{EXPIRED} How to Make a Thankful Tree + LEAF CUT-OUT GIVEAWAY

For those of you that live in the U.S., have you noticed that each year that goes by, Thanksgiving seems to become less and less important?  I know I am not innocent here.  We've had years where we didn't mention a single thing we were thankful for, or perform any other tradition for that matter, on Thanksgiving except for eating a huge meal.

This year, as Thanksgiving approached and I noticed that stores were putting Christmas items out with the Halloween/Fall items, I was determined to do some special things for Thanksgiving.  I think it's a good start!

1.  We separated out some of our Fall and Halloween decorations so that we could actually decorate for both holidays separately.

2.  We're going to have a family movie night and watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving which we got in this pack last year when it was on sale.  (This is not an affiliate link)

3.  I plan on making some Thanksgiving cookies with the kids to take to our neighbors.  I found some sprinkles on clearance that will look very pretty that are specifically fall, not Halloween.

And best of all...

4.  We started a new Thanksgiving tradition this year. We call it our Thankful Tree.  Not only have we been working on being grateful for what we have in general, but we decided to take this opportunity to look for more things to take note of and verbalize each evening as a family. 

Here's how we did it:  First, on butcher paper, we colored a tree trunk and branches.  We taped ours to the refrigerator door, but you could tape it up anywhere, really.  The tree is about 3 feet tall.  Then, the children and I cut out leaves out of different colored paper using my Cricut Cutting Machine.  Next, we talked about Thanksgiving and why we celebrate it.  Then we talked about one thing that we were thankful for, we each wrote it down on a leaf, which we then taped onto the tree.  

It has been wonderful to be able to do this as a family each day.  It is a wonderful way to be grateful as a family, to see the good, and to enjoy each other's thoughts.  We were able to include guests one night also, which was a fun way to wrap up our evening with them.  It's a good way to remind the kids (and myself!) to be thankful throughout the day by asking them, "What will you be writing on the Thankful Tree tonight?"

I know it would be tedious to cut out these leaves without a Cricut, and it might be costly to purchase the leaves (if you can find something like it), so I wanted to offer a packet of Leaves and Circles to three readers.  I thought it would be a fun little giveaway!

I will offer the Leaf and Circle packets to the first three readers to contact me.  Feel free to include your name and mailing address in the first email, or you can wait for my response letting you know that you've won.  If you choose to wait for my response to give me your mailing address, please respond quickly with your mailing address so that I can send out your Leaves and Circles as soon as possible.

To enter this giveaway, send me an email with a subject line of Thankful Tree Leaves and Circles at LifeLivedIntentionally [at] gmail [dot] com

And don't worry, I'll mail them out by Thursday so that you will be able to have time to use them until Thanksgiving.  You can use the snail mail time to make your Thankful Tree trunk and branches so it'll be ready when the leaves arrive.

Good Luck!

Disclosure:  Email and mailing addresses will only be used for the purpose of this giveaway and getting your gift to you or letting you know you did not win.  I'm sorry, but this giveaway will be open to U.S. Residents only.  I will do my best to be timely in updating this post once the giveaway has closed, however, the giveaway may be closed, even if it is not marked so.  This giveaway doesn't include the tree trunk, which you will need to make yourself.

Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Soup

Cheesy Potato Soup is a regular menu item in our family. It is Little Gal's absolute favorite dish that I make, and everyone else enjoys it too, so when I want something crowd-pleasing and simple to make for dinner, I make this.

It is also very easy to turn it into a *dairy-free dish.  When I make it dairy-free, I usually leave a bowl of grated cheese on the side for those who wish to have a little.

This makes quite a bit for our family of four, so I often throw the leftovers in the freezer for a freezer meal for another night.  This soup freezes really well and maintains its consistency once it has been reheated.  I love a two for one!

I hope you enjoy!


Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Soup

Ingredients:

8 Medium-large potatoes, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2-1 tsp black pepper
2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
5-6 Cups water
3 TBS flour
1 can evaporated milk
2 cups shredded cheese (we use a monterrey and cheddar blend)


1.  In a crockpot (mine is a 6 Qt), combine the potatoes, carrots, celery, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and water.  Place the lid on and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or high for 4-6, depending on how much time you have.

2.  Forty-five minutes before serving, pour the milk into a bowl.  Slowly whisk the flour into the milk until smooth.  If it's not smooth here, you'll have unsightly chunks in your soup, so don't skimp on the whisking here!

3.  Pour the milk mixture into the crock, then add in the cheese.  Stir to combine, then replace the lid.  Let the soup continue to cook about 45 minutes, until cheese is melted.

