SmellingCoffee.com

... the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Christ in every place...

You are here: Home / Archives for Inspired Ideas

Inspired Ideas

Frappuccino Fun with Amy – more great Christmas ideas!

Five Under Five in Five

Around the Holidays, my husband, Richard, says that I was an elf in a former life! I love to give to any and everyone. There are so many people that deserve some sort of acknowledgement at Christmas (the mail carrier, neighbors, teachers, garbage collector, Sunday school teacher, you get the idea).

That list could cause the average “non-elf-like” person a great deal of stress! I find that at Christmas it’s the small details that can send you over the edge and contribute to a “holiday breakdown”. Once again, the answer lies within the planning. Start now and you won’t spend December with your “tinsel in a tangle”.

Here is a list of FIVE gift ideas that you can buy for less than FIVE dollars and put together in under FIVE minutes!

1. Peppermint Packets – One envelope Deluxe Mint Hot Cocoa Packet (Wal-Mart – $.44); one Ghirardelli chocolate peppermint coffee (Target “One Spot” – $1); Add a few candy cane Hershey Kisses. Place all items in a clear cellophane bag and tie a ribbon on top. Stick a candy cane through the bow.


2. Fuzzy Socks – (Dollar Tree – $1); Add a foot soak packet (Wal-Mart – $.99); this is a cute gift for anyone. One year I gave them to Sunday School teachers with a note attached that said, “How Beautiful are the feet of those who spread “Good News”. (Romans 10:15)


3. A Bath & Body mini Lotion or Anti-Bacterial Gel – Wrap in Tulle. I stockpile these all year long. Most of the time I buy them for $1 each. (Pictured below: Bath and Body Works Spicy Gingerbread Lotion and a $1 Gingerbread ornament hanging from the bow.)


4. A Blockbuster Gift Card attached to a pack of Microwave Popcorn – A great “guy gift’!

5. Gift Card Stockings – Remember all of those gift cards you’ve been buying? (If you don’t know what I am talking about please see my first Frappucino Post) – Put a gift card in a mini-stocking (I bought the one pictured at Dollar Tree 2 for $1).


Through the years I have been told countless times, “this is the only gift I have ever received” (Especially by those who are behind the scenes and make our lives a lot easier). A gift says you are thought of, you are appreciated and I value the job you do!

Most of the gifts I give are purchased all year long. I seem to always have Christmas in the back of my mind. This week I’ve had so much fun wrapping gifts I haven’t seem since July! Now all I have to do when I need a small or spur of the moment gift is grab and go!

By the way….How are you doing on the “Sanity Savers for the Season”? I picked up and addressed my family Christmas Cards this week! I can’t tell you how good that felt; I wanted to high five myself while leaving Wal-Mart!!! Stay tuned for more “Sanity Savers” next week.


Happy Friday!!!

TTFN
Frappuccino Fun

alt=rss

Frappuccino Fun with Amy

Gather Around the Table

Happy Friday ALL!

How are you doing on last weeks “Sanity Savers”?

As a new Mom early on in my married years, my sister Susan encouraged me to do something that has been pivotal in the life of our family: “The Family Dinner”.

Eighteen years ago I had a fussy baby boy and a very busy Minister husband (who was gone many evenings). When my sister suggested the family dinner I thought she was nuts! It was all I could do to clean, rock and feed my new baby. Now she thought I could actually serve a meal and get us all around the table at the same time???

She explained to me that if we established a habit of having dinner together as a family it would enrich and bond us in special way. As a way to appease my older and very influential sister, I started to set the table, make a meal and have a family dinner (even the baby was there in his high chair). Gone were the days of eating in shifts on the couch in front of the TV!

Through the years, my children have learned to sit in their chairs, bless the food, table manners and even to engage (sometimes) in meaningful conversation. We have learned the joy and value of spending time together around the table. At dinner, besides eating together, we share our “High” and “Low” of the day and simply stop and talk to one another.

Now before you go thinking that Frappuccino Fun is really “June Cleaver” in disguise, DON’T! I fall short many times in this area. Do we have family dinners seven days a week – NO. I shoot for a more realistic goal of 4 to 5 meals together. We, like other families, are busy and tired. Do I joyfully stroll into the kitchen daily and whip up a ten course meal? NO WAY! It may be Publix Fried Chicken or a Bowl of Soup and a Sandwich but come most Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, you will fine my gang gathered around the table whether we want to or not. (I’m just kidding about the “or not” – most of the time we really want to, it’s just that the family dinner is not always convienent.) As a Mom, I must be the driving force to keep the habit alive. Here’s how I do it…

Menu planning – buy what you need at the grocery store and have it on hand – you’ll never cook dinner if you have to run to the store all the time.

