Christmas in the HEART

 

Christmas in your HEART

How do you spend your Christmas. Is it a time for gifts & special cooking or baking? It's often a time spent with your family. You bring out the decorations & the lights get strung. A lot of people plan to travel back home, wherever that may be. If you have kids, it's filled with party's & concerts and ways to make their holidays filled with sweet memories.

 

Then for some Christmas can be a sad time of year. While the excitement goes on around you if you don't have extra money it can be stressful to buy presents for your children or family. Or if you are unable to travel to be with family perhaps you feel lonely. Some of us don't have children so we don't experience seeing the excitement when they open presents or get to make Christmas cookies with them. And some have lost love ones & no many how many years pass, there is an aching in your heart that somehow hurts a little more at this time of year.

 

Well this year I've experienced some of the sad but have been coming to realize that Christmas really is in your HEART. Because you can have lots of money but nothing you buy will dull the ache of not having a little boy or girl to cuddle up to while watching Christmas movies. As much as you wish you can only bring back your loved one who has passed in memory. There are lots of things we can't change. But living in this cold northern town of Fort McMurray this Christmas and reading & experiencing the kindness of others has reminded me that Christmas is not under the tree but in your HEART.

I know it's not unheard of to donate during the Christmas season. I've done it. The Salvation Army Christmas kettle & the Food Bank. But I've been reading about people going the extra mile not only here but everywhere. Facebook is a fantastic way to share your experiences & to therefore take someone who is sad & to remind you what is really important. 

Here are some of the little bursts of Christmas spirit that I've experienced or read about.

 

                                     ~Random Acts of Kindness~

There are many people who are buying coffee or paying for orders for the people behind them & asking for it to be payed forward. A simple way to spread joy. 

There are people & families who are sponsoring families with gifts & food who would otherwise not have it. 

There is a lady with 2 children who have Mickie & Minnie costumes who are delivering letters & donated gifts to children throughout the city in freezing temps. 

I saw a lady send a post that her husband will make calls to children as Santa if they gave their name & phone numbers. 

My sister asked for anyone who had a small tree to give to a friend in the hospital who wouldn't be home for Christmas. 

My friend invited me over to spend Christmas dinner with her & her family as I'll be alone because my husband has to work. 

I know that there are many people who go above & beyond to share the spirit of the season. I am now challenged to do something more. To give really is a great feeling. To witness someone give is also a feeling that's hard to describe. I get a feeling in my belly when I put $20 in that kettle at the mall. And to see another do the same really does touch me. 

I read how a lady who can't go home for Christmas & who wasn't in the Christmas spirit witnessed her neighbours as Minnie, Mickey & their Mom left the home after one of their visits. The little boy in the window with his Mother were jumping & clapping because they experienced something so amazing. All in the spirit of the holiday. She has experienced a Christmas miracle. Thank you everyone who has gone the extra mile & made someones day, someones Christmas a little brighter. You are spreading love & joy at a time that may be sad & lonely for some. You are what true meaning of Christmas represents.

 

 

From then till now.

Its really been 2 years since I've updated this blog!  I'm not going to promise that there will be weekly check-ins but that's the goal!  In 2 years not a whole lot has changed.  I still enjoy the things I've always enjoyed, perhaps have learned to balance it a little better.  For the past 3 months my focus has even on my health.  Ive learned a lot about healthy eating, exercise & pushing myself further than Ive ever gone before. I'm sure I'll go into that more in the future but for now I'm looking forward to updating my blog with new healthy recipes, healthy living tips & tricks that I find online & learn from those around me as well as my hobbies of paper crafts, photography & travel!  Here is a pic because what's a post without picture right?!

Apple Walnut Oatmeal Bake

4 cups steel cut oatmeal
4 apples diced small
1/4 cup dry cranberry
2 eggs
1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce
1/2 a cup of maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
4 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
4 tablespoons chopped walnuts or any not you wish
3 cups of almond milk, unsweetened or regular milk
Mix wet ingredients in bowl and dry ingredients inseparable blend that you bake in 350° oven for 30 mins. I baked mine in a muffin tin but you can use a pie plate or baking dish. I doubled the batch but if you wish just cut all ingredients in half.

