Thanksgiving Tree

A thanksgiving tree. Such a great and simple idea. I love how it makes you slow down and think over your day and life and focus on your blessings. This time of year tends to get crazy and hectic so it’s nice to sit down as a family and take a minute to give thanks. Trees of all sorts come across Pinterest but it a post by Kari at Growing in His Glory on the tree they’ve made in years past back in the middle of October that convinced me to do our own this year with my (will be 3 in 3 months) daughter. MamaGab also talked about her Thankful Tree and gives more ideas here.

Thanksgiving Tree with a toddler @ fromthiskitchentable.com

I wanted to keep it simple and spend very little money so I found a glass vase from the top of the refrigerator in the garage, a couple of handfuls of rocks from our (non) landscaping, a friend gave me sticks from her yard, and I found a couple pieces of scrapbook paper in the closet. If I find fall ribbon on clearance I might add it to the vase.

We cut leaves into a couple of different shapes (here’s another option where Kari shows circles being used – makes it even easier) and store them on the top of the vase and use thread and a needle to make a loop to hang on the branch.

Thanksgiving Tree ideas at fromthiskitchentable.com

 

Every night we try to take a few moments to write on a leaf. Our daughter picks out the leaf and we all write on the same one. It’s entertaining to see what an almost 3 year old comes up with. I try not to prompt her except to say, “you already said that one, what’s something else you are thankful for?”

Thanksgiving Tree Ideas with a toddler at fromthiskitchentable.comI’m one of the most un-creative and  un-crafty people out there, but I decided to go for it and am so glad I did. If I can pull it off, so can you! Even better is that this tree will get used again during Advent.

Have you done a Thanksgiving Tree?

Thanksgiving Tree with a toddler @ fromthiskitchentable.com

 

Menu Plan and Goals

Is it the weekend yet? I’m ready for a nap and it’s only Monday. Thankfully next weekend shouldn’t be as crazy. We had a fundraising banquet for the crisis pregnancy center Thursday and friends over for a movie Friday. Veteran’s Day parade, my husband working all afternoon, dinner with friends, and a concert featuring a comedic pianist (hysterical) filled up Saturday. We paid the price Sunday with our daughter being up (very) late 3 nights in a row. We might have had a few meltdowns. Thankfully she crashed early.

Sunday afternoon I hosted a Warm Up Your Walls House Party. Coupons, giveaways, foods, and friends makes for a pretty perfect afternoon. They provided goody bags, props, and supplies for demonstrating how to display Christmas cards. The baby missed his morning nap because of church and took a 3 1/2 hour nap during the party while Daddy and daughter went on a trip to the library.

Menu Plan, goals, and weekly recap (including Warm Up Your Walls House Party) at Fromthiskitch

The purpose of the party was to spotlight HP retail photo services at Wal-Mart. They provided coupons for us to get a canvas and a couple of mounted photos printed. We have a few more hangings we need to add, but our bare wall is looking a little better!

Menu Plan, goals, and weekly recap (including Warm Up Your Walls House Party) at Fromthiskitch

Now, on to business. Our menu.

Breakfasts:

  • Yogurt and granola
  • Pancakes
  • Smoothies

Lunches:

Suppers:

  • Dinner with friends (they are providing pizza)
  • Oven Fried Chicken (x2)
  • Salad x 3
  • Ladies’ Bible Study

Snacks:

  • Fruit
  • Eh, I’m feeling uninspired here this week. Fruit might be all there is. I guess carrots might always be an option as well.

Goals:

  • Running. Being busy and the time change has hindered my running. I’m thinking I might have to start going to bed early and forcing myself to get up and get her done in the morning. My goal is 2-3 times this week.
  • Reading. Once again I didn’t do so great. I did start Sally Clarkson’s new e-book 10 Gifts of Wisdom (Amazon affiliate link). Hopefully this week can finish reading about the last 6 gifts of wisdom and at least a few chapters of something else.
  • Keep up with the Thanksgiving Tree. It is on our table and we’ve added a leaf most every night. I’ll be talking more about it this week.
  • Budget Meeting. Yep, that didn’t happen last week either. . . So it has to this week.
  • Open a savings account for the little guy. Yeah, this one has been on the unwritten list for a while now. Grandma will be happy if it gets done, there might just be a check from her that has been waiting to be deposited for almost 6 months now.

