Well Color Me Pinterest

I don't know about you, but my 2012 was filled with lots of busy, busy, busy! My free-minute-guilty-pleasures included sneaking a peak at the cute ideas on Pinterest. Dreaming of the day I would have enough time to be as amazing as the ladies that share their creations there, I would pin my favs on to my personal boards. In this first week of the new year I have had some free time, so I hit my laptop and created my plan of attack. First board to tackle: "Organization!"

Yes, this was my pantry a few days ago. Maximizing space and eliminating waste was obviously a necessity here. The gals on Pinterest gave me a great start so I went to work.

Someone had posted the idea of using doors as storage...brilliant, right? The space between my pantry door and the shelves was just a few inches; these racks I found are narrow in depth, yet their width was great enough to hold paper plates and cups. {Original idea found via Alejandra.tv}

I absolutely fell in love with the chalkboard label idea. Searching online with the best deal in mind, I chose paper punches as well as a roll of chalkboard Contact paper over the pre-made tags. After transferring the boxed items (flour, sugar, oats, etc) into jar canisters, the tags just made them pop! {Original idea found via DollarStoreMom.com}

These sturdy handled totes are perfect for snacks, granola bars, dried fruits, etc. and easy for the kids to pull out and put right back in a jiffy. {Original idea via my mom, Beverly!}

I had been using these containers for the kids' cereal and the tags just made it all the more fun. The chalkboard labels are excellent for the purpose of simply erasing with water and rewriting!
{Original idea via me}

 

Put it all together...

...and you've got yourself one organized Pinterest mommy!

 

 P.S. I made these spice containers today, too...CoLoR mE pInTeReSt!
{Original idea via TableForTwoBlog.com}

Gluten Free Raspberry Thumbprints

Gluten Free Raspberry Thumbprints

3/4 softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups King Arthur Brand Gluten Free Multi-Purpose Flour

1-2 cups of crushed up sliced almonds
Seedless raspberry preserves

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine butter and sugar, blending well. Add vanilla and egg yolks. Mix well and add GF flour. Blend together for a couple of minutes until your dough is light and fluffy.

Using a mini scoop, make 1 inch balls with dough. Roll dough balls in crushed almonds. Place one inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes or until edges are just turning a golden color. Remove from oven and press a "thumbprint" into the center of each cookie with the end of a thick, round wooden spoon handle. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before adding a small dollop of raspberry jam in the centers. Sprinkle with a touch of powdered sugar and enjoy your beautiful, delicious cookies!

Perfect GF Pumpkin Pie!

Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie with Almond Crust

Crust:
1 1/2 cups almond flour or almond meal
3 tsp melted butter
2 tsp sugar

Filling:
2 large eggs
1 15 oz can pumpkin puree
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, mix almond flour, melted butter, and sugar. Pat evenly onto bottom and up the sides of a glass pie dish. Bake 10 minutes and let cool.

Beat eggs in a large bowl, then whisk in pumpkin, sugar, spices, and salt. Stir in milk and mix well. Pour mixtures onto pie crust and bake for 50-55 minutes or until cake tester inserted near the center of the pie comes out clean. Cool on rack and serve chilled with whipped cream.

I found this recipe in a Fred Meyer holiday cookbook that came in the mail. Seriously the most amazing pumpkin pie I have ever tasted. Even if you prefer a different crust, this filling is simply the best, in my opinion. Enjoy!

Prosper Til the End

I love Sundays and I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Recently my husband and I have rededicated ourselves to scripture study and prayer as a couple, even over the phone, if necessary, as he travels frequently for work. We are great at doing these things with our kids, but in an effort to grow closer to one another we felt it was most important to put the teachings of Jesus Christ first in our marriage. I have always known the the gospel teachings were correct and would bring us more in line with God, but my testimony has just exploded this last week. Our lives have been overcome with blessings from above and the closeness we desired in our marriage is returning and strengthening more than ever.

As a result of putting the gospel first in our lives we are blessed with an outpouring of the Spirit of God in our lives, in our minds, in our hearts. We want to live better, be better, and keep on this path that is bringing so much joy and peace...not the kind that comes from things of this world, but true peace of mind and heart that can only come from obedience to our Savior's commandments to follow Him.

Today was our Ward Conference. All the things that Jay and I have been studying in the Ensign and from past General Conference talks came together in that meeting. Our Stake Presidency and amazing Bishop talked of enduring to the end. They explained that at times "enduring" can sound daunting and as if it were drudgery. Then my personal favorite scripture was shared:

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." -2 Nephi 31:20

Truly "having a perfect brightness of hope, a love of God of all men" can not be drudgery, our Stake President shared.

In our lives there are so many challenges that we must face. There are times we feel alone and that one more day is just more than we can bear. I have felt that way and it was at this point in my life recently that I decided it was time to remember my favorite scripture; it was time to feast once again upon the words of Christ. I knew that it would not be easy, but I needed to change and repent of some habits in my life that were keeping me from being close to my sweetheart. I needed all the help I could get, and there was no help to be found here on this world. I needed more strength than I could muster alone to overcome the challenges and temptations in my daily life. I remembered feeling the Spirit and knew that I wanted it again in great abundance. It was time to get back to basics and keeping the commandments.

As soon as Jay and I started reading and praying more fervently as a couple with the same goal of closeness in mind, the Spirit began to return. I felt that the adversary did give one more big push at the beginning of it all, but as I held on and just pushed through calling on God for help and strength, the peace given through obedience was readily available.

We do not have a perfect life or marriage...no one does. That is part of life. The trials we face and the choices we make define who we are and refine us into the people we want to be. However, I testify that when we choose to obey the Lord's commandments, He will immediately bless us and our righteous desires will be fulfilled.

I think I am the luckiest girl in the world to be married to such a tender-hearted gentleman. He teaches me again and again how obeying the Lord brings blessings and relief to our trials.

Today when our Ward Conference was over, my sweetheart leaned over, kissed me on the cheek, and whispered, "Not only will we endure to the end, but we will prosper til the end."

Awww Shucks!

This was written by my 7th grader today for a class assignment:

My Favorite Person

My favorite person is hard to say, but if I had to pick I would choose between my mom

and dad. I would choose between them because they both try hard to help me with school, and no, they didn’t help me write this paragraph. They always do what they can to help me keep my grades up. They always show up at my sporting events and cheer me on. They are super cool and always encourage me to do my best. They are always willing to help other people, no matter what it is. They are my favorite people because when it’s time to work, they work, but when it is time to mess around, they’re hilarious. They are the best people in the world and always know what to do. That is why they are my favorite people.

Wow! Talk about a pleasant surprise!  :)

Familes are Forever

There are people who come into our lives that we simply just love right away. Rand Sherwood is one of those people. He was always kind, accepting, smiling, loving, and willing to give a helping hand to those he didn't even always know very well. Yesterday Rand returned to our Heavenly Father suddenly and his loss is greatly felt in our family. He is an extra special man with extra special children, two of them being very close to me: a brother-in-law, Jason, and a great friend with whom I shared fun college memories, Jeremy. His wife and daughter are just as wonderful and beautiful.

Rand, I love you. Thank you for helping my family and giving me one awesome eternal brother-in-law.

Please take a moment today to tell the ones you love how much they mean to you.

My Hubby is Famous!

Jeremy and his awesome Choffy distributing buddies, Jenn Coats and Don Sorenson, created this Choffy video!

If you love this video and Choffy, you can sign up for your own Autoship at: www.DrinkChoffy.com/Chocolate.