Spiritual Sunday: Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;

Count on God instead of yourself.

-Author Unknown

I'm linking up with Charlotte and Ginger's Spiritual Sundays today. Please visit their blog for some great spiritual food!





Speaking of great spiritual food, I want invite you to visit a new daily devotions blog called Faithful Rubies. Join Alexis, beginning March 1, as she provides encouragement, inspiration, and resources for fellow Christians and homeschool families.

Thanks for stopping by!

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 oz.) bag frozen broccoli cuts
  
• 2 whole chicken breasts
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 section Ritz crackers, crushed
• 1 tbsp. Promise light margarine, melted
• 1/4 tsp. curry powder
• 1/2 cup shredded light cheddar cheese
• nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and brown in a frying pan.
2. Cook broccoli according to the package directions; drain.
3. Spray a casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray; arrange broccoli in bottom.
4. Place chicken on top of broccoli.
5. Combine soup, mayo, lemon juice and curry together and pour over chicken.
6. Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese.
7. Mix Ritz crumbs with melted margarine; sprinkle on top of casserole.
8. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, then brown under broiler for 2 minutes.
   
9. Serve over whole wheat noodles or rice.
   

Enjoy!

Thanks to Michael Lee, of Designs by Gollum, for hosting Foodie Friday. Be sure to visit Michael's blog for more tasty recipes.

Tablescape Thursday: Easter Tablescape & Spring Parties Contest

It's Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan, of Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to visit Susan's blog to see her lovely tablescape and to find links to others.

Today's tablescape is also my entry in Michelle's Easter Tablescaping and Spring Party Contest, hosted by Michelle at Maddycakes Muse. If you'd like to enter, you have until February 28th to submit one for a chance to win some fabulous prizes. 

I'm also linking up with Lynette's Easter Party.

(Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

This budget-friendly Easter tablescape was created for under $50.00 with items I found at the Christmas Tree Shops (excluding the goblets and silverware, which I already owned.)

I began by layering a light blue, cutwork tablecloth with yellow matelassé placemats, ivory dinner plates and pastel, polka-dotted salad plates.

Cutwork napkins in shades of pink and green were alternated at each place setting. Beaded napkin rings and Irish crystal goblets add a bit of sparkle and formality to this otherwise casual tablescape.

Pastel baskets in alternating colors were placed at each place setting as guest favors. Each basket was lined with Easter grass and then filled with gourmet jellybeans.

An inexpensive metal pitcher filled with silk forsythia branches serves as a centerpiece. Egg ornaments tied to the branches with pastel ribbon add a bit of whimsy.

Working on today's entry has really given me spring fever! I know it's right around the corner, as we'll be setting our clocks ahead on March 14.

Thanks for stopping by!

TRX Suspension Training

Our gym added a TRX suspension training room awhile back. If you're not familiar with it, TRX suspension training, it is an exercise program which harnesses your own body weight to create resistance as you train. Suspension training builds core strength with every exercise by creating an element of instability that calls on your core to provide balance and coordination. You can easily switch from exercise to exercise in less than 15 seconds, maximizing training time and enabling circuit-style workouts.

After taking a class, it is my opinion that the TRX suspension training is an amazing, full body workout! Within ten minutes into the class, I was really sweating! The next day, my abs, quads and glutes were screaming! It is definitely an effective workout.

A home version of the TRX suspension training system is available on the Fitness Anywhere website. The kit includes club-quality equipment and a training DVD. It's much cheaper than a gym membership or traditional home exercise equipment. Fitness Anywhere also sells this product on eBay for $10.00 less; here's the link.

Thanks for stopping by!

DIY Day: Ruffled Pillow Sham

This ruffled pillow sham was created by my friend, Jan, for her master bedroom. She also provided the directions below.

Materials:

• decorator fabric - at least 2 3/4 yards, more if there is a repeat.
• fleece - 3/4 yard
• strong string
• ruler and scissors, or rotary cutter and ruler
• straight pins
• thread
• iron

This sham is also very easy to make. I made mine for a king size bed, but you can make it any size. Measure your pillow. A king is 20 x 26 inches. Spend a little time deciding on how you want the pattern on the front of the sham. Pick a pleasing pattern if you are using a floral. Just make sure if you make more than one to make the pattern the same on all of them.

1. Cut a piece of decorator fabric 1 inch bigger than the size of your pillows all the way around. For a king it was 21 x 27. Cut a piece of fleece this size also. Put the decorator fabric on top of the fleece and pin together.

2. Now decide how wide you want your ruffle. Mine was 3 inches. Cut strips twice the width you want plus 1 inch for seams the width of thefabric. So my strips were 7 inches by 54 inches.

3. You want at least double thickness for the gathering. I sewed 4 of these strips together for each pillow sham. Fold them in half and press. Zigzag over a sturdy cord to form the gathering stitches. I tried it first by stitching two rows of gathering stitches, but the fabric was too heavy and broke the threads.

4. Mark the center of each edge and pin the seams of your ruffle to these marks. Gather up the ruffle to fit the pillow sham and stitch.

5. To make the back, cut 2 pieces the height of your pillow sham by the width of the fabric. Mine was 21 x54. Hem the inside edges with a double 1-inch hem. Overlap them about 6 inches and cut the sides to the proper length. For the king it was again 27 inches. Sew the front to the back right sides together and turn. That's all there is to it!

Thanks, Jan.

Thanks for stopping by!

Saving on Cell Phone Accessories

My mp3 player stopped working while I was at the gym a couple of days ago. I thought about buying another one, then I remembered my recently upgraded cell phone has a built-in mp3 player. All I would need is armband and headset to use it at the gym.

Before running out to the Verizon store to buy an armband and headset today, I decided to look around online to see if I could find a deal on them. I looked on eBay and found a compatible armband for $16.99, which was a pretty good deal. However, I could not find a deal on the headset I wanted. Next, I went on the Verizon website; the armband was $24.99, and the Samsung WEP870 bluetooth headset, regularly $79.99, was on sale for $29.99. Their current online promo offers free overnight shipping on their website I decided I would buy the headset on the Verizon website, and the armband on eBay. However, before placing my order, I found a coupon code on retailmenot.com for Verizon for 35% off cell phone accessories. Using this coupon, I would be able to get the armband for $16.24 with free overnight shipping, which was a better deal than buying the one on eBay. The bluetooth headset would only cost me $19.49 with free overnight shipping.

I ordered both the headset and the armband on the Verizon website, using the coupon code I found at retailmenot.com . The total cost, with the tax, was $37.97, with free overnight shipping. I saved $73.67!

The bottom line: Before you shop for cell phone accessories, look around online first. And, don't forget about using online coupon codes; they can help you save a bundle!

Thanks for stopping by!

Countertop Paint, Replacing Kitchen Appliances

If you've been a follower of my blog for awhile, you may remember my budget kitchen redo this past August. I used 

Giani Granite Countertop Paint

to paint our outdated kitchen countertops. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my e-mail to Giani featured on their website testimonial page. For those who have asked, the countertop paint is holding up well almost six months after painting it.

While the Giani stainless steel appliance paint was a good option for the stove and refrigerator at the time of the redo, both appliances are getting old and are in need of replacing. The oven just doesn't work very well anymore, and the refrigerator is starting to make strange humming noises. We have decided to replace both the stove and refrigerator in March, when we receive our federal income tax refund.

This is also a good time to replace old appliances with ENERGY STAR® rated appliances, as many states are participating in appliance rebate programs.

I have been shopping around online and really like this Maytag stainless steel gas range at Home Depot. The oven is self-cleaning and has some cool features, such as the 2 intense 15,000 BTU Power Cook burners, delay bake setting, and EvenAir™ convection.

We also plan to replace the range hood with a Maytag stainless steel hood.


When we replace the refrigerator, we are considering buying this LG Electronics 19.7 Cu. Ft. French door refrigerator in stainless steel, since the space in our kitchen won't accommodate anything larger. In addition to the 4 split, spill-protector tempered glass shelves, pull-out freezer drawer and OptiBin humidity controlled crispers, it is also ENERGY STAR® rated, so it will qualify for a rebate of $50.00 from our local electric company.

Also, right now, Home Depot is offering free delivery and haul away on most major appliances.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Health Benefits of Flaxseed

Those of us that are health conscious have quickly become passionate about the many health benefits of flaxseed. They are rich in alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fat that is a precursor to the form of omega-3 found in fish oils called EPA. The anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseed can help reduce the inflammation in conditions such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, migraine headaches and cancer. Omega-3 fats are used by the body to produce Series 1 and 3 prostaglandins, which are anti-inflammatory hormone-like molecules.

ALA, the omega-3 fat found in flaxseed, has also been shown to promote bone health by helping to prevent excessive bone turnover. Consumption of foods rich in this omega-3 fat results in a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in the diet. There are also some studies that suggest that a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats aid in reducing bone loss.

