Twig and Berries.

Yep, you read right...it's a BoOOooOooOOoOOOoY!!! And we could not be more thrilled! There was a collective sigh of relief from both Doug and I when we saw the goods. :) We both knew that Moses needed a brother and that we wanted another little boy. :) Girls are lovely and wonderful but this just feels SO right to both of us. :) Everything is perfect and lovely and just how it should be health wise as well. Thank you Jesus!
Here's the money shot...he's not shy! :)

Cute little profile...

And these are the bottoms of his cute little tootsies...this shot is for you Michelle. :)

So the winner...for saying boy is Linda! :) Go on over and visit Linda and say hello! Linda just contact me via Etsy and let me know which book you would like to have.

And to celebrate...everything in the shop is Buy One Get One 50% off...but only for the next 48hours...and you have to mention "It's a boy" in the note to seller and wait for a revised invoice! I'm not advertising this in the shop...it's just for you lovely blog readers!

I'm off to get some things done...I suddenly feel very motivated to do work! :)
xoxo

What's in a day...

Our Friday so far...

Breakfast...

Playdate...

Sewing...

Waiting to be sewed...

Two new girlies waiting for faces...

We'll leave out the un-fun stuff...like talking to insurance companies and trying to make the one understand that money saved is money saved and we'll have to go with the other guys...and the fact that Doug will be doing his job alone again soon...ugh.

But here is more fun stuff...
You can go here to see a Little Bit Funky Commercial!! How super fun is that? Be sure to listen until the end...(wink, wink). Thanks so much to Julie for doing this for me!! :)

And here is the giveaway this week...If you win this week you can choose from ONE of these fabulous books...The first one is Tag Sales and Flea Market Finds from Martha Stewart. The other is Sew Easy...which is full of fun and simple sewing projects. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post...in that comment tell me whether you think I am having a boy or a girl...I'll choose a name from the group who gets it right after we find out on MONDAY!

Have a happy weekend! xoxo

Things for you to do....

So yes, I stole this photo from the website...but I guarantee you that I have made these delectable little treats more times in my life than I can count...and people always ask for the recipe. I plan on making some later today for a MOPS gathering but I wanted to post this today so that is why I stole the photo. :) These are my absolute favorite Fall treat...tiny little bites of pumpkin pie tasting goodness. :) Make them and you will be happy with YOU. :)

Pumpkin Pie Tarts

Gather up these goodies:

	3 packages (15 tarts each) pre-baked frozen mini pastry shells (I use Athens Mini Fillo Shells)
	1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
	2 cups (plus extra for garnish) frozen whipped topping, thawed
	1 teaspoon (plus extra for garnish) pumpkin pie spice
	1 (3.4-ounce) package cheesecake-flavor instant pudding and pie filling
	Mint leaves (for garnish)

1. Remove the shells from the freezer and let them thaw at room temperature for 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, combine the pumpkin, whipped topping, and pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl, whisking until smooth. Add the pudding mix and whisk until smooth and thick.
3. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the filling into each of the shells (you can also pipe the filling with a pastry bag or a plastic sandwich bag with one corner snipped off), then top the tarts with whipped topping, a sprinkling of the pumpkin pie spice, and a mint leaf, if you like. Makes 45 tarts.

I found this cute little piggy craft/snack...go here to find out more.


Then there are these cuties. Little Acorn Pumpkins. :) Go HERE.

And who says gourds are boring? Go HERE.

And here is one more for you. Little Forest cuties...you can GO HERE.

I borrowed all of these fun ideas from Family Fun Magazine...if you don't get it and you have or work with children then you should...I have gotten it for years...long before I had Moses. :) Plus it is super cheap and always FULL of great ideas. :)

Another thing for you to do...come back tomorrow...I just might have a giveaway if I can get my act together. :) Now you can't say you don't have anything to do...so shooo!

xoxo

Alrighty then...

Who knew the toilet was carnivorous? Story HERE.

To warm you up...

