pumpkin spice hot chocolate

via cookies and cups

i have had a very strong craving for pumpkin chocolate cookies, then i thought to myself what about pumpkin hot chocolate? ooooh. when i googled pumpkin hot chocolate i came across this recipe and a fun blog called cookies and cups. super cute name. can't wait to try this out! maybe i will make it as i wait for trick or treaters tonight.

a pet peeve i wanted to discuss: teenagers trick or treating without a costume. WHY?! if you are going to go trick or treating you should wear a good costume! thoughts on this? i wanted to hand out apples to those teens who failed to dress appropriately, but ry said we better not or else we might get egged or TPeed. fabulous.

update on morning sickness: it is getting better, but sometimes i still get quite sick with nausea. funny how the only thing that will make you feel better is food when food is what you want to run away from. i crave menchies frozen yogurt with strawberry crunches. wowie. ry and i went to menchies for the first time friday night and im in love.  its just super cute. my favorite flavor? peanut butter and the tart original. not that great together, but so good by themselves. ry and i don't eat a lot of sugar (besides with this pregnancy lol) so when we go out to frozen yogurt we share a cup and only put a bit of each flavor that appeals to us. maybe people think we are weird but i suppose its better for us and less expensive. win-win.

hope you try out this hot chocolate! im planning on it :)

• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup hot cocoa mix (no marshmallows)
• 1/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• pinch of salt
• whipped cream or marshmallows optional

1. In a medium sauce pan over medium low heat whisk together your milk and hot cocoa mix.
2. Add your canned pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice.
3. Heat until desired temperature is reached.
4. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and/or marshmallows and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice.

Number of servings (yield): 3

thank you steve

steve jobs

1955 - 2011

tangled mess

this song has been stuck in my head since i first saw this movie

i love it

when i think of tangles i think of the mess in my house, spaghetti, play dough and hair

today is a busy day filled with more attempts at arranging the casual living room

vacuuming (my least favorite chore)

and doing piles and piles of laundry 

hope you have a happy busy tuesday!

*went to target this morning for the Missoni collection- i saw 3 ladies with their carts not just full but exploding with Missoni goodness- guess i should have woken up earlier!

back home & emma

hi there! we are happy to be home minus the tornado that danced through our house. we had a great time visiting with family in mexico. pictures to come tomorrow. it was a great way to enjoy the last bit of summer- even though it rained most of the time (no sunburn-yea!). unfortunately, i am under the weather and trying to get as much rest as possible right now. too bad since cleaning and cooking seriously needs to happen.

today on my twitter feed i found the new lancome fragrance ad featuring emma watson. lancome fragrance ads tend to be cheesy, but i still love them. happy wednesday!

tender mercies

via

sometimes you just can't cook

its funny coming from me who normally loves to cook!

but when you have a tough day- the last thing you want to see is your oven

thank goodness for caring and attentive visiting teachers

my visiting teacher S came by and delivered me dinner yesterday

yummy sloppy joes, rolls, smashed potatoes, lemon butter broccoli, fresh cherries and zucchini brownies

so delicious 

home-cooked meals are the best

 feeling so blessed

another day that i know that God is looking out for me

back-to-school time & thoughts

via

aren't these lego men crayons adorable?

the months of august and september always fill me with joy. the thought of fall leaves, school starting just around the corner, crayons & college ruled paper, a new outfit, and apples (weird i know). 

love that my new calling at church is achievement day assistant. i get to help plan the activities for the 8-11 year old girls- they are just so cute! next monday i will be doing a hair activity (scheduled for the first day of school) to give the girls some fun ideas for the upcoming year. 

recently, i have been feeling extremely blessed (i should be thinking/feeling this way all the time!). ry and i are looking forward to making some changes in the house and in our lifestyle to just improve. i cannot be more happy that i married a man that prefers to help me clean or do a house project over anything else. for me, that has been a huge blessing in our marriage. 

sometimes, i take this for granted and i don't want to anymore.

i used to be so concerned with relationships that were not really important. in the end, i think its the relationships that i have with my spouse and family that will really count. not that i don't love my friends because i appreciate them more than they probably think. 

 i know that i can be a better and more loving wife than i thought i could be. 

cheers to knowing that we can improve 

it's just a matter of making that change.

have a great weekend!

im off to a wedding and spending time with my family

long day ahead

via

hello friends

i have been feeling under the weather lately

that crazy storm last night did not help either

it was so strong it ripped a piece of lining from the edging of our roof!

crazy

luckily my plants were not harmed too much

as nico would say

"summer rains, you can never predict them"

thunderstorms now fit in that category

since gordon ramsey and i are not pals 

i cant ask him to send me the tapes of the last episodes of masterchef and hell's kitchen

oh the suspense!

do you have any movies that you recommend?

right now all i feel like doing is reading and watching movies

to top it off my family is coming to visit tomorrow

which i am really excited about

but i wish i were feeling better

i look forward to being taken care of

hopefully! haha

also if you have a great rice dish that is somewhat healthy 

please send it my way

have a happy monday

fall cravings

via

not that i don't love summer

but fall definitely trumps summer

back-to-school, fall leaves, autumn clothes, pumpkins!, wreaths, 

Thanksgiving, Christmas time around the corner, black friday, cyber monday

joy!

maybe because this summer heat has been getting to me

its not even that hot either!

but the heat has delayed me in starting/finishing some of the projects i have been working on

not cool (literally haha)

but summer is still so much fun!

happy rest of the summer to you!

hope you have a cute day

via pinterest 

today is going to be pretty busy

with all the bridal shower prep

hope you have a productive & happy day

isnt that little kid the cutest ever?

i am in love!

hope i can have one that is just as cute

dear sixteen year old me & sunscreen faves

this video made me sad. and made me think about sunscreen!
its time for prevention!

sunscreen is the one thing you should not be forgetting with all the fun outdoor activities you have planned for the summer, here are some of my favorites

*the only time i stray away from using sunscreen is when i plan on getting photographed. the sunscreen will give you a strange glow that will make you look ghostly in photos.

** put sunscreen on first. it should be in direct contact with your skin. not layered on top of some other product. unless its acne treatment- that would be the first to be in contact with your skin, then sunscreen. (this is all based on what i have researched on my own and my own routine)

for everyday (throughout the whole year, not just summer):

Clinique Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40 ($18)

i love this as an everyday face and neck sunscreen. this is not a moisturizer! the color is a flattering nude shade-not Casper white- and has a nice thin consitency. its just right for everyday.

Eucedrin Face Sensitive Skin Everyday Protection Lotion SPF 30 ($8)

a great moisturizer & sunscreen mix. and its cheap. yippee! the texture is nice and light- it sinks right into my combo skin quite nicely. highly recommend. i do not think it is moisturizing enough for the wintertime though. it fits the bill for spring/summer, but winter/fall needs a bit more moisture. 

for outdoor activities:

Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion with SPF 70 for Face ($10)

via

the texture of this sunscreen is great for the face. not greasy and not too thick. however, i do notice that when i layer my foundation and concealer over this sunscreen i have a "ghost glow." a little bit of blush and/or bronzer fixes the problem. i deal with the "ghost glow" for good sun protection. and no funny sunscreen smell, although i must admit the smell of sunscreen brings back good memories of my childhood.

Aveeno Hydrosport Sunblock Spray with SPF 85 (more info here)

wonderfully thin, not greasy, not too shiny. its awesome! it blended into my skin nicely and did not just "sit on top" of my skin. a great option for outdoors. (have not tested this swimming yet). 

Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Continuous Spray SPF 70+ ($9)

another great option that i used a lot while swimming. