Best Neck Heating Pad - Ever!



 

This is the BEST neck heating pad ever.  Try this neck heating pad once and you will never want another one again.  Stitch Thru Time’s neck heating pad is so comfortable the way it fits on your neck and shoulder.  If you turn the neck heating pad upside down it fits your lower back perfectly, and who doesn’t have an ache on your lower back or your sciatic nerve that a heating pad won’t sooth.  As an added bonus it comes with a washable pillowcase so you can keep it clean.

Not only does it make you feel good but you can use it for years if taken care of.  Once you try this wonderful neck heating pad from www.stitchthrutime.com you will be a fan for life.  Just throw it in the microwave and you will be surprised how long it retains the heat. 



A vintage Valentine to my Husband

A Valentine to my Husband.  No one compares nor ever can, so true.



Dog Gone Vintage Valentine Card

Dog Gone it, Valentine Be Mine. Vintage Valentine Card with hearts and a dog wearing a red polka dot bow.  How Cute!



Red Gingham Heart Apron - Retro Style

Valentines Day is not to far away and what better way to celebrate it than in this pretty red gingham heart apron.  It also comes in matching girl aprons. 

A very retro apron that rests comfortably on your shoulders and covers you for fun in the kitchen.  You may find this pretty heart apron at www.stitchthrutime.com



Olive Vintage Valentine Card

Who doesn't remember the Popeye and Olive cartoon and the great love they  had for one another.  Here is an Olive "Be My Valentine Card" that brought back many memories.



Cheese Mashed Potato Pancakes

 

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups chilled leftover mashed potatoes

2/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 Tablespoons chopped scallions, green and white parts

1 egg, lightly beaten

3 Tablespoons plus 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

Vegetable oil, for pan-frying

Sour cream, for serving

 

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, stir together the mashed potatoes, cheese, scallions, egg and 3 tablespoons flour until combined. Using your hands, divide the mixture into 12 portions. Roll each portion into a compact ball then flatten it into a pancake about a 1/2-inch-thick.

Place the remaining 1/2 cup of flour in a shallow dish and carefully dredge each pancake in the flour.

Heat 3 to 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. (Add enough oil to thoroughly coat the bottom of the pan.)

Fry the pancakes, in batches, until they're golden brown and crispy on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes. Add more oil to the pan as needed between batches. (Do not overcrowd the pan and do not flip the pancakes too soon or they won't develop a crisp crust.) Transfer the pancakes to a paper towel-lined plate and immediately sprinkle them with salt.

Serve the potato pancakes topped with sour cream and garnished with additional chopped scallions.

Red Velvet Cookies

A fast and easy cookie for your sweetheart.

 

6 tablespoons butter, melted

1 box Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix

2 eggs

1 tsp. lemon zest (optional)

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp. cornstarch

 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 370-degrees.  Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.  In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and cornstarch.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs, then added cooled melted butter, lemon zest and cake mix.  Mix by hand until combined.

Roll into 1-inch balls.  Roll each ball in the powdered sugar mixture then place on a prepared baking sheet about 2-inches apart.

Bake for 7-9 minutes until set.

 

St Valentines Day

St. Valentines Day



BUFFALO WINGS



1.    Cut off wing tips, can be used for making stock).  Cut wings at the joint, put chicken wing pieces in a plastic bag and set aside..

2.   Create a marinade by stirring together the melted butter, hot pepper sauce, paprika, salt, cayenne pepper and black pepper.  Pour all but 2 tablespoons of the marinade over the chicken pieces in the plastic bag.  Reserve 2 tablespoons of marinade for coating the pieces after they come out of the oven.
Seal the bag and let the chicken marinate at room temperature for half an hour.  When marinating is finished drain marinade and throw away the bag.  3

3.   Place wing pieces on the rack of a broiler pan.  Groil 4 to 5 inches from the heat for about 10 minutes on each side until chicken is tender and no longer pink.   Remove from the oven and baste with reserved marinade (not the marinade that was in contact with the chicken.)

4.   Serve with blue cheese dip and celery sticks.  Combine dip ingredients, sour cream, mayonnaise, blue cheese, vinegar and garlic in a blender or food processor.  Blend or pulse until smooth.  Cover and chill up to a week.

