O Holy Night

The Fa-la-la Brouhaha is complete, and "O Holy Night" is the clear champion. There were a couple of close calls on its way to the top, but it reigns triumphant as this year's favorite Christmas song.

Thank you to all who voted. Maybe we'll do another bracket-y type competition with sometime this year. 80s music, anyone?

Enjoy Celtic Women singing "O Holy Night" and Merry Christmas!

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Finals

It's all come down to this. Coventry Carol, the plucky come-from-behind winner, vs. O Holy Night, Christmas powerhouse. Who will win the title of BEST CHRISTMAS SONG OF ALL TIME AS DECIDED BY APPROXIMATELY 20 PEOPLE?

Fa-la-la Brouhaha FINAL FOUR

COVENTRY CAROL vs. MARY'S BOY CHILD

Both coming from behind in surprising underdog finishes, this match-up features an ancient carol up against a modern calypso classic.







O HOLY NIGHT vs. YOU'RE A MEAN ONE, MR. GRINCH

Easy favorites in both the Holidaze and Kids Kristmas categories, these two songs are so completely different, it might be hard to choose. Then again, it might not.

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Elite Eight

The theme for the Elite Eight videos is "instrumental." Some are kind of home grown, some are pretty darn amazing. Enjoy!

Heavenly Hymns

O Come All Ye Faithful vs. Coventry Carol

Choral Carols

Mary's Boy Child vs. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Holidaze

I'll Be Home for Christmas vs. O Holy Night

Kids Kristmas

Winter Wonderland vs. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Fa-la-la Brouhaha SWEET 16

We're going to handle these final rounds all in ONE DAY, people. Now is the time for all good voters to come to the aid of their favorites. Campaign for votes! Make promise of candy canes and sugar cookies...whatever it takes!

Heavenly Hymns

O Come All Ye Faithful vs. Joy to the World





Coventry Carol vs. Lo How a Rose E'er Blooming





Choral Carols

Mary's Boy Child vs. This Little Babe




"This Little Babe" begins at 1:04




Ding Dong Merrily On High vs. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen





Holidaze

Do They Know It's Christmas? vs. I'll Be Home for Christmas





O Holy Night vs. White Christmas





Kids Kristmas

Christmastime Is Here vs.Winter Wonderland



12 Days of Christmas vs. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Round 2, Day 4

In round 2, we'll narrow down each category, one day at a time!  Be sure to check back each day to vote, and feel free to pass it along to your friends for voting too.

HEY PARENTS: I don't recommend sharing the Alice Cooper version of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" with your kids. It will probably give them nightmares.

Kids Kristmas

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town vs. Christmastime is Here





Winter Wonderland vs. Jingle Bells





12 Days of Christmas vs. The Chipmunk Song



Lest you think I just gave you the same "Chipmunk Song" video again, this version has been slowed down so you can hear the Chipmunks as they really sound. Dave sounds really weird, though...




You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch vs. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Round 2, Day 3

In round 2, we'll narrow down each category, one day at a time!  Be sure to check back each day to vote, and feel free to pass it along to your friends for voting too. 

Holidaze

Do They Know It's Christmas? vs. Last Christmas





I'll Be Home for Christmas vs. Merry Christmas Darling





Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas vs. O Holy Night


This is the actual YouTube description for this video: 

 i think a friend of mine has a cd of this so as always enjoy merry 
christmas i draw this picture to on paint you like 
check out this link coo trance songs there :) i subscribe to this 
youtuber for trance videos that is his channel link to enjoy :) 




White Christmas vs. Let It Snow

Round 2, Day 2

In round 2, we'll narrow down each category, one day at a time!  Be sure to check back each day to vote, and feel free to pass it along to your friends for voting too. 

Choral Carols
Do You Hear What I Hear? vs. Mary's Little Boy Child






This Little Babe vs. Il est né





The Holly and the Ivy vs. Ding Dong Merrily on High





God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen vs. Wexford Carol

Round 2, Day 1

In round 2, we'll narrow down each category, one day at a time!  Be sure to check back each day to vote, and feel free to pass it along to your friends for voting too. 

