12 Days of Christmas {day twelve}

 

We hope you have enjoyed our 12 Days of Biblical Christmas!

Merry Christmas, From The LoChiano Family

12 Days of Christmas {day eleven}

12 Days of Christmas {day ten}

12 Days of Christmas { day nine}

Life is the Schmitt

Recently, I've become pretty good friends with this really awesome girl.  Her name is Jenni.  She started blogging and she super funny and honest.  It makes a perfect combination for blogging!  Check her out!

www.mrsschmitty.blogspot.com

12 Days of Christmas {day eight}

12 Days of Christmas {day seven}

12 Days of Christmas {day six}

12 Days of Christmas {day five}

12 Days of Christmas {day four}

Frugal Friday: Angel Food

A few years ago, our family was struck with some really hard times.  Angel Food became a staple in our household.  As time went on, we stopped purchasing the food packages and kind of forgot about them.  Recently, I was doing some research for another family and remembered about Angel Food Ministries.  As I looked through their website, I realized they had expanded their selection quite a bit.  They now offer many different food packages, including a Gluten-Free package!  This was music to my ears and I instantly called to put in an order.  Sadly, I got off the phone upset that my budget plan wouldn't allow me to purchase the food this month.  Because of Christmas, the cut off date was moved up and my food budget had already been spent.  (Actually, my entire financial budget had been spent!)  This week, I was opening my mail.  I saw one Christmas Card from a return name/address that was unfamiliar.  The name and address were that of the local Angel Food sponsor.  She had ordered and paid for the gluten-free food package for my family.  The note said, "Here's your receipt.  Paid in Full.  Merry Christmas". 

God is good for so many reasons.  One of those reasons is that he always knows how to bless us in the ways that will touch us greatly even without us realizing it.  The reason I will continue to support Angel Food Ministries, isn't just because of their amazingly cheap food.  But because of the people who work for them and the blessings God does through them.

www,angelfoodministries.com

They are available in every state and you can order online and pick up at a local sponsor. They also accept food stamps!
Find your local sponsor here.
Check out the Menu for January 2011 here.
Learn more about Angel Food here.

Blove's with CoCo

So, yesterday, I posted a wordless weds about the Loving's coming home for Christmas!  Last night, on Conan, Brandon Loving's art submission was featured during a commercial break!

 We're so excited and happy for him!  You should check out his other stuff on his blog and tell him congrats on facebook!   Here's one of our favorite things BL has made for us . . . our Sons of Anarchy friends will love it too! Tribute to SOA

12 Days of Christmas {day three}

wordless wednesday: home for Christmas

Emily and Brandon: BFF & Hubby coming home for Christmas!

12 Days of Christmas {day two}

 

Vtech MobiGo GIVEAWAY

Survey Junkie is giving away a really awesome toy by Vtech this Christmas season!
Head over to her blog and check out how to enter to win!

SJ's MobiGo Giveaway

12 Days of Christmas {day one}

 

12 Days of Christmas {Intro}

This year, more than ever I have been thinking of how to teach the kids about Christmas.  In years past, we've read the story of Jesus' birth and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.  More than anything, I want my kids to know why we celebrate Christmas.  And I don't want them to turn into spoiled children expecting a million presents under the tree.  I was looking around for fun advent calendars, advent projects, etc when I happened upon a message from Pastor Mike Hogg of Pearland, Texas.  To be quite honest, I know nothing of this man; As I read through his message, my imagination was running wild of how to creatively teach his words to my young children.  I used some of his words and some of mine to back up the scriptures he had used in his message to walk through the popular Christmas tune "12 Day of Christmas".  Apparently, I was the only person in America who did not realize this song was based off of scripture.  I created pictures to make into an 12 days of Christmas countdown for our family.  I am very excited about this project and have worked really hard on it in the last couple weeks.

Traditionally, the 12 Days of Christmas are Dec 25- Jan 6.  However, we've decided to use the 11 days prior to Christmas as a countdown!  You can join along with us everyday until then!  Just add www.mamalochiano.blogspot.com to your favorite blog reader or follow us through Google Friend Connect in the top left hand corner!  Share these posts with your friends too!

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE.

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

TWO TURTLE DOVES (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

THREE FRENCH HENS (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

FOUR CALLING BIRDS (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

FIVE GOLDEN RINGS (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

SIX GEESE A-LAYING (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

SEVEN SWANS A-SWIMMING (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE EIGHT DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING (repeat gifts in ascending order)

ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

NINE LADIES DANCING (repeat gifts in ascending order)

ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

TEN LORDS A-LEAPING (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING (repeat gifts in ascending order).

ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING (repeat gifts in ascending order).

