Hydrangea Kisses

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d4771c607fb6d91f0cc8444/hydrangea-kisses

Here is a beautiful new treasury that I created on etsy! Enjoy!

Healthy Farmhouse Apple Oat Muffins

Here is a very healthy muffin that actually tastes good and is very easy to make! I adapted several recipes and added my own touches. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

4 Cups of quick-cooking oats

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

4 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

2 TB vanilla

2 cups of skim milk mixed with 1 TB of vinegar

2 eggs lightly beaten

4 cups shredded apples with peels

1 cup golden raisin

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup honey

Mix wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately,then stir together until well blended. Spray non-stick cooking spray into muffin tin and fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 400 degrees for about 11 minutes. Store in air-tight container after they are cooled. They become moister over night. 

Great for a fast breakfast! Enjoy!

Something New But Really Old

See what's fresh and new from my etsy studio.....but it's created from old church song book pages! This is an original My Sparrows Nest design. Layers of paper curls....sturdily secured and fastened tight to be very strong and multi-purpose. I just love it!

Lancome Hypnose Drama

True confession. I love make up. I have very fair skin with green eyes and light golden brown hair ( or so my box of hair color claims). My eyelashes are so light that without make up I look seriously anemic. Over the years I have tried lots of cheap mascaras. For years I used L'Oreal Voluminous until I got tired of the flakes of mascara falling off during the day. So, I started trying department store make up. I was lured by the gifts with purchase and the promise of being able to return if I did not like it. I reasoned that even though the price is more than double of the drug store brand ;if I didn't like it and could return it, I would actually save money. 

Recently, I have become of fan of Lancome mascaras. I have tried several and liked them to varying degrees. A few I sent back for a full refund! After reading a lot of reviews and talking to the woman at my local Lancome counter I settled on trying Lancome Hypnose Drama.

This morning I used it for the first time and I must say, I love it! It thickens my lashes and lengthens them and gives them a "fanned out" look. I used several coats to achieve the look I wanted. No allergy, no flaking. My lashes look better than I hoped they would. I am impressed. Lancome mascaras are a good value because they last for a long time. If you try it and don't love it, take it back!

I thought I would share this for any of you that like me are looking for the perfect mascara!

Warmth

My daughter gave me this lovely tea cup and saucer for Christmas. She found it at Anthropologie. I knew I had to take this gorgeous set out into the sparkling fresh snow and photograph it. I love it! This print will be in my etsy shoppe soon!

Peace

The Heart of Christmas

Something happened today at my house that made me cry. For weeks I have been scurrying from task to task, with emotions high and low and every spot in between. In the midst of my day, as I was busily crossing things off of my to-do list( that was growing by the minute), my son took me aside and pulled something from his pocket. It was his shiny silver ipod that he uses for his work-outs. He asked me if his older sister, who is home visiting, ever got the ipod that she has wanted for awhile. I said that she hadn't. He then went on to tell me that he would like to give his ipod to her. He had erased all of his music and set it up for her use. He didn't wrap it and he didn't wait for Christmas, because she has to go back to work before then and won't be with us on Christmas day. He said to me that he didn't have money to purchase a gift, but her wanted to give her his ipod. I cannot tell you how that exchange melted my heart. I'm sure her heart was touched and I know it made his Christmas to be able to give her something she has wanted for awhile. A gift given from his heart. A gift given with sacrifice. A gift given with thoughtfulness. Today my son reminded me of what Christmas is all about. It's not how much money you have to spend on those you love. It's not the fancy wrapping. It's love reminiscent of that first Christmas when God sent His Son. It was a gift given from God's heart. A gift given with sacrifice. It was a gift given with thoughtfulness to our need of a Savior. May this Christmas bring you deep joy! Merry Christmas!