Buffalo Wings Ingredients

Wings

2 lbs chicken wings (about 12 wings)
3 Tbsp butter, melted
4 Tbsp bottled hot pepper sauce (like Crystal or Frank's Original)
1 Tbsp paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Celery sticks (optional)

Blue cheese dip

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar or white vinegar1 clove garlic, minced

I wish to be your Valentine Card

I wish to be your Valentine

Chocolate Valentine Hearts

 

I found these adorable chocolate strawberry hearts that were so easy to make and are adorable.  Just cut your strawberries in half and make your hearts then pour on your chocolate and decorate with white chocolate colored red.



Old Fashioned Valentines

Mailing Valentine Hearts

Pumpkin Pie Fudge

This Recipe came from an old schoolmate.



Original recipe makes 3 dozen squares

1 cup almonds (optional) I didn't use this in mine
3 cups white sugar
1 cup butter
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin ( if you like a more pumpkin flavor use 3/4 cup canned pumpkin)
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and 1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups creamy vanilla chips (I had to look for these they are much better than the regular vanilla chips
1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow crème
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1.Butter a 9x13 inch pan and set aside.
2.Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Arrange almonds on a cookie sheet and place in oven to toast. Stir frequently. Do not burn. Remove from oven and set aside. (This is only if you are going to use the nuts)
3. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, butter, milk, pumpkin, and spice; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Continue boiling over medium heat until mixture reaches 234 degrees F (118 degrees C) on a candy thermometer, about 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in creamy vanilla chips. When chips are melted, add marshmallow cream, nuts, and vanilla. Mix until well blended.
5. Immediately pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread evenly. Cool at room temperature. Cut into squares, and store in the refrigerator in an air-tight container

Vintage Valentine Card

This is a Valentine I would like to give to my sweetheart.

VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS

 

            It seems like Christmas was just here and Valentines’ Day is not too far away.  I see all these fancy Valentine day cards at the store for around five dollars each and I still love the old fashioned Valentines.

 I will be posting old fashioned Valentine cards on my blog, those are the ones that are my favorites.

 

 

VALENTINE HEART CANDY POPS

 

 

Ingredients
24 mini candy canes
12 6" lollipop sticks
1 cup white candy coating, or white chocolate
Sprinkles

 

Lay your mini candy canes out on baking sheet with lollipop connected at the bottom.  Pour candy coating or white chocolate into middle.  Put in refrigerator until set up.  You now have heart pops.

PASSING ON - WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

            Monday will be the third funeral I have been to in nine days.  I was at a funeral about a month ago of another young woman that was in an accident who went way too young in my estimation. 

            The funerals were a celebration of each of their lives; it made me look deeply into my life.  The last funeral I went to was of a woman in her 70’s that was always doing service for others and a very hard worker which she instilled in her children. 

            It made me start to think of a funeral I was at many years ago, our Mothers were very good friends and he was like a cousin to me, .  He died at a young age in his late twenties or early thirties and had a wife and young children.  M Russel Ballard spoke at his funeral and told a story that I think of each time I hear of someone who has died.  The story was of a ship that was leaving the shore and all the people on the shore were cheering them on as they went on their voyage.  At the same time all the commotion was going on, out in the distance you could see a ship sailing in quietly.  It had finished its journey and was now coming home.  He likened this unto our lives, when we leave the spirit world everyone, including ourselves were happy we were going on this new journey to receive a body.  When our time is over if we have lived a good life we can quietly go home and what joy there will be when we are reunited with our loved ones and our heavenly father and mother.  It gives me comfort to know that these people I have known are now home.

Return with Honor.

Garlic and Brown Sugar Chicken

 

I made this chicken last night and used chicken tenders and it had a really nice flavor.  I used extra garlic than the recipe called for and a little more brown sugar.  Watch your oven and remove it when done, I have a convection oven so it didn’t take as long.

 

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 tablespoons brown sugar
3 teaspoons olive oil

Instructions: Preheat oven to 450°F and lightly grease a casserole dish.

1.Brown your chicken breasts, tenders or any other chicken you have on hand.

2.Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar.

3. Place chicken breasts in a prepared baking dish and cover with the garlic and brown sugar mixture.
Add salt and pepper to taste.    Bake uncovered for 15-30 minutes.

How are those New Year resolutions going?

It is day eleven of the New Year and just checking to see how your life is going.  I am walking on the elliptical but haven’t started on the hoola hoop yet.  I have a new one without ribs coming so that should be soon hopefully.

