Crockpot Applesauce

I was a total domestic goddess today!  Yesterday we went to Breanna's new house (looks amazing! They've done so much and it looks wonderful). Her house butts up against an apple orchard so we picked some apples. I came home with a nice big bag of apples.

As you know, I make most anything in the crockpot. I use the slow cooker for multiple reasons. One is because I like to make things in stages. Using the crockpot enables me to do the prep and cooking first, and clean up later. Second, I love the wonderful sweet smells the come from cooking something for hours. This recipe filled my house with lovely aromas of apples and spices for most of the day; who needs a smelly candle when you can get these scents naturally?!

Here's my recipe:

• 10 apples (cored, peeled, and cut into pieces. Mine were about 1" but I wasn't precise)
• 2 t pumpkin pie spice (you can use cinnamon if you want but I like the mix of flavors with pumpkin pie spice)
• 1 t vanilla
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1/2 c water

Dump the apples in the crock pot, add the other ingredients and mix well to coat. Set crock pot on low and cook for 6-8 hours. 

That's it!  Super simple.  I like my applesauce chunky so I don't mash it up. If you like smoother applesauce, mix the cooked applesauce with an immersion blender or stick in the food processer.

This recipe made a quart (which I canned) and about 2 additional cups (which I put in the fridge to eat this week). Try the recipe and let me know how much you love it!

Yummy!

Random Bits of Goodness Angel Mirror

I was so excited and inspired by the original Random Bits of Goodness Mirror that I made another!  For the past few years I've been collecting religious icons, not really sure what I wanted to do with them. I really wanted to create a picture that had representation of many world religions, but I was very heavy on Christianity (including 4 strings of rosary beads - and I'm not even Catholic). Given that, I decided to make this one with crosses, angels, and other Christian artifacts.  I love it!

I love this little cherub. It's actually ceramic.

I picked up this tiny bible somewhere....I wanted to include it but couldn't "bronze" it. So for now, it's just sitting atop the frame.  I may try to attach it somehow.

Another corner with angels and crosses.

Here's the two frames hanging on my wall. 





Invest in a Girl, Save the World

The Girl Effect is a project that focuses on investing in girls to stop the cycle of poverty. Some of the facts from their website include:

•  When a girl in the developing world receives seven or more years of education, she marries four years later and has 2.2 fewer children.
• An extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10 to 20 percent. An extra year of secondary school: 15 to 25 percent.
• Research in developing countries has shown a consistent relationship between better infant and child health and higher levels of schooling among mothers.
• When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90 percent of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40 percent for a man.
• Approximately one-quarter of girls in developing countries are not in school.
• Out of the world’s 130 million out-of-school youth, 70 percent are girls.

While their focus is on girls on a global level, I contend that we need to use the same principles nationally. We have a large portion of our girls who live in poverty. Girls in poverty, regardless of where they live, are at risk of repeating the cycle of poverty.

Invest in a Girl, Save the World.

Random Bits of Goodness Mirror

Those who know me understand that I truly enjoy kids, toys, and crafts. I love my grandchildren (and their friends, and my neighbor's kids). Our family has six children between the ages of 3 and 9 (and another sweet little baby joining us in March 2012). 

Five of our six children are within 2 years of each other so they've gone through the same developmental cycles around the same time. That means I've got alot of little plastic toys all over my house! Now that the most of the kids have outgrown them, I was on the lookout for something to do with all the residual playthings. (Obviously, I wasn't about to just toss the stuff out).  I came upon this very cool project!

The good people at the website "Can't Stop Making Things" (don't you love that name?!) gave me a solution. They call it a Faux Metal Mirror. I call it Random Bits of Goodness! I love all the little chachke that comes with little kids. This project gave me a great way to recycle, save and display toys that would otherwise have been thrown away.

It's a proces, so bear with me!

Supplies:

• Artist Canvas (mine is 16" x 20")
• Mirror tile (mine is 12" x 12")
• Lots of discarded plastic toys, or anything in your junk drawer (mine took alot. I knew there was a reason I saved all those KinderEgg toys)!
• Liquid Nails glue
• Spray paint for plastic (I bought pink because it was on sale at Ollie's for .99)
• Primer spray paint (I used rust color)
• Copper Metal & Patina Glaze by Valspar
• Antiquing Glaze by Valspar
• Clear spray

Tools

• Masking tape
• Paint brush
• Clean cloth (to apply the Antiquing Glaze)

Note: "Can's Stop Making Things" said to use Copper Topper but I couldn't find it locally so I substituted the Valspar products.