Heavenly Hymns

Angels We Have Heard on High vs. O Come, All Ye Faithful



Away In a Manger (U.S.) vs. Joy to the World



Coventry Carol vs. In the Bleak Midwinter



The First Nowell vs. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Looking Forward to ROUND 2!

Here are the match-ups for Round 2. Get ready to VOTE!

Note:  This round will feature "unlikely performers."

Heavenly Hymns

Angels We Have Heard on High vs. O Come, All Ye Faithful

Away In a Manger (U.S.) vs. Joy to the World

Coventry Carol vs. In the Bleak Midwinter

The First Nowell vs. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

Choral Carols

Do You Hear What I Hear? vs. Mary's Boy Child

This Little Babe vs. Il est né

The Holly and the Ivy vs. Ding Dong Merrily on High

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen vs. Wexford Carol

Holidaze

Do They Know It's Christmas? vs. Last Christmas

I'll Be Home for Christmas vs. Merry Christmas Darling

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas vs. O Holy Night

White Christmas vs. Let It Snow!

Kids Kristmas

Santa Claus is Coming to Town vs. Christmastime Is Here

Winter Wonderland vs. Jingle Bells

12 Days of Christmas vs. The Chipmunk Song

You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch vs. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Round 1, Day 8

Heavenly Hymns

We Three Kings vs. The Coventry Carol

There's definitely a touch of Easter in these two Christmastide hymns. (Yes, technically "We 3 Kings" is an Epiphany thing, but no complaints, remember...see the Fa-la-la Brouhaha announcement.) But, our greatest joys are tinged with sadness, are they not?





Choral Carols

Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day vs. The Holly and the Ivy

In a continuation of Christmas+Easter, these two carols face off in a battle of the ENGLISH CAROL. Really, can you get much more English than this? They're really, really Englishy.




Holidaze

The Christmas Song vs. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Is this the hardest choice you've had to make? Not ever, but about Christmas music?




Kids Kristmas

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth vs. The Twelve Days of Christmas

Two! Twelve! Epic battle!

Enjoy the pretty lights. Except for "2 Front Teeth" - apparently this challenge has not yet been undertaken. Instead, I found the weirdest video. You're welcome.
(Seriously, why is there a mouse in the stocking HOLDING TWO FRONT TEETH?)

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Round 1, Day 7 (we're almost there)

Heavenly Hymns

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People vs. Joy to the World

Two hymns from opposite sides of the Advent tracks. "Comfort, Comfort" has the advantage in the "most alternate titles" category (...Comfort O My People, ...Comfort Now My People), while "Joy to the World" has star power:  its melody is believed to be composed by none other than Handel (that Messiah guy).





Choral Carols

Gaudete vs. Il est né

Not only are these two carols in languages other than English...they also rhyme. With each other!




Holidaze

Merry Christmas Darling vs. It's in Every One of Us

Karen Carpenter? A treasure. John Denver? A treasure. Which will win????





Kids Kristmas

Jingle Bell Rock vs. Jingle Bells

One word can make all the difference! Epic battle!

Enjoy the pretty lights.

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Round 1, Day 6

Heavenly Hymns

Silent Night vs. In the Bleak Midwinter

Peaceful night. Quiet snow. Nights when babies are born are always calm. Which is your favorite expression of this sentiment?




Choral Carols

Ding Dong Merrily on High vs. I Saw Three Ships

Bells and ships! What else says Christmas like ships? And three of them!




Holidaze

O Holy Night vs. Carol of the Bells

Two iconic classics go head to head in this battle of beloved Christmas favorites!




Kids Kristmas

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer vs. The Chipmunk Song

Grandma! Chipmunks! Epic battle!

Enjoy the pretty lights.

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Round 1, Day 5

Heavenly Hymns

Away In a Manger vs. Away In a Manger

What, there are TWO? Well, yes and no. Like many hymns, there is more than one "standard" tune for this text. Many consider the first the "U.S." version and the second the "British" version. Which is your favorite? (Yes, there is a "mash-up" of these two songs, and it is lovely.)






Choral Carols

Little Drummer Boy vs. This Little Babe

The drummer boy is little, the babe is little. The songs are nothing alike.  "Little Drummer Boy" has the advantage of being well-known and oft recorded.  "This Little Babe" is maybe less well-known, but certainly musically superior.  Listen to both and vote for your favorite.






