Fun Christmas Ideas

A girl I went to school with at BYU has this fun blog with lots of craft ideas and recipes etc...this year she posted two ideas I love and wanted to do with my little guy but it was a little late in the game...so I want to remember these for next year!

First I love this simple idea for a fun snow globe you can make with your kids! I posted another idea from Martha Stewart but this one just seems more doable to me. :) Find instructions here.

I have been wanting to make something like this all December! I was so excited to see this posted on Vanilla Joy--just wish it had been earlier in the month! I especially love that a scripture is included with each candy. Oh well, I'll just have to remember this idea for next Christmas!

Christmas Coal

Even if that special someone on your list has been nice...this would be a cute and funny gift to find in your stocking on Christmas morning! A nice lump of coal...with something nice stuffed inside! Find the instructions from Tatertots and Jello here.

Noel

I love this simple sign, you can find the tutorial here.


The first year I sang in BYU Womens Chorus we had an AMAZING Christmas concert. We sang beautiful arrangements of well known Christmas songs and I loved every second of it. The only sad thing to me is that the songs we sang were not all recorded on the archival cds they give you at the end of the year. That year I fell in love with the song "The First Noel" when we sang an additional verse I had never heard before. I loved it so much I wrote the words in my personal hymn book...which unfortunately I lost. I found these words online but I really think the words we sang the third line was different.

Now let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord,
The which hath made Heaven and Earth of nought,
And by his blood Mankind hath bought

This version by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is equally as beautiful and moving and includes the verse I love. I love to sing this beautiful arrangement someday. Here is my gift to you: I hope you find some time to listen to this beautiful music!

Candy Cane Kiss Cookies

Um...don't these look amazing, festive, and so delicious? I want to try these, but with so many recipes I want to try...they might have to wait until next year. :) Find the recipe here from the Recipe Girl.

Christmas Reads

I love reading to my son, especially when there is a holiday coming up! When I was little my dad would read "A Story a Day Until Christmas" every night in December until Christmas Day and we all loved it! I've tried to do the same thing with my son, but with all meaningful stories rather than fun ones. I'm not opposed to fun Christmas stories though--we still read them! In my search to find more Christmas books, I have found a couple of book lists that have some fun looking books on them! Check out the lists here and here. Also here is a great collection of stories you can print off to do your own "A Story a Day Till Christmas!"

What are your favorite Christmas time books and stories?

Christmas Galore

I came across this post from Simply Modern Mom today and LOVE all of her Christmas decor ideas! It definitely is an inspiration to me--I wish I had a staircase in my house like she does!

I have found some other great ideas I would love to try sometime in my Christmas decorating, I guess this post is a showcase of those!

First these simple candycanes look so easy and inexpensive to make! You could make a garland of them or hang them from a garland...all sorts of things! Find instructions in this post.


I love this jingle bell wreath! It is tiny--like ornament size, or gift tag size...or maybe you could group more than one together and hang then from your door so when it opens and closes it makes that lovely jingle bell sound...again lots of possibilities! Find the instructions here.

I love this paper star wreath! But I think even more I would love to make the cute little stars and hang them from the garland over our doorway so it would look something like this:

I love these little stars! One year my roommates and I made tons and tons of snowflakes and taped them all over our ceiling. We loved it! So I might even hang a few from the ceiling to make our big empty room look more festive. Find the instructions for these here.
I think these snowflakes just look like a fun kids craft! Find the instructions for these here.


Finally...to get you even more in the Christmas spirit is this recipe for these Thick and Chewy Gingerbread cookies that looks really good to me! I can't wait to try it and have that wonderful gingerbread smell in our house...
*update, I tried this recipe and thought it was gross. So I changed the picture and suggest you try this recipe instead! It might be the ones I made last year that were amazing--I can't remember which recipe I used!

What are some of your favorite holiday decor ideas?

Snow Globes

I love snow globes! This looks like so much fun--make your own!! Find instructions from Martha Stewart here.

