Happy Thanksgiving!

First of all I wish all of you who are reading this, a beautiful Thanksgiving.  Stop and think of 3 things you are grateful for.  I've been doing this before I go to sleep each night, (I write them in a journal) and I think it's really powerful.

I woke up around 5am, as Joe wanted to get in some hunting before turkey time.  I have a few moments of silence while the babes still sleep.  I wanted to pop on and share a few gems from our week.

We've been so busy with Thanksgiving prep and festivities.  Preschoolers add a whole new level of fun and excitement!

Brooke helped make cranberry bread for her Thanksgiving Feast at Preschool.  My grandma's original recipe was using Pillsbury, but for some reason they no longer make it.  This came out pretty well!  We all love it and I can at least carry on the tradition.

I took a few photos with my iphone (I'll share some of the nicer photos next time, from my good camera!)

She made a vest and a headpiece, but was a little mad she couldn't just wear her fur vest! (Totally my kid.)

The teachers even made us moms and dads pilgrim hats.  I also received my very first homemade necklace.  I had to choke back the tears about 3 times that day.  I am so grateful to be able to spend these moments with Brooke.

We made a potato turkey {she wanted to eat all the marshmallows & gummies!}

Wednesday I met up with my sister briefly at a mall and the kids got to play a bit.  I felt bad because I've been busy cleaning and prepping so it was good to get them out of the house a bit.

And today?  Today I will host my first Thanksgiving.  I'm trying very hard not to stress.  I am a little nervous about the timing of the turkey; there seems to be a million different methods on how to make the perfect one, and I just don't want it to finish too early or not be done on time.  I'm sure it will all work out, but ahhhh! I'm so excited to have friends and family over.  It may not be 100% ideal, as I wish more family and I were together, but I will focus on what we have and be thankful for all of it.

I'm going to start a new tradition of making these Thanksgiving morning.  If I had more time I would totally make them from scratch; maybe next year.  I'm sure my curly haired babes won't mind either way.

Have a blessed & bountiful day my friends!

Applesauce & Cinnamon Ornaments

The day before Christmas Eve, I felt the need to do something crafty/baking…without the bulge!! I was pleasantly surprised at how simple these were to make and how much my {almost} 2 year old enjoyed playing with it! She didn't even try to eat the dough, which would have been fine anyway since it was simply two ingredients:

Applesauce and cinnamon.

Now, don't get me wrong, it's a crap-ton of cinnamon!

1 cup of applesauce
1 1/4 cup + dusting the counter of cinnamon

She just had fun playing with the cookie cutters too!

I used the mixer and it sure enough, clumped up well!

Rolled it out on the counter with a rolling pin and let her play a bit.

I had to actually do the "cutouts" but she helped!

She practiced her rolling technique.

Embracing the mess.

It was nice because we could go through the shapes and of course the sensory details were awesome too.

They smell delicious as the baked in the oven for a little over 2 hours at 250 degrees.  They are a bit delicate, and of course in the hands of a toddler, what wouldn't be!?  

We handed them out to family as small gifts on Christmas and of course kept one for us.  I will definitely make these again with the kids in the future!

Did you do any homemade crafts with your kiddies?

Thanksgiving: Making Food and Memories

Thursday will be here in a jiffy, are you ready?  I absolutely love the holidays, no doubt.  One day I cannot wait to host my own Thanksgiving, with a big ol' turkey and all the fixings.  As for now?  I will respectfully attend my parents' house and bring what I can.  I just love being in the kitchen and cooking (and even baking) makes me happy.  I also know it's not easy to do with a tot who's not even two, and a bun in the oven.  I wanted to bring a few new items to share and some old standbys that are so engrained in our memories, that it is simply not an option to not have them be present at Thanksgiving.

We rotate my parents and Joe's parents, and this year we are at my parents.  It's a bit of a drive (45 mins) and I didn't want anything that required too much work at their house, since I know what the kitchen looks like as the main meal is coming all together.

We aren't going crazy with apps; you certainly don't want your guests to fill up on them!  But I know that it's important to have a little snack a few hours before sitting down to eat.

I'm not sure exactly what type of cheese I will use, but I want to incorporate grapes, a chutney, and some artisan bread.  I can't have goat, blue, or brie (any of the stinky delicious ones!) but I will figure it out.

I'm going to make a Fall salad because I do believe in the power of greens!! With all of the heavy foods, it's important to include leafy greens to help our systems digest everything properly.  I love the idea of pomegranate or orange slices in there to give it a festive spin.

Grandma's squash.  I wish I had written down the recipe, as for now it's all sort of taste and try to get it right.  I do know it was always our favorite and it was always piping hot; I'm talking, steam would be pouring off your plate because it was so hot!!

