Simplicity Gourmet brings you “The Newlywed Nest” with Becky G.
Is anyone else out there obsessed with watching the Food Network and the places they visit? When my husband and I first moved to Tennessee from Michigan last fall, we were pretty clueless about where to go to get a good meal.
We happened to see a show on the Food Network about “The Loveless Café,” which is located in Nashville. So, we drove out there and checked it out – WoW! They had the best biscuits we have ever eaten. That started us thinking – what other gems could we find by watching all of these shows?
Let me just tell you, we are now in the middle of a full blown obsession!
We travel a lot for work, and there is not a city we haven’t been to where we do not go to a restaurant we saw on TV. Here are a few of the ones we have been to so far:
Atlanta, GA: We visited a burger joint called “The Vortex,” where they serve up some crazy hamburger concoctions.
Louisville, KY: We went to “Lynn’s Paradise Café,” as seen on Throw down with Bobby Flay. I
St. Louis, MO: We went to “Pappy’s,” which was on Man vs. Food, and wins the award for the best barbeque we have ever had, EVER!
Memphis, TN: We had some mouth watering ribs at ‘Rendevous,’ which has been on numerous shows.
Kansas City, MO: Gates BBQ served up some “Burnt Bnds On Buns” Gates as seen on The Best Meal I’ve Ever Had.
Las Vegas, NV: Last year , we went to a really cool little diner, “The Peppermill,” which was on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain, and we already have 2 more places lined up when we go back to Vegas next week! (Who doesn’t want to go to a place called “The Roadkill Café” – I mean, really?!?!?).
Do we need help? Does anyone else out there do this? If nothing else, it’s so much fun. We love spending time together and visiting new cities, we always get really riled up with anticipation about eating that famous meal we saw on TV! And, well, if we gain a couple pounds here and there, it’s worth it. Maybe our next big obsession will be traveling to as many different gyms as we can…
So…I just love to entertain and play hostess. I love to feed people food that makes them feel all ushy-gushy inside and make them justify juuust…oooone…moooore…bite! It’s been the summer of marital bliss for me this summer…two weddings, two floral designs, one song duty, and two bridesmaid duties…still have one more to go, but I’m only singing in that one – whew – sigh of relief!
Two bridesmaid duties means two bridal showers and two lingerie showers have been executed – Katie’s Kitchen has been a cooking up a storm, ya’ll! I’ve gotten to try my hand at several new Hors d’œuvres to wow the masses and have them leaving with full bellies and feelings of wedding bell bliss.
I kept my ears peeled for the crowd pleasers and the winners are: Darn Good Chicken Salad Cups, Chicken Salsa, Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip, and stuffed Cherry Tomatoes. So, next time you have a little gathering, try out these party favs – they are sure to be a BIG hit!
Happy Cooking!
Miss K
DARN GOOD CHICKEN SALAD:
UTENSILS: Small Skillet, Kitchen Shears or Knife, Medium Mixing Bowl, Small Melon Baller
INGREDIENTS: 3 Chicken Breasts, Darn Good Seasoning, 1 Cup Chopped Pink Lady or Gala Apples, 1 Cup quartered Red Grapes, 1 Cup Chopped Mixed Nuts (cashews, almonds, walnuts, & pecans), ¼ Cup Diced Scallions, 1 – ½ Cups Reduced Fat, Olive Oil Mayonnaise, 3-4 Dozen Phyllo Dough Appetizer Cups
INSTRUCTIONS: Heat the skillet on medium heat. Season both sides of the chicken with Darn Good and add to the skillet. Cover, whistle open, and continue to cook on medium heat. When the whistle sounds, uncover and flip. Recover, whistle closed and cook for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. Using the kitchen shears or a 8” Chef Knife, cut the chicken into tiny pieces and allow to cool. When the chicken is cooled, add all other ingredients, mixing well. Continue to season with Darn Good to taste. Using the melon baller, spoon a bit of chicken salad into each cup. NOTE: do this just before serving, the cup will get soggy if done too far ahead of time.
