Pinterest Help for the Avid Pinner

When I declared in January that one of my 2013 goals was to try out one new Pinterest pin per month, I knew that wouldn't last long. Well, I was right. It's the end of April, and I've only posted twice about my experiences:

January:: Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins

Source: myblessedlife.net via Keri on Pinterest

February:: Faux Chalkboard Herb Pots

Source: craftsbyamanda.com via Keri on Pinterest

 

However, I HAVE been experimenting and want to share with you a new board full of recipes that I have pinned and tried. I thought it would be helpful for people who follow me on Pinterest to know what I've actually tried and my opinions on them. So, I'm starting with recipes.

The "Pinned Recipes I've Tried" board contains every recipe I have pinned and tried. Right now, I have 48 pins here, but as I experiment, I will add to the board.

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Keri on Pinterest

 
I have also provided a brief commentary for you, sharing my thoughts about the recipe--whether we liked it or not. Some of these recipes--like the Pioneer Woman's pizza dough, mashed potatoes, & beef stew--are now my go-to recipes that I use regularly. 

I wanted to share this information with you because Pinterest is so overwhelming. There is so much on there but not all of the recipes are good: some are too labor-intensive, some aren't flavorful, and some are just downright yuck. 

Personally, before I commit time, energy, and ingredients to a recipe, I want to know what other people have to say about it. If my kids won't eat it, then I won't fix it. It's just a waste.

So, as I make the recipes I've pinned, I will add them to my "Pinned Recipes I've Tried" board for your viewing pleasure.

And as I complete projects, crafts, books, etc., I will set up similar boards with {hopefully} helpful comments for you. In so doing, I feel good about sticking to my goal and doing something useful with the pins I've tried.

I hope this is helpful for you!

My latest pin pick:

Source: sixsistersstuff.com via Keri on Pinterest

It was a success! Not for the dieter, diabetic, or heart-conscious but delicious! It's like eating a big cinnamon roll :)

Follow all my boards on Pinterest!

What about you? Do you have a way to keep track of the pins you've tried on Pinterest? Is this even of interest to you? 

Blessings to you,

Linking up to these great parties!

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If You Only Do One Thing This Easter, Do This

Photo Credit

Easter is only a few short days away, and I'm not ready. 

The girls' Easter baskets and the Resurrection Eggs are in our maxed-out storage unit underneath piles and piles of "stuff." I haven't made the Resurrection Rolls or even dyed eggs yet, and at this rate, it doesn't look like either will be happening at all this year.

In an effort to save money, I opted out of buying special Easter dresses and hats for the children and found cute spring dresses for cheap at a consignment sale. 

To be frank, my heart just hasn't been in the Easter spirit, or at least not in the commercialized, you-must-do-this-Easter-craft-and-buy-this-cute-gingham-bunny-dress-now! spirit, which is so pervasive everywhere you turn. It's so easy for me to succumb to Mommy guilt, but I've decided not to this year.

Instead, I'm happy and my spirits are high with the sunshine of Spring because I know that my Redeemer lives! 

So, I'm shutting my eyes to Pinterest and pulling out the perfect, mess-free, no supplies needed Word of God. This week my girls and I have been reading and talking about Jesus, and the relevance and significance of His life, death, and resurrection for us today.

Photo Credit

We're reading and talking about Jesus...

• His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17), which attests to His obedience to His Father; 

• His miracles, which reveal His compassion and empathetic heart for the despised and afflicted; 

• His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a young donkey (Matthew 21:1-11), which shows His humility; 

• His agonizing prayer in the garden (Matthew 26:36-46), which affirms His humanity; 

• His death on that cruel cross (Matthew 27:35-44), which shows, once again, His obedience and His victory over sin and death; 

• His resurrection (Luke 24:1-12)--the tomb could not contain Him; and 

• His ascension to Heaven (Luke 24:50-53), which promises He will come again! 

And while I wish I had time to do all of those fun crafts I've pinned to my "Easter Crafts" board on Pinterest, if I don't do anything but tell my girls the story of Jesus, I think I've done enough. 

