Okay, I'm still trying to figure this blogging thing out....it's definitely a work in progress (slow progress, I might add). But since I talked about "A Purpose A Day" earlier this week, I figured I'd use the same philosophy in developing my blog. If you've looked over any of my previous posts, you've probably seen a trend starting....Tidbits, Tips, & Tutorials Tuesday, Scripture Sunday, Simplify Saturday, & so on. And you may have noticed the title to this post is "Wildcard Wednesday."
As ideas have come to mind about what I wanted to blog about, I've noticed that most of them fall into certain categories, & so I've put together this schedule to kinda help keep it all organized. (For those who know me, you know how I am about being organized!)
So here is my idea for now:
Scripture Sunday:
This is when I'll share some of the things I've learned from recent Bible reading or just scripture God has put on my heart.
More of Me Monday:
Okay, to be honest, this one I'm still not sure about, but sometimes I might just want to share a little about me....my struggles, a story, etc. For instance, my 2nd post about being a perfectionist would fall into this category. This might change a little over time, but I'll leave it for now.
Tidbits, Tips, & Tutorials Tuesday:
This one is pretty self-explanatory. This will be my day to share "how-to's," which could include craft projects, recipes, or other tips.
Wildcard Wednesday:
I decided I needed a day to share anything else that was on my mind that didn't exactly fit into one of the other categories. (I could also have done Miscellaneous Monday, but I liked the sound of Wildcard Wednesday better.)
Tablescape Thursday:
Of course, with my love for dishes & decorating, I had to have a tablescape day. (I plan to link with "Between Naps on the Porch" each time, so be sure to click on the link at the bottom of my tablescape posts to see other beautiful tablescapes.)
Friday Favorites:
On Fridays, I'll either share about some of the little things in life that I love or I'll revisit a previous post of mine......it's all about my favorites!
Simplify Saturday:
I love to organize, so Saturday will be my day to share organization tidbits, whether it be a gadget or something I've read or something that's just helped me to simplify my life.
So there you have it! While my plan is to blog as often as possible, life happens, & I don't want to get so caught up in blogging that I miss life! And I know that it will likely be impossible for me to have something to share in each category every week! While every day would be ideal, my goal is to blog at least 3 or 4 days a week. So whether you are just interested in one category or all of them, I hope you follow along & enjoy!
(Oh & by the way, I went back through some of my previous posts & added the daily category to the title. That's the perfectionist in me!)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Tutorial Tuesday: Chicken Tetrazzini
Since I made Chicken Tetrazzini last week for Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share this easy & yummy recipe!
What you'll need:
8 oz. (or small) package of spaghetti
(You can use other types of pasta if you prefer. The first time I made this was for Valentine's Day many years ago, & I actually found heart-shaped pasta!)
2 cans white chicken OR 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
(I like using the cans of chicken because it's quicker, & I'm all about quick & easy!)
10.5 oz. can cream of mushroom soup
10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon onion flakes (optional)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
(I like to use a little more cheese in mine!)
salt & pepper
1 small jar diced pimentos
1/2 cup sliced almonds
2 cups Corn Flakes OR 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
(I prefer the Corn Flakes.)
Parmesan, Romano, & Asiago cheese
***********************************
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 325*.
2) Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
3) Boil chicken breasts if not using canned chicken.
4) Mix soups & milk (& onion flakes if desired) together & heat on low to medium.
(Don't let it get to boiling stage.)
5) Add cheese, stirring constantly.
6) Add salt & pepper to taste.
(When all the cheese is melted, move mixture aside.)
7) Drain spaghetti.
8) Mix soup/cheese mixture with spaghetti.
9) Drain chicken (if using canned chicken), OR if cooking fresh chicken, cut up cooked chicken into small pieces.
10) Drain pimentos.
11) Add chicken, almonds, & pimentos to spaghetti. Mix together.
12) Pour into casserole dish.
13) Crush Corn Flakes.
14) Sprinkle Corn Flakes (or bread crumbs) on top.
