Our {Artificial} Christmas Tree

I hesitated to put the word, artificial, in the title of the post. It seems that word when associated with Christmas trees provokes much debate. Part of me was embarrassed to admit it, but here goes:

We have an artificial pre-lit Christmas tree.

I feel so much better now that that is off my chest.

Here's another secret. Our tree doesn't have a theme. It also doesn't have fancy garland or matching ornaments like the beautiful trees that you see in Better Homes & Garden magazine. And if you look closesly most of the ornaments are at the bottom of the tree, because that's as far up as the kids can reach. But our tree is filled with ornaments that reflect significant events, preschool crafts, and handmade love.

Such as our "First Christmas Together" ornament given by a great aunt as a wedding gift.

or an ornament from my 1980's childhood...

or my all time favorite ornament that was made for me by my great-grandmother. She crocheted one for each of her great-grandchildren back in 1980. My mother left the hand-written gift tag on the ornament all those years ago.

But the kids' ornaments really dominate the tree.

My oldest baby's first Christmas:

Every year, our girls find an ornament in their stocking that reflects their current interests, such as Elmo

or smurf girl.

I love the hand prints that each of my girls made two years ago. I found the molds on a clearance rack at Target and turned them into Christmas ornaments. It's amazing how much their hands have grown in two year.

So I guess there is a theme to our tree, our family, and there is nothing artificial about that!

Have you put your Christmas tree up yet? Real or Artificial? Let us know in the comments.


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If You Are Able, Adopt-a-Family or Senior This Holiday Season

For many years, my husband and I struggled with infertility. We desperately wanted to be parents, so when our oldest daughter was born 7 years ago, we were over-joyed...and maybe a bit overwhelmed.

Right after she was born, I read an article in the newspaper that tugged at my heart and my postpartum hormones. The local Salvation Army was looking for sponsors for their annual Adopt-a-Family Christmas program. Local families in need of assistance apply in the early fall to participate in the program. The sponsors are required to provide all of the ingredients for a holiday meal (turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, desserts, etc.) and they must purchase one toy, a shirt, a pair of pants, hat, and gloves per child in the family. The sponsor then delivers the gifts and food by mid-December to the family's home.

That Christmas back in 2005, my husband and I were overwhelmed with gratitude for this beautiful baby girl that we waited 5 years for. We are Christians and while I don't write a lot about my faith, I just knew that God was telling me to adopt a family that year. I couldn't stop thinking about that article and when I went to my husband about it, he immediately said, "let's do this."

I'm so glad that we did. That first year, the family was a single mother whose infant son was born just a few days before our daughter. As new mothers, we bonded immediately and she was so appreciative of the food and gifts. She was recently unemployed and when we walked into her home, I could sense her urgency and relief for the food. She was going to have a full, warm meal for the holidays. Her mom was going to help her prepare the dinner and celebrate her son's first Christmas with her.

Every year since 2005 we have adopted a family. In 2008, when our youngest was born, we started participating in the Adopt-a-Senior program where you just purchase the meal ingredients for local seniors in need.

I start shopping before Thanksgiving to take full advantage of the holiday sales for the food. I shop Black Friday for the clothes and toys and with the savings I'm able to add some extras that aren't required, such as ingredients for a Christmas breakfast or some extra clothes or toys.

Christmas is a wonderful time of year for many families, but it also brings stress and sadness for others. Every time I have left the home that we sponsored I wished that I could have done more. There is so much need out there and these families are trying to make Christmas for their children special just like my husband and I do.

If you are able and if you feel your heart being tugged or God is calling you to serve, I urge you to call your local Salvation Army to see if they are in need of sponsors for their Adopt-a-Family or Adopt-a-Senior programs. You can determine the size of the family that you help. It is a beautiful program and a great opportunity to help a family in need in your community.

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This post is linked to Frugal Friday.

5 Recipes with Turkey Leftovers (and a Freezer Tip)

Another Thanksgiving has passed and now we're all wondering what to do with all of those turkey leftovers.

5 Recipes with Turkey Leftovers

1. Turkey Noodle Soup



2. Baked Turkey Macaroni and Cheese



3. Turkey, Kale & Orzo Soup



4. Turkey Chili Potpie

5. Turkey Tetrazinni

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you slightly over-dosed on turkey this year and the last thing you want to do is make dinner with the leftovers, simply chop up the cooked turkey and divide into 2-3 cup portions. Place in freezer bags or containers and freeze. When ready to use, just thaw in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. You can use the frozen leftovers in any of the recipes listed above.

