October 31st..

October 30th..

There were MANY to choose from, but after sleeping on it, I decided...


Isn't it priceless? :)

Halloween...

The day is now over.. we had our fill of fun!


Visited all the grandparents..


Got some goodies..


Peyton was my awesome helper in both passing out and eating treats.


She would even yell, "GOODBYE!!!" and blow kisses from BOTH hands to EVERYONE who came our way..


Hope you all had a fun and safe night too...


I had a friend try to "help" me with my fear of clowns.. naw.. still afraid. :)

Something Pumpkin: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Back on the wagon participating in the "Flavor of the Month" over at Bake at 350..
It helps that we are out of boxes, we weren't there a month ago.. or the month before that. :)
This month's challenge: Pumpkin.
While my recipe isn't typically what one would consider a pumpkin recipe, it does utilize a very integral part of the pumpkin.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

What you'll need:

washed pumpkin seeds (all the goo gone..)
butter or margarine
garlic salt
Worcestershire sauce

I like to use my strainer to collect all of my seeds while we are cleaning out our pumpkins during that fun carving process. It is great to take it right over to the sink to wash all the stuff off the seeds.


After washing your seeds and getting all the goo and slimy stuff gone, lay paper towels on a cookie sheet, spread them in a single layer and allow to dry. They will need to dry at least overnight, until they are no longer damp, and you can't bend them. Sometimes they need more drying time and depending on the amount of seeds, you'll need more paper-lined cookie sheets.


Melt your butter or margarine and add 2 tablespoons of the Worcestershire sauce, a teaspoon or two of the garlic salt. Mix well, and add your dried seeds. (Again, if you have more than one pumpkin's worth of seeds, you may need more of this.) Toss the seeds in this mixture to coat them all well.
Dump seeds onto an un-greased cookie sheet, salt lightly and put in a 200 degree oven for about 2 hours. Check as you get close to the 2 hour mark, they might need less time or more.
You are looking for a crunchy, savory, delicious pumpkin seed that you won't be able to stop eating.


We have tried mixing it up and adding other flavors, but we keep coming back to this.
I have no idea how long they keep because they never last more than two days at my house. :)
Super easy, super yummy!!

October 29th..

Halloween PartieS.

That big "S" was no joke. Maybe there really aren't that many, but to me, more than one is plenty.
This week was Ashley's pre-school party, then the family get together last night, Lynn's school party today (which I had the luxury of bringing Ashley.. Peyton was great.. Ashley... well... that's anothe story), then the big day itself tomorrow.
I was thankful that PTA kept me busy this last little while, and that I did not volunteer to be the head room mom again. When on this earth would I have had the time for that too?!
I did drag both kiddos over to the school for the costume parade and class parties that followed. I was wishing as soon as we got out of the car that I had found someone (anyone!!) to have taken Ashley (aka Ms. Tired & Bad Attitude) for the day.. or the week.
My fun was ultimately cut short, and I didn't get as many pictures for the yearbook as I wanted. I guess I will just be begging from the other parents!
Tonight and tomorrow will be more laid back.. we have had a couple of dress rehearsals now... ;)

Cheesy Potato Soup..

This is a classic fall recipe in my house.
I have fond memories of my mom making it.. fond memories of helping her grate the cheese and learn how to make roux.
It's really easy, very tasty, and simple!

Ingredients:

5-6 potatoes
chicken bullion (about 2 teaspoons)
1 cup flour
1 cup butter or margarine
milk
grated cheddar cheese (about three cups)
paprika
salt and pepper to taste
cooked bacon, chopped (optional)

Peel and cube potatoes. Place in a large pot and cover potatoes with water. You don't want too much water, just enough to cover the potatoes. Boil until tender then reduce the heat. Add the bullion, and the salt and pepper. In a smaller sauce pan, melt your butter or margarine. Once it is all melted, stir in the flour while the pan is still on the heat. Stir until it is a smooth paste. Reduce heat and add milk, whisking it until it is a smooth, thickened mixture. (This is your roux.) Add this at once to your potatoes and water. Stir continuously to make a smooth, thick soup. Add 2 cups of the shredded cheese and continue to stir until it is all melted. Sprinkle some paprika in to add color and a slight flavor. Dish up and top with more cheese and bacon. We like to have it with warm bread.

Sequins..

This is what I did today:


While I was fully aware that you can purchase pre-strung sequins, and simply glue them to a project, I opted for the single, sew as you go sequins. It was fun and relaxing, I really needed that second part..

Table manners: Peyton edition..

Sharing mealtime with Peyton is always entertaining, and sometimes a bit scary.
Thought I would share what she thinks is important at mealtime.

Listen politely to dinner conversation..

Take your time, enjoy all the flavors a dish has to offer.

Immediately let your dinner companions know what you think of particular fare.

Utensils are overrated.

It's okay to crack a few jokes..

Did I already mention that utensils are overrated?

Last but not least, here is her favorite way to use a cup:

It's only Wednesday...

Here I am.. with a seemingly endless to do list, a calendar full of events for the week, and I feel like I have done enough that the week should technically be over.
Monday was errands, and talking to Santa.
Operation Christmas is on, and all I have to do is get a few things finished.. that is a huge accomplishment in and of itself.
Pack Meeting was yesterday, and that was a big one with the awards ceremony.. arrows to construct with assistance. :)
Today was Ashley's pre-school party which seemed like an all day event, and not that I don't love the kid, but she is crazy, and not having that 2 and 1/2 hour break from her today..
I need a break now.
She did prove that she is my child...


I guess that the craziness kind of proved that anyway.
I spent the rest of the day trying to catch up on other things (laundry, sewing, cleaning, cooking...).. but I am still not done.
I have a poodle skirt to finish for the first of our other Halloween festivities: a party tomorrow..
Then another one on Friday, and of course the big day on Saturday.
Helping at the school, my niece's blessing, and my grandma's 80th birthday coming up are also on the radar, and not to mention I am still trying to finish the craft room..
The paint is done, but isn't all put together.. yet.
Once that is done, there will be some prizes revealed for some random followers.. that's right. I need to un-tomb them just as I had to un-tomb my thread and makings for the poodle skirt.
I can't wait until life is once again organized, a little slower, and sleep is restful again.
Oh, and that the other house will finally be closed on.
Yet it is only Wednesday?

October 28th..

October 27th..

First snow..

Tips & Tricks..

Not sayin' you all want to make my delightful yet jacked-up cake, but here are some tips I have learned along the way.
- I do not make my cakes from scratch, I do my brownies, but not my cakes (gasp!! I know.. I am now less of a woman than you thought..) and my FAVORITE cake mix is the butter recipe variety.
YUM.
- Wrap your cakes in foil and freeze your cakes immediately after they finish the recommended cooling time to turn out of the pan.
These two things make for a really moist cake.
In making the fondant, USE THE POWDERED SUGAR! Really. In most recipes, I do not always use that amount, sometimes more, and sometimes less, but with this, don't be shy.. use a lot. (But add it a little at a time..)
- Ganache.. it is delicious and so tasty.. but let me help. The first time I made it, the recipe did not state to whip the cream and chocolate mixture. WHIP IT. Let it cool, and then whip it. If you are using it as a crumb coat, chill it, but let it be a little soft to spread.
Just some tips.
Hope you enjoy them.
We enjoyed the cake. :)

I was warned..

Last night at Pack Meeting with the cub scouts, we had our semi-annual awards night where we recognize and award boys who have earned the prestigious Arrow of Light.
Part of the ceremony includes a symbolic teaching moment with an arrow and glow sticks.
The glow sticks are of course, no good after you activate them and the ceremony lasts maybe ten minutes.. so we give out the glow sticks at the end.
I was warned, that if broken open, they will leave a luminescence, everywhere, for a LONG time.
I didn't worry giving them to my own children, as I thought that they weren't capable of the strength it would take to do such a thing..
I was wrong...


I was warned.

Busy as a bee..

Keeping busy lately, seem to have something going on in every corner of my life these days!
Today, I took some gummy bears for a dip...


Then started a cake using this awesome fondant recipe..
Peyton loved the chocolate ganache filling..


I have to admit that I got really tired toward the end.. can't wait to have some. Maybe for breakfast? ;)


In my defense, we were carving pumpkins at the same time...


And I am done with 4 out of 9 loads of laundry.
Whew!! And finishing up the craft room in the process.. any more guesses on the color(s)?

October 26th..

Once again.. too many to choose just one!
I seriously got so excited when I saw these first pop up during the up-loading process.. the colors are awesome and I was so thankful the girls let me accessorize them! :)

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

Our little family loves this time of the year.. everything about it..
Fall is awesome!
Halloween is fun, and we love our traditions.
Tonight, we went to the local pumpkin peddler and took some all too popular pics there and finally got around to picking our carvables..
Here's some of my favs:


But for more of my favs you can go here, and the other activities of the our day you can go here.. :)

Today..

It seems like it's been all about her lately...


With all the sickie stuff going on around here, it seemed that she by far, got the worst of it. The diarrhea cha-cha-cha has been the one last thing hanging around here the longest, and I can say it has not been as bad as it was, but still.. it's not fun for her, or me, the one changing her and doing all the laundry.
While playing with her this morning (tickling is so fun!), I noticed that her eye teeth are cutting their way through those gums.. and if I remember correctly, those were some of the hardest on the girls.
I think I have just solved this mystery.
Maybe this end part, isn't a lingering stomach bug.
I was bummed missing stake conference today.. there is always something there that makes you want to be better, do better, do more, but with her bum situation, and the fact that Merrill got home last night, we didn't go.
That's okay..
With this view, I feel close to my Heavenly Father...

October 25th..

October 24th..

October 23rd..

October 22nd..

Say sionara to the "scary blue".

My headache is going away..

Not so bad with the blue gone now, is it? :)


Now if SOMEBODY can guess what color is going over this most awesome primer, I will give you some sort of prize...
Guess my accent colors, and, well, you can get a prize too. :)