15) Sprinkle Parmesan, Romano, & Asiago cheese on top as desired.
16) Cook for 30-45 minutes.
ENJOY!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Scripture Sunday: The Shame-Blame Game
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, & I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" The man said, "The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, & I ate." Gen. 3:8-12 (NIV)
When I read these verses, a couple things came to mind. First, it's interesting that earlier in scripture (Gen. 2:25), it states that Adam & Eve were both naked, but "felt no shame". However, the very second that they sinned, that they disobeyed God, they suddenly felt shame. That shame led them to hide (or separate) from God. Isn't that so true? When we know something is wrong, we tend to do our best to hide it, which in turn only hinders our relationships with God & others. Remember last week when I shared about being made in God's image & how our purpose is to be a reflection of God? Well, at the very instance mankind first sinned, that image was marred. And remember how God's will was for us to find complete security & acceptance through our relationship with Him? Well, at that same very instance, we not only became separated from God, but we began looking for our security in all the wrong places! After all, it's hard to find security in our relationship with God if we're shamefully hiding from Him!
This leads to my second point. When God questioned Adam, Adam not only blamed Eve, but in a round-about way, he blamed God ("The woman YOU put here...."). God then turned to Eve, who of course, blamed the serpent. Neither one wanted to take responsibility for their own actions. Why was that? Could it be because they wanted to still be accepted by God, and they believed that their failure or sin made them unacceptable or unworthy of God's love? Perhaps they felt that if someone else could be blamed, they'd be relieved of their guilt, or at least if everyone else was guilty too, then they wouldn't look so bad. We've all done it before......blamed someone else or pointed out someone else's shortcomings in an effort to make ourselves look better. When you get to the root of it, it all stems from our desire to be accepted.....a desire placed in each of us by God......a desire that can only be fulfilled by God. So in the long run, the very thing we do to try to gain acceptance only leaves us feeling more unacceptable & unworthy!
So then what is the answer? Well, there's good news! The Bible clearly states that Jesus bore the punishment we deserve for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6; I John 4:9-11). He was our substitute. While God allows us to feel guilt & convicts us of our sins so that we turn to Him, once we acknowledge that we'ved sinned and confess our sins to Him, accepting Jesus as our substitute, we no longer have to feel shame (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9)! The sin, along with the guilt, has been removed! Once again, we can find complete acceptance & security in God! In addition, when we realize that we're completely loved & accepted by God, we are much more likely to love those around us.....building them up & encouraging them, rather than using their failures to try to meet our own needs.
As the story of Adam & Eve continues on, God allows them to experience the consequences (punishment) of their sin, but it's interesting that He then makes garments for them & clothes them. In other words, He punished them, forgave them, & continued to take care of them, covering their sin & shame (nakedness).
I don't know about you, but I am simply amazed by God's love for us!
When I read these verses, a couple things came to mind. First, it's interesting that earlier in scripture (Gen. 2:25), it states that Adam & Eve were both naked, but "felt no shame". However, the very second that they sinned, that they disobeyed God, they suddenly felt shame. That shame led them to hide (or separate) from God. Isn't that so true? When we know something is wrong, we tend to do our best to hide it, which in turn only hinders our relationships with God & others. Remember last week when I shared about being made in God's image & how our purpose is to be a reflection of God? Well, at the very instance mankind first sinned, that image was marred. And remember how God's will was for us to find complete security & acceptance through our relationship with Him? Well, at that same very instance, we not only became separated from God, but we began looking for our security in all the wrong places! After all, it's hard to find security in our relationship with God if we're shamefully hiding from Him!
