Blog Widget by LinkWithin

CHRISTMAS | 25 Days of Christ Advent Devotional

Tuesday, November 26


The 25 Days of Christ.
It's an advent devotional ornament kit.
It's purpose? To help keep us focused on Christ through the Christmas season. 

25 ornaments.
25 correlating scriptures. 
25 days to cuddle up with your family for a few minutes each day and connect.
And by connect I mean to your family and to the "reason for the season".

I purchased the 25 Days of Christ Unfinished Ornament Kit from New Tradition Crafts a couple of years ago. I left my ornaments raw, instead of painting them, and added neutral finishing touches to a few of them to keep them really simple and as organic as possible. I love them.

The set comes with a book with a reading schedule to keep you on track with which scriptures to read and which ornament to hang each day.

This year, I discovered New Tradition Crafts has something new available called "The Good Shepherd Illustrated Book" to go along with the kit, so I added it this year for our family to use with our ornaments.

Good news! If you want one for your family, I have a coupon code for you to save 15%: PNP15
















I decided to share all of the details of my own ornament set this year to show you how I finished mine. I'm hoping it will serve as a guide for those of you who might need help and inspiration with your own kits.

I also wanted to show you the little tree we use to display our ornaments during the 25 Days of Christ. You don't have to have a separate tree like we do...you can use your family Christmas tree if you like. The idea is to do what works for your family...and for your life.

One of the other things about this advent devotional I love is you can easily gear it towards children of all ages. For instance, you can use The Good Shepherd book with younger kids who thrive on visuals. Or you can choose to read directly from the scriptures for older children who aren't interested in "kiddie" activities anymore. 

Basically, it's something I feel our family will never outgrow since it's so adaptable. 

I hope you are inspired to try a set for your own family.
Or at the very least, find ways to stay focused on the magic of the Christmas season.

Don't forget to use the coupon code at checkout to save 15%  ->  PNP15


PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.
Subscribe here to have new blog posts delivered right to your inbox.

KEEPING IT REAL
I failed last year when it came to staying focused on the "reason for the season".
We didn't even do the 25 Days of Christ.
I was so sad about the lack of "feeling" last Christmas I vowed not to have a repeat.
Just another reason why it worked for me to have my Christmas decor up by Halloween night this year. As crazy as that sounds, it's made such a difference already in making sure I have time to "ENJOY" the holidays.

STYLING | Fall Porch - Idea No. 2

Wednesday, November 13



As I mentioned in my Fall Porch Idea No. 1 Post, 
I was craving charm and simplicity with a warm welcome.

So, I decided to change things up and eliminated the bright orange pumpkins, the sprigs of wheat, pinecones, and some of the other decor and replaced the iron basket with a simplistic $2 thrift store basket to hold my pumpkins.

I added a pretty piece of pottery filled with natural reed grass, a simple blanket next to the basket of pumpkins and a rocking bench cushion topped with a pillow and blanket. 

I'm in love with the overall vibe. 












This was more the "feel" I was going for.
I want to know what YOU think?
Is Idea No. 1 or Idea No. 2 more your speed for Fall decor this year?

Hopefully this post will help you pause when you are decorating your own home - seasonally or every day decor - and ask yourself if the direction you are going is speaking to you. Trends come and go. Decide what makes your home "feel" like home...and go in that direction. You won't be disappointed.


PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.
Subscribe here to have new blog posts delivered right to your inbox.

KEEPING IT REAL
The changes to the front porch made SUCH a big difference to the overall feeling I get every time I walk out there to water plants or when I'm sitting on the rocker snuggling my Ella Pie. I love it.

STYLING | Fall Porch - Idea No. 1






I did two different fall porches this year...

My goal was to use things I had on hand and not purchase anything additional. 
This meant no real pumpkins. So, I gathered together my collection of faux pumpkins, and a dried gourd I picked up in an antique store one year, and placed them in an antique planter - taking center stage on my front porch bench.

I added pinecones and lanterns, a splash of more fall color with the use of a piece of fabric used under the planter and I tucked in sprigs of wheat and reed grass to the centerpiece as well as other items on the bench for additional touches of fall.

I loved it.
It screamed "fall" with all of the pinecones, pumpkins and wheat.

Neighbors loved it too and it really did look pretty.
Done.
Right?
Well...something just wasn't sitting well with me. 
It didn't "feel" the way I wanted my Thanksgiving to feel.





Craving charm and simplicity with a warm welcome...
I decided to change things up.

Go see how my second attempt turned out.
Let me know which one you like best - click on the link below!



PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.
Subscribe here to have new blog posts delivered right to your inbox.


KEEPING IT REAL
When Jay came home one night and saw this fall porch decor for the first time his response was, "Wow! We've got a lot going on up here."

And with that...he solidified my own personal feelings for wanting to change it up. Lol

CHRISTMAS | Pretty Woods + Whites hand-painted ornaments

Tuesday, November 5


The reason I chose to have my house decorated for Christmas by November 1st??

Time. 
Time to enjoy the little things the Christmas season brings with it.

I didn't have time last year.
Or rather, I didn't plan and prioritize to ensure I had the time.

Perfect example: these little wood ornaments. 

I purchased these hand-crafted beauties at TJMaxx last year with the intention of repainting them and restringing them. The silver details and red ribbon (see below) weren't the woods + whites I was craving. 


I knew all I needed was a little time to sit down and paint over the silver details and restring them with a creamy white ribbon to make them exactly what our woods + whites tree needed.

I just didn't have the time.
So they sat in the bag, tags still on them, unpainted. 
I resented never having hung them...never having time.

With intentional planning and a little goal setting...they are officially painted...and hanging.
And I love them so much.
It's amazing how much a little paint, a little ribbon, and a little time makes!










I really LOVE how they turned out!
However, I especially love that I made the time this year.
It feels so good.
It feels so right.

I encourage you to find ways to find more time to enjoy the little things that bring you joy this holiday season my friends.

xoxo,
Jess

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.
Subscribe here to have new blog posts delivered right to your inbox.

KEEPING IT REAL
So I still have one left to paint - the one I left unpainted to be able to take these pics to show the before and after. But hey...guess what? I actually have time to do it! *wink*

RECIPE | Crockpot Chicken Ranch Tacos

Friday, November 1


Crockpot Chicken Ranch Tacos my friends - so delicious you won't realize it's clean eating.

This dairy-free, sugar-free, gluten-free weeknight meal is not only simple, it's also delicious and versatile. 

One of the toughest things I face as a mom who cooks most nights is finding meals everyone will enjoy equally and not tire of quickly. 

I'm always looking for healthy.
Jay wants hearty. 
Ella prefers something fun.
And of course...we all want tasty.

This meal makes us all happy! This flavor-packed, tender, shredded chicken allows Ella to have her tortillas, Jay can have his over rice or white potatoes with all of his favorite toppings and I like mine either as a salad or over a sweet potato. Win. Win. Win.  -> Recipe at the bottom!







All this requires is throwing chicken in a crockpot, adding my Homemade Taco Seasoning, my Homemade Ranch Seasoning, and little bit of water. Cook on low 6 hours. Done!!


Crockpot Chicken Ranch Tacos

Crockpot Chicken Ranch Tacos

Yield: 6-8
Author:
prep time: 10 Mcook time: 6 hourtotal time: 6 H & 10 M
This flavor-packed chicken ranch taco meat may be the easiest crockpot meal you've ever made. Pair it with rice, make classic tortillas or top a sweet potato or salad with it. Using homemade taco seasoning and ranch seasoning ensures clean eating without the extras that come with packaged seasonings. (links to those additional recipes is included below).

ingredients:

instructions:

How to cook Crockpot Chicken Ranch Tacos

  1. Place chicken in crockpot.
  2. Sprinkle spices over the top.
  3. Add water.
  4. Cook on low for 6 hours.
  5. Serve with tortillas, rice, potatoes or create a Chicken Ranch Taco Salad.
  6. See notes on how to make it your own.

NOTES:

Make it your own! Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your preference. Use less taco seasoning and more ranch. Use less ranch and more taco. Or use only the taco or only the ranch.
Calories
233.37
Fat (grams)
10.12
Sat. Fat (grams)
3.15
Carbs (grams)
3.54
Fiber (grams)
0.54
Net carbs
3.00
Sugar (grams)
0.93
Protein (grams)
32.47
Sodium (milligrams)
715.39
Cholesterol (grams)
159.61
Tacos, Chicken, Whole30, Crockpot, Ranch
Crockpot, Chicken, Easy Weeknight Meals

Did you make this recipe?
Tag @pnpflowers on instagram and hashtag it #pnpflowersrecipe
Created using The Recipes Generator
Sure hope I've enticed your tastebuds!!
This recipe is hands down one of my family's favorites - especially mine because it's easy!
And I still look like a rock star. *wink*

Love you friends!




PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.
Subscribe here to have new blog posts delivered right to your inbox.

KEEPING IT REAL
It's almost 8pm on a Friday night as I'm finishing up this post.
But I made a promise to my Instagram friends to share it on the blog TODAY...and...well...
I'm keeping my promise.

PS - Halloween decorations came down in 30 seconds this morning and my Christmas decor is all up in my house as of yesterday - Halloween. I have really good reasons - and none of them are related to blogging or social media. I'm spilling it all in my Instagram stories...go find out why. I promise I'm not crazy. *wink*
CopyRight © | Theme Designed By Hello Manhattan