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Monday, November 30, 2015

GIVEAWAY HOP!!! Welcome to the This or That Giveaway Hop! #GivingTuesday #Giving

Holiday prep is in full swing and methinks it's time for a giveaway! This isn't just any ol' giveaway, though. I'm teaming up with over 60 bloggers for the This or That giveaway hop! Special thanks to our hostesses: The Mommy Island, The Kids Did It, and The Review Wire. I love to support fellow entrepreneurs so I'm giving away a $25 gift certificate to Etsy.com. You'll be able to use it at any shop on Etsy for anything your heart desires! Enter to win on the Rafflecopter widget below (may take a moment to load) and then scroll down to visit all the other giveaways! You've got two weeks to make it through the list!
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Antique Louisa May Alcott Books & Planning My Winter Reading

Thanks so much for stopping by Vintage Show & Tell! I hope everyone is enjoying their holidays! We had a lovely Thanksgiving and have been enjoying a four day weekend with Daddy home. I love it when my husband gets time off work and we can have fun family time!

Today I'm featuring two of my special treasures: my Louisa May Alcott books that my husband bought for me a few Christmas's ago. The holiday season inspires me to read great Christmas classics and while only a portion of Little Women takes place during Christmas, it's still one of my favorites that I read every other year.

My mother first introduced me to Little Women when I was a little girl and she's been a favorite author since. Imagine my surprise and complete delight when my husband surprised me with these two antique editions of Under the Lilacs and Jo's Boys.

This version of Under the Lilacs was published in 1898 and the edition of Jo's Boys was put out a year later in 1899. I love the pretty flowery designs along the cover and spine. Inside each book, opposite the title page, is an illustration.

Jo's Boys features a sculpted profile of Alcott with her signature and Under the Lilacs has a picture of characters Ben and Sancho from the story.

I love to collect old books and imagine where they may have come from. Inside the cover of Under the Lilacs is a stamp which reads: "Chester Thorn, Agt., The Saturday Evening Post, 24 East Taylor Street, Kokomo Ind." Inside Jo's Boys the following is written in beautiful calligraphic handwriting: "Thula May Faulkners Book, 1901".

Rereading old favorites is a comforting way to spend a winter---I'm really looking forward to revisiting Little Women, Wuthering Heights, A Christmas Carol, Nathaniel Hawthorne's stories, and more. What do you have on your winter reading list? Linking with: These great parties...

Grammy's Snowball Nut Cookies #BakeMagicMoments #ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BakeMagicMoments #CollectiveBias

Our family had such a fun and relaxing Thanksgiving weekend---I hope you did, as well! I spent a lot of time in the kitchen, doing lots of cooking and baking and trying out some really old recipes from my great-grandma's recipe box. I've mentioned before that I was gifted with a large amount of her recipes and cookbooks when she passed away and I've really enjoyed going through them and experimenting with some of her favorites. Grammy's Snowball Nut Cookies are a favorite I make every Christmas season. This year, I used Reynolds Cookie Baking Sheets and both the baking and the cleanup were a breeze!

Reynolds Cookie Baking Sheets can be found in the grocery paper products section of Walmart. They come in a box of 22 pre-cut parchment paper sheets and are great for simple baking with easy clean up. They're non-stick so cookies are easily removed from the pan without crumbling or breaking. Oven safe up to 420º, they're perfect for all your favorite cookie recipes.

My favorite memories of my Grammy Annabelle involve food. She was the grandma that would fill you to overflowing with junk food---right before your parents put you in the car for the several hours long drive home on winding roads. She loved her sweets and her big meals and I'll always remember her home as being elegant and full of beautiful "don't touch thats". I keep these two photos of her on the mirror of my antique dresser. I sure miss her!

These Snowball Nut Cookies are great melt-in-your-mouth treats that you'll be excited to share with friends. Reynolds Cookie Baking Sheets are great for getting those perfect-looking cookies that you want to gift. Cookies bake evenly so they look pretty and they're tasty, too! The thing I really love about this recipe is it contains ingredients that I always have in my cupboards. In fact, many of the recipes I was given are like that. With so many little ones at home, I can't always be running out to the store for specific ingredients so I love having simple ideas for making special treats with the things I already have in my kitchen.

After mixing up the basic ingredients, I roll the dough into balls and bake on a low setting for about 20 minutes. You don't want these to turn brown---just to bake through.