What does your week look like? Do you have any yummy meals or snacks planned for the week?

Linking up to Menu Plan Monday

 

 

Easy One Ingredient Crock Pot Applesauce

Easy (one ingredient) Crock Pot Applesauce! Great for the freezer.

I love apple season. Biting into a crisp flavorful apple, baking yummy desserts, freezing them for later. It’s also a great time to go to the orchard and pick vast quantities or order several 20 pound boxes for a great price.

Then you have to decide what to do with them.

I recently bought 60 pounds of apples. A decent amount for the 3 people in our family who eat. Crock Pot Applesauce is the perfect thing to do with the apple that don’t look so great. Maybe those at the bottom of the box that are all bruised and getting soft or the ones with lots of worm holes.

Make a ton of it and freeze or can it. I don’t have a canner (or know how to can) so I use the freezer method.

Get out your Crock Pot. I used my 6 quart one. Peel, quarter, and core enough apples to fill the Crock Pot to the brim. (My lid barely fit.) This is the time consuming part. Maybe put a movie in while you work (or if you have kids old enough, have them help). Rinse in a colander and then cook on low 4-5 hours, stirring 3-4 time. When the apple are extremely soft and fall apart when you are cooking them, it’s done! Grab a potato masher and smash away.

To freeze, let the applesauce cool. I found it easiest to freeze in individual sized servings. Pull out your muffin tin, fill and place in the freezer. When frozen remove from the freezer several minutes and carefully remove the frozen applesauce by sliding a knife between the tin and sauce (if it doesn’t come right out, let sit a few minutes longer). If you have silicone muffin cups or pans this would be a perfect way to use them. The frozen applesauce would pop out no problem! (Affiliate link) Place in a gallon size freezer bag and return to the freezer.

That’s it. Talk about easy. Perfect for eating or baking!

Easy (one ingredient) Crock Pot Applesauce. Super easy! We love it.

5.0 from 1 reviews
Easy One Ingredient Crock Pot Applesauce
 
Ingredients
  • Apples
  • Crock Pot
Instructions
  1. Peel, quarter and core the apples.
  2. Place in a colander and rinse.
  3. Fill Crock Pot to the brim with apples.
  4. Cook on low for 4-5 hours. Stir 3-4 times.
  5. It's done when the apples are totally soft and completely fall apart when you stir.
  6. Mash with a potato masher.
  7. Cool.
  8. Scoop into muffin tins and freeze. Once frozen let muffin tin sit on counter several minutes. Use a knife and carefully remove the applesauce and place in a resealable gallon bag.
  9. Keep in freezer.

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How to Clean Grout

How to clean grout

How to clean grout without chemicals! Are you on the edge of your seat yet? 😉

Ever have one of those projects you never tackle? Yeah, I have a lot of those around my house. More than I care to admit.

One weekend my husband was gone, the baby was napping, and I felt that I should tackle one of those jobs. So I put my daughter in front of the TV with some Little Bear on and headed to the bathroom to try a grout cleaning method I read on Tammy’s Recipes.

How to Clean Grout

Supplies Needed:

How to clean Grout

We’ve lived in our house for 3 1/2 years. Not once have I scrubbed the grout on our bathroom floor. An older gentleman owned the house before us and, judging from how the house looked when we moved in, I doubt he did either. The floor was looking just slightly grody. (Yes, I might be under exaggerating a little.)

Step 1: Sprinkle baking soda in the grout on a section of floor.

Step 2: Pour hydrogen peroxide over it.

Step 3: While you let the peroxide and baking soda soak repeat steps 1 and 2 on the next section of tile.

Step 4: The hard part. Scrub the first section with the toothbrush like crazy. Use the rag and hot water to scrub and rinse some more. (You’ll have to rinse well to be sure you get all the baking soda off.)

Step 5: Repeat until the floor is finished.

Warning: Your legs and clothes will turn white from the baking soda.

It was a couple of hours of hard work but my goodness what an improvement. I probably should do it a little more often then every three plus years.

before and after

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