Boo to you!

We have already had all sorts of fun Halloween events.  So I thought I would go ahead and share some pics.  We had fall festival at our school last Sat. so our costumes had to be ready early.  So pretend you just grabbed your candy bowl to open you door on Halloween and here come my ghouls to trick or treat you.  First up Mikey dressed as his alter ego TIGER MAN.

Next up is Holden doing his best Vince Young impression.

Finally my high matienance child Sam.  We saw the movie Real Steel the week before this and he was sure the only thing he could be was NOISY BOY from the movie.  So here is what Noisy Boy looks like just in case you havent seen the movie yet.  He is the purple one. 

He was so sure his Mommy could make it.  Bless his heart.  HE IS NUTS AND SERIOUSLY OVERESTIMATES MY ABILITIES.  However his faith in me melted my heart.  So here is the best I could do in one week.  It is kind of like Noisy Boy, but to my sweet Sam it was perfect.  LOVE THAT KID!



Pretty cute anyway.  Right?  The boys had a great time at their fall festival and brought home tons of candy.  Just what we needed.  So then Tues night my niece Tara had her annual Spooktacular Concert for orchestra.  She is a senior and this concert is always lots of fun.  It was kinda bittersweet, but oh so much fun.  Tara won the cosutme contest in the Flamingo get up my sister made. She is better at coming up with costumes than I am I guess.  LOL  Tara looked awesome. 

Pretty cute huh?  I only had my phone so the pics aren't the best but I think they are cute cute cute.  Finally last night it was just me and the boys so we decided to go ahead and carve our pumpkins.  Each of the boys had their own pumpkin and designed it however they wanted. Mom  did her best to carve their creations. 

Mikey's

                                          Sam's

                                                                                                                and Holden's

I hope you all have a safe and fun Halloween!!!  Thanks for stopping by. 

I pinned then I MADE it

I love love love pinterest.  It is such an addictive thing, but I have pinned 1,857 things. 

Everything from this adorable baby idea...

From designer.inktastic.com

to these delish looking blueberry cinnamon rolls...

From beantownbaker.com

and all sorts of things in between!!! 
So I feel like such a loser when my list keeps longer and longer!  I really need to get busy trying some of these wonderful ideas.  So when I found the recipie for pumpkin butter, I decided I was totally making it.  I adore anything pumpkin , and couldn't wait to feel the sense of accomplishment from making my own pumpkin butter.  I wait anxiously every year for the Cracker Barrel to put it out.  Now I will not have to wait anymore. 
I pinned this recipie about 2 weeks ago and it was fairly simple.  It came from a fellow blogger at:
Shugary Sweets. 
Her instructions seemed simple enough. 

Pumpkin Butter Recipe:

29 oz can pumpkin puree

3/4 cup apple cider

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp nutmeg

2 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2 tsp ground ginger

In large saucepan mix all ingredients together. On medium heat, bring mixture to a boil. Continue to simmer (on low-medium) heat for one hour, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat and allow to cool. Pour into mason jars and refrigerate for 12-24 hours. Enjoy cold!

*note* Do not attempt to "can" this recipe as I know there are USDA/FDA/CNN/MSNBC/LOL rules about canning pumpkin. So just don't do it.

So I quickly gathered all the necessary items.  :)

I actually had it all on hand, but the cider.  I dumped it all in the pan, and enjoyed the most wonderful fall scent.  I was actually glad it had to simmer so long.  It smelled fantastic in my house.

It wasn't difficult at all.  It just takes a little time.  I stirred it pretty regularly, but didn't have to stay and stir the whole time.  When it was finished it was pretty thick.

When all was said and done I had three yummy jarfulls.  Is jarfulls a word??  Let's pretend it is. 

The only thing left to do was enjoy it on some toast the next morning.  It tastes wonderful.  It has more of a spice flavor than the ones I bought in the past.  I love it. 

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Tales of a Trophy Wife

Praying in Subway Art

When we redid the Kitchen I knew I wanted to include some subway art. As I put the second coat of black on the end of the cabinets I knew it needed prayers in vinyl. I could see it all in my head. Well, I finally got the time to make it happen. So here are some of my favorite meal time prayers.

First is the prayer we use all of the time. I didn't really know that other people didn't always use this prayer until I was about 13. It goes...
COME LORD JESUS BE OUR GUEST, AND LET THY GIFTS TO US BE BLESSED.

Second is a prayer that hangs in my Mother's kitchen to this day and I always loved. I thought it was quite the achievement when I was allowed to use it at the dinner table. It is...
THANK YOU FOR THE WORLD SO SWEET, THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD WE EAT. THANK YOU FOR THE BIRDS THAT SING. THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYTHING.

Third is a prayer I found when I googled meal time prayers and loved. I am from German descent and thought it was awesome they had translated it in German also. So here it is in English, then German...
ALL THAT WE HAVE                          ALLES DAS VIR HABEN
IS A GIFT                                               ALLES IS GERGEBEN
IT COMES OH GOD FROM YOU       ES COMT O GOTT VON DIR
WE THANK YOU FOR IT                    WIR DANKEN DIR DAUFER

The fourth and final prayer came from a friend and I just love it too. It says...
LORD WE THANK YOU FOR THE FOOD BEFORE US, the friends beside us, THE LOVE BETWEEN US, AND YOUR PRESENCE AMONG US.

I love the way they all look together I had a great time putting it all together. I hope you like it half as much as I do.

Family meals have always been a part of my life.  I remember very few times we didn't eat dinner all together around our dinner table growing up, and am doing my best to make sure my boys have that same experience.  Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed day.

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A new Painted Poppy Creation

I have blogged once before about painting at the Poppy.  I love to go there and spend a few hours lost in painting.  When we re-did the kitchen I of course NEEDED to make a platter to go with the new look.  I guess the truth is it was much more of a wwwwaaaanted to make one, but ya know whatever works.  LOL  Anyway I wanted to use my favorite fabric as an inspiration.  Just in case you forgot what it looks like here it is.

This is the same fabric my mother in law used to make my new curtains.  I love love love it more everyday.  I am so glad we went with bright colors in the new kitchen it has been fun.  I have a few projects I am working on that when I finish them you will be the first to know, cause I am dying to share them with y'all.  :)
Ok soooo if I can focus for a minute I will show you the new platter I painted.  Here is a quick before it's fired pic.

  It blows my mind how much the firing changes the look of the pottery.  I was very excited with the finished product before firing and could hardly wait to pick it up. I guess Kim (the owner of the painted poppy) couldn't either because she texted me a picture before I could come to pick it up.  ;)  I was so excited.  It turned out even better than I hoped.  So without further ado... here it is!

I knew just where I wanted it to live.  Right inside the hutch in my new kitchen.  I think it looks pretty at home there don't you?

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