Christmas crafts

I have been rather neglectful of this blog the past few weeks. I have a list of things that I wanted to blog about but the madness of the season got to me and all the things that I wanted to blog about got left behind in the wake of the madness.

So here they are the Christmas crafts I did with the kids this month. I want a disclaimer out there that though I appear crafty, I only play one on this blog. In truth I can barely sew a straight line, wield a glue gun without burning my fingers, and drop so many knitting stitches that I have to get creative. So really these are easy crafts to do and require NO talent whatsoever.

1- Nativity Wreath

Okay so as a teacher I knew the greatness of Oriental Trading. I bought so many things from them- pencils, bouncy balls, toy cars. It is amazing what a 17 year old boy will do for a die cast car. As a mom I have found they have some great crafts for kids. We have tried several different items from them and each one has been a hit. This one I did by myself and then gave them to the kids to hang up. It was simple and easy and I only got one blister from the hot glue gun.

2- Friends gift
Another Oriental Trading find. It was a simple glue the sticks together and glue on the face. The snowman was supposed to have cheeks but I thought it was easier to put together without them. After putting them together I went to the store and found some awesome Christmas Push Pops and tied the pins on. The girls loved giving these out to their friends.

3- Chocolate Caramel Pretzels
I wanted an easy neighbor gift that the kids could help me with this year. In the past I have done fudge or caramel but both are hard to have kids help you with. So this time we went the pretzel route. The girls loved helping with these. They dipped them in the caramel then waited and dipped them in the chocolate. They also came baring sprinkles to add a bit of holiday cheer. Even James got into the fun. I was impressed that we were able to use all 5 lbs of caramel.

4- Chocolate covered Oreo's

I started making these last year and realized that I needed to get a lot better. This past Halloween I worked on my technique and started using multiple colors on the same mold to great success. This year I made these for James's preschool teachers and coupled them with a small Christmas mug and candle. These were so much fun to make and James was able to help. Expect more chocolate colored oreo's coming out of the Bradley kitchen in the coming months.

I'm going to be killed by a Christmas tree

There is a great episode of Doctor Who (remember I said I was a sci-fi junkie) in which it is Christmas and the world is dire straits. At one point a mechanically controlled Christmas tree is let loose and tries to kill the inhabitants of the flat (it is not as hooky as it sounds, I promise. Come over sometime and we will watch it, it is one of my favorite episodes). While the tree limbs are spinning around, breaking through walls and furniture, one of the characters cries out, "I'm going to be killed by a Christmas tree." I felt this way this weekend.

This weekend didn't get off to a great start, I was just grumpy from the get go. I tried to shake it off by attending a visiting teaching brunch but even the company of good women and wonderful food couldn't shake the grinchy feelings I was having. I came home a bit excited I got to have a date for the rest of the afternoon with my husband only to find the Christmas tree had toppled over in my absence. Now usually this would be something that I took a picture of and then blogged about. I was a bit to angry and sad and furious to take that picture.

Instead of the lovely afternoon date my husband and I had we ended up trying to fix the Christmas tree. There came one point where I was lying under the tree trying to get it centered in the base when I gave up. I decided that we just needed to take the tree down and cancel Christmas. Luckily my husband kept pushing. Eventually with some help from my dad we were able to get the tree back up. It is bent and the lights are a tad out of control but it worked out.

Of course with a Christmas tree toppling there were a few casualties. Below is a list of the maimed whose prognosis will be determined when I get the glue gun out this week...

Wiseman #2 (I don't know his name but it wasn't Balthasar)- decapitated. His head was recovered though.

Hermione Granger- hand and wand lost. Location of hand and wand still unknown.

Mickey and Minnie- Minnie arm broken off. Arm has been located.

Owl- one foot broken. Foot has been recovered

Cinderella- top gone. It is somewhere on the tree but location still unknown.

So yeah this year it won't be the bills that get to me. Or the crowds. Or addressing all the Christmas cards. Nope it will be the Christmas tree.

Holidays- Bring it on

Tonight after helping the kids make gingerbread sleighs we decided to indulge in a bit of a gingerbread treat. I decided to place my cookie in the milk and let it soak for a minute. I looked down and had to laugh. There was a lovely cookie looking up at me from a bath of milk.
I wasn't sure if the cookie was basking in a nice warm milk bath or trying to commit some form of cookie suicide. It reminded me a bit about the holidays. For years when I worked at Deseret Book I hated this time of year due to crabby people and the crazy amount of work there was. There was one year that was the worst. We had put in computer system the spring before and by December it still didn't well for us. I spent my days imputing internet orders by hand so people may or may not receive their order by Christmas. I spent hours upon hours at work. There was one day I pulled a 26 hour shift. I wasn't alone, there were some great women there with me. We had ten pm dance on the table time and chocolate and Diet Coke IVs. It was honestly the worst Christmas ever.

