Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

If you're from the East Texas area, then you know what Canton is!!  For those of you that aren't from around here, Canton is a trade days, "flea market", type event that takes place the weekend of the first Monday every month in Canton, Texas.  Don't let "flea market" fool you...Canton is acres of many, many, many stores, boutiques, and individuals coming together to sell their goods and creations.  Much of it is homemade. You will walk up and have no idea where to begin, it can be quite overwhelming!!
Now, a little bit more about me....if I see something that I think I can make instead of buy, I will certainly try to.  I always figure that you can make things cheaper than buying it from a store or boutique, right??  Well, when Mom and I went to Canton in October I saw a Christmas tree made completely of Christmas ball ornaments and they wanted $80 for it...and while I debated on buying it, the frugalness came out it me and I decided I could make it myself for so much less!  So to Hobby Lobby I went (I believe I've said that before)!!  I bought a metal topiary for the base, and wire, and bunches of Christmas balls.  When I got home, I figured out that I had bought the wrong kind of wire...it had NO structure to it!  UGH!!  So, my wonderful, smart hubby found some wire in the garage and had to spin the wire using his drill to make it thick enough...it worked great....but that's not all he did.  He also wrapped more wire around the topiary because it didn't have enough surface area to attach the balls to.  So, once we had all that done, I got to attaching the balls.  Of course, I didn't buy enough, so I had to go back to Hob Lob the next week....attached those balls and STILL didn't have enough....went back to Hob Lob another day and finally got the exact amount that I needed!!! So, this "simple" project took about 2 months to finish as I grew tired of it quickly!  However, I am so thrilled with the result....although, the final cost was around $125!!!  I guess I should have stuck with the one at Canton, but now I get to enjoy my own creation....plus Justin even feels a sense of pride when looking at it since he helped.  I didn't guess that he would care so much, but he compliments the tree every time he sees it! :)

Christmas Cards

I have been so excited about Christmas this year since we will be in our new house and newly married...it's time for our family to start our own traditions.  My step-son, Noah, will be with us this year for Christmas and it's finally my turn to play Santa...I do have to admit that I'm going to miss Santa coming to see ME this year...he was still coming even last year!! Maybe he'll slip something in for me :)
Last year our Christmas cards featured our precious Boston Terrier, Molly, who has since been adopted by my parents.  This year, now that we're married,  I'm excited to have Christmas cards with our new family on them. I love the personalization of having your picture on a Christmas card.  Some family and friends live too far to see often, so it's a great way to keep up while wishing your loved ones a Merry Christmas!
Shutterfly is doing an awesome promotion!!! They are giving away 50 free Christmas cards to bloggers that blog about the promotion.  I think this is such a neat idea.  If you want to participate in the Shutterfly promotion, go here.  They have some great holiday cards and Christmas photo cards to choose from!

Mom's Birthday Dinner

My mom's birthday was last week, so she and my dad came over last night for dinner.  It was so good to see them.  Dad hung out with Justin in the garage while Justin was re-painting his duck decoys...this has been a big project for him and he swears it's really gonna fool the ducks into flying straight to him.  I sure hope he's right because I can't wait for some Bacon-wrapped Duck Breasts!!!  I'll share that recipe later when he brings home the goods!  Mom and I hung out in the kitchen and caught up on some cussin' and discussin' (that's a term I stole from Anna's dad, Danny Paul)!  For an appetizer, I made a sausage bread loaf...this is similar to the one I ate at Anna's house last weekend and haven't been able to stop thinking about it!  YUM!!  So, what I did was chop up 1 small onion and 1 green bell pepper and throw it into the pan with 1 pound of hot breakfast sausage and scramble it all up until cooked through.  Next, I rolled out a Pilsbury French Bread loaf from the biscuit section at the grocery store.  Then, i spread cream cheese over the bread dough, sprinkled the sausage/onion/bell pepper mixture over that, then topped with shredded cheddar cheese.  Pull the dough up on all four sides and press together to make a pocket.  Then bake as directed on the bread can.   I think it would also be delicious with some pickled jalapenos inside!  Anyway, I'm still getting used to blogging, so I forgot to take pics of the final product until we only had one piece left!!!

For the main course, we grilled some awesome steaks and I made Homemade Fried Rice because they had not tried it yet.  It was a HIT!!  I used the same recipe as before, but this time I added fresh broccoli and fresh mushrooms...mmm mm mmm!


Although everyone enjoyed the appetizer and main course, the dessert was everyone's FAVORITE!!! This is the link for the recipe for the Great Pumpkin Cake.

Bowfishing

Bowfishing is one of my husband's favorite things to do...next to duck hunting, of course.  I LOVE being on the water, so when he asked if I would bowfish with him if he bought me a bow, I was game!  His parents live on a lake that's great for fishing for carp and gar.  I went on several fishing trips with him before I ever shot my first one!!  We went bowfishing one evening  in March after my wedding shower.  The carp were spawning and I got 8 that night!!!  So, I went from never shooting any to shooting 8 in one night!!  Everyone on the boat got at least 6 that night.  It was an awesome experience...so much fun, adrenaline, and excitement!  It's a fun sport that I'm glad I've entered into with the hubs ;)

This was my first carp to ever shoot.

 

This is my brother-in-law on left and husband on right.

This is from another trip during the day that we came out with 0 fish!

Homemade Fried Rice

Homemade Fried Rice

My bestie, Anna, from We the Gingers stayed with me Thursday and we decided to make our own sushi and fried rice.  She blogged about the sushi and wanted me to blog about the fried rice...so here ya go!!  Check out her blog to see our beautiful, yummy sushi :)

My husband is a GREAT cook, but since I enjoy cooking and he likes my cooking, he doesn't get in there and whip up many meals.  However, he got on this Chinese food kick a while back and he was cooking some kind of Chinese cuisine about once a week, so I was pumped and went out and bought him a $100 wok from Bed, Bath, & Beyond (thanks to a gift certificate left over from the wedding).  By the way, if you're in need of some nice pots/pans, I LOVE the Calphalon non-stick pots from BB&B!!  Anyway, I learned how to make Homemade Fried Rice from him, but of course added my own touch.  Here's how to get it:
Cook 2 cups of white Minute Rice and set aside.  Saute 1 small onion and about 6 cloves of garlic in  about 2 tbsp of oil (I use Canola oil).  Once onions and garlic are tender, set aside in a bowl.  In the same pot or wok, add about 2 tbsp of oil and the veggies.  I used baby corns, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and frozen mixed veggies (carrots, corn, green beans, green peas---you can use whatever mixed veggies you prefer).  Once heated and softened, put aside with the onions and garlic.  Next, crack 1 egg into pot/wok and cook all the way through.  Once egg is done, add the rice, veggies, onion/garlic.  Mix thoroughly with soy sauce...I didn't measure how much I used, but it's up to you how much soy you use.  I like alot and probably used about 1/4 or 1/3 cup, I guess. 
The great thing about fried rice is that you can make it your own and add your favorites!!  Chicken, shrimp, pork, grilled steak, broccoli, mushrooms, etc!!!!