Mistletoe

I totally love this! Ever since we've been married I have wanted mistletoe to grace our halls...however it has yet to happen. This looks easy to do however, and I'm excited to try it out!
Find instructions here!

Creche Exhibit

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

I miss watching the news in Utah, and the familiar news anchors or whatever they are called. :) I was happy to watch this, it looks like a great tradition! If you are in Utah this weekend, you should go check it out! One more awesome thing to add to my list of awesome Christmas functions in Utah!

Cinnamon French Toast

I really love the french toast at Kneaders. It is a.maz.ing. Today on Studio 5, Brooke shared her family french toast recipe and in the video she says her sisters think the Kneaders french toast is almost as good as this recipe...so needless to say, I am so excited to try this recipe! You can go here to watch the video, it made me wish so much that I could go to the Festival of Trees and buy the cookbook!

Christmas Morning Cinnamon French Toast

Batter

Ingredients:

• Combine together:
• 4 eggs
• ¼ cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• ½ cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 tablespoon of applesauce

Method:

Dip both sides of thickly sliced Texas Toast into batter. Cook in a frying pan at medium heat.

Syrup

Ingredients:

• • 1 cube of butter
• • ¾ cup of sugar
• • ½ cup of buttermilk
  
  
• Add:
• • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• • 1 teaspoon of baking soda Stir quickly as syrup foams up.

Raspberry Pie

We had a pretty crazy Thanksgiving. It involved our car dying 50 miles from civilization in the bitter cold, having no cell service, trying to get a ride home when my husband thinks the other drivers thought he was a shooter from Moab, my sister in law and her husband coming to get us--driving all night and getting no sleep....going to a house with cats when I am allergic to cats and just wanting desperately to sleep.
Pretty much my favorite part of Thanksgiving day was this pie. And seeing how much my son loved, loved, loved his baby cousin. :) That was absolutely adorable.
Don't get me wrong--I have a lot to be grateful for--for instance prayer, and answers to it, a family who stopped for us and just happened to be going to visit their family in the town we live in. My husband teaches their niece, so it was like we already knew them. They even invited us to their family Thanksgiving dinner where we would have gone if we hadn't been taken to Utah by my sister-in-law and her husband who towed our car and saved us a huge tow truck bill, we had plenty of good food to eat, I became better friends with my sister in law. There is a lot to be grateful for. it was just a very unusual Thanksgiving day filled with less than optimum circumstances. :) Maybe I should say this pie was my favorite part of the meal. I really, really loved it--and I'm not the one who made it, I just wanted to share the recipe. :)

Fresh Raspberry Pie

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 
  FILLING:
• 1-1/3 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 5 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 
  TOPPING:
• 1 tablespoon 2% milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar and salt; cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Combine the egg, water and vinegar; stir into flour mixture just until moistened. Divide dough in half so that one ball is slightly larger than the other; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
• Meanwhile, in another large bowl, combine the sugar, tapioca, cornstarch and raspberries; let stand for 15 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out larger ball of dough to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer dough to pie plate; trim even with edge. Add raspberry filling; dot with butter.
• Roll out remaining dough to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top. Brush with milk; sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 350° for 50-55 minutes or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Eggnog

Mock Eggnog
Eggnog Pie

My first taste of eggnog didn't happen until I was in college and had a roommate who bought some because she loved it so much. She offered me some and suggested to me that I add milk to dilute it since it was my first try...and even then I didn't like it much. But now I am married to an eggnog lover and we get it every Christmas season and I have learned to enjoy it as well! But I still have to dilute it with milk. :) Last year I made Eggnog cookies which were good, and since eggnog seems to be pretty pricey, I am intrigued with the idea of making your own...I've even found some mock eggnog recipes that don't use eggs I would like to try. Here's a list of the eggnog recipes I would like to try:

Eggnog Pie
Warm Chocolate Eggnog
Mock Eggnog
and another version of mock eggnog
Peppermint Eggnog Punch (only because the rum is optional)
Homemade Eggnog

Do you like eggnog? Have you ever made your own?