4.  Serve hot with bread, crackers or salad.

*If you wish to make this dairy-free, replace the evaporated milk with a dairy-free milk, omit the cheese, and use a vegan Worcestershire sauce.  If you don't have a vegan sauce, you can try using soy sauce, steak sauce, or making your own.  You can also leave it out, it just makes it extra yummy!

Crock Pot Cheesy Potato Soup Recipe Printable

How to Make Hint of Cinnamon Kettle Corn

My kiddos and I LOVE Kettle Corn!  There's something tasty about that salty, sweet, crunch.  However, as usual, I don't like paying an arm and a leg (within proportion to the cost of a bag of Kettle Corn, of course) for something that I can easily make myself.  When this cool fall weather was calling for a salty and sweet popcorn snack, caramel corn sounded like too much work and too much sugar.  Regular popcorn didn't satisfy the sweet.   Kettle Corn was the solution!

It's very inexpensive to make, takes less than 10 minutes, and most people like popcorn.  It's also Dairy Free, Vegan, Soy Free and Gluten Free, so you can easily share it with a class or crowd of people without worrying about dietary needs.  We'll be taking Halloween treat sacks filled with this Kettle Corn to swim class to share.  Note:  Cross-Contamination might be a concern for those who are more affected by gluten intolerance than others.

I plan on making several different batches of this for my husband to take to work on Halloween, and I will share with you the different variations I'll be preparing.  Through photos.  Sorry you can't taste!

This Kettle Corn doesn't require anything more than a large saucepan (mine is a 4 quart pan.  I wouldn't go smaller than that), the ingredients listed below, and a large cookie sheet.  It makes for quick preparation and a quick clean-up.

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/4 Heaping Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Popcorn Kernels
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1.  In a large saucepan (4 qt.), heat the oil on medium-high (though closer to the medium side) with three kernels of corn.  Put the lid on.

2.  In the meantime, measure out the sugar, and stir together the cinnamon and salt to make a cinnamon-salt mixture.  Also, pull out your cookie sheet.  Set aside.

3.  After the three kernels pop, leave the lid on and wait 1 minute.  Using a large spoon, pull the three popped kernels out, then quickly stir in the sugar until pretty well combined.  Pour in the rest of the 1/2 Cup of kernels, and cover the pan with a lid again.  Shake the pan (move the pan back and forth over the burner quickly) so all the kernels can be coated with the sugar and oil.

4.  Let the kernels sit for about 15 seconds, then shake again.  Continue letting them sit for about 15 seconds and then shake for a few seconds until you hear kernels beginning to pop.

5.  Once the kernels begin popping, shake for a few seconds, then let the pan sit for a few seconds.  Continue shaking then resting until the popping slows down to one popping every one to two seconds.

6.  REMOVE FROM HEAT IMMEDIATELY!!  Carefully (watch out for any popping stragglers) tilt the pan away from you (and anyone else) and lift the lid.  Pour the corn out onto the cookie sheet and use the spoon to spread across the sheet.

7.  Once the Kettle Corn is spread over the cookie sheet, sprinkle the cinnamon-salt over the kettle corn.  Using either a spoon or your hands, toss to coat with the cinnamon-salt.  While tossing, pick out un-popped kernels.  They tend to stick to the caramelized popcorn instead of settling to the bottom.

8.  Allow to sit until cool enough to eat.  Store leftovers in an airtight container (or ziplock).

PRINTABLE Hint of Cinnamon Kettle Corn Recipe

How to Grow a Fall and Winter Garden

(These are my snow peas.  I've got several that are about 2" long.  I'm veeeeeery tempted to try one because I haven't eaten anything but herbs and green onion out of my garden in several weeks, but I'll be patient and let them grow...I guess!)

I loved my spring and summer garden this year!  Though I have been gardening and interested in gardening since I was a child, it was the most variety I have ever grown, and I enjoyed my successes so very much and I learned a little patience with my failures.  

The only problem was that I started my spring and summer garden very late this year.  I started seedlings mid May!  So I barely got a spring crop at all, and with that started so late, my summer crop was also started late.  On top of that, I had a very disorganized and tiny amount of space.  I felt like I was just "getting it" late summer and when fall came, I hadn't gotten my fill.

I started reading more and more about fall and winter gardening, my zone (7b-8a) seems pretty happy to oblige a fall and winter garden, and so I decided to plant one.