Working there I began to realize that I had to get my Christmas bought, wrapped, and under the tree by December 1st or wouldn't get done. This year I am enjoying taking my time shopping and wrapping. I feel I can write Christmas cards this year rather than just send out the family picture with a generic message. I have time to help the kids make decorations for the house and make fun Christmas treats.

I don't feel like I am in a rush and can sit back and enjoy the holidays. There maybe kids gone crazy with excitement but I can do that. So holidays- bring it on!

Oh Christmas Tree

Growing up finding a Christmas tree was the pinnacle of Thanksgiving weekend. I remember driving from one Allied tree lot to another looking for the perfect Christmas tree. This would take a full two days. Rain, snow, or sub-zero temperatures we would trudge out and drive from one end of the valley to another looking for a tree that would fit our needs.

Then came the year that for one reason or another I decided that I would start naming the trees we looked at. You have to give me a break- I was nine or ten and very silly. I named every tree I ran across that year. One of the saddest moments was when my then six-year- old brother decided that he needed to use the restroom thus ruling out Arthur as a family tree choice for the year.

As the years went by we changed our traditions. Instead of one tree we started getting three to put next to each other creating a forest. Then we started going to the forest service and cutting down our own trees. But the naming of the tree has always continued. I have cycled through many names. Names from literature, names of British monarchs, names from kids at school, and one year names from The Magic School Bus.

This year we started a new tradition. I love having a fresh cut tree in the house. Since I put the tree up so early I like having something that will last to the New Year. Christian likes the ease of going to the tree lot. This year we decided we would go to a tree farm.

This is the perfect idea for our family. It just works for us. So without further ado I introduce you to our tree...
He is a wonderful Spruce but he is a tad prickly. When I texted a picture to my dad the first thing he asked was "What's its name?"

Now here's the thing. I hadn't even thought of naming the tree yet. But my husband and kids left me alone with the tree so when they returned it did have a name. So I present to you....

Brem the Christmas tree.

Recipe- Veggie Pasta

When I remember to order we participate in a local co-op called Bountiful Baskets. For $15.00 they give you two baskets- one vegetable and one fruit. You never know what you are going to get but I think it is an adventure finding way to cook things that you don't normally use. Of course this offers a whole new way to be creative which is how the veggie pasta was born. It is a family favorite around here so here it goes:

Preheat the oven to 425.

Cut bacon and chicken breasts and cook in a skillet.

Pick three to four veggies of your choice. They need to be veggies you can bake. I have used the following: yellow squash, onions, mushrooms, asparagus, red peppers, zucchini. Basically the sky is the limit.

Chop up the veggies and place into a large bowl. Toss with 4 Tablespoons of olive oil, teaspoon of basil, teaspoon of garlic salt, 1/2 teaspoon of salt. 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Spread out on a cookie sheet with sides. Roast 18-20 minutes until veggies are tender.

In a small sauce pan mix a cup of cream or half and half and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese over a medium low heat until slightly thickened and cheese is melted.

When meat and veggies are done return to the bowl top with the sauce and mix together. Top with fresh tomatoes and parmesan cheese.

FHE- Thanksgiving

*Disclaimer- I meant to post this last week but spaced it. So it is a tad late now...sorry.*


When I became a teacher I began to order from Oriental Trading Company. I loved the fun things I could get on a teacher's salary. I have continued ordering from them since I have been home and find great activities and crafts for the kids. I stumbled upon a gem a few months ago and wipped it out for Family Home Evening.

It was a thankful tree sticker with leaves that we could put on what we were thankful for. We then drew pictures to accompany the tree. It was a fun activity that the kids and parents enjoyed. Christian even drew a picture of the family having a picnic under his tree.

Here are some highlights from our lists

Laine- Jesus Christ, food, books, trees, friends, family,

Eve- my body, books

James- tigers, lions, leaves

Matthew- binky, stuffed carrot

They were proudly displayed on the door for the rest of the month and will be put away into remembrance books to look back and smile one day.

Book review-The Wedding Quilt

I started reading the Elm Creek books about five years ago. I loved the stories of friendship that were told in these books. I loved the characters and I enjoyed watching them struggle through many problems that life brings and overcoming them. These books also made me want to learn how to piece a quilt and make some beautiful creations. Unfortunately these books have gotten a tad trite over the past year. The last one I down right hated. This installment was a breathe of fresh air.

