Something to "crow" about!

I took advantage of the warm few days we've had, (it's 78 degrees outside right now!) and I decided to paint our front door a nice black (Behr Forever Black) before I put the new "welcome" sign on it that I won from Wight House Gifts. I LOVE it!!



Then I added a few crows (Dollar Store) to my wreath.....even though they are kinda creepy. But, hey, it's that time of year!


And, it looks like this little scarecrow can't seem to keep crows away either!


Happy October!!

Fall Fun

Don't you just love this time of the year......the colorful leaves, crispy sweater-weather, comfort food, all the decorations, and Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner.

I only managed a few fall decorations this year, but today I was inspired to get together some goody bags for Kenzie's teachers. This candy mix goes together quickly and is pretty yummy, too.



Lots of sweet and crunchy all in one bite.....



Here's a few more pictures of my kitchen window and then the foyer table.







Here's the candy recipe if you'd like to try it:
1 box of peanut butter Ritz minis
1 bag of mini-pretzels, any shape
1 large jar of roasted peanuts
1 bag of m&m's
1 bag of candy corn
1/2 c. light corn syrup
1/2 c. butter
2 Tb. vanilla extract
1 t. baking soda
1 c. sugar

In a very large, sprayed roasting pan or cookie sheet, mix together the pretzels, crackers, and peanuts. In a medium saucepan, mix together the sugar, butter and corn syrup. Over medium heat, bring to a boil, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and add the baking soda and vanilla. Pour the hot mixture over the pretzel mix and stir to coat everything. Heat in a 250 degree oven for 30 minutes, stirring at 15 minutes. Pour contents onto wax paper immediately upon removal from oven. Let it cool for just a few minutes, and then start breaking apart the pieces that are stuck together. Let it cool completely. Put into containers (or I used cellophane bags) and add in the m&m's and candy corn. Keep in an airtight container for several days. (Yea...right!)

LOL

We did a lot of LOL-ing this weekend at a Tim Hawkins concert. This guy is hilarious, and we laughed for the entire 90 minutes. His biggest fan is Mackenzie.......

....so, of course, we had to stick around afterwards to get a picture with him. I think she has watched his entire collection of youtube videos.

So, if you have a minute and want a little laugh, view Cletus Take The Reel.

"A merry heart does good, like a medicine!" (Proverbs 22:17)

Quickies

I thought I'd share two quick, little projects I did in my office/scraproom that I just love. On the wall above my desk, I added a vinyl rub-on: "Family Is Everything" I bought from Upppercase Living. I just scooted around the photos and centered the wording above the shelf ~ within minutes, it was on the wall...eazy, peazy, and I think it added alot! (Yesterday, I received an email from Mandi over at White House Gifts. I am the winner in a give-away she was doing!! (Yay for me!) So I will soon be receiving a "Welcome" vinyl for my front door. I will be sure to post a picture when I get it put up. Thanks, Mandi!!)


Then I found some 12 x 12 scrapbook paper in a cool black and white design at Hobby Lobby for half price (30 cents a sheet), and I just glued it to the back of my bookshelf. And ta da.....an easy transformation, and I love it.


Oh, and then I can't forget about the cute rug I found at Walmart...


That's all for now....happy nesting!!

A Time for Family

And how was your labor day weekend? We spent ours with family...at a picnic in the park to be exact. The weather was glorious, the food delicious, and we welcomed this time to reconnect with family. We hadn't seen alot of them in over a year, and some of the "cousins" had grown a foot. We are now promising ourselves to make this labor day picnic a new tradition...so we can keep in touch, keep involved in each others lives...knowing that family is so important to who we are.





Other things may change us, but we start and end with family. -- Anthony Brandt

And now, fall, here we come..........

Back-to-school Blues...

for me!! School has started back, and my little one is in jr. high school!


Every year when school starts, I go through a "blue" phase.....I guess I always find it hard to let go, especially after a wonderful summer where we spend so much time together. And, wow, Kenzie has certainly blossomed the past few months. A new hair cut and contacts, along with a newly found confidence, and she seems to have matured not just a couple of months, but a couple of years! I'm pretty sure it was only yesterday that she was in kindergarten!


So, Kenzie, here's to a great year! I love you, and I pray that you will learn, grow, laugh, make new friends, study hard, pick yourself back up when you fall, determine to do right, have fun, trust God, try your best ... and continue to be just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside!

"...And clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." I Peter 3:4

Say cheese, please!

Tonight for dinner I made a favorite, yumm-o, meal of my family's...teriyaki chicken, twice-baked potatoes and corn-on-the-cob! My fam loves the potatoes so much, they stand in line to kiss me!!*smmmmack*

The potatoes are a Paula Deen recipe that I thought I'd share with you .. I promise, your family will adore you, too.



I've used this teriyaki marinade for so long, I don't recall where I found it. Anyway:
Blend together: 2 tbsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp ginger, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 cup soy sauce, 1 cup pineapple juice, and 1/2 cup saki (I've never used the saki when I make this). Divide in half. Use half for marinade (2 hours) and put 1/2 in saucepan and heat. Thicken with cornstarch and use for sauce while grilling. Oh, and use fresh chicken breasts (so much better than frozen).




ENJOY!