I walked my 15 minutes today.  I was sore yesterday and that tells me it might take a while for me to get myself back where I have the stamina I need so if I need to go somewhere in a hurry I will be able to.

Years ago I went to Wyoming on what they call the Trek.  I could only take 16 pounds of personal items with me, that I how much the original Pioneers were allowed.  It is where the Mormon Pioneers who came across the planes with handcarts were caught by winter storms and many died along the trail.  You may go there and push the handcarts and go along the same trail they walked.  It was a wonderful experience, I just wish I had been in better shape to walk the trail.   

I had been working a desk job and was more out of shape than I am now and it was extremely hard for me to walk.  I told myself I would never get that out of shape again.  I may not be in that great of shape now but my muscles are much stronger.  If you ever have a chance to do this Trek I would recommend it.  It will give you a different perspective on what is really important.

Keep going and remember you will never fail if you don’t try.  In other words if you fall off the wagon get back on and start over the next day.  Don’t look back and beat yourself up, just celebrate what you did today, at least you are doing something.

Working Out Day 2

              

  My legs hurt from my long 15 minute workout yesterday.  I got on my elliptical and was going to do 20 minutes today but after 15 minutes I decided that was enough for right now.  I could feel it pulling on my stomach that needs to be reduced so it must be working on some of the right muscles.  I noticed my heart rate was higher today than yesterday.

  Tomorrow is a new day.

BUTTERMILK VANILLA STRAWBERRY SCONES

 

Big, beautiful crusty scones with cake-like interiors. Buttermilk makes them high-rising and dried strawberries are a nice surprise. Feel free to swap in dried cranberries.

4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
¼ cup finely chopped almonds, optional
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons orange zest, finely minced
3/4 cup unsalted butter, very cold, diced into 1/2 cubes
1 cup ice-cold buttermilk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup dried strawberries, plumped, drained and minced
Preheat the oven to 400 F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Have the oven rack in the middle of the oven position.
In a large food processor, place all the dry ingredients (includes sugar and orange zest) and whiz to blend a minute.
Add the butter and pulse to cut up the butter into the dry mix until you have fine crumbs or a mealy mixture. (You can also so this by hand in a large bowl).
In a small bowl, blend the eggs, vanilla and buttermilk together.
Dump all the dry ingredients into a large bowl and make a well in the center. Add in the liquid stuff and blend with a spoon or by hand to bring mixture together. This is not a wet scone batter – it is stiff one. Fold in the strawberries.
Deposit large rounds of dough (about 1/2 cup) using an ice-cream scoop on the baking sheet.
Bake 22-27 minutes or until scones are well-browned all over.

WORKING OUT - DAY 1

    

    

  Yes, I am out of shape and need to get back into working out on my elliptical.  Today was day one of my let’s get my stamina up and lose some inches day.  No that is not a picture of me on my elliptical, she is way younger, skinnier and in shape.

            I got up early, strapped on my tennis shoes (who knows if they are running or walking shoes, there the only good ones I have right now).  I took the cover off of the elliptical I bought at Costco and started moving. 

            Day one:  around 16 minutes.  My legs burned.  No use killing myself the first day, I’ll save that for another day.

  Tomorrow I will do more.

WHAT NEW YEAR RESOLUTION SHOULD I MAKE THIS YEAR?

 

The New Year is here and it is time to make all the resolutions of how I am going to improve myself and my life.  Well good luck with that!

            My suggestion to you is to be realistic, only bite off what you know you can accomplish.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t strive to improve yourself or your surroundings but don’t make it so you set yourself up to fail.

            If you want to lose some weight then decide how you are going to do it and start with a number that is workable.  I want to lose 50 pounds but I am going to make a resolution to lose 10 pounds to start and after that I can make a new goal.  That way I am not let down when the weight doesn’t just fly off me.

            If you want to clean your house start with a closet, shelf or drawer and then take it from there.  Organize in little bites like eating an elephant and celebrate each goal you achieve (I don’t mean binge eating). 

            If you want to stop smoking take the money you would spend on cigarettes and spend it on yourself.  Don’t spend it on bills or anything other than yourself.  By rewarding you with something, a new blouse, earrings, shirt, tennis shoes or whatever you would not normally buy - you will start to realize the advantage of not smoking and feel good about it.  Continue to spend that money on you until you are sure you are not going to go back to smoking, you deserve it.

Happy New Year!

