Homemade Christmas Potpourri

I know I shared this a couple of years ago, but I just had to share this again for anyone that may have missed it!  I LoVe this homemade potpourri!  It is super easy to make and will smell up your entire home for the holidays!  Try it out and let me know what you think!

3 Cinnamon Sticks

3 Bay Leaves

¼ C. Cloves

2 Lemon Wedges

1 Orange Peel

(Top 3 ingredients are found in the dry spice section of the grocery store.)

CoMbiNe all of these ingredients in a small crock-pot.  Add water to cover top of all ingredients.  Leave on low temperature.  As the smell fades, continue to add water and various ingredients to keep the mixture moist for a continuous yummy smell!  EnJoy!

*Be sure to unplug your crockpot at night because all the water will be gone by morning and the potpourri will be burnt!

*If you are ready to start a new batch, drain the water and set out the old potpourri to dry.  Even as dry potpourri it smells AWESOME!  Place the dry potpourri in a pretty bowl on a table as another way to smell up your home and extend the life of your potpourri!

Need a quick X-Mas Present idea?!  Throw the ingredients into a basket or mini-crockpot and give as a gift!  Include a printed version of the recipe by clicking here!

~Lara

I AM…OSA JOHNSON {WORLD FAMOUS EXPLORER, AUTHOR, & AVIATOR} AND I LIVED MY DREAM!

ImAgIne sitting down for an interview with Osa Johnson when she was alive.  Well, that’s exactly what the Suede Sofa did.  We asked SaFaRi MuSeUm CuRaToR JacKie BorGeSoN if she could find quotes from Osa on a couple of questions regarding this InCrEdibLe WoMaN from Chanute, Kansas, LiViNg HeR DrEaM.  The answers were amazing, as if we actually did interview Osa (they are actual quotes of Osa’s).  We hope you are InSpIrEd to “LiVe ThE AdVeNtUrE” of the life you were DeStiNeD to live!
:)
Robynn~
The first is sometimes attributed to Martin, but Osa uses it in her book Four Years in Paradise.  The second comes from the speech Osa gave late in her life. 
The following video is a mini tour of the Safari Museum located in Chanute, KS.  Curator Jackie Borgeson takes us on a quick tour providing fascinating information about the life of Osa and Martin Johnson.  Enjoy!!

Check out our post on Safari Museum Curator Jackie Borgeson by clicking here.

{Best Pancakes Ever!!}

Hey, all you ChaNuTiaNs and SoUthEaSt KaNsAs folk, here are two great events occuring in Chanute, KS!

On Saturday, November 12th you can help the following ChAriTabLe CaUsEs:

The TuRkEy TrOt – A 5K run/walk that starts and finishes at the ReHaB & FiTnEsS CeNteR (Just West of The Hospital) at 9 a.m.  Proceeds go to the FaiTh HoUsE, an organization that houses people in need.  Cost is $15.  This includes a t-shirt.  For more info. call 620-432-5379.

The KiWaNiS PaNcAkE FeEd – A pancake feed from 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Masonic Temple on  Highland and Elm Street.  Proceeds will go to help children in need at Christmas.

These two events are always held on the same day and this has become a FaMilY trAdiTioN.  My husband runs in the Turkey Trot while my girls and I cheer him on and then we head over to eat ThE BeSt PaNcaKes EvEr!!  And I’m not just saying this because my father-in-law is a Kiwanis.  They really are AwEsOmE!  In fact, I really don’t eat pancakes anywhere else (except maybe at home) because they just can’t “StAcK-Up”!  You just have to come and try them yourself!!

I’ll try to get a video for you!

:)

Robynn~

{Banana.Nut.Bread} “Half-Baked”

I LoVe banana-nut bread.  LoVe It!  I don’t think I would put it in my top 3 favorites, but it’s up there.  However, when it comes to waiting for it to come out of the oven it tops ALL.  I just can’t help but to keep opening up the oven door, checking to see if it is done.  Maybe it’s because it is one of the few things you don’t have to let cool before you take a bite of it.  Maybe it’s because it MeLtS in your mouth.  Whatever the reason, I know that waiting the 1 hour for it to bake is going to be excruciating for me.  I have even tried taking it out of the oven before the 1 hour of baking time is up and here is what I have ObSeRveD:

1.) Banana-nut bread batter is YuMmY.

2.) Banana-nut bread that is piping hot out of the oven is even MoRe YuMmY.

3.) “HaLf-BaKeD” banana nut bread is nasty.  The only one who is eating that is WaLteR, our chocolate lab.

So, what’s the point, you may be thinking.  Well, this reminds me of life and how from time to time we find ourself in circumstances and situations (A.K.A. TriAls) that seem more than we can handle.  It’s as if the heat and pressure are turned up and no matter what we do, how much we pray, or how adamently we plead with God to “GeT Me OuT oF HeRe!” we’re not coming of the “FiRe” until his work is complete.  The crazy thing is how God can use something we think is so terrible to perfect us.  How did He do that?!

When you find yourself in this uncomfortable place remember that God has the AmAziNg AbiLitY to “work All things for His good for those who love Him.”  Romans 8:28.

So, although you may be squirming, HaNg On Baby!  Its not forever.  It just feels like it.  :)

Robynn~

P.S. One of these days I’ll share my Banana-Nut Bread recipe!

Christmas Card Display

I was SeArChiNg the internet and local stores for something to display my ChRiStMaS cArDs.  I have a little basket for most of the cards, but I wanted something that I could use to display the picture cards that FriEnDs and FaMiLy send of their kids.  Everything I came across was either too small or too expensive.  Not willing to spend $75.00 on the one I really wanted, I decided to MaKe My OwN. 

Picture #1

I bought a plain wood frame at my local craft store for $8.00.

Picture #2

I painted the frame green to symbolize Christmas and because it matches the décor in my living room.

Picture #3

I sanded areas of the paint off and stained it to create an “older” look.

Picture #4

I used a staple gun to fasten ribbon to the frame.

Picture #5

Finished!

Picture #6

Bring on the holidays!

Picture #7

Great to display sight words for your kids!

~Jersey Girl~

Mental Picture

I don’t know how many times I’ve been in a situation where I left my camera at home and I wasn’t able to cAptUre that perfect picture of my kids.  I kick myself for not being more prepared, but it seems that even in “prepared” situations, the mOmEnt can pass you by before getting out the camera!  This happens a lot in our family, especially when we head outside and our kids do cUtE and unexpected things.  I’m sure you can relate!

If you don’t have a camera HaNdy there is no reason why you can’t take a MenTal picture.  Doug and I take these on occasion in hopes to capture a snapshot of something we don’t want to forget.  Believe it or not, the actual act of taking the mental picture seems to help us REmeMBer those moments more easily.

P.S. I remember looking out the kitchen window one day and seeing Doug take a mental “picture” of Leanne doing something cute.  It just melted my heart :)

~Lara

Honey Or Vinegar?

Ok, so sometimes it’s the ElemEntArY TrUtHs we need to be reminded of the most.  This is something I talk to my kids about frequently.  And they talk to me about it, as well!!

We like to compare the words we speak to HoNeY and ViNeGaR.  There’s a Proverb that says:

“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.” 

When we say KiNd and GrAciOuS words its as if our lips are giving others honey.  When we say UnKiNd and UngRaCiouS  words its as if our lips are giving others vinegar.  We have even tasted honey and vinegar and decided we definitely don’t want to be speaking words that taste like vinegar!  We also remind each other to speak right by asking, “ArE tHoSe WoRdS hOnEy or ViNeGaR?”

How about you?  Are you giving others words that are SwEeT and bring HeaLiNg? 

:)

Robynn~

From the Confessional

Has LiFe turned out the way you thought it would?  I have to confess that mine is very different than I had “planned”.  After we got married I envisioned living in the country, only working from 8-5, and having all the time in the world to play with my kids and make pErfeCt sugar cookies with them like you see on the commercials.  I feel like I woke up one day and immediately thought, “Hey!  What happened to that perfect life plan I had?  Give it back!”  Have you ever felt like that?

Many days I feel like I’m chasing my own tail.  Even though I’m a stay-at-home mom, there are never enough hours to do the laundry, make (decent) meals, and remember to send birthday cards to loved ones on time (or at all!).  After living in St. Louis for 2 years we DO live in the country (yay!) BUT we DON’T have a tYpiCal life style.  My husband travels often so we might eat breakfast with him instead of supper and we get up before dawn to fill orders for my business before we start our “day” jobs.  Soon we plan to move closer to where we grew up so we can farm more.  Moving means not being sEttLed for a while and a new location means new challenges. See why I feel like I’m chasing my tail?!

I’ve realized that even though my life is different and crazier than I had planned, why couldn’t it mean that it may end up bEtteR? Looking back, my previous “plan” would be less stressful, but maybe even a little boring.  People that take risks and live life to the fullest often have more sAtisfaCtion.  Despite taking a detour from the “plan”, I guess I’m willing to accept the challenge for a chance of a more rewarding future.

What is a “normal” life anyway? The more I think of it, I don’t know many friends or family that have an 8-5 work life and lounge around after work.  Life is just hectic sometimes I guess.  Keeping focused on the GooD things that come from this “unplanned” life is the most important thing.

~Lara