After they're baked and mostly cooled, roll the cookies in powdered sugar. They'll immediately become the lightest, creamiest cookies ever! I line a festive container with a parchment sheet and place them right in. Reynolds Cookie Baking Sheets are perfect for lining containers and you can even use your scissors to create a pretty scalloped edge as you're cutting down the paper to fit your container.

Make sure to let me know if you give this recipe a try! I know you'll love it---and your friends will too!

Grammy's Snowball Nut Cookies

1 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. chopped nuts
1 c. powdered sugar

Cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy. Add flour and salt and blend well. Mix in nuts. Shape into balls and bake 20 minutes at 325º. When cookies are cool, roll in powdered sugar.

How will you use Reynolds Cookie Baking Sheets to make your holiday baking a breeze? Let me know in the comments below!

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Spiced Fruit Compote

This delectable compote not only tastes divine---it's gorgeous too! Serve with a simple sweet bread at breakfast or as an after dinner dessert with tea.

About ten years ago, we lived in a very tiny town in Eastern Oregon called Weston. There were a couple of plum trees, as well as an apple tree in our yard, and all the blackberries you could pick just down the street. At the end of the summer, someone gave me a huge bag of walnuts so I began looking for ways I could use them and came across a recipe for fruit compote. I made a TON of jars and gave them as Christmas gifts, as well as stored many in the cold storage room off the side of the house. In all that time, I've never made it again---until this morning.

I'm not sure what possessed me to revive this delectable mixture of sweet fruits and nuts, but I'm sure glad I did! I made some this morning to go on Lynzie's family-famous sweet bread recipe and it was just wonderful! 

 Since I had a lot to do today, I did a quickie method and baked it in the oven instead of cooking it on the stovetop like I used to. Since there wasn't time for the fruit to cook down, I added some apricot jam to give it a better spreading consistency. Wonderful idea---it was great!

Give it a try and let me know what you think! It's great for the holidays---and all year round!



Oven Baked Fruit Compote (serves about 8)

6 apples, cored and diced
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup raisins
1½ cups coarsely chopped walnuts
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water 
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 tsp. each cloves, nutmeg, ginger
1 c. apricot or peach jam

Preheat oven to 450º. Mix all ingredients, except jam, and spread into a greased 13x9 dish. Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes. Mix in jam and serve over bread, or alone!

Thanks for stopping by The {Not Just} Homemaking Party! Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA friends!
Linking with:
Homemaking Party @ Hope In Every Season





Monday, November 23, 2015

IDO3D Art for a Snowy Day Kids' Activity


My kids were pretty excited to see this IDO3D art set show up on the porch today. While it's a new-to-me product, the kids knew what it was and thought they'd accidentally stumbled on a Christmas present! IDO3D is a pen and ink set that allows the user to draw a picture and then cure it to form a 3D object. If your child enjoys creative projects, this might be a good set to try out. 

Begin by drawing or tracing the parts to your object. We started with a simple flower. We drew the main part of the flower, a separate stem, and separate flower pot parts.

We used the IDO3D spotlight to harden the ink. 

Once all the pieces were drawn and hardened, we used spots of ink to stick the pieces together and hardened them to make a 3D shape.

Here's our flower pot. Pretty cute!

IDO3D has been ranked among the top 10 toys. Check it out on Amazon for a unique holiday gift idea or rainy day activity for kids.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Vintage Show & Tell #3: Gurley Thanksgiving Candles


Thanks so much for visiting Vintage Show & Tell! I've moved the party to Mondays because it conflicted with my Homemaking Party and my readers were getting confused about where to link up. I hope this is convenient for you all.
I can't believe Thanksgiving is this week! This year has been flying by, and I'm determined to slow it down a bit. I'm cancelling school for the rest of the year and pulling out the crafts, sewing, and baking supplies. The Coller family is going to make the most of these last six weeks of 2015!
Earlier this afternoon, I was cleaning out some boxes and came across this set of Gurley pilgrim candles! I found them at a local thrift store this summer and put them aside to sell in my Etsy shop. I forgot all about them---but they were there waiting for me and just in time, too!
I have several vintage Gurley and Tavern candles. I'll show off my Christmas collection of vintage molded candles here in a couple weeks. 
The Gurley Novelty Co. started out in 1939 as part of Franklin Gurley's W&F Manufacturing Co. The Gurley line was first commissioned by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company (now ExxonMobil) as a way to reuse the excess paraffin produced as a by-product of the process of refining oil. They were first marketed under the name, Tavern. In 1949, Franklin bought all rights to the Tavern name and changed it to Gurley Novelty Co. The candles sold for .10 to .99 and sold well into the 1970s. Recently, The Vermont Country Store (love them!) bought the molds and are reproducing the candles for sale again. Awesome!