Easy as Pie

Maybe it's just the right time of year...but lately I am so enamored with pies. Mostly my experience with making pies involves using pre-made pie dough and pie filling bought at the grocery store. We used to live in a small apartment complex where one of the girls there would make pies and give slices of pie to people in the apartment. They were always so delicious and ever since then I have really wanted to start making pies, really making pies. Where everything is from scratch.
So I have this huge long list of pies I want to make, and here is one more that looks delicious! Although this one looks too easy to count towards my goal of making pies from scratch.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups cold milk
• 1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding mix
• 2-3/4 cups whipped topping, divided
• 1 package (4.67 ounces) mint Andes candies, chopped, divided
• 1 chocolate crumb crust (9 inches)
• 1/4 teaspoon mint extract
• 2 drops green food coloring, optional

Directions

• In a small bowl, whisk milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in 3/4 cup whipped topping. Fold in 3/4 cup candies. Spoon into crust.
• In another bowl, combine extract and remaining whipped topping; add food coloring if desired. Spread over pudding layer; sprinkle with remaining candies. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until set. Yield: 8 servings.

Remembering Grandma

I remember my Grandma making Dixie Salad when I was little...all I really remember about it is that it had pomegranates and was delicious. My Grandma lived in Southern Utah, so it was an authentic Dixie Salad.:) A couple years ago, we decided to have our own little family Thanksgiving dinner and we tried our own version of Dixie Salad, which was pretty good, not quite like I remembered, but it was still really good.
I just found this recipe on Studio 5 from Becky Lowe, who happens to remind me very much of my grandma. It made me smile that she would make this salad which also reminds me of my grandma. :) I had to share it with you! I sure miss you Grandma.
One thing I love about this salad is how versatile it can be...I'm not a nut fan, so I leave the nuts out and we added grapes and bananas when we made it. But you can put whatever fruits you like! Or nuts, or whatever. If you need to bring a salad or a side dish to Thanksgiving dinner...you should try this salad. It doesn't disappoint! You can even watch a video here that shows how to seed a pomegranate, or to get some other crazy salad ideas. :)

Dixie Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pomegranate seeds (about 2 pomegranates)
• 2 cups chopped apples (about 2 medium)
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2-4 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Method:

Whip cream with sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form.

Combine pomegranates, apples, pecans (and any additional desired fruit). Gently fold in whipped cream. Garnish with a few pomegranate seeds. Serves approximately 8

NOTES:
To reduce fat, reduce or eliminate nuts. There are many additions to this basic salad created in Utah's Dixie. Some like it ‘pure' and use only the products found in Southern Utah; others add drained canned fruit cocktail, mandarin oranges, sliced bananas, grapes and fruit of their choice. Adjust the portions and ingredients to suite your taste preferences.

To seed the pomegranate (with as little mess as possible), cut a cross in the base of the pomegranate down to but not into the seeds. Carefully pull the cross open, breaking the pomegranate in half. Gently break sections away from each half, pulling the skin back and turning the pomegranate inside out; gently nudge the seeds from the exposed section. Work over or in water, dropping the seeds into the water as you go. The pithy membrane and bits of skin will float to the surface of the water and can easily be skimmed away leaving intact the juicy kernels.

Later in pomegranate season the skin becomes dry and the fruit is hard to break open. Place the pomegranate in water to soak before following directions above.

Christmas in Utah

*photo found here

I was recently talking with a friend about how much I missed Utah this time of year. I didn't realize how much I missed Utah until Christmas keeps getting closer and I keep thinking about all the things in Utah that I love this time of year and I won't get to participate in. My friend didn't grow up in Utah and commented how she didn't think there was that much to do there, which led me to wonder if there really was a lot to do or if I was just being sentimental and silly. I started a list of things that I love about Christmas in Utah...and keep adding to it! I'll list it here and hopefully if you are in the area, you can enjoy a few of these awesome things!
I have not personally done all of these things on my list, but some of them I have wanted to do forever and just never had the opportunity before.

