whatever

Conner's Baptism Day-

 

 

   

 

We feel so blessed to have been able to attend this special day with Conner.  Love ya Conner.

-Conner's  Baptism Day-  Friday November 28, 2008-

Thanksgiving- Oregon style

 

Shannon, Scott and family hosted Thanksgiving this year.  We so enjoyed our stay- they were the perfect hosts- {if you notice in the picture above- Scott didn't even stop making butter for this picture- did you know if you put cream and a couple of marbles in a jar...in just a few minutes and after a lot of shaking... you have butter- fun}

Everything was wonderful from the moment we got there- Shannon even dropped off a "Welcome"  basket at the hotel for us- 

"Thanks so much for coming to share this special week! Here's a few things to make your visit more comfortable."

Inside the basket-

• Two apples-
• Cinnamon cider car fresher
• Licorice
• Home made pumpkin muffins
• a most adorable little Christmas tree ornament in the shape of a shoe-

 

Getting ready-

   

Anna helped to set the table, do the dishes, and even a little cooking prep.

The Table-

 

The Cooks- and the entertainment. 

 

 

Make a Smilebox greeting

Thanks to Shannon, Scott, Conner, Payton and Anna- for making our Thanksgiving wonderful-  It was also great to have Becca and Kent there.

Make a Smilebox greeting

 

-Happy Thanksgiving-

From our family to yours!

-Bag Meal-

  This is got to be the easiest "bag meal" I've shared yet.

-Corn bread and Chili Casserole-

Basically you empty the two cans of chili in a 9x9 pan-

Mix the corn bread according to package directions-  then pour the bread on top of chili in pan-

Cook until corn bread is done- easy and yummy-

My sister in law {Margaret Ann} got me started on these bag meals-

How I use them-

I will keep three to four bag meals hanging in my pantry- to use on those days when you don't have time to prepare a big meal- or in my case just too lazy.

{just grab a bag and your set to go}

I've also been giving them to the ladies I Visit Teach.

If you have any "Bag Meal" ideas, I sure would like to hear about them- Please share.

Cruise Wear

In December we are taking Denver and Mason on a seven day Mexican Riviera cruise- Can't wait- it should be so much fun.   So I've been "Shopping" my closet- {pretty sad} and picking up a few new pieces to round things out. 

It's always been hard to "cruise" pack- because basically cruise wear is not my style and is usually not within my modesty standards- 

So after "Shopping my Closet" , MyShape.com, Anna Taylor, Old Navy,Target & Banana Republic-

Here's a touch of what I came up with- {Seeing as this a journal  for me- I thought I would add a style post once in awhile- so that in 30 years when my grand daughters look at my blurb book; made from this blog- they can laugh at all the silly things I used to wear. Maybe I should save a few outfits for Anna and Carlee to use for Halloween costumes }

  

This was from Banana Republic- I got it last year -  I checked out BR and it's still there-

I have shoes similar to the ones the model is wearing-

Plan to use this dress for one of the Formal night- Dressed up a bit with Silver High Heel sandals and jewelry-

I have another dress that is just a little bit "dressier" from My Shape- but I also had to get a cardigan to wear with it- because it didn't have sleeves, and sewed up the front neck line two inches  (my modesty standard; I would like to  hear what you do for modesty :}

   

     

• The Jacket, shorts, shoes, and tee all from my closet- I got the shoes, and walking shorts from Spiegel last year. {shoes black and white wide band sandals}
• The black dress with the red trim is new from My Shape- I have another dress similar to this one that I got at Ann Taylor- when I was shopping with Shannon for our Mother daughter outing- Remember Shannon?- It was my Easter dress.
• Basic Black pants from Express { you know me...I call it my uniform}- Vest and shirt from Ann Taylor- {all from my closet}

   

   

Four New items from Newport- all at $15 a piece- Happy Day!

   

• blue and white skirts from my closet
• swim suit/ cover ups- closet
• assorted  tees and shirts from my closet
• copper skirt and jacket from Kent and Becca's wedding
• two sun dresses, layered with white tees- Old Navy
• Just got this New Brown dress also from Newport.

 

 

That pretty much sums it up-  what do you think- Have I forgotten anything?

- {Dinning attire-    Two formal night- two smart casual- the rest are casual]

Vita Mix - and a Birthday Wish

Apple Pie Smoothie

Yield: 3 cups (720 mL)

Speed: Variable to High
Time: 1 minute

1 1/2 (200 g) apples, quartered

3/4 cup (180 mL) lowfat vanilla yogurt

1 tablespoon brown sugar or other sweetener, to taste

1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice

1 cup ice cubes

Place all ingredients in Vita-Mix container in order listed. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10; then to HIGH. Run for 1 minute or until smooth. Serve immediately.

