My Heart's Desire

Back from a Blog Break and a Birthday!

2012-02-12T22:35:00.001-06:00

I've been a little MIA from the blog this week. Balancing real life and blogging is a huge priority for me, albeit a difficult one. My family needed all of me this week, but I am glad to be back!

One of the highlights from the weekwas this baby girl turning four! I simply cannot get over the fact that she is four. When my oldest child turned four, I was certain she was leaving for college soon. Lainey, on the other hand, is very much still our "baby" at four.

As we do on all our birthdays around here, we started Lainey's birthday celebration with the tradition of the Hidden Cupcake!

The Hidden Cupcake appears at the breakfast table the morning of a birthday. During the day while the birthday boy or girl is away, the Hidden Cupcake is filled with a small "happie" and hidden somewhere in the house!

Then the search (the best part) begins!

Found it! Hiding in the china cabinet!

Princess stickers and a Cinderella bracelet!

You can find your own Hidden Cupcake at Hobby Lobby in the birthday supply section.

I love this photo of Lainey's expression when she first saw her birthday present...pure delight.

Her first "big girl" bike!

I love this child!

Lainey's Cinderella cake. Many thanks to Keli and my sister, Katie, for walking me through baking and decorating her cake! (If you are in the Little Rock area, Keli sells amazing cakes and cupcakes. For any Nashville, TN readers, my sister makes the best petit fours and cakes you will ever put in your mouth!)

Are these dress cakes not the sweetest? A few years ago, I decided that if I could, I would make the kids' and David's birthday cakes myself. It hasn't been stress-free, but surprisingly, Cinderella was one of the easiest ones!

Daddy's little princess. As long as I live, Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Cinderella," will bring me to tears. Right around the time of its release, Maddie was still dressing up routinely in her Cinderella costume and twirling around our house. How glad I am to have another Cinderella around here!

Make a wish!

Lainey's best friend and next door neighbor. We love this little princess, too! She has been such a blessing to Lainey!

This was really the first year Lainey truly "got" the whole birthday party thing. It was so fun seeing her so full of joy being celebrated!

I'd love to hear about your birthday traditions!

Looks like we may have an extended weekend here in Arkansas...snow and ice expected tomorrow. If you live in the South, you know that snow days can be a blast...or a bust. Here's to enough snow to sled...

Sopapilla Cheesecake

2012-02-04T21:08:00.022-06:00

Sopapilla Cheesecake has officially been added to my must-make-often list!

We had dinner company recently, and my friend, Ashley O'Leary, brought this dessert. Let's just say I've made it twice in the last three weeks! John David and I call it "the giant cinnamon roll"...with cream cheese heaven in the middle! It is actually very similar in taste to a New Orleans King Cake, so you know it has to be good! Not to mention, it is super simple to put together.

Sopapilla Cheesecake

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided

2 t. ground cinnamon

2 cans crescent rolls (keep refrigerated until ready to use)

3- 8oz blocks cream cheese, room temperature

1 t. vanilla

1 stick butter

In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup sugar with cinnamon. Set aside.

In mixer, combine 1 cup sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla. Mixture should be a nice spreadable consistency.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with Pam. Roll out 1 can of crescent rolls into dish. It should fit perfectly in the 9x13 pan, as shown above.

Spread cream cheese mixture onto entire surface of rolled-out crescent rolls.

Roll second can of crescent rolls out atop the cream cheese mixture, as shown above.

Melt butter and pour over all.

Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over entire surface.

Bake at 350 degrees for 27 minutes.

Allow Sopapilla Cheesecake to cool completely before cutting into squares for serving.

Store leftovers in fridge. Microwave refrigerated pieces for a few seconds to serve.

Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

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Valentine's Hurricane Vases

2012-02-01T15:44:00.021-06:00

After last week's posts of the Conversation Hearts Tree and my Love One Another Mantel, I want to show you one more easy and inexpensive way to decorate with conversation hearts!

Trusty hurricane vases! These are filled year-round at our house with just about everything! See them filled for Thanksgiving HERE, Easter HERE, and a similar set filled for Fall, HERE.

A simple bow and white candle brings these all together!

Do you decorate with conversation hearts? If so, how? Share with us in the comments!

Have a great Wednesday!

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Superbowl Party Food

2012-01-28T15:20:00.011-06:00

With the Super Bowl around the corner, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of some of our favorite appetizers! You will surely find a couple that your crowd will devour!

Click the recipe titles for full recipe. Enjoy!

In no particular order...

Turkey Pinwheels

Served with salsa and always a crowd-pleaser!

Easy Queso Dip

I make this queso all the time. And I may or may not eat it for dinner on occasion.

Shoepeg Corn Dip

One of my all-time favorites, dating back to The Grove when I was in college.

Mini Sausage Cups

Mini Sausage Cups require only a handful of ingredients and can be frozen ahead of time!

Hot Corn Dip

A little different twist on corn dip...served hot. Delish!

Mississippi Sin Dip

The name speaks for itself. How can you not try this one?

Caramel Apple Dip

Thought I'd throw in a sweet in here. This is a favorite of kids and adults alike!

Babalu's Guacamole

One of the best recipes for guacamole you will ever eat! An unexpected addition of sun-dried tomatoes in this one.

Zaxby's Dipping Sauce w/Chicken Tenders

You may recognize this dipping sauce for fried chicken as Abners or Guthrie's. Very similar and great with chicken or fries!

What is your favorite "football-watching food?"

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Thematic Thursday--SuperBowl

Valentine's Mantel

2012-01-25T21:57:00.028-06:00

Never in my home-owning life have I put together a "Valentine's Mantel," but I have to admit, I really, really like it! Even my kids got into this project! You know you're a blogger when the kids ask, "Is this candy for us or the blog?"

Back in the fall, my neighbor made these adorable feather boa wreaths for her Halloween doors, and I knew instantly I would make a pink one for little Lainey's bedroom door. Perfect for Valentine's, too. Love decor with multiple uses! David is glad the pink wreath is in the den for only a few weeks, but he even agreed it was a fun addition!

I started the mantel with the pink boa wreath hanging in front of brown, round mirror that hangs year-round. Thoughts of painting it white were overtaking my mind, but I came up with a much more logical solution (grin), and brought my chalkboard frame in from the kitchen and hung the wreath over it with invisible fishing line. Love at first sight.

This precious Love One Another print was my original inspiration for the mantel! The design is a free printable from HERE! Print at home, or send it to a local photo lab for a minimal cost.

I popped the Love One Another print into a refurbished Goodwill frame ($1.50!) and hung it over the wreath with pink grosgrain ribbon.

Valentine's candy is so fun to decorate with, and I have been eyeing the apothecary jars at Hobby Lobby for-EVER. As soon as they went 50% off, I grabbed one and filled it about 3/4 full with giant strawberry marshmallows!

My Conversation Hearts Tree made a perfect pair with the marshmallow jar!

For an extra pop of color, Maddie suggested filling Mason jars with Valentine's M&M's. I bought these M&M's two years ago right after Valentine's for 1/2 off. **Remember to stock up cheap candy for next year on February 15th!

Needing a little height, I pulled candlesticks and white candles that I use year-round and popped a few cardboard glitter hearts onto them with tape. The hearts are from the after-Valentine's sale at Wal-mart last year.

A few tea light candles to make it extra cozy at night, and the mantel is complete!

Hope you've been inspired today to bring a little Valentine's into your own home!

If you'd like to stay up-to-date with more fun, seasonal projects, I'd love for you to join us on Facebook or subscribe through your favorite reader...all in the right sidebar!
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Guest Posting at Walking in His Grace Today!

2012-01-24T07:51:00.000-06:00

I would love for you to join me today where I am guest posting over at Walking in Grace and Beauty. Cyndi's blog is full of encouragement for your soul, and she's recently added a fashion segment that is fabulous...and practical! She is a precious woman you will love getting to know! Be sure to let her know you stopped by!

Click HERE to visit Cyndi's blog for a yummy appetizer I'm sharing today! See you there!

Conversation Heart Tree

2012-01-23T17:08:00.025-06:00

For years, I have decorated for Valentine's with conversation hearts, and after making these Christmas Candy Trees last month, I knew a conversation heart tree would be the perfect replacement! So very simple and inexpensive to make, saves from year-to-year, and it looks "sweet" anywhere you place it!

Supplies needed:

White styrofoam cone

Conversation Hearts Candies

Glue gun/glue sticks

Simply dab a dot of glue on the back of each candy, and make your way around the cone, starting at the base.

Let's just say I picked the biggest cone they make. And it took a long time:) But I love, love, love how it turned out. For displaying on the mantel, it needed height.

You can see here why it's important to use the white styrofoam versus the green.

Decorating with seasonal candy is fun and versatile! Spend a few minutes on your candy aisle and see what you come up with!

Strawberry marshmallows are perfect for Valentine's!