This leads to my second point. When God questioned Adam, Adam not only blamed Eve, but in a round-about way, he blamed God ("The woman YOU put here...."). God then turned to Eve, who of course, blamed the serpent. Neither one wanted to take responsibility for their own actions. Why was that? Could it be because they wanted to still be accepted by God, and they believed that their failure or sin made them unacceptable or unworthy of God's love? Perhaps they felt that if someone else could be blamed, they'd be relieved of their guilt, or at least if everyone else was guilty too, then they wouldn't look so bad. We've all done it before......blamed someone else or pointed out someone else's shortcomings in an effort to make ourselves look better. When you get to the root of it, it all stems from our desire to be accepted.....a desire placed in each of us by God......a desire that can only be fulfilled by God. So in the long run, the very thing we do to try to gain acceptance only leaves us feeling more unacceptable & unworthy!
So then what is the answer? Well, there's good news! The Bible clearly states that Jesus bore the punishment we deserve for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-6; I John 4:9-11). He was our substitute. While God allows us to feel guilt & convicts us of our sins so that we turn to Him, once we acknowledge that we'ved sinned and confess our sins to Him, accepting Jesus as our substitute, we no longer have to feel shame (Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9)! The sin, along with the guilt, has been removed! Once again, we can find complete acceptance & security in God! In addition, when we realize that we're completely loved & accepted by God, we are much more likely to love those around us.....building them up & encouraging them, rather than using their failures to try to meet our own needs.
As the story of Adam & Eve continues on, God allows them to experience the consequences (punishment) of their sin, but it's interesting that He then makes garments for them & clothes them. In other words, He punished them, forgave them, & continued to take care of them, covering their sin & shame (nakedness).
I don't know about you, but I am simply amazed by God's love for us!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Simplify Saturday: A Purpose A Day Keeps the Stress At Bay
A purpose a day keeps the stress (& clutter) at bay.......Let me first start by sharing a little about my work as a counselor at a hospice. Several years ago, after struggling to stay on top of my many weekly tasks, I developed a system......a system that I still use to this day because I found that it works so well! That system was simply this: I assigned each task to a particular day of the week. For instance, Tuesday is my day to complete all of my letters that need to be sent out for that week. It's also my day to prepare for our weekly team meeting. Thursday, on the other hand, is my day for processing donations. You get the picture. I still have many other daily tasks, such as actually meeting with my clients (kind of important when you're a counselor) and making phone calls, but it was my weekly tasks that were always being pushed aside. What I found is that by assigning my regular weekly tasks to a particular day of the week, it is much less overwhelming. First, it's already planned out for me. Secondly, I don't have to worry as much about forgetting to do something because the day serves as a reminder for what needs to be done. Thirdly, because I divided the tasks up, I've found that it's much easier to fit them into my work day or squeeze them in between clients and meetings.
Not only did I assign tasks according to when they needed to be done (for instance, obviously I need to prepare for our meeting before the meeting takes place), but I also split them up according to the amount of time each task typically takes. That way on Monday and Wednesdays, my days that have morning meetings, I have fewer (or at least less time-consuming) tasks. I've even planned for some "catch up" time one day a week in case it's a crazy-busy week. In the beginning I had to play around with it some to figure out what worked best, and over time, as new tasks have been added or changed, I've had to tweek it a little. And of course, as in most jobs, there are always things that come up at the last minute....a client calls or needs to be seen unexpectedly, a phone call lasts much longer than planned, and so on......so things don't always work out exactly as planned. But overall, the system has worked great for me!
So....now let me get to my point....a couple years ago, in the midst of feeling overwhelmed by my weekly household duties (you know, laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning, bills, etc.), it hit me! Why not do the same thing at home that I've been doing at work for years? I started by making a list of everything that needs to be done at my house daily, everything that needs to be done weekly, everything that needs to be done monthly, and so on. Then I assigned the weekly tasks to a particular day, and the monthly tasks I assigned to a particulary time of the month (such as the first Saturday). After testing it out & playing around with it a little, my weekly schedule looks something this:
Monday: Purse & Paperwork
This entails cleaning out my purse, paying bills, filing, and making my grocery list for the week. (On a good day, I also try to clean out the refrigerator as I'm making the grocery list so that it will be ready for the new groceries.)