CHICKEN SALSA:
UTENSILS: Small Skillet, Kitchen Shears & 8” Chef Knife, Medium Mixing Bowl, Cutting Board
INGREDIENTS: 3 Chicken Breasts, Darn Good, 1 TBSP Roasted Minced Garlic, 4 Basil Leaves (chopped), 1 Cup Minced Baby Spinach Leaves, 1/3 Cup Minced Fresh Cilantro, Zest & Juice from ½ lemon and ½ lime, 1 – 1 ½ Cups Salsa (any kind), ½ Cup Diced Tomatoes, ½ Cup Chopped Scallions, 1 Cup Chopped Cucumbers, 1 – ½ Cups Plain Non-Fat Yogurt, 1 Pkg Ranch Dressing Mix, Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
Heat the skillet on medium heat. Season both sides of the chicken with Darn Good and add to the skillet. Cover, whistle open, and continue to cook on medium heat. When the whistle sounds, uncover and flip. Recover, whistle closed and cook for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. Using the kitchen shears or a 8” Chef Knife, cut the chicken into tiny pieces and allow to cool. Meanwhile, chop all the veggies and add to the mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the yogurt and ranch dressing mix, set aside. When the chicken is cooled, add it to the veggie mix and blend well. Add the ranch dressing and the salsa and mix well. This is best when you make it the day before so the flavors can meld together overnight. Serve with Blue Corn Tortilla chips.
HOT SPINACH AND ARTICHOKE DIP:
7 or 8 Large Fresh basil Leaves (chopped), 1 Large Bag Fresh Baby Spinach (chopped), 6 Garlic Cloves (minced), ½ Cup minced Sweet Vidalia Onion, 1/2 cup Mayonnaise, 1 Large Can (14 oz) Artichoke Hearts, 2 Cups Shredded Parmesan & Romano Cheeses, 1 Pkg Cream Cheese (softened), Salt & Pepper to Taste, 2 Cups Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese,
Diced tomatoes, basil, and parmesan for garnish, Serve with Tortilla chips or toasted bread
In the large skillet, saute the onion on medium heat until tender. Add the garlic, basil, and spinach and 4 TBSP water. Cover and cook until the whistle sounds. Meanwhile, in a mixing bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients except for pepper jack cheese. When the whistle sounds on spinach, squeeze out excess water and add the spinach mix to the bowl and combine well, allowing the skillet to cool. When cooled, spray the skillet with non stick spray and add the spinach mixture back to the skillet. Cover the top with shredded Pepper Jack and cover, whistle open. Cook on medium heat. When the whistle sounds, close and turn to low. Cook for 5 minutes on low and then turn the burner off. Allow to stand covered for 10-15 minutes to firm up. Garnish with diced tomatoes, chopped basil, and parmesan cheese. Serve with tortilla chips or toasted bread
STUFFED CHERRY TOMATOES
1 Lb Thick Slab Bacon, 1 – ½ Cups Reduced Calorie Olive Oil Mayonnaise, ½ Cup Chopped Scallions, 1 – ½ cups Shredded Parmesan and Romano Cheese Blend, 1 ½ -2 lbs Cherry Tomatoes, Fresh Cracked Black Pepper and Sea Salt, Chopped Parsley for Garnish
Cook all of the bacon until crispy; chop fine and add to a mixing bowl. Combine the mayonnaise, scallions, and cheese with the bacon until well blended. Season to taste with fresh cracked sea salt. Core the Cherry tomatoes and add a dollop of the filling to each. Sprinkle with Fresh Cracked Pepper and garnish with chopped parsley.
It’s that time of year where “Love” is in there air. Isn’t it a shame that we go all out and go overboard to express our love on Valentine’s Day, why not be spontaneous and try a random day in April or August? Simple…because we live by “Holiday Etiquette.” Holiday Etiquette is where we celebrate the holiday as marked on the calendar but we ladies also know we can and will make our own special holidays, which I totally suggest you try!
