Archive for the ‘Hospitality’ Category

There are a variety of things you can do with pressed leaves. In this article, we give you a couple of ways to press and preserve leaves, as well as a few craft and project ideas to do with them!

Some decorating ideas to do with pressed leaves:

·         Place pressed leaves or flowers into pictures frames and display on the mantle or wall.

·         Make beautiful two-sided/see-through placemats with pressed leaves and clear contact paper.  Note: This sounds like it should be simple, but contact paper can be tricky to work with.  The easiest way to make this work is to cut a piece of contact paper about 2 feet long.  Peel back half the paper, have your kids place the leaves on the paper, staying away from the edges by about an inch.  Then, remove the rest of the protective paper and “fold” half of the contact paper over the other half.  It might be difficult to get the sides to match evenly, but don’t worry…get it as straight as you can and then just cut the contact paper down to the size placemat you want.

·         Glue pressed leaves (the wax-paper leaves work best for this) onto construction paper and make homemade cards to send to friends and family. Or, glue onto smaller pieces of paper and make place-settings for your Thanksgiving dinner table.

·         Make pictures from leaves.  The book Look What I Did with a Leaf by Morteza Sohi has some fantastic ideas and creative inspirations.

·         Make a mobile using clear fishing line or white thread and waxed leaves.

How to Press Leaves:

·         Gather fall leaves while fresh and vibrant.  If you pick them off the ground, make sure there is no mold or dirt on them. Also, brittle leaves do not press well; choose freshly fallen leaves or ones still on the trees.

·         Press between the pages of an old book or between sheets of newspaper with a heavy book on top; press for several hours and preferably overnight.  The purpose of pressing leaves is to dry them completely; the various projects work better with dry leaves (note: you want them dry but not brittle).

Wax Paper Ironing Option

·         Set the iron on medium-high with NO STEAM.

·         Sandwich the leaf between two pieces of waxed paper.**

·         Place an old rag or thin towel on your ironing board so that you don’t get wax on it.

·         Place the “sandwich” on top of the rag.  Then cover it with another thin towel (such as a dish towel).

·         Gently run the iron over the leaf. Don’t press hard at first; give the wax a chance to seal.  Once it has, press firmly on the iron, moving it over the area being pressed for 4-5 seconds.

·         Allow the pressed leaf to cool, then cut around it, leaving a small margin so that the wax stays sealed.

**For extra sparkle (and for those kids who just LOVE to use glitter) sprinkle a little glitter around the leaf at this point. You can also put crayon shavings around the leaf; they melt beautifully when you iron.

Dipping Option:

This method allows a little more flexibility when you decorate, because you’ll be working with the actual leaf (as opposed to a leaf sandwiched inside contact paper).

·         Melt 1 lb beeswax or paraffin in a double boiler. Don’t let the wax get too hot, however.

·         Take the leaf by the stem and dip quickly into the wax. If your kids are going to do the dipping, you might want to have them hold the stem with a pair of pliers (or something similar) so that their hands don’t get so close to the wax.

·         Hang leaf by a clothespin to dry.

When we think hospitality, we usually think food. So, when company comes over, we want to offer them something to eat and drink. Granted, in the hustle and bustle of busy lives, the days of unexpected company seem to be vanishing. But it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for when unexpected guests do arrive. Or, knowing that you’ve got something to offer them will free you up to be available to invite someone over on the spur-of-the-moment. Before we get to a few choice recipes for appetizers, consider the following ideas first:

• Deviled eggs are super simple to make and you almost always have eggs on hand!
• Keep some frozen cookies (or frozen cookie dough) in the freezer. Simply bake and serve.
• Precooked shrimp is an easy appetizer. Keep a bag in the freezer: simply quick thaw (run under cold water) and serve.
• Be prepared: Put a plastic basket (about 8’ by 12) in your pantry that is strictly for “unexpected company.” Keep a small supply of ingredients in there (such as the ingredients for the Weight Watchers recipe listed in this issue’s Recipe Box) to serve in a pinch. Sometimes it’s not that the company is unexpected, it’s that your schedule gets out of control and you don’t actually have time to go to the store and purchase fresh appetizer ingredients. Some other items to put in this basket are: tostado chips, a box of “adult” crackers such as Carr’s brand (to go along with an “adult” cheese that you keep in your fridge), and a box of pita chips (to serve with some frozen hummus dip). If you decide to serve any of these items to your family (in a pinch for a snack for the kids, which usually happens), simply add these items to your shopping list for the week and stock up again on your next trip.

Sometimes being a mom means you are a motivational coach. “You can do it.” “You look great.” “You are going to do a great job.” etc. are the kinds of things I would say. Recently, an upcoming event was causing one of our children quite a bit of stress and they were feeling less than up to the task.

Self confidence is the difference between feeling unstoppable and feeling scared out of your wits. Although many of the factors affecting self confidence are beyond your control, there are a number of things you can consciously do to build self confidence and these will positively impact what you have in front of you.

To help motivate using what I call “doable steps” rather than just enthusiastic words, here is a list I came up with:

1. Dress Sharp

When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items.

2. Walk Faster

People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step.

3. Good Posture

People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident.

4. Think Positive

Build your confidence by envisioning yourself successfully doing what you need to. Think it through step-by-step and see yourself doing what you want to do. This will help you reach your goals.

5. Gratitude

Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum.

6. Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling onto others. Get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in back-stabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you.

7. Sit in the front row

In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room.

8. Speak up

By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.

9. Work out

Physical fitness has a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By working out, you improve your physical appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive.

10. Recognize the Source

Be sure that you give credit where credit is due. Recognize that you are going to do your best and give any glory to God. How freeing it is to remember that you are His child and He walks alongside you. Remember, He is a jealous God, don’t rob Him of His due credit.