Festival of Trees
BYU Celebration of Christmas
The Forgotten Carols
Savior of the World
Nutcracker Ballet
Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert
Riding Trax to downtown SLC
Sledding and building snowmen (nowhere here to go sledding and I hear it rarely snows :(..)
Temple Square Lights
Sub 4 Santa/Giving Tree
First Presidency Christmas Devotional
Santa in my favorite mall
Thanksgiving Point drive through lights
SPanish Fork Christmas lights
Polar Express
Messiah Sing-in (I've heard these are common throughout December in the Provo/Orem area)
Jon Schmidt Christmas concert
Kurt Bestor Christmas concert
Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band Christmas concert
Peter Brienholt Christmas concert
Carriage rides in downtown SLC or at Thanksgiving Point
A Christmas Carol Play
The 100 Hours of Christmas on FM 100, now they play Christmas music constantly after Halloween I think? It used to be just the 100 hours leading up to Christmas day, I think now the 100 hours of Christmas are commercial free or something. :)
Downtown SLC Holiday Windows (look for a map of the windows on this website after Thanksgiving)
Candy Windows in downtown Provo (I'm actually not sure they do this anymore--anyone know? We tried to see them last year and while there were a few windows decorated, there were no candy ones...)
Living Nativity Pageant in Provo
Ice Skating, (also in the past there has been an ice skating rink at Gateway Mall although I'm not sure if they do that every year?)
Awesome decorations all over cities/stores/BYU/the library in Provo, etc...
Midway Creche Exhibit

There you have it! I hope you find something that interests you and have fun for me since I won't be in Utah until after Christmas! If you have other things you love about Christmas in Utah, feel free to let me know and I'll add it to the list!

Turkey Placemat

I think this Turkey Placemat is so darling! It would be such a fun project to make for your family, and it looks like it was bought at some boutique! Love it!

Trouble

*image found here

I'm pretty sure if I were make this recipe, it would be trouble...but oh I wanna try it!
This recipe was featured on Studio 5, compliments of the Prudence Pennywise blog.

MAPLE GLAZE DONUTS

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 cup mashed potatoes (I use 1 cup boiling water and 1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes or buds)
• 4 and 1/2 cups flour, DIVIDED
• 2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• pinch of nutmeg (two quick shakes)

Method:

In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat eggs until frothy. Add sugar and beat well. Add buttermilk butter, vanilla. Stir in mashed potatoes. Sprinkle exactly 3 and 1/2 cups flour, plus powder, soda, salt and nutmeg over the dough. Stir until just blended. The dough will be extremely sticky. Line a dinner plate with waxed paper. Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour on top of waxed paper. Gather sticky dough up and press onto waxed paper; sprinkle the top with remaining 1/2 cup flour. If you need to pat atop a little more flour to be able to work with the dough, go ahead and sprinkle/pat it on top but DO NOT mix it in. ( You can refrigerate dough for a couple of hours at this point if you want, but not for too long or the dough will turn black from the potatoes.) Let the dough rest on the plate for five minutes. Meanwhile, heat large heavy pot with 1 inch of oil until oil is about 375 degrees. Turn donuts out onto flat floured surface. Pat the dough into a square only slightly larger than the plate. The dough should be about 1/2 inch thick. (Do not knead in the flour that have you sprinkled on the donuts. It will cook away on the outside, promise.) Cut donuts with donut cutter, or use the top of a prescription pill bottle for donut holes. Holes are the best in my opinion. Fry donuts until pale golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Cool for five minutes before glazing.In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat eggs until frothy. Add sugar and beat well. Add buttermilk butter, vanilla. Stir in mashed potatoes. Sprinkle exactly 3 and 1/2 cups flour, plus powder, soda, salt and nutmeg over the dough. Stir until just blended. The dough will be extremely sticky. Line a dinner plate with waxed paper. Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour on top of waxed paper. Gather sticky dough up and press onto waxed paper; sprinkle the top with remaining 1/2 cup flour. If you need to pat atop a little more flour to be able to work with the dough, go ahead and sprinkle/pat it on top but DO NOT mix it in. ( You can refrigerate dough for a couple of hours at this point if you want, but not for too long or the dough will turn black from the potatoes.) Let the dough rest on the plate for five minutes. Meanwhile, heat large heavy pot with 1 inch of oil until oil is about 375 degrees. Turn donuts out onto flat floured surface. Pat the dough into a square only slightly larger than the plate. The dough should be about 1/2 inch thick. (Do not knead in the flour that have you sprinkled on the donuts. It will cook away on the outside, promise.) Cut donuts with donut cutter, or use the top of a prescription pill bottle for donut holes. Holes are the best in my opinion. Fry donuts until pale golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Cool for five minutes before glazing.