I have come up with my Top 5 Favorite Valentine’s Day Dates. This can be for those ladies on a budget or those who are not. Feel free to try them on any random day to make your own “Special Holiday” too.
1. Movie Night In (this is one of my favorites!): Rent a movie, go pick up favorite fast food, ice cream is optional J, move the coffee table and spread a nice big blanket on the floor with pillows and just maybe an extra blanket for extra curricular activities (wink, wink). I think this is my favorite because it’s like you’re having a sleep over with your best friend and now it is your fiancé or husband…what more can a gal ask for?!
2. Groups Allowed: Get a group of couples together and have a fondue party with game night. This is a wonderful way to have fun on Valentine’s Day but you can still leave the “Special” in the night….just later on after everyone leaves.
3. Ladies’ Choice: This is your chance to pick what a Valentine’s Day Date should be; either a romantic dinner, dinner and a movie, flower petal trail to room, it’s your choice, so make it count!
4. Scavenger Hunt: Come up with creative clues to put in his car, at his work, through a text message…anything to get him to the “Treasure” which will be the date for Valentine’s Day. This can be as elaborate or simple as you want according your taste. Don’t forget to be detailed, you do want your date to arrive ;o).
5. Re-enactment: Depending on how long you have been together, you could re-enact your first date. I love this, I had this done for me and it is by far the one date I truly love and remember.
There you go, ladies, hopefully this will help you out this Valentine’s Day. Remember, try making your own “Special Holiday” and keep Love in the air, we need more of it!
I’m what you call a “quality timer” – I love to be at home, talking and laughing and sharing – it’s those intimate moments that I crave so much to build up a strong foundation in all the relationships in my life. Valentine’s Day is upon us and I feel it’s my duty to help you create just that for your sweetie – a quiet, intimate moment in time for the two of you to just enjoy each other. So, this week, I thought I’d help you out with a Simplicity Gourmet Valentine’s Day dinner – just the thing to remind you what a great investment you truly have made for your family and for your life!
I love “one pot stop” dishes that I throw everything in the pan and turn it on and let it go! No thinking, no watching, no nothing…except good eatin! Last week, we explored the benefits of stack cooking, so, this week, I’d like to revisit this cooking method and dazzle you some more with an Italian Roasted Chicken & Veggies and Chocolate Surprise cake.
I hope this Valentines’ Day is extraordinarily special for you. Check back with us this week for a couple of those added particular touches to add to the day to make your beloved feel extra special!
Happy Cooking!
Miss K
UTENSILS: 6 qt or 8 qt Dutch Oven, Rack, Small Mixing Bowl, Large Mixing Bowl, 2 qt casserole/double boiler
INGREDIENTS:
3-5 lb Whole Chicken, 1 Bottle Fat Free Italian Dressing, Garlic Powder, Italian Seasonings, 2 Sprigs of Rosemary, 4 or 5 Fresh basil leaves (coarsely chopped), 1 Small Bag of Baby Carrots, 2 Cans of Diced Tomatoes with Italian Seasoning, 8-10 Red Potatoes (quartered), 4-5 Celery Stalks (Diced), ¼ Vidalia Onion (thinly sliced), 1 Small Container Fresh Sliced Mushrooms (optional), 1 Cups of Chicken Broth, 2 TBSP Chicken Bouillon Granules, Freshly Ground Black Pepper, ½ Box Chocolate Cake Mix, ½ Carrot (shredded), ¼ Small Zucchini (shredded), 1 Egg, 2 TBSP water, 1 Can Cherry Pie Filling, Cooking Spray
DAY AHEAD: Separate the chicken skin from the meat by running your hand in between. Squeeze the bottle of Italian dressing under the skin and store in the refrigerator overnight to marinate.