Tuesday: Groceries & Gas
This includes stopping by the grocery store on my way home - remember I made my grocery list the day before & put it in my purse so I'd have it with me. It also includes filling up with gas, which I do whether my tank is on "E" or not. This way I don't have to worry about filling up when I'm running late, which I admit, is often! Of course, there are always weeks that I drive more & have to fill up in between, but this helps!
Wednesday: Cleaning Part 1
I divided my weekly cleaning into 2 parts so that it would be a little more manageable. On Wednesday, I dust, vacuum, & sweep. (I must admit, I love my feather duster, and in order to make the process a little quicker, I usually use it instead of Pledge. I will typically use Pledge only about once a month, and sometimes I just rotate rooms. For instance, the first week I'll use Pledge in my bedroom, but the feather duster everywhere else. The next week I'll use Pledge in the living room, but use the feather duster in my bedroom, and so on.)
Thursday: Cleaning Part 2
On day two of cleaning, I focus on the bathrooms & kitchen, two areas that can get dirty really fast! I don't have to tell you what all this includes (you know, the mirrors, toilets, bathtubs/showers, countertops, sinks, stovetop, etc.)
Friday: Family & Fun
I decided I needed a "free" day....a day to either spend time with family or my hubby, or just do nothing. Most Fridays, my hubby & I either go out to eat with family or we just rent a movie and relax. If I've gotten all of my weekly tasks done, I'm not worried about everything that needs to be done & it's much easier to just relax.
Saturday: Projects, Pamper, & Play
I use Saturdays for my bigger projects (such as deep cleaning or re-organizing or any other project the hubby & I have been wanting to do around the house) or for any craft projects I've been wanting to do. I also try to get a mani/pedi at least once every month (that's where the pamper part comes in). I think it's important to take some time to pamper yourself occasionally. And then, of course, it's important to take some time to play.....whether it be going to a party or shower or just taking some time to play at home with family. (I, of course, like to take some time to play with my dishes, too!) If need be, I also use Saturdays to catch up on any tasks that I didn't get quite finished throughout the week.
Sunday: Rest, Relax, & Renew
I try to make Sundays a time for renewal (both spirit and body). Although it doesn't always happen this way, my ideal Sunday includes going to church, spending a little time with family over lunch, taking an afternoon nap (there's just nothing quite like a Sunday afternoon nap), and preparing for the beginning of another week.
You may be wondering what happened to laundry & dishes......well, for me it's easier to just do those on a daily basis as needed. I try to check them daily & when there's enough to start a load, I do it. (In fact, I have a daily routine, too, but I'll save that for another time.) Now, I must admit, this is still a work in progress, and there are many weeks that I get off my routine, but the weeks that I actually stick to my plan seem to go much smoother for me! Not only do I feel like I've gotten more accomplished, but I actually usually feel like I have more free time! Keep in mind, too, that I try to spend no more than 1-1 1/2 hours a day on the task(s). And it's amazing how much less stressed I feel! When I complete the task(s) for the day, I don't have to worry about everything else that needs to be done because I know that it's assigned to another day! The important thing to remember is to make it work for you, according to what your tasks & needs are. It should be a tool to help ease your stress, not add to it!
It's interesting that not too long after coming up with this plan, I came across a book (Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley) that encourages that same type of plan. I plan to talk much more about the book & it's suggestions in future posts, but I encourage you to pick up a copy & read it. It has some great practical advise on keeping up with your household duties.
Also, I just had to mention that the "purpose a day" is Biblical. Remember last week when I blogged about the creation? Well, if you think about it, it's a great example of having a purpose for each day! Plus, God made the last day a day for rest as well.
So there you have it.....try it out & see if it doesn't help ease your stress & reduce your clutter!
