Some of my Fall Favorites

'Tis the season!!!....my beloved Pumpkin Spice creamer is now available...yeah!!!!! I happened to be in the store right when they were putting it on the shelf...It just makes those chillier mornings so much cozier....oh, and you may remember that I looooooove the pumpkin milkshakes at McDonald's....well, they are here too. Yuuuuummmm.



Cindy Lou and T. made the two little pumpkins on the left when they were 3 and 4 years old...every year I put them on my kitchen window sill. When Cubby came along I got one for him to paint too. I treasure all of the things the kiddos make...there comes a day when they don't make these cute things anymore....



Fall is my favorite season....I look forward every year to getting my favorite things out to decorate our home. Cubby also loves to decorate...when I get the bins out he can't wait to help....maybe I have HGTV on a little bit too much :) I can't get enough acorns and pumpkins...here let me show you around....



Here is my fall mantle...the scarecrow was a little project T. brought home from school in 2nd grade. I framed it and I put it out every fall.




In my dining room another over-sized acorn and framed kid-art. That's Cubbys hand print made into a turkey with a little prayer...he made it in 2 day pre-school.



Some spooky skeletons Cindylou and T. made several years ago hang on the door to our office.



I looooooooovvve this Yankee candle shade and plate a dear friend gave me a few years ago....I keep it on my kitchen table and love it's glow every evening.



I had to share a few of my favorite serving pieces as well...I entertain a lot in the fall with it being my favorite season....and 2 of my kiddos and husbands birthdays all in the first week of October.



And this big huge Turkey platter is from Lenox. I always get compliments when I show up with goodies on it. Enjoy this fall season...Everyone should take time to enjoy natures fall colors.

It's Jennifer Juniper's SITS day!!!

Hey Everyone.......you have to check out Hope Studios today......it's one of my soul sisters, Ms. Junipers SITS day!!!!! This is a big deal if you follow The Secrets in the Sauce blog........I knew her turn would be coming up soon....she is a loyal and fabulous follower. She even spiffed up her cute blog with a terrific make-over...so why are you still here???!!! Just click HERE and check her out!!!!!

Check it out! Tiffany Cupcake Charm Giveaway!!!

WooooWWzzzaaaaaaaaa!!!! Check this out!!! I am soooooo excited to share this with everyone!!! Unless you haven't noticed I am a cupcake crazed person over here...and I can't stand how cute this is!!!! Check it out and get the word out....I sure did!!! Good luck everyone!!! If you win....let me know!!!!!!! Click here to check this fun new blog.....Party Cupcake Ideas.

What is it Wednesday??

Today I have Gala apples to share with you. The apples around here are really great right now....so many yummy ones....and of course lots of great apple recipes too!!! I'm dreaming of a warm apple crisp with cinnamon ice cream. Apples are just the perfect snack for my kiddos too.....they all love them and they are so easy to have after school or in a lunch. Cubby's favorite treat is to put peanut butter on them.

Happy Birthday Cubby!!!!

Happy 6th Birthday my little Cubby Cub Cub.....you are 6 on October 6th!! It was a gorgeous sunny day the day you were born....all the days we were in the hospital you and I were just tucked in our room....we never left. I just loooovved it being the two of us....getting to know each other, not another care in the world...just holding you. Each year on your birthday I take your picture in Daddy's big plaid flannel jacket. Here you are on your first birthday...it was a day just like the day you were born. Sunny and beautiful. I looooove the way you're checking out your piggy wiggys.



Those big beautiful blue eyes make my heart melt. What a darling three year old you are.



Here you are when you turned 4. For most of this year you were TOTALLY into Thomas....Thomas EVERYTHING! Jammies, toothbrush, big boy pants, snowboots, DVD's, books, bathing suit, trains and miles of track, umbrella and these rubber boots. You have a thing for rubber boots....when you were little you even wore them in the summer. with shorts. without socks!!!