Make sure to grab a NEW BUTTON with the new day on it to spread the word about the link up. I'm excited to see what you've got to share!
Hope In Every Season
Linking with:
The Art of Homemaking

A Round Tuit @ Creating My Way to Success 

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Dress Up Your Date Night with a Pretty Jeweled Headband #BeHealthyForEveryPartOfLife #ad #cbias

#BeHealthyForEveryPartOfLife #CollectiveBias

As a mom of nine, I'm always packing a huge bag or two everywhere I go. On date nights, it's nice to take a small, pretty purse. It's a way of telling myself that this night is about me and my husband---no diapers or sippy cups needed! I take along just a few essentials---and never money. Even though it all comes out of the same account, my husband wants to treat me so I've got to keep my cards and cash at home! A few things I do take include, Advil, ChapStick Total Hydration, and Emergen-C. I definitely don't want a headache ruining my evening and I can use Advil tablets for headaches, minor arthritis and other joint pain, muscle aches and pains of the common cold. ChapStick has always been a favorite and the ChapStick Total Hydration line visibly renews lips for a healthier, more youthful look. Finally, it's always a good idea to carry Emergen-C when I'm going out---especially during this season of colds and flu. With over 20 varieties of vitamin supplement drink mixes, Emergen-C offers the formula, flavor, fix, and FUN you’re looking for! When I order water at dinner and add some Emergen-C, I'm boosting my immune system while saving my cash and calories for the delicious meal.

I found all of these items at Walmart in the pharmaceuticals section. The Advil was in the travel items bins, the ChapStick Total Hydration was on an end cap, and then Emergen-C was near the cold and flu medicine. I like that all of these products are compact so they fit discretely in my purse. What kinds of things do you do to prepare for a great night out? Here's a fun and simple idea to dress up your date night---a jeweled headband!


I have a lot of vintage jewelry that was given to me after my great grandma passed away. Rather than let it just sit in boxes, I like to use it to dress up things I'll use regularly. This pretty headband took minutes and looks super cute dressed up or down.

I started with an old fabric-covered headband that wasn't my style. (Actually, I may have stolen this from my daughter...shhh...) I pulled off the fabric down to the clear plastic.

Next, I used an extra strength glue stick to tack down this piece of thick lace and added a ribbon on top. I found a vintage ribbon with some pretty metallic thread in it to catch the light.

Finally, I used a hot glue gun to attach vintage earrings and buttons. I used wire cutters and pliers to pull the backs from the earrings so they'd lay flat against the headband.

Voila! A gorgeous head piece done in minutes!

Let me know about your date night essentials in the comments below!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Rosebud Rolls and Very Old Cookbooks

Welcome to Vintage Show & Tell! I'm so excited about this new link up and all the great things that were shared last week. The cold weather always gets me in the mood to be a better homemaker--I guess it's just because I'm home more often and am looking for ways to bring my family comfort when it's shivery outside! Over the past few days, I've been going through my recipes and cookbooks and digging out some long-forgotten memories. When my great grandma Annabelle passed away 10 years ago, I was given a bunch of the recipes and cookbooks she had in her collection. Many of them are very old and lots of the recipes are in her handwriting, or that of her friends, with personal messages enclosed. What a treasure! 

A couple days ago, I found a recipe for Rosebud Rolls that had been cut out of a 1950s edition of The Oregonian. I tried them out this morning and they turned out lovely, don't you think? I've served them on the pretty tea-for-one set my husband bought me for my birthday. They're really simple to make. Just use your favorite sweet bread recipe (like one for cinnamon or orange rolls) and after the first rising, break the ball in half, roll each one out, and spread with jam. Then roll them up, slice them in one-inch slices, and place them in a greased muffin tin. Let them rise another hour and bake at 350. When I serve these to the kids in the morning, I'll make a sweet glaze to drizzle on top. 