Holidaze

I'll Be Home for Christmas vs. All I Want for Christmas is You

A sentimental favorite vs. a new classic. Tough battle...it all depends on the demographics here! Someone could do an awesome mash-up and call it "All I Want for Christmas is Home." (Maybe not.)






Kids Kristmas

Silver Bells vs. Winter Wonderland

Silvery! Wintery! Epic battle!

Enjoy the pretty lights. (People do weird things with their Christmas lights...)

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Round 1, Day 4

Heavenly Hymns

O Little Town of Bethlehem vs. The First Nowell

Two hymn standards go head-to-head! Will it be "O Little Town of Bethlehem" - an American hymn, or "The First Nowell" - decidedly British (just look at that spelling!)? Remember, the priest who wrote "O Little Town" was from Philly, if it makes any difference...






Choral Carols

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen vs. Good King Wenceslas

Perennial favorites of carolers, these are two songs of which you probably only know the first stanzas.  "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" has the advantage of having that catchy chorus: "O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort AND joy, O tidings of COMFORT and JOY." "Wenceslas" tells a heart-warming tale, if you listen to all the verses in the order they occur.






Holidaze

White Christmas vs. Blue Christmas

White Christmas! Blue Christmas! Itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie yellow polka-dot Christmas! This series could have had so many more hits...






Kids Kristmas

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer vs. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Rudolph! Grinch! Epic battle!

Enjoy the pretty lights.

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Round 1, Day 3

Heavenly Hymns

O Come, All Ye Faithful vs. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

At seven verses apiece, these two songs are longer than you think. While the first word of the stanzas of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" make a rather awkward sentence (O God See Lo Child Sing Yea), the first word of the stanzas of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" say OOOOOOO. Your choice here is really whether you like being told what to do, or telling someone else what to do.






Choral Carols

Breath of Heaven vs. Mary's Boy Child

Old skool Amy Grant vs. the King of Calypso. This match-up is really about the depiction of the young Mary, unmarried, having a baby. Are your heartstrings plucked by Ms. Grant, laying on the loneliness, or by Mr. Belafonte, joyously celebrating the birth of the babe?







Holidaze

Christmas Wrapping vs. Last Christmas

Battle of the Christmas love songs! Sure, Wham! has the name caché and breathy George Michael, but their lyrics pale in comparison to the epic journey told by The Waitresses. Each song's story lasts a year, but the outcomes are so, so different.







Kids Kristmas

Silver and Gold vs. Christmastime Is Here
Rudolph vs. Charlie Brown Christmas! Who will win???

Enjoy the pretty lights.

Fa-la-la Brouhaha Round 1, Day 2

Heavenly Hymns

What Child Is This vs. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

These two songs don't really have anything in common except that they're really old.  "What Child Is This" is both younger and older than "Lo, How a Rose": the lyrics for "What Child" were written 1865 while the text of "Lo" dates from the late 16th century.  However, the translation of "Lo" was 1894. Also the tune of "Lo" dates from 1599 (harmonization 1609) while the tune for "What Child" (yup, "Greensleeves") was written in 1580. Like I said, both old.







Choral Carols

Sussex Carol vs. Wexford Carol

This battle is known as "Nerds Know the Difference."  The "Wexford Carol" is Irish while the "Sussex Carol" is English (kind of), but don't let that influence you.  The words for the "Sussex Carol" were first published by an Irish priest who lived awfully near to County Wexford, so the two carols are probably cousins.






Holidaze

Baby It's Cold Outside vs. Let It Snow

Don't go! It's cold and snowing and don't you want to just stay here a little longer?  Granted, "Baby It's Cold" comes on a little strong. "You could get pneumonia and die"? Really? Death? On the other hand, "Let It Snow" is maybe on the naive side of the coin. However you prefer it, here are two date night songs for your listening pleasure...






Kids Kristmas

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas vs. Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey

Hippo! Donkey! Epic battle!

Enjoy the pretty lights. (People do weird things with their Christmas lights...)

Fa-la-la Brouhaha, Round 1, Day 1

Heavenly Hymns

Angels We Have Heard On High vs. Angels From the Realms of Glory

Straight off, we have an angelic battle. "Angels We Have Heard" is probably the better known of the two, and has the advantage in this bout, being number 116 in the Pilgrim Hymnal (while "Angels From the Realms" is the also-ran at number 117).   It features an epic "Gloria" chorus, and is likely why you think of eggshells at Christmas.  Our other angel hymn is that one you know but can't quite hum, and possibly you think the second line goes "God has spoken, He is mad."  Or maybe that's just me.





Choral Carols

Gesu Bambino vs. Do You Hear What I Hear?

In our "songs we hear the choir sing" category, we have two holiday standards. "Gesu Bambino" is that song you know and can sing all the words to, but never know the name of because it isn't anywhere in the song. Nope, not in there. Not in the Italian either. But watch the video and sing along. "Do You Hear What I Hear?" wound up on both the favorites and least favorites list last year. Certainly it might have been shorter if the little lamb had answered the night wind with a simple "Yes." Both songs are appropriate for mid-level choirs, though "Do You Hear" has a way better SSA arrangement.





Holidaze

Happy Christmas (War Is Over) vs. Do They Know It's Christmas 

While some might consider this the "battle of the Christmas downers," really it's a Beatle Battle. Ok, not really. It's a battle of a songwriter named Yoko and a songwriter named Midge.  But seriously, it's a battle of lyrics that are hard to hear, and reminding us that Christmas is more than just what's comfortable at home.






 Kids Kristmas

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town vs. Here Comes Santa Claus

Santa Claus is coming. HE'S COMING! But how? And with what? There's so many questions!!!

Enjoy the pretty lights.

The Fa-la-la Brouhaha!

Photo credit: Grzegorz Łobiński

Beginning tomorrow, I'll be running a little Christmas Song bracket tournament--like March Madness, but with Christmas songs.

These songs made the tournament after a very scientific process of asking people on Facebook.  They have been grouped into four divisions:

• Heavenly Hymns (straight from the hymnal and into your heart)
• Choral Carols (songs you want to sing in church, but leave it to the professionals)
• Holidaze (radio favorites)
• Kids Kristmas (pretty much what it sounds like)

Be sure to check in daily and VOTE for your favorites!

***

Disclaimer:  This contest is for fun. No whining, no complaining. FUN ONLY!

Many Projects...One Post

Weeeeellllll...I've done better with my Pinterest challenge than I have with blogging about it.

Here are a few projects that have been finished in the past month or so:

1.  Crochet Necklace

Here's the pin.

Here's my necklace.

This bannister post looks eerily personesque

I think the next one I make will have more beads, smaller beads, at varying intervals, and pull the crochet tighter around the beads. But I really like wearing this one.  Simple, and great colors.

Look at those great colors. So great.

 
I got these beads at Michael's on WICKED SALE...50% off...and decided on DMC pearl cotton for the stuff to crochet with.  I used a small crochet hook (size B...the smallest I've ever used).  I "loaded" all 20 beads onto the floss and started single chaining.  Every 20 chains, I'd bring a bead up and crochet around it.  It's just one big loop...I thought it looked best on me with four even loops which made little bead outcroppings, but it's unbound and has the flexibility to be worn differently.

I'm all for flexibility in accessories.

2.  Nightstand!

Here's the pin.

So. I didn't have a nightstand next to the bed. I was using a ClosetMaid Horizontal Organizer unit. Like this one:

It's an organizer! It's horizontal!

Except on end.

No longer horizontal! And less effective as an organizer!

Which is fine, except that our shoes are all over the floor, and as awesome as the ClosetMaid Horizontal Organizer is, it's NOT a nightstand.

So we got this one for free on Craigslist.

Ug. Ly.

Since I had to sand it down so much, I took the time to prime it.  I'm glad I did.  It made the paint go on nice and easy.

I found a can of "new black" paint that had been returned to Lowe's. $5! A pretty Martha Stewart stencil on the drawer, a coat or two of Rustoleum polyurethane over the whole thing, and a $1 knob from Second Use, and...

A thing of beauty and a joy to be able to store my nighttime crap in.

...voila!  So pretty! It looks great next to our black bed frame, and will go with any quilt we choose to put on the bed.

3.  Pot Roast

Here's the pin.

