Stitch Fix #3 Review - December 2014 (Christmas Edition!)

It's the most wonderful time of the ...month! My next Stitch Fix has arrived and it's like Christmas has come a few weeks early. If you have not heard of Stitch Fix yet, follow this link for more information: Stitch Fix

I always enjoy the moment when I first open the box and read the letter from my stylist. I've had the same stylist each time now and I'm always very pleased with what she has chosen for me.

I asked for some outerwear this time since it is approaching winter. This navy pea coat was nice, but more like a blazer. I need something that I can use in the freezing temperatures. 

The verdict: Ho Ho No :(

I was a bit underwhelmed when I took this out of the box. The pattern is pretty, but I wasn't sure about the (lack of) color on this sleeveless blouse. When I tried it on, I discovered that it is actually quite flattering and covers those problem areas caused by too many Christmas cookies.

The verdict: Joy to the world, this shirt is great!

I wasn't sure how to hang up these black knit pants so that you can see what they look like. They are a cross between skinny jeans and leggings and heaven. I wasn't sure about them when I read that I would be receiving them, but I'm so glad that my stylist put them in this month's Fix. They are so comfortable and look really good :)

The verdict: Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle these pants rock!

I love the design and fabric of this shirt. It looks boxy, but hangs well when worn. Since I was not going to keep all five items (for that 25% off discount), I could not justify paying for this shirt.

The verdict: I'll have a blue Christmas without you...(not really though)

This button-up blouse has a great design and is very light, but it was just a smidge too small and I wasn't going to get all five items so...

The verdict: I won't be rockin' around the Christmas tree in this one.

Merry Christmas and a Stylish New Year!

Use my referral link to get your own Stitch Fix box of joy: My Stitch Fix Referral Link

(I do not get paid for these posts)

Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending - An Advent Devotion

"Lo! He comes with clouds descending, once for ev'ry sinner slain; Thousand thousand saints attending swell the triumph of His train: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Christ the Lord returns to reign." (verse 1)

Advent is a time, not only to celebrate the coming of Christ as a baby in a manger, but to glory in His coming as our triumphant Savior. At this time in history, the people of God had been waiting for generations and generations for the Savior that God had promised. We read the countless promises in these verses:

Genesis 49:10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Jeremiah 23:5-6 'The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior."

Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Those early believers thought that this Savior would be someone to lead them in a kind of holy war against those who oppressed them. Though they did not receive an earthly king that would raise up an army to defeat the godless leaders, what they got was so much more powerful and lasting. Christ has claimed the victory and no one has dominion over Him and His people.

This hymn is not a gentle lullaby of a loving mother to her dear child. This is the heavenly host proclaiming the victorious gift of an everlasting Father. This is the battle cry sung by every sinful man to the defeated foe.

"Yea, amen, let all adore Thee, high on Thine eternal throne; Savior, take the pow'r and glory, claim the kingdom as Thine own. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Thou shalt reign, and Thou alone!" (verse 4)

"Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending" 

Text by Charles Wesley

Listen to this hymn

(I don't own this video)

Christmas Cookies - Peanut Butter Blossoms with Hershey's Kisses

Every year growing up, we would make these cookies for Christmas. There is nothing particularly Christmasy about them except for the tradition tied to them by my family. Now that I am living states away from my family, I carry on the tradition at my own house but it's different. The recipe is the same and the process of putting the ingredients together, rolling the dough in sugar, and pressing the chocolate kisses into them are all the same. What's different is not having my mom there leading my brother and I through the recipe, or using those bright plastic bowls for rolling the cookie balls in sugar, or popping chocolate kisses in our mouths.

I've also noticed that ever since I started to make these on my own, they don't taste the same as I remember. Perhaps my ingredients are slightly different, but perhaps it is simply my missing those precious family times. 

Please enjoy this recipe with your family, but more importantly, enjoy your family this Christmas season.

Ingredients:

1 3\4 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1\2 tsp salt

1\2 cup white sugar

1\2 cup brown sugar

1\2 cup shortening

1\2 cup peanut butter

1 egg

2 tbsp milk

1 tsp vanilla

48 Kisses

Cream the sugars, shortening, and peanut butter in your mixer. Add the rest of the ingredients (except the kisses) to the mixer and mix until dough forms.

Shape dough into small balls and roll in sugar.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Remove from oven and immediately top with a kiss.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Chicken and Biscuits

Yum :)

There's nothing better than making chicken and biscuits on a cool fall day. 