Fill apothecary jars, Mason jars, vases, hurricanes...anything...with candy, for a quick seasonal centerpiece or as an addition to your mantel!

These two guys above are headed to my Valentine's mantel that will post on Thursday for HomeStoriesA2Z's Valentine Mantel Party. Be sure to check back to see the completed mantel!

If you like this project, I'd love for you to join My Heart's Desire on Facebook or subscribe in the right sidebar to stay up-to-date with the latest posts!

Have a great week!
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The Other Side of the Screen

2012-01-18T22:06:00.006-06:00

In recent months, a little birdie has been chirpin' in my head about a few things related to blogging and "real life" behind the blogs. I recently read a post called "The Trouble with Blogging," where Amy articulated some of my rambling thoughts really well. Worth the read.

Blogging is great fun. Blogging connects you to terrific, like-minded people, some of whom even become real-life friends! Blogging encourages you to get better at whatever it is you do. It can even provide an income if you want it to.

But then there's the other side of blogging. The other side where Amy reminds us that "what you see on the screen is not the whole picture."

We have to remember that when we pull up our favorite blogs on our computer screens, we are seeing a finished product, a completed project, a prepared meal, a redecorated (and finished) room, or the best of the best of photos of someone else's children. Then we click off, and our bed isn't made, the chicken for dinner is still frozen (and it's 4:30pm), our kids are fighting, and homework remains to be completed.

Carmen from Mom to the Screaming Masses says, "We need to stop comparing our insides to others' outsides." And I'm talking chiefly to myself here.

Here's to keepin' it real from the "other side of the screen."

1. On a routine basis, as in, multiple times a day, there is tee tee and wads of toilet paper sitting in one or more toilets that have not been flushed. Lainey insists that "I am too yiddul to fwush." Some days, I could close my eyes and not know if I were in my own house or the zoo bathroom.

(And if the toilet actually has been flushed, it routinely has a pink ring that begs for Pine Sol)

2. I oftentimes do not make my bed or put away my clean clothes. But I stay on my kids for not doing both. What's up with that? And I love to get in a made-up bed.

3. There are piles...lots of piles...in lots of places around my house. These beloved piles drive my poor husband insane, I cannot seem to break the habit of keeping piles. They make my house look messy, and I vow every six weeks or so (when I'm going through the piles), that I will no longer have piles. I still have piles.

4. My children fight, and the frustration I feel threatens to send me to the looney bin. On a more serious note, it really breaks my heart when they have long stretches of time when they do not love each other well. We are working on this one.

5. I am not a self-disciplined exerciser or early riser. Assuredly, I would feel better if I instituted both of these regimes into my daily life. They only last a few days when I try.

6. I have more unfinished projects and rooms than I care to admit. Lainey, bless her heart, has not a thing on her walls. I've bought all the stuff, but it has sat unhung for months. That really bugs me.

7. Food. Please do not ever get the idea that I am whipping up a well-balanced meal every night. Trust me on this one. Frozen waffles and hot dogs are my unhealthy, nitrate-filled friends.

8. My microwave and my fridge are gross...well, okay the microwave is clean as I write because I finally cleaned it two days ago after hosting two holidays and realizing I could not stand myself one more second if the microwave did not get cleaned. I'll work on the fridge this week:)

9. I have a hard time balancing blogging and real life. In general, it's all good, but there are days when it's really not good. Thankfully, I have a wise, sweet husband who can bring me back to reality when I start to wander into the blogging abyss.

10. I "compare my insides to other people's outsides." It is a dangerous, unhealthy way to live, whether in the blogging world or the real world. It's quite a paradox for me, because while God has used blogging to make me more confident in who He created me to be, there is always before me the beautiful homes, perfectly-organized closets, and seemingly "perfect" lives.

So next time you visit a blog and everything seems perfect, remember there's always "the other side of the screen."

Can you relate to this post? Leave your thoughts in the comments. I'd love to hear your perspective!

Love,

Linking to:
Women Living Well Link Up

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Feasting in Fellowship

Chicken Rotel

2012-01-16T15:30:00.005-06:00

Chicken Rotel is an oldie but goodie and a big crowd-pleaser. My mom used to make this all the time when we were in high school, and the recipe came from our family friend, Elizabeth Minor. I love pulling out a recipe card from my box and seeing a name from someone back home!

This recipe for Chicken Rotel makes a vat. I typically half this recipe or make the entire recipe when I'm taking food to someone, and I can comfortably pull enough out for us.

Chicken Rotel

7-8 chicken breasts, boiled and shredded

1 Onion and 2 celery stalks cut into a few large pieces (for boiling chicken)

2 medium onions, chopped small

2 green peppers, chopped small

1/2 stick butter

16 oz. angel hair pasta, cooked

2 cans Rotel tomatoes

1 can mushroom soup (3/4 can if you making half recipe)

1 1b. grated Velveeta cheese (you can buy pre-shredded)

For extra tender chicken, bring water to a boil and add the chicken breasts and onion and celery stalk pieces. Bring water back to a boil, and boil for 12 minutes, uncovered. Turn heat off, cover pot, and allow the chicken to sit for at least one hour. Tender chicken every time!

Saute' onions and green peppers in 1/2 stick butter. Boil angel hair and rinse with hot water to prevent sticking.

Combine angel hair, onion/pepper mixture, shredded chicken, Rotel, cream of mushroom, and Velveeta cheese in your largest bowl. Mix well.

Half the recipe will fill a 9x13 casserole dish. Spray dish with Pam before filling with mixture.

Bake 325 degrees, covered, for about 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes.

Serve with a green salad and buttered and garlic french bread for a complete meal!

Printable Recipe

If you like this recipe, you may also like Ham Tettrazini!
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Valentine's Front Door

2012-01-12T20:58:00.030-06:00

It's January, but Valentine's is around the corner! If you like this wreath, you will have time to gather your supplies and make your own in time to enjoy it for Valentine's!

I recently posted the burlap wreath base of this Valentine's wreath a few days ago, pictured below. Click the link for specific, easy instructions to make your own!

Our front doors desperately needed something after Christmas came down. I love the simplicity of the burlap wreath, and even more that it can be decorated for just about any season or Holiday!

I simply removed the safety-pinned burlap bow at the top of the wreath and safety-pinned a red burlap heart for Valentine's!

Now, I'll show you how I made the heart. You could use the heart alone for Valentine's, although the wreath form shown here is only 12 inches, pretty small by its lonesome on a front door. Perhaps perfect somewhere inside your home:)

Supplies:

1 yard red burlap (Hobby Lobby w/coupon)

1 heart wire wreath form (Hobby Lobby floral)

Florist's wire, cut into 8-inch pieces

Scissors

First, cut the yard of burlap lengthwise in half.

Then, cut each half in half again, lengthwise. You will have two "strips" of burlap about 36 inches long and about 5 1/2 inches wide.

Just like the tutorial for my burlap wreath, I gathered the end of one strip to get started, securing it at the bottom and back of the heart, as shown. (You can clip the excess wire later).

Next, gather about 4 inches of burlap and "bubble" it, as shown above. **Note...I got about halfway through this heart and realized the "bubbles" were too large. For this 12-inch heart form, smaller, 4-inch bubbles are better!

To secure the bubbled burlap at each interval, simply gather the burlap, making sure you like how the bubble looks, and lay the 8-inch piece of florist's wire across the top, as shown above. Holding the wire/burlap in place, flip the wreath over.

Pull the burlap/wire as tight as you can, and "twist-tie" the wire to secure the bubbled burlap.

Secured burlap bubble shown above.

Continue around the heart form until you have covered the entire heart. You will have to start a new "strip" before reaching the end. Fiddle with it to hide the ends at the back of the heart.

When my heart was complete, I held it up and realized that I could see through holes in the bubbled burlap in many spots. It made it look cheap, so I came up with an easy fix to give the burlap more body and substance. Cut small scraps, as shown above, and

stuff them into the bubbles that need a lift. Perfect.

Here is the finished heart! (on my very sad adirondack chairs that are begging for paint)

Cute enough to hang alone, just not in a very large space.

I removed the brown burlap bow from the original wreath and simply safety-pinned the heart in its place.

Total cost for the red burlap heart was about $8!

I plan to use the brown burlap wreath base year-round, replacing the heart with seasonal embellishments or hanging it as is!

If you like this project, I'd love for you to stay connected to My Heart's Desire for the latest posts and ideas. Join us through Facebook or Subscribe in the right sidebar!
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Bear One Another's Burdens

2012-01-10T21:51:00.000-06:00

This week, my mind has been occupied with normal things...the kids' school week, blog projects I am currently working on, my sweet BLOOM group...but I have to admit, Valentine's wreaths and recipes just seemed so insignificant in comparison to these stories...two fellow mama's whose stories I have followed for a while...both who are currently walking vastly different journeys than mine. And I cannot get them off my mind.

