Friends
Holiday How To: Baked Christmas Ornaments
December 27, 2010
This Christmas, my goal was to make homemade ornaments — for myself and for friends and family. The main reason was that this was our first married Christmas, and I wanted to do it up and have “stuff” to remember it years from now. That, and I wanted to give thoughtful, economically-friendly gifts that people could use.
Here’s the recipe for salt/dough baked ornaments. It’s a fun thing to do by yourself and with kids. You’ll need:
• 1 cup salt
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• Rolling pin
• Cookie sheets
• Toothpick
• Acrylic paint – I used the $1 sets that have about five little multi-colored mini pots
• Paint brushes
• Puffy paint
• Glitter glue
• Ribbon or string
• Jewels, sequins
• Craft glue
• Triple shine spray
Place flour and salt in a bowl, add the water and oil, then stir until blended. Once the dough
holds together, make it into a ball and knead it with your hands to make a smooth texture.
Sprinkle some flour on the countertop and roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Cut out
the ornaments with cookie cutters, design your own using a blunt knife, or shape dough with
your fingers. Use a toothpick to carve a hole into the top of the ornament to thread a string through to hang the decoration.
Bake at 250 degrees until hard — one to two hours.
Once cooled, paint and decorate. Thread a string or ribbon through the hole and hang the decoration on the tree or elsewhere in your home. Spray with triple shine spray, and you’re done!
These ornaments can be reused year after year. They are great for all holidays, just use different colors, shapes and designs.
Breaking Bread Together
December 6, 2010
[These bottles of Srirachi were our wedding favors! We picked these because it was fun, colorful, something people could use, something we love and enjoy. My plan is to send a recipe card (that includes Srirachi as an ingredient) with my wedding thank-you notes. You know, when I finally write and send them!]
I can’t remember when I started to love cooking. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with how I was raised. Growing up, my mom cooked a lot. We barely went out to eat. In fact, we went out so few times that I can remember exact meals and restaurants. (I never had Dunkin Donuts until I was probably in third of fourth grade!)
Cooking role models
When we were little, my cousins from Canada would come and the moms would cook CONSTANTLY … rolling out dough for awesome desserts and cooking meals to feed an army. It was the best!
For my birthday parties and our family gatherings, my mom would cook so much food people would be raving about it. For our engagement party, people loved our big roasted pig (my mom and mother-in-law did it up big!!) — and were blown away by the lamb chops, gigantic shrimp and overflowing food at our wedding.
Me in the kitch
I realized early on how cooking and food brings people together, and I’ve always loved that. One of my favorite things to do is host pot luck parties with my friends. It’s so much better than going out! And, whenever we’re invited to someone’s house party, I’m always excited to try a new dish and bring it.
I really started to get into cooking when I was unemployed. It was great cooking for my hubs (then fiancé). My initial goal was to cook one new meal a week. Now I’m up to three or four. We have a rating scale too — he’s supposed to give the meal a score of 1 to 10 — and I STILL haven’t gotten a 10! I guess I can’t compete since his mom is a phenomenal cook!
Anyway, I love sharing recipes too. So, here are two of my current favorites: Wild Rice and Beef Casserole and Jello Pretzel Salad. ENJOY!
“Teacher”
April 20, 2010
A true blessing! Friend, inspiration and teacher - Matthew Rich, Jr.
How we met
It was interesting how we came to know each other. See, I have this Fit Friends fan page on Facebook and one of my friends suggested that Matthew fan the page. Right away, I noticed him. He was really enthusiastic about the health and fitness information I was posting, and was adding a lot of interesting comments. He really loved the purpose of the fan page — to motivate others to be happy and healthy.
We decided to chat on the phone — we were both interested in creating a video with workout moves and other fun stuff. After a little while, I had to go, but we made plans to keep in touch and get together to do more brainstorming. I’ll never forget what Matthew said before we hung up … he told me that there was a lot more he still had to tell me. Matthew told me he has cerebral palsy and is in wheelchair. That really caught me off guard because I knew he was a personal trainer, loved karate and just started dance classes. He uses his crutches whenever possible.
The key here is that I didn’t know he had any physical challenges. With his attitude, his accomplishments and his goals — you’d never know it. That’s how he lives his life. He doesn’t let things hold him back or feel saddened by what he can’t do. Matthew pushes ahead and does the things that people wouldn’t expect. He does it for himself, but he does it for other people too. He’s an example of how with hard work and determination, anything is possible. He says his place in life is to inspire others. I LOVE IT.
Appreciating the small things
After we hung up the phone, I got emotional immediately. I never told Matt this, but I called our mutual friend right away and cried. “Meeting” Matthew really put things into perspective. At the time, I was really stressed out with work, managing my time and meeting my personal and professional goals. I’m often really hard on myself … looking ahead to the next big thing … but Matthew’s influence has helped remember the little things.
It’s easy to forget how fast and easy it is to tie my shoes, go out for groceries or make myself a meal. For him, it’s more challenging. It takes more time, or maybe he needs help. Read the rest of this entry »
AllThingsGwen.com is my unofficial guide to health and happiness. It's a chronical of me finding my way.
I encourage you to think about “AllThings[YOUR NAME HERE]” and what’s really, truly important to you. Hope you enjoy my recipes, fitness tips, motivational posts and aha moments.
- RT @motivationlive: People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it. - Anonymous
- Oh man. Gotta teach 7 am and 9 am kbox after crazy Meise wedding.
- I was part of Facebook's IPO! Bought many a share. Hope it makes some bacon. I will tell my grandkids about this historical moment.
- Planning our First Annual Meise Summer Jam. There will be a big roasted pig.
- Best part of tonight was when Cha Cha Slide came on and Aunt Mary Jane asked, "Is this the Dougie?"
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