If you are in a jam, call me!

My mom came up the other day to help me organize my closets.  Who does that but your mom?  We had some time afterwards, so we decided to make jelly\jam.  I am glad that I am taking advantage of the time I get to spend with her.  This is super easy to do and a great gift idea.

My mom chopped up the berries to make it easier to squish.

I squished up the berries with a spaghetti spoon.  A potato masher is recommended, but we didn't have one.

Mix sugar and fruit pectin, see box picture below.

Add water and bring to a boil.  This is the part I really had to pay attention to.  When it gets boiling, stir for a minute and then take of the heat.

Add berries and mix in sugar\pectin mixture.  I put it in measuring cup that makes it easier to pour.

I add some extra baby food jars laying around from another project I did last year.  Don't fill all the way to the top if you are planning to freeze the jelly.

This is the box I picked up at the grocery store.  The box says no sugar needed, which is true, but we needed sugar for the blackberry\raspberry recipe.

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/273171533618260898/

Mingle with us, 

The Sunshine Project

Thoughtful Thursday Blog Hop

Stocking Stuffer Movie Bags

Since my family Christmas isn't until January, I have had a few extra weeks to work on my stocking stuffers.  If you haven't read up on my family's tradition, you can check it out here and here.  To sum it up, I have to create\buy gifts for everyone for under 5 dollars total.

I printed these off the computer. 

Filled bags with kernels of popcorn.

Taped it to the bag, and I am done.  

If you don't have a popcorn popper that uses kernels, you could always use a bag of popcorn. 

Peplum Crush

I love this fashion trend, and I hope it stay around a while.   It accents the waist and helps create an hourglass figure. 

Source:http://itsonbitch.tumblr.com/post/30086139631

  In the first picture, they pair a peplum top with a pencil skirt.  I love this idea because sometimes, I am so over having to pull my skirt up or down or fix the top that is tucked in.

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/198510296045399031/

I love it as a bottom piece, too!  So many different styles and options for dressy or casual. 


But, of course, my all time fav is when it is already all put together for you! 

Source:http://pinterest.com/pin/71142869084920641/

Source:http://www.shopbop.com/victoria-peplum-dress-alice-olivia/vp/v=1/845524441948114.htm?folderID=2534374302023685&colorId=10958&extid=affprg-4441350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where, oh where, have you gone?

Seriously?!?! One of my beta fish jumped out of its bowl last night and is nowhere to be found.  Seriously!?  I just revived this fish with our hair blow dryer to keep it from certain death in our very cold apartment.  I just changed its water.  All this effort, and it up and leaves me in the middle of the night.  What the heck?  Now I can't find it either.  I am sure I will find it when it starts smelling...Lovely.
 

Wrapping up the week:

I need to get out of my pjs and go to the gym.  I am excited to wear my new pants, though.  I wrote about them here. 
Over the Christmas break, I am planning on running 10 miles a week.  I started off really well on Sunday, but I haven't run since.  So, once I am done with this I will head to the gym.   It is still too cold to run outside.

I took all of my Christmas candy and dropped it off at the eye doctor when I went yesterday.  My children bombarded me with candy, and I knew if I left it in the house, it would be bad news for me and hubs.  So I got rid of all my yummy dark Chocolate.  I ate enough on the ride home from Amarillo.  Go me for finding some way around having actual self control.

We had a really great Christmas with hub's parents.

I finished my last stocking stuffer and will be posting about it soon.

My friend's bachelorette and our annual Panty Exchange is next week, and it has been super fun to text them and call them for small stuff.  It is like we actually live close.  We should do this all the time.

I saw someone a couple weeks ago who I really don't like.  He had an affair and left his wife and daughter, even though the wife offered to try to work it out.  What a toolbag!  He was my brother's best friend, too.  I told my brother about seeing him.  My brother said that he just continues to pray that God will convict him of his sin.  What a novel concept!  All this time I was taking his sin as like a personal injustice to me, and I should be praying that he will be sensitive to the Lord's conviction of his sin.  I have just started praying for him and my other friend like this.  I am so thankful that the Lord used my brother's actions to convict my heart over this sin issue. 


xoxo,

It's Ok Thursday

 

 *It's ok that my poor beta fish almost died in our 48 degree apartment while we were gone.  I revived him with a hair blow dryer, and I think, he is going to make it.









 *It's ok that I didn't go out in the snow at all, except to take this picture.

*It's ok that I didn't use any of my eye doctor allowance this year because I have an appointment scheduled in an hour.  And I will have contacts ordered before the start of the new year.  Plus, I have another opportunity to review a product-glasses.  I will keep you posted.
*Speaking of reviews, I guess it is okay that I am about to write a negative review for the company I got my dress with.  I have tried for weeks to get it resolved.  That wanted honest opinions, right?
*It's ok to be thankful that the drama is with someone else and not you.
*It's ok, really ok that I have $40 of Kohl's cash to spend today!  And that the Kohl's building in Denton is almost done!!!
*It's ok sad when I find a house that I love, but we are still about 4 months out before we can start really looking.

xoxo,
Angela

Shocker: You will never guess who I am still sleeping with!

Anthony finds it disgusting, but I still sleep with a doll I have had since I was two.  She is called Jammie Pies.  She has a safety pin that is stuck inside her.  It used to hold her pacifier.  Both of her hands have had to be recover with new material by my grandma, which adds to its worth.  Sometimes, when I am sitting up in bed, she lays on my shoulder like a little baby.

I thought I would have set her to the side when I got married, but Anthony and I are not really cuddlers when we sleep, and I like to have her in the crook of my arm.

I remember traveling with her when I was younger.

She is also a great weapon.  Because her face is plastic, I would often use her to beat my bothers brothers and sister when they were attacking me.

I know this is a little weird, but it can't be worse than sleeping with a cat or a dog. 

PS Anything we should know about that you are sleeping with????

xoxo,

Stocking Stuffer Idea (Siblings don't read!)

 

Last week I posted about our stocking stuffer tradition.  I thought I would post about one of my ideas before Christmas in case anyone was needing last minute ideas of cheap, creative things to fill your loved ones' stockings.  And hopefully, none of my siblings read this post. 

I am sure all of you have seen those cute labels to put on water bottles.  I have used them for a summer party before, and it adds a touch of decorating without having to spend a lot of money.  In fact, all of the water bottle labels I search for our free printables.  How great is that!
 This year, I found Christmas water bottle labels here.



This is a picture from their website because all water bottles are done and wrapped.  SHABAM!
I wish I could find one without Santa, but all of those cost money.  To me, I can argue that this just looks like a Christmas bear.

I also added an individual drink packet to each bottle.  You can pick any flavor in the drink aisle.







Total Cost:
Water Bottle Ten Pack-$2.50
Drink Packs-$1.50
Printable Labels-Free

xoxo,