The first is my blog friend Mandy. Oh, sweet Mandy, my heart aches for her. She is wife to Matt, mom to three beautiful children, a fellow food blogger at The Supermom Chef (ahhh-MAZING recipes and photography). Her little boy, John Matthew, suffers from a range of medical issues that have required untold numbers of surgeries to remove recurring tumors in his short 7 years of life. Caringbridge for John Matthew is HERE.

Photo Courtesy Amy Halstead of Different Perspectives

Mandy and John Matthew flew to Boston today for yet another surgery. Their story is magnified by the fact that her husband, Matt, recently lost his job and is now working in Dead Horse, Alaska. Alaska! Can you imagine the stress for Mandy?

Mandy is a regular mom just like you and me. She loves her children, she helps with homework, she drives carpool, she blogs. John Matthew reminds me so much of my John David. But Mandy carries a burden most of us will never understand. Mandy is transparent and real. No sugar coating her circumstances going on here, yet she routinely keeps her focus on God. She is a rock-star mama.

The other mom that is on my heart nearly every day is Kate from 3 Kids, a Minivan, and a Mortgage. What an indescribable inspiration Kate is to so many who read her blog yet probably will never meet her in person.

I do not recall how I first found Kate's blog, but immediately, Lucy's story stuck with me. We are living parallel lives with kids, school, parenthood, and on and on. Her little girls remind me so much of my own. But again, Kate is bearing a burden that most of us will never be able to understand or comprehend. Having a child with cancer.

Kate never seeks the spotlight through her family's story. She very authentically and frankly records Lucy's struggle with cancer, but what shines through most of all is her relationship with God. Her struggle with God. Her love for Him despite being heartbroken beyond what she imagined was possible. His mercy and grace in the midst of devastating pain.

It is a great privilege to go before the Lord and pray for these two moms and, "bear one another's burdens," even the burdens of people I have never met. (I do hope to meet Mandy in person before too long. She is from my hometown and we have become buddies across the miles!)

Who else can we be praying for? Leave a comment if you know of someone specific!

Mississippi Sin Dip

2012-01-08T19:43:00.010-06:00

Mississippi Sin Dip is aptly named...it's a Mississippi State tailgate original, and it's just plain sin in all its cheesy goodness! Perfect for football-watching parties or any gathering!

As a native Mississippian, I'm sure I've had some version of this dip a few times over the years and just didn't know it! My Arkansas neighbor, Angie, served it recently, and after a little research of different versions, we settled on this one as our favorite!

Mississippi Sin Dip

1 loaf french bread (I used Italian loaf)

1 8-oz block cream cheese, room temperature

1 1/2 cups sour cream

2 cups shredded sharp cheddar

1/2 cup chopped smoked ham or prosciutto

1/3 cup green onion, chopped fine

4 oz can chopped green chilies, undrained

1/4 cup jalapeno pepper, chopped fine

couple shakes Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

First, prepare the bread by cutting off the very top of the bread, about 1/2 inch deep. Hollow out the bread, leaving about a 1-inch shell. Set the top aside and cut the inside bread into cubes for toasting and dipping later.

Mix all other ingredients in a mixer until blended. **You can reserve a little meat to sprinkle on top, if desired).

Place a piece of aluminum foil that is large enough to wrap around the whole loaf onto a baking sheet. Then, pour the cheese mixture into the hollowed-out bread. Sprinkle surface with a little bit of prosciutto or ham, if desired. Return the top piece of bread to close the bread bowl. Wrap completely in foil and place baking sheet in oven. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Serve hot with toasted bread cubes, corn chips, or even assorted vegetables!

For this recipe, you can use cubed smoked ham from the deli or prosciutto. I found this prosciutto already cubed at Kroger...perfect!

If you have an oval platter, it's perfect for this appetizer!

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Have a great week!

Linking to:

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How to Make a Burlap Wreath

2012-01-06T12:27:00.025-06:00

With Christmas decorations put away, our house looks so naked! Every January, our front door wreaths come down from Christmas, and I rarely have anything neutral enough to adorn the doors! I came across a mesh wreath tutorial at New Every Morning and decided to create my own version using burlap. Using burlap, the wreath becomes a year-round option.

Supplies:

1 18-inch wire wreath form (Michael's)

1 1/2 yards burlap (bolt used is @45 inches wide)

florist's wire

scissors

embellishments (optional)

First, lay out the 1 1/2 yards of burlap folded in half. Please note: Pictured above are the beginnings of two wreaths. You will only have one folded piece if you are making one wreath.

Next, cut the folded piece of burlap in half, giving you two identical pieces that are each 54 inches long.

Again, cut each of these pieces in half lengthwise, giving you four "strips" that are each 27 inches long.

You are ready to start making your wreath! Before you begin working with the burlap, cut 18 pieces of florist's wire, each about 8 inches a piece (there are 9 "sections" on the wreath form). This will allow you to work without stopping!

Using an 18-inch wire wreath form, you will make two rounds of burlap bubbles around the wire form. One on the innermost ring and one on the third ring.

Start on the innermost ring of the wreath form. Gather one end of your first strip of burlap, and secure it to the first "section" using floral wire.

Pictured above, you can see where it is gathered, tied tightly with the florist's wire (in twist-tie fashion). Please note that this photo does not show the burlap attached to the innermost ring. Yes, I had to start over after a couple of ties:).

Rest assured that you will be able to easily cut the excess wire pieces, then "poof" the burlap to hide the wire.

Next, gather about 8 inches of burlap and bubble it to your desired volume. Secure the end of the bubble to the next notched section of the wreath using the florist's wire.

Continue on until you run out of fabric. You will start with a new strip of burlap to finish the innermost ring. Save your scraps for later use.

Repeat the same process for the third ring of the wreath form, except you will gather 9 inches of burlap for each bubble (versus 8 inches in the first ring).

Once you have completed both rings, use scissors to snip away the excess florist's wire. Then "poof" your burlap to hide any gaps or wire that is showing.

My original vision for this wreath was "winter." I painted a chipboard "B" (Hobby Lobby) in Martha Stewart's Cloud craft paint. After it dried, I mod-podged the entire front surface and sprinkled white fine glitter to give it a little sparkle. Using fishing line, I secured the letter to the wreath form.

While I love the painted letter, and I love the wreath, I don't really love them together. But I wanted to show you in case you liked it, or perhaps it would inspire you to think of another fun addition to this wreath!

Here is the wreath, plain and simple. No embellishments or additions! Perfect for hanging any time of year for your front door, an inside door, or above your mantel!

It was still a bit too plain for my taste, so I cut a long strip of leftover burlap and tied a simple bow. You can see how I attached it in the picture above...a safety pin!

Another option for embellishing this wreath (which I may add later) is to add a few burlap rosettes. Two styles of burlap rosettes found on Pinterest are from Restore Interiors and Choose To Thrive.

Although these burlap wreaths are currently on my front double doors, I secretly can't wait to bring them inside to hang over the mantel and in my bedroom. They are versatile enough to move around all year! Plus, with a price tag of about $10, it sure beats paying the $65 for an identical wreath on Etsy!

Thanks so much for being here at My Heart's Desire! I'd love for you to stay up-to-date on the latest posts by

joining our Facebook page or subscribing through your favorite reader...all available in the right sidebar!

Have a great weekend!

Linking to:

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Share and Wow Wednesday

Make It Yourself Monday

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Polly Want a Crafter

20 Questions for the New Year-Part 2

2012-01-03T13:16:00.001-06:00

Continuing on with "20 Questions for the New Year" from Incourage. You can see Questions 1-10 HERE.

These are fabulous questions to help you reflect thoughtfully on the past year...and to help you look forward to the next!

11. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally this year?

You'd think by now I'd a' learned this... But here it is...not to take things personally. To get over myself. Of course, sometimes it is personal, and it hurts. Bad. But most of the time, it's not personal. So many people in our midst are doing life from a broken, hurting place, and oftentimes we get caught in the cross-fire, or we are ignored, or left out, or blamed, or forgotten, or whatever. It's not personal. And like a good friend reminded me recently when I was stewing over an issue, "They haven't given you a second thought." So true. Not a blasted second thought. Now move on in confidence that God has been and always will be my unshakeable, faithful Father, defender, and comfort!

12. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?

Earlier this year, I began praying very specifically for a friend who was dealing with some pretty crazy-kind-of-hard stuff. I only wish I could tell you the crazy-kind-of-answered prayers I saw. Do I believe that her situation depended on my prayers? No way. God is way bigger than that, and He doesn't need my prayers to enact change in someone else's life. But He does use my prayers to Him to remind this forgetful heart that He is real, tangible, alive, and active in the lives of His people.

13. In what way(s) did you grow physically?

Oh, how I wish I could say I had trained for a marathon or exercised faithfully 3 times a week or completed P90-X again. But I didn't. No guilt here. But I sure do feel better when I'm exercising regularly. Here's to starting it back up:).

14. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?

Hmmm...well, I wouldn't say this concept is new, but it remains so important if we are going to have relationships that are worth a hoot. Jon Acuff states, "You have to believe that everyone is more interesting than you." Read his entire post HERE. When is the last time you asked someone about their story? Trust me, they have one.

15. What was the most enjoyable part of your work?

I do not work outside the home, so my "work" is my home and my little blog. I enjoy much about both...keeping our family on track by maintaining a (flexible) routine. While I do not love laundry and unloading a dishwasher and scrubbing toilets, I do love the satisfaction of tending well to what I have been given. Plus, our family operates better when there is order...and much of that depends on my "work."

As for the blog, the most enjoyable facets are the creative outlet the blog has provided and the genuine, sweet friendships I have made through blogging! A few I have had the privilege of meeting in person, many I have not. Hoping to change that this year, Beth!

16. What was the most challenging part of your work?

Balance. Forgiving myself when I drop the ball (as a mom or wife). Fatigue.

17. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this year?

Facebook. Without a doubt. Now, don't be fooled, Facebook is also a big positive in my life...staying connected to old friends, updates on weddings and babies and illnesses, updating blog posts, etc. But just shoot me for the amount of time I've wasted scrolling through mindless status updates and getting myself in a tizzy about how boring my life is compared to so-and-so.

18. What was the best way you used your time this past year?

Intentional, uninterrupted time with Maddie. I automatically get that time with Lainey, and this year, it's important to me to snag more one-on-one time with John David. Date nights with David. Blogging.

19. What was the biggest thing you learned last year?

Sorry if this sounds cynical. I guess it is. But it's just true.

Again, this is not "new," but I was reminded repeatedly that most of us live life like it's all about us. We all do it to an extent. I do not want to live out my days solely focused on me. I do not want to live a pseudo-Christian life because it's a socially-acceptable, neatly-packaged way to live. God is not fooled.

What will it take for us to live authentic lives?

20. Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.

Seek His face.

Derived from I Chronicles 16:11 "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Translated in my words...Quit trying to do life in my strength, doing life apart from Him, like a hamster on a wheel.

Seek. His. Face.

To print out your own list of questions, simply click the Incourage link above, where you will find a PDF file. Great questions for you and your spouse, a close friend, a community group, or your family to answer!

Blessings to you this first week of a new year...

Linking to:

Women Living Well

20 Questions for the New Year

2012-01-01T07:00:00.004-06:00

Image Credit

Hey friends! Hopefully your Christmas break has been relaxing...or at least now that Christmas is over, perhaps you've been able to relax:)

Last year around this time, I hooked up with Incourage.me to answer "20 Questions for the New Year"...insightful questions that help you frame up your last year and give you a fresh perspective for the next.

New questions are posted over at Incourage, so I thought it would be fun to reflect on 2011. If you blog, jump in with me and answer them on your site, or download their PDF file and use them for journaling or personal reflection!

I'll break these up into a few posts...

Let's get started!

1. What is the single best thing that happened this year?

Wow, the single best is hard to narrow down! I'd say a sure highlight was Maddie being baptized by her daddy this summer at Pine Cove Family Camp.

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?

While we did not have one particular event that really marked our year negatively, David and I had to remain very intentional not to succumb to the "tyranny of suburbia." If you are raising kids today, you know the challenges...school, sports, activities and so much else begs for our time, our energy, our finances, our very hearts. If we do not remain intentional and purposeful with our time as a family and as a couple, we risk winding up at a destination we never intended to go to. And frankly, it is just plain hard. Worth it, but hard.

3. What was an unexpected joy this year?

It still makes me laugh a little when I think about it...but one unexpected joy is my little blog growing exponentially after one single post in the fall...a few dollars worth of dried beans in a glass vase that I put together on a whim one afternoon. Who woulda thunk it? This guy pictured below has become quite the Pinterest pick for some "fall hurricane vase" searches!!! In so many ways, this post has and continues to remind me that My Heart's Desire blog belongs to Him, not me.

4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Navigating the unchartered waters of pre-adolescent struggles with my little girl! There have been days this year where I have literally begged...I mean begged...the Lord to show me how to parent her well as it pertains to these issues. It is no fun. But I am getting to know my child in deeper, more meaningful ways than ever before, and that has been a blessing.

5. Pick three words to describe 2011.

Intentional. Challenging. Rewarding.

6. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2011. (don't ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you)

Creative. Fulfilling. Family.

7. Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2011. (again, without asking)

Below-quota. Persevering. Reconnected.

He gave me permission to share that first one:)

8. What were the best books you read this year?

I have read fewer books this past calendar year than any year of my adult life...boo. I miss getting lost in a book. Plans for getting back to books in 2012:)

Here are a few titles I did read this year...

Water for Elephants

Entertaining, emotional.

The Glass Castle

Jeanette Walls' memoirs have stuck with me. I can't really tell you why I loved this book so much, but I did. I understood so much of her story. Highly recommended.

Grace for the Good Girl...currently reading.

I had the privilege of meeting author Emily Freeman (Chatting at the Sky) at The Relevant Conference. While she and I do not share similar life histories, our stories are very much the same...the "familiar fog of anxiety, the weight and pressure of holding it together and of longing left unmet...Emily encourages you to move from your own impossible expectations toward the God who has graciously, miraculously, and lovingly found you." Highly recommend.

Ketchup is a Vegetable...and Other Lies Moms Tell Themselves...currently reading.

Wet.Your.Pants.Hysterical. Download to your Kindle or get a hardcopy soon. Very soon. Author and blog friend Robin O'Bryant's candid accounts of motherhood will have you rolling. She verbalizes all the off-color, not-so-tidy things about motherhood you've been thinking anyway. I am so glad I'm not the only crazy mama.

9. With whom were your most valuable relationships?

This is a hard one, too! David is my rock. We are best friends, a great team, and genuinely like each other a whole bunch.

As for others...I could never narrow it down to just one or two. I have so many relationships that offer specific value to my life...some offer companionship, creativity, a sounding board, prayer warrior, humor (that perhaps I can only tell to them, you know who you are), accountability. I value these relationships like precious treasures!!

10. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this year?

Blogging has changed me in so many positive ways...the biggest being that I am much more willing and able to "think outside the box" than ever before! I've left my comfort zone more times than I can count this year...all via blogging...and it has been good. Very good.

Stay tuned this week for the rest of the "20 Questions for the New Year!" Please answer a few of these in the comments or post them on your blog!

Stay up-to-date with My Heart's Desire posts by "Liking" our Facebook Page or Subscribing in a Reader in the right sidebar!

Happy New Year!

Hoppin' John (Black-Eyed Pea Jambalaya)

2011-12-31T15:04:00.011-06:00

New Year's Day is tomorrow, and black-eyed peas are a must! Okay, so eating black-eyed peas is likely not going to bring you prosperity...or luck, for that matter, but it's still a fun tradition to eat these little guys on New Year's Day!

You may know this dish as "Black-Eyed Pea Jambalaya," or may have never heard of it at all! Either way, we like it so much, Hoppin' John will make an appearance at our table again before next January. A perfect cold-weather dish.

The name "Hoppin' John" is so funny that I decided to do a little research on its origins. The tales are varied...everything from a husband "John" who came hoppin' to the table to eat this dish to the name of a lively waiter in a Charleston, SC restaurant who came hoppin' to the table to serve the dish, and on and on and on! One fact is certain...it is a deeply Southern dish.

I originally found this recipe over at Bo's Bowl, and have modified it a bit to our liking.

Hoppin' John

1 T. olive oil

6 bacon slices, diced

1 lb smoked sausage, diced

1/2 onion, diced small

1/2 green bell pepper, diced small

2 celery stalks, diced small

1 jalapeno pepper, diced small

3 fresh garlic cloves, pressed or chopped

1/4 t. cayenne pepper

1/4 t. black pepper

3 T. chicken base (like Wyler's chicken granules)

1 1b. frozen black-eyed peas

6 cups water

2 cups uncooked white rice

1 t. salt

Hot Sauce, for the table

Large Cast Iron Dutch oven (preferred for even cooking)

In a large, cast iron dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until it begins to crisp. At this point, I did turn off the heat and spooned out much of the excess grease, but it is not necessary.

Add the smoked sausage and cook until it begins to brown. If you have removed much of the bacon grease like I did, you may need to add a touch of water here to prevent searing. Then add the onion, green pepper, celery, jalapeno, garlic, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Again, add a touch of water, if necessary. Cook until the onion starts to look translucent, five minutes or so.

Then add the chicken base, black-eyed peas, and water. Bring to a simmer and cook, covered, until peas are tender, about 1.5 hours.

While the peas cook, prepare rice separately according to package directions. Set aside.

**Add cooked rice and salt. Reduce heat to lowest setting and cook, covered, for a few minutes until water is absorbed. Be careful not to leave the heat on too long.