Honestly, things may die.  We might not get anything out of it except for garlic (next summer) and experience.  However, I'm hoping that I've chosen nice little micro-climates in my yard that will provide some warmth and shelter.  I also did my best to chose plants that would survive the cold.  We'll see!  Here's what's growing:

Part of our home school curriculum is gardening.  Not only can you learn a skill, but about seasons, about the earth, how does a seed grow into a plant, anatomy of plants, etc., etc.  It really is endless!  My husband built these great little boxes that are 12"x 12" wide and about 18" deep.  They're perfect for the plants the kiddos picked out and they're easy for them to water and observe.

I am growing garlic for the first time!  I planted a Spanish Hard Neck as well as a Late Italian Soft Neck.  The Spanish is thriving and the growth is probably about 8" tall.  However, I hadn't seen my Italian yet, though I planted the Italian at the same time as the Spanish.  When I pulled the mulch back yesterday, I saw a little growth poking out of the clove!  I'm very excited!

Here's the Spanish Hard Neck bed.  There she grows!

This is one of the radish beds (breakfast variety?) in a bed that is not raised.  It's struggling.  Those are thinnings on the ground, by the way!  They are struggling because of the insects, I think.  Though I'm having a hard time seeing anything that's eating them.

I think plants, even smaller ones, know when they are in a raised bed.  For some reason (knock on wood!), the slugs and bugs (with the exception of a few spider friends) have not yet found this bed.  This is the awesome bed that my husband built for me out of re-purposed wood.  And my oh my!  My plants love this bed.  These are radishes (I think breakfast radishes) and rainbow carrots, which you can see coming up if you look closely.  I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to overwinter the carrots.  I haven't told my children that they're rainbow carrots.  I want it to be a surprise when we pull them up!

This is another one of my favorite beds.  The upper and lower rows are spinach, the center is more breakfast radish.  Yes, I went a little crazy with the radishes!  I wasn't successful growing them this summer (I started them too late in the spring!), so I'm trying several areas of the yard.

They are also a very quick crop.  I read that you can sprinkle them in when you sow carrot seeds as they grow fast and can be harvested shortly after your carrots are beginning to germinate.  They also mark the rows where you planted the carrots.  So I'm trying that!  They are also quite cold hardy.

Last but not least, the poor cement block bed that has been planted three times and is now a netted fortress of doom.  The garlic has been planted--1 clove in each hole of the blocks--carrots (baby and rainbow), radishes (Cherry Belle), one broccoli seedling that I saved from when my greenhouse blew over (grrrr), and the Bok Choy that I planted has germinated and we'll see how that does as well.

Because of the cat, I keep finding random radishes popping up all over the place.  However, I'll let them grow as I plan on putting some lettuces, broccoli and kale in here once they're germinated and grown a bit bigger in the greenhouse.  

To sum it up, Fall and Winter gardening is awesome!  I can't wait to see what makes it and what doesn't.  I'm having fun taking notes in my garden journal, and I'm hoping to record some crops.  I'll do a post next week about my little greenhouse and the happenings there.

Tips for Starting a Fall or Winter Garden:

-Choose your crops carefully!  Pick plants that are cold hardy.  

-Picking up  transplants from the greenery could be a good idea.  While you're there, ask them what you can grow in the winter.

-If it's too cold outside in your climate, try growing some herbs inside.  I'm planning on bringing some basil, parsley and rosemary inside for the winter.  I have a large window in my kitchen and I think they will look nice sitting on the windowsill.

-Don't forget to mulch.  It keeps the soil warmer and protects from frost.

-Grab some horticultural fleece.  If you have a night or two that will be colder than usual, these may just tide your plants over.

-Try lasagna gardening.  Or at least throw a thick layer of mulch (such as leaf litter, straw, pine needles, etc.) down and put your garden soil on top.  The mulch will create heat as it decomposes.

-Try to plant on the south facing side of the house.  This is going to get the most sun.  Also, a bed on the south side of the house with a wall on the west side would help keep a lot of heat in and would also protect from the wind to a degree.

-Buy a row cover.  They don't always protect from frost, but they can help keep the soil warmer.

-Don't be afraid to try something.  If it works, it works!  If it doesn't, try it in the "correct" season next year.

-Get a cold frame, hoop house over an existing garden bed, or a walk-in green house.  Even if you're just dealing with a plastic covered, unheated green house, it can prevent some insects from getting in and supposedly stay about 5 degrees warmer.  Even if you can't grow much, one of these suggestions will allow your spring and summer crops to come up a bit earlier.


Are you growing a fall or winter garden?  What did you plant?  What have you had success with in years past?