TO MAKE: Remove the rosemary sprigs from the stem and discard the stem. Dissolve the chicken bouillon in the chicken broth and set aside. Combine the chocolate cake mix, 1 egg, 2 TBSP of water, shredded carrots and zucchini in the small mixing bowl. Set Aside. Combine the carrots, onion, tomatoes, potatoes, celery, mushrooms (optional), chopped basil, and rosemary sprigs in the large mixing bowl. Add the chicken broth when the bouillon is fully dissolved. Set aside. Season with garlic powder, Italian Seasonings, and fresh pepper to taste. Season the outside of the chicken generously with garlic powder & Italian seasoning. Place the chicken in a cold Dutch Oven, breast side down. Season the other side generously with garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Add the vegetables all around. Spray the double boiler with non stick spray and add the can of cherry pie filling. Add the cake batter on top of that. Place the rack over the chicken and the cake on top. Cover with the dome cover and turn to medium heat. When water starts to bubble around the edges, reduce the temp to between low and medium low. Cook for about 1 & ½ to 2 hours.
I love to entertain and decorate for any occasion or holiday! Well, really, I don’t need a reason to decorate…I just love to do it. It is my therapy…my stress relief!Tablescapes are a great way to add a whole new look and style to any table; they beautify and enhance the room they are set in. They can be simple and homey or sophisticated and elegant. Your design style and personal preferences will determine the look and feel of your tablescape creation.
The inspiration to create a tablescape can come from a variety of spots: magazines, napkins or tablecloths, stores, pictures, a favorite memory, floral design stores, home décor stores or even as simple as a favorite candle holder or place mat.Look around your home for items of inspiration that you want to give center stage to. Try to incorporate some items you already have on hand. I am a big repurposer. I take accent elements from around the house and repurpose them to another shelve, counter, room or tablescape.
A tablescape is a collection of items put together on a table to create a cohesive design statement beyond the tradition centerpiece. Tablescapes may or may not include dishes. Often these are used in place of a center piece on a buffet table. You may create your center design for a buffet and after the event, just leave it up for a special meal where you would use your dishes.
Before you can begin your design, you have a few key design elements to consider; these design elements will greatly influence your end results: color, size of items, height of items, shape, texture and quantity of items on hand. Including a wide range of design elements will ensure a uniquely gorgeous tablescape that you can stand back and admire!
The #1 consideration, and the place to begin, is color. Decide what color or color combinations you would like to use and begin to look for those colors in items you already have around your house. Think about your color scheme, there are many to choose from. For example, you could choose to go monochromatic, meaning one color. With this tablescape, it is important to include a variety of varying textures and shapes. Be sure to include an accent color for the pop factor and visual appeal with the monochromatic color scheme. You can go to www.worqx.com/color/color_wheel.htm and learn more about color combinations if you are not comfortable matching colors.
Another one of my favorite things to do during the holidays is create theme Christmas trees. You follow the same design considerations as for tablescapes. With theme trees, another design element that adds a lot of flair and interest is feathers and ribbons. Start by deciding if you want a green tree, flocked tree, or the new tinsel trees. Again you need to consider a variety of texture elements. Add your lights and you are off to designing a theme tree. Enjoy and have fun this holiday season!!
I love, love, love all forms of Chex Mix…plus it’s super easy and quick to make! It’s a holiday staple to have a heaping bowl of it out for your family and guests to much on at all times. I hope you enjoy both versions I have here for you – I’m giving you my sweet & sinful version and my salty & savory Darn Good version!
