#LIGHTtheWORLD

Are you ready to #LIGHTtheWORLD? 

Watch a video and learn more HERE

Children's calendar found HERE

Calendar & quote found HERE

Pass along cards found HERE

I printed 24 pass along cards to send with my son to school. I will write what we are supposed to be focusing on that day so he can remember. Once he has served, he will write it down on the card and place it in an envelope on the tree. Christmas day we will open the envelope and read how each of us served throughout the month. Look for the good in others. Share LOVE and LIGHT!

#LIGHTtheWORLD

I've got the itch...

Last year I noticed I was spending a lot of time pinning items on Pinterest. I also spent a lot of time making my favorite items. I've got that itch again this year. I'm not sure if it is due to having finals right around the corner and needing a mental break or my LOVE for the Christmas season. I wanted to make an advent calendar for my family filled with small traditions. I found many options on how to make one and this style caught my eye. I spent hours in Photoshop making my own numbers. On the inside of the tins are things to do or to talk about during the month of December. The nice thing is that I can switch the tins around next year (they have magnets on them and are not glued down) so each activity doesn't have to be on a certain day.

I found this book last year and wanted to incorporate the ideas celebrating a Christ-Centered Christmas. The items in gold are the days we focus on the special people that fill the nativity scene each year. I also found mini ornaments that represent these people and they fit perfectly in the tins.

I put the tins together over Thanksgiving. I added lights to my shadow box which I love. All in all, it took a ton of time but I plan on having this around for many years to come. I can replace the activities in the tins or let my children help plan next years activities and traditions. 

We decided to go to temple square the night they turned on the lights for the season. There was hardly anyone there a half hour before the lights were turned on. By the time the lights were turned on it was so crowded! What a neat experience. 

Chicken and Lime Soup
Credit: BUDGET BITE$

My mother-in-law makes this for me and it is so delightful! Sometimes she purchases a rotisserie chicken and uses it. I always add more lime, cilantro and avocado to mine. I think she leaves out the jalapeno. Helpful hint, it always tastes better the second day!

CHICKEN AND LIME SOUP

PREP TIME

10 mins

COOK TIME

1 hour 15 mins

TOTAL TIME

1 hour 25 mins

Total Cost: $6.39

Cost Per Serving: $1.07

Serves: 6

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp olive oil $0.24
• 1 medium yellow onion $0.28
• 2 stalks celery $0.45
• 1 medium jalapeno $0.09
• 4 cloves garlic $0.32
• ¾ lb. chicken breast $1.46
• 6 cups chicken broth* $0.42
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can diced tomatoes w/chiles $0.95
• 1 tsp oregano $0.05
• ½ Tbsp cumin $0.08
• 1 medium lime $0.33
• ½ bunch cilantro $0.43
• 1 medium avocado $1.29
• 1. Dice the onion, celery, and jalapeno (scrape the seeds out of the jalapeno before dicing). Mince the garlic. Cook the onion, celery, jalapeno, and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until tender.
  2. Add the chicken breast, chicken broth, canned tomatoes with chiles, oregano, and cumin to the pot. Bring the whole pot up to a boil over high heat then reduce the heat to low, place a lid on top, and let simmer for one hour.
  3. After simmering for an hour with a lid on, carefully remove the chicken breast from the pot and use two forks to shred the meat. Return the meat to the pot. Squeeze the juice of one lime into the soup. Get as much juice as possible from the lime by using a spoon to scrape the inside of the lime.
  4. Rinse the cilantro and then roughly chop the leaves. Add to the pot, give it a quick stir, and serve. Dice the avocado and add a few chunks to each bowl.
  NOTES

  *I use Better Than Bouillon chicken soup base to make my broth because it is less expensive than buying canned or boxed broths.

Pinterest

I struggle with Pinterest. When I'm browsing I find myself starving after a few minutes of looking at delicious food.. I wish I had a magic wand to wave and have food show up on my table looking as good as the photo I saw and tasting even better than I imagined. Then there is the DIY crafts or how to decorate your walls. I'm currently a full-time student living in student housing. My walls are white. White is so white and yet I think of it as a blank canvas! Since I'm a photographer, I enjoy covering my walls in photos. Here are a few of my latest Pinterest inspired creations. I just finished a final and have a few weeks before fall semester begins, so you may not see many DIY projects for a few months. My program is the best in the state which means many credits, lots of classes and lots of time. Yikes! Also next week I have 3 family photo sessions, a family reunion and a frozen treat bake off contest I'm entering for fun. The following weeks forecast looks like a LOT of editing time to be able to get my clients their photos before school starts. Wish me luck!

This was before we moved the crib to the other side of the room.

Canned Green Beans

Canned Green Beans

Have no fear! Green beans are easy to can, they are just time consuming. I canned green beans today to show some neighbors the process. Green beans need to be canned in a pressure cooker. Have your gauge tested yearly to ensure it is functioning properly. My pressure cooker is an All American model 921 and holds 7 quarts.

Rinse beans, snap both ends off and throw away. Depending on the length of the bean it will be snapped in half or in thirds. Fill quart jars with beans and thump them on the heel of your hand to help them get packed in tightly. Add 1 teaspoon of canning salt. Fill with warm water leaving 1/2 inch head space. Use a plastic knife to go around the edges and help release any air bubbles that may be trapped. Add more water if needed. Place lids and bands on snugly. It always helps to have your lids soaking in warm water before putting them on.

 

Place jars into pressure cooker on the rack. Add 3 inches of warm water to the canner. Place lid on and screw on snug. Make sure to line up the arrow on the lid to the line on the pressure cooker to ensure the lid is on correctly. Turn on the stove top to high heat.. Make sure the flute is open. Once the flute is steaming wait 3 minutes and close it. Now is the time to sit and watch the gauge slowly rise to the correct pressure. Depending on the altitude you live in will depend on how many pounds of pressure you will need. For me, its 13 lbs. Once it hits 13 lbs. start the timer for 25 minutes. The trick it to make sure the gauge doesn't fall below or above the correct pressure for your area. This will mean you will be adjusting the dial on the stove to find that perfect pressure. Never leave a pressure cooker unattended! Once the timer goes off, turn off the stove and let the pressure cooker sit until the pressure gauge reads zero. This takes time but as long as you remember to turn off the stove you can start on something else. Once the pressure is at zero, slowly open the flute to release any additional pressure. At this point you can open your pressure cooker and remove the bottles. They will still be boiling, so be careful and be prepared with a jar lifter! Place the bottles on a hand towel about 3 inches away from each bottle so there is room for them to cool. As they start to cool you will hear the popping of the jars sealing. Once they are cooled, check to make sure they all sealed. If one did not seal, serve it as part of your dinner that night or use within the next few days.

Simple! Right?!

Rhubarb Jam

Rhubarb Jam
Shared by Banner Family
Makes three 8 oz. jars

5 cups rhubarb cut up
1/2 cup water
2 or 3 cups sugar
3 oz package Wild Strawberry Jello

Boil first 3 ingredients for 10 minutes, add Jello package. Stir well, let it cool for 2 hours, put on lids and freeze.

 

 

Sheena's Wheat Bread

Sheena's Wheat Bread
Makes 2 loaves

1 cup milk
1 cup hot water
1 1/2 tsp. yeast
1 1/2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 cups wheat flour
1 3/4 cups white flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp, wheat germ

I add the first 3 ingredients and let sit for 2 minutes in my breadmaker. Then add the rest of the ingredients and set timer to first rise. Once finished mixing and rising, I remove from the breadmaker and break into 2 small loaves. Place in a greased pan, I normally use crisco. Bake 350 degrees for 40 + minutes.