What's your favorite recipe to use up the turkey leftovers?

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Every year, I wake up early on Thanksgiving to run a local Turkey Trot 5k. I run one mile for each piece of pie that I plan on eating later in the day. Seriously, that is the reason I run this race. Why else would a completely sensible woman wake up early on a week day when I could and should be sleeping in? To burn calories!

Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday of the year and I am a complete and unapologetic glutton on this day and I'm proud of it.

But all kidding aside, I wish you all a happy, delicious, and safe Thanksgiving.

God Bless!

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Where I'll Be at Midnight on Black Friday

My bed!

I know there are bargains to be found and bought on Black Friday, but I have yet to find one that was worth the sacrifice of my sleep.

Prior to motherhood, I had a career in department store retail, mainly as a buyer. So Black Friday isn't foreign to me. In fact, for 13 years I awoke at 4:45 AM every Black Friday to work at the store when it opened at 6 AM.

Yes, there was a time when stores waited until 6 AM on Black Friday to open and that was considered early.

Because I worked so many Black Fridays in the past, I try to avoid shopping on that morning. I have no desire to battle a stranger for the limited door busters that are available. If I do go out on Friday it is usually in the mid-afternoon when the traffic has slowed down. Stuff is still on sale and there are still coupons. I can usually get a parking spot somewhere closer to the door and the stores are somewhat quiet, because everyone else is home taking a nap.

Last year I did a lot of my Christmas shopping online. That does eliminate a bit of stress as long as you know what you want to buy, but I'm someone who needs to browse to find ideas for my family, so I don't buy everything online.

This year, I am intrigued by one sale that I came across at a local department store.

Every year, we shop for a local family for the holidays and the mom has asked for a king sized comforter. That size is usually quite expensive, so $19.97 for a king sized comforter is a steal. Therefore, I'll be sending my husband out for the comforter on Friday. He LOVES to shop on Black Friday. And he might even be nutty enough to go out at midnight.

But me, I'll be snuggled in my bed, exactly where I want to be.

Will you be shopping at midnight on Black Friday?  Let us know in the comments.

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Turkey Noodle Soup {Leftover Turkey Recipe}

Here's a super easy soup recipe to use your leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. Serve with homemade artisan bread and a salad.

Enjoy!

Turkey Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2-3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium carrots, chopped
• 2 medium celery stalks, chopped. I include the tops because they hold so much flavor.
• bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings or your favorite seasoning - You can be creative here.
• 2 quarts of homemade turkey stock - You can use store-bought too.
• 6-8 oz egg noodles - I used about half of the bag.
• 2 cups shredded or diced cooked turkey
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Over a medium heat, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Stir until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.

2. Add the turkey stock, bay leaf, and Italian seasonings. Bring to a boil.

3. Add the noodles and simmer about 5 minutes.

4. Add the turkey and simmer for a few more minutes.

5. Add salt and pepper to your taste. Discard bay leaf before eating.

Print recipe for Turkey Noodle Soup.

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My Holiday To-Do List

Can you believe it is already November 15? I swear Halloween was just yesterday. I knew this season was going to fly by at a high speed rate. We, as a family, have been too busy to take any time to breathe. And I really don't want December 26 to show up and feel like we didn't enjoy ourselves over these two months.

At the beginning of November, I started a holiday to-do list. It's not on fancy paper, just my spiral notebook where I brain dump on a regular basis. I got out my calendar and looked through our events and tried to anticipate my major tasks that were ahead. Now that we are half way through November, I'll start focusing on what I need to accomplish in December.

Have you created a master to-do list for November and December?

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Holiday Countdown Calendar

The level of holiday excitement is building up in my home. Every day I hear, "mommy, how many more days until the parade?" or "mommy, how many more days until we're off school." I'm just waiting for "mommy, how many more days until Santa comes?"

To help my girls with their patience (and mine), I printed blank November and December calendars that I found online and posted them on the refrigerator. I've entered the holiday activities that I already know about and we found that there's plenty of room for a few new events and our favorite traditions, such as trimming the tree, baking cooking, decorating gingerbread houses, visiting Santa, and spreading good cheer.

