I love pretty aprons. They are kind of like the tutu craze but for adults. Don’t these just make you want to put one on and twirl around? Flirty Aprons (FlirtyAprons.com)is having a sale right in time for the holidays. Some of their top line aprons are up to $15 off making them $24.95 and some $19.50. Oh how cute would I look in one of these! (hint, hint, Dave) Plus here is a coupon code to sweeten the deal: FLIRTY15 for 15% off any order!

Heidi and Mom

Mom and I recently took yoga classes from Heidi Gill of Massage and Yoga in Central and we LOVED it!  It was such a relaxing time to refocus and exercise.  It was also a fun time to be with my mom and learn something new.   Before I took yoga, I found myself stressed a lot, gaining some weight and not taking time for myself.  As a mom I get tied up with all the activities, dinner, scheduling, bills, homework, work, etc.  I realized it’s important to take 1 hour out of the day to refocus, exercise and pray.  It gives me the energy I need to be a better mom, wife, sister, friend, employee, everything.  Investing in myself was actually an investment in happiness and peace of my life.  In return, everyone around me.  Happy Geneva, Happy Compton family:)  Find a form of exercise that is good for your body, try to be consistent and enjoy life!

From Southeast Christian Church website:

Southeast is working with our community partners to provide toys for children and nearly 750 families throughout the Louisville area. More than a toy, we want to give the gift of joy — the joy of the Lord — this Christmas.

From Wednesday, December 8, to Saturday, December 11, families will be able to visit the Toy Store and choose from a wide assortment of new toys for their children. Below is information about how you can make this all possible.

Pick up a Bag
November 13/14 & 20/21
Pick up a bag based on age/gender for your toys in the Atrium this weekend.

Volunteer throughout the Drive
Christmas Store | December 8-11 | 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. | YAC
Hundreds of volunteers are needed this year. Besides purchasing gifts, we need help sorting toys and setting up our Christmas Store before December 8. For the store, we need gift wrappers, greeters, shoppers, refreshment servers, tear-down crew members, and more. To volunteer, sign up at the Registration Counter on November 13/14 and 20/21 after each service or contact the Local Outreach Ministry at localoutreach@secc.org.

Other Details
Toys should cost between $10 and $25 a piece and should be new and unopened. If your toy needs batteries, please include the batteries in the bag.

Thank you for giving the gift of joy this Christmas!

If you are the parent of a child from the ages of 2-10 years, your refrigerator probably looks like mine. No, not sparkling stainless steel. I’m talking about wallpapered on at least 2 sides with finger painted Picassos and construction paper collages. You know, those treasured art pieces that can never be thrown away without the pains of guilt eating away at you.

So here is a little tip to help clear the clutter. Snap a quick photo of the masterpiece that is to be replaced. You now have a digital copy that can be emailed to grandparents or posted to the honored spot on Facebook.

George's Picasso

 The painting above was done by my 5 year old, George. As my husband says, “There must be bells and whistles going off in his head. Bells and whistles.”

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

 This is another of Mom’s wonderful comfort dishes. No gathering is complete without it! Taste great with tortilla chips or Melba toast. You can spice it if you’d like but remember that the hot pepper cheese on top makes it quite spicy.

1.  Melt butter in a medium pot, add onions and sautaee.
2. Place spinach in a bowl in the microwave until defrosted, drain all liquid from the spinach.
3. Add spinach to the onions, add cream cheese and stir until well blended. 
4. Add sour cream and artichokes to pot and stir until well blended. 
5. Put mixture in a bakeable dish and top with hot pepper cheese.
6. Bake at 350 until cheese on top is melted and golden on the edges. (about 15-20 min.).