If YOU only do one thing this Easter, tell your children about Jesus: His life, His death, His resurrection. That is of more value than new plaid shirts, white shoes, and chocolate bunnies. 

My richest blessings to you & your families this Easter. 

{P.S. If you do Easter crafts and buy fun Easter goodies for your kids, way to go! I applaud your energy and zeal (& my kids would love to have you as their mom). 

Love,

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February's Pinterest Pick: Faux Chalkboard Herb Pots

One of my goals for 2013 is to try a different Pinterest pin each month. 

Last month I made these delicious Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins. While I was tempted to try another recipe, I dared myself to be bold and go crafty. These cute faux chalkboard herb pots were calling my name:

Source: craftsbyamanda.com via Keri on Pinterest

So, I gathered my supplies:

• 3 terra cotta pots ($1.99 each)
• DecoArt "Patio Paints" in Wrought Iron Black, Blue Jay Blue, Sweet Pea Green, & Petunia Purple ($1.99 each)
• A paintbrush for each color (you can buy a pack of 4 for $1 at Dollar Tree)
• Elmer's silver paint pen ($3.99)

 And the girls painted their wooden birdhouses ($1 at JoAnns) while I painted my pots.

So I painted two coats on each pot. Then, after the paint dried, I added black paint for a faux chalkboard finish. 

After the black paint dried, I wrote the names of herbs I use frequently in the kitchen: basil, cilantro, & chives.

I have seeds to plant in each pot, but until the weather warms a little, I'm using them as decorative pieces in the house thanks to my mom :)

I think they turned out pretty cute.

Do you have potted herbs in the house? 
If so, which are your favorites?

If you aren't already, I hope you will follow me on Pinterest for these and other fun and delicious ideas!

For other Pinterest posts, check out:
January's Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins

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Creating a Seasonal Table for Valentine's Day {Or, My Attempts to Grow as a Homemaker}

Photo Credit: libertygrace0

I want to grow in so many ways as a wife, a mom, and a child of God. One area in which I am always in need of "cultivation" is homemaking. It just doesn't come naturally to me. My mom could decorate an entire room in one trip to TJ Maxx and an hour's worth of work, but unfortunately, her decorating knack did not pass down to me.

However, I desperately want my house to be a home where we can grow together as a family, and I want our children to participate in it, too.

That's why this year I am introducing a "seasonal table" to our home.

What is a Seasonal Table?

Source: goldensunfamily.blogspot.com via Keri on Pinterest

For those of you, like me, who are unfamiliar with the seasonal table, it comes from Waldorf education principles, which encourage children to be lifelong learners through exploration and interaction in areas of interest. While I'm not a Waldorf fan for the most part, I do like this concept.

A seasonal table (or nature table) is whatever you want it to be. It can be very simply or elaborately decorated. But the contents of the table usually revolve around a particular season, holiday, time of year, or theme. It may be nature-based or not.

How to Create a Seasonal Table?

Source: seasonsnaturaltoys.blogspot.com via Keri on Pinterest

The first step in creating a seasonal table is finding a table and space accessible to your children. I chose a modest end table on loan from my mom. It's small but at the perfect height for young children. 

I have a small area in our living room that we are using to house our seasonal table. Limited space is no problem.

Then, simply gather materials you already have, find outside, or you buy at the store. How much or how little you spend is entirely up to you! 

How you arrange your seasonal table is also up to you. I have NO decorating skills whatsoever; however, the kids can't tell. They just love to see a space that is open for their little hands to play with and explore.

Take it down and start over again for each new holiday, season, or family event.

Our Valentine's Day Table

 

I have attempted the seasonal table before but never consistently. This year I aim to change that beginning with a table centered around Valentine's Day.

Because of so many illnesses in our family the past two weeks, I have not done the best job at finding as many "child-friendly" items as I'd have liked. However, the children are allowed to touch and play with any of the objects--even the breakable ones; however, they cannot take the items out of the room.

Beside the table is a basket filled with books relevant to the particular season, holiday, or theme. Here are our Valentine's Day books.

