As my husband and I visited over coffee this Wintery Texas morning on this past year and how 2017 seemed to us, we both concluded that it has been a rewarding year of spiritual, mental and emotional growth. Just like everyone else we have had our share of ups and downs. However all in all we both agreed that our dear Lord has blessed us with good health, love and joy. Now on New Year's Eve we have reached the final chapter of 2017 and it seems to me it is worthwhile to reflect. There are some things in our lives which we would like to change. We are both longing for more active outdoor adventures, and a continued migration to natural settings. These reflections of 2017 also took me to my blog where I took a look at the best posts of this year, so here they are. Thank you for reading my blog and joining me in this beautiful journey of life! January 2017 began with a sweet little giveaway and a fun Valentine Table setting . February of 2017 brought mild temperatures a

Good Morning Friends, just a quick little pop in to your homes to wish you a very Merry Christmas and share a positively wonderful, easy recipe for Homemade Peanut Clusters. This is another one of those no fail recipes that I just love to share with you! Finding yourself short on time and need a quick hostess gift, a present for a neighbor or just to share with family and friends this recipe is for you! My Instagram friend Elf Mom kindly shared this crockpot candy recipe with me and now I am passing it on to you! Yay! Peanut Clusters The ingredients are all found in the baking section of your grocery and the prep time is minimal. So grab your large crockpot and let's get to business making candy! CROCKPOT CANDY INGREDIENTS 1 16 ounce jar salted peanuts 1 16 ounce jar unsalted peanuts 1 12 ounce bag milk chocolate chips 1 12 ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 12 ounce bags peanut butter chips 2 lbs almond bark ( I used chocolate flavored)

Who should we thank for French Croissants? Why Marie Antoinette of course and my daughter! Merci to both of these lovely Ladies! Marie Antoinette brought her croissant recipe with her from Austria, but any Frenchman will tell you that it was the French who perfected the recipe. Today I am sharing a few links to some of my favorite and fabulous food blogs plus some tips on how to make buttery Croissants. BUTTERY CROISSANTS TIPS FROM AMANDA Making croissants is not for the faint of heart, or the lackadaisical. In fact it is a full commitment, beginning the night before baking! It was our daughter that committed to this culinary task and also discovered this excellent croissant recipe from Jo Cooks-Homemade Croissants. Don't be shy and use a ruler to get the precise width and length of the dough. Reuse plastic wrap and use unsalted butter. Parchment paper and Bread flour are a must. You must fold the butter into the dough and chill. You cannot rush the pro

Hi and welcome to a little DIY Christmas Tree craft and vignette! Let's gather around our craft tables and make these super cute and easy Scrapbook paper Christmas Trees! This DIY Christmas Tree craft leans towards " old school, " as well as simple and fast! These Christmas Trees are not perfect because this craft involves tracing and cutting, so grab some scissors, a pen and let's get going! I am pretty certain this craft project could be done more precisely with a Sizzix Die Cut Machine . Which by the way I have asked for as a Christmas gift...hint to Hubby. SUPPLIES FOR DIY SCRAPBOOK PAPER CHRISTMAS TREES Supplies For DIY Christmas Trees Vintage style and sheet music print scrapbook paper. Pre-cut balsa wood Christmas Trees. Birch wood rounds. Scissors. Modge Podge. Epoxy or Hot glue gun and glue sticks. Glitter. Paint Brushes. Paper Plates. Pen or Pencil. Paper Towels. Embellishments (optional). TUTORIAL FOR DIY SCRAPBO

Hello friends and Welcome to The Perk project ! Today Stacey and I are focusing on encouragement. I believe that one of the greatest and most powerful gifts in our world is that of encouragement from friends and family. Their friendship is like a priceless pearl from the sea. So today it is with great joy that I am sharing with you some of those friends in my life and their unselfish nature, loving disposition and gifts of encouragement which they have extended to me. You know there are just some people in this world who give of themselves so naturally. I am sure you all have some of them in your life too. I guess we should call them Angels! Today I'd like to give a big shout out to my friend Laura Peyton. No matter where or when or how long it has been since we have spent time together, when we meet up it is as if time has stood still. Whether life is flowing smoothly or the chips are down, my spirits low, my health is failing and all hope seems lost she is always t

Good Morning and welcome to our little spot of simplified living in the country where we are celebrating an Old Fashioned Christmas! I am combining vintage and treasured ornaments from the past with red and gold baubles to create a timeless and traditional Christmas for our family. Our little 2 acre lot is a perfect spot to create the magic of days gone by. When my husband and I discovered our 2 acre lot three years ago on the edge of the DFW metroplex we were ecstatic! My husband said it reminded him of Mississippi and I told him he felt like we were in Idaho! We chatted up a storm on how we were going to build our dream home, have space for a craft room, plant a garden, watch the wildlife and grow a mini flower farm. My husband and I felt as though we were returning to the way of living that we had both grown up with, a little country, a little simpler and a little Old Fashioned. Well once I had decided the theme of an Old Fashioned Christmas I began to choose what items I w