by kathilipp | Nov 21, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Project #2 Put Together Your Christmas Binder
1 Corinthians 14:40
“Put all things in order.”
Today I want you to create a safe place to keep all of your Christmas “stuff”.
If you’re like most people, you have your recipes in various cookbooks, a bunch of envelopes from last year’s Christmas cards stuffed into a kitchen drawer, and your Christmas stamps are tacked to your fridge with a magnet waiting to be used.
Stop the madness.
I want you to grab a binder (yes, you can go buy a pretty one at Target, or you can scavenge one from your kid’s room,) and start pulling all your loose papers, Christmas labels, lists and recipes and any other holiday-related paraphernalia into one place.
Here is what you will need:
- Binder
- Binder tabs
- Sheet protectors
- Three hole punch
- Permanent marker
If you don’t have all these items laying around the house, no worries. The important thing is to gather all your holiday-related papers into one place. Even if you just have a folder lying around, that will do for now.
If you do have the binder and the tabs, here are some sections of the binder you may want to consider (you don’t have to use them all, in fact, the simpler the better.)
- Calendar
- Christmas Cards
- Recipes
- Hiding Places
- Christmas Gift Lists
- Menus
- Receipts (use a page protector to store these in that section)
- Budget
- To Do List
Start putting all your gathered papers into the sections. it’s going to make it a lot easier when it comes to finding your favorite pumpkin custard recipe or the receipt for the Barbie Toothbrush that your daughter just said, “is for babies…”
Over the next few days, I will be posting some form for you to help keep track of those different areas, but for now, just gather up what you have.
Oh, and if you want a fun cover for your binder like mine, you can download it over at my Facebook Author Page
The Binder Cover
by kathilipp | Nov 20, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Project #1 – What Do You Want Your Christmas to Look Like
Proverbs 19:21
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
I know, I know. You want to dive in and start checking things off your list since it’s going to be a busy few weeks. I get it.
But, I want you to spend ten minutes determining how you are going to spend those next few weeks.
If we can go into the holidays being intentional about how we spend our time, physical and emotional energy, it truly will be the key to a more sane and sacred celebration.
Brainstorm about what is important to you. Some years, I’m looking for Joy. I want to experience that deep, abiding Joy that only comes from God and being with His people.
This year, it’s a little bit different; I’m all about the Peace. Between chaos in my ministry, chaos in our home lives, chaos in my husband’s job and a triple shot of chaos with my mom’s health, I need that peace that passes understanding. Here is what my mission statement looks like:
For Christmas 2011 I will share God’s peace with my family, my friends, and people I meet and I will to be done with my prep by December 20th so that I can experience peace during our celebration. I will read the Christmas story each morning of December.
And yes – I believe that God can deliver that – even during while at the mall. In December.
I’ve got a free resource to help you brainstorm and come up with a sentence (or two) about your intention this Christmas. Just go to my Facebook Author Page to download it (we’ll be putting all of our goodies up there!)
For a chance to win a copy of THE HUSBAND PROJECT sent to any address on your Christmas list (and it will be wrapped and a gift enclosure card will be added with your note!) tell me on my FB author page or here at the blog write your one sentence mission statement in the comments by Friday, November 25th. I’ll announce the winner next Monday!
by kathilipp | Nov 17, 2011 | Christmas, Home, Uncategorized |
Yes- it’s that time of year and Christmas will be here before we want it to be.
But there is no reason to fear! With a little planning and a few steps along the way (OK, 21. But I promise they will be easy…) you will have a saner and more sacred celebration this year.
All you have to do is sign up for the blog here: http://feeds.feedburner.com/kathilipp/KUHK and you will join all of us to get your Christmas under control, and be able to focus on Christ this season!
Wait for that first email to show up in your inbox on Monday to get started!
by kathilipp | Nov 6, 2011 | Home, Uncategorized |
Everyone who knows me knows of my unabiding and deep love of all things Starbucks. I just can’t make my misto at home the way they do. The only thing I’m not in love with is their food.
I know they have some lower calorie options, but those are not the things I want to eat. (Plus, it doubles the cost of the trip.)