I am not a huge soup kinda person but this soup is wonderful! Loaded potato soup...mmm. This is yummy and filling...serve it with warm bread for a simple and lovely meal. :)

Loaded Potato Soup

3lbs Red Potatoes
1/4 c butter or mar, melted
1/4 c flour
8 c half and half (I did not say it was super healthy). :)
1 16oz block of Velveeta (see)
few dashes white pepper
garlic powder to taste
1 tsp Tabasco
good bacon bits (not those dried up gnarly ones)
cheddar cheese

1. Dice unpeeled potatoes, place in large pot, cover with water and bring to a boil, boil until cooked through. In a separate large pot, combine melted butter and flour, mixing until smooth. Place over low heat and gradually add half and half, stirring constantly. Stir until smooth and begins to thicken.
2. Add cubed Velveeta and stir until melted and combined with half and half.
3. Drain potatoes and add to cream mixture. Stir in pepper, garlic powder and tobasco.
4. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring often, for 30 minutes.
5. Serve in bowls with cheddar and bacon sprinkled on top. :)

If you find that soup is sticking to the bottom of pot (this ALWAYS happens to me)...do NOT scrape the bottom as you stir so that you don't mix burned parts into the soup.

Hope you enjoy! :)

Here is a link to Rice Krispie treats recipe...I just used this recipe for Moses cake and pressed it into a bunt pan that was sprayed with cooking spray...next time I plan to double the recipe for a larger cake. :)

Thought question for the day...if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would make it possible for me to thrive on less sleep. :)

Happy Birthday Sweet Moses!! :)

Well...my baby is officially two now. One thing I realized this weekend was that I never expected motherhood to bring such a huge mix of happysad days. I love to watch him grow and learn and see all his changes but at the same time I am dumbfounded by the fact that this time two years ago I had a 27 hour old infant who just needed to be changed, fed and loved and now we have a wonderful little toddler who is the joy and happiness in our lives...he talks and walks and runs and screams and hugs and loves. WHERE does the time go? It makes me not want to even look forward to breakfast tomorrow morning in fear that today will go by even faster. We had a great day yesterday...Moses woke up asking for cake. I opted to make him a rice krispie cake instead of the traditional bucket of frosting and sugar(aka cake)...he seemed to love it. :) When he came down in the morning we had blown up balloons to give a little celebration to the day...went to church, came home for lunch and naps for the boys then we headed to the pumpkin patch, our Moses birthday tradition and then dinner with Doug's family and my uncle. It was a great day.

He blew out his candle! :)

Tough choice...

We had to leave with a couple of these.

On this day he was practicing his "i'm going to be so wiggly that there is no way you can get a good photo of me" moves. :)

But I did manage this one of my two great guys. :)

And this one on the hayride...

Hope your day is filled with this kind of bittersweet happiness. :) I'm off to enjoy a day off with my guys. :) xoxo

Smiles in a Box.

Would you just LOOK at the box of goodies that sweet Mrs. Meg sent to me, unexpectedly in the mail!?! Only some of the finest Kansas acorns, some fall goodies and THE cutest handmade onesie that I have ever seen!! :) Meg, I will have you know that you just had me grinning from ear to ear for the rest of the day...how in the world is it possible for someone I have never met to know just how to make my day? :) Thank you ever so much!! Doug even said after I showed him all the goodies..."Why can't we live closer to her?" :) I truly LOVED every little bit. :)

Acorns-from the left-A Virgina Acorn-A Kansas Acorn-A New Jersey Acorn--Who knew they could all be so different?

And here is a delish fall dessert that you have to go make right now!! Pumpkin pie bars...oooohh. You will LOVE them then walk around your house for the rest of the day breathing deeply and audibly saying "ahh" because it will make your whole house smell delish!

Get all these Goodies together:

1-1/3 cups flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar, divided

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) cold butter or margarine

1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats, uncooked

1/2 cup chopped PLANTERS Pecans

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

3 eggs

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

Then do all this:

HEAT oven to 350°F. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides; grease foil. Mix flour, 1/4 granulated sugar and brown sugar in medium bowl; cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in oats and nuts.

RESERVE 1 cup oat mixture; press remaining onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min. Beat cream cheese, remaining sugar, eggs, pumpkin and spice with mixer until well blended. Pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved crumb mixture.

BAKE 25 min.; cool 10 min. Use foil to transfer dessert from pan to wire rack; cool completely.

Then send me an email thanking me for making your fall day. :)

Loves to you all!! Have a great weekend!! :) xoxo

And P.S. I listed a couple of good NEW goodies on Ebay...take a peek-Both could be good gifts for Christmas. :) Go HERE. :)

Todays Post Brought to You by the Letter B

B-Boy...a very cute one at that...he has been practicing and now if you ask him how old he is, he will say "two"...even if he is not quite two yet (don't rush it little man). :)

B-Bump-like a large speed bump. :) Today makes me 19 weeks! :)

B-Better---a better perspective...here is what I see. We find out what kind of baby we made on the 13th!! :) I've been feeling "girl" lately...yikes a ROO!