Maple Glaze
Notes: This makes enough for half a batch of donuts, in case you want to make some powdered sugar donuts or plain sugar.
Combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons maple extract and about 4 tablespoons cream (or milk) until smooth.

Make it and Love it

I think this shirt looks so cute! I'm not usually a fan of big embellishments on my clothes, but I like this one. Find info on how to make your own here!
I think this beautiful Cranberry Cake looks so delicious! And to me it screams thanksgiving because of the cranberries! Find the recipe here!

I got both of these ideas at Make it and Love it--I love this website! You should check it out!

Give Thanks

I came across a really cute turkey tutorial today, this picture doesn't show the whole thing...that picture was too big for my blog, but go here and see the finished result and find instructions! So cute!

I think this garland looks so pretty and fun to make. Find instructions here.

I would love to make this turkey with my little boy--how fun and easy!

Shutterfly Christmas Cards!

Since we have moved away from friends and family this year, I am really anxious to send out Christmas cards! I guess hoping they will be returned, and that a little bit of my lonesomeness from missing Utah will be eased. Plus it is so exciting and fun to send and receive Christmas cards! It helps you feel the Christmas spirit when you send cards to friends and family.
I have found that Shutterfly has some great options at great prices! I'm not sure how I'm going to choose just one!
No matter what style you are going for--they have it. I'm more of a simple yet elegant sort of person, but they have more trendy, fun designs too. They even have options for you to include more than one picture in your card.

I love how the stars frame the picture in this card! Love it!
Shimmering Stars
I love the simplicity of this card--mainly a picture on the front with space inside for you to write whatever you want!
Holly Frame

I love red, and I love snowflakes. This makes a beautiful combination!
Elegant Lace Snowflakes

This one to me is elegant--maybe because of the black and white. I also love the "oh holy night" script since that is a great Christmas carol.
O Holy Night

This one is beautiful! Red, stars, belief...there is so much to believe in that we are reminded of at Christmastime.
Believe in Magic

The best part about Shutterfly Christmas cards is that they have an amazing offer for bloggers to get 50 free holiday cards! For information on signing up, go here! Thanks Shutterfly for a great Christmas gift!

Thinking Ahead...

...to December! I saw this amazing Advent Calender on my friend Chelsea's blog and love it! Just had to share. :) Go check out the amazing photographs of the ornaments!

Also go here if you need ideas for Holiday Traditions!

Feathers

It's that time of year we get to think about feathers...or at least turkeys, and they have feathers. :) Once upon a time I made a dream catcher and recently have been wondering how I did that so I could make another one. I was happy to find this tutorial to make your own dream catcher!
I have feathers hanging from the one I made long ago, and I think you should definitely add some to yours if you make one!



I love this cute turkey applique on a t-shirt! Do you think if you used different fabrics it could be cute for a boy too? This one is definitely girly... Find the info on how to do this here.
Enjoy your feathers!

