Jen Russum

Recipe: Gingerbread

Recipe: Gingerbread

Gingerbread was a classic holiday dessert at our house growing up. And it just happens to be the easiest thing in the world to make. Seriously, all you do is mix all the ingredients together, pour into a greased pan, and bake. The result is a thick, brown cake of ginger-y goodness. Served best warm with whipped cream! What you need: 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup shortening 1 cup molasses 1 egg 3/4 cup hot water 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon salt What you do: Heat oven to 325ºF. Grease and flour bottom and sides of square pan {9x9 inches}. Beat all ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Makes nine servings. Enjoy! |Linking to: Stonegable, and Rattlebridge Farm| ... Read more

Flowers Fade Friday: From His Hand

Flowers Fade Friday: From His Hand

After a week of Christmas shopping {online only!}, hosting giveaways, and creating holiday shopping guides, I had a quiet moment this morning to sit down and reflect on the idea of having, owning, giving, gifting... all those verbs that seem so pressing as we plan our Christmas lists and stress over our December budgets. I was reading the last chapter in I Chronicles where the aging King David passes his throne down to his son, Solomon. Along with the crown, he also gives Solomon an outrageous amount of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and jewels, with which Solomon has been commanded to build a permanent temple for God in Jerusalem. After presenting this offering to Solomon, David asks his people to also willingly give of their own possessions to help add to the temple building supplies. After the citizens add to to the heaps of precious metals, David laughs. He prays to God and he laughs during this prayer. Or at least I imagine him chuckling a bit as he prays: "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly?  For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you." -I Chronicles 29:14- And isn't that the truth? We give and receive. We save and we splurge. But it all comes from the hand of God. It's so easy to forget that everything we have belongs to Him as we shop for sales and try to manage our budgets, especially around Christmas time. So, sister, when you give, give cheerfully and, above all, praise Christ for HIS generosity toward you. If you cut back on your gift giving this year, save your money for the glory of God and thank him for the gift of self-control. Because in the end, it all belongs to HIM anyway. |Linking up with Casey| ... Read more

Holiday Shopping Guide: My Favorite Accessories from 2012

Holiday Shopping Guide: My Favorite Accessories from 2012

I've never been an accessories girl. I've always worn very little jewelry. In fact, I don't even have my ears pierced. But all that changed this year. I've suddenly become an accessories addict. I don't know if it's all the cute headbands that pop up in the photographs of my favorite blogs, the prevalence of Etsy, or just the fact that I have blog friends who sell cute and trendy handmade items... but at some point over the past twelve months I went from a bare-wristed chick to a bracelet-wearing, headband-flaunting lover of accessories. Who am I? I don't even know... But I figure I should put my new jewelry-loving ways to good use and show you my favorite items I've purchased this year. Below I give you the best of the best. Necklaces, bracelets, rings and headbands... all handmade by awesome female entrepreneurs who are offering amazing DISCOUNTS for you this week!  So check out their stores and finish off your Christmas shopping while you're there. And you might want to throw something into your digital shopping cart for yourself while you are at it... Shop: Much Love Illy Use discount code JENROCKS15 for 15% off at checkout! {Valid through December 15th} Shop: The Splendor Shop Use code arizona for 15% off at checkout! Shop: Caroline G Use code holiday20 for 20% at checkout! P.S. You can still get a free necklace over at her Facebook page. Shop: Blue Bird Bride Use code FALL2012 for 15% off your order at checkout! Also, you can enter a giveaway to win $20 to her shop HERE... Shop: Amy Cornwell Use code christmas for 10% off your order at checkout!  {Valid through December 10th} Shop: Neon and Nude Use code RETURNLOVE for 15% off at checkout! Shop Seek First Use code HOLIDAY for 15% off at checkout! Happy shopping, friends! Seriously, all these ladies and their shops are beyond amazing. Make a purchase. You won't regret it! ... Read more