'Tis the Season

Advent is next Sunday!

And even though we decorated for Christmas 

a little over a week ago,

(yes, we are those kind of Catholics!)

it always seems like the Advent wreath get pushed 

to the last minute.

Well not this year!

I ordered this Advent candle making kit from Illuminated Ink just in time to roll our candles this week.  We have used this kit in years past and the kids always have a great time making our own candles.

The kit comes with everything you need to make all four candles 

as well as a blessing for the wreath and weekly traditional Advent prayers...even in Latin!

I would say this is a good project for children aged 6 and up as the beeswax is a bit tricky at first to roll.

They are perfectly imperfect!

With all the hustle and bustle of the season,

it's nice to take time each night to light a candle,

slow down, read and meditate on what's coming.

To be more mindful of what is important.

The anticipation.

The joy.

It is just what the heart needs.

Baby It's COLD Outside!

It FINALLY feels like winter here in south Texas!

We woke up this morning to a temp of 36 degrees and 25 mph winds blowing off the hay field behind our house.  

A chilly start to our day, but I love it!

It's a good day to stay inside, snuggle up on the couch, 

binge on Netflix, and drink hot cocoa all day long.

Now that my kids are older, I set up this little hot cocoa/coffee bar so that they can enjoy a cup of comfort any time of day...and now that they're older, I'm not in fear of one of them stealing the butter cookie tin and eating the whole thing behind the couch...

  I'm lookin' at YOU, John Paul Creamer!

Everything you see here came from, you guessed it, 

DOLLAR TREE.

Included in our hot cocoa bar:

Large silver serving tray

Snowman cup with peppermint sticks

Danish butter cookies

Jar of mini marshmallows

Jar of Andes Chocolate   Mints

Pepperidge Farms Pirouette

Nonni's Biscotti

A shaker of cinnamon

Torani Sugar Free Hazelnut syrup 

(NOT from Dollar Tree, but I can't drink my coffee without it!)

And because you know how much I LOVE me some Dollar Tree,

I couldn't help but decorate my kitchen window sill that sits right next to the hot cocoa bar:

Y'all, those cinnamon scented pinecones, my fave!

Now you’re ready to enjoy hot cocoa at any minute of the day or night with ease. Your guests will also love your set up 

and you’ll help them to feel right at home.
Plus, I don't think there is anything a little
chocolate can't fix.
Am I right?

Fire Cider ~ The Cure to What Ails You

Fire cider is a traditional folk medicine remedy to be used during the cold and flu season.  One look at the ingredients list and you'll know this apple cider based concoction is infused with all the most potent anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory compounds around!

We take it at the first sign of sickness or exposure to illness.  

It will definitely stop it in it's tracks, or at the very least, shorten the severity and duration of a cold or flu.  

It also acts as a wonderful stomach tonic for those nasty GI bugs!

This is serious stuff though, you cannot drink it straight. 

It's called FIRE CIDER for a reason! 

We usually take 1 TBS. twice daily (for adults) 

or 1 tsp. (for children) 

in V-8 Juice or sweetened apple juice.  

Up to 3-4 times daily if illness sets in.

How to make FIRE CIDER:

In a glass jar (I use a one gallon size), combine:

1 large cut or grated horseradish root

2 heads of garlic

5 habanero or jalapeno peppers

1 large white onion

1 large ginger root

6-8 pieces turmeric root

2 lemons

several sprigs of rosemary

1/2 cup raw honey 

Cover the chopped ingredients with a raw and unpasteurized apple cider vinegar.  Cover jar opening with cheesecloth or parchment paper secured with a rubber band.  Set on counter or other cool, dry place for a minimum of two weeks or up to a month. 
 Stir the cider a couple of times a week.
When done, strain out the solid ingredients, be sure to squeeze all the liquid out of the pulp, and store the remaining liquid in the fridge.

Take as needed for:

Cold and Flu

Chest congestion

Sinus congestion

Cough

Digestive Aid

Or use daily as an immune boosting tonic.

Wishing you health and wellness this holiday season!

Holiday Decor on the CHEAP!

If I've said it once, I've said it thirteen times, 

Dollar Tree IS WHERE IT'S AT!

  When you live in a small town where Walmart is your only big shopping option, you tend to look for variety where you can find it.  And Dollar Tree has really stepped up their game.

I have been wanting to do a Pottery Barn knock off of their white Christmas village for some time.  Just one problem, I couldn't get ANY of the Dollar Tree village houses anywhere!  

Every store I called within a 50 mile radius was sold out.  

After lamenting about my dilemma to my family (first world problems, right?), my oldest son found a line of small Christmas village houses at Walmart for under two bucks each!

**Que angels singing**

To get that Pottery Barn knock off look, spray paint the houses with chalk paint or a matte white.  It takes a good three coats to cover all the color.  When dry, you can use ModPodge and a little fine glitter to make "snow" on the houses.  
I left mine flat white.

I'm all about the instant gratification.

Now mind you, I ONLY had plans this day to paint my village.

I ended up decorating my whole dining room instead.

This entire table scape was made with Dollar Tree merch!

(Well, everything except the garland and lights,
which we already had.)

Maybe one day I'll save up a boat load of Benjamins to actually go to Pottery Barn and decorate my house for the holidays, 

but for now I have to make sure my family has food and electricity to enjoy.

So for now, I’m living life on the wild side and decorating on the cheap. It’s cool, and fun, and if you’re in the same boat with me, 

you know what I mean.

#noshameinmygame