Simplicity Gourmet’s “White Trash” Chex Mix
UTENSILS: 2 qt w/ 2 qt Double Boiler, 1 Large Mixing Bowl, 1 Trash Bag
INGREDIENTS:
CHEX MIX:1 Regular Box Honey Graham Cereal, ½ Box Rice Chex, ½ Box Corn Chex, 4 Cups Cherrios, ½ Bag of Pretzel Stix or Mini Pretzels, 1 ½ Cups of Christmas M & M’s, 2 Cups of Peanuts, 2 Cups of Pecans, 1 cup Golden Raisins (optional)
SAUCE:1 ½ sticks butter, 14 oz milk chocolate chips (1 & ¾ cup), 14 oz white chocolate chips (1 & ¾ cup), 14 oz peanut butter (1 & ¾ cup), 2 tsp. vanilla, 1 Large Bag of Confectioner’s Sugar
INSTRUCTIONS:
Place 2″ of water in the 2 qt and pop the double boiler insert into the pan. Add the butter, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and vanilla to the double boiler. Cover, whistle open and cook on medium heat. When the whistle sounds (will take longer than normal in the double boiler), uncover, and stir. Reduce the temperature to Medium Low and recover, whistle closed. Cook for 5-7 minutes and stir again. Keep uncovered and stir until all ingredients are melted together. Remove the double boiler from the 2 qt and set aside to cool for 7-10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in the large mixing bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients until well blended. When the sauce has cooled, stir, and pour over the top of the chex mix and mix well. Add the ingredients to the trash bag and pour in the bag of confectioner’s sugar. Shake the bag up until all the contents are well seasoned with confectioner’s sugar.
Serve and enjoy!
Simplicity Gourmet’s Darn Good Chex Mix
UTENSILS: Large Mixing Bowl, Large Cookie Sheet
INGREDIENTS: 1 Small Box Rice Chex, 1 Small Box Corn Chex, 1 Small Box Wheat Chex, 1 Bag of Pretzel Rods or Mini Pretzels, 1 Box of Regular Cheez Its, ½ Box of Cheddar Jack Cheez Its, ½ Box of White Cheddar Cheez Its, 2 Cups Sesame Stixs, 4 Cups of Mixed Nuts, ½ cup of Olive Oil, ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce, 6-8 tsp Darn Good Seasoning (Available exclusively through Simplicity Gourmet – on sale for 2 for $5 plus tax and shipping – call me at 866-897-7676 to order!)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Mix all ingredients until well blended. Bake in batches at 350, stirring occasionally, until toasted through (about 15-20 minutes). Store in a jumbo air tight container to keep it fresh.
Well, ladies, as I was rushing around running Christmas errands…shopping, getting things decorated, getting things together for my family, etc…I found myself just going through the motions of Christmas. Not until I had a moment to sit down in front of my window in my living room and look outside did I realize that Christmas is and should be so much more than hustle and bustle.
I know it sounds like a cliché but I found myself like Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch trying to find out what Christmas Spirit is/was. I have felt it before but over time, it sometimes goes away. I thought about giving and being grateful. I thought about life and family. Then, I began to have this warm and delightful feeling come to my heart…my heart was full of gratitude, love, and compassion.
I am most fortunate for my family. Not until my Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer did I realize how quickly something could be taken away. Now, she only has two more treatments and she will be done, YEAH! Though the possibility was there that she could be taken from this life, I have found myself through this process. I have found how to be a better person, to treat others with respect, to serve others, to find happiness in life and to more importantly a way to loveto love! I know it sounds crazy but I love to say “Love to Love.”
Don’t wait to realize there is one thing that has No Price, Can’t Be Taken From You, It Can Grow and Grow, and is it’s very nature to affect lives more than anything else: LOVE. So, no matter what your status is in life, take the challenge of love to love. It can and will change your life. This, my dear friends is what Christmas Spirit is, a love to give and share. May this Christmas season bring you much Love and Happiness!
My special Tara’s Touch to help your busy holiday schedule is to share my favorite little goody to give the postman, trash man, teachers, neighbors etc. That is Christmas Trail Mix; it is fast, good, and you will most definitely want to put this into your Christmas Goody Idea File! Enjoy!