AFTER CHRISTMAS LET DOWN

 

Christmas is over, you have spent the last few months being excited for the Holidays and now it’s over…  It isn’t unusual for you to feel a little depressed or anxious that Christmas is finished this year.

            It is time for a New Year, be excited about that.  You have so much to look forward to so think about that instead.  Think about what you would like to do the first of the year.  Do you want to rearrange or remodel a room?  Is it time to make that closet over and put in the shoe rack you have always wanted? 

            Find new things that excite you, maybe it is taking that trip to an event or exhibit you have wanting to go to.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, just something to look forward to.

 

 

WHAT SHALL WE GIVE

 

It is finally here, Christmas Eve.  May you have a good Holiday and remember the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate this wonderful time of year, the birth of Jesus Christ.  Fill your day with uplifting music, family and friends. 

Merry Christ mas

 

Retro Christmas Tags

 

Old fashioned Christmas tags have become a thing of the past.  I have looked for them but all I can find are the fancy ones.  I like the retro Christmas tags so enjoy!

Merry Christmas to all.

Gift Wrapping

        

 So close to Christmas, the good news is you have your Christmas presents bought;  the bad news is they aren’t wrapped.  My best suggestion is your make a gift wrapping center, a place where you can wrap the presents without interruption so if you do have to leave you don’t have to clean up.

            Make a wrapping center where you can enjoy your Christmas music or watch your favorite Christmas movie.  This is a time where you should be enjoying time spent wrapping each present. 

            When I wrap my presents for my Grandchildren who are still young I color code each present with their name on it.  I cut tags out of regular colored paper I buy at Costco in bulk; one child has a red tag, one blue and one green.  When Christmas morning comes they instantly know which one is there’s without looking for names.  They look under the tree without a lot of is this mine?  There is no question as to who gets what which makes it more fun.  (I also use the same color coding for their glasses they drink out of so they don’t share germs.)

            Enjoy the season, however short it is. 

Happy Holidays!

Cutting Your First Christmas Tree

 

Each year I put up a fake tree way before Christmas and after Thanksgiving we go get a real tree somewhere around our house.  This year we have family from out of the country and they have never cut a Christmas tree so we asked if they wanted to come and cut a Christmas tree this year with us.  It was an enthusiastic yes from our cousin’s husband who lives in a large city and has never had the experience. 

            We live in the desert so we usually pick the tree that needs to be thinned or is flat on one side so it fits better against the wall in my kitchen.  This year my husband said he found one that would work so we all piled into the truck.  It was also their first time in the back of a pickup truck.  I was raised riding in the back of a pickup truck so I went back in my memory as a little girl and remembered the excitement of riding in the pickup and had to smile as they gleefully rode to where the tree was.

            We stopped in front of a steep hill where the tree sat at the top of it much to my dismay.  Usually we go on a level plane to find one but this year the “tree” was at the top of the steep rocky hill.  My daughter protested that we needed to go somewhere flat but we all climbed the hill, another one for my cousin who doesn’t hike in the city.  The tree that was picked was way too big for the kitchen so we found a smaller tree not too far from the first one.

            After instruction from my husband the cutting the tree experience began.  It was fun to watch my cousin’s husband who had donned a Daniel Boone hat he found at my house to cut his first live tree.  It made climbing the hill worthwhile to see the joy of such a simple thing at the Holidays. 

            They hauled the tree down the hill then went in the pickup back home and helped haul it in the house.  They had to leave the next morning so were unable to decorate it; I told them I would send them a picture of it when it had been decorated so they could see their tree.

            Since I was raised in the country I forget how fortunate I am to experience the things that others who come from a large city are unable to.  It doesn’t matter if you have an artificial or real tree, the meaning is the same.  It is a time to get together with the family and bring out the ornaments that you have collected throughout the year and decorate your tree.  At the top of my tree each year I get out a small angel, the skirt is made out of cardboard; I bought her at Woolworths with my young son when I was newly divorced.  I didn’t have very much money so I bought my little angel for my tree top.  Each year I get her out and ceremoniously put her on top to watch over the festivities throughout the season and think back to when I had less and how very blessed I have been since.

            Each ornament has a story, my tree doesn’t look like the cover of the fancy magazines but I think it is much more beautiful as it is the story of my life.  I tell my children and grandchildren the story of each ornament and it takes me through the good and bad times to where I am now.

