counter any "inconvenient" court decisions for the industry.  USDA’s duty is to protect the interests of all farmers and the environment, a duty that would be eliminated by this provision.

The provision is also completely unnecessary. No farmer has ever had his or her crops destroyed following such a court ruling. Every court to decide these issues has carefully weighed the interests of farmers, as is already required by law.

 

You can read the rider here: http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-112hr-fc-ap-fy13-agriculture.pdf  (see page 86 of the pdf)

 

This rider effectively guts the few existing protections against the spread of dangerous GMO crops.  Please help us stop it!

humble baking soda beauty tricks

You probably know that baking soda can be used for lots of things, but I wanted to share a couple things I've been using it for this past month or two. Thanks to my friend Michelle (my partner in everything natural and cheap!), she introduced me to two things I can't live without: my tooth powder and a great facial mask.

My teeth have never felt cleaner or looked whiter!  (Just click on the photo of me in a previous post and enlarge... yes, my teeth are shiny!) Michelle made this tooth powder and gave me some and now I make it too!:

Tooth Powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1 teaspoon of Celtic Sea Salt (fine ground)
1 teaspoon of Calm (a Calcium/Magnesium powder)

You could just use baking soda by itself. If you google "tooth powder" you'll find lots of different recipes depending on what your particular needs are. I can't use paste anymore--it  leaves a film on my teeth. And the sugar that is in toothpaste isn't good for them. If you are using homeopathy, then you know you have to avoid mint so this is a perfect way to do that. I can't wait to go to the dentist next month so that they can tell me how fabulous my teeth and gums look! (I also supplement with Homeopathic Calc Phos and Calc Flour Cell Salts or Bioplasma.)

Facial Mask
Take a tablespoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of water and mix in a bowl (1 = 1). Apply to a clean face. Leave on for 10 to 20 minutes (depending on how long you can handle it! It will dry). Wash your face thoroughly. Your skin will feel very soft from the exfoliation. This is like a gentle microdermobrasion. It shouldn't be used more than 2 or 3 times a week. I've seen it on the internet as an acne mask. There are a couple diy recipes here by an esthetician/mommy. Baking soda affects the pH balance of your skin... and it's so cheap compared to going to see a professional!

I hope you try out one or both of these. Even if you just brush your teeth with baking soda once (grab some from the cupboard), you'll see what I mean. Have fun and keep looking beautiful! ;)