Winter Wardrobe Additions

When the weather changes from cool to hot or from hot to cool,

I usually add a few things (or sometimes a lot of things!)

to my collection of clothes and accessories.

I typically sell the things that no longer strike my fancy 

to a consignment shop or on eBay. 

I then use the money to purchase other things.

Here are some things I've bought recently!

Blouse from Ann Taylor LOFT, 

which I saw while returning something in store.

I love the little lovebird print!

AND THIS DARLING TIE BACK!!!

I think that blouse is going to be my Christmas Eve outfit

along with this skirt.

What do you think - the burgundy velvet or the black?

Here's the black, but please ignore this not-so-great pose by this model!

I was originally thinking burgundy, but looking at them together, I think I like the black.

With black tights and my velvet stacked heels, maybe?

Hair elastic with velvet bow from J. Crew.

obviously not my hair!

T-shirt from H&M, which I saw here first.

Check out the little embroidered hearts on the ends of the sleeves!

This pioneer blouse,

which was on clearance at my local Target (less than $9!)

I love the ruffle and the small geometric floral print.

This light pink argyle sweater from Target

AND RIGHT NOW IT'S ON SALE FOR $10!!!

This light pink dotted blouse, also from Target:

Target was the source for my wonderful soft flowy comfortable sophisticated pajamas this winter, too!  I love the animal-print ones I got for Christmas last year so much that I bought two pairs of these similar ones this year.  They're PERFECT!   

I also sold a few pair of earrings I didn't wear anymore and bought a nice dainty pair

that goes with everything (Etsy, vintage - browse Etsy or eBay for similar).  

They dangle, but they are small and delicate.

I've been alternating these with my other favorite pair that I got from my parents when I was 19 or 20.

That pair are three thin feminine hoops hooked onto each other.  They're gorgeous and I will never get rid of them because they have so much sentimental value to me.

Once a week or so, I wear some special hoops that a friend brought back from India last winter.

They are very pretty, as well, and add some ethnic flair to my jewelry collection.

One of these days, I will do a jewelry inventory for you - I enjoy looking at other people's style as expressed through their jewelry, and it would be fun to document my own.

And Greg bought me this lovely bag for my birthday!!!

I love these cat bags!  They are the perfect size and they bring me happiness 

every time I see them or use them.

Thanks, my sweet, for the thoughtful gift (and all the other ones!)

And last, this negligee!

Don't tell Greg . . . this is a surprise for Christmas!

Gift Ideas: Kids' Books

Here are some BOOK gift ideas for the children in your life!

Thanksgiving Feast (Vegan!)

I cooked a LOT on Wednesday and Thursday and had fun (though I TIRED myself plumb OUT!) 

I tried some new recipes, and almost everything turned out pretty well.

I will start out by saying that I made a few slices of turkey, but they were dry and not too tasty.

If I make turkey again, I will make it in the slow cooker where it won't get dried out!

The sweet potato rolls turned out weird, too, and the recipe has now lost its chance with me.

I've made it three times, and it only turned out good one of out three times.

Here was my list of things to do and when to do them.

First I started out on Wednesday by making two pumpkin pies.

They turned out fairly well, but we were all too full to eat any!

I sent some home with Greg's Mom and step-dad, but I still have a pie and a half in the fridge that probably won't freeze very well. . . 

maybe I'll take some to church on Sunday to celebrate Thanksgiving with my team!

Final product:

find the recipe here

Then I assembled the butternut squash soup.

I put all the ingredients in the slow cooker and then put it in the fridge until

Thursday morning, when I plugged it in at 8:30 or so.

Final product:

find the recipe here

Then I moved on to the cranberry orange bread.

This was my first attempt at making this recipe, and it's a good recipe - with a few modifications.

Given a second chance, I would delete or drastically change the method of preparing this bread.

It required squeezing oranges (next time I will buy orange juice pre-squeezed!)

It required zesting oranges (this isn't so bad, but I might buy orange zest).

It required chopping the cranberries (not so bad).

And I mistakenly put on the icing drizzle when the bread was cut and I guess too much of it,

so the bread got soggy after awhile.  The taste of the bread was delicious and next time I will leave off the icing altogether.

Final product:

find the recipe here

Then I made up the cranberry sauce and the shepherd's pie.

MMMMmm!  Tart and beautifully colorful!

find the recipe here

I can't give you a link to the shepherd's pie recipe because 

I sort of adapted a bunch of other recipes into one of my own.

This time I made a really thick vegetable and lentil stew (veggie broth, frozen veggie mix, 1/2 cup of red lentils, spices + corn starch for extra thickening), then covered it all with a layer of mashed potatoes (dairy-free).  I baked it for 90 minutes at around 400 in an oven that had lots of other things in it (if it's alone in the oven, it probably wouldn't need that long).

You will also see two sweet potatoes wrapped in foil on the bottom shelf

(along with the weird sweet potato rolls that didn't work out).

The shepherd's pie was the main dish. 

  I set up the table with olives, pickles, fruit salad, cranberry sauce, and bread,

in addition to the oatmeal raisin cookies Greg's Mom brought.

 Greg's Mom also makes wonderful mashed potatoes and gravy, and she 

was kind enough to bring some to share.

 And there you have it: a delicious vegan Thanksgiving feast!!!

We enjoyed having all the windows and the sliding glass door open

 to appreciate the lovely weather!

Greg installed the new cafe lighting he bought me for my birthday

and it looks PERFECT!!!

If you're in the United States, I hope your Thanksgiving was peaceful and full of family, friends, and good food.

I am grateful most of all for the perfect love of Jesus that surrounds me at all times and in all circumstances.

I am grateful for my husband, Greg, and the many blessed years and memories we have shared.

I am grateful for my wonderful family, so very dear to my heart (and Greg's family - you count as mine!)

I am grateful for my dear friends who support me and encourage me.

I am grateful for the four loving fuzzy creatures who share our life with us.

I am grateful for the cozy house that has been our home for 20+ years.

I am grateful for our health.

I am grateful for the chance to live meaningful, purposeful lives bringing God's Kindgom here to Earth in every way we can.

Blessings and peace to you.

Lost Dutchman Hike With Greg!

We FINALLY had a Saturday cool enough to hike!

We didn't even have to get up extra super early so as not to sweat to death.

We chose the Lost Dutchman State Park for our adventure.

They even have bathrooms with toilet paper, soap, and running water!
I wasn't aware Greg was taking photos, and I made my "old lady" face at him.

The trail started out through the picnic area.

There was an entry to keep out bicycles and horses

(although we saw some horses on the other trails).

We went up and up some more, enjoying the chill when we finally got

into the shade of the mountains. 

 It was almost like an eclipse.
There was a 20+ difference in temperature!

I love to clamber up rocks.

Only got a couple of scratches.

I even did the tree pose on top of a pointy rock! 

We had a snack at the highest point we reached.

I had mandarin oranges and a LaraBar as well as two little hard candies.

Greg had a granola bar and some pretzels.

Yum - perfect hiking treats! 

Come visit us and we'll take you on this hike with us!