Here's my family's recipe:

1. Boil boneless, skinless chicken tenders (frozen or thawed) in a pot of water until cooked through (as many as you want).
2. Remove chicken from water and cool. You don't need to burn your fingers shredding it up.
3. Shred chicken and put in a 9x13 baking dish.
4. Combine (right in the 9x13) a can of condensed cream of chicken soup with the chicken and some milk (I don't like mine soupy so I just put in about half a can).
5. Salt and pepper as you like.
6. Open a can of biscuits and place them on top of the chicken mixture to cover it.
7. Cook the whole thing at the temperature suggested by the biscuit can wrapper until chicken mixture is bubbling and the biscuits are browned.

Enjoy!

Stitch Fix #2 Review - November 2014

My second Stitch Fix box arrived this week!

It is so much fun waiting for the box and then finally seeing what has been chosen for you.

I must confess, however, that I am not completely surprised when I open the box. You can go on your account after the box has been sent and see what's in it. I hope to one day have enough self-control to wait until the box actually comes...

My stylist, Regina, has been great. She has really listened to what I wanted to see and the pieces really go along with the Style Profile I filled out and the Pinterest board I linked to my Profile.

If you have not tried this yet, use my referral link and sign up today!

https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4141874

The contents of my box (insert squeal here!)

Striped dolman top

I loved the style of this top, but it was just too baggy for my taste.

Striped henley top

When I saw that I was getting this, I didn't think I would like it as much I do. It is light and soft and really cute.

Chevron studded top

This top is so beautiful and it is well made. The sleeves actually aren't straight across as they look in the picture, they dip up to a point (I can't really describe how cool it is, and I didn't get a picture). Unfortunately, it was too tight :(

Drape front cardigan

I was so excited about the great print of this cardigan. It is actually more of a blanket than a sweater. It was a bit too bulky once I had it on and I did just buy a drape front cardigan in the last Fix...

Skinny jeans

I have been searching for the holy grail...I mean jeans that fit me (and don't cut into my stomach) for years. I got some in the last Fix that were too big and I was worried that these would be too. Wonder of wonders, however, they fit! And are so comfortable! And don't cut into my stomach! Praise the Lord for great jeans!

 And the winners are...

Striped henley top and skinny jeans!

(I am in no way paid for these posts, I just love sharing this great company with you)

Chicken Legs and Brussels Sprouts

I have never liked Brussels sprouts. My grandma would make them each year for the holidays and I would eat my obligatory one or two sprouts.

As we mature, our tastes change however. Thankfully I have had a few good Brussels sprouts lately and decided to make my own.

I think my mom and grandma (lovers of the sprout) will be proud of this.

1. Take a few chicken legs and put them in a foil-covered 13x9 pan.

2. Take your Brussels sprouts and place them in the pan with the chicken.

3. Drizzle olive oil over the legs and sprouts and season any way you like (I used salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder).

4. Put the pan in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes and turn everything occasionally.

5. The roasted chicken and Brussels sprouts will delight your mature taste buds ;) I would have pictures of this delicious meal but we devoured it too quickly!

This was served with butternut squash mac and cheese that I adapted from this recipe:
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/butternut-squash-mac-and-cheese/
(I omitted the cream cheese and used cheddar cheese instead of Monterey Jack)
It's soooooo good!

Stitch Fix #1 - October 2014

Haven't heard of Stitch Fix? 

It's basically your own personal stylist for $20 a shipment. 

You start by filling out a Style Profile and pick when you'd like to receive a shipment. The hardest part is waiting in anticipation for it to arrive! When it does finally arrive on your doorstep, try on all the clothes and decide what you want to keep. The $20 you pay will go toward what you decide to keep. If you keep all five items, you also get 25% off. Return what you don't want in the postage-paid envelope. If you end of keeping anything, you are basically getting the service, shipping, and return shipping for free.

Want to try it out? Use my referral link: https://www.stitchfix.com/referral/4141874 

Here's my experience with my first shipment. I will tell you at the end what I decided to keep.

The box of clothes even comes with style cards if you are at a loss of what to do with your items.

So excited!

Skinny jeans (sadly they were too big). If they had fit, I would have been overjoyed.

Dolman colorblock shirt. Also too big :( it was beautiful and comfy.

Knit cardigan - so soft and cozy. Perfect for a fall day. I'm a big fan of cardigans...

Plaid tab-sleeve shirt. The colors were spot-on (not in this picture however) and it was a great shirt. I have so many plaid shirts though...

Scarf print tab-sleeve shirt. I wasn't sure about this piece, but then I tried it on and it was great! My husband liked this one the best.

The winner! A cozy cardigan :)

Disclaimer: I do not work for Stitch Fix or get paid for these posts. I just enjoy their service and want to share it with you.