B-Bathroom before...looks dirty but it is a linen paint treatment that I never loved...I was itching for a whimsical bathroom...

B-Better Bathroom...inspired by the print that my lovely friend April gave me for my birthday. :) Other whimsical things live here...most of them given to me by fabulous Etsy friends. :) My favorite part is the sheepskin rug we bought from IKEA. :) Unexpected and FUN!

B-Beautiful towels...my new "Day in the Country" towel design. :) In the shop!

B-Baby Pumpkins...my new sweet fall pumpkin design. :)

Any fun plans for the weekend? My MIL is coming down tomorrow and on Sunday we are all taking Moses to the Pumpkin patch!! How in the world do I have a two year old!?!?!

Thought question for today...What makes a good parent? :) Leave your answer in the comments.

xoxo

The FAIR and...

We had a great time at the fair...even if by the end of six hours of walking my feet were so swollen that it HURT to take my shoes off...my hands were even swollen around my rings...NOT fun! So what did I do the next day? Why, what any normal pregnant woman would do...I repainted and redecorated my half bath. :) Photos to come tomorrow. :)

Thought question for the day...if you could change ONE thing in your life right this moment, just by thinking it...what would it be? Leave your answer in the comments. :)

SALE SALE SALE in the shop! Go SEE. :)

A Proper Focus in a Time of Worry...

So, yes. There is a mess in our country. If I think too hard about the wrong man becoming president I get really upset...then I remember what I really should be focusing on...that no matter what...God is the same. Always. Yesterday, Today and Forever. No election or financial crisis will ever come close to changing that. No amount of worldly bad can take away the true good in my life...the things that count for something no matter how much money we have...my Jesus, My Doug, My Moses, My baby(that Doug got to feel KICK two nights ago!!) and the fact that we are all together, living in love and happiness that is rarely affected by the amount in the bank account. I know we all have good we can choose to focus on. I have been in the darkest of places and could always find the good so I know it is possible but it is a choice. Choose today to find the good and cling to that.

I dug around today for some verses to share here...I hope they bless you the way that they have blessed me.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? Luke 12:25-26

From Matthew:
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Once again I am reminded that our Fathers yoke is light!!!! and He wants to carry our burdens! What a relief, right? So please, I would love to hear the good that YOU are choosing to focus on today? Please comment freely. :)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
In the spirit of lightening burdens I thought that I would mention that I am a trade friendly shop and I am working on my Christmas list!! :) If you have a shop or sight and you are up for trades with anyone (not just me), leave a comment on this post so people can find you. :) This does not mean that you HAVE to trade but that you would be willing if you can find the right goodies. :)

Be blessed today and FIND that good!!
xoxo

GOOD Blogging/Commenting Do's and Don'ts-Ettiquette Class. :)

But first...some more NJ pics...while we were up there we celebrated Moses' 2nd birthday with all the grandparents who couldn't be with us to celebrate his first one...then tomorrow he gets to celebrate with his other grandparents at the VA state fair and then this weekend on his actual birthday we are taking him to the pumpkin patch!!

Look at the cute birthday boy!

Cute cousins again!

Look at these cute party people!...Doug's Grandparents!

Marzipan cake for Moses!....yum!

Ok, now let's get down to business...I have endlessly searched for a good list of to do's and not to do's for the blogging world and I have yet to come across one that I really like...SO...I figured that between me and my fabulous readers/blogging buddies that we can come up with a good comprehensive list of good blogging ettiquette. You up for it? I hope I am. :) I am looking for things that the majority should go by while blogging or visiting other blogs...obviously there are blogs out there that could care less about who they tick off and just want to rant...and that is their business. But for us who do this for fun and to meet people and make connections and WANT to attract people to our blog then I want to come up with a list for us involing blogging AND commenting.

Here are a few to get you started---Keep in mind that these are just guidlines and not rules. :)

How to have a successful blog! :)

1. Don't be a hater and write ugly things about people...whether you know them or not.
2. Have a good mix of happy posts/sad posts/real life posts, etc. Not sure about you but my favorite blogs are the ones that deal in real life...not the sugary sweet life is always grand ones.
3. Share your opinion in a way that does not degrade other persons rights to their opinion.
4. Don't be a constant pity party.

Now let's here from you! What are the things that get under your skin or bug you about blogs? Or about commenting? What are the things you love to see in a blog? Love NOT to see? What are some things that have made you stop reading some blogs? What are some things that got you instantly hooked on others?

You can comment anonymously if you need to foward this post to a friend. (wink wink).

xoxo