Best Spinach Artichoke Dip EVER!

For Thanksgiving we pulled a ton of recipes together and this was one of them.  Turns out to be the best Spin Dip ever!  I don't know where I originally got it but it has since been modified so I'll call it  mine and share it with you.

1- 8 oz package of cream cheese ( I use neufchatel cheese - better for you than regular cream cheese)
1 cup of sour cream
2 tsp minced garlic
2-3 cups of mixed cheese (colby/jack and mozarella)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped (have subbed a green one here)
1/2 large red onion, chopped
1 tsp salt
1 jar marinated artichokes, drained and chopped- I used an 8.5oz can of artichokes
1 large bag of fresh spinach- cooked in EVOO and a little garlic

Mix well cream cheese, sour cream, 2 cups of mixed cheese and garlic.  Add peppers, onion, salt, artichokes and spinach.  Mix very well.  Top with about 1 cup of mozarella cheese.

Spread in baking dish.  Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Eyebrows, birthday wishes and Alfred.

Today I turned 35!  It is very surreal to me because I remember when my mom turned 35.  I was 8 and I have memories before that but for some reason that just stuck.  I guess it kind of makes me feel grown up...or at least I feel as if I should act grown up.  Richard did a great job on presents this year.  Every so often I text him a picture of something I like and he gets to pick and choose and add a few to it.  This year I got a huge foam kitchen mat, a metal rooster (there's blog out there with one of the funniest posts I have ever read of a story of a 5 foot metal rooster- and a lesson for a husband about choosing battles.  It is a little R rated so I won't post the link but none the less had me in tears) and now I own one!  It is only about 2 feet, a baby compared to the giant legend rooster and I love him.  His name is Rojo the rooster.  I think I will decorate and integrate  him into the Christmas decor!  Oh he has been at Richard's office for a week or so.  A few crosses and a white orchid plant (which I'm sure to kill but at least it will last longer than one in a vase) and I was very pleased. 

The Mom's called to wish me happy birthday and asked what I was doing and well I'm doing what I always do.  Life.  Today began with our weekly visit to the chiropracter and a quick stop at the store without coupons but it was just for butter, bananas and meat.  We are making Christmas cookies today or maybe tomorrow because I feel that I've highly neglected my kiddos with planning the Birthday Party for Jesus.  Which was AWESOME!  I'll post pics later.  So it was butter we needed. 

On the way home I noticed it was trash day and saw some nice wood that someone just threw away.  I am on a new band wagon of painting wood with scriptures and covering the walls with them so I'm always on the look out.  We also found a vintage looking birdhouse that we'll dust off and give a good painting too.  The kids thought it was fun to search for treasure and every few houses my 22 month old Lou would scream Santa or Snowman which I only knew what she was saying by looking in the yard to see what it was she said.  We were listening to KSBJ and ALVIN and the chipmonks came on, which the kids dearly love and Frita screams from the back seat it's Alfred and the chipmonks.  We have a staghorn fern named Alfred (one of Richard's clients "raised" it and had it already named) so I guess that's where it came from.  Good times, good times.

The kids when down for a nap and I got a text to check the front porch.  There was a white bag with a small container of seaweed salad from Uni Sushi.  "Just the start" was the text that followed.  My husband rocks!

Several loads of laundry and dishes later my day is almost complete.  Not only have the kids been neglected but the house too!  I am up to my neck in laundry and trying to put up all the birthday party paraphanelia and finally finish decorating my home for Christmas.  No way will this get done in one day.

I am currently sitting in our rocking chair holding my 22 month old while she is drinking a bottle- yes I know way too old to drink a bottle.   Maybe that will be a new years resolution.  But she has learned to control her eyebrows at least partially which I ask her to move them all the time now.   A little sanity straight from God.

I do enjoy my phone chirpping every few minutes with a happy birthday's from facebook.  Birthday's are little more fun with all the wishes.  Makes me smile.  Today is a good day.  He is good - Psalm 118:1!

Birthday Party for Jesus! Wait til you see this.

Mom & Me at Faith Bible Church in The Woodlands is hosting a birthday party for Jesus on
Tuesday, December 6th
@ 10am in the gym. 

First let me start out with this is for anyone who would like to join us! 
We would love to have you!!!

For those of you who know me I thrive a little on the craftiness of it all and since I have shut down all my extracurricular crafty business (cakes, sewing and such) I will be going a little crazy on Christmas this year.  I have wanted to host a birthday party for Jesus for a few years now and this year it is going to happen and BIG!

I have a tentative schedule of activities and partly need a couple of volunteers/donated items and partly to entice you come.

The Christmas Story Skit
Needs:
    
         Characters and Needs - by the way we need volunteer actors.