I don't have a picture of the final roast, nor did I actually get to taste it. But I heard from Recipe Taster #1 that it was pretty good. He's not got a super sophisticated palate, and usually enjoys whatever I cook, so I'll have to post more about this the next time I make the recipe.

Purple Scarf - Pancreatic Cancer Sucks

Last week's Pinterest challenge was this awesome fringy scarf.  But, it's the story behind the scarf that I want to talk about.

What is that story? Will you tell me? Will you tell me while I wear this awesome fringy scarf?

Pancreatic cancer is awful.  It's tremendously difficult to diagnose, and has an extremely low survival rate.  According to the NIH, "Ninety-five percent of the people diagnosed with this cancer will not be alive 5 years later."

My friend, Megg, has this blog, and one day she used some strong language.  I understand that strong language, having lost a few close to me to cancer.  She said she was feeling powerless, and wished she could DO SOMETHING.

So, we came up with this idea to sell purple scarves, and donate the money from the sales to help find a cure for Pancreatic cancer.

Here's her post, "Calling All Knitters":

I have a personal vendetta against pancreatic cancer.
I'm collecting purple scarves to sell for Pancreatic cancer awareness. ALL money (not just profits) will be donated to pancan.org.

Here are some facts about pancreatic cancer:

• The pancreas is used to produce insulin. Due to the fact that it doesn't have any nerves, pancreatic cancer often isn't diagnosed or even noticed until it has spread.
• There are very few treatments for pancreatic cancer.
• Only 2% of the American Cancer Society's research budget goes toward pancreatic cancer.
• Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.
• The average life expectancy after diagnosis is 3-6 months.
• There are no early detection tools for pancreatic cancer.

I know what you're thinking. Everyone has a cause, and mine happens to be pancreatic cancer. Yours may be diabetes, heart disease, breast cancer, ALS or any number of horrible diseases that have touched your life. You can't help all of them.

My request is simple. Make me a scarf. The scarves will be sold for $15 (I'm looking into how to sell them, but I'm going to start on my Etsy shop) and all that money will go toward pancreatic cancer awareness. Do you knit or crochet? Please consider making me just one scarf. I can't do it all...I need your help.
{I am requesting purple scarves, since that is the color of pancreatic cancer awareness. All shades, patterns and types of purple scarves will be accepted!}

Don't knit or crochet? That's OK. Would you consider buying a scarf? I'm planning on setting up a paypal for this alone, separate from my personal one.
Cancer has touched almost everyone. Please consider donating or helping me out, no matter what your personal cause is.

If you're interested in making or buying a scarf (I'm hoping to have WAY more options that my one, soon!) please email me at crazymegg at gmail.

***

 It is difficult to be angry at something that isn't sentient, like cancer.  But. We. Are. Angry.  We know those purple scarves aren't the solution, but it gives us something to do, to keep us busy and help focus that anger into something productive.

If you're a knitter and want to help, contact me or Megg.  

Here's the scarf I made, modelled by my amazing sister.  I will keep making scarves and posting about them here.  And Megg will be selling them here.  Thanks for reading.

Look how fringy! And purple! I just know the money from the sale of this scarf will be what cures Pancreatic cancer.

Coconut Curry Chicken Soup - First Trial

Last week's Pinterest project was Coconut Curry Chicken Soup.  I'm on a HUGE kick for this soup, having found a delectable option at our local supermarket.  But $3.99 is a lot for a cup of soup, and, while I appreciate the convenience of the supermarket deli, I can't afford to buy as much of this soup as I want to eat.  Clearly, making my own is the only way.

I went to Pinterest and searched for Coconut Curry Chicken Soup, and pinned a few interesting and delicious looking options.  My first trial was this option, because it looked a little more filling than the others I had pinned, what with the noodles and all.

As with oh, so many recipes, and particularly recipes from magazines, there are places in the instructions that leave room for interpretation.  "Shredded cooked chicken breast" is one of these.  I had some random Foster Farms lying around, and put them in the oven with some chicken broth to cook through, thinking it would keep them moist and the chicken broth flavor would be complimentary to the soup itself, as it contains 6 cups of the stuff.  Wrong choice.  The soup itself was mildly curry-flavored to begin with, so the standout flavor was indeed CHICKEN COOKED IN CHICKEN BROTH instead of the delicious curry-flavored chicken my mouth was wanting.  Lesson learned.