TIP: if using a non stick pan, avoid using muffin liners as the bottoms will be slightly moist. It didn't affect the taste but is rather a drier bottom.

Pulled Pork Sandwich

I found this recipe in one of my favorite magazines, Canadian Living, and made it a few weeks ago!!  It was so yummy, tender & juicy that I am making it again today for dinner.  It is simple with very little prep, and it sits in the slow cooker all day just absorbing all of the saucy goodness!  Here it is for you to try...your sure to make apart of your family favorites.





Saucy Pulled Pork in the Slow Cooker

3 1/2 lb boneless pork shoulder blade roast

3/4 tsp each salt & pepper

2 tbsp veg oil

2 onions diced

3 or 4 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tbsp chili powder

2 tsp ground coriander

2 bay leaves

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce

2 tbsp each packed brown sugar & cider vinegar

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 green onion, sliced

Sprinkle pork with salt & pepper.  In a dutch oven, heat oil over med heat: brown pork all over.  Transfer to slow cooker.

Drain all but 1 tbsp fat from pan, cook onions, garlic, chili powder, coriander & bay leaves over med heat, stirring occasionally until onions are softened, about 5 minutes.

Add tomato paste: cook, stirring until darkened, about 2 minutes. 

Add tomato sauce, sugar, vinegar, & the W sauce; bring it to a boil scraping up the brown bits. Scrape into the slow cooker & cook on low until pork is tender. 8 - 10 hours. 

Transfer pork unto cutting board; cover with foil and let stand for 10 minutes.  With 2 forks, shred or "pull" pork. 

Meanwhile, pour liquid from slow cooker into large saucepan: skim off fat.  Bring to boil over high heat; boil until reduced to 3 cups, about 15 minutes.  Discard bay leaves.  Add pork.  Reduce heat and simmer until hot, about 4 minutes.  Sprinkle with green onions.

Call me peep!

Well I have been making lot of Christmas cards lately but took a break to use this cute stamp from Stampingbella.com!  I have had it for a few months but forgot about it as it got thrown into a box with other stamps.  I thought it would be cute for an "I'm thinking of you" type of card! 

I made this card into the easel style fold.  So I matted the sentiment and popped it up to allow the card to sit opened!  I also added a flower punch with a small button brad.

 Thanks for looking....oh yeah, I love comments!! 

Festive Snowmen

I LOVE Snowmen!!!  And I know that I am not the only one!  I love decorating my home around the holidays with Snowmen of all sorts!  And when buying stamps, I fall for the ones with snowmen!  So here is another card with some Festive Snowmen!  The stamp is from Tara Reed Designs, Stamps Happen Inc



Card Recipe:

Red CS 6 x 12 & folded at 6

I used some of my paper scraps for the various panels

Stamp and color the image

I also used red ric rac, a mini paper clip, twine, a snowflake brad

I also cut a scallop circle with my Big Shot and Scallop circle #2 die 

which I then used a large circle punch to give me a sort of boarder! 

Challenge:

CPS Challenge - Sketch #243

Everybody Art Challenge - Advent

Simon Says Stamp - (Photo inspiration) Poppy Field

Thanks for looking!  I love comments so if you leave one I promise to swing by your blog to have a peek & do the same!

A Snow Family

Here is my latest Christmas card to add to my collection!  I am slowly getting a pile ready to mail out across the Country for family & friends :) 

Card Recipe:

Whisper white cs base is cut with my Big Shot and the large scallop circle, I made a fold in the card before I ran it through, leaving a small portion at the top so that both pieces are still attached.  Then I cut another large scallop and taped it to the base so that it shows the whole scallop!  (Hope this makes sense!)

The blue circle is cut with the Big Shot and large clear circle die

The red scallop circle is cut with the Big Shot and the scallop circles #2

Then I stamped the SU Flaky Friends image on WW CS and used a large circle punch. 

I used markers and stickles.  I added bakers twine and pop dots to add dimension.

Challenges

PAPERTAKE WEEKLY CHALLENGE - Christmas

WINTER WONDERLAND - Make it sparkle

TOP TIP TUESDAY - Anything Christmas

STAMPS $ FUN - Winter

THANKS for looking!!!  I LOVE comments, if you follow me or leave a comment, I promise I will do the same :)

O Holy Night

I have been busy for the past few weeks trying to design and add new cards to my collection that I have for sale!  This is one that I love.  The stamp is from Inkadinkado! 

Here is the card recipe:

Cut a sheet of 8 1/2 x 11 CS in half length wise at 4 1/4

Fold in half so that it stands as a portrait fold

Stamp image with versa mark ink and emboss with gold embossing powder

Cut image so it fits approx. 1/3 of the page and cut gold pattern velum to fit remainder 2/3's

With a corner round punch, round out the 2 opposite corners

Add a ribbon detail where the image and velum meet.

Add a verse inside.

Christmas - Gift Card holders

Well I have had a few cards posted on my facebook album that are for sale.  I've had a few people inquire about them but no purchases yet.  And then this past weekend my cousin said that she wants to buy some Christmas cards...woohoo, a reason to make more!  Here are some gift card holders that I made. 

These are quite easy and quick to make. 

You can find a video here at Chic & Scratch!!

I wanted to share a few pictures from my photography class!  I have had my DSLR camera for perhaps 2 years but didn't really know how to use it, I mean really use it.  I did manage to take a few nice pictures using the auto setting but that is not really why I wanted the Canon.  I wanted to take some nice pictures.  I love photography.  And I would love to somehow take this love and passion and use it to take pictures of people & things that I would not normally do.  I would love to become experienced enough to take a photo for a family that they would want to hang on their wall, or perhaps get the perfect shot of a flower or bug that could be used for a magazine!!!  Shooting too high?!  I don't know if I will ever get there, but in the mean time I am having fun learning and taking the information and capturing whenever and of whatever I can!  Lets just say that there is ALOT to learn about photography and cameras and all that goes along with it!  I completed the basics of photography class...I still have alot to learn!  But here are a few of the pictures I took...some are good and others not so much :)

Remembering my Summer

I will always remember the Summer of 2011!  I was thrilled to have my Dad & Step Mom visit us in Alberta all the way from Newfoundland!  And the icing on the cake was having my sisters Diane & Wavey visit around the same time!  I know it may not seem like much, but due to age & health plus the long distance for travel I really didn't think that I would get to see my parents in my home.  Dad celebrated his 79th birthday here in Fort Mcmurray!!  And it was a true blessing.  There is no one person that I admire more than my Father.  He is & will always be my #1 hero.  Not because of any heroic act that the managed to do.  But for being the man that he chooses to be.  He is sweet and charming.  A true man of God.  I treasure every thing about him.  Anyway here are a few pictures of their visit.  We didn't do any great or exciting things, but we did the things that matter most.  We spent time together chatting and laughing about the past.  We went out for a nice dinner & celebrated.  We went to garage sales & thrift stores.  We cooked and Dad taught me how to make bread from scratch!  Those are the best memories ever...for me when I think of my childhood, I don't remember the places that we went but rather moments spent with family.  And I am sure 20 years from now if I am still alive I will remember this past Summer just as these pictures show.  A stroll on the boardwalk, having birthday cake and my husband cutting my Dads hair ( and me being so worried that he was shaving him clean! lol).  Looking forward to celebrating Dad's 80th birthday next August!

Im Memory of Max

Max passed away this Summer.  His health was failing and after many visits with the Vet and my Sister-in-law doing everything in her power to will him and nurse him back to health he finally let go.  He put up a hard fight.  And he was playful and loving right to the end.  We certainly still miss him. And I hate to think of what it must feel like losing a fur baby as I have 2 of my own.  But you love them and care for them and help them lead the life that they love. 