Delish Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies & Icing

So, my mom has one of the best white flour sugar cookie recipes around.  Every time I make them I get tons of compliments.  So, with this being the first Gluten-Free Christmas in our home, I was worried about recreating one of our family's favorite Christmas memories.  I took a stab at it last week and got really lucky!

Delish Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies

2C powdered sugar
1C butter, softened
1t vanilla
1/2t almond extract
1 egg
2 C Domata Living Flour (or any Gfree flour mix with xanthan gum included)
2t baking soda
1t cream of tartar

Mix powdered sugar, butter, vanilla, almond extract and egg.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.  (I typically do overnight)
Heat oven to 375*.  Roll dough onto lightly floured table (if the cookies aren't sweet enough, use pwd sugar to roll out instead) Cut into shapes with cookies cutters.  You can sprinkle with sugar or wait until baked and ice them.  Place on lined cookie sheet (I always line when baking Gfree to prevent cross-contamination - use parchment paper or alum foil)  Bake 7-8mins - until edges are golden.

Gluten-Free Icing
3C powdered sugar
1/3C butter
1 1/2 t vanilla
2T milk

Mix powdered sugar and butter.  Stir in vanilla and milk; beat until smooth.  Add GF food coloring if desired.
Top with GF sprinkles PRIOR to drying!

Wordless Wednesday: Santa Claus is comin to town

 

If you link up and don't already follow me on Google Friend Connect, please do!

Whip My Hair

My children are obsessed with Whip My Hair by Willow Smith.  Honestly, I hadn't heard it- or paid attention I guess.  So, After my friend Stephanie told me her girls loved it- I youtube'd it and my kids were instantly entertained.  My two year old now runs through the house sayin "i whip my hair back n forth"

Thanks, Steph- you've always been the one to keep me "cool"

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins

I have been playing around with this muffin recipe for quite sometime and FINALLY got a wonderful turnout!  

3/4 C Bob's Red Mill GF whole grain rolled oats

3/4 C Domata Living Flour (any flour mixture that includes the xanthan gum)

1/3 C Sugar

1 T baking powder

1/4 t Kosher Salt

2T oil (I used a corn oil, but you can use olive or whatever GF oil you like)

1 egg

1C pureed fruit (today I did blueberry & mango)

Equal parts cinnamon/sugar for topping

Combine first 5 ingredients in large mixing bowl.  Mix milk, oil and egg in another bowl.  Add to oatmeal mixture and stir until moistened

Add in pureed fruit

Put batter in lined muffin pan.  (I always use liners for GF b/c I do non-GF baking with my muffin pan also)  Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle over muffins

Bake @ 425 for 10-12 minutes!

Free Holiday Music

Amazon is giving away a different holiday mp3 every day until Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Thank You, Amazon!

Baby K'Tan Giveaway!!!

You all know how much I love the Baby K'tan and Mama to 4 blessings loves it too!  That's why she's done a wonderful review coupled with a Baby K'tan giveaway!  Hurry it ends in a few day! (12/11/10)

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We were able to spend time with both sides of our immediate family.  Before we rush into the hustle and bustle of Christmas, I wanted to take a moment to stop and be thankful.

I am thankful my hope and faith is in God and not in mankind.
I am thankful my parents raised me to love and respect other people and gave me "good" morals.
I am thankful for the friendship I have with my brother, Alex and my sister, Anna.
I am thankful I met Luke LoChiano and created this beautiful life with him.
I am thankful for Landen James.  A bubbly, smart almost 6 year old who loves with all his heart.
I am thankful for Cecilia Eve.  A gorgeous, ornery 2 year old who care deeply for everyone.
I am thankful for Natalia Gwen.  A precious, sweet 1 year old who lights up when you spend quality time with her.
I am thankful for a warm, clean, safe home.  Although small it's better than what most of the world lives in.
I am thankful for food on my plate.  It may not be much or always what we want- but it keeps us nourished.
I am thankful for financial hardships.  Money stretches and grows you as a person, marriage and family like nothing else can.
I am thankful for my husband job.  He works for a wonderful company and has an amazing relationship with his boss.
I am thankful for all these little people I get to spend time with and help nurture every day.
I am thankful for wonderful friendships that have lasted years and year and stood by me whatever situation I found myself in.
I am thankful for new friendships and relationships.  Many people I feel close to I hardly knew a year or two ago.
I am thankful for second chances, mercy and grace.

I am also thankful for new yummy recipes!

Cranberry / Walnut Cheese ball

Homemade Dinner Rolls

Parmesan Crusted Stuffed Mushrooms

Pumpkin Pie Bars - Gluten Free

Parmesan Walnut Sweet Potatoes from Real Simple Mag