Not only did I assign tasks according to when they needed to be done (for instance, obviously I need to prepare for our meeting before the meeting takes place), but I also split them up according to the amount of time each task typically takes. That way on Monday and Wednesdays, my days that have morning meetings, I have fewer (or at least less time-consuming) tasks. I've even planned for some "catch up" time one day a week in case it's a crazy-busy week. In the beginning I had to play around with it some to figure out what worked best, and over time, as new tasks have been added or changed, I've had to tweek it a little. And of course, as in most jobs, there are always things that come up at the last minute....a client calls or needs to be seen unexpectedly, a phone call lasts much longer than planned, and so on......so things don't always work out exactly as planned. But overall, the system has worked great for me!
So....now let me get to my point....a couple years ago, in the midst of feeling overwhelmed by my weekly household duties (you know, laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning, bills, etc.), it hit me! Why not do the same thing at home that I've been doing at work for years? I started by making a list of everything that needs to be done at my house daily, everything that needs to be done weekly, everything that needs to be done monthly, and so on. Then I assigned the weekly tasks to a particular day, and the monthly tasks I assigned to a particulary time of the month (such as the first Saturday). After testing it out & playing around with it a little, my weekly schedule looks something this:
Monday: Purse & Paperwork
This entails cleaning out my purse, paying bills, filing, and making my grocery list for the week. (On a good day, I also try to clean out the refrigerator as I'm making the grocery list so that it will be ready for the new groceries.)
Tuesday: Groceries & Gas
This includes stopping by the grocery store on my way home - remember I made my grocery list the day before & put it in my purse so I'd have it with me. It also includes filling up with gas, which I do whether my tank is on "E" or not. This way I don't have to worry about filling up when I'm running late, which I admit, is often! Of course, there are always weeks that I drive more & have to fill up in between, but this helps!
Wednesday: Cleaning Part 1
I divided my weekly cleaning into 2 parts so that it would be a little more manageable. On Wednesday, I dust, vacuum, & sweep. (I must admit, I love my feather duster, and in order to make the process a little quicker, I usually use it instead of Pledge. I will typically use Pledge only about once a month, and sometimes I just rotate rooms. For instance, the first week I'll use Pledge in my bedroom, but the feather duster everywhere else. The next week I'll use Pledge in the living room, but use the feather duster in my bedroom, and so on.)
Thursday: Cleaning Part 2
On day two of cleaning, I focus on the bathrooms & kitchen, two areas that can get dirty really fast! I don't have to tell you what all this includes (you know, the mirrors, toilets, bathtubs/showers, countertops, sinks, stovetop, etc.)
Friday: Family & Fun
I decided I needed a "free" day....a day to either spend time with family or my hubby, or just do nothing. Most Fridays, my hubby & I either go out to eat with family or we just rent a movie and relax. If I've gotten all of my weekly tasks done, I'm not worried about everything that needs to be done & it's much easier to just relax.
Saturday: Projects, Pamper, & Play
I use Saturdays for my bigger projects (such as deep cleaning or re-organizing or any other project the hubby & I have been wanting to do around the house) or for any craft projects I've been wanting to do. I also try to get a mani/pedi at least once every month (that's where the pamper part comes in). I think it's important to take some time to pamper yourself occasionally. And then, of course, it's important to take some time to play.....whether it be going to a party or shower or just taking some time to play at home with family. (I, of course, like to take some time to play with my dishes, too!) If need be, I also use Saturdays to catch up on any tasks that I didn't get quite finished throughout the week.
Sunday: Rest, Relax, & Renew
I try to make Sundays a time for renewal (both spirit and body). Although it doesn't always happen this way, my ideal Sunday includes going to church, spending a little time with family over lunch, taking an afternoon nap (there's just nothing quite like a Sunday afternoon nap), and preparing for the beginning of another week.
You may be wondering what happened to laundry & dishes......well, for me it's easier to just do those on a daily basis as needed. I try to check them daily & when there's enough to start a load, I do it. (In fact, I have a daily routine, too, but I'll save that for another time.) Now, I must admit, this is still a work in progress, and there are many weeks that I get off my routine, but the weeks that I actually stick to my plan seem to go much smoother for me! Not only do I feel like I've gotten more accomplished, but I actually usually feel like I have more free time! Keep in mind, too, that I try to spend no more than 1-1 1/2 hours a day on the task(s). And it's amazing how much less stressed I feel! When I complete the task(s) for the day, I don't have to worry about everything else that needs to be done because I know that it's assigned to another day! The important thing to remember is to make it work for you, according to what your tasks & needs are. It should be a tool to help ease your stress, not add to it!