This book returns the series to the original characters of Elm Creek Manor twenty five years from when the reader last visited with them. It fills in many of the plot points that have developed over several books as all the characters gather for a wedding of Sarah's daughter. To me this was a fitting ending to the series. All things that had been left opened were nicely tied up. In many ways I hope this is Chiaverini's last novel with these characters. I think anymore would be overkill.

Recipe- Apple Cake

For her birthday last month Eve declared she wanted an apple cake. I asked her if she had an apple cake before and she said no. I scoured the internet for a recipe and found a few but nothing seemed that it would be a good birthday cake. Eventually Eve decided that she would rather have an apple pie which was easier to manage.

Then last week I attended a Relief Society dinner and the dessert was an apple cake. I was there alone with the baby and was leaning towards heading home but I stayed to try this dessert and I was so glad that I did.

I have made it twice since then. It has been a hit with everyone and I have to say I could just eat the sauce by the spoonful.

So here it is the Apple cake-

Mix together-

2 cups of sugar

2 cups of flour

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Then add-

4 cups of peeled and grated apples ( I found this was about four medium apples)

1/2 cup oil (you can substitute applesauce for this one too)

2 eggs well beaten

2 tsp vanilla

Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.

For the sauce-

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup half and half

1 Tbsp of flour

1tsp vanilla

Stir constantly and bring to a boil. Let cook for two minutes.

For me the longest and hardest part of this was peeling and grating the apples. That took about 40 minutes after that it took 10 minutes to put together.

Book review-Matched

From the inside flap-In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die.Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow — between perfection and passion.

Okay this book is right up my alley but I stayed away for a long time for one reason- it was written by an LDS author. I have read many books by LDS authors, some have been geared towards an LDS audience and others towards a broader audience. I read some of Ally Condie's early work and didn't really enjoy it. I found it formulaic and boring. This is why I approached Matched with some trepidation. I wish I hadn't waited.

I really liked this book. Though it shares many similar traits with books like The Handmaid's Tale, The Giver, and other dystopian books out there I still found it to be fresh and unique. Like Cassia you are torn between this near perfect society but then you watch it change and realize that it is not as perfect as you thought it was. I like that the story is plain and simple. The limited liberties that Cassia and her family have are slowly and unexpectedly taken away and though you know it will happen each one reverberates with a slight shock.

I even liked the love triangle. Usually I abhor them, I have never been a fan of this set up. I didn't understand the Edward-Jacob-Bella thing or the Katniss-Peeta-Gale one either. This one though I like all three characters. I think Cassia is a good female role model and she has a tough choice between both boys and she realizes that. I like how she knows she could be happy either way. One is not better than another they are just different. I don't find myself on "Team Ky" or "Team Xander" I think that both are wonderful and though I can guess where she is taking the story I do have a favorite.

I enjoyed this book, my only regret is that I read it before all three books were out. I guess I will just have to wait at least book two just came out.

Craft Zone- Baby quilts

I remember being a little girl and my mom making a gift for my dad. We would go over to visit my Aunt Rita during the day and she and my mom would work on tying a giant University of Utah blanket while I played with my cousins. I remember that they taught me how to tie and I tied a few stitches and then I grew bored and went back to playing with my cousins.

During Young Women I got the chance to tie a few more quilts and found I liked it a bit more. Then I joined Lamda Delta Sigma while in college. It was there my love for creating quilts really took off. For each girl that got married we would tie a quilt. We got really good at it. Then as time progressed we tied quilts at baby showers. It is a tradition now to make quilts. There is something about creating them then giving them to others that I enjoy.

This past week I actually finished two quilts on my own. Though I have quilted many I have always had others finish them for me. I have learned that being able to sew a semi straight line can open up many doors in quilting.

The first quilt I finished was for my sister-in-law Sarah. We tied this quilt at her baby shower and then my mom came over to teach me how to bind it.

I had to unpick it a few times but I was pretty happy with how it ended up.

The second one I did all by myself. It was for my cousin Stef and her son-to-be-born son. Stef lives in LA and is married to a USC fan. Stef is a U fan and I figured that her son would be surrounded by USC fans and he would need something to combat that influence. So I made her a U of U quilt.

I love this quilt. Love it. I was tempted to keep it for myself. I think I will be using this fabric in the future as well for a baby quilt and maybe a nice king size quilt too.

A few of my favorite things

Today I want to talk about a few of my favorite things. I want to point out that these are things not people. If it was people my dear husband would be the top of the list and not in a pity spot as he thinks he would be. So here they are my top three favorite things for today.