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed with Cement Blocks

I am experimenting with a fall/winter garden.  Even if it doesn't grow, the beds that we've built will be ready in the spring.  So far I have planted lettuce, spinach (about to get true leaves), radishes (some have true leaves), kale (ugh, still hasn't come up, so I'll be starting these in the greenhouse), rainbow and baby carrots (I plan on mulching these for overwintering), purple sprouting broccoli, leeks, onions, snow peas, bok choy and green onions.  I also have some parsley, cilantro, basil and rosemary in the greenhouse and we'll see how long they survive.

I'm hoping that I have found some good microclimates in my yard that offer more sun and warmth and the beds are raised and might be mulched which will add extra heat.

I also have a walk-in greenhouse, which is about 4x6' and not glass, but I know it'll add a certain amount of protection.

Remember when I ripped out my tomato plants for a new bed? Well, we built one more raised bed out of cement blocks in that spot over the weekend!  I'm very excited to have another raised bed.  The drainage is a million times better than it had been, I can put bird netting over it (for our cat...grrr), and I'll be able to cover with a row cover if I want to by attaching it to the fence.

It was very simple to build, and we're really happy with it.

First, we measured the length and width of the bed.  We also decided on some specs.  One thing we were worried about was the fact that the bed is up against one wall of the house and a length of fence.  We wanted to protect them with extra cement blocks to prevent rotting, so we measured them out and found blocks that were a little taller, but also thin enough to not take up precious bed space.

Next, we bought the blocks and set them up.  This was probably the easiest part.  You might want to take some gloves to the home improvement store if you don't want your hands getting ripped up from the blocks.  I use my hand a lot, and they're definitely not smooth and delicate, but I was surprised at how much damage they received from my loading and unloading them to the cart, then helping my husband place them.

Next, we laid down a 2-3" layer of straw.  As the straw decomposes, it will add nitrogen to the soil, but also heat, which will be helpful for my fall/winter garden.

Next, we filled it up with soil from our favorite greenery.  Do you see how rich that soil is?  I tell you what!  I can get anything to grow in there.  Buying dirt was a little mental struggle for me, because it's DIRT.  DIRT shouldn't cost money because it's everywhere.  However, this dirt is awesome.  And the dirt in our yard is not awesome.  It's either rocky clay or rocky sand.

Not pictured, are the holes filled in.  I bought one last bag of dirt and filled them in after I'd already photographed this.  After filling them, I planted them with garlic as fortress of doom to keep the slugs out...or that's what I tell myself!  Ha.  I'm not sure if this is the best place for garlic to grow, but I've got it all planted around the yard, so we'll see how the experiment goes.

It may not be the most beautiful raised bed, but it's functional.  And I like functional!  What are your raised beds made of?  What do you like about them?  What would you do different?

How to Make a Scrappy Pumpkin Craft

It's Fall and I'm so excited! I love all of the cozy things we have to eat, special treats, pumpkins, candles, and decorations.

And CRAFTS!  Don't forget about the crafts!  I'm not sure about your pinterest boards, or the blogs you follow, but mine are booming with this craft or that craft.

Here is a simple one that we created at our home school group last week.  All of the kiddos participated (aged 2-5) and had fun creating their own unique design.

You can use any pumpkin printout, or just color one of your own, but I chose this PUMPKIN one for its simplicity and ease of use.

Our kids had fun making them, but wouldn't they be cute invitations?  Or framed?  Or maybe as place cards?  I think they'd be super cute, just size it down or up accordingly.

Ready to make one?

Here's what you'll need:

*1 Pumpkin Outline

* Pile of scrap papers in different colors (I used scrapbook paper cut into 2.5" strips, but construction would work too!)

* Glue stick

* Scissors

* Markers or crayons

First off, Color your pumpkin.  This is where our kids got really creative!  You'll be cutting around the outline of the pumpkin, so it's ok if a little gets outside of the lines, and also, you don't want to spend time coloring out there.  It's just going to get cut off.

Now you want to flip your paper over.  Grab the scraps, and make sure all sides of the scraps have glue on them.  Layer, lay in rows, whatever!  Just make sure glue is covering the back of each piece.  Also, make sure that the scraps go just outside of the outline of the pumpkin.  This is where it's nice if you can see through the paper to cover the outline.

See?  No need to glue scraps on the whole paper.  You're just going to cut it off!  Allow to dry.

Now, flip your paper back over, and cut out the pumpkin along the outside line of your pumpkin outline.  Some kids might need help here, but the bigger kids did a great job with that thick black line.

You're Finished!  Enjoy your fun, Scrappy Pumpkin and enjoy your Fall!