It's interesting that not too long after coming up with this plan, I came across a book (Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley) that encourages that same type of plan. I plan to talk much more about the book & it's suggestions in future posts, but I encourage you to pick up a copy & read it. It has some great practical advise on keeping up with your household duties.
Also, I just had to mention that the "purpose a day" is Biblical. Remember last week when I blogged about the creation? Well, if you think about it, it's a great example of having a purpose for each day! Plus, God made the last day a day for rest as well.
So there you have it.....try it out & see if it doesn't help ease your stress & reduce your clutter!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Friday Favorites: Magazine Madness
Welcome to "Friday Favorites"! I've decided to make Fridays a time for either sharing some of the little things in life that I enjoy, or later on (after I have a few more posts to choose from), revisiting some of my favorite posts. I figure if something is worth blogging about, why only share it once?
As you might have figured out by the title, I LOVE magazines......especially if they deal with decorating, tablescapes, parties, or organizing! In fact, most girls probably prefer flowers or chocolate or jewelry for Valentine's Day (and not that I don't like those things), but my husband must know me pretty well because he got me magazines! (He did throw in some chocolate covered pretzels, too! Yum!) I was one happy girl!!
As you might have figured out by the title, I LOVE magazines......especially if they deal with decorating, tablescapes, parties, or organizing! In fact, most girls probably prefer flowers or chocolate or jewelry for Valentine's Day (and not that I don't like those things), but my husband must know me pretty well because he got me magazines! (He did throw in some chocolate covered pretzels, too! Yum!) I was one happy girl!!
Here are a few more recent purchases:
"Southern Lady" is one of my favorite magazines! And see that "Romantic Homes" peeking out from behind it? That was a gift from my mother-in-law. As part of our Christmas, she got both me & my sister-in-law a subscription!
You can never have too many magazines! I usually keep one or two in my car or bag, so that if I have a couple extra minutes or if I'm waiting somewhere, I have a little reading material! Well, I better go....my magazines are calling my name!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tablescape Thursday: With All Of My Heart(s) - Celebrating 10 Valentine's Days Together!
Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37
For the last couple weeks I'd planned to surprise Mr. Dishaholic (I'm sure he'll just love being called that) with a special Valentine's dinner. After all, this was our 10th Valentine's Day together (3 while dating & 7 married). I had come up with this elaborate plan to leave work early, pick up my needed supplies from the store, and go over to my parents' to prepare the meal so that he would not have any clue. My idea was to tell him that I'd made reservations for us at a restaurant and that we could just meet there after work. Only instead of me actually meeting him at the restaurant, I planned to call & tell him I was running a little late and to go ahead and go in to the restaurant and tell them we have reservations. In reality, I was going to drop off a card about 15 minutes before and have the host/hostess give him the card, which would tell him to meet me at our house in an hour. In the meantime, I would go to our house & get the table set up & finish the food prep. Woo! That makes me tired just thinking about it! Those were my plans anyway, but instead, it went something like this......
The weekend before Valentine's Day we were both visited by an unwanted guest...a stomach virus! Ugh! I was feeling somewhat better by Sunday, but not only did it put me behind on my planning & gathering supplies for the table, but it also left me feeling very tired. Knowing I was short on time and tired, Sunday evening I decided to forgo the surprise & let him know about the dinner. I gave him a card that asked him to be my valentine & join me for a special "10th Valentine's Day" celebration on Monday evening. I figured that would help reduce a little of the stress & give me more time to get things accomplished. It seemed good in theory anyway.