1. SwaddleMe Blanket
I love this blanket. My friend Amanda sent me three of them when Matthew was born and I used them for many a nap time. When he grew out of the three that were sent I ran out to Target to buy the next size up. This thing is a life saver for those parents like me that can't swaddle to save our lives. I also find it amusing that Matthew will always get one hand out of the swaddler before nap time is done. I have only two complaints. The larger size only comes in two colors green or pink. The second complaint is that there are only two sizes.

2. Mary Kay's Love Lash and eye makeup remover.
Oh my gosh these are the two best make up products I have ever purchased. I was pointed towards the eye make up remover many years ago and have used it since. It takes the eye make up right off without leaving one with red stinging eyes. You can get this remover in your eye and nothing happens. It also removes anything without a problem. Then last week a friend introduced me to the new Love Lash mascara. This is by far the best mascara I have ever used. I feel like my lashes are now visible. Really the best product ever.

3. Chick-fil-a's Peppermint Chocolate Chip Shake
So today I went with my husband and my brother to the grand opening of a new Chick-fil-a and they gave us a sample of their holiday treat. I had one of these earlier in the week and was so excited to try it again. It is just wonderful and not to pepperminty. I loved it. I also love Chick-fil-a.

I would also like to give an honorable mention to night shirts I can wear more than two days in a row. Most of them are gone after one day of wearing them...baby and all.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

I love pumpkin. It is one of my favorite things about fall. I love the smell. I love the taste. I love the many things you can do with it. Last year I was determined to try out some new recipes and was excited when my in-laws announced that we would be having a pumpkin meal contest. There was around six different categories and all had to feature pumpkin. There was just one problem. The morning of this delicious pumpkin dinner I was walking down the hall to the kitchen where Christian was preparing some of our pumpkin delights and had to bolt into the bathroom. That's right the one smell during pregnancy I couldn't stand was pumpkin.

This year I am making up for the lack of pumpkin goodness in our home. This weekend alone I made pumpkin spice cookies, two pumpkin pies, and two pumpkin cheesecakes. It is that recipe I now share with you.


This recipe is taken from the Foodnetwork.com. I took Paula Deen's recipe and made it my own so here it is-

Nat's pumpkin cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 3 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 stick melted salted butter

Filling:

• 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 (15-ounce) can pureed pumpkin
• 3 eggs plus 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ginger
• 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

For crust:

Combine crumbs, sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter. Press down flat into a 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

For filling:

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin puree, eggs, egg yolk, sour cream, sugar and the spices. Add flour and vanilla. Beat together until well combined.

Pour into crust and bake for one hour 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit for 15 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

Here are the great things about this recipe. The brown sugar in the crust gives the pie a caramel feel. The cheesecake spices are fantastic and give it just the right kick. Oh and the cheesecake is so creamy. Really I am in love with this.

Oh and just so we are clear honey, I didn't eat that piece of cheesecake featured in the picture above. Well, maybe I had a bite but don't judge me by the dishes in the sink.

Welcome

Hi and welcome to Nat-fix your guide to all the crazy goings on in my life. This is a place to sit back and relax and really just feel like one of the crowd. My name is Nat and I will be your guide through this blog. Now I am sure that you have a few questions regarding this blog and its place in the blogosphere. So if you will please proceed in an orderly manner to the Question and Answer section of this post I will be happy to address all of your questions and concerns. Now please follow me.

The Question and Answer Section

Are you all here yet?I am waiting.

Good, you have all seemed to arrive at the Question and Answer section of this blog now to those pesky questions-

Q: Why start yet another blog? Wasn't the Bradley Family Blog enough for you to keep up with?

A: Yes, that blog does keep me going but I wanted a place that was my own. A place where I could talk about recipes I have tried, books I have read, and shows I have watched. I also wanted a place where I could maybe sometimes mention religion and politics- two big no nos on the family blog stage. And really I wanted a place to sit and write about whatever came to mind and let others express their opinions.

Q: So how does this differ from other stay-at-home mom blogs.

A: Well honestly I don't read much outside the family type blog. You know the ones where you post pictures of what your kids are doing and things along that line. If you are looking for family content don't look here.

Q: Will there be treats?

A: Oh yes. As my waist line can attest, I believe in treats.

Q: What other fabulous topics will you discuss here?

A: Food, News, David Tennat, Crafts, Doctor Who, Crime Procedural dramas, Books, Being a Mom, My Fear of Dying while the kitchen is a mess and the Relief Society coming over and seeing my messy kitchen and looking down from heaven on the house wondering where I went wrong and how ironic it was that the one night I didn't clean the kitchen just happened to be the night I died...and other important topics like that.

So that is it. I will be posting several times a week about a variety of things so stick around and hang out and maybe get entertained with the crazy thoughts that pass through my mind. If that isn't enough stick around for the cookies.

I will now entertain any other questions...