Dinner in a Pumpkin

*image found here

I have been wanting to try this for quite some time but have never been able to find a recipe! I was so excited today to come across this recipe from Studio 5. I don't know that I'll get around to trying it this year, but maybe next Halloween! Have you ever tried dinner in a pumpkin? Did you like it?

Ingredients:

• 1 pumpkin, 10-inches in diameter
• 3 cups hamburger
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 can mushrooms, drained
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 2 cups chopped onions
• 1 cup chopped green peppers
• 1 cup rice

Method:

Clean pumpkin and set aside. Brown hamburger and drain well. Add soy sauce, brown sugar, mushrooms, soup, onion, celery and peppers. Cook rice according to directions on box. Add to meat. Mix well and add mixture to pumpkin. Put lid on and bake at 375 degrees for one hour.

Spooky

I used to love watching this little music video when I was younger. Well, I decided to show it to my little youngster this year and he loves watching it! He always asks "again? again?" after we finish watching it. Or when we haven't watched it for awhile, he will come to me and ask "watch spooky computer?" and what he means is that he wants to watch this on the computer. He calls it spooky, and comments about how it's spooky throughout the video. :) I think it's cute. Hope you like it!

Halloween Drinks

When I was growing up, my mom would make "Witches Brew" every year for Halloween. It was a lot of fun and a special drink we only got once a year. Unfortunately, I never really loved the taste of it. But I would love to have a special drink for Halloween still! I found these two fun alternatives that sound much tastier. :) Find the recipe for Ogre Eyes Hot Cocoa here, and a different Witches Brew with Broomsticks here.

Mummies, Owls, and more

There are owl cutouts at the "library" here in town, and my little honey loves them--I just found these printable owls. I wonder if you could change the colors for Halloween? They would be fun to hang around the house, in a window, on a garland, etc...


Growing up we used terra cotta pots to make Halloween bats and spiders, so maybe I like this because it reminds me of when I was young. Aren't these cute though? Find instructions here.

ALSO, I found this great collection of Halloween ideas, many of them printable! When you don't have a holiday decor budget, but love holiday decor, I think that is wonderful!

Obsessed with Treats

For the past few years I have been obsessed with the idea of making homemade donuts. I still have never done it, but here is another easy recipe I have found. I'm really hoping this is the year to do this--I think it would be so fun to make these for Halloween!

I am also obsessed with cinnamon rolls--to me they are full of tradition, romance, and one of the ultimate treats ever. This recipe looks amazing, I can't wait to try it!

Several Ideas

One thing I love about holidays is decorating for them! I was so excited to find these fun, easy, and inexpensive ways to decorate from Blue Cricket Designs. Here's to hoping I can whip these up this year to decorate our house!

Bleeding Candles...I was surprised how easy these are! Check out the instructions here.

I love garlands and banners...this one is cute, inexpensive, and could last through Thanksgiving if you wanted! Find instructions for this here.

This idea I absolutely love! I don't have a chandelier, but how fun would it be to put these on your light fixtures or maybe your mirror? Find instructions here. Any ideas how to get vinyl bats (I think spiders would be cute too!) if you don't have a Silhouette or other vinyl cutting machine?

Do you have any favorite decoration ideas?

Pumpkin Carving

Can you tell what I am excited about lately? I am so happy it is Halloween time (well...practically)!! You can find free printable stencils from Better Homes and Gardens for carving your pumpkin here!

Poisoned Apple

I am itching to make these "poisoned" apples! I've never had a candied apple before and how fun would it be to make these for Halloween? Especially since I plan on making an appearance as Snow White...

How fun would this be to have in your kitchen or bathroom for Halloween time? You could change up the colors to match your room decor...or make it totally different for Halloween. :) Find instructions here.

Love Journal

I have been feeling lately like I need to be better at keeping a journal and then I came across this idea. I love the idea of having a journal where you write about only your spouse. Also, this is a great idea for an inexpensive journal of any type--whether it be a journal you write in about your children, your spiritual experiences, or just day to day life. Find instructions here.