Friday Favorites

A small collection of some of the great recipes I found this week in blogland.  Can't wait to make them all!

Mexican Black Bean and Spinach Pizza - This is on the menu for tonight!

from This Chick Cooks

Oreo (Whoopie) Pies

from While He Was Napping

Honey Granola - Going to try to make this over the weekend.

from Seven Sisters

Banana Apple Cupcake Muffins

from Big Mama's Home Kitchen

Pesto Strombli

from This Chick Cooks

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Friday Favorites

I have been searching and searching for a good pumpkin pancake recipe.  In the time of the great pumpkin shortage, I have been guilty of throwing away batches of pumpkin pancakes because they just weren't good.  I have high hopes for this recipe from The Motherload.  I will be making them tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

This recipe appeared in my inbox this week and it look just too good to pass up.  I thing these Chocolate-Peppermint Creams from Pillsbury will find a spot on my Christmas Eve Cookie tray. 

I always host a very southern New Year's Day dinner with all the traditional good luck foods.  I think this Spiced Pork with Bourbon Reduction Sauce from Cooking Light will be on the menu.

I had the wonderful opportunity to take a great group of high school students to the High Mueseum of Art in Atlanta to see the Salvadore Dali exhibit.  It was a fantastic show, showcasing the best of Dali's latest work, including the The Persistance of Memory (the melting clocks) and Christ of Saint John on the Cross. 

If you have not discovered Ted Talks yet, you are missing a great resource. Ted is a collection of  short video talks by a variety of experts of just about every subject imaginable.  I use this all the time in my classroom. 

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Friday Favorites

Here are this week's Friday Favorites.  For more great lists and inspirational posts, visit Living to Tell the Story. 

Modge Podge Fabric Ornaments at I Heart Naptime were the Thanksgiving Day craft at my mom's house yesterday.  My family didn't get to participate because we didn't get to travel to Kentucky as I came down with the flu.  I have all the stuff to make them, so I guess the kids and I will put them on the list for next weekend. 

I can't wait to make this Doll Sleeping Bag for my daughter's American Girl doll for Christmas.  I think she will love it.  The hardest part of this project will be picking out the perfect fleece!  Thanks to Clean Mama for posting the pattern and such great directions. 

After my daughter's adorable Thanksgiving clip fell apart yesterday, I went searching for an easy, workable way to make all these great felt hairclips.  Skip to My Lou has a great tutorial.  I will be making all our clips like this from now on. 

And finally, This and That Creative posted about the homemade bows she uses on her Christmas tree.  This reminded me of the years when my kids were little and in order to save all my expensive blown glass ornaments we decorated our tree entirely in bows I made.  It is one of my favorite trees ever.  It truly was beautiful.  I still have those bows and I think I will pull them out this year and put them on our tree, with the glass ornaments. 



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Friday Favorites

I have bee home all week with a very sick child, so I have spent a good deal of time cruising the holiday ideas everyone has been posting this week.  Here are a few I plan on trying out.

This Spaghetti Ham Bake from Taste of Home via I'm An Organized Junkie is on the menu for tonight to use up some ham left over from the Delicious Ham and Potato Soup I made last week. 


We made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby earlier in the week to get the supplies to make these Felt Ornaments from Bugs and Fishes.  We have completed 6 already.  Be on the lookout for pictures soon.


We had a bumper sweet potato crop this year and I need some new ways to cook them so my family won't mutiny on me.  I'm pretty sure these Honey Nut Crunch Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries from All Home Cooking. All Year Long. will be a  hit. 


My kids will be making a few of thee Button Wreath Ornaments from Lets Go Fly A Kite for our handmade tree. 

I have already started on this adorable poncho from Lion Brand Yarn for my daughter for Christmas.  Had some great purple varigated homespun yarn in my stash already, just need to pick up some fun fur for the trim.  I might even make one for myself. 

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Friday Favorites

What great things to be seen around the 'net this week.  So many wonderful Christmas projects I don't know how I will get to do them all, but I most certainly am going to try.  

These homemade sugar scrubs from Tidy Mom just look so luxurious and less expensive than buying them at the spa.

I have always wanted to make a ribbon wreath, but was too intimidated by the process.  She's Kinda Crafty has a great tutorial.  I think I'm heading to the craft store today....

I am a fan of everything cranberry and these Cranberry Bars sound delcious.  Thanks to Red Couch Recipes for posting.  These just might show up at the coffee station at work this week.

As my daughter gets older, she is not as enamoured of hair bows as she used to be, but she still needs something to keep her hair out of her face.  These embellished bobby pins from Honey Scrap might just make us both happy! 

This is another project I have in mind for my daughter.  We are in the planning stages of re-decorating her room and this pom pom pillow from 3 Punk Mom will have a prominent place in it. 

That's it for this week.  Let's see if I can accomplish any of these fantastic projects.

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Friday Favorites

Time to share some of the really great things I have seen around Blogland this week.  I am determined to do all of these

These fantastic glitter Christmas trees from eighteen 25 will look fabulous on my mantel. 

Can't wait to play around with these photography prompts from life through the lens.

Chalkboard chargers!  How cool is this idea from Tatertots and Jello.