So Monday, I left work around lunch time & headed to pick up my supplies. What I thought was going to be a quick trip turned into a much longer trip as I ended up having to go to several stores to get everything I needed. Not to mention that when I got home I realized I had the wrong kind of flour! So back to the store I went!
To make a long story short & get on to the good stuff, let's just say that things took much longer than planned, and after much frustration, and several hours later I wasn't even close to having dinner prepared. In fact by 6 or 7pm, I only had the chocolate covered strawberries & oatmeal lace cookies finished (& that was with my poor hubby's help!). On top of all that, he was still feeling extremely sick. Oh & did I mention I was on call for work & got called out later in the evening & didn't get home 'til 4:30 am?! While memorable, it was definitely not the Valentine's night I had envisioned! So having said all that, we ended up having our Valentine's dinner tonight. I guess better late than never!
However, the one thing I did manage to complete by Valentine's evening was the tablescape.....after all, as long as there's a good tablescape, does it really matter what, or if, you eat? :)
For the last couple weeks I'd planned to surprise Mr. Dishaholic (I'm sure he'll just love being called that) with a special Valentine's dinner. After all, this was our 10th Valentine's Day together (3 while dating & 7 married). I had come up with this elaborate plan to leave work early, pick up my needed supplies from the store, and go over to my parents' to prepare the meal so that he would not have any clue. My idea was to tell him that I'd made reservations for us at a restaurant and that we could just meet there after work. Only instead of me actually meeting him at the restaurant, I planned to call & tell him I was running a little late and to go ahead and go in to the restaurant and tell them we have reservations. In reality, I was going to drop off a card about 15 minutes before and have the host/hostess give him the card, which would tell him to meet me at our house in an hour. In the meantime, I would go to our house & get the table set up & finish the food prep. Woo! That makes me tired just thinking about it! Those were my plans anyway, but instead, it went something like this......
The weekend before Valentine's Day we were both visited by an unwanted guest...a stomach virus! Ugh! I was feeling somewhat better by Sunday, but not only did it put me behind on my planning & gathering supplies for the table, but it also left me feeling very tired. Knowing I was short on time and tired, Sunday evening I decided to forgo the surprise & let him know about the dinner. I gave him a card that asked him to be my valentine & join me for a special "10th Valentine's Day" celebration on Monday evening. I figured that would help reduce a little of the stress & give me more time to get things accomplished. It seemed good in theory anyway.
So Monday, I left work around lunch time & headed to pick up my supplies. What I thought was going to be a quick trip turned into a much longer trip as I ended up having to go to several stores to get everything I needed. Not to mention that when I got home I realized I had the wrong kind of flour! So back to the store I went!
To make a long story short & get on to the good stuff, let's just say that things took much longer than planned, and after much frustration, and several hours later I wasn't even close to having dinner prepared. In fact by 6 or 7pm, I only had the chocolate covered strawberries & oatmeal lace cookies finished (& that was with my poor hubby's help!). On top of all that, he was still feeling extremely sick. Oh & did I mention I was on call for work & got called out later in the evening & didn't get home 'til 4:30 am?! While memorable, it was definitely not the Valentine's night I had envisioned! So having said all that, we ended up having our Valentine's dinner tonight. I guess better late than never!
However, the one thing I did manage to complete by Valentine's evening was the tablescape.....after all, as long as there's a good tablescape, does it really matter what, or if, you eat? :)
My inspiration for this tablescape came from 2 sources. The first one was simply hearts..... I went around the house, looking through Christmas ornaments & other decorations, gathering all of the red hearts I could find (hence the name, "With All of My Heart(s)"). Of course, it was an excuse to purchase a few more, too! My second source of inspiration was the fact that this was our 10th Valentine's Day together so I wanted to make it special. Looking back through some old photos, I came across a few from our 2nd Valentine's Day, which just so happened to also be the first tablescape I ever put together! So I decided to use some of the same things for this tablescape as I did for that one!
First I started with a basic white tablecloth. On a recent trip to Target, I saw this red blanket with the hearts "punched out" on the ends & I knew it would be perfect for my table. Plus, it was only $4.99. You can't beat that!