Here is my favorite fall snack, which is low on calories, super easy to make, oh and delicious.
Easy Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients:
Serves: 24
Yield:
24 muffins
1 (18 ounce) box spice cake mix
15 ounces pumpkin
3/4 cup water
Directions
1.Mix all ingredients in mixer.
2.Makes 24 muffins.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350°F.
Continuing the pumpkin theme, here is the table decor we are going to be sporting this fall.
Pumpkin Votive Holders
Directions:
Use a mini-drill the grind out the centers of the pumpins to the side of the votive.
Use unsented votives in the pumpkins if you will be placing them on a dinner table.
You can also float several pumpkins in a shallow bowl for a great cluster effect.
(This also works with apples, and you won’t need a drill, just a paring knife and a spoon.)
How are you going to decorate this fall? Anything special this season?
by kathilipp | Oct 18, 2011 | Home, The "What's for dinner?" Project, Uncategorized |
OK First – what is a LOOP Meal? Here is a description taken from my latest book, THE WHAT’S FOR DINNER? SOLUTION:
LOOP Meals
LOOP (Left Over On Purpose) is a great way to cook one and eat twice. We generally eat our biggest meal on Sundays when the whole family is over. For example, this weekend Roger barbequed steaks . I asked him to throw a couple more on the grill for us to slice up and put on into the chili reciepe below. Cook once, eats twice, Beautiful.
Keep this recipe on hand – it is the perfect meal to throw any left over meat into. Steak chili, turkey chili, chicken chili – anything. Yum.
2 cups Leftover Steak, chopped
1 cup Chopped onions
1 clove Garlic, minced
1-16 oz can Stewed tomatoes
1-16 oz can Kidney beans, drained
1-16 oz can Tomato sauce
3 tsp Chili powder
1/2 tsp Basil
1-6 oz can Tomato paste
1. Prepare: In a large saucepan, saute onions, and garlic until the onions are translucent. Put all the ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for six – eight hours.
What is your favorite way to use up leftovers?
by kathilipp | Oct 3, 2011 | Home, Uncategorized |
I have talked to so many women who would love to make a dinner plan, but have run out of ideas for dinner. If you are in that boat, here are some simple ideas to fill out your weekly menu.
Grown Up Grilled Cheese
Forget the white bread and processed cheese food. Try some gouda on whole wheat or garlic Havarti on sourdough. If you are watching calories you can split the sandwich and pair it with Trader Joe’s Roasted Tomato Soup and a small salad. Yum!
Lemon Chicken
Simple recipe, delicious results. Serve with some grilled veggies and brown rice.
1 tsp. thyme leaves
½ tsp. pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1/3 c. lemon juice, fresh squeezed
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Mix all ingredients except chicken breasts together. Pour over chicken breasts in a one-gallon bag to marinade.
Drain marinade. Place chicken breasts in a pan sprayed with light cooking oil. Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.
Serves 4.
Pesto Chicken
½ c. prepared pesto
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 slices mozzarella cheese
Pour pesto over chicken breasts in a one-gallon bag. Let marinade.
Drain marinade. Place chicken breasts in a pan sprayed with light cooking oil. Place one slice of mozzarella cheese on each chicken breast.
Bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes.
Serves 4.
Spaghetti and Marinara with Veggies
Health-up your pasta with the addition of some veggies lightly sautéed in cooking spray with a few herbs. Delicious and it bulks up
what can otherwise be a thin meal. For some extra protien, heat up a few frozen turkey meatballs.
Chicken Cesar Pita
Prep 10 Minutes
Start to Finish 10 Minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 Cesar Salad Kit from the Produce Section of the Grocery Store
1 package pre-cooked chicken cut into cubes
4 pitas
Directions
- Cut pitas in half and open up pitas. Put pita haves in the toaster. Toast the pitas and let cool.
- Meanwhile, mix together the ingredients from the salad kit (except for the croutons) with the chicken
chunks.
- Stuff the toasted pita with chicken Cesar salad mix.
- Garnish with whatever extra goodies (tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)
