It’s the most wonderful time of the year for cozy PJ’s, hot chocolate & binge watching all the Holiday movies! I’ve rounded up a list of my very favorites, classics & some new flixs streaming!
Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments your favorites so we can festively binge together!
While the weather may be getting especially chilly it only means winter activities are in full swing with the Holidays! Here are a few of the things I want to do this Winter!
What’s on YOUR Winter Bucketlist? Let me know in the comments! Be sure to save these to your Pinterest boards for later!
Sharing specifically our Friendsgiving Playlist considering we were creating & listening all November long!
This Impact Friday we're Closing Down Our Site And Heading outside To Make an Impact. Join us. No site. No Sale. Just Impact. Find out more at https://keepna...
Not so sure about going Black Friday shopping & wanting to do some extra good outside? Give Impact Friday a go! Whether you can join Keep Nature Wild at the Lake Pleasant Clean Up in Arizona or want to do your own clean up where ever you find yourself - this alternative to the consumer holiday is fun & gets you outside to do important work!
How To Participate with KNW
Sign Up for the Lake Pleasant Impact Friday Clean Up Here
How to Participate
Get friends & family to get outside together to pick up trash, litter & the like
Grab a bag (or more) to put all the trash you find
Submit your Impact Form here (this helps KNW track how many pounds of trash their community picks up yearly!)
Share photos of your impact with #impactfriday & encourage others to join you!
This time of year is full of so many of my favorite things - traditions, events, weather - but my favorite might be the food. We get out the recipe books & cards, hit the grocery and spend time together making bites and meals that remind us of family & when shared with those we love makes them even more special! This year, I’m sharing some of my very favorites. Most of these recipes come straight out of the family cook book -passed from friends who became family & generation to generation.
Ingredients
2 cups crushed pretzels
¾ cup margine - melted
3 Tablespoons sugar
8 oz cream cheese
8 oz cool whip
1 cup sugar
I large box strawberry jello
2 cups boiling water
20 oz frozen strawberry
15 oz can crushed pineapple - drained
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Mix ingredients for crust (pretzels, melted butter and sugar) and press into 9x13 pan
Bake in oven for 7 minutes
While baking mix cool whip, cream cheese and sugar together and spread onto crust in dish once out of oven
Let cool whip layer chill in fridge until set
Mix jello, strawberry and pineapple together, then, pour over cool whip layer and chill until set
Tips:
strawberry can be substituted for other fruit - just be sure to change jello flavor as well to be the same or compliment!
best if made the night before serving!
Ingredients
8 oz can cream of mushroom
1 cup Chicken stock
2 Tablespoons chopped onion
2 Tablespoons butter
3 Tablespoons flour
⅓ cup white wine
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
2 can french style green beans
¼ cup bread crumbs and/or french fried onions (add 1 cup+ to taste or preference)
2 Tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375
Saute onions for five minutes
Blend in flour, cream of mushroom, chicken stock and wine
Cook, stirring all the time until the mixture boils and thickens
Add cheese, salt and pepper
Combine this with drained green beans in buttered casserole dish
Mix crumbs with butter and onions and sprinkle over top
Bake 375 for 25 minutes
Tips:
you can replace the chicken broth with about any other broth! I use vegetable personally!
Making this the night before serving (minus bread crumbs and/or french fried onions) is THE best!
Ingredients
1 pound butter
1 teaspoon tabasco
1.5 teaspoons worchestire sauce
1.5 teaspoon dill weed
4 - 5 oz kraft old english cheese
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon bean monde seasoning
5 loafs Safeway english breads
Instructions
Soften butter and cheese to room temperature before starting
Take out various cookie sheets and cover in wax paper (tip: be sure you have freezer space to put these on! Organize before!)
Once soft, put in large mixing bowl and beat until fluffy then, add rest of ingredients (tabasco, worchesture, dill weed, onion powder, and bean monde.
Once combined, take bread out of bags and remove crusts - these can be set aside to make home made croutons!
Once crusts are removed, tale 3 slices at a time and put spread on them - Put spread on bottom slice, then add second slice on top - add spread and add third slice.
Cut 3-slice stacks into four little squares (tip: be sure to cut 3 slices at a time so they all fit when assembled)
Take each little stack and butter all four sides and the top - DO NOT butter the bottom (this side will be on the wax paper and if buttered it will stick.