May Your Days be Merry & Bright,
CHRISTMAS TRAIL MIX
INGREDIENTS/UTENSILS: 1 Gallon zip lock bag, 1 Large bag of Christmas M&M’s, 1 Large can of mixed nuts (or peanuts, your preference), 1 Large box of raisins
TO MAKE: Put all ingredients in the zip lock bag, seal it and shake it up. Now, this is very important, the key ingredient to making it with love, I like to sing the song: Shake, shake, shake senora, shake it all the time, shake, shake, shake senora, shake it all the time! I encourage you to sing – it’s good for the soul! Hehe!
TO DECORATE: Just put into a cute baggie & tie with a ribbon and put a gift tag! Ta-Dah!
I know we all love the quick and easy holiday favorites, but sometimes, Christmas just calls for a little extra effort to add those special touches that build traditions and memories for generations to come. Every year, my grandma gets Santa Claus cookies from an old-time favorite local baker. Each one is individually wrapped and is the treasure of our stocking stuffers. When we all see those cookies, our mouths start to water, and we just can’t wait to taste the sweet, buttery cookie that we all covet so very much – they really are the very best cookies ever!
This year, my grandma has moved in with my Aunt and Uncle and as it’s very far from our precious cookie baker, I’ve become disheartened at the thought of the absence of those cookies on Christmas morning! As this precious holiday wiggles its way closer down the calendar, I’ve begun to test and try my hand at those cookies and I think I’ve finally got it down! They’ve been such a special part of our family’s Christmas stocking stuffer tradition that I just can’t bear the thought of never tasting a Santa Cookie again and now I won’t have to!
I hope you take the time to make your family these special little treats this Christmas, and, who knows, you’ll probably start a Santa Cookie tradition of your own!
SANTA SUGAR COOKIES
UTENSILS: 2 Large Mixing Bowls, Electric Mixer, Rolling Pin, Plastic Wrap, Butter knife, 2 Large Cookie Sheets, Icing Decoration Kit (bag and tips)
INGREDIENTS:
COOKIES:1 ½ Cups Butter, 2 Cups White Sugar, 4 Eggs, 2 tsp All-Purpose Flour, 2 tsp Baking Powder, 1 tsp Salt
2/2/2/ ICING: (double for this recipe) 4 Cups Butter, Softened, 4 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar, 4 tsp Vanilla
DECORATION: Red food dye or Red Sugar Crystals, Mini Chocolate Chips, Red Hots, 1 Icing Bag, Scalloped Pipe Tip, Small Straight Writing Tip, and Mini-Marshmallows (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS:
**MAKE THE DAY BEFORE** ~COOKIE DOUGH: In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill the dough for at least one hour (or overnight). ICING: Cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla. Cover and allow to set up in the fridge over night.
TO BAKE:
Preheat the oven to 400. Roll out the dough on a floured surface ¼ to ½ inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. (we will use a Santa-Head shaped cookie cutter for this project – but you could use any shape for any occasion)
Place the cookies 1 inch apart on a buttered cookie sheet.
Bake 5-7 minutes and cool completely before icing.
TO DECORATE:
Remove about 1 ½ cups of icing into a small mixing bowl; sprinkle the red food coloring in it and mix until it is crimson red. Use this icing for the hat. Using a butter knife, gently fill in the hat section of the cookie. Repeat on all cookies. (you could also use red sugar crystals to color the hat instead of dying the icing)
Fill an icing bag with the reserved white icing and use a scalloped tip. Pipe on the hat trim and the ball at the end of the hat. (you can get creative here and use a mini marshmallow for the ball of the hat)
Pipe on the beard, leaving a little space for the mouth section. Repeat this on all cookies.
Change the tip to a straight dot tip. Make two small dots for eyes; place one mini chocolate chip on each dot to adhere it to the cookie.
Make one small dot of icing for the nose; place a red hot on that dot to make the nose.
In the moth section, make a small dot of icing for the mouth. Cut a red hot in half and adhere it to the dot to make the mouth. Repeat on all cookies.
