Sunday, February 12, 2012

Winners & Top 3 for challenges 1 & 2

I've finally managed to catch up with the winners post, thanks for being patient. Here goes,

Challenge 1 - £10 voucher for One Stop Card Crafts

The winner chosen by Random.Org was #31 - Cindy Groh.  Congratulations, Cindy, email me on cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk and I'll pass your details on to the sponsor.

The top 3 for this challenge is:










Well done to all of you, grab our top 3 badge from the sidebar and add it to your own.

Challenge 2 - 3 digis from Hope Jacare

The winner chosen by Random.Org was #64 - Jane A.  Congratulations, Jane, pop over to Hope Jacare and email your 3 choices to cardsformen@donnasden.co.uk.  

The top 3 for this challenge is:










Well done to all of you, grab our top 3 badge from the sidebar and add it to your own.

So there you have it, congratulations to everyone.  There's still time to enter the current challenge - it closes tonight.



Thursday, February 9, 2012

Almond (or Peanut) Butter Granola

This got rave reviews.
My Sweetie couldn't
believe that I made it ~
LOL! :)

Should I take that
as a compliment?
I chose to.

Y.U.M.



Jennifer Jo featured it on her
blog about a week and a half ago.
I altered it slightly.

One thing to note ~
I don't have peanut butter
in the house because two of our
children are are deathly allergic to it.

However, I think it would be
F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S.
made with peanut butter.
I substituted almond butter.
And it was SO GOOD!


~ Peanut Butter (or Almond Butter) Granola ~
Adapted from Jennifer Jo's recipe.

5 cups rolled oats
2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/3 cup brown sugar (I used Sucanat)
1/3 cup liquid honey
1/3 cup unrefined organic coconut oil
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
(I used almond butter) ~
If it's salted,
decrease the amount of salt you use.
1 cup dried cranberries
(or other dried fruit)

Stir the oats, nuts,
and coconut together in a large bowl.
In a small saucepan,
combine the brown sugar,
honey, coconut oil, salt
and peanut (or almond) butter
over medium heat until melted together.

Pour the wet ingredients over
the dry and stir to combine.
It will be lumpy.
Spread the mixture into a
10" x 15" glass baking dish
and bake at 250 degrees for 60-90 minutes ~
Stir every fifteen minutes,
until nicely golden in colour.
Be careful not to overdo it.


Cool to room temperature and add dried fruit.
Store in an airtight container.
Serve with creamy milk.

Enjoy!

Blessings,
Camille

Monday, February 6, 2012

If You Read in the Bath....

If you read in the bath...

Your (once perfect)
book may end up looking like this.


Emma recently learned this lesson the
H.A.R.D. way. :)

Happy (safe) Reading!
Camille

Thursday, February 2, 2012

And HE is Good. Always.

Security.
Where is it to be found?

In circumstances?
In things?
In money?
In friends?
In family?

All these things may fail us.

But, God never fails.
He never leaves us.
He is always with us.
He is always in complete
and Sovereign control.

And HE is Good.
Always.

Preaching these Truths
to ourselves day
after day.

Meditating.
Contemplating.
Living it out.

In the nitty gritty of
every day life
and living.

Regardless of how we feel.
Regardless.

What matters is what is true.
We ground ourselves in that.
Our moorings are in HIM.

"Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God ~
Naught else is worth believing."
~ Martin Luther ~

In the midst of recent
trials and sorrows,
I continue to count.
I continue to praise.
By HIS Grace.

1571. The joys of the *every day* ~
God's mercies are new every morning

1572. In the midst of suffering
and pain, HIS grace is there

1573. The deep seated and comforting knowledge
that the LORD does all things well and
HE only gives what is best

1574. The blessings of routine ~
we continue on in HIS strength

1575. This little miss
who brings a smile to my face as
she does her school work.



1576. Simple lessons to brighten up our days



1577. The sweetest Language Lessons ever! :)



1578. Memories of this poem from
my childhood and sharing it with our children

1579. That I get to be a part of this
journey of learning with our children

1580. That there really are joys to
be found in the midst of life and living ~
How Gracious our Precious Saviour is!

My journal sits on my counter.

I list as events unfold.
Sometimes many all at once,
and other times in a trickle.

Would you like to begin?
Just grab a pen and a journal,
set them out on the counter,
and list out your blessings.
Find the joy in the moments ~
As they arrive.

Enjoy the journey!

