Thank You

Try leaving a stack of thank you notes in a prominant place in your home. Not only will glancing at them make you stop and think of things for which to be thankful, but it will also make it easier to jot down a quick note while the memory is still fresh. I loathe it when I can't remember what someone did for me or gave to me because I procrastinated in writing a note! It also increases the frequency of sending notes, which is a welcome break in the technology-laden, fast-paced world we live in. It's the simple things like this that bring beauty to an ordinary day.

This tasty dish is made from ingredients you probably have in your pantry and is a cinch to assemble. Enjoy it on a chilly autumn day!

Sausage - Sweet Potato Bake

1 pound bulk sausage
2 medium raw sweet potatoes, peeled and sliced or cubed
3 medium apples, peeled and sliced

• Brown sausage in skillet. Break up large pieces and drain off excess fat.
• Arrange in 2 qt. casserole: sweet potatoes, apples, sausage on top

Combine and pour over all:
2 T. maple syrup or brown sugar
1 T. flour
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
1/2 cup water

Cover and bake at 375 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

*My compliments to Joey for this super recipe!

You've got a friend...

If you live far away from someone you love and would like to make their day, send them dinner! I was having a hard week with sick kids and too much to do. I jokingly likened to my brain to a poached egg to a friend recently. You get the idea! As I swam in a sea of clothes to be folded and ironed, my phone rang to inform me that dinner would arrive at my door at 5:30. I was flabbergasted! Floored! Relieved! I wanted to weep, sing, and do a jig all at once. My dearest mother, though on the other side of the state, had ordered a pizza to be delivered to our house. I can't even describe how this turned my day around! So don't feel helpless if you aren't close by when a friend needs a little help. Just send dinner their way. Trust me, they will be thrilled!

As of Saturday, fall is officially here! Celebrate with a new decoration for your door. All you need is a package of fall leaves (fake or real), floral wire, and a letter cutout.

Using the wire, wrap clusters of leaves around the letter. That's it!

I'm posting Christmas gift ideas here and there to get your creative juices flowing! This is one of my favorite gift ideas for a child (ours loves it).

A friend gave this hand-made crayon holder. It's great to toss into a bookbag for travel because the crayons don't fall out like they do in the box. Each crayon has its own tiny pocket, which makes it easier for kids to pick out which color they want. It's a big hit in our house- if you're good with a sewing machine, give it a try. It makes a great gift!

Wipe out

I love all of the uses for old Lysol wipe canisters, but I have to say, the aesthetics are lacking. (I use them for holding grocery bags, and small toys.) Give yours a quick makeover with this simple method:

You'll need: cotton fabric, a sponge applicator, Mod Podge, and spray adhesive.
*The Mod Podge gives the fabric a more durable, water resistant finish

Spread a thin layer of Mod Podge over all of the fabric. Let dry.







Spray container with adhesive and roll fabric around the canister.

Other applications: baby wipe containers, plant pots, etc...

 

 

 



 

Save the ice cream!

A good friend shared this amazing tip with me and behold, it worked! Do you have freezer-burnt ice cream languishing in your freezer? Don't toss it! Remove the lid and run water (yes, I did say water) over the block of ice cream. (Make sure your ice cream is frozen solid, not soft.) Give it a shake to get the excess water off and serve. The water rinses away the ice crystals that give it that off taste and yields creamy, delicious ice cream underneath! I would never have believed this that this worked, but it does!