A blase` kinda day...

Why am I struggling to get back to blogging?  I did enjoy it and I think I still do, perhaps it is just one of those things...the longer you stay away the harder it is to get back into!  Well here I am again, trying to get back into it!!  I am having one of those days...not really in the mood to do much!  Well I guess I have already managed to get some things done, you know a bit of house cleaning, I have been to the grocery store to get some beef for steak on a bun for dinner tonight.  Also I went to the thrift store (love getting deals!) and picked up a couple of sweatshirts and a cute basket.  Then I came home and HAD to take the dogs for a walk...Mollie will not leave me alone until I take them out!  Which is a good thing considering my mood, I may not have gone!  But yeah, I am feeling a little down.  Perhaps the weather or just hormones...I don't really know.  I am going to try to update here and hope it helps!!!  Sorry for the boring update:)  But it is all life right!

A long overdo update! Summer was good!

When Summer arrived this year my routine went haywire! No time for card making or scrap booking. I had family visiting for a month so there were a few odds & ends that needed to be clues up before their arrival. Add to that the task of building a garage from scratch!!! We managed to get in a few weekend getaways & camping in there too. Anyway, it was all good. The highlight was having my Dad & Step Mom along with 2 of my sisters visit. There were lots of laughs. We celebrated Dads 79 th birthday. Memories that will be with me for years to come.
This brings me to today. Sitting here having coffee with my hubby & planning our weekend. It is going to be busy for sure. But I hope to have the time to come back to post about a few of the highlights of my summer a little closer. Such as learning to make bread from scratch (with the help of my Dad). Becoming a healthier me & losing 40 lbs!! Joining the Y! I must say... I love Summer, but my favorite season is Fall! It's great to be back, to blogging & a routine. I have to try to catch up on all of my favorite blogs too : )

Fancy Fold Card

I came across another great blog with a lot of neat ideas and tutorials here. 

 I had fun making this card for a baby girl!  I will certainly make more of these fancy fold cards. 

I used various stamps that I had which I thought would be suitable for a baby girl!

And the embellishments and ribbon are from my stash, the flower is from SU!

I love this little giraffe!

Again the last fold.  The CS and DP is from my stash, and I used a CM corner punch.

Thanks for taking a look!

I <3 sweet comments!

I'm linking up here:

Cupcake Craft Challenge - Lots of Layers

Delicious Doodles - Anything Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Flowers
Crafty Anns Challenge Blog - Fancy Folds
Shelly's Images - Show us what you got!

Everybody-Art-Challenge - Pearls
Lady Bug Craft Ink Challenge - Anything goes

My Craft Space Before and Now!

Well I was just happy to have a space to keep all of my treasures

ahh...crafty mess!  I had a side server that we had in our old kitchen which provided some storage and then I had some tables!  I was happy :)

The computer is also in this room.

I thought the system for storing my scraps was the best thing....(the small clear drawers!  But boy did it ever take up alot of space!

And then my sweety & I were at Ikea and found this great desk/shelving system!

He insisted that I get it!   (I have been eyeing The Original Scrapbox for awhile...knowing full well that the price was too steep for us right now!)  And even though he knew that he would have to spend an afternoon putting it together, he convinced me to get it!

I am so glad he did...look at the nice space I have to lay out paper or whatever I am working on!

I like to have most of my tools and supplies out and handy for when I need them, otherwise I forget that I have it!

This side table is where I use my Cricut tools or sewing machine (mostly use the machine for cards!)

My stamps, texture plates, big shot dies and punches are all stored into the various storage boxes.

I still have this side bar in the room for storage and because I just can't get let myself to get rid of it!  It is much neater now though!

The other side of the room has the computer desk and Leos smurfs!

This room is not as neat or well organized as most of the craft spaces that I've seen on some blogs.  But I love it, it works for me & if I want to take a break from a project I can leave everything and close the door!