Many Blessings,
Camille

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Boys and Their Toys

Last year for Christmas
I bought Howie and Calvin each a
remote controlled helicopter.
Two.

At the mall.
For a price.

I didn't purchase the
*warranty*.
As it turned out,
that might have been a
good idea!

They broke.
Both of them.
In short order.

Fast forward to this Christmas.
Add another boy (Austin)
who requested one.
Fraser had no interest.




Calvin found them
online through Amazon
for half he price I paid last year.
Three were ordered.

And this year,
they already know how to fly!
B.O.N.U.S. :)


This is what I saw
attached to my computer
over the Christmas break...
Frequently!

Are you an online shopper?
I find that it makes my
life a little simpler ~
With the added bonus of
some great savings.
What a blessing! :)

Have a happy day!
Blessings,
Camille

**One thing to note ~
Amazon's prices fluctuate.
The helicopters I bought were
$10 cheaper than they are listed
for right now.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Got Quinoa?

Quinoa.
(Keen-wah)

A *new* grain that
is touted as a super food.
Even though it is technically
not a grain at all!


Have you tried it?

Quinoa is versatile
and so healthy for you!
There are many ways to prepare and serve it.
A bonus boost of nutrition is
promised each time you do. :)

It can be served as a side dish,
much like rice (and as easy to prepare) ~
Although, it is bland and
not my favourite way to eat it.
In fact, a bag of quinoa
sat in my pantry for ages while
I pondered what to do with it.

Solution.

I just got my hands on
this quinoa cookbook .
And I've already employed it.
I needed some ideas to incorporate
this food into our diet that would
please the taste buds.

One day for lunch last week
I whipped this soup up.
And it was a hit.

The only mistake I made was not
doubling the recipe.

~ Sweet Potato and Coconut Quinoa Soup ~

Slightly adapted from this cookbook ~

Quinoa 365 ~
The Everyday Superfood



2 Large Sweet Potatoes
2 Tbsp Coconut Oil (or Butter)
1/2 cup Onion ~ diced
1/2 cup Quinoa
3 cups Vegetable Stock
400 ml (1 2/3 cup) Coconut Milk
1/4 tsp Cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp Chili powder

Wash and peel the sweet potatoes.
Dice into 2 to 3 inch pieces.
Boil 5 to 6 minutes to soften.
Drain and set aside.

In another pot,
fry the onion in the oil
over medium heat until translucent ~
Do not brown.
Add the quinoa to the pot
and fry for a few minutes until
it begins to smell slightly nutty.


Add the vegetable stock to the
pot with the onions and quinoa,
and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium and cook
for about 15 minutes ~
until the quinoa is cooked.

Add the drained sweet potatoes to the pot.
Puree the mixture with a hand blender
or in a food processor.
Return to pot on low heat and add
in the spices and the coconut milk.


Stir to blend.
Thin with water or stock, if necessary.
Heat slowly.
Taste and correct seasonings.
Serve and enjoy.

This recipe made about 5 good-sized
bowls of soup.
Next time I will make double. :)

Happy Cooking!
Camille

Challenge 3 - Seeing Red

Wow, sorry I'm late today but very hectic at home lately.  I can't believe how many entries we've had for the last challenge.  Here's hoping this weeks theme will prove equally popular.  I thought we'd have a colour challenge this time so our theme is 'Seeing Red'.  Hopefully that ties in with all your valentine projects.

Our sponsor is Letraset



ProMarkers are made by Letraset and are a twin tipped, dye based alcohol marker offering a high quality product at a great price. Avilable in 148 colours, they give incredible tonal range and can be applied to a diverse range of materials, not just paper and card. ProMarkers produce vivid, bright colours right through to the subtlest pastel shades - the translucent inks can also be overlaid and blended, even further extending the range of shades and hues on offer. ProMarker's quality nibs and inks provide flawless colour lay down with consistent coverage and no unsightly streaking. 

Our prize is a six pack of Letraset's flexmarkers



Isn't that fab?  I'll be back later on with the winners of the last two challenges and hope to see you guys entering the current one.  If you need any ideas, our wonderful design team have done it again:















Should I 2012




Finally some rules.

1. The card must be new for this challenge and follow the theme set.
2. There must be a link in your post back to Cards for Men.
3. The card must be for a boy/man.

The challenge will run from now until midnight on 12 February 2012.  Leave a link to your card (not just your blog) in the list below.  If the link list is not there for some reason, leave a comment and I'll add you in before the draw.  Good luck