Now when my kids ask, "mommy, how many more days until...", I tell them to refer to the calendar. And every day, the kids take turns crossing off the days and our Christmas countdown has begun.

How do you manage all of the holiday activities with your family? Let us know in the comments.

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Thanksgiving Meal Planning

I hope you enjoyed last week's Turkey Week. Here's a recap of the posts:

• How Much Turkey Per Person Will You Need
• How to Safely Thaw a Turkey
• Roasted Turkey with Herbs and Lemon
• Turkey Gravy Recipe
• 20 Stuffing Recipes
• How {NOT} to Carve a Turkey
• Homemade Turkey Stock 

Here's some more meal ideas to complete your Thanksgiving menu. If you have any recipes to add, leave a link in the comments or your recipe.

Appetizers

• Baked Spinach Dip Mini Bread Bowls at Pickey Palate
• Corn and Bean Dip at Heart Health Journey
• Mini Tomato & Goat Cheese Tarts at Mini Baker
• Roasted Asparagus Wrapped with Ham at My Colombian Recipes
• Sweet Potato Bites at Cooking with My Kid

Side Dishes

• Apple & Walnut Stuffed Acorn Squash at The Happy Housewife
• Classic Sweet Potato Casserole at Southern Living
• Roasted Asparagus with Garlic and Parmesan at FBS
• Roasted Green Beans at Confessions of a Foodie Bride
• Ultimate Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes at Budget Savvy Diva

Bread & Rolls

• Crescent Dinner Rolls at Frosted Bake Shop
• Herbed Dinner Rolls at Annie's Eats
• Pumpkin Dinner Rolls at Alexandra Cooks
• Thanksgiving Gratitude Rolls at Beauty and Bedlam
• Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day at FBS

Desserts

• Apple Crumb Pots at FBS
• Apple Gingerbread Cake with Homemade Whipped Cream at FBS
• Bobby Flay's Pumpkin Pie at Food Network
• Chocolate Pecan Pie at Martha Stewart - I make this pie every year for Thanksgiving and it's a hit!
• Crunchy Top Apple Pie at Paula Deen of Food Network
• Sweet Potato Pie with Gingersnap Crust and Spice Cream at Finding Joy in the My Kitchen

Are you worried about over-spending for your Thanksgiving dinner?  Check out Save Money with Pinterest: Meal Planning 101 from Money Saving Enthusiast.

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Are you hosting a large crowd? Or are you taking a dish somewhere? We'd love to hear your plans in the comments.

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10 Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

10 Thanksgiving Turkey Recipes

• Apple Cider Brined Turkey at Cooking Light
• Grilled Brown Sugar Rubbed Turkey Breast at 101 Cooking for Two
• How to Deep Fry Your Thanksgiving Turkey at Chaos in the Kitchen
• How to Roast a Brined Turkey at Skinny Tast
• Roasted Turkey with Fresh Herbs and Lemon at Family Balance Shee
• Thanksgiving Turkey and Bacon-Infused Gravy at Finding Joy in my Kitche
• Kate's Thanksgiving Turkey at Our Best Bites. She brines and injects herb butter into turkey. I might have to try this technique this year
• Sherry's German Turkey at All Recipes
• Spice Rubbed Roast Turkey at Martha Stewart
• Turkey Roulade with Sausage Stuffing at The Mother Huddle

If that isn't enough turkey recipes for you, check out Women's Day's list of 17,384 Turkey Recipes.

Do you have a secret to delicious, moist roasted turkey? PLEASE share in the comments.

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Homemade Turkey Stock

If you've gone to the trouble to roast the turkey for Thanksgiving, then you might as well take the next step and make homemade turkey stock.

Homemade Turkey Stock

Ingredients

• Turkey carcass and reserved neck
• 1 onion, quartered
• 2-3 celery stalks
• 2-3 carrot sticks
• 1 garlic head, remove some of the white papery cover, cut in half crosswise
• 10-12 sprigs of fresh parsley and sage
• 2 bay leaves
• 10 peppercorns
• 1 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Place all of the ingredients in a large stock pot and cover with water about 2 inches above the ingredients.