She used a buttercup squash, roasted it, scooped it out and then cooked it some more with something along the lines of, frozen orange juice concentrate, maple syrup, butter, and maybe even a little brown sugar.  Tastes like candy.

Grandma's cranberry bread.  I think us girls loved it so much because 1.  It's truly tasty and 2. We could help her make it very easily.  She always added fresh cranberries to the mix, which gives is an extra punch, which you can taste in almost every bite.  It may not be "homemade" but I make this every year, and only at Thanksgiving.  I make no apologies for this!

I already start to wonder what recipes my children will remember most about holidays.  Of course I cannot wait for some Turkey, stuffing, my dad's mashed potatoes and gravy.  Pumpkin and apple pie will be present too, I am sure.  I think the reason that food is so important with holidays, is because as life goes on, we don't have anything but memories.  Little bits of here and there; snapshots of what was, and what used to be.  I would love to have one more Thanksgiving, where Grandpa carves the turkey and Grandma makes her famous bread, squash and fruit salad--(my sister's got that covered).  But life doesn't work that way, and we must create new memories, with old traditions mixed in with new.  The most important thing we can do, is enjoy the time we have together and sincerely make the most of it.

I may have started listening to some Christmas music, and one line that gets me all choked up from Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, "Someday soon, we all will be together, if the fates allow."

Now, I am certain that it's mostly the pregnancy hormones I tend to blame a lot on them haha but in reality, this Thanksgiving, we won't see Joe's parents, so I know that's tough on them.  We won't see my mom, because she's down in S.C.  We won't see our step brother Tyler because he's in New Orleans.  So, really, we just have to make the most of the loved ones we can see and enjoy it.

As far as the food is concerned? One thing I've definitely learned is to taste just little bits, and I can always take home leftovers.  I don't really have much room to eat a lot being pregnant, but I know that you don't need to shovel all that food in, and make ourselves feel sick.  It's good to indulge every now and then, but more important to be honest with ourselves about when and what we are indulging in.  Just my own personal thought…

What are some of your favorite traditions, past and present?

A Favorite Tradition

While I am not someone who likes to rush the seasons, I will fully admit my favorite holiday is Christmas.  I love Fall, Joe's favorite is Halloween, and Thanksgiving is great and all, but I am for sure a Christmas girl.  I love getting a real tree and finding the "perfect one" to bring home to our living room.

My favorite tradition of all, is getting a Christmas tree and decorating it.  I've loved it since I was a little girl.  I actually blogged about this tradition back in 2011, HERE

Then in 2012, I was pretty pregnant with Brooke due Jan. 4, so we opted for a small tree and looking back, I barely blogged about it at all!! I did take a silly mini video of us finding our tree…HERE

In 2013, it was SO cold, but we ventured out and found our tree, decorated it and made sure not to leave anything too breakable at the bottom of the tree, worried Brooke would be into it.  She actually was great and really didn't seem too impressed by the whole thing!  HERE

So this year, we are pretty much in the same situation…I'll be super duper prego, baby due Jan. 10th.  We also have a very active toddler, so while the spirit of Christmas will be lively and wonderful, I think we will downsize our tree again.  It just makes life a little easier, since hubs will be the one really doing the heavy lifting.

I am that crazy person with like 20 totes of Christmas stuff.  In fact, we even added to our trees last year; Brooke has a pink one in her room, and the dining room has a white one that I bought on a black Friday special.  I shared a Holiday Home Tour HERE

It just takes me back to being a kid and the magic of Christmas and I cannot wait to have my own children make special memories around the tree.  I just love the act of family gathering, and even more so when it's cold outside, the fire is lit and the tree is beautifully lit up.  I know that I married the right man, as I had not felt so wonderful inside on Christmas, as I did that first Christmas in 2008.  Each year gets better and better and I just love everything about that tradition.

I'm sure as the children grow, we will make more traditions. I would really like to start having weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly dinners with family/friends.  Time slips by so fast, and I want my children to grow up in a social atmosphere with lots of good food and laughs with people that we love.

Do you have a favorite tradition?

Christmas Countdown

The topic for #BEDN on Monday, was "Christmas" as it was exactly one month from yesterday!! I have been compiling a bucket list of sorts, that I really am excited about! This year, we are trying to be more mindful of enjoying the holiday.  Quite frankly, we've already purchased big ticket items that would have taken up room under the tree.  My family has also decided instead of exchanging gifts, we are going to do something all together.  Obviously we will still have a tree and there will be presents from Santa under there!! It is little miss Brooke Lynn's first Christmas and all.  But this year?  I want to really truly enjoy a lot of small things with her as well.

So, I guess this is sort of an Advent idea or what have you, but I won't hold myself accountable for having to do this particular activity on the number day, unless it just happens to work.  These are ideas for all three of us, just myself, or hopefully even friends and family can join in and enjoy the holiday cheer!