Now that you are about done with your Christmas shopping, what is next?

          

The gift of Charity

  For all of those who took my advice you should be about ready to wrap up the gifts you have been buying for the last few months.  Now is the time to wrap them and start the decorating the house if you already haven’t. 

The gift buying should have been a good experience since you weren’t hurried and were able to find that perfect gift at a good price.  Well if this isn’t the case for you then there is still plenty of time to enjoy the season.  With all the sales in the stores you should be able to find something you think they will be pleased with.  If not, make them something.  Everyone loves cookies or some homemade candy nuts.  Don’t overspend beyond your budget - that takes all the fun out of the Holidays, instead give of yourself.  Maybe they need help washing the windows or cleaning the house or garage.  Helping to organize, any of these things are something that will be appreciated more than a bought present. 

Don’t forget that charity is the greatest gift you can give. 

Old Fashioned Toys Made In America

Old fashioned toys made in America

Remember the old fashioned airplanes with a rubber band wind up propeller or jacks and pickup sticks?  Today kids sit on the coach staring at the television playing video for hours.

There is a place you can find spinning sky tops, airplanes with wind up propellers and glider airplanes.  Old fashioned jumbo jacks with rubber balls, rubber hoppy taws for playing hopscotch, wooden pickup sticks, marbles with a bag to hold them, tops and other old fashioned toys all made in America. 

http://www.stitchthrutime.com/Old_Fashioned_Toys.html

Check them out and you will be pleasantly surprised at the Old Fashioned Toys all made in America.

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS MADE IN AMERICA

 

            Now we bring up the age old question, what Christmas stocking should I make or buy?  That all depends on you and what time and talents you have, I am sure we all have the talents, but do we have the time?

            There are millions of the made in China Christmas stockings out there, but do you really want a Christmas stocking made in China?  It is not like it is something that will wear out or go out of style.  If you are going to get a Christmas stocking get one that you will enjoy for a lifetime.

            When I look at my Christmas stocking I want to know it is Made in America, that it is something I enjoy looking at and am proud of. 

            The other day I spoke with someone who said she doesn’t buy things from China because she wants her children to have jobs when they grow up.  I have to agree with her.  I am not saying I don’t have things around the house that aren’t made in America but I am becoming more aware of where my purchases originate from.  I used to buy fisher price toys for my kids but I stay away from them now, I want old fashioned toys from my own country.

            Enjoy your Christmas as now is the time to think about starting to decorate for the Holidays.  Be careful of what you wish for – make sure it is MADE IN AMERICA!

HALLOWEEN FRANKENSTEIN MARSHMALLOW POPS

Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops Makes 12 pops     24 large marshmallows 12 (6-inch) lollipop sticks 24 pretzel sticks 1 (12-ounce) package Wilton Green Candy Melts, melted according to package directions 1⁄2 (12-ounce) package Wilton Dark Cocoa Candy Melts, melted according to package directions 1 (0.68-ounce) tube red decorating gel

Place 2 large marshmallows onto each stick, slightly overlapping top marshmallow over bottom marshmallow to form brow. Using lollipop sticks as handles, dip prepared marshmallows into melted green candy, rolling to fully cover marshmallows. Press pretzel sticks into sides of top large marshmallow. Set aside for candy to dry completely. Dip top end of green-candy-coated marshmallows in melted dark cocoa candy. Transfer remaining melted dark cocoa candy to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip, and pipe eyes and mouth onto marshmallows. Use red gel to pipe a line across forehand, and then pipe crosswise lines with dark cocoa candy to form stitches. Set aside for candy to dry completely. Store decorated marshmallows in an airtight container for up to 1 day. Note: Use a Styrofoam base, available at craft stores, to hold pops upright while they dry.   HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

EARLY HOLIDAY SHOPPING

          Hopefully you listened to me and started your Christmas shopping a couple of months ago.  If not didn’t be discouraged, there is plenty of time to enjoy your experience in either shopping or making something a gift.

            You may always go on Pinterest and find a craft to make or go look around and enjoy the pre-holiday shopping. 

I always find that www.stitchthrutime.com  heating pads (the neck my favorite) are the perfect gift for the person who has everything including an achy body.

            The important thing is you give someone a gift that they would like and use.  As I have said before don’t just grab something just so you can say you gave them something.  

Good luck with your shopping and enjoy the season - only 56 days until Christmas.