At each place setting, I layered the heart plates on top of square red plates. It's hard to tell in the pictures, but I actually have a black dinner plate layered between the red plate & the black rhinestone charger.
I decided to use a couple of my heart ornaments as napkin rings.
Then I used the same glasses we used for our 2nd Valentine's Day! (They were painted by mother-in-law). Conveniently, they also served as our place cards since our names are on them.
For the centerpiece, I gathered some glass jars from around the house. I filled one with a bunch of red heart ornaments & topped it off with some ribbon. Another I filled with the chocolate covered strawberries, and the last one I filled with the oatmeal lace cookies. I added a couple ornaments to the tops as well.
All was going well, & then it happened! I was holding my very favorite heart ornament by the string, when the string suddenly broke & the heart fell to the floor, shattering into a hundred pieces! It broke my heart (get it? :) ). That was just one of the many mishaps on that memorable night!
I also added a few pictures of us during our dating years. Of course, it just wouldn't be complete without a picture of us sitting at the table that served as the inspiration for this one!
And you can't have a romantic dinner without candlelight! (These candles just so happen to be the very same ones we used before, too).
Our menu for the evening consisted of:
chicken tetrazzini (the same thing I cooked on our 2nd Valentine's Day)
garden salad
rolls
oatmeal lace cookies
chocolate covered strawberries
And last, but not least, sweet tea for my sweetie
After all this talk about our 2nd Valentine's Day (& my first ever tablescape), of course I had to include a picture of it. Do you see the similarities?
red/white heart plates - Kohls
red square plates - by Sonoma/Kohls (many years ago)
black plates- by Rosanna
rhinestone chargers - Michael's
silverware - Walmart (many years ago)
white napkins - Pier 1
(I can't remember where I got the red napkins from)
heart ornaments - Michael's & Hobby Lobby
glass jars - Hobby Lobby
red blanket "tablecloth" - Target
I'm joining with Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Wildcard Wednesday: The Search for Signficance
I'm trying to do a litte more reading these days. I enjoy reading, especially non-fiction, information books, but I'm not very good at making the time to do it. But this last week I picked up a book that I've had for a while (and by a while, I mean at least a couple years!), but had never completely finished reading! I started over at the beginning and actually finished it this time. The book is called THE SEARCH FOR SIGNIFICANCE (by Robert . McGee), and it was spot on with what God has been doing in my heart lately! Isn't God's timing perfect?
This book talks about our God-given need for self-worth, for security, and for acceptance, and how we go about trying to fulfill those needs in all the wrong ways! All of our efforts only lead to more problems and hurt relationships. It even talks about how it can drive some of us to be perfectionists (ironic, since my post a couple weeks ago was about my struggle with perfectionism!). But the book doesn't leave you hanging; it also reveals how those needs are intended to be met : through our relationship with God (also ironic considering my recent study & post regarding how God's purpose for our lives is to have a relationship with Him!). So I encourage you, if you've ever struggled with insecurity or low self-worth, or if you've ever felt the need to win the approval and acceptance of those around you, or if you're a perfectionist like me and are afraid of failure, read this book! It's a great reminder of how loved we really are!!!
This book talks about our God-given need for self-worth, for security, and for acceptance, and how we go about trying to fulfill those needs in all the wrong ways! All of our efforts only lead to more problems and hurt relationships. It even talks about how it can drive some of us to be perfectionists (ironic, since my post a couple weeks ago was about my struggle with perfectionism!). But the book doesn't leave you hanging; it also reveals how those needs are intended to be met : through our relationship with God (also ironic considering my recent study & post regarding how God's purpose for our lives is to have a relationship with Him!). So I encourage you, if you've ever struggled with insecurity or low self-worth, or if you've ever felt the need to win the approval and acceptance of those around you, or if you're a perfectionist like me and are afraid of failure, read this book! It's a great reminder of how loved we really are!!!
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