Well, Well, Well...What Do We Have Here?

What is wellness? What does it mean to be well? Thank you Walgreens for always encouraging me to "Be Well", but let's ask the good Lutheran question:

What does this mean?

You cannot go online without seeing some new way to lose weight, studies about a new superfood, or a new exercise sure to target your "problem areas".

Sin is our problem area. Chasing after what is temporary and neglecting what is eternal. We go through life trying new fads or reverting back to the way things were in the "good old days" before processed foods and childhood obesity. The one thing that has not changed is God. He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. 

James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Cling to Jesus, Our Savior, who was crucified and rose again so that we need never fear that our salvation or His grace for us will ever be taken away. Eternal life is not a fad, the best superfood out there is Christ's body and blood shed for you. He shed His blood for you and we partake of His body in Communion. A diet rich in forgiveness, grace, and salvation never added a pound. Looking to have a perfect body? Look to Jesus the only perfect body you will ever need.

Find your rest in Him, trust your health to Him, thank Him for your daily bread.

Vanilla Cream Pie

I love pie. I've made one truly wonderful pie in my lifetime before this one. My husband and I made a pecan pie from scratch together for Thanksgiving last year. We even shelled the pecans for it and baked it in a heart-shaped pie plate.

This recipe is delicious and I must give credit where credit is due. This is not my own recipe and I'm not even sure whose it is. However, my co-worker, Stella O'Brien gave it to me. Make, bake, and enjoy!

Yum yum yum!
By the way, isn't this pie plate just darling?

Never Fail Pie Crust

3 cups flour 

1 tsp salt

3 tbsp sugar

1.5 cups shortening

1 egg

1 tsp vinegar

5 tbsp water

Sift flour, salt, and sugar into the bowl of your mixer. Add shortening to the bowl and mix on low/medium speed.

In a separate bowl, beat an egg and add vinegar and water to it. Add the liquid mixture to the mixing bowl a little at a time while you continue to mix on low/medium speed.

It is done when dough clings to the beater. This will make three pie shells (9") or one shell and one double pie crust.

Separate the dough into three balls and refrigerate/freeze what you don't need. Roll out the crust and place in your pie pan. Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees (lightly browned).

Vanilla Cream Pie Filling

3/4 cup sugar

3 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

2 cups milk

3 egg yolks

2 tbsp butter

1 tsp vanilla

In saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add milk and mix well. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils. Cook 2 more minutes, then remove from heat.

Stir a small amount of the hot mixture into the three slightly beaten egg yolks. Immediately put the egg mixture into the saucepan and cook all together for two minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla.

Pour the whole thing into a cooled, baked pie shell.

Meringue

3 egg whites

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

6 tbsp sugar

Beat the egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.

Gradually add sugar while beating until stiff peaks form and all sugar is dissolved.

Spread on top of pie filling and over the crust. Trust me on this one. I did not (as you can see in the picture) and my meringue shrunk after a couple hours of cooling!

Bake this beauty in a 350 degree oven until meringue is golden (about 15 minutes). Cool before serving.

Imperfections

Since starting this blog, I have cooked and baked various things. The result of these attempts has been fraught with disappointing results.

Examples:
1. Salmon Burgers - I attempted to make my own recipe using canned pink salmon. One piece of advice: don't. My husband did like them and I liked the teriyaki/pineapple/grilled onion topping.

2. Coconut Shrimp - I used a recipe and followed it to the letter and they were all right. Not mind-blowing like a Honey Walnut Shrimp recipe that I adore.

3. Apple Pie - This actually turned out really yummy. HOWEVER, in the process of peeling the apples I took about half of one of my fingernails off and the pie crust (that was supposed to yield two crusts) only made one crust. That was actually a blessing though because I made a scrumptious crumb topping.
P.S. I also made vanilla ice cream in our new ice cream maker. The combination of the pie and ice cream was out of this world!

I have definitely been humbled by my first couple weeks in the blogosphere and I'm sorry that I haven't posted any actual recipes yet. The Blogger app on my phone refuses to take direction from me and the app is easier than using my computer at school.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! As a newlywed and middle school teacher, I may not have a lot of extra time. However, one of my passions is cooking and baking. After a long school day and half hour drive home, I still enjoy creating something wonderful to share with my husband.

This blog will focus on my adventures in the kitchen, but as the title of the blog suggests, I may wander to other subjects of importance to me. My faith in God as the "Fount of Every Blessing" drives me each and every day and I'm sustained by the daily bread he gives.

Blessings,
Lisa