Keep Calm and Call Your Visiting Teachers

My family and moi have been poorly over the Christmas holidays, so we've all curled up and hibernated for a couple of weeks...I personally can't think of a better time for it to happen, new toys on hand, great tv and lots of goodies too (if you can stomach them!).  But it also means I couldn't make it to my family party and give them our gifts, so I can't post anything yet until I've handed the goods over, I can't wait to share some of them :)

Soooo, in the mean time, I know I'm probably going a bit overboard with the whole 'Keep Calm' thing, but I love 'em, and this idea came to me as I have just been assigned some new sisters to visit. 

I made the one below so that you can put your phone numbers on and make it into a fridge magnet.  

And of course, I had to make some for the home teachers too....

I've made free printables that you can download and play with of both types of images. Enjoy!

                                 VT Printable                                                                                      HT Printable

Keep Calm and Remember It's Christmas

I loved making my last 'Keep Calm' image and it has already had over 200 views since posting it two months ago!!  And although that is great, and it has a wonderful message....it just hasn't sat with right with me.  As I spoke with my mum on the phone today and the obvious topic of Christmas came up, she said how we (especially mothers) can put ourselves under so much pressure for that one perfect Christmas day....a perfect dinner, present, decorations, clothes etc.  Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and all of it's trimmings, but when I think of a perfect Christmas it's time spent with family, laughing, sharing, talking, looking out for those in need, that is what I love about Christmas...and isn't that the way it should be.

So when the turkey gets burnt, a bauble gets broken, the latest gadget is out of stock and your new clothes are less than desirable, I think  I/we need to step back and remember what Christmas is really about......

Merry Christmas xx
 

DIY Garlic Olive Oil

I love garlic, so when my friend told me how to make my own Garlic Olive Oil, I was like duhhh, why hadn't  I clicked before that by simply adding garlic cloves to olive oil I would have some super scrummy Garlic Olive Oil!!!  

So the majority of you probably already know this, but I thought I'd share it just in case there is somebody out there like me, that hasn't 'clicked' too :)

I used 250ml of olive oil and 4-5 garlic cloves, and just bashed each clove once with the back of a spoon, or you could use your pestle and mortar, rolling pin, your fist (phaha!!) instead.  

Put the cloves in the olive oil and you're done!!  Don't forget to label your oil container...as you can see below, mine looks very professional.

Now I've got to find lots and lots of ways to use this, so watch out for my extra pongy breath!!?!!

Christmas Punch (Non Alcoholic Mulled Wine)

I love all the smells that Christmas brings, and making (and smelling) Christmas punch is one of them.  As you can see from the photo above this recipe only needs 2 ingredients and is quick to make, so it's great for this busy time of year and also caters for surprise drop-ins, as both ingredients can be stored in the cupboard till needed.

Ingredients

1 litre of Red Grape Juice

2 sachets of mulled wine spice 

(the box above had 4 in it)

Optional - apple cut into small chunks

Put red grape juice and sachets (and apple chunks) into a large saucepan.  

Heat to just below boiling point and hold this temperature for 10 mins.

Remove sachets with tongs and it's ready to serve...let it cool down for a bit before serving, as it's a tad hot!!

On the box it suggests using Cranberry Juice and 'garnishing' (very posh!) with a slice of orange just before serving, so I might have to give that one a try too, yum yum yum.

Christmas Is...

My nine year old daughter did FHE tonight and used the link from lds.org entitled 'Christmas Is...' as the basis of her lesson.  It takes you to mormon.org where they have four images that flash up saying 'Christmas Is...Family, Service, Love and Jesus Christ'.  We printed off a sheet of paper with the above words on for each member of the family, on festive red paper of course :)

Firstly, she asked everyone what came to their minds when they thought of Christmas, we got the usual answers, pressies, Christmas tree, birth of Jesus, stockings etc.  She told us the four things that were mentioned on the church website and that we had to write on our pieces of paper under each of the headings, ideas of ways that we could do them during the festive season.

Between us we came up with some lovely, simple ideas that we could do....movie night with hot chocolate, hiding secret love notes to each other, caroling to the elderly etc and we decided which ones we would do and have put them on our calendar for this month...I'm even more excited for Christmas now.

Another idea that we came up with for 'Christmas Is...Jesus Christ', is to watch the six Life of Jesus Christ Bible Videos that refer to the birth of the Saviour the week before Christmas, and to read the corresponding scripture references.

She then closed by reading a quote from President Thomas S. Monson-

"With the birth of the babe in Bethlehem, there emerged a great endowment—a power stronger than weapons, a wealth more lasting than the coins of Caesar. This child was to become the King of kings and Lord of lords, the promised Messiah—Jesus Christ, the Son of God."

Please share what traditions and ideas you have for this Wonderful time of year.