1.  Decorate the house! [hubby insists we wait, and I agree...enjoying the moment people!]
2.  Take holiday photos of Brooke
3.  Make peppermint bark & homemade fudge for family, friends, & Joe's co-workers
4.  Make gifts "from Brooke" for grandparents
5.  Visit Park Ave Holiday Festival with friends & family!
6.  Get our tree and decorate it
7.  Make a Gingerbread house
8.  Drive around looking at Christmas lights
9.  Donate toys for tots.
10. Watch a holiday movie!! Elf, Home Alone, something classic! {Last year we watched A Christmas Story}
11. Send out Christmas cards
12.  Partake in a Secret Santa Exchange
13.  Visit Santa at the mall
14.  Bake and frost sugar cookies
15.  Enjoy the hustle an bustle of the holiday shopping
16.  Play with green & red homemade baby play dough
17.  Make or buy Brooke's first Christmas ornament
18.  Play in the snow!
19.  Wrap presents
20.  Host or go to a Christmas themed brunch {or just enjoy mimosas and a sweet breakfast treat!}
21.  Get a red holiday pedicure
22.  Kiss hubs under the mistletoe
23.  Take a snowy morning drive with breakfast sandwiches
24. Build a fire, enjoy hot cocoa and count our blessings
25. Dress up little miss Brooke in her holiday dress for her first Christmas!

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?  You can check out my favorite tradition of "decorating the tree" I wrote a few years back here.

Holiday Advice for Couples

This is a post I shared last year over at
Holly's blog
I figured with the craziness approaching, it's a nice reminder!

We made through round one of the holiday season...
Woooooo

Another successful Thanksgiving as a married couple.
As soon as the first holiday rolled around, my then boyfriend, now husband,
and I made the decision to spend them together.
None of this, I'll go here, you go there.
He was my family, and obviously still is.
 We knew no matter who's family we were going to be spending the day with,
we'd be spending it together.

So here are some {first hand experience}
tips to make this upcoming holiday your least stressful yet!

Do not:
try to make everyone happy.
There is no way that every person in your life will be pleased about what you're doing.
{Apply this in every day life too.}
You will make family members unhappy, or at least a little miffed,
 if you can't spend that actual holiday with them.
You can't blame them though, you are fabulous, aren't you??
Well alright then, of course they want to be around you!
 It just may not be humanly possible to be everywhere, at once.
 Remember this: the only person you can truly make happy is you.
 Period.
 If you're happy, then yay!
You're well on your way to an awesome holiday!!

Do: 
Begin by asking, what will make you happiest on Christmas Day?
Is it waking up at your parents house?
How about his parents' home?
What about your own home, making a fire in the fire place and having a quiet, serene morning
 {sans kids yet!} and enjoying that simplicity {for now}?
 Whatever it is, talk about it with your significant other and make it happen.
 This is about your life.
**This year we are planning on just staying home.
We are not sure when baby girl will arrive, so we very well may be
celebrating Christmas in the hospital?
We will see!!**

Do not:
try to be superheroes.

We tried to eat a full Thanksgiving dinner at my parents and then his parents our first year together.
We were so full and rushed, it just was just not a great combo.
Nothing ever seems to go as planned,
so be sure that you allow extra time,
{for let's say, certain happenings, such as someone putting the turkey in the freezer,
not the fridge a few days before Turkey Day.}
Dinner took a little bit longer that day!
Christmas brunch with my dad's side ran a little late one year
and by the time we made it an hour back to our house,
 people were already waiting in the driveway for us to make Christmas dinner!
{Stressssssful!}

Do: 
Compromise.
We have started alternating holidays.
 One year with his parents, one with mine.
It does make it tricky with divorced parents, or family far away.
 Simply rotate each year,
and still make time for family gatherings even if it's not "Christmas Day,"
it's still time together, which is most important.

OR 

Just host and invite everyone.
Whoever wants to show up, will!
 {We may do this next year, as I'm ready to cook my own turkey!!}

Do:
 remember that family always loves you and thinks of you no matter what.
A specific date on the calendar makes us all a little crazy.
If we can't be in several spots at once,
just stop by a day early and drop off a small gift
{bread if you can bake, a craft if you're creative, flowers, anything!}
 To me, family is more than just being related by blood.
Friends whose hearts are warm and deep,
are often times closer than any of our relatives.
 Make time for them too!

Do:
Start new traditions.
The holidays are a time for old traditions,
 but they all start form some place.
 Find what works for you, and run with it!
We invited his family and some friends over for Christmas dinner one year and I cried I was so happy.
  I finally felt like I found "Christmas" again after many years being single
and working through my parents' divorce,
I'll never forget the magic I felt with a house full of people,
a table full of food, holiday cheer, Christmas carols playing,
 and presents being unwrapped.
I won't let go of that now that I've started!!
 I love love love Christmas Day dinner!