And as much as you were into Thomas.....you were then into Cars. Same thing....Cars jammies, big boy pants, gloves and hat, toothbrush and toothpaste, cars, DVD, books, bathing suit, puzzles and these boots. You love it all. How faaaaassst five years went by :(



This year it was all about Mickey!! We went to Disney World TWICE! Once last Thanksgiving and again this past May. You love to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and wanted a Mickey Mouse birthday party. You wore this hat every minute we were in Disney and this is the little Mickey you got as a friend for pup while we were there.




This was also the year you learned to ride your bike. You just looooove to ride. Look how big you're getting....it breaks my heart at times to let you go....I just want to cuddle with you and keep you little. You're so good at still being my baby....you know when I need a hug and a kiss. Thank you for that.



You've been wanting your own "What is it Wednesday" jar. You've borrowed mine once or twice to pile in your own stuff. I found this one with Mickey and Minnie on it a while ago at the Goodwill. I knew it would be perfect for you this year...your year of Mickey Mouse. Happy Birthday Cub......I love you so much, Mommy xoxoxox

Taylor Swift update

Just a little Taylor Swift update....CindyLou reports it was THE.BEST.CONCERT.EVER!!! Here she is with her two friends outside the arena in front of one of the tour busses.



Taylor changed her outfit TEN times!!!



Their seats were incrediable....and at one point Cindylou and her friends all made their hands into the shape of a heart to Taylor...and she leaned out to them and said "Thank You".



She must have hugged 400 people and was terribly sweet. What a terrific night....except for the ride home. Tons of construction in the middle of the night...and they only got home at 1 am....lots of sleepy girls in school the next day all wearing their new Taylor Swift t-shirts!!

Happy Birthday Cindy Lou!!!!!!!!

Dear Cindy Lou,
I can't believe it has been FOURTEEN years since the night you were born!! I can remember it like it was yesterday....every moment....right down to me begging Daddy to order a pizza for me because I knew they'd stop delivering at midnight and I KNEW I would be star.ving as soon as you popped out!!! Before you were born I remember seeing an article in Life magazine about a Dad who took his daughters picture in a one piece black bathing suit every year until she was and adult. The pictures of her in it were amazing to see.....to see her grow into it a little more each year until it fit her perfectly....posing like a super model in it. I tucked it into my brain for "someday"...and when you were born I knew I would do this with you too.....although the bathing suit idea didn't appeal to me....I chose my jean jacket from the Gap. Here you are on your first birthday... I apologize in advance for the quality of these following pictures. I never got a lesson on how to scan pictures into my laptop ( I've never claimed to be a computer geek!! :) And Chip was watching the Steeler game and wouldn't show me how...so I just took a picture of the pictures with my camera....they didn't turn out too, too bad....Anyway, it was a beautiful day and I snapped this in the backyard.




You are four years old in this picture. You wore that tiara ALL WEEK!!! EVERYWHERE! We were in Dairy Queen ordering your cake and a complete stranger gave you a dollar because you looked cute in your tiara. I just love the way the jacket almost comes to your ankles!!!!



Wow! Seven years old.......we were on our way to the mall to get your ears pierced. Gigi was with us and we met Aunt Lease, MoMo, NeeNee and Sammy for dinner afterward. You were so startled and cried very hard for a few minutes, but then you looooovved having them pierced.




Gracie wanted to pose with you when you were eight...you two are soooo cute.




Awwwhhhh.....and this is when you were 12....the year you got your bunny Bella and your braces.



Sweetie, I can't belive how faaaaaaast the years have flown by....please just stay the wonderful daughter you have always been!! Here is this years edition of the jean jacket picture. Thanks for playing along with me :)



You've been wanting an Edible Arrangement for a looong time....but I refuse to pay $60 for fruit....so I made one for you :) I learned a lot on my first attempt....



.......but you looooooooveeeedd it!! When I told you I made it, you couldn't believe it!! Tonight is the Taylor Swift concert and I KNOW YOU WILL HAVE A BLAST!! Happy Birthday Cindy Lou........I love you, Mommy x0x0x0x0x0x