My Grammy Annabelle stored a stack of newspaper clippings in this neat Hershey's Milk Chocolate box. This is the box that the company would pack bars in to be sent to shops for resale. Her family owned a general store at Shaniko, Oregon, so it's possible this came from there. 

Here are a couple cookbooks that were included in the collection I received. One is a Webster Composition Book with recipes and other fun things written inside. There's not a date on it that I can see, but the name on the back is not one I recognize---even though the recipes inside are in my Grammy's handwriting. It's hard to say how she came upon someone else's empty composition book---but it's fun to speculate! The second book is simply titled, Cookbook, and was compiled and published by the Mothers' Club of Burns, Oregon in 1926. My Grammy would have been about 11 years old at that time so I believe this belonged to my great great grandma, Tresa Baker. It's almost antique! In addition to recipes, it's got lots of lovely meal plans, household tips, and local advertising inside. The pages are pristine. I intend to use this a lot more than my ancestors seemed to!

Thanks for stopping by Vintage Show & Tell! I can't wait to see what you've got to share. Be sure to take a button for your blog so all your friends will know to come visit too!



Hope In Every Season
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Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Irish Christmas Music and Cinnamon Sugared Pecans

This post was compensated by Family Christian. All opinions are honest and are my own. #FCBlogger

Whew! There's a lot going on at the {Not Just} Homemaking Party today! You get to check out a new CD and even WIN A COPY...plus there's a great recipe link to visit....AND you get to link up and visit all those who are partying with us! Happy day!

I don't know what did it, but yesterday I started feeling very much in the holiday spirit! It's probably the overcast skies, coupled with the fact that everyone has colds---must be going on winter time! Ha! I'm determined to savor every minute of this holiday season. I don't want to be too busy to miss all the special little things that we look forward to every year. One sure fire way to get me in the holiday spirit is to listen to beautiful festive worship music like Joy: An Irish Christmas with Keith & Kristyn Getty. This is a beautiful compilation of 18 original and favorite worship Christmas songs, including my favorite, In Christ Alone. These songs tell the story of Christ and remind us that we can celebrate Him all year long!

You can find Joy: An Irish Christmas at Family Christian stores. Even easier, check it out on their website! You can also enter to win a copy below! (Rafflecopter widget may take a minute to load.) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Another festive thing about the holiday season is the delicious smells and tastes we get to experience! I love trying new things and, even though my daughter has been making these since she was about 11 years old, I'd never made sugared nuts before. I gave it a try today and they're not too bad! Coupled with some cinnamon hot chocolate, these are tasty snacks that smell yummy too! I used this recipe from Jonna.

Thanks for stopping by the {Not Just} Homemaking Party! Can't wait to see what you've got to share! Linking with:

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Vintage Chalkware Piggy Bank for Vintage Show & Tell #1

Welcome to Vintage Show & Tell! I'm so excited to be offering this new linky party to my readers. I absolutely love collecting, reading, and writing about vintage and antique treasures so this weekly party will be a real treat for me! I hope you'll all enjoy visiting one another, as well, and invite your friends to come party, too!

Tonight I want to introduce you to my piggy bank. For as long as I can remember, this sweet piece has been my special coin bank. I've never been one to hold on to money for very long, so he's been a very hungry piggy over the years! From very early childhood until I graduated high school, he sat on my dresser or shelf. Once Jamie and I were married, I packed him away in a box of special things, but I've recently dug him out and he now sits on my dresser, once again!

This is a mid-century piece and is made of chalkware composite, a material that's sturdier than regular chalkware. Chalkware was known as "poor man's porcelain" and was popularly used in carnival game prizes in the early 1900s before stuffed animals became the coveted prize. It's hand-painted with oils or watercolors and glazed. It was made in Taiwan and has many bumps and scars. Still, it's a priceless treasure to me!

I'd love to see what you've got to share today! Link up your vintage stuff---(older posts are fine!)---and let's all visit one another and be inspired by fun things from the past! Make sure to grab a button for your blog!
Hope In Every Season


Thanks for stopping by!



Linking with:
Homemaking Party @ Hope In Every Season







Leading Loved Ones to the Lord Takes Patience

Shortly after Jamie and I were married in 1998, I committed myself fully to going after God and all he had for my new life. I'd come out of some pretty messy stuff and began to feel burdened for loved ones who were still stuck in the messy. One of those was my brother, a teenage {sorta nerdy} gamer who was, indisputably, the most logical thinker in the family. In my 18 year old, new Christian zeal, I had a conversation with him one night that would change his life.