Place on wax paper and once a sheet is full, place in freezer
Once set, put in plastic bags and do not thaw when you go to bake later on
In baking, take directly from bag to cookie sheet then oven
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes
Tip
These are intended to be made in bulk (70-80 at a time) and are great to stock up before entertaining
These last in the freezer for a few months (but honestly won’t last because YUM)
Ingredients
2 packages frozen kernel corn
8 oz whipping cream
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch of white or cayenne pepper
2 Tablespoons melted butter
8 oz homogenized milk
6 teaspoon sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
Instructions
Place all frozen corn in 9x13 dish
Combine cream, milk, salt sugar and pepper on stove - bring to boil and simmer for 5 minutes
Add butter and flour mixture then pour over corn and mix
Refrigerate over night
Bake at 350 until bubbling for about 25 minutes
Tips
This dish is SO good and really is best when made a day or two before serving
Ingredients
1 16 oz can whole kernel corn - drained
1 16 oz can cream style corn
8 oz sour cream or plain nonfat yogurt
1 box jiffy corn muffin mix
1 stick of margarine, melted
2 lightly beaten eggs
Instructions
Spray 3 quart souffle dish with nonfat cooking spray
Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and pour into dish
Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes or until golden brown
Serve warm
Tips
you don’t HAVE to make it in a souffle dish BUT be sure whatever you make it in, you use non-stick spray!
it does serve 6 -8 but this is also the perfect side to cook most any time!
for a kick, you can add green chiles!
I hope you enjoyed these recipes! Be sure to save the pins to be able to come back & if you make it be sure to tag me so I can share!
A Farewell To Arms - Ernest Hemmingway
While I haven’t met a Hemingway work I didn’t like, this one is my absolute favorite. A Farewell to Arms is set during the Italian campaign of World War I and is a first-person account of an American in the ambulance corps. The novel describes a love affair between Henry, the American, and an English nurse, Catherine. I personally love this novel because not only is it about one of my favorite historical time periods, its a very real and very raw look at the human experience. And it’s Hemingway so… there’s that. If you want a shorter read, try The Old Man and The Sea.
Harry Potter Series- J.K. Rowling
If you haven’t heard of these books or seen the movies I would say I’m a bit surprised but also impressed because they are literally everywhere. Over the course of all 7 novels, the life of a young wizard - Harry Potter - and his friends at their magical school - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is followed. Harry’s main struggle throughout is that against the dark wizard- Lord Voldemort. Ultimately the novels carry an overarching theme of good versus evil, the importance of friendship and the power of love. While these are not necessarily a challenging read these are by far my most favorite books from my childhood I still read often now. I think I’ve read the whole series at least 4 or 5 times to date and highly recommend to everyone. Regardless of your interests in what the novels have become, they hold incredibly important themes and messages I truly think has made me and many readers the people we are today.
Bastard Out of Carolina - Dorothy Allison
In college I was an English Lit Minor so naturally I was exposed to some incredible literature. This, by far is one of my favorites. I will warn you it is filled with things worth many a trigger-warnings so, be mindful if you are interested in this read. Allisons’ novel is a semi-autobiography set is South Carolina in the 1950’s. The novel examines gender expectations, mother-child relationships and explores the roles of these in various points of the main characters life. This is an emotional read but it also really examines some topics I think a lot of us don’t think about often. It’s literary genius and a very special, intimate look into the life of someone worth reading.
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis - J.D. Vance
The first time I read this was in my senior capstone course at ASU. I was the only woman in this political science course and had been subjected to quite a bit of things that I can only say have re-solidified my understanding of a continued boys-club essence of my department. Regardless, this was one of our required readings and it nearly made up for everything else. Vance’s memoir recounts his life growing up in Appalachian country, Kentucky in particular, and all of the values and social problems that stem out of that unique place. Beyond Vance’s incredible story of overcoming many of the societal obstacles that come from some of these issues, it was incredibly touching to see familiar qualities and words (like Mawmaw and Pawpaw) that I grew up hearing from my own father. While my dad’s experiences growing up in Appalachia was quite different, many of the values were the same. Additionally, I find this region of the country to be fascinating and one that many don’t know much about, but really ought to.