Check back all next week for our Simplicity Gourmet’s Quick and Easy Homemade Holiday Treats!
Family, friends, football, turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, rolls and pumpkin pie are the beginnings of a great Thanksgiving. Can’t you smell the wonderful aromas? This holiday season, take some time to enjoy your family and guests. Create new memories that you and your guests can reflect back on. Don’t spend the entire day in your kitchen only to have that fantastic meal devoured in 20 minutes, leaving you with a gray blur of the day and how exhausted you are. Take time to reflect on the abundance in your life.Take time to enjoy your guests and get out of the kitchen. Here are a few fun suggestions:
Turn off the football and break out the home movies, have extended family and friends bring their’s and enjoy laughing and sharing.
Set out board game and make sure to include some of the old favorites: Monopoly, Clue, Yahtzee, Scrabble and Dominoes.
Have guests bring shoes or coats and donate them to such projects as “Souls for Souls” or “Charity Coats” for kids.
Ask guests to bring a few canned or boxed goods and donate them to your local food bank.
Have someone tell the Thanksgiving story or why we pull the wish bone or other harvest traditions from around the world. Make it fun and ask questions and those that answer right might be the ones to pull apart the wishbone or they are exempt from clearing the table or doing dishes or any other fun reward you can think of. This one could become the all time family favorite that creates memories for a long time to come!
Set out markers and colorful fall leaves you have cut from construction paper. Ask your guests to write what they are thankful for and then share them at the thanksgiving feast. A twist on this might be to have everyone write why they are thankful for their family. You then can take these colorful leaves and string them together to begin making a “gratitude garland.” You can add leaves to it each year and your garland will become a treasured part of your fall decorations.
How exciting it is for me to be given the privilege of writing to you each month – to give you all the special little touches that will strengthen your home and family – I am just sooo excited! Twice a month, I will be your stop for news on being a wife, mommy, and homemaker and you can pick up the insights, advice, and home and craft ideas that will make your family and home set apart.
Being that this is our first edition, I would like to give you a little information about my crazy but amazing family and life. I have been married for 11 years to the love of my life; I have two adorable children who are truly the greatest gifts in my life. I grew up a military brat, relocating about every two years all along the gulf coast until we finally moved to Tennessee when I was sixteen.
When my husband and I met, I was sixteen and he was my brother’s best friend. We became friends and would occasionally hang out but it was that, “Oh, that’s my brother’s best friend, kinda can’t like him,” thing. We did not date until I was nineteen, at which point we were both nervous but excited to cross the line of friends into dating. It was through great thought and prayer before we made this decision. Needless to say, I have never looked back and have truly relished walking out my life with my husband, my best friend, these past 11 years.
We wanted time to share together and develop our relationship before having children, so we waited 5 years before having our little ones. All in all, I can’t be more thankful for my family, the life lessons I have learned, the trials and tribulations I have experienced, and the countless blessings I have received. Through this newsletter, I hope to be able to help you build a home of insight, laughter, thoughtfulness, creativity, and, most importantly, special memories that will last you a lifetime. For more of Tara’s Touch, please visit the rest of our blog. Well, ladies, until next month, I leave you with a thought and little Thanksgiving craft. Enjoy!
Love, Tara
Tara’s Thoughts:
“The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind…we have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith.” ~ Margaret D. Nadauld
Tara’s Crafts:
Garland of Gratitude:
You will need to get a string of Garland at your local craft store, a sharpie of your color preference, and have fall colored slips of paper (maybe even jazz them and cut them into leaf and pumpkin shapes). Until Thanksgiving, you can decorate your mantel, stairwell, or table with the garland. On Thanksgiving Day, have a place in your home where everyone can write what they are thankful for and sign their name and year on one of the slips of paper; if you have little ones, you will need to help them. Attach these to the garland. You will have a charitable keepsake that you can decorate with for years in your home – memories that will you will never be able to put a price on.
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