I was disappointed with the broth.  The lite coconut milk was too light, the curry flavors were understated, and the chicken broth was overwhelming.  Fine, acceptable, adequate...but not amazing, awesome, or delicious.

The vegetables and noodles were wonderful.  Keep that part.

I plan on making this recipe again, with some tweaks.  When I do, I'll write a review...and possibly an amended recipe.

Of course, I forgot to take a picture of this adequate dish.  Mine looked pretty much exactly like the picture in the original post, which is featured below.

Not my picture. Cooking Light has better photographers than me.

Pinterest craft #2 - Wall Hanging Hanger

My original Pinterest project for this week got postponed due to rain, so I did something else.  Yay productivity!  And it wasn't even a direct Pinterest descendant...it's Pinterest-once-removed.  Let me 'splain you.

Here's the original pin.

My sister made an amazing "Grandkids" display for my parents and her in-laws for Christmas, and made me this adorable display of my own baby (and her cuties) as a surprise.

Surprise cuteness!

It was too cute to just hang on a plain old nail.  Even a painted nail.

Andy has discovered the "funness" of browsing through second hand building materials shops, and he's got me on a kick too.  There are several around Seattle, and our favorite so far is Second Use.  We picked out a drawer pull ($1) and an old brass escutcheon (the plate that goes around a door knob or a keyhole...they used to be fancy) ($12).

I cleaned it, and primed it with Martha Stewart's Metal Primer. I used a sponge brush and painted it all over with Black DecoArt Americana Gloss Enamel paint.

I might have used a USPS box as a painting platform.

I followed that up with a coat of Shimmer Silver DecoArt Dazzing Metallic paint.

Blackish-silvery. New-old.

Finally, I gently sponged White DecoArt Americana Gloss Enamel paint on the raised filigree on the escutcheon. (Don't you want to just write it again and again and again?  Escutcheon!  Escutcheon!)

I mounted the painted escutcheon (last time, I promise) on a small piece of craft plywood, painted with a lovely desert turquoise DecoArt Americana acrylic paint and "distressed" with white.

Not too shabby, but definitely shabby chic.

I screwed the drawer pull on where the doorknob would have belonged.  And...voila!  A picture hanger cute enough to hang my sister's gift upon!

Adorable, if I do say so myself.

What do you think?  Etsy worthy?

UPDATE:  Here's the whole thing a-hangin' on the wall!

Two great crafts that taste great together.

Pinterest Craft #1 - Meal Planner

So I joined Pinterest, and immediately pinned about a thousand things I wanted to create or bake or eat or read. And DID NOTHING.

My 2012 resolution - do something.

I roasted beets and parsnips based on this pin.  And I baked the most delicious figgy peppery bacony scones based on this pin.  Then, it was time for crafting.  Clearly, crafting based on eating was going to be important.

Figgy Peppery Bacony Deliciousness in scone format

Here is project #1...a menu planner.  We had signed up for a CSA box of organic vegetables to be delivered to our house...a particularly Seattle-y thing to do, we felt...but we have a nasty habit of leaving our fresh veggies in the crisper too long.  If we planned our meals in advance, we would introduce some intentionality to our eating, and use those delicious veggies up. 

Here is the original pin.

I started with a collage frame from Michael's that I'd gotten for about $5 the day after Thanksgiving.  There are actually 7 days in a week, but this frame has only 6 openings.  (It's fine...we eat out on Sundays.)  Each opening is 4"x6".

Whoever these kids are, they're adorable.

 Next, I picked out 6 pieces of patterned scrapbook paper.  TO THE STASH!  I decided on colors/patterns that I thought black dry erase pen would show up on easily.  Also, we have an orange wall nearby where I wanted to hang the menu planner, so I coordinated with it.

Finally a use for all these delightful papers!

I wanted to put day-of-the-week markers on the paper itself, under the glass, so I was free to write over the entirety of the opening.  TO THE STASH!  I had these wonderful metal letters that were self-adhesive...and they matched my color scheme!

Read down, L-R. I know the order.

Put those papers in the frames, and voila...one menu planner!

All we need is some groceries!