Health Classification: Low Fat, Low Sodium, Low Cholesterol, Heart Healthy, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian

 

 

 

I love my Vita Mix- from making smoothies, to bread and soup- it's the best thing to have around during the Holidays!  Here's a couple new recipes-   

 

 

 

 

 

  Apple Butternut Squash Soup

3 cups butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed

1 (200 g) large apple, quartered

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 (18 g) small onion

1/2 clove garlic

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon thyme

1/8 teaspoon salt

10.5 ounces (315 mL) low sodium vegetable, chicken, or beef broth

Steam squash in steamer or microwave. Saute onion and garlic in butter until onion is clear and tender. Set Aside. Place flour, thyme, salt and chicken broth in the Vita-Mix container and secure the lid. Select VARIABLE 1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to VARIABLE 10; then to HIGH. Blend for 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture starts to thicken. Remove the lid plug and carefully add squash, apple and onion mixture. Replace the lid plug. Run for 30 seconds. Serve immediately.

Note: Serve with sour cream or yogurt *********************************************** Conner is 8 today- Happy Birthday!   Can't wait to give you a hug in a couple of Days!

New Banner

Liz from across the pond made my new wonderful Banner- I love it.  I was one of the lucky ones chosen from the commenter's on her blog- Check out her blog- fun!

I love how she took inspiration from the pictures on my blog-

Happy Day!

-Blue Christmas-

 I hope you have enjoyed looking into our "City Bungalow Christmas" this week.   Here's a few last pictures-  For lots and lots of Christmas Merriment check out"The Inspired Room" Melissa shares wonderful ideas-

{and if you have not done so already- check out my posts from Tuesday - Today... Their all about Christmas}

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and  fun getting ready for Christmas-

 "Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."  ~Norman Vincent Peale

 

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveler, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!  ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

 

 

 

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree.  In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.  ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember- when the ribbons were orange? Just a simple little easy touch  and ta-da ......all ready for Christmas.

{To see more Bungalow picture click here}

 

 

 

 

 

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so?  It came without ribbons.  It came without tags.  It came without packages, boxes or bags.  And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.  Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  ~Dr. Seuss

Bungalow Tree

 

I've always felt that if your Christmas tree embodies- your life at the moment, than it's the perfect tree. I never try to make my tree look like the ones in the "Macy's" store windows, but reflects my tastes and something about me or my family-

This year is all about- "less"

 

From a distance you can hardly see the ornaments- but up close the story is told-

 

Living in the City Bungalow has been all about  us and using "less"- fewer items- fewer people- smaller space- etc.

So our tree is minimal and the two glass love birds {the only ones on the tree} represent us- {go ahead say it.... aahhhh. smile}

                           

                           

Leave me a comment and let me know how you decorate your tree-

More City Bungalow Christmas- tomorrow.

Holiday Trimmings- City Bungalow

 

I think that Holiday trimmings should complement- not compete with my decor.  So that's why I usually keep it fairly simple- and use colors that will go well with what I already have.  {Plus by doing that, it keeps the cost down}

This little iron lady was dressed with items found around my home-

Sometimes  inexpensive Christmas decorations can look cheap- the way to make things that are inexpensive look expensive - is to do lots of the same things and use lots of the same color.

 

I love to use fresh cuttings from my yard- but at the City Bungalow- there is not much to choose from- at the Country Chateau  I would be using-

• fresh cut pine
• olive
• magnolia
• rosemary
• curly willow branches

 

Simple little touches like adding ribbon and an embellishment to a white lamp shade adds just a little extra Christmas touch.

                        

Adding a pretty little ribbon to a white pillow- adds another easy Holiday touch.

                      

Christmas ornaments don't have to be used just on the tree- Places I like to use them are-

• On top of a bed of pine branches on a platter for the bathroom
• Spread out down the middle of a table
• Inside a vase- as a centerpiece
• One small ornament in a wine glass at the Holiday dinner table-
• Tried with a bow and given as a favor
• Guest name written on it as a place card-

 

More "use" what you have ideas-

I painted the walnuts white- added a little bird that once had a home at the Country Chateau- Just about anything can have a Christmas spirit with a little added ribbon, soft candle light and fake snow.

 

-Come back tomorrow for more Christmas Bungalow-

{And On Friday check out "The Inspired Room"for wonderful Christmas ideas}