I have been meaning to makeover my childhood dollhouse for my daughter.  This post from Seven Sisters reminded me to get started.

Guess I need to get busy!

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Living to Tell the Stories Friday Favorite Five

Weekly Favorites

There were so many great and wonderful ideas on blogland this week.  Here are just a few of my favorites. 

Baked Zucchini with Mozzarella from Jamie Cooks It Up - This got a 2 thumbs up from everyone in the family except Boo Boo who just doesn't like anything zucchini.  We will be having this again.  I did not have any Johnny's Garlic Bread Seasoning, but I found a recipe for it on Our Best Bites.  We liked it alot too, will be great for garlic bread and pizza.  Check it our here.

I wanted to find a way to preserve the delicious cherries we have had this summer.  I already made Cherry Jam, but I really wanted to find an alternative to the overly red marischino cherries my kids like on top of their ice cream.  I found the solution at Simple Bites.  With cherries BOGO this week, we will be making more than a few pints of these.  I plan on adding vanilla beans to some and almond flavoring to others.  I might even get adventurous and add bourbon and make some bourbon cherries that my husband pays $8.00 a jar for at the distillery.

Finally, what geography teacher can pass up a chalkboard globe!?!  I can't wait to make this great project I found at Under the Table and Dreaming and put it in my classroom.  I will be the perfect place to write down test and project dates so they don't get erased from the whiteboard and forgotten.  Now, if I can just find a cheap globe.......

picture courtesy of Under the Table and Dreaming

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Favorites of the Week

Once again it is time to celebrate all the wonderful, creative ideas we find all over blogland.  Here are just afew of my favorites this week.

Mojito Jelly at Robbing Peter- How can you NOT love something that celebrates this wonderful summer beverage?  I made a batch of this jelly earlier in the week and it is fantastic.  I can't wait to use it as a glaze on fruit this winter to bring a touch of summer to the cold days of February.  I also think it will be delicious on pound cake with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Patriotic Pinwheels at Organize and Decorate Everything - These were the inspiration for my pinwheel bouquets I made to decorate my back porch for our 4th of July festivities. 


Summer 2010 Menu at Once a Month Mom - I truly believe the only way my family eats home cooked food on a regular basis is because I take the time a couple of times a year and cook up lots of our favorite recipes and store them in the freezer.  Once a Month Mom puts together a full month's work of recipes together every month!  What a treasure.  The one I am adding to my Summer Cooking Session next week is Frozen Fruit Cups.  Not only will these be great by themselves, but Bubba can drop one in the blender with some yogurt and a T of protein powder for his daily protein shake. 

For more treasures from blogland, visit It's a Blog Party. 

Favorites of the Week

These are just a few of the gems I found while perusing the internet.  Check them out!

How to Dehydrate Fruits from Kitchen Stewardship - I received a dehydrator for Christmas just so I could make dried tomatoes, but after reading this post, I believe I will be trying my own fruit as well.

Lemon Pepper Grilled Chicken from Allrecipes - I made and reviewed this recipe this week.  We loved it, especially on top of a salad.

Garden Notebook from Penny Pinching Momma - this post reminded me of all the things I need to put in my much neglected garden journal!

Summer To Dos at eighteen25 - eventhough our summer is half over, I still want to to this. It is on MY to do list today!

M and M Cookies from Jamie Cooks It Up - I am sooooo making these this weekend.  I think my kids will LOVE them. 

 Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker - I REALLY want this!  I am hoping for a 20% off coupon in the paper this Sunday. 

What were some of your favorite finds this week?  Share them at It's a Blog Party!

Friday Fave Five (June 18, 2010)

I found Suzanne's Friday Fave Five via Katrina at Callapidder Days and decided to link up since I just got back from a great trip to Washington, DC with 4 students and my son.

1.  National History Day at the University of Maryland.  I had the opportunity to take 4 of the greatest students to compete at National History Day.  I admire the intelligence, determination and attitudes of these wonderful ladies.  Teaching young adults like this makes me so glad to be an educator.

2.  The Korean War Memorial - This is my favorite memorial in DC.  I love the concept, the reality of it and when you look at the faces of the individual soldiers, you see determination, anguish, pain, fear and love of country, all emotions that drive soldiers to do what they do.  More than any other monument, this one really brings home to me the sacrifices of the individuals who made the life my family and I have today possible. 

3.  Free Speech in Action - This is a protest against BP Oil that took place in front of the White House Wednesday when we were there.  The group was protesting the lack of response to the plight of the fishermen and shrimpers in the Gulf both from BP and the White House.  There as also someone there (the man in the blue Mickey Mouse Sorcerer's Hat) ranting against President Obama in general.  The kids were fascinated by the entire event.  The media was there as well as several uniformed Secret Service officers.  One of my students was even interviewed after the protest.  It was a great opportunity for them to see the right to free speech in action.

4.  Triceratops Skeleton at the Museum of Natural History - the triceratops is my very favorite dinosaur!

5.  An unforgettable trip with my wonderful, not so little anymore, little boy.

Weekend Discoveries

Just a few discoveries from the weekend I plan to try. 

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars from Cooking During Stolen Moments

Easy Homemade Maple Syrup from the Frugal Girls

Corn Salad from A Southern Life

Can't wait to add these to our weekly menus.