Tuesday, December 31, 2013

iPad Holder

I have wanted an iPad display for my kitchen area for quite a while now.  I do not like it sitting on the counter top as I cook using it to get a recipe.  It feels like any second I will make a mess and it will spread all over the iPad.  So I found this and tweaked it to my liking!


It turned out pretty awesome I think!  It was easy to make also so that is an additional plus! Home Depot did all the hard work for me!

Here is what you will need to make your own:


You will have to buy a full 1x12 and 1x2 whitewood.  Ask Home Depot to cut each board 10".

Then I went to the trim section for the last piece.  You could use any style you like.  These will be sold by the foot, not by the board like other pieces.  Home Depot will cut that as well for you.

Then I sanded all the edges of my pieces and added the stain color.


Let it dry completely.


Use Gorilla glue to put your pieces together.  Using a clamp is very helpful to keep pieces together till glue is dry.


You could leave as is or distress from this moment a bit or do like I did and add a layer of color then distress.


I also added a chalk message center so when my iPad isn't on the display I can leave a sweet message to my hubby or kids!  Tape off area and spray on chalk paint.  Allow to dry then add second coat.


Remove tape and you are ready to roll!


Leaving the ends open allows you to turn iPad as needed! You can also see the trim piece style a little better in the pic below.




Enjoy!



Monday, December 30, 2013

Chew on this...


Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias talks about how Christians can be the one responsible for people going away from Christ instead of bringing them to Christ. How? When our words and actions do not match. I know someone who was not only pushed away from the church, but also away from Christ because of a Pharisee act of members in a church. Are we a Pharisee or a Christian? Are we legalistic or loving? Are we following the rules or following Jesus? Pray that God guides us in the truth, not the law. Pray that as a church we will not worry so much about our rules as we will someone’s needs. From the book, “If we don’t come to terms with the crisis times in which we live by presenting the beauty and the distinctive message of Jesus Christ, we will fail our time.” Pray that people see Christ in each one of us through our words and actions, not a Pharisee. ~ Frances

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Santa's Cookies

Our family has been making these cookies for Santa for years. They are his favorite and I bet you will enjoy them as well!
I got the original recipe from Paul Deen YEARS ago and have changed some of the ingredients to work for our family.
Ingredients Needed
1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon baking soda 
3 1/2 hard white whole grain flour
2 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla 
2 large eggs 
1 cup honey granules
1 cup sucanat
1/2 cup butter, softened 
16oz maraschino cherries

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  

2. Using your electric mixer, place butter, honey granules, and sucanat together in bowl and mix until light and fluffy.  

3. Add eggs and vanilla, then mixture aside.  

4. Sift together flour, soda, and salt.  

5. Add milk to butter mixture then add your flour, soda, and salt to butter mixture.  

6. In another bowl, combine chopped nuts, cherries and white chocolate chips.  

7. Then add to mixture, stirring only to blend.  

8. Drop by heaping tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.  

9. Bake for approximately 11-13 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!


Monday, December 23, 2013

Chew on this...

Merry Christmas! Our greetings reflect the joy of the season. But what about when our joy isn’t there or it is starting to deplete with all the goings on of the season? Go to the reason for the season. Go to the source of joy, God’s grace. God’s grace gives us the power to enjoy life no matter what is happening. Take a time out with God and power back up. Pray about the reason for our joy and why we are celebrating. Pray for God’s grace to be filled back up and to push out all the things the world says we are to be doing for the holiday. Pray for ears to listen to what God is telling us to do at this time which is to celebrate His Son’s birth! To worship God and thank Him for His love for us. His love that came to earth just for us. Prayer is the way we plug into our power source to the joy God has for us! Be merry in His joy! ~ Frances


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Monday, December 16, 2013

Chew on this...


As we prepare for the Christmas season and celebrate the miracle of God’s love, ponder the majesty of God and the goodness and power He brings to our lives. Pray for a close, personal relationship with Jesus. Open the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Don’t open the gift and not use it. Pray to know Him, take time to truly know who Christ is. Not just as a new born baby in the manger during the Christmas season, but pray to know and have a better understanding of His majesty, His goodness, and the power He brings to our life. Make it personal, pray. ~ Frances

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Give a little Jesus

I love wrapping gifts with not only a bow but adding just a little extra on the outside.  Sometimes that is in the form of something as simple as raffia bow with a cute tag or an ornament for Christmas.  This is a little baby Jesus.  It makes a cute accessory to your gift wrap presents or make one to hang on your tree as an ornament.  It is a simple and very flexible craft! Think outside the box, always!

Gather supplies: (I got everything from Michael's)
small wood stars
wood boy game pieces (if you cant find these you could just use the round ball heads)
craft paint
wire (I used 20 gauge)
small bird nest
felt
sharpie
glue gun


1.  Start by painting your star and the head of your boy game piece.


2.  As that dries, twist end of wire to connect to bird's nest.  Then wrap wire around end of pencil or I used my paint brush.


3.  Hot glue star to wire.


4.  Now is time to wrap the baby with felt.  I cut felt in half, then half again, one more time.  Put two dots of hot glue on neck and fold felt.


5.  Fold one side over and glue, then fold other side over and glue.



6.  Fold up bottom piece of felt hanging down, hot glue in place in the nest.


7.  Lastly tuck in those side pieces sticking out.  Use the sharpie and add two dots for the little eyes.  I added a string so it can be tied onto a gift, then later used as an ornament.  I also added some glitter to the star to give it a little pop.


Enjoy!


Monday, December 9, 2013

Chew on this...


Thanking God for always providing what I need to do His work. Thanking God for always being there for me. Thanking God for growth through His word. Thanking God! I could go on and on and when people say they have little to be thankful for or they look at all the things they are not in their lives, I ask myself why? Could be they are looking to themselves or other people to provide them something to be thankful for? People as well as ourselves will always let us down, but God will not! Look to God and all He provides, give thanks to God this thanksgiving. You too will have many things to thank God for!!! ~ Frances

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Monday, December 2, 2013

Chew on this...


Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 It is the season of Thanksgiving, but what about “when you’re not really feeling all that thankful? When we’re really not feeling all that thankful, what if – in obedience – we thanked Him based on what we know to be true? That we thanked Him for who He is, and for the fact that His ways are higher than our ways. We thanked Him for His unwavering strength instead of our own shaky frailty. Thank God for writing such a personal, loving story of redemption for our lives – one that will make His glory shine in dark places. Thank Him for the blessings that can only be attributed to His goodness when they arrive in the form of miracles in the midst of trials. Thank Him for compassionate hearts and open doors to encourage others with our stories of God’s faithfulness in desperate times. Thank Him for the thorn in our side, that continually drives us to the cross, reminding us of our great need for a Savior! Thank you, God, for this gift of seeing your more clearly.” This is from Good Morning Girls devotional. Pray for a year round grateful heart. ~ Frances