• Mary - pillow case, strechy head band/ribbon- Abby Stevens- girl
• Joseph - pillow case, strechy head band - Emily Sanders- boy
• Lambs - I'm thinking white or black outfit, ears, black nose and maybe a tail (As many as we can get)

1. Mikey Johnson -girl
2. Kaitlin Lipe- girl 
3. Jennifer Hunter - boy

• Animals- Cow(s)- ears, nose, tail?, donkey, camel, a cat?

1. Cat- Jennifer F.- girl
2. Cow-
3. Camel-
4. Donkey-

• Angels - 3 - any fairy wings out there?  White pillow case?  Must bring a flash light.

1. Mikey Johnson- girls
2.  
3.  

• Shepard boy- maybe a staff- Emily Sanders - boy
• Kings - 3 crowns - I have some yellow foam ones

1.   Mikey Johnson - boy
2.   Angel Frank - Boy
3.   Tara Edwards - Boy

• Star carrier - I'll provide the star

• Thinking it would be neat to make a manger out of a big box- anyone just get a new fridge or washer?
• Anyone have hay?    

Crafts and Fun

Handprint snowmen ornaments - Andrea Carrier
     NEED - someone with a small amount of talent to draw hats, noses and scarves on the hands and assist the kids in putting their hand prints on the balls.  I will have a pattern and it is really easy.

Christmas Photo booth Shoot - Kaitlin Lipe

     NEED a photographer - I'll provide the camera.
     Props will include -

• Frosty the snow man hat and nose
• Santa beard and hat
• Elf ears and hat
• Reindeer antlers and red or black nose
• Missletoe- Mommy kisses only =)

Cocoa Cones- Tara Edwards

NEED some one to assist the kids.
A craft for the kids to do!

Paper Bag Antler hat-Angel Frank
I only have the girl picture but I will have both girls and boys!
NEED someone to assist the kids

 

Christmas Lacing Cards

For the little ones.  Just a fun craft to do.

Pretty sure the mom's will be able to figure this out without help.
Pine Cones + Poms

We will be going on a pine cone hunt in the next couple of days!

Oh and let us not forget the yummy snacks and hot cocoa with marshmallow snowmen!

I will be in heaven getting all the last ends together.  Please spread the word and let me know if you have any questions!

Mikey

And signage just got easier!!

I just discoved the whole how to make a painted sign and I'm trying to figure out what signs I am going to paint for Christmas.  While surfing through pinterest I found an even easier way to do signs!!!

Here's a simple tutorial.  Quick low down.. distress wood, print off your words (but backwards-see the tutorial), attached to board, get wet with brush and pull off.  Voila distress signage with out having to paint the letters.  I think I'll paint the letters again so I get a clean look but how easy it that?

http://diddledumpling.blogspot.com/2010/05/tutorial-vintage-looking-painted-sign.html

Thanksgiving- Oh My!

Thanksgiving 2011

We hosted Thanksgiving for my mom, Richard's parents and Richard's brother's family.  7 adults and 5 kids and whole lotta food!

The adults dining room.

The decorated fireplace!  Here is the result of painting on wood.  Here is a tutorial @ http://thatsmyletter.blogspot.com/2011/08/p-is-for-personalize.html.  Love it!

We went on an acorn hunt.  A lot harder than I thought it would be but we got enough :)

Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry

The 3 turkeys that the kids made.  Frita's is on the right and her turkey has on pink glasses!

The kids table.  Menus, turkey napkins, a "thankful" coloring sheet and place cards.

The Thanksgiving banner

So much food but so good.

 The dinner menu was this....
But wait we had the most unbelievable pumpkin pancakes ever.  Literally the most moist pancakes I've ever had!!  http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/09/25/pumpkin-pancakes/
Pumpkin Butter and rolls -
http://ohsheglows.com/2010/10/05/happy-thanksgiving-homemade-pumpkin-butter
Spinach Artichoke Dip
http://myblessedlife.net/2010/01/baked-spinach-artichoke-dip.html
Chocolate dipped pretzles

Fresh Green Beans
Cream Corn
Cranberry Confit
Individual Sweet Potato Cups
http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/thanksgiving-dinner-side-dishes-00400000055576/page33.html
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Glazed Butternut Squash
Wheat Bread Stuffing - Betty Crocker

Turkey
Ham
Rolls
Apple Pie- Betty Crocker
Pumpkin Pies
Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry
http://www.sprinklebakes.com/2010/11/honeyed-pears-in-puff-pastry.html
Let me say that Richard and I love to cook and we had a blast.

Here is Franky.  No one had held our 17" alligator lizard since Richard caught it in San Antonio- I think we were all too chicken.  All it took was one of Zach's boys saying "I want to hold it" and viola Franky was loved by all.  Little Lou even wanted and actually held him.  I can't get over how much he looks like a snake with legs.

I think Grammy needs a lizard- she really likes him.