I told him all I knew about God, the Bible, and the fiery pits of Hell---a place he was surely headed to if he didn't repent that instant. Now, even though that really is true, it was not the best idea for me to yell, cry, and scare him to death with thoughts of demons ripping his immortal body to shreds with their teeth---a fate worse than death since there's no death in eternity, I'd learned. Over 15 years later, when my brother did finally come to a belief in God, {not through any of my doing, I must admit} he told me that the conversation from that night was a big reason why he did not come to Christ that day. My heart was in the right place, but I went about it all wrong.

There's definitely a time and place for bringing the word of truth in a massive force of passion and excitement. However, in most of our everyday relationships, actions speak louder than words when we're burdened for unbelievers. 1 Peter 1:13-16 talks about former unbelievers being conformed to sin because of ignorance. It's more than just hearing right from wrong that changes hearts, it's being convicted of truth that leads someone to understanding and repentance. I hate to break it to you, but the Holy Spirit is the only one who can bring conviction.

Planting a seed is a good start, but many of us stop there. Leading someone to a revelation of truth is often a process of nurturing---sometimes a very lengthy process. We need to model right behavior and show people what following Christ looks like, then be prepared with Biblical answers in the right timing.

If we want to see lives changed, we must commit time and patience to the people God puts in our paths. We shouldn't give up too soon when the message isn't immediately received. Even though the knowledge that Jesus can come at any moment fills us with urgency, we've got to remember to trust in God's timing. Rushing it in our own power can backfire and push people away.

How about you? Are you the fiery evangelist type who brings the message like a tidal wave or are you the slow and steady pastor who gently leads others by example and with patience?

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

The {Not Just} Homemaking Party

Today I've been dreaming about visiting England again next fall. This grave marker stands in a cemetery near The Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester, England.

Good evening, friends! Hope you're all enjoying your week. Thanks for stopping by The {Not Just} Homemaking Party! I can't wait to see what you all have to share!

I've got something new to share! Come back Thursdays for a new linky party---Vintage Show & Tell! I love showing off my pretty vintage items and telling the stories that go with them. I hope you'll join me and share your neat vintage items too! Grab a button so you don't forget!

Hope In Every Season

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Caramel Apple-Pecan Bread


Autumn breakfast made easy with this gorgeously sweet Caramel Apple-Pecan Bread baked in oven-proof paper baking pans.

Fall is in full swing and I'm determined to make the most of it! It's my favorite time of year, but it lasts for such a short time. Already, most of our colorful trees have turned bare and the ground is covered with soggy leaves and munched-on acorns. The squirrels and chipmunks are out in full force, gathering their winter meals. We even had a chipmunk come in our house last week when Cainan opened the door to grab a package!

Have you seen these adorable paper baking pans? My mom was asking about a Pampered Chef stoneware mini loaf pan, but it's been discontinued. I found these last week and thought I'd give them a try to see if I could recommend them to her. You just fill them and bake the same as you would for metal or glass. The bread comes out beautiful! I think they're super cute for gifting. I made this Caramel Apple-Pecan Bread for the kids this morning. It's almost to pretty to eat. Almost. The caramel glaze on top reminds me of the Cracker Jack popcorn my Dad used to make us on a family night at home.


Caramel Apple-Pecan Bread
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sour cream or milk
1/2 c. oil
4 eggs
1 baking apple, grated (I use the Pampered Chef Veggie Strip Maker)
3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. chopped pecans (plus extra for topping)

Glaze
2 TB. butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
1 TB. water

Heat oven to 350º. Grease two 8 in. loaf pans or four mini loaf pans. Mix brown sugar, sour cream, oil, and eggs together until well blended. Stir in grated apple. In a separate bowl, stir together dry ingredients, then add to wet mixture. Stir together and spread into pans. Bake for 40-45 minutes for standard loaves or 20-30 minutes for mini loaves. For glaze, melt butter in a sauce pan and stir in remaining ingredients. Cook until the mixture just begins to bubble and then cook and stir one minute. Drizzle on bread immediately and sprinkle with more chopped pecans, if desired.

Thanks for linking up with The {Not Just} Homemaking Party!

Linking with: Beverly's Pink Saturday
No Place Like Home

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