Start dinner in the A.M. – I suggest using the crock pot – find a good cookbook and get your meal going while you still have energy.

Set the table after breakfast for dinner – this may sound silly but when I walk through my kitchen and see the table set, it makes me more committed to cooking.

Make everyone help – family dinner is a “family” commitment, kids and husbands can help pour drinks, clear the table and load the dishwasher.

So this weekend gather your family and “break bread” together and enjoy some time around the family dinner table. Not only will you love the food you will love the fellowship.

TTFN
Frappuccino Fun

Edited to add: Here are some links to some great soup recipes shared by bloggy friends around the country. Boo Mama’s Souptacular Crockpotpalooza and Poofing the Pillows Soup Recipe Exchange. Enjoy!

alt=rss

Frappuccino Fun with Amy

Hi… Jennifer, here… I couldn’t help but comment on this post before it ever gets started! When Amy read the rough draft to me over the phone this afternoon, at first I shrieked. But by the time she had finished what she will be sharing with us, I sighed a peaceful sigh and thought to myself… I’m going to be different this year. IT’s going to be different this year. The things I’ve learned through”Frappuccino Fun with Amy” postings have been a lot like having my own personal “life coach,” and I’m SO thankful to have her guiding all of us to “sanity” during the season! I pray that she blesses you as much as she blesses me! 🙂
Seven Sanity Savers for the Season

Fall break is over and it’s time to get down to business. There are 35 days until Thanksgiving and 63 days until Christmas. (Insert shriek, here.) If these numbers send panic through your body…HOLD ON – there’s hope ahead. (Praise God!) (O.K. I’ll be quiet from now on!)
It’s the weirdest thing…after every holiday, party or big event. I analyze it. I wonder (hummm) could it have gone smoother, what would I do different next time, could I have spent less money, etc, etc.
You see, the holidays have not always been my favorite time of year. The expectation of the “perfect” Christmas – from the Martha Stewart decor to the “Norman Rockwell” Christmas Card picture about sent me (and my poor family) over the edge! I’ve changed a lot in the last 10 years and so have our holidays. Over the next two months, I’m going to share some “Sanity Savers” so you can have more “FRAPPUCINO FUN” this season!

Here we go…

1. Make a list NOW – who are you going to buy for? In this economy, many families are drawing names, making homemade gifts and avoiding frivolous spending. Put teachers, neighbors and friends on your list (It’s never the gift but the thought behind the gift that leaves a lasting memory) *Don’t even think about going Christmas shopping without a list!


2. Gather your family this WEEKEND and take a picture for your Christmas card. You cannot imagine how relieved you will feel. In the weeks to come, I am going to devote a whole Friday post to those “nightmare” Christmas letters!

3. Do your shopping in one trip. Back and forth errands waste time, gas and money (and make moms and kids very irritable!).

4. Sit down with your calendar and put all concerts, parties and gatherings on appropriate dates. Do NOT over commit yourself. One weekend night every week should be spent at home. All families need adequate sleep and down time together.

5. Check your supplies – buy wrapping paper, tape and ribbon and put it in a place where you can find it! Recently, I went to Dollar Tree and purchased 3 new pairs of scissors (they disappear in my house). There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find your supplies when you need to wrap!

6. Look for great ornaments and decor now. How many ornament swaps have you been to and waited till the last minute to pick up an ornament? The cute ones go early! My favorite ornament stores are Wal-mart, Dollar Tree and Cracker Barrel.


7. If you are the mom of any child between the ages of 5 and 80 that want a Wii System for Christmas, start looking now and buy the first one you see. They are in short supply.

Okay…that’s our first seven… More to come! (And I, for one, can’t wait! Thanks, Amy!)

TTFN

alt=rss

Easy Crockpot Chili… Yumm!!!


Looking for an easy crock pot recipe this winter?  I have just the one… Crockpot Chili.  We love it and make it often.  Hope you enjoy it too!

Crock-Pot Chili


Into a crock pot, place:
2 lbs. ground beef, cooked with chopped onions and drained
4 cans of stewed tomatoes
2 cans of diced tomatoes
1 can of Rotel tomatoes (diced tomatoes with green chilies)
2 -3 pkg. Chili seasoning (depending upon how spicy you like it)

Cook on low for at least 4-6 hours, or all night, or all day… whatever works for you (see why it’s easy???).

Serve with grated cheese and sour cream on top. Sometimes, we also top it with Fritos and chopped green onions. [Growing up, Mom always served chili with saltine crackers topped with a mixture of peanut butter and white Karo syrup. Might sound strange, but it’s really good!]