The “Sixty Million and more” dedication - a reference to the Africans and descendants who died as a result of the Atlantic salve trade - is a fitting glimpse into what power this novel holds. Set after the Civil War, Morison shares the story of Sethe - a former slave - living wither her daughter Denver. While I read this as a required reading in high school, this is one book I think every one needs to read to really begin to understand the true, intergenerational and far-reaching impacts of slavery. Additionally, it’s a powerful story of a mother’s love and the relationship between child and mother.
Note: While I drafted this before her passing on August 6th, I can’t seem to find an author more timely right now. I highly recommend this read and any of her other profound works.
The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now - Meg Jay, PhD.
If you are in college, a recent grad, in your twenties or thirties or the parent/guardian/mentor of someone in their twenties or thirties - you need to read this book. I read this book in preparation on a presentation I co-led for an international sorority convention in 2018. This book could not have come into my life at a better time. It helped me through so much and reminded me of my worth over and over. Essentially, Jay refutes the common phrase that “thirty is the new twenty” by giving evidence - from her life and her patients - that our years in our twenties are by far the most important. Despite this time of our lives being often over-hyped, trivialized and filled with misinformation, this decade is in fact the most defining. The book is set into sections dealing with work, relationships, education and more. If you’re looking for answers, wanting to understand or get a new perspective on what the hell these years are - or could be - I’d highly recommend reading.
If at some point in your life reading and literacy were important to you or inspired you or made you fall in love with something I can guarantee you understand how important sharing the gift and love of reading and literacy is.
Two things I love more than just about anything are sweet treats and Harry Potter. Luckily, this past Saturday Arizona’s own Sweet Dee’s Bakeshop combined the two in one of their famous, over-the top, squeal-worthy theme days. While their darling bakery is, in its own right, gorgeous with yummy treats and wonderful service, Saturday was extra magical.
With Harry Potters upcoming Birthday on the 31st, there was plenty to celebrate Saturday, even if it was very early. Set to to open at 8am Cody and I woke up around 6:30 and arrived by 7:15 because we’d been eyeing their teased menu on Instagram all week. While we did have to wait in line for a while there was water and coffee provided with pop-ins of info from the incredibly kind employees. Come a little after 8am with doors open, walking into the preciously decorated shop was worth the wait.
Beyond the gorgeous Honeydukes-esque candies and treats lining their shelves, floating candles and wizarding music playing, their sweet treats behind the counter were gorgeous. Peering them all down was easily the equivalent to what getting your Hogwarts letter must feel like.
I wish we could have bought every item available, because oh my word they were what dreams are made of and equally delicious. We decided on the treats shown below: sorting hat macaroon, cauldron cake, Hogwarts letter cookie, happee birthdae cake, Ravenclaw pumpkin pasty, and a Harry Potter donut alongside our Butterbeer and Polyjuice potion..
After making our picks, we headed home to sample our treats with our favorite Potter films.
I can can honestly say there was not a single treat I didn’t like. Each was so special and delicious and it was clear a great deal of love and attention to detail was put in each item. I did particularly enjoy the cauldron cakes as they were of a peanut butter flavored (our favorite) but the cookies and macaroons were also wonderful.
The drinks were an extra special touch - funny enough Cody and I ended up liking the others drink better and halfway through switched. The Butterbeer was similar to a delicious butterscotch frappe- something Starbucks really ought to consider bringing out this fall if you ask me. the Polyjuice potion was like a pop rocks infused cherry 7up which was both so fun and refreshing on such a hot day.
Today, I think I’m still on a sugar high BUT am so excited for the other theme days Sweet Dee’s has coming up including their Halloween days, The Nightmare Before Christmas Day and a Wes Anderson Day. The treats and staff knocked it out of the water and now more than even Cody and I are so inspired to make some magical treats of our own in the meantime. Though these Harry Potter treats were a one day event I highly recommend checking them out if you find yourself in Scottsdale and be sure to attend next year! If you’re anything like me, I’m already counting down to their Halloween days and I hope to see you there.
Here’s to a clean slate, new opportunities & more blessings (even when they’re disguised as struggles)
This year I’m hoping to…
be more creative
re-learn (and use) Spanish
be more intentional
serve my community
go abroad
What are your goals???