Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Happy blogoversary to Campfires and Cleats! 5 years of memories~

 On this very day in 2012,
Our Lady's Feast Day, I decided to begin my "online journal,"
never, ever realizing the world of opportunity and friends
 that would come my way because of it!

I've met so many truly amazing people,
developed friendships with special individuals
on this and three other continents....wow!.....
.....been granted the privilege to experience 
unique and crazy adventures....
and hopefully, improved my writing skills 
here in myhome on the web.....
I've slapped some poetry and memoir up here
as well as shopping guides,
 a camping how-tobirthday party wrap ups,
more cakes than I can count...but here's my fave, for you Whovians.
And here's a  Victory Cake for Hunger Games readers.....
and
boy, it's been a blast!
No one's more surprised than I about the world
of opportunity, creativity and reflection that my home on the 
web has paved the way for me.......
with "regulars" stopping by and new friends on occasion,
peeking in to introduce themselves and leave a comment once in  a while too!
And thank you all!



So, a look back with me??
Let's do it~~~ 



How about a real  quick peek at the top 3 reasons readers
have stopped by?

Back when I was a home school Mom
and I'd blog our curriculum, our crafts and our liturgical life:

The number two draw ever to my home on the web here,
was this post about our journey to San Francisco :

The Best Sour Dough Bread Bowl Clam Chowder 
You'll Ever Have, this Side of Fisherman's Wharf
which was more about Alcatraz, street artists, the Golden Gate
and walking the wharf, than it was about the actual recipe.
Though this clam chowder is to- die-for!


Third most visited post over five years of blogging?

This reflection on our trip to the Pacific Northwest:
Glacial Peaks, Alpine Creeks, Gunslingers and Gold Miners:

 How the West Was Lost 
Little Bighorn, Montana
formerly known as "Custer Battlefield National Monument"
July 2012




And my "wrap up" of each year since I began blogging?

Here's my look back at 20132014 and 2015. 2016!

Nope, haven't done a wrap of 2017 yet...coming soon!


 My blog's become less of a home school, craft, family scrapbook 
as it began in 2012
and developed into  more of a  travel / memoir space.

Over the past few years, Campfires and Cleats has had the  privilege of being sponsored 
 by some pretty amazing tourism companies.
A few of the organizations I've partnered with: 

























The blog right now, right here in 2017?
Well, my kids are growing up and  there are fewer current family
photos, less in - depth view into our day to day.
Mainly because parenting teens is ....well.......
harder than parenting littles
  and....although I love you guys....
it's just not for public consumption, IMHO.

 So........fewer peeks into the deep and the personal.
Of which there has been much recently.

But that's me and that's my season of life now.


Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....




If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris


BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized
photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! > 


Tuesday, November 21, 2017

DIY: Beautiful and frugal Thanksgiving centerpieces & place cards you can easily create!


How's the Thanksgiving preparation moving along with you this week?
I have to say...I'm in pretty good shape over here.
The house is ( relatively) clean...
table's set.....decorations are up!
The menu is planned, the ingredients purchased and a schedule for 
each  dish and pie that needs to be prepared......
 chopped, simmered,
baked, marinated, quartered, mixed, kneaded, rolled, mixed, baked.....
has been set out.
It's the first Thanksgiving since '98 ( !) that I have hosted 
and I'm super excited about it!
Tomorrow ( Thanksgiving Eve) I'll  get working super duper early
in order for the hors d' oeuvres, appetizers, sides and pies
 to be  prepared and baked, 
leaving the oven free tomorrow night for our 28 pound turkey!
In addition to the food, those decorations I mentioned?
Thought I'd stop in and share a couple of super easy and very inexpensive 
items that can be used as
 centerpieces, counter top decor, place cards.
If  you're passing a Dollar Tree and would like to
 pick up a few items to create these
simple and lovely crafts for this year
or
 maybe  you'd like to purchase a few things 
and put them away for next Thanksgiving. to whip them up then.....
Either way, here are the supplies you might like to have on hand
 to make your table<  or a few corners and counters >
really sparkle with Fall color and design: 


From the kitchen~ 
 a set of orange-y  lights draped over the window
framing a recent gorgeous dawn.

From the dining room ~ 
 It's just so simple, but this give thanks banner glistens
in its festivity, doesn't it?
The sign came as part of a kit.....
each letter needs to be strung on a 1/2 inch wide satin-y ribbon.

Now are you up for some gorgeous, yet quick
centerpiece making?
I made these both in about 10 minutes including glue-drying time!




Here are the easy materials:


glue
festive  - holiday themed ribbon
AAA batteries ( ? )  

Because that battery pack pictured up there
 is so large,  I chose a wide ribbon to "hide" it.


Adorn the glasses as you'd like.....
Cut and wrap the ribbon and
maybe even glue on a paper craft maple leaf as I did here~ 




Once the LED lights are on, you have a super cute centerpiece!
I made 6 of these which will enhance the table nicely!

About those place cards?
How easy and cute are these~~



Mini chalk boards , glue , fall colored chalk
and paper maple leaves
 (which  I bought in bulk at the Dollar Tree)
and you're all set!



Easy, lovely and festive!
I would SO enjoy seeing photos of your creations!
Enjoy!

And................
How about a sweet deal for you!?
If you take this survey by SCJohnson, 
you'll be rewarded with specials, updates, info!


Click here to take the Thanksgathering survey~~
When families, gather, things get messy and
 turk-ify your family 
and get a $5 Mastercard when you upload a receipt for 
#SC Johnson products. 
5 winners every day up until 11/30/2017 
will be selected to win a year’s worth of SC Johnson products!!
Now that's even more  for which to be thankful!

This is a #sponsored #ad through #SCJ 




Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....



If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris


BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized
photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! > 



My Books~

I'm proud that my stories are included within these fine collections!
........and I'd like to keep them in "one spot" on the blog here......:

Preview

"The Little Things"
in
Stories for  a Homeschool Heart
2011




Preview

"Glacial Peaks, Alpine Creeks, Gunslingers & Gold Miners: 
How the West Was Lost "
in 
God Moments
2013




Preview


"The View from Our Cabin"
and 
"Silence"
in 
Five Minute Friday
2016



Thank you for spending some of your precious time today
here at my home on the web! 

Have you signed up to receive my posts in your email inbox?
   If not, just click here to 
quickly and easily  so we can be in touch regularly!
You might wish to follow on Facebook as well.....



If you are shopping at  amazon and Target
or shopping for Halloween costumes
why not consider clicking through my link
In this way, I will receive a small commission on the purchase.....
at no cost to you.
THANK YOU!

Until next time,

~Chris


BTW, I'm offering photo services and customized
photo packages for your blog or business!
< Subscribers receive a deep discount! >