Hope you enjoy!

This post oritinally aired in October 2008.   It is now linked to Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy.  and Balancing Beauty and Bedlem’s Tasty Tuesday.  Check out these awesome links to amazing recipes! 🙂

Original intro:

Linda from 2nd Cup of Coffee is hosting a recipe gathering called “Fall into Flavor”. I’ve never yet participated in something like this, so I’m giving it a try. If you clink my link to her blog and scroll to the bottom of her post entitled “Fall into Flavor”, there is a small box you can click on, and it will pull up all of her readers who have contributed recipes. I’m looking forward to checking out some old favorites of others that might just become new favorites of mine.

The recipe I’m sharing is our family Chili recipe. It’s easy and delicious, and I’ve wanted to post it for some time. We make Chili several times a month during the fall and winter, and I’m hoping it will be cold enough to make our first Crock Pot full sometime next week. 🙂

Edited: It turned cold this morning – so I’m making chili this very moment! It’s finally fall around here! 🙂
Now to the pictures. I had a few more from this weekend I wanted to post. This first one is of the cutest cake! Since we opted to stay at my sisters instead of a hotel, the ladies from the church cooked and delivered some delicious food for us to eat while we were there. The dessert was this cake – of all of us bunking at my sister’s house. What you can’t see in this picture is the amazing detail put into this piece of edible art: red toenails on the foot coming out of the cover, my sister’s Mary Kay pin, my brother-in-law’s snore… It was so cute that we hated to eat it… but we did, and it was delicious!



This picture is of a dear friend of mine, who happens to be the pastor’s wife of the church. Many years ago, God used Vicki Knerium in a great way in my life. She gave me my first opportunity to write and be published, and to speak at my first Minister’s Wives conference. Through her invitations to me, God opened multiple ministry doors for me to walk through with Him. I love you, Vicki! Thank you for allowing God to use you like he does!



It was a joy to have Abigail with me on this trip. She was such a great traveler, and is maturing into a fun and funny and thoughtful young lady.


The tables were decorated so beautifully, I couldn’t resist taking a picture.



Here is the newest member of our family – Ella Kate. She was 12 days old when we saw her. I may be prejudice, but I think she’s beautiful! And smart… she’s looking like she’s contemplating a deep conversation with my mom. 🙂



Her big brothers, Zach and Will, are loving having a baby sister. They are all so precious, and I can’t wait to see them again!

alt=rss

Frappuccino Fun with Amy


My Pumpkin Passion!


From its beautiful color to it’s wonderful taste,

Pumpkins say “fall” in so many ways!

Here are a few of my favorite pumpkin things:
  • Pumpkin Spice Latte – Yum! Yum! (Starbucks) *Pinching pennies? Buy Pumpkin Pie Creamer (International Delight) at any grocery store and make your own!
  • Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses – New this year (Target)
  • Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin Lotions & Soaps – (Bath & Body Works) *Buy the anti-bacterial pumps for your kitchen and bathrooms, they smell great!
  • Pumpkin Spice Potpourri by Aromatique – (Dillards) *This potpourri is a little pricey yet keeps its smell longer than most…
  • Pumpkins & Gourds – Find these at any grocery store, or you can find the artificial kind at Hobby Lobby or Michaels. *Buy some real and some artificial, mix with leaves and pinecones, this makes a great center piece
  • Pumpkin dip – 1 block Softened Cream Cheese, ½ Can pumpkin, 1 cup powdered sugar, I teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ginger. (Combine all ingredients & chill) (Serve with cinnamon graham crackers and gingersnaps. Looks great on a leaf or pumpkin tray) *The above recipe is taken from “Taste of Autumn” cookbook by Gooseberry Patch (Cracker Barrell)


My last pumpkin recommendation is a book called, “The Pumpkin Patch Parable” by Liz Curtis Higgs.


You know we live in a world full of sin and darkness yet God in His goodness can use something as simple as a smiling Jack O’ Lantern to teach children (and adults) the simple concept of His wonderful plan of salvation.

This book compares us to a pumpkin. Our sin is the “yucky, slimy stuff” inside the pumpkin that only God can clean out. After cleaning out the sin, God gives us a new face. Once we have Jesus in our hearts, we are full of His light and can be a light to others. This is a beautiful picture of God’s grace and the change that makes us new! You can find this book at any Christian bookstore.

So “carve out” some time this weekend and take your family to a pumpkin patch (a great photo-op by the way). Well, I must go (I’m about to turn into a PUMPKIN!)….

Happy Friday, TTFN!
Amy

alt=rss
Verified by MonsterInsights