This is what I started with. I centered and glued the mirror onto the canvas.

Glue all the goodies onto the canvas, around the mirror.

Here's a close up. This was a process for me. I put things where I thought I wanted them but let it sit overnight before glueing in place. I'm glad I did because I changed some things. When you are satisfied with your placement, glue them into place.

Tape off the mirror. Spray paint with a paint made for plastic. The color doesn't matter. (Mine was pink). This coat is just so the true base coat will adhere appropriately. Apparently it will stick better if all pieces are covered in the plastic paint. I used several light coats to make sure everything was covered without dripping.

Allow to completely dry. Once that is done, spray with the rust primer.  Again, use light coats but make sure to completely cover all sides of the objects with the paint.

The Valspar product says to allow the base coat to dry at least 4 hours before using. This was a total test of patience for me as I really wanted to see the completed project!



The next step was to apply the copper glaze. I put two coats on, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second. While the second coat is still wet, I applied the antiqueing glaze. I let it dry overnight and then sprayed with the sealer.

Viola! My completed project!  I absolutely love how it came out! I don't think the pictures really do it justice. I'm still waiting for the sealer to dry and I will take more pictures later. Looks like metal, right?! I was going to hang this in my spare bedroom but I love it so much I think I will hang in the living room.

Since this came out so well, I'm going to make another picture. I'm interested in religious iconography and think I shall do one with crosses and angels. Stay tuned!

Interactive Art

Candy Chang is an interactive artist who installed some very cool projects in New Orleans. While this installation is large and based in a public area, I can also see it on a much smaller scale (maybe 3' x 4'?) on a wall of the deck. It would be a great conversation starter, as well as a wonderful way to get to know your loved ones better.  Very cool!

Candy Change Interactive Art

Amazon Trade In Program

I knew that Amazon had a book buy back program but just realized they will also give you gift cards for used electronics, games, and dvd's as well.   I did just a quick search of some videos I have (that are brand new) and found they offer about $10 each. How great is that! If you are like me, once I'm done watching a video, I am done.

I am all about saving (and making) money. I think this is definately worth taking a little bit of time to see what you can trade in. Christmas is right around the corner and we will all need some more cash!

Amazon Trade In Program

Remodeling and Decorating Ideas

When you are remodeling and/or decorating, the options can be overwhelming.  The following site is an incredible resource! You can browse by both style and space, which is great. You can save ideas in your Ideabook (online storage). You can also read (or submit your own) questions for decorating suggestions.  Very cool resource!
houzz.com

Pat Roberson's Marital Advice

While I appreciate the stress Alzheimer's puts on the family, I'm not sure how (or why) Mr. Moral Minority, Pat Robertson, can give this kind of marital advice. If you believe that marriage is "til death do us part", how could you possibly council someone to divorce their spouse because they have Alzheimer's?

Pat Robertsons Marital Advice

I find it fascinating that someone who professes to being a Christian and "upholding Christian values" would identify this as a solution. Oh the hypocrisy!

Amazing Jenga Dog

The dog in this video is absolutely amazing and so very patient! Clearly, I am a lazy dog owner because it would never dawn on me to even think of expecting my dog to do something like this.

Considering Marcella found the Tupperware on the counter that held the homemade dog biscuits (and ate 8 of them), I find it hard to believe her capable of this kind of delayed gratification.  It is a pretty neat trick though!

SkinnyTaste Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe

I know we all love hot spinach and artichoke dip. It tastes great but really packs alot of calories if you make it the traditional way with mayo. I found this recipe from Skinnytaste.com that uses Greek yogurt that is far healthier (and less calories) than the other version.  I really don't like the taste (or texture) of Greek yogurt but this sounds like a tasty substitute. I doubt you will taste the yogurt because all the other flavors will make up for it.  Next time I want the dip, I will try this recipe.

Skinny Taste Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip Recipe