2. Cover. Bring to a boil. Uncover and reduce to a simmer for 2 - 3 hours. Stirring occasionally.

3. Allow to cool. Carefully, spoon or pour the stock, veggies, herbs through a sieve into a big bowl. Press juices out of veggies and herbs. Discard bones, veggies, herbs. Stir well and allow to cool down completely. Remove any fat that rises to the top.

I have found turkey stock to be more gelatinous than chicken stock once it has cooled down. Do not be alarmed. That is a good thing. It thins out when cooked in dishes or soups.

The stock will last a few days in the fridge. I like to freeze in 1 cup and 24 oz freezer containers.

Before:

After 3 hours:

Pour the stock through a seive:

You can also make turkey stock in the crock pot.

Do you make homemade turkey stock?

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How {NOT} to Carve a Turkey

How hard can it be to carve a turkey?

I found out one Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago when I was preparing for Turkey Week. I asked my husband to photograph me while I carved the turkey I had just roasted. There was some mild eye-rolling, but he is generally game to play with his Nikon.

I took the turkey and what I thought was a sharp knife to our sunroom so we could capitalize on the natural light. And I started to carve.

So far so good...

But my knife began to fail me and I needed to twist.

...and pull...

...and tug...

And when it looked like this...we bagged the photo shoot...

I mean, really, how hard can it be to carve a turkey?

Apparently it's not hard for Alton Brown. And I'm sure it won't be hard for you either. Although, I would recommend a sharp knife. Check out his video on How to Carve a Turkey.

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20 Stuffing Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Dinner

Stuffing vs. dressing. Do you know the difference? Apparently, stuffing goes in the bird and dressing gets cooked in a baking dish. I call it all stuffing. When I hear dressing, I think of Kraft.

What's your preferred way to prepare stuffing (or dressing)? Prepared inside the bird or a separate dish? Some people have concerns about the safety of stuffing prepared inside the bird. I prefer it cooked in a baking dish far away from the bird. Although I have never turned down any stuffing especially if it's covered with homemade Turkey gravy. Honestly, I have never made stuffing and I have never stuffed a turkey with it, so I did a little research for you.

There are some guidelines when cooking stuffing inside the bird:

1. Your stuffing ingredients should NOT be raw when placed inside the turkey. Your meat, vegetables, and egg ingredients need to be cooked beforehand.
2. Stuff the bird with the cooked ingredients RIGHT BEFORE roasting. Do not try to save time and stuff the bird the night before roasting it as that allows dangerous bacteria to grow.
3. Stuffing needs to reach 165 degrees to be done. If the turkey is done before the stuffing, remove stuffing and cook separately, so you don't over-cook the turkey.
4. For more guidelines, check out the Butterball website or the Food Network.

20 Stuffing {or Dressing} Recipes for Your Thanksgiving Dinner

• Basic Bread Stuffing at Southern Food
• Ciabatta Stuffing with Chorizo, Sweet Potatoes, and Mushrooms at Food 52
• Cornbread Dressing with Pancetta, Apples and Mushrooms at Food Network (Ree Drummond
• Cornbread, Chorizo, and Jalapeno Dressing at My Recipe
• Cornbread Oyster Stuffing at Garden and Gun
• Gluten Free Turkey Stuffing at Le Bon Viveu
• Kale and Butternut Squash Stuffing at Greatist
• Pear, Almond, and Cherry Stuffing at Canadian Living
• Quinoa, Sweet Potatoes and Dried Cranberry Stuffing at With Style and Grace Blo
• Sausage and Artichoke Stuffing at The Meaning of Pi
• Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing at AllRecipe
• Sausage and Kale Thanksgiving Dressing at Food Network
• Sourdough and Sausage Stuffing at What's Gaby Cooking
• Sourdough Stuffing with Mushrooms, Apples and Sage at Two Peas and Their Po
• Stuffing Balls at The Cutting Edge of Ordinary
• Thanksgiving Stuffing in a Crock Pot at Leah's Thoughts
• Turkey Stuffing Casserole at Budget Bytes - uses bone-in turkey pieces instead of roasting the whole bir
• Turkey Stuffing at Simply Recipes - includes apples, walnuts, and raisin
• Vegan Stuffing at Vegan She Knows
• Wild Rice Stuffing at Finding Joy in my Kitchen

For my stuffing recipe ideas, search "thanksgiving stuffing" on Pinterest. And while you're there, be sure to follow me!



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