Christmas 2013 Decor

Christmas 2013 Decor

Our Bunting/Banner

One of my favorite sections of the house during Christmas.

I just love these colors, it gives the dining room a different spin.

My reindeer from hobby Lobby and Garland from Home Goods

 This beautiful box was my big win from T.J. Maxx this year.  I love it!!

T.J. Max Reindeer and Burlap bag.  More great finds!

I absolutely LOVE this Santa from Michaels!  Jingle all the way box copied from Pinterest.

My entryway is my pride and joy in this house.  My husband made this table copied from here:

http://countrygirlhome.blogspot.com/2011/11/table-tutorial.html

We added the window, shutters and HOME sign and I couldn't be happier with it.

Love my skinny tall tree.  I got it FREE off an exchange.  It is sparse and coming apart in the

middle, but I am able to cover that up with all the beautiful mesh and ribbon!

Valentine's Day Bunting

I'm so excited to share the Valentine's Day bunting I made with my friend.  

This was a big endeavor, took us days to complete and it was so fun!

February Enrichment Night

Menifee Ward February Enrichment Night

"Becoming His"

Dessert Table
Designed and set up by Cortnie Bigelow

This was the scene at our church Tuesday night as we met for a spiritual decadent dessert night.  I am the board leader and get the privilege to work with many talented, hard working women.  Very pinterest inspired, beautiful tables that night as we listened to our speakers encourage us to become closer to Christ.

Centerpieces by Cortnie Bigelow

Bookmark gifts for the women by Shillawna Ruffner

Bookmark

Chocolate Fountain

Chocolate Fountain Dippers

Red Velvet Chocolate Oreo Truffle Brownies by Tonja Whitford

http://pizzazzerie.com/recipes/valentines-day-red-velvet-oreo-truffle-brownie-bars/

Nutella Coconut Cupcakes by Amber Hansen

http://www.yourcupofcake.com/2012/08/coconut-nutella-cupcakes.html

Tres Leche cupcakes by Kim Lomavita

What a great night!  We walked away spiritually and decadently fed!

Love is in the Air

I just finished one of my husbands Valentine's Day presents.  I don't normally do much for him because Valentine's Day is my birthday and I rarely feel like sharing, but...I was so inspired by pinterest this year and I am so excited.  I cannot take ANY credit whatsoever for this and owe credit to this gal  http://cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com/2012/01/buckets-of-love.html.  She explains everything perfectly on her post.  We are trying not to eat sweets too much right now so I figure he can take a few of his favorite treats and put the bucket out in the office to share with the ladies at school.  Perfect way to have a cute treat in the office and he won't eat them all!  The best part is that he can bring it home and I can save it for decor next year!

On to the rest of the Valentine's Day decorating.

I love using the piano top to decorate.  Sorry, the lighting in this room is absolutely horrible.

 These are one of my favorite things to pull out during the year.  I LOVE them!!  Just cardboard letters from Joann and cover them in paper and whatever else you like.

                                               

Holiday Jars.  Another one I will most definitely NOT take credit for.  These were found here:

http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2011/10/boo-and-joy-apothecary-jars-revisited.html

And I absolutely LOVE them because I can change them out with the holidays also.  I used Ragu jars for mine.  You can use any type of jars you have or get the fancy ones at Hobby Lobby.

Knick knacks in the cubbies.

My apothecary jars that I just love when changing out the holidays.  My four boyz already downed the 3 bags of Valentine's M & M's I had in them.  Wish I would have taken a picture with them in it.  It was so pretty! 

Canning Meat

I have had SO many people ask me about how to can meat and why I do it that I am finally getting around to explaining it all and showing you how EASY it really is to do it.

Why Can your Meat??

*To save you money.  I buy all my meat on sale in bulk at the lowest prices.  Canning it is a good way to preserve it when you buy so much at a time.

*Cooked protein in your food storage that can be stored in your cupboards.

*It's 4:45 p.m. and you realize you haven't thawed out any meat.  Even after you thaw you have to chop it up and cook it before you can put it into anything.

*Busy nights.  Popping that can open and warming a roast for taco's or BBQ beef sandwhiches takes the stress off of busy mom.

How to can meat.

Put your jars, lids and rings in the dishwasher and run them through the rinse cycle.  You want them warm when you put them in your canner.

Roast:  Trim the fat.  Cut into chunks. 

 Put into jars.  1/2 tsp. salt for pints, 1 tsp. salt for quarts. 

Rinse the top of the jar before you put the lid and ring on.  

Place jars into your canner.  Fill halfway up the jars with warm water. 

Put the lid on your canner and seal it.  Turn burner on high. When you see steam start coming out of the top of the lid put 10 minutes on the clock.

 When timer goes off place your 15 lb. weight on the lid.  Wait until the weight starts "rocking."  (This takes forever.)  When it starts rocking process your roast 75 minutes for pint jars and 90 minutes for quart jars.  When the timer goes off turn your burner off.  

   

 Wait until the pressure gauge goes down on your canning lid.  Do not open your canner until this valve goes down.  Take your jars out with a canning jar grabber.  (Is that what they are called, it sounds funny :)  Enjoy your canned roast in a pinch.

Ground Beef or Ground Turkey is canned and processed the exact same way.  Two differences:  You must brown it before you put it into your jars and fill your jars with water.  1/2 tsp salt for pints, 1 tsp for quarts.  Just dump it on the top of the beef before you put your lid on.

Chicken is canned exactly like the roast.  It goes in raw and you DO NOT fill it with water.  It will cook in it's own natural juices.  You can use the chicken in SO many things.  Enchiladas, casseroles, quesadillas, etc.

So pretty and you will feel SO accomplished!