Do not:
Remotely or completely freak out if things don't go as planned.
Life happens and it's not always perfect!
If you burn the main course or if the smashed potatoes are still cold, is it worth tears and frustration?
I'm sure you had a half a dozen other sides or snacks that most people won't hardly notice.
Don't blow minor mishaps up into negative memories.

Trust me, I want everything to run perfectly 100% of the time,
 but setting a bar like that is ridiculous.
Now, my main goal is to be sure that I'm having fun & not stressed.
 If I'm good, I've noticed others are too!
 Focusing our energy like that does wonders for one another.

Do:
Laugh it off.
 If something happens, just laugh.
It's the best reaction.
If you haven't seen the movie
 Four Christmases, I highly suggest you rent it! 

And if none of this advice works, then simply go away for the holiday.
Seriously.
Our first Easter together, we were so stressed out over who's house to go to,

which restaurant, who's turn, bla bla  bla.
We went to Toronto and had a ball!  That was 2008.
Since then we've spent Easter away, just the two of us.
Two years ago we were flying home from our cruise.
 Last year we flew home from Charleston, SC.
I understand Christmas is a bigger deal,
but don't lose sight of what's most important in life: spending time with loved ones.
Don't wait for the man in the big red suit
 to remind you to have a meal with people whom you love.
  Make it happen all year round.
Happy Holidays!

My Cookie Party!!

4th Annual Cookie Party 

It all started with a love of baking. My friends and I share a common joy of being in the kitchen. Okay, most of us, and a few who are still learning the ropes. {Look how far you've come K!}  It's always a hectic time of year, but if you can't take some time and enjoy it with people who really matter to you, then what is the point?  My good friend Ann lives 2 1/2 hours away, so the weather has always caused an issue with whether or not she can make it. This year, not only did she & her two kids make it, they were able to spend the night with us too!  Joey kept them busy roasting marshmallows in the fire place, playing Playstation 3, and hide-and-go seek in the closets!  

This year I was really able to put some more time & thought into the party because I'm home.  

Some of what I planned included:
Snacks:
Cheeseburger Soup

Olives/cheese tray

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

Sun Chips

Pretzels

Portobella Dip (Ann's)

Mimosas & wine

Sparkling water

My Dining Room Decor

 Christmas Dishes from Kohl's

Fun Sparkles/Shine from Target

 Festival of Trees Scentsy

&

I love holiday dishes, but they're kind of silly.

You can't see the pretty decor once the food goes on!

My Party Table:

Tins for guests to take cookies home ($1 store)

Name cards for cookies/who made them

Jar & slips of paper to vote on 'best cookie'

Parting/thank you gifts for guests

Just a simple manegtic list pad, candy cane & silver jingle bell.

Thanks for coming!

Some table shots:

 Tip:
I pulled the chairs away from the table, which allowed people to sit/snack

and yet let others help themselves to nibbly bits & cookies!

Fancy ribbon & recipe paper to match--Stacey!

We've come a long, long way, haven't we ladies?!

 2008-

Everyone made their cookies here.

Worked out fairly well, there weren't too many of us.

The next year, it was a bit too much baking for one kitchen.

Everyone baking caused a bit of a back up in the oven.

 This time, everyone brought their cookies baked, EXCEPT

for my step-mom who made the dough at home.
We roll it, 

cut it out,

bake, 

& frost together.

{This is why I still call it a party} and not just an exchange.

Grace, Alison, Tricia, moi, Aunt Phyllis & Kristin

 And just a few snapshots of yesterday:

Remember when we made these aprons awhile back?

All inspired by Kristin's!

Aunt Phyllis, Kristin, Maria{MIL!} and moi

Holly's a bit-too-small-party dress

{last year it was too big!}

Lauren, Aaron, Jax, Ann

Girl talk!

Stacey, Lauren, Kristin

 Busy bakers!!

I don't have the final "group shot" on my camera, but when I get it, I'll be sure to post it.

It was such a fun time with lots of great cookies!

The 4 winners LOVED their coffee cozies from Etsy: Pink Gasoline

and K won 1st place with a $10 Starbucks gift card.

I think there were about 15 of us total.
It pretty much doubled in size this year!

I made those 7 Layer or Magic Bars.

I had full intention of making gingerbread truffles,

however Sadie decided to jump onto the table and lick the gingerbread as it cooled.

Hence, no balls.
Maybe next year!

Cookies:

• Mexican Wedding Cakes
• Egg-nog filled Snickerdoodle 
• Several different meringues
• 5 Spice Gingersnap
• Meatball
• Nickolinis
• Molasses Crinkles
• Cardamom Butter Sqaures
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Sour Cream Sugar Cookie cut-outs

If you'd like any recipe, let me know. 

They were delicious!
Did you attend any cookie exchanges this season?