Clothing

Margaret’s Consignment & Collectibles
2700 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville
(502) 896-4706

Sugarbakers Classy Consignment 
8209 Shelbyville Road, Louisville
(502) 426-6895

Furniture and Gifts

Charlotte’s Web Consignment
4175 Lyndon Way
Louisville, KY 40207

Eyedia, design it again
1631 North Mellwood Ave.
Louisville, KY  40206
(502)540-4940

Children’s Clothing and Products

Bridal

A Bride’s Dream, LLC
4127 Dixie Hwy # 1, Louisville
(502) 448-1885

Signing up for auto delivery will give you another 15% off. You can set the auto delivery for every 6 months and then cancel if you’d like after your first shipment. This brings the price down on some of the packages to $4 per pound!

Green Bean Recipe

Green Beans Wrapped in Bacon Recipe

Ingredients:

1 package of bacon

Green Beans (Canned works, but we much prefer fresh)

Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning

Crank up the oven to 350 F and slice the bacon strips in half.  Wash and snap your green beans.  Wrap 5-6 green beans in each 1/2 slice of bacon and place on your pan.  Sprinkle on Tony’s Seasoning , go light if this is your first time to use Tony’s or if your kid’s aren’t used to much spice.  Put in oven for 25 minutes but check on them after 15 minutes.  Let cool for a few minutes before serving and enjoy watching your kido’s eat their greens!

Tips:

We like to cook green bean wraps outside on the grill.  They go great with steaks or chicken and pick up an amazing smoked flavor from the charcoal.  If we do cook green bean wraps inside, I crank up the oven for the last 2 minutes, we prefer our bacon very crispy.

Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Recipe

Chocolate Cake balls with graham cracker crumbs.

Below is the “easy” method with a cake mix and a tub of store bought icing. The best combination I’ve made so far is homemade carrot cake (my mom’s recipe) and her homemade cream cheese icing, dipped in white almond bark and sprinkled with walnuts on top.  Experiment with different flavor combinations and share your favorites below!

Ingredients:
cake mix, baked as directed
1 tub of premade icing
dipping chocolate or candy coating

1. Bake cake as directed and let it cool completely.
2. Crumble the cake in a large bowl.
3. Mix the icing and cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Shape cake mixture into balls, I use rounded teaspoonfuls.
5. Place balls on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze for  at least one hour.
6. Melt candy coating or dipping chocolate as directed.
7. Using your favorite method of dipping, coat the balls and place on wax paper.
8. Decorate balls with  sprinkles, chopped nuts, peppermint candy, etc. Or wait until the balls are set and drizzle with different color chocolate melts.

Tips and Tricks for making cake balls:

• I usually get about 8 dozen rounded teaspoon size balls from each batch. I dip what we need and then freeze the rest. I now have a variety of  cake balls in the freeze to take out and dip as needed.
• I crumble my cake with my electric mixer until it is fine before mixing in the icing. The mixer makes it a lot faster, but be sure to use a tall bowl.
• When dipping cake balls that have been frozen, allow them to thaw slightly so the candy coating/ chocolate does not crack when it hardens.
• Place cake ball in mini muffin papers to serve as an elegant dessert.

Purple and Gold LSU cake balls.

fleur de lis

Because every girl needs a good bread recipe in her box.

 1 Place hot water in large bowl.

2 Add the shortening, salt and sugar.

3 Stir and let stand until lukewarm.

4 Sprinkle yeast over all.

5 Beat until smooth.

6 Add 3 cups flour and beat until mixed.

7 Work in 2 cups flour with a wooden spoon.

8 Gradually knead the last 1-1/2 cups flour in until no longer sticky-about 3 minutes.

9 Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

10 Punch down and place on floured board.

11 Roll out to a rectangle.

12 Cut lengthwise in half.

13 With each strip, roll up lengthwise and pinch seams.

14 Roll gently back and forth with hands to desired length and to smooth loaf out.

15 Lightly grease cookie sheet or use French loaf bread pans.

16 Cover and let rise for 25 minutes.

17 Cut diagonal slashes across bread about 1/4″ deep.

18 Preheat oven, pour boiling water on large cookie sheet to fill.

19 Place cookie sheet on bottom rack in oven.

20 Brush loaves with warm water and place bread on higher rack in oven above water.

21 Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes.