To-Do Tuesday, a little behind

Ok, well, my internet was not working for a few days, so I wasn't able to get this posted. I have a few pictures to post, but I am waiting for somethings to dry before taking all of the pictures, so they are coming soon!

Here's the list;
21st- Last day of School for year
Crossing guard- Crocheted Soccer Hat that she wanted
Lore's teacher (woman)- Clorax/Handi wipes, journal cover
Liam's teacher (man)- journal cover
Levi's teacher (woman)- journal cover

22nd- Our Solstice Celebration (I've come to realize I will not finish their stockings on time. But I am going to finish them before I let the tree come down for next year! They do have purchased items as gifts and certificates for experiences. We don't really buy much for the boys for Christmas, it's more about family and time together.)
Make the meal (prep done!)
Levi- Stocking- 1/4 done,wallet
Liam- stocking-1/4 done, wallet
Lore- stocking 1/4 done,
Tim- stocking, Spamalot tickets

23rd- Tim's Dad's Side Christmas
Evan's quilt
Lydia's quilt
Make a dish to pass

24th-Dad's Christmas
Clover's quilt- 3/4 done, longies
Ambrosia- shirt, apron
Jorden- shirt, Dr Seuss about me book
Alyssa- Travel embroidery kit
Alia- Travel Stationary, pens, cards, etc...
K- Heifer International donation, soup of the month club coupon, Candle
C- embroidered towel and potholder, crocheted dishcloth
Make a dish to pass

25th- Mom's Christmas
Mom- The Boys are making her a decorated box to put handmade Christmas items in, nearly done
Dish to Pass

29th- GE's Christmas
Gail- Starbucks gift card
Ben- Gas card, I feel like I failed this one, but they've had to travel so much, it's really what they need.

30th- Work Party The boss's gift

31st- Tim's mom's Christmas
Mom- Purse with the boys' pictures on it OR placemats?
Laura-Gas Card She's traveled so much since she's relocated, so this just seemed the best gift
Brian-Gift certificate to local convenience store it's what he wants

Quickie Spinach Supper

Well, I ended up having to go to the doctor today, so I didn't get everything I wanted to get done today, done. And I didn't get our planned supper in on time, so I had to come up with something. I didn't have much freezer stash left and none of it sounded appealing today, so I "winged" it. My husband hates when I do that, but the kids and I loved what came of it, and I'm quite sure my hubby will too when he gets home. I'm documenting it, so if I ever want it again, I can recreate it.

Quickie Spinach Pasta Supper
3 TBS Olive Oil
1 chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic (or to taste)
1 TBS Butter
1 tub of ricotta cheese (I think mine was part skim)
1/2 brick of cream cheese
1 thawed and squeezed frozen spinach box
2-3 shakes of ground cayenne pepper
2 shakes of nutmeg
Lots of fresh ground black pepper
salt
Leftover pasta ( I had fettuccine)

Saute onion in olive oil until translucent. Add butter and garlic, cook that for a little bit. Toss in spinach, ricotta, cayenne, black pepper, salt, and cream cheese. Smash and cook that until it is all mixed and creamy. Add cooked pasta. If it's too thick thin with a bit of milk.

This was so good, and like I said, my kids loved it. If I were to change anything, I would have loved to add some fresh mushrooms, but we didn't have any.
We ate it with a salad and those pillsbury crescent rolls that are garlic flavored. I'm sure they are really really bad for you, but they taste oh, so, good!

My group shot of patches

I received 4 amazing patches in a swap. Here they are all together at my home

The detailed and amazing inner workings of a Dalek is by trifarina (I believe will be going into a quilt)
The adorable running imp is by Craftybernie (I'm not sure where she'll go yet, maybe on my Christmas tree skirt or framed)
The gorgeous bird and flowers by rectangel (I am pretty sure I am framing this for my living room)
Last, but certainly not least is Monsieur Hedgehog by SewSewAGoGo. Who is going on a cozy for my beloved Kitchen Aid mixer (what a great start for my soon to be woodland themed kitchen!)

I truly feel I am the luckiest girl. These are so amazing! I was really a beginner at the start of this swap, and I feel I have grown so much. I can't wait until the next round!

To-Do Tuesday

I finished all of the things I had to for last weekend, just in the nick of time! I have revised my list a bit, to hopefully save myself a bit of time. New/Changed items are in green. Done items are in Red.

15th- Step-mom's side of family get together
Towel, potholder, dishcloth for Grandma DONE!
Make Cookies I made a delicious Gingerbread Biscotti!

16th- Swim Party
Make a dish to pass
Make cookies Banana Chocolate Chip Biscotti

21st- Last day of School for year
Crossing guard- Crocheted Soccer Hat that she wanted
Lore's teacher (woman)- Clorax/Handi wipes, journal cover
Liam's teacher (man)- journal cover
Levi's teacher (woman)- journal cover

22nd- Our Solstice Celebration
Make the meal
Levi- Stocking- 1/4 done,wallet
Liam- stocking-1/4 done, wallet
Lore- stocking 1/4 done, ?
Tim- stocking, underwear, checkbook cover

23rd- Tim's Dad's Side Christmas
Evan's quilt- 1/4 done
Lydia's quilt - 1/4 done
Make a dish to pass

24th- Dad's Christmas
Clover's quilt- 1/4 done, longies
Ambrosia- apron, felt food,
Jorden- apron, felt food, coloring book
Alyssa- Travel embroidery kit, wallet
Alia- Stationary, pens, cards, etc... bible cover
K- Heifer International donation, soup of the month club coupon
C- ", embroidered towel and potholder, crocheted dishcloth
Grandparents- Embroidered towel, potholder, & dishcloth
Step Grandparents- Embroidered towel, potholder & dishcloth
Make a dish to pass

25th- Mom's Christmas
Mom- Embroidered towel, potholder & dishcloth OR Hooded Scarf
Make Cookies
Dish to Pass

29th- GE's Christmas
Gail- Starbucks gift card?
Ben- ?

30th- Work Party
The boss's gift

31st- Tim's mom's Christmas
Mom- Purse with the boys' pictures on it OR placemats?
Laura- ?
Brian-?

Luckily, I have nothing (that I know of tomorrow, so I can hopefully get quite a bit done. I may have to turn off the phone though, it was crazy today, I got absolutely nothing done!

Favorite Cream Cheese Recipes

Crazy Hip Blog Mamas Recipe Rally is Cream Cheese Recipes. I do love cream cheese, but my 2 favorite recipes are super simple and and really yummy.
The first is my eldest son's favorite! He loves green olives. It's almost a sickness for him. He just can't get enough. Plus the white, red and green make it perfect for the holiday season.
The second one is I think a staple for a lot of families at get togethers, but all are made a little differently.

Green Olive Dip
Brick of cream cheese softened
a handful of green salad olives chopped (more or less to taste)
dash or so of Worcestershire sauce
a bit of minced garlic or garlic powder ( to taste)
a few tablespoons of sour cream (optional, but it helps the chips/crackers not break as easily)

Mix together, chill, serve with chips or crackers or vegetables. (My mom's favorite is with potato chips, my husband's favorite is with triscuit crackers, my favorite is with celery [yes, honestly] and my eldest son's favorite is with his finger!)

Taco Dip
2 bricks of cream cheese softened
1/4-1/2 cup of sour cream (optional but helps to prevent broken chips)
1 packet of dry taco seasoning (I make my own, so I couldn't tell you what brand to buy)
chopped/sliced toppings of choice I like;
green onion
tomato
lettuce
black olive
shredded cheese

Mix the first 3 ingredients well. Spread over a platter. Layer topping ingredients (I usually do the very top layer cheese then garnish with a few extra black olives and green onions.) Chill until serving.
I serve with tortilla chips. This makes quite a bit, you could make a smaller batch, but I usually make this for a party, then I have to make another for home, because my husband insists he never gets any at the party.

Cardinal Set Done!

I'm very glad to check this off of the list. This is very much "my grandma".

Towel One Done!

I finished my grandma's towel. Which for not being home at all is fairly impressive to me. This is still prepressed, but I didn't want to forget to snap a photo. She adores cardinals, so that's what I went with.

Christmas Crazies or (early) To-Do Tuesday.

I am unable to focus on getting what needs to be done first! That has always been one of my biggest problems. I want to do what I'm in the mood for, regardless of timeline. Well, I'm going to start posting my Christmas Holiday to do list here. I'm hoping at least every Tuesday or earlier if I get more things done. I know none of my family read this, so I'm not terribly worried, and if you are in my family and you do read this.... stop! (at least until after Christmas.)

So here's my list set to timeline to hopefully get me working on what I need to first.

9th- Grandma's 70th Birthday Party

• Make Hummus
• Make Spinach Dip
• Make Dill Dip
• Bring Carrots & Broccoli tray
• Embroidered towel gift w/matching potholder

15th- Step-mom's side of family get together

• Towel, potholder, dishcloth for Grandma
• Make Cookies

16th- Swim Party

• Make a dish to pass
• Make cookies

21st- Last day of School for year

• Crossing guard- Crocheted Soccer Hat that she wanted
• Lore's teacher (woman)- Clorax/Handi wipes, journal cover, ?
• Liam's teacher (man)- journal cover?, stationary
• Levi's teacher (woman)- journal cover?,

22nd- Our Solstice Celebration

• Make the meal
• Levi- Stocking, thermos cover, bible cover, wallet, recorder case?
• Liam- stocking thermos cover, wallet, ?
• Lore- stocking, thermos cover, ?, ?
• Tim- stocking, underwear, ?

23rd- Tim's Dad's Side Christmas

• Evan's quilt
• Lydia's quilt
• Make a dish to pass

24th- Dad's Christmas

• Clover's quilt, longies
• Ambrosia- apron, felt food, wallet?
• Jorden- apron, felt food, coloring book
• Alyssa- hooded scarf/scarf, wallet
• Alia- hooded scarf/scarf, bible cover
• K- Heifer International donation, bible cover, soup of the month club coupon
• C- ", embroidered towel and potholder, crocheted dishcloth
• Grandparents- Embroidered towel, potholder, & dishcloth
• Step Grandparents- Embroidered towel, potholder & dishcloth
• Make a dish to pass

25th- Mom's Christmas

• Mom- Embroidered towel, potholder & dishcloth OR Hooded Scarf
• Make Cookies

29th- GE's Christmas

• Gail- Starbucks gift card?
• Someone I can't remember who's name I drew, I'll have to look at the sheet again

30th- Work Party

• The boss's gift

31st- Tim's mom's Christmas

• Mom- Purse with the boys' pictures on it, placemats?
• Laura- ?
• Brian-?

I think I had better get moving my butt! I hope this will help keep me on track.