A Cornucopia of a Post!

Meaning a little bit of everything… cause why not?

A Craft: A Bucket Full of Thankfulness

I created this for The Great Pumpkin Search contest over at AC Bailey… so thought you might like to see it too in case you weren’t able to participate.

Create a holder for your family and friends to place their thoughts on what they are thankful for… be it a transparent paint bucket like mine, a jar, a basket, even a large hurricaine that you could re-use as a candle holder later! It really only takes a few embellishments to make any of these look lovely and match your own fall decor. The point is the memories and love that you will be putting inside.

Basic instructions:

1. Alter one of the items mentioned above to hold journaling tags with what you and your family are thankful for. I used a 12X12 transparency on my paint can and love how it looks! You could also achieve the same look on a see through container with stamps (use Staz-on ink), rub-ons, or vinyl appliques.

2. Create journaling tags for your family and friends to grab easily, write on, and place inside. I used my Cricut to cut out leaf shapes in fall colors.

3. Place the container, journaling tags, and a pen in a prominent location in your home (maybe your dining room table until it’s set for dinner?).

4. Let children write their own if they can so they are fully involved and you have a wonderful keepsake later. Don’t forget guests that haven’t been at your home until it’s time for the big celebration… pass out some blank tags while they are waiting for dinner and have them fill some things out too!

5. Before or after dinner, during coffee and dessert, whenever you like… open it up! Have each guest grab a handful and read them out loud, whether they are theirs or not. (Take some pics during the readings too!)

And as a bonus, save all the tags to create a mini-album or layout with to remember your holiday.

A Recipe: My Favorite Thanksgiving side dish – Sweet Potato Casserole

I first had something like this dish at my future in-laws house before Alan and I were married.  My sister in-law who made it won rave reviews with her version which she lovingly called “Sweet Potato Junk”.   She gave me the recipe once and unfortunately it was lost (Mea!  I need it again!) But this one from Allrecipes.com comes pretty darn close.

INGREDIENTS
1 (40 ounce) can cut sweet potatoes, undrained 
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 2 quart baking dish.
2.  Place the sweet potatoes and their liquid in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Cook 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove from heat, drain, and mash.
3.  In a medium bowl, mix the mashed sweet potatoes, white sugar, eggs, 1/3 cup butter, milk, and vanilla extract. Spread evenly into the prepared baking dish.
4.  In a separate bowl, mix the brown sugar, chopped pecans, flour, and 1/3 cup melted butter. Sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture.
5.  Bake 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Serious yum factor!!! (and yes, keep this one from your dentist…)

A little Photography – 20 Thanksgiving Photo Opportunities

In case you missed this post last year, be sure to check it out by clicking here! 

I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving week and are looking forward to Thursday, whether you are cooking or being cooked for.  I’m cooking for just three, so will have plenty of left overs (which I think is the best part).  This year we are also definitely more focused on our blessings and those that we are blessed to have in our lives, and that includes all of you that continue to read my blog and keep me inspired to create in return.  I am thankful for each of you!   May your holiday be wonderful, your plates be full, and your husbands willing to do the dishes.

Thanks for stopping by today, and come back again soon.