Studies have also shown that diets high in omega-3 fatty polyunsaturated fatty acids help to reduce blood pressure. Flaxseed is also high in fiber, which reduces cholesterol, helps stabilize blood sugar, and aids in the proper functioning of the intestines.

Flaxseed is high in phytochemicals, including many antioxidants. They are a good source of lignans, which convert in our intestines to substances which have been shown to balance female hormone levels. This is good news for those who suffer with hot flashes associated with perimenopause, as consumption of flaxseed has been shown to reduce them considerably. Ligans have also been show to lower the risk of breast cancer.

Ground flaxseed tends to go rancid more quickly than whole flaxseeds, so it’s best to purchase the whole seeds and grind them yourself. A coffee grinder is great for this purpose. (Use a separate coffee grinder than the one you use for coffee.) They are best ground just before consumption. Store whole flaxseed in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Ground flaxseed has a slightly nutty flavor and is great sprinkled on salads, on cereal and in yogurt, cooked in hot cereal and can be added to baked goods. You can also add them to meatloaf and meatballs. You can buy flaxseed in the health food section of your favorite grocery store.

If you'd prefer to take flaxseed in pill form, you can purchase flaxseed oil supplements at any pharmacy.

Thanks for stopping by!

Valentine's Day Dinner

Shrimp Cocktail

Ingredients:

• l lb. extra large cooked shrimp
• Romaine lettuce
• 1 jar cocktail sauce
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Directions:

1. Soak shrimp in cold water to thaw.
2. Place container to be used for the cocktail sauce on a plate, bowl or large dessert dish and arrange lettuce around it.
3. Arrange shrimp on the plate or dish and garnish with lemon wedges. Chill until ready to serve.

Seafood Casserole

Ingredients:

½ - l lb. sea scallops
½ - l lb. large cooked shrimp
½ - l lb. cod or haddock
1 section Ritz crackers, crushed
1 tbs. butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 tbs. milk
lemon wedges

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Melt butter or margarine and mix with crushed garlic and Ritz cracker crumbs.
2. Cut fish into 1-inch chunks.
3. Remove tails from shrimp.
4. Arrange fish, shrimp and scallops in a casserole dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
5. Pour milk over the seafood and top with crushed cracker topping. Bake for 30 minutes until the topping is golden brown.
6. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Waldorf Red Velvet Cake

My mother used to make this cake on Valentine's Day when I was growing up. She used a heart-shaped pan. I always loved the cream cheese frosting!

Ingredients:

Cake

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 c buttermilk
• 2 oz (1/4 cup) red food coloring
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Frosting

• 1/2 stick margarine
• 8 oz. light cream cheese, softened
• 1 lb pkg. confectioner’s sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

1. With a mixer, blend eggs, buttermilk, vanilla and oil in a bowl.
   
2. Place all dry ingredients in another bowl; stir to blend.
3. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture, then mix in the food coloring.
4. Pour cake mixture equally into three greased and floured 8-inch cake pans. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove from pan and let cake cool completely before frosting.
5. Beat frosting ingredients together with a mixer until light and fluffy; frost cake, adding frosting between the three layers.

Enjoy!

Thanks to Michael Lee, of Designs by Gollum, for hosting Foodie Friday. Be sure to visit Michael's blog for more tasty recipes.

Dinner for Two By the Fire

Welcome to another Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan, of Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to visit Susan's blog, to see her beautiful tablescape this week and to find links to others.

It's cold and snowy outside, so I thought I'd set a frugal Valentine's Day table for two in the living room by the fire.









I began by covering the coffee table with a Victorian lace, fringed tablecloth. I bought it on eBay some time ago for under $10.00.


At each place setting, round, silverplated serving trays were used as chargers. I found these at a tag sale for $1.00 each.


On top of the chargers, ivory thrift shop plates were topped with red hemstitched napkins and red transferware salad plates. I found the transferware on a clearance shelf at T.J. Maxx. Votive holders with tealights placed on top of each salad plate add a romantic glow.







Crystal champagne flutes and goblets complete each place setting. The flutes were also found on a clearance shelf at T.J. Maxx.

A red pillar candle in a glass hurricane set on a silverplated compote provides additional glow. The compote was another tag sale find for $1.00.









Check back tomorrow, on Foodie Friday, for some Valentine's Day recipes.

Thanks for stopping by!