What I Learned This Week

This week I learned:

1. Gravy from scratch can be made in my kitchen and it tastes way better than a package.

2. If I continue to eat the rich delicious food I have been cooking I will need to convert all of my pants to elastic wastes.

3. Sometimes you just need to hide your scale until January :) 

Glean other people's wisdom at Musings of a Housewife.
Also remember to enter my giveaway!

Motivate Me Monday- The Greatest Commandments

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:36-39

If you were really paying attention you will note that I used the same scripture passage last week in my MMM post as well.

I have been musing lately about loving God and loving my neighbor.  I wrote a post way back in the beginning of starting The Fifth Street Palace about being sheep.   About offering people food, drink, clothing, and not being embarrassed to do so.

Something else has come to my heart and that is offering to pray with people.  
Just let that sink in for a minute.  

I know for me it's awkward praying with my husband )and he is someone who has seen a vast portion of my ugly, but loves me anyway) let alone my neighbor (fellow shopper at the store, lady in my bible study, grandmother, parents...etc).

We see and hear the struggles of others frequently.  How wonderful to know that we can share with our fellow man that there is God, who is almighty to bare their burdens, who loves them endlessly to comfort them and who wants to bring them joy.  

I don't have step by step instructions for approaching people to pray for them.  Pray for God to open doors in your life, pray for courage to walk through the doors and pray for the right words to come from your lips.  

Be blessed in this.

Remember to enter my giveaway!

Friday Funnies- Elf Yourself

I totally heard about Elfing Myself from Kim Over at Homesteaders Heart. I love it! Here's my whole family "elfed".

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Remamber to enter my giveaway!

'Tis The Season Thursday *Giveaway*

Steph from Bargain Fun was the winner of the Dakota Thunder necklace from last week.

This week I have some handmade gifts to share with you.

I have been busy at my sewing machine for 3 days.  (My family has been eating on the floor in the living room because my projects took over the kitchen table.)

First on the list are some really fun couture bean bags I made for Meadow.

I used various colors of felt and fabric to create these charming little toys.  They are filled with dried kidney beans.

Second here are some reusable shopping bags I made for some very special ladies I know. 

The pattern I used was really quite simple and can be found at Morsbags. 
(Stay tuned for a tutorial soon on how to monogram using freezer paper and fabric paint.)

Third is a bible book bag I made for my niece.

I used a tutorial from Crystal's Craft Spot and some figuring of my own to come up with this sweet creation.  Can you believe it's made from a place mat?

I hope these little goodies spark some ideas!
Link up your holiday posts below.  Anything from recipes to decor, gifts to devotionals.  I look forward to reading about your family's traditions.
  
Now let me introduce you to Heather from novaleigh.
Heather designs and creates gorgeous jewelery.
Quote from Heather: "I definitely like making things more than I like using them when they're finished."

Lucky for all of you!  Novaleigh is an etsy shop full of everyday jewelery pieces to mix and match with your favorite outfits.  I highly reccomend checking out the $5 earring selection.
My favorite pair is the Copper and Silver Circle Earrings.  They are very classy and versatile.

Heather also sells necklaces.  I really love her Mint Chocolate Necklace.  So pretty!

Heather has generously offered to let me host a giveaway for this amazing pair of earrings!

I have had them in my home for a couple of days now and let me tell you they could be worn with anything from jeans to an your fabulous Christmas party outfit.  They pick up any color that you are wearing and just match beautifully.

Here's How To Enter:

Mandatory- Go to novaleigh's shop and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item for sale there.

Extra entries (leave a comment for each one)
*Follow The Fifth Street Palace publicly (If you already do leave me a comment reminding me).

*Spread the word (leave a comment for each)
Blog about this giveaway
Share it on Facebook
Twitter this giveaway
Stumble This giveaway

Rules:
The Winner will be chosen by random.org. Contest is open until Wednesday December 2 at 5pm PAC time. Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing info.  If the winner does not respond or I can not contact the winner a new winner will be chosen.
U.S. and Canadian Addresses only please.

Also linking up with

Wordless Wednesday-Happy Birthday to My Baby Sister Heather!

For more WW head on over to 5m4m

What I Learned This Week

The first time I attempted to bake buns they turned out beautiful. Golden brown and fluffy. But they stuck to the pan and I ended up with lovely bottomless buns.
So I have learned the parchment paper is my friend.

These babies just popped right out! Easy Peasy.

Also if you wet the paper wet first it conforms to the pan better.


Glean other's wisdom at Musings of a Housewife.
Also remember to enter my giveaway!

Motivate Me Monday - What Kind of Children Am I Raising?

I posted about a Proverbs 31 article, that impacted me, over at my home preschool blog The Fifth Street Academy.
The Article is titled: I Don't Want to Raise Successful Children by Lysa TerKeurst.  

I am stepping back to take a look at what I am encouraging in my children. 
I want them to love God and know that He is always there for them.  Often I place chores much higher on my priority list though.
I want my children to love one another and their neighbors.  Often I place recognizing numbers and letter above sharing and visiting. 

Where is the balance in this?  Should I be throwing off unloading the dishwasher or putting away laundry to dance around my living room and sing worship songs?
Do I need to accept every initiation we get for week day morning coffee and playdates?
Is this where multitasking comes in and we invite others over to have school with us and make sure we are praying while sweeping the floor?
Sometimes (not all the time) the answer is yes to each of these questions.

I hope to be an example of Christ's love and teach my children to obey the Lord's two commandments:


"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Matthew 22:36-39

I don't know if it is God's plan for my son to be a politician or a janitor.  I don't know if my daughter will live out God's will as a homemaker or a magazine executive.  I do know that it is the will of our Heavenly Father to have my children follow his path.  (Regardless of whether or not they recognize a number 5 yet). 



Link up below with your inspirational and motivational posts!

Finer Things Friday- Winning Giveaways

Let me introduce you to Kelly from Modern Blitz Designs.




I recently won a giveaway on Sweet B Boutiqe's Blog for one of Kelly's awesome Christmas Photo Card Layouts.

Just look at what a great job she did.

I am so thrilled with how my Christmas cards turned out.  Not only that but Kelly was gracious enough to resize my card for me so i can fit them into the envelopes I bought.  Amazing service for someone who is getting her product for FREE!

So folks I really want to encourage you to head on over to Modern Blitz Designs shop and browse around.  You will not regret making a purchase from Kelly.

Generous giveaway sponsors are really a Finer Thing!


For more finer things head on over to Amy's Finer Things.
Also be sure to enter my giveaway here.

'Tis The Season Thursday *Giveaway*

The Winner of the Kristen Scott Greeting Card is Kariane from Ravenous Reader.

We started a really cool tradition in our home two Christmases ago. We call it the 3 gifts tradition. I did not come up with this on my own. Someone suggested it on a christian moms forum I am a part of and I adopted it.

Here's how it works:

Each child in our house gets three gifts from mom and dad. Mom and dad each get three gifts from each other.
The three gifts have rules however:

Gift #1- This gift represents gold. It is a gift that the receiver will love. This is usually the biggest gift for that person.  The most effort goes into this gift.

Gift #2- This gift represents myrrh.  It is a gift for the receiver's body.  Usually pajamas for the kids.  Some of mine and Craig's gifts in this category were cosmetics, a new pillow and insulated work gloves.

Gift #3- This gift represents frankincense. This is a gift to enhance the receiver's personal walk with God. In the past our children have gotten Veggie Tales and Hermie DVDs, Craig gave me a subscription to Today's Christian Woman and I gave him a Hank Hanograff bible.

This style of gift giving helps us to not go overboard and reminds us of the gifts the wise men gave Jesus.

Link up your holiday posts below.  Anything from recipes to decor, gifts to devotionals.  I look forward to reading about you family's traditions.

For some great myrrh gift ideas check out Dakota Thunder.  Shelley from Dakota Thunder has a vast array of fun and unique jewelery pieces.

Here are some of my favorites:

Circles of Green Necklace

Capiz Shell Earrings

Turquoise and Agate Set

Blue Flower Glass Necklace

Win It:

Shelley has generously offered to giveaway the Blue Flower Necklace picture above.

Here's How:

Mandatory- Go to Dakota Thunder's shop and leave me a comment telling me your favorite item for sale there.

Extra entries (leave a comment for each one)
*Follow The Fifth Street Academy publicly (If you already do leave me a comment reminding me).

*Spread the word (leave a comment for each)
Blog about this giveaway
Share it on Facebook
Twitter this giveaway
Stumble This giveaway

Rules:
The Winner will be chosen by random.org. Contest is open until Wednesday November 25 at 5pm PAC time. Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing info.  If the winner does not respond or I can not contact the winner a new winner will be chosen.
U.S. Addresses only please.

Wordless Wednesday- Christmas Card Outtakes

For more WW head over to 5m4m.

Gratituesday- A Good Husband

I was pampered by my husband today. Not the spa/shopping mall kind of pampering, but the God opened my eyes to see the ways my husband serves me today way.
Today Craig took Meadow and went to the grocery store to pick up things that we will need this week.
While he was out he filled my car with gas.
Upon returning home he shoveled the driveway and front walk.
Now here's the kicker ladies, this is how I know my husband really loves me. I came home tonight to find himin the kitchen dividing up 50 pounds of oatmeal into vacuum seal packages for storage.

Romance is alive and well in our home!

I am so grateful that my heart was touched by Craig's acts of service.  That is not normally my love language but God is working in me to see that that is how Craig shows his love to me.

For more Gratituesday Head on over to Heavenly Homemakers.

Motivate Me Monday - Pray with Your Husband

Both of my parents are on their third spouse. My husband's parents are each with their second. Divorce is a very real and prevalent thing in our family.
Yet, even knowing that there is a generational curse to be broken in our lives, I am not on guard as I should be.
 So I am writing this to myself more than to you (you are still invited to continue reading of course though).

Pray with your husband!!!

Yes it may seem awkward and even a bit embarrassing to make the first move in this area of your marriage.  After all shouldn't he be the spiritual leader in your home?  

Ask in a way that encourages him to lead you in prayer together.  Ask him what he wants and needs prayer for.  

This change will be a wonderful gift not only to you, your spouse and your children but to generations to come.  

We must protect our marriages.  The only way I know how to do that successfully is through prayer.

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my

Father in heaven.For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.

Matthew 18:19-20

Link up your motivational or inspirational post below.

Also be sure to check out my giveaway for a Kristen Scott Greeting Card. She has added some really cool new Christmas cards to her shop including some Canadian cards in honor of the giveaway!

'Tis The Season Thursday *Giveaway*

Mimi From He & Me +3 is the winner of the miniature cottage from Four Ducks Vintage and Handmade .

Congratulations Mimi!

Nothing says holiday like FOOD! 

So without further ado here is my mother in law's famous mashed potato recipe lovingly refered to in our home as:

  Heart Attack Potatoes

10 Potatoes 

½ lb cream cheese 

¼ cup butter 

¼ cup whipping cream 

a sprinkle of chives 

1 cup sour cream

 salt and pepper

Instructions
Boil potatoes until tender. Drain the water. Return to pot.Put cream cheese and butter on top of potatoes and place the lid on the pot. Let sit until butter and cream cheese have softened. Add remaining ingredients and either mash by hand or blend with a hand mixer. Slather with gravy if desired and overindulge.

Now is also the perfect time to think about your Christmas Cards.  

Let me introduce you to Kristin of Kristin Scott Designs.  (The fact that we have the same last name is a fluke but pretty cool don't ya think?)

Kristin creates breathtaking greeting cards. Her most unique pieces include enlarged postage stamp prints.  

 

The are gorgeous and unique.  Not only does her shop have Christmas cards there is also a collection for Hanukkah, Thanksgiving and an array of any occasion greetings.

You can purchase Kristin's cards individually or in sets.

Kristin is generously letting me giveaway any single card my winning reader chooses.

Here's how you can win one of these sentimental paper crafts from Kristin Scott Designs.

Mandatory- Go to Kristin Scott Designs and leave me a comment telling me what greeting card you would choose if you win.

Extra entries (leave a comment for each one)
*Follow The Fifth Street Palace publicly (If you already do leave me a comment reminding me).

*Follow me on Twitter (If you already do leave me a comment reminding me).

*Spread the word (leave a comment for each)
Blog about this giveaway
Share it on facebook
Twitter this giveaway
Stumble This givaway

Rules:
The Winner will be chosen by random.org. Contest is open until Wednesday November 18 at 5pm PAC time. Winner has 48 hours to respond with mailing info.  If the winner does not respond or I can not contact the winner a new winner will be chosen.
U.S. and Canada Addresses only please.

Also Linking up with my friend Kim's food blog What's Cooking at My House