  
And on both sides of the table are chairs on which a child can sit and look at one of the books or play with items on the table.

It's all about the children's interaction. This heart-shaped glass bowl ($1 at the Dollar Tree) is filled with heart-shaped stickers. The girls can pick one out any time they do something kind or loving to another. 

 

The other knicknacks on the table afford little hands with opportunities to touch, take apart, explore, create, and imagine. My four-year-old has already asked if we can put a different picture in the Love frame and why the red heart-shaped box is empty. We will be doing something there for sure.

All of the decorations on our seasonal table are inexpensive: I bought the majority at the Dollar Tree and Goodwill, so if something does get broken, it's not a big deal. 

 

I'm not a decorator, nor do I claim to be one. But I am working on becoming a better homemaker because I want to build a home of love. A seasonal table is just one way to do that.

How do you instill the seasons, holidays, or other themes into your home throughout the year? 

Have you ever attempted a seasonal table?
 
I would LOVE to hear your ideas! I may just include them in a future post!

{For more seasonal table ideas, follow me on Pinterest!}


Blessings to you as you grow in God's glory,

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Linking up with:  The Better Mom, Raising Arrows, Mama Moments Monday, The Modest Mom, Time-Warp Wife, Teach Me Tuesdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Top 10 Tuesday, Leaving a Legacy, Women Living Well Wednesdays, Raising Homemakers, Raising Mighty Arrows

January's Pinterest Pick: Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins, the Perfect Winter Pick-Me-Up

Source: myblessedlife.net via Keri on Pinterest

One of my personal goals for 2013 is to actually make some of the things I've pinned on Pinterest. How many times do you pin something and NEVER get around to doing it. I have 55 boards and over 400 pins and, with the exception of the recipes pinned to my Menu Plan board, I have probably only tackled a handful of the crafts, decor, and recipes pinned. 

So, this month, because it's cold and I love muffins, I attempted Myra at My Blessed Life's Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins. 

{If you aren't already, I hope you will follow me on Pinterest.}

Below is a glimpse into the making of the goodness that is the Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffin. Click here for the recipe. 

Dry Ingredients: Flour, Brown Sugar, Raw Sugar, Baking Powder, Salt, Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg, Cranberries, & Pecans

I was concerned about putting dried cranberries in with pumpkin and even considered leaving them out, but I decided to follow the recipe to the tee in order to give a fair assessment of the recipe. 

Honestly, I could take 'em or leave 'em. If you like dried cranberries, go for it; if not, I think the muffins would be just as good, if not better, without them.

Add in Wet Ingredients {Eggs, Milk, Butter, Vanilla, & Pumpkin Puree}

Using brown and raw sugars instead of white make this muffin less sweet but still sweet enough. If you don't have raw sugar, use white or all brown instead.

Blend the wet & dry ingredients and bake for about 15 minutes on 400 degrees. 

Ingredients: Butter, Brown & White Sugars, Vanilla, Milk, Salt, & Confectioner's Sugar

After the muffins are done and have slightly cooled, drizzle on the salted caramel glaze. If you put the glaze on too soon, it will run off, so walk away, make some coffee, then spoon on that yummy caramel goodness.

You can leave off the glaze and it is still pleasantly sweet and yummy, but, honestly, the glaze takes the muffin over the top. Just do it!

My Salted Caramel Pumpkin Muffins with glaze

These muffins are best straight out of the oven with a cup of hot coffee or cocoa, but I warmed up a few for breakfast and they were still delicious the next day. They're the perfect pick-me-up for a cold winter day! Enjoy!

Thanks, Myra!

{If you aren't already, I hope you will follow me on Pinterest.}

If you would like to have Growing in His Glory delivered to your inbox, click here: Subscribe to Growing in His Glory. Or join us on Google Friend Connect, Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest.
 
Linking up with:  The Better Mom, Raising Arrows, Mama Moments Monday, The Modest Mom, Time-Warp Wife, Teach Me Tuesdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Leaving a Legacy, Women Living Well Wednesdays, Raising Homemakers, Raising Mighty Arrows