happy valentine's day!

look what we have been busy making!

consider one of these for each of you!

strawberry marshmallows dipped in white chocolate and covered with sprinkles

white marshmallows dipped in chocolate and rolled in graham crackers...just like s'mores!

today is the last day to enter the my funny valentine photo contest.

get those photos in to win! 

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top 3 tuesday on wednesday | blogs, new and old

i have been super busy getting ready for this weekend and i didn't get around to posting my top 3 tuesday yesterday, but here it is just one day late.

one thing i love most is to sit down and read up on all of the awesome blogs out there to find out what you have been doing, to find great ideas, and to just find those i have something in common with.  so many wonderful people, so many talented people, so many beautiful children.  my top 3 tuesday focus is my top 3 blogs that i read religiously every day and my top 3 new blogs that i am loving right now.

perhaps you have read some of these blogs or perhaps some of them will be new to you.   be sure to hop over and check out those you are not familiar with.  no elaborate details here cause i want you to check them out for yourself.  i will say that these women are fabulous and i wouldn't want you to miss out.

top 3 favorite blogs

1. the paper mama

2. webbisodes

3. 4 little men and girly twins

top 3 recently discovered blogs (that i love):

1.  enjoying the small things

2.  under the sycamore 

3.  whatever

 

i love all three of these blogs for pretty similar reasons...they are simply every day life blogs.  these women just so happen to have children, but i love more than seeing their children. i love their photography, their style, and creativity. everything about them is beautiful.

check them all out, even if you've been there before. all six of these ladies will put you in a better mood and bring a smile to your face. ENJOY!

what are some of your favorite blogs that aren't on this list? i would love for you to share them with me.

sweet stuff sunday on monday - halloween

the next couple of weeks will probably feature halloween items that i have discovered and want to share with you all, so let's just dive right in and get started because there are some fabulous things to be seen.

steampunk jewelry

i seriously about died when i found the etsy shop, catherinette rings steampunk jewelry and sculptures, because this stuff called out my name.

these pieces here just scream halloween, but can be worn almost anytime. there are also so many other pieces in the steampunk shop that don't reflect so much of a halloween feel to them that i just love.

i have been cruising through trying to decide on one piece. my birthday is coming up next month. who wants to buy me a gift?  these are good quality pieces, not just a piece of crappy costume jewelry.


frankenstein plush doll

are these not the cutest little dolls ever? not only does sassy pack rat studios have this adorable frankenstein doll, but there is a bride of frankenstein to match. there is even a vampire and a witch. all equally adorable!

i just know that my girls would love these dolls as much as i do. great for older children but would suggest watching younger children closely because they do have button eyes.

sassy pack rat studios uses eco felt, a product made from recycled water bottles, and right now there is a sale on all halloween plush items so be sure to stop by before they sell out!


potion labels

one of my favorite blogs, love manor, is dedicated to nothing but halloween.

i found this blog a year or so ago and really wanted to use these potion labels last year.  i found the perfect jars and bottles to put them on, so now all i have to do is print them, cut them out and put them on.

i think the best way to apply them would probably be to use a spray glue or even modge podge.  i think they both would work well.


one more thing...

while i have you here, i would love for you to stop by better homes and gardens to vote please for my franken frog prince. i really want to win this and i have had so much support from a lot of my facebook friends, but now i need your help too so i can make it to #1. thanks so much in advance!

The Magic of the State Fair

Today was the last day of the N.C. State Fair, and unfortunately our yearly tradition was postponed this year in light of our recent financial hardships. However, the magic of the State Fair will always be in my heart as I remember all the times I have enjoyed being there in the past...

the ferris wheel that circles as high as heaven

sticky cotton candy and red candy apples

one small ping pong ball won a goldfish of my very own

my birthday guessed incorrectly leaves a smile and prize for me

the world's largest horse, the world's smallest woman

blue ribbon pumpkins the size of a house

photograph courtesy of Magnolia Queen Photographs by Jessica Brown

I hope everyone who was able to go this year enjoyed every minute of it.

A friend of mine, Jessica, took some amazing pictures (including the one above) that captured that essence of the fair that keeps people coming back every year and remembering it for a lifetime. Check out the rest of her fair photos HERE.

(be sure to leave comments letting her know just how amazing her work is!)

If you are interested in booking a photo session with Jessica be sure to contact her for more information. All information is available HERE on her site.

Super Simple Recipe - Pumpkin Puree + Great Recipes to Go Along

Katie, from Frugal Femina, did THIS guest post on Money Saving Mom this week about how to make your own pumpkin puree. We have bought several pumpkins this year and I hate to see them go to waste simply sitting on my side board looking pretty (although it does look very lovely, hehe!) I decided to share the pumpkin puree instructions as well, along with some of my own favorite pumpkin recipes.
Microwave Pumpkin Puree

Cut the pumpkin in half. Scoop out all the seed and strings. Cube with the rind on. Put the chunks in a microwave safe bowl with a small amount of water. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Cook on medium until soft...check every few minutes (microwave times vary). Once soft, remove from microwave and let cool. Once cool, peel off rind. Blend until smooth.

Crockpot Pumpkin Oatmeal

2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
3 cups 2% milk
1/2 cup Pumpkin Puree
1/4 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup raisins or Craisins (I prefer Craisins, however, my youngest daughter is allergic to cranberries so we usually use raisins)
1/4 cup brown sugar

Add all ingredients into a crockpot and cook on low for approximately 4-5 hours. I usually do this right before I go to bed at night (yes, I do go to bed way later than I should most nights) and it is ready for breakfast the next morning (I usually get up around 5 and turn it off to let it cool and it is perfect at 7 a.m.).

Pumpkin Muffins

1 (18.25 oz.) package of yellow cake mix
1 3/4 cups of Pumpkin Puree
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tin (I use a mini muffin tin for my children). In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, Pumpkin Puree, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Mix with an electric mixer until smooth. Spoon the mixture into muffin cups. Bake approximately 20-25 minutes (shorter time for mini muffins), or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Pumpkin Pancakes

2 cups pancake mix
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
2/3 cup Pumpkin Puree
2 tbs. sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 tbs. melted butter
1 egg

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Then, fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Cook on a skillet, pouring 1/4 cup portions and cooking for 2 minutes on each side. Serve with syrup or Pumpkin Butter.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

You can buy this in a store or you can follow this recipe to make your own.

1/2 cup ground cinnamon
1/4 cup ground ginger
1/8 cup ground allspice
1/8 cup ground nutmeg

This makes 1 cup of Pumpkin Pie Spice, which is more than enough to make all the pumpkin recipes you have lined up this season.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Click HERE for the basic recipe plus a huge list of optional seasonings to try.

Pumpkin Baby Food

You can serve the pumpkin puree as is or combine Pumpkin Puree with any number of fruits. Cook your fruit of choice until soft and blend together with the pumpkin puree. Adding a little bit of cinnamon is optional.

This is something I definitely want to try for my son Elijah. He is still too young to eat baby food, so I will be freezing some of the Pumpkin Puree in some ice cube trays to use when he is ready. I am most interested in trying pumpkin and apples and pumpkin and bananas.

Super Simple Recipe - Banana Boats

Most of you who know me, know that I am not much of a cook. Not because I am not good at it, oh I am, but because I don't enjoy it much. However, I do it for my children and so I try to make as much as I can tolerate homemade. I am especially artistic in the snacks department. I love to come up with, or find, yummy snacks that I know my children will enjoy, especially if I can incorporate a little bit of "healthy" into it. Here is a quick and simple little recipe I found that I think I will try very soon.

Banana Boats
You will need:

• unpeeled bananas
• chocolate chips
• mini marshmallows
• aluminum foil

Lay the banana on its side and peel just a small section open, but leave the banana inside. Cut the banana, still inside its peel into sections. Then, stuff mini marshmallows and chocolate chips inside, between the pieces and on top. Close the banana by wrapping it tightly in foil. Put in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, long enough for the banana to get a little soft and the marshmallows and chocolate chips to get soft (depending on your oven, you may have to experiment a couple times until you get it right for you). That's it! This is also great for camping. Wrap that baby up in the foil and put it over a campfire!

Thanks to Jane Maynard at This Week for Dinner for this recipe. Picture courtesy of her site as well. Be sure to check out other great recipes on her site also. She shares wonderful menus and awesome recipes every week. Right now she is giving away a cookbook, Morning Glory Farm, to one lucky winner. Go HERE now to find out how you could win a copy of this book.