**Another option is to serve the black-eyed pea mixture over the rice in individual servings. In this case, I would recommend cooking the the black-eyed pea mixture uncovered for a while (after having cooked it covered for the 1 1/2 hours) to allow some of the water to cook off.

Serve with cornbread and collard greens for a complete New Year's Day traditional meal!

Printable Recipe

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Happy New Year!
Linking to:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
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Weekend Bloggy Reading
Comfy in the Kitchen
Cherished Treasures
Chef-n-Training
Six Sisters Stuff
Bedazzle Me Monday
Tip Junkie

Merry Christmas from our House to Yours!

2011-12-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

I pray that each one of you will know and accept the miraculous gift of Jesus this Christmas season!

Thank you for being here with me this year at My Heart's Desire blog! I am taking a break for the next few days to unplug and be with my family.

So thankful for each and every one of you!

Love,

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

2011-12-23T20:50:00.002-06:00

Have you tried Hershey's "Candy Cane Kisses?" They are seriously good, and paired with a light sugar cookie, they are hard to resist!

These Candy Cane Kiss cookies showed up recently at a cookie swap Lainey and I attended. Thanks, Mandy, for sharing the recipe! If you love the taste of peppermint, these are sure to satisfy!

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/4 cups butter, room temperature

1 t. peppermint extract, optional

1 t. vanilla extract

1 large egg

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

**1/2 cup Candy Cane Hershey's Kisses, finely chopped

granulated sugar

unwrapped Candy Cane Kisses, about 4 1/2 dozen

Before you begin, make room in your fridge or freezer for your cookie sheet and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Using mixer, combine powdered sugar, butter, extracts, and egg. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often until creamy. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to wet mixture and beat, scraping bowl often until well blended. It will be crumbly. Stir in chopped Kisses. **If you prefer, you can omit the chopped Kisses and substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons of peppermint extract.

Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls; roll in granulated sugar. Place one inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. As soon as they come out of the oven, gently press a Candy Cane Kiss in the center of each cookie. The cookie will crack a little, this is okay.

Optional: Immediately place cookie sheet (and cookies) into the fridge or freezer to allow the Kisses to set quickly. Leave for just a few minutes, remove cookie sheet, and transfer cookies to a cooling rack or platter.

I did not do this step and found that only a few of the Kisses lost their shape.

Once Kisses completely set, you can store in an airtight container for up to a week or freeze them for later!

Enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Christmas Decorating with Natural Elements

2011-12-21T17:55:00.004-06:00

Perhaps you are having guests to arrive in a few days and need a last-minute centerpiece or have one more little spot in your house that needs a touch of Christmas? Using natural elements that are easily found during your next grocery trip, you can pull together a great look!

Cranberries...inexpensive, natural, festive, and full of fabulous, rich color!

Fill any hurricane vase, glass container, or Mason Jar with cranberries to create an instant eye-catcher!

Simply place cranberries in hurricane vases or any glass container. Add a candle, and a bow and you have an instant centerpiece! (These are battery-operated candles...available at Wal-mart and Hobby Lobby).

Aren't these berries beautiful?

For a simple, clean look, cranberries and candles alone is perfect!

If water is added to your container with the cranberries, they will float! Another easy, beautiful option is to place greenery (I cut from holly bushes in the yard), cranberries, water, and floating candles in any glass container.

--------------------------------------------

Another very easy way to use natural elements with a touch of Christmas is to incorporate dried beans! You may remember these Fall Hurricane Vases I filled with lentils and popcorn kernels and these Mason Jars filled with coffee beans. Concept here is the same, simply using Christmas colors of red, white, and green! Dark red beans, White Northern beans, and split peas.

This look is perfect for your kitchen or anywhere in your home, especially if you decorate for Christmas with more of a "rustic" flair!

I popped battery-operated votive candles in these jars, but you can use a real candle inside a mini glass votive. Place the votive in after the second layer of beans, then fill in the third layer around the votive.

Tie simple jute, burlap, or other coordinating ribbon around the jars for a little something extra.

I love these colors together! Wouldn't this be perfect for your kitchen table? Burlap pooled in the center of your table with a few of these bean-filled jars?

Now I'm off to arrange some of this on my own (very naked) kitchen table!

I'd love for you to join My Heart's Desire Facebook community to receive up-to-date posts and other ideas posted from across the blog world!

Merry Christmas week to you!
Linking to:
Coastal Charm
Home Stories A2Z
Thrifty Thursday

Stocking Stuffer Ideas for Kids

2011-12-19T20:35:00.001-06:00

If you are like me, you may typically run to the local drugstore and pick up odds and ends for last minute stocking stuffers! Six days left, and perhaps you will find a few different items on this list that your kids will enjoy! Stockings are one of our family's favorite Christmas morning traditions!

**Please note that my kids are 10, 8, and 3, so this list is either items I have bought or would buy for these particular ages. Many of these items are appropriate for varying ages.

For boys:

Collector's cards:
Baseball, football, or other theme. My son loves the thrill of opening a new pack! As a larger, separate gift, you can give a 3-ring binder with clear sectioned sleeves to store the cards (available wherever cards are sold)

Vintage Pop Gun
A fun, vintage toy for any boy, any age! (Cracker Barrel)

Lego Mini Figures

Each pkg contains a mystery character. Only a few dollars and fun to collect! (any Toy Store or Wal-Mart)

Glow Jumper Toy
(Cracker Barrel)

For girls (all ages):

Hair accessories
My girls love new ponytail holders, headbands, barrettes, bobby pins.

Mini Barbie or Princess figures
(Walmart or Target)

Slap Watch
These inexpensive silicone watches come in bright, fun colors and styles

Earrings
Claire's Boutique carries multiple sets in fun, girly styles

Nail Polish
Crackle polish is all the rage for little and big girls alike! Any drugstore carries crackle as well as hundreds of other fun choices!

Writing tools
Gel pens, mechanical pencils, markers, fresh crayons, Sharpie pens in wild colors

If you have multiple stockings, buy this multi-pack at Wal-Mart for $10 and split it among the stockings or give the set as a larger gift.

For both girls and boys:

Gift cards
Itunes, Sonic, Chik-fil-a, Yogurt store, Movie Theater, or other favorite place they can get a small "treat"

Favorite Candy or Gum
My kids all have their favorite sweet treat. $1 boxes at discount stores, plastic tube candy canes filled with favorite candy, LifeSaver books (remember those?), mints or gum, sack of chocolate coins, and I even found this blast from the past gum at Cracker Barrel. Loved this as a kid!

Cracker Barrel peg game
(Cracker Barrel store)

Small Games:

Kanoodle

Uno Card Game

Boggle

or Go Fish, Old Maid, and regular playing cards

Individual Cokes
Shaped like an ornament (Wal-Mart)

There are countless fun ideas for stocking stuffers...share a few of yours in the comments!

A Baby Changes Everything

2011-12-18T17:58:00.000-06:00

I love Christmas music. I have vivid memories of pulling out my Christmas cassette tapes the day after Thanksgiving every year when I was little...Amy Grant's Tennessee Christmas album! Remember that one?

We all have our favorites...the traditional hymns and carols and countless updated versions of these treasured songs.

Faith Hill's version of "A Baby Changes Everything" is one of the most moving Christmas songs I have ever heard. The quality of this clip is not fabulous, but listen through to the end. This song IS the Christmas story manifested in my life. God coming to earth as an unexpected tiny baby, yet through him I am saved. My mess of a heart is saved. Easy tears. "My whole life...has turned around....I was lost...but now I'm found...a baby changes everything..."

Be blessed...

Christmas Tree Canvas

2011-12-16T13:04:00.000-06:00

Today, I am guest posting over at Arkansas Women Bloggers, and I'd love for you to join me! I'll be giving a tutorial on this Christmas Tree Canvas project that you don't want to miss! Click HERE to head on over...

Have a great weekend!

Shrimp and Grits Casserole

2011-12-15T15:28:00.009-06:00

If you have never heard of this dish, have never eaten grits, or perhaps do not even know what grits are, please keep reading! I pinky swear this dish will be one of the most delicious you have ever tasted!

For my non-Southern readers, grits are made from coarsely-ground corn, or "hominy." South Carolina boasts the original "shrimp and grits," starting when fishermen would eat the two together, calling it "breakfast shrimp." Although typically served as a breakfast side dish, grits have made a name for themselves over the years, and now are served at brunch, lunch, and dinner! Paired with shrimp and spices, you can find grits in top restaurants all over the South!

There are countless versions of Shrimp and Grits, and everyone down here has a favorite. For years, I have loved the Shrimp and Grits at City Grocery in Oxford, Mississippi where they top the cheesy grits with shrimp. And last January, I had Shrimp and Grits Casserole for the first time at our annual Mississippi cousins' reunion. If the word "casserole" scares you, be assured it is not packed with cream of anything...it's simply shrimp, grits, and lots of other delicious flavors mixed together to create one amazing dish!

I recently served Shrimp and Grits Casserole at a luncheon and am eagerly looking for a reason to make it again soon! This recipe is elegant enough for a special Holiday meal or perfect for company who love seafood!

Recipe Adapted from Mississippi Magazine, Sept/Oct 2011

Shrimp and Grits Casserole

1 cup regular grits (quick cooking, not instant)

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided (grate fresh)

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided (grate fresh)

2 T. butter

4 green onions, chopped fine

1 lb fresh shrimp, cooked and peeled, chopped (for cost and time's sake, I used Kroger's frozen "raw white shrimp" in a bag and followed cooking directions)

1 (10-oz) can original Rotel tomatoes

1/2 t. garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook shrimp according to directions. Peel and pat dry with paper towels to remove moisture. Cut each shrimp into 4 small, bite-sized pieces, if desired.

Cook grits according to package directions in chicken broth as liquid. I used about 1/2 cup extra broth, but you could add a little water to get creamier grits.

Stir together cooked grits, 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese, and 3/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese. Saute green onions in butter for about 5 minutes. Combine grits, green onion mixture, shrimp, tomatoes, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Pour into lightly greased 2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes.

Serves 6.

**Easily doubled and baked in 9x13 baking dish.

Printable Recipe

Serving suggestion: Spinach/Spring Mix Salad with Poppyseed Dressing, Buttered Garlic Bread (prepared frozen from grocery to save time), Almond Torte for Dessert

Visit My Heart's Desire Recipe Blog for other ideas!
Linking to:
Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Comfy in the Kitchen
Addicts (Not So) Anonymous Link Party
Weekend Bloggy Reading
Tidy Mom
Inspiration Friday

Family Christmas Trees!

2011-12-14T22:49:00.006-06:00

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree!

I am simply amazed at some of the Christmas trees that are floating around blogland, Pinterest...and my friend's homes! I LOVE Christmas trees. To me, a Christmas tree is one of the sweetest expressions of a person...who they are, what they love! Ever thought about that? It doesn't have to be a designer tree to be beautiful!

Our Christmas tree 2011! For 13 years, we have had a real tree, and this year decided to join the masses and buy artificial. A little sad for me, but just for the little bit of time it took for us to put this guy up.

For the last several years, I have used deco mesh in our tree. This year, I bought lime green and love it! The lime green just makes me happy.

Every year, each of us receives an ornament that pertains to something relevant to the past year. Here are the ornaments I chose for 2011...

It IS what you think it is. PB&J. Now you know they make an ornament for everything imaginable. Of course, this one belongs to Maddie, who somehow someway, has managed to take a PB&J to school every single day since kindergarten. This ornament makes me laugh. (Old World Christmas)

A mixer for me! As Lainey says, "Dat is for dah cookies!" She may or may not partake in eating massive amounts of cookie dough with me straight out of the mixer. (Target)

George. Love this little guy. If you are a mama, you dearly love the sweet characters that your child loves. And Lainey loves Curious George. (Hallmark)

For John David...he discovered pool in his granddaddy's basement/playroom last year and routinely wants David to take him to play pool! We've found one place in town that is not a bar:) (Hobby Lobby)

An ornament from David and Maddie's trip to New York City

The Christmas Pickle! Have you heard of this old English tradition? Olde World Christmas carries this fun ornament with the tradition of hiding the pickle in your tree, and the first child to find the ornament gets an extra little gift on Christmas morning. We veer a bit...we decorate our tree, hide the pickle, and the first child to find the pickle gets to open the first gift on Christmas Eve!

This ornament is perfect for an ornament exchange or for a neighbor with children! It comes with a tiny card explaining the tradition.

I would have photographed our actual pickle, but darn if I can't find the thing! My kids come home from school and hide it over and over and over. Seriously, I cannot find it.

They even make these mini pickles, perfect for a child's tree! Each of my children has one on his or her tree in their bedrooms!

And one I just received today! A handmade cotton boll ornament from Farris Wheel Pottery sent to us by a dear childhood friend! A little Mississippi for my tree. Love.

The kids' real tree in the kitchen. It smells divine, and it, too, is full of special ornaments and crafts from school, etc.

The kids each have a tiny tree in their rooms...

John David's is a mix of sports, trains, and Santa's.

Maddie...hot pink and lime green!

And little Lainey's is baby pink. Got this one at Wal-Mart last year. Love it!

And last but not least, my score for this Christmas season...an old ceramic Christmas tree! Did your grandmother have one of these in her home? I saw a few of these out in blogland and in early November, I walked into an antique store and this was the first thing I saw. Isn't she charming? It sits in my kitchen and it reminds me of simpler times. I love it.

Do you put up a family tree or do you have more of a designer/themed tree? What is your Christmas tree tradition?

My Heart's Desire will have several more Christmas posts before next weekend, so be sure to "Like" us on Facebook in the right sidebar to receive up-to-date posts!

Love,

Linking to:
Weekend Bloggy Reading
Feathered Nest Friday
Tidy Mom
Inspiration Friday

Thrifty Decor Chick

Shoepeg Corn Casserole

2011-12-13T22:05:00.003-06:00

Looking for an easy side dish to add to your Christmas menu? Add just a few simple ingredients to your list and you can put this corn casserole together in a flash.

Everyone has a favorite, eagerly-anticipated dish at their Holiday table, and aside from my mom's dressing, corn casserole is mine!

This recipe delivers a hint of salty sweetness that is hard to beat! Thanks to my dear family friend, Mary Margaret Hickman, for sharing this recipe with me so many years ago!

Shoepeg Corn Casserole

1 can white shoepeg corn

1 8-oz carton whipping cream

2 T. butter

2 T. flour

Salt and pepper to taste

In a small skillet, melt butter and blend in flour with a whisk. Drain corn. In a mixing bowl, stir together corn and whipping cream. Add butter/flour mixture. Salt and pepper to taste.

Pour mixture into an 8x8 glass baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Check out this crust! Delish!

Serves 4-5.

**NOTE--I typically double or triple this recipe depending on number of people. To double, double ingredients as usual. To triple, use only 4 T. butter and 5 T. flour.

Printable Recipe

Linking to:
Inspiration Friday

Chef-n-Training

Giveaway Winner Announced!

2011-12-12T18:38:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all of you who entered the Cary Collins Designs giveaway! The winner is Ann from On Sutton Place!

Cary's Scripture calendars and notepads make a perfect gift! If you are local, you can find them at The Good Earth Garden Center!

Have a great week!

Christmas Mantel

2011-12-08T22:24:00.005-06:00

Don't you love your home decorated for Christmas?! We spend most of our time in the kitchen and adjoining den, so we are able to enjoy the tree and mantel much of the day!

It has taken me a few years to "fluff" it up...here is the progression starting two Christmases ago!

Christmas 2009 when I clearly knew nothing about turning off that flash:)

Christmas 2010, I doubled the garland and lights, simplified things, and added the JOY wreath inspired by Restore Interiors blog. A long search for something red with height proved futile, but I started looking early this year!

I landed on tall cone glitter trees from Garden Ridge for under $10 a piece. In a few years when the glitter is gone, I'll have three great cone forms to repurpose:) !

Click HERE to see how I made the wreath.

The extra sparkle is really pretty at night!

All the stockings are ones we've had since we married, then each of the kids, since they were born. I love the sentiment behind these and hope to use these forever!

Cozy mantel at night

Merry Merry from my den to yours!

Linking to:

Weekend Bloggy Reading

HomeStoriesA2Z Mantel Link Party

Holiday Home Mantel Link Party with Southern Hospitality

Christmas Tablescape

2011-12-07T22:59:00.001-06:00

Christmas...how I love to decorate for Christmas! There's a fun link party going on this month, and one of the themes is Tablescapes!

A few years ago, after many, many years of waiting, we bought formal dining room furniture. I shopped and shopped and landed on a traditional antique set that I will cherish forever! Our formal dining room has been my favorite room in our home ever since!

I hosted my monthly lunch group at my home yesterday...here is a peek at the table!

I've collected Spode's "Christmas Tree" china for years, and we use it for our "everyday" tableware the entire month of December. It transfers to a formal place setting perfectly. Below the plates, I placed simple gold chargers from Wal-mart, and as a base, a red beaded placemat/charger, also purchased at Wal-mart! (I have collected these over the years and pick them up here and there during the year).

The three-piece, mirrored centerpiece may be a bit difficult to see here, but it is so beautiful, so versatile, and reminds me of my mom. A family friend from my hometown graciously gave this to me out of her elderly mother's things this year because she knew I had been on the hunt. It is all the more special to me!

Our dining room is largely decorated in silver and gold for Christmas, and lots of candlelight is gorgeous on the mirror! A set of beaded votives from Paul Michael and simple glass cylinder vases (Wal-mart/Hobby Lobby/Garden Ridge) adorn the mirror. I popped floating candles from Hobby Lobby in the cylinders. One of the easiest and prettiest ways to get elegant light!

The glass "fishbowl" is a go-to piece for every season, and I filled it with silver and gold ornaments purchased last year at Michael's after Christmas.

I love the different textures of ornaments together.

At each place setting, I placed a Christmas Cracker! Have you seen these? My mom used these at her table, and they are an inexpensive, fun, and festive touch to any table! Each guest pulls apart the "cracker," and it pops similarly to a cap gun, opening to reveal goodies inside! Click the link above to read the history.

I purchased a set of 8 Christmas Crackers last year after Christmas at Pier One for half off. They are a little pricey at full price, but really pretty. But today, I found a set of 8 at Party City for $9.99!

Dollar Store reindeer ornaments hung from the chandelier with clear fishing line. This, too, is a very inexpensive way to add flair to your table area!

Here is our group about to enjoy Almond Torte for dessert! (That is, after Dutch had already run off with one guest's entire piece!)

Melanie was behind the camera in the group photo. Melanie, me, and two others in this lunch group have been getting together since 2001! We started as a playgroup, then I moved away, the group evolved a bit, then when I moved back to Little Rock, it soon became a Lunch group due to playgroup consisting of way too many kids to keep it fun:). So lunch it is. And I couldn't ask for a sweeter group of girls.

After my guests left, it dawned on me that I could not remember the last time I set the table with pretty things (with the exception of obligatory Holidays)...or went to someone else's home to a sit-down meal. (We get together with families all the time for dinner, but as you know, it's wild and fun and chaotic with kids)

I encourage you to get out your pretty things...your wedding gifts you haven't touched in years...and have a few friends over for lunch or dinner. It doesn't have to be fancy or expensive or hard to pull off. Your guests will simply be glad you asked!

Come back later this week where I will post the Shrimp and Grits we had for lunch! You will Seriously. Love. This. Dish!

See you back here soon!

Linking to:

Cary Collins Designs Giveaway!

2011-12-06T15:52:00.001-06:00

Hey friends! It's giveaway time at My Heart's Desire! This is one you don't want to miss! It is the perfect Christmas present for a friend, co-worker, mom, sister, or for yourself!

Let me introduce you to my friend Cary Collins of Cary Collins Designs!

Mitzi Penick Photography

Cary is an amazing artist with a precious heart! Her products are fun, whimsical, and encouraging for your soul! I've had Cary's personalized Scripture calendars adorning our kitchen for years and years!

Here are just a few of Cary's items...

Christmas cards!

Thank-you notes

And the items you can win in this giveaway...

Mitzi Penick Photography

12-month Scripture calendar and acrylic frame...

plus this adorable notepad for Christmas lists, grocery lists, or notes to the teacher!

Mitzi Penick Photography

Cary's calendars are 5x7, so they look great in any 5x7 frame you already have, as shown above.

Read more about Cary and see more of her products at Cary Collins Designs!

So while you're here, be sure to enter to win the Scripture calendar and notepad...there are several ways listed below!

To enter this giveaway worth $25:

Mandatory Entry:

Follow My Heart's Desire and leave a comment telling me you are a follower. If you are already following, simply leave a comment that you follow already! **If you do not have a blog or are a "no-reply" blogger, please leave your email in the comments so I can get in touch with you!)

Extra Entries:

1) "Like" My Heart's Desire on Facebook (right sidebar) and come back and leave a separate comment that you "Liked" My Heart's Desire! If you have already "Liked" us on Facebook, let me know in a comment!

2) Announce this giveaway on your blog, Facebook page, or Twitter, and come back and tell me that you did!

Please note: Only ships to Continental USA and ends Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 10pm Central Time.

Garvan Gardens-Hot Springs, AR

2011-12-03T22:52:00.000-06:00

This post is for my local readers:) We visited "Lights on the Landscape" at Garvan Gardens tonight, and we are so glad we did! Although we have lived here many years, we've never ventured to Hot Springs for this light display. I highly recommend it for anyone, any age!

Nighttime photos are not my forte', but you get the picture...amazing lights, like a Winter Wonderland!

For some reason, we thought the peacock was funny...maybe it has something to do with this story in my hometown?

Groovy gingerbread men!

This photo does the butterfly no justice, but trust me, they were beautiful!

Click HERE for more photos from About.com.

Garvan Gardens is located at 550 Arkridge Road, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913. "Lights on the Landscape" is open thru December 31st from 5pm to 9pm each evening. Cost is $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. (They do accept debit/credit cards FYI!)

The entire tour took us about one hour. Hot chocolate available at the end!

Be sure to schedule Garvan Gardens into your holiday plans if you are in the Little Rock area!

Christmas Candy Trees

2011-12-03T09:18:00.033-06:00

Christmas Candy Trees! My grandmother used to have gumdrop trees similar to these at Christmas every year, and I made my first ones nearly 8 years ago when John David was an infant! Believe it or not, those trees lasted us til this year, but they were looking pretty tired, so I decided to make more!

I love how these turned out! You can choose any color combination you like. With Christmas candy, there are so many great options!

For these trees, I chose red and green gumdrops, Sour Apple gummy rings (hard to find...found these at a Shell Station! and Hobby Lobby), marshmallows, and red and green peppermints. For the cone forms, white styrofoam are best because you can see the cone through the spaces between the candies. These pictured are from The Dollar Store and Michael's.

The clear glass candlesticks I found at The Dollar Store and Wal-Mart, and the large ones I already had (they were originally gold). Each piece got a spray paint coat of glossy white paint, which turned out so fresh and clean!

You will need a glue gun and lots of glue sticks! Begin at the bottom of your cone, and begin to glue the candies around the base. Continue up the cone in rows in the same fashion. The spacing at the end of the rows will not be perfect, that is okay! Start your rows in the same area all the way up so that any gaps will be all on the same side. You can display the "good" side.

I love the all green and white together. Similarly, you can create your own color scheme to match your decor! All red/white, green/white, multi-color (gumdrops), etc.

Pictured above and below are the glass candlesticks before being painted white.

You could go with all glass stands and skip the white paint, and they would be beautiful, especially with two-toned candy selections!

These fun, whimsical trees are easy and inexpensive additions to your Christmas decor! Look around your house for outdated candleholders for your tree bases, too!

If you decide to make one, please share the photo with us!

My Heart's Desire has a new Facebook page! Be sure to "Like" us (right sidebar) so you can receive up-to-date posts. Lots more Christmas to come!

Linking to:

Homemade in December Link Carnival

Weekend Bloggy Reading

Simply Designing

Tatertots and Jello

Six Sisters Stuff

Be Different Act Normal

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Making the World Cuter Monday

Tip Me Tuesday

Not Just a Housewife

Inspired by You Wednesday

Bedazzle Me Monday

Chutney Cheese Ball

2011-11-30T23:03:00.006-06:00

Christmas is around the corner, and parties will be in full swing starting this weekend! Why not offer to bring an appetizer and try this Chutney Cheese Ball? I promise your guests or fellow party-goers will be standing around this plate until it is gone!

This colorful appetizer is beautiful at Christmas, but is suitable for any time of year.

Chutney Cheese Ball

8 oz. cream cheese, room temp

8 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded finely, then to room temp

2 T. cooking sherry

3/4 t. curry

1/4 t. salt

3/4 cup toasted sliced almonds

1/2 cup Craisins

1/2 cup sliced green onions

Major Grey's Chutney (found on int'l or condiment aisle)

Triscuits for serving

Shred cheddar cheese with fine side of the grater. Allow cream cheese and shredded cheddar to come to room temperature. Mix together with a spatula or with a mixer.

Stir in cooking sherry, curry, and salt to cheese mixture.

Return mixture to refrigerator for about 30 minutes to allow for easier forming. While cheese firms up, toast almonds in a small skillet. Heat skillet to medium heat, add sliced almonds and toss frequently to avoid burning. When you can smell the almonds, they are done. Place on a plate to cool.

Remove cheese from fridge and form into desired shape directly on your serving platter or plate. I used a small plate and formed a circle, leaving room to surround the cheese with the chutney for serving. Be creative here! Form a ball, a log, or the shape of your dish.

To serve, sprinkle cheese ball with toasted almonds, Craisins, and green onions.

Pour the chutney around the perimeter of the cheese ball. Serve with Triscuits and enjoy!

Printable Recipe

Visit My Heart's Desire Recipes for other ideas!

Linking to:

Blissful and Domestic

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 29 and 30

2011-11-30T22:49:00.001-06:00

I am thankful for the gift of music in my life! This first week of the Christmas season is always one of my favorite times to listen to music! It's almost as if childhood is just a breath away!
I play the piano and it will always be one of my greatest loves, although I rarely play anymore. I need to change that.
Music can minister to our souls, bring healing tears, make us dance, make us laugh, or take us back to a special place tucked away in our hearts like no other thing can!
Today concludes the 30 Days of Thankfulness series, and I hope you will stick around for the month of December where lots and lots of Christmas is to come!
Be sure to "Like" My Heart's Desire's Facebook page in the right sidebar if you want to receive up-to-date posts via Facebook!
Blessings to you,

Christmas Books for Children

2011-11-28T21:00:00.001-06:00

One of the best parts of unpacking Christmas at our house is Christmas books! The kids each have their favorites, as well do David and I from our childhood! You may have a few of these, and perhaps you will discover a new title that can become part of your collection!

Do you remember this one? So fun how a book can take you back 30 years with just a sniff:)

Santa Mouse...my hubby's favorite Christmas book as a little boy!

The Crippled Lamb...sweet, thought-provoking, beautifully illustrated.

Magical! Love this precious story.

You can probably quote this one!

The Night Tree...love, love this one...a charming story story you don't want to miss!

I've posted this one for Easter, as well, and it's a beautiful story for any time of year. The manger plays a role in this tale, making it part of our Christmas collection, too.

Inside cover..."Everyone's favorite woolly sheep is baaaack in a Christmas story perfect for any eager child awaiting Santa's arrival."

A happy, silly, rhyming story about some clever cows and how they save their Christmas!

Don't you immediately sing the tune when you see this title?

A classic we never get tired of!

"That cold winter's night, beneath the star's light...a Little One came for the world."

Mr. Willowby's tree is too tall, so he asks his butler to chop off the top. What happens to the treetop? A charming, classic, Christmas tale!

A sweet story my friend Shelley told me about. Heartwarming and appropriate for older children, too.

I Spy Christmas...fun for all ages. One of our all-time favorite books! Beautiful pictures and loads of fun!

Every Christmas, my dear childhood friend, Claire, or my mom add a new Christmas book to our collection, so our shelf is quite full. We never tire of these!

I'd love to hear about your favorite Christmas books! Do you have a favorite childhood or have additional titles that your kids love to read at Christmastime?

Leave a comment or share it over at My Heart's Desire Facebook page!

Merry Christmas Reading!
Linking to:
HomeStoriesA2Z

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 28

2011-11-28T20:39:00.000-06:00

Day 28I am thankful for our church and the privilege of being part of a community of believers that God is using all over the world, not just here in Little Rock, Arkansas!
Thankful for the gifted teaching pastors, staff, and an amazing worship team who serve our church. We Americans really take our freedom to be a part of a church for granted! So many Christians in other parts of the world do not have such luxuries and freedoms.
We have been a part of a few churches in a couple of towns since we married in 1999, and each time we have been blessed beyond measure through the people God has placed in our lives.
As this 30 Days of Thankfulness series comes to a close in a couple of days, I hope you have been encouraged and uplifted! Stick around for Christmas coming soon!

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 27

2011-11-27T22:28:00.000-06:00

Day 27I am thankful for the chaos of decorating a tree with three children! Really, it's crazy, but it's fun. They have been asking since Thanksgiving lunch...when can we get our ornaments out?! The kids know that each year they get a new ornament, and who doesn't love pulling out all the ornaments, remembering a special place or vacation or a special person or hobby or favorite toy depicted in the individual ornaments!

I hadn't even gotten the pumpkins off the mantel!

My helpers! Poor Lainey you can see a little of here...still in pajamas at 4pm, being corralled to the couch every 4 minutes while we got the breakable ornaments out.

Our finished tree! A little hard to see since it was dark by the time we took the photo. It may be my favorite tree we've ever had! But I say that every year!

Happy Christmas Decorating these next couple of weeks!

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 26

2011-11-26T22:25:00.000-06:00

Day 26I've been away from the blog a good bit so I could be with my family.
Today, I am thankful for dinner with dear friends passing through Little Rock on their way home to Texas. Of course, I had good intentions to get a photo, and didn't bring the camera. The Chapmans are our next door "neighbors" at Pine Cove Family Camp, and like with all Pine Cove campers, there is a special bond that is such a treasure!
Although we only spend one week a year with these Pine Cove families, reuniting with them is a sweet reminder we are "like family." I will be forever thankful for Pine Cove.

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 24

2011-11-24T17:46:00.000-06:00

Day 24Thankful for my family on this Thanksgiving Day 2011!

John David, my nephew Braden, and Lainey

Me, my mom, aunt, sister, and Maddie

Me and my honey

My firstborn, who is getting way too big.

My handsome hubby roasts a great turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving Day to you!

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 23

2011-11-23T22:33:00.000-06:00

Day 23I am thankful for time away from school and work routines, family in town, amazing food to eat, and a few days with my hubby at home!
Happy Thanksgiving!

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 22

2011-11-22T19:42:00.000-06:00

Day 22I am thankful for our family doctor! All five of us go to the same Internal Medicine clinic, as our doctor is also a MedPed. The kids and I were there today for our flu shots, and like every time I am there for any reason, I am so thankful for the wonderful staff! Our main doctor is a personal friend and such an attentive doctor who will go the extra mile for his patients!
The clinic is not close to our home, so now and again I think it would be great to switch to one more conveniently located, but like always after a visit, I am reminded that I love this clinic and most importantly, the staff, who are always so kind, compassionate, and accommodating.
Thankful, too, for great healthcare through my husband's job and that we are able to take our family to such a wonderful clinic!
Thank you, Barg-Gray Clinic!

Elf on the Shelf shirt

2011-11-22T16:42:00.001-06:00

Once again this week, I apologize for pushing Christmas:), but perhaps you love this little shirt as much as me, and you'll need some time to order!

I found Lainey's shirt at LuLu Grace Designs via Pinterest. She had a limited quantity left when I checked today, so I did a little digging around to find some similar shirts. Carlie Anna Boutique carries this exact design, and I found this iron-on version at Tea Party Designs!

And these adorable pants I picked up yesterday for just a few dollars at Wal-Mart! They had several cute Christmas pant designs in stripes and polkadots that would match any Christmas tee.

I rarely splurge on Holiday-specific clothes for the kids, but now and again, it's fun! (And I bought one size up so Lainey will have this next year, too!)

If you are an Elf on the Shelf family, click HERE to see my Elf on the Shelf Pinterest Board with fun hiding spot ideas!

Our Elf arrives the Friday after Thanksgiving every year...do you have an Elf?
Linking to:
Weekend Bloggy Reading

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 21

2011-11-21T19:50:00.000-06:00

Day 21I am thankful for the blog world! If you blog and have gotten connected to others in your niche, you probably agree!
While it will never be a replacement for real-life friends and in-person community, it has been one of the greatest sources of encouragement and inspiration I have ever known!
The blogging world is made up of some of the most creative, gracious, and inspiring people I have ever met! I even had the privilege of meeting so many of them in person last month at The Relevant Conference. And there are the many, many women I have connected with and have never met in person, but still, there is a sincere, authentic connection as believers, as cooks, as crafters, as moms, as wives, as writers.
The list of things I have learned from blogging is long, but one of the biggest things for me has been learning to think "outside the box." Whether it's transforming an old piece of furniture or preparing a new recipe or creating something seasonal for my home or learning how to be a better mom or wife...the blog world is full of amazing people who are willing to help me, walk with me, teach me, encourage me, pray for me! And it has truly been an honor to serve in this role for my blog friends, as well!
I am thankful that God is using something as crazy as the internet to bless me so richly!
And speaking of blog friends, Beth and I are still partnering in the 30 Days of Thankfulness series and would love for you to jump in this last week! And just as a side note, I "met" Beth through a mutual friend and Pine Cove family camper this past summer. I came home, looked up Beth's blog, and we connected immediately! Once again, a heart connection we never would have known without the blogging community! So thankful.
Hope your Monday has been drier than ours in Arkansas! We will need an ark soon!

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011-Day 19 & 20

2011-11-20T21:23:00.000-06:00

Wow, I am having to double up again on the days! I spent the majority of yesterday cleaning and putting all my "piles" away so we can officially set the table and start preparing for Thanksgiving guests!
Anyone out there like me, you look up some days and there are more catalogs, receipts, and loose papers than you can shake a stick at? Plus I have been working on a few Christmas things that I will post soon, so Pilgrims and Christmas candy and my piles have covered the table for weeks. Yuck.
Back to 30 Days of Thankfulness..Day 19/20...I am thankful for a much-needed date night with David last night. We gave a new place a try...Layla's Gyros and Pizzaria. If you are in Little Rock, give this place a try! We ran through a store to look for a few Christmas things, then on to Chik-fil-a for a Peppermint Milkshake:) We spent the last half of our time making the Christmas list! I feel so much relief just getting it on paper. Thankful for David's willingness to help me plan and shop for what can sometimes be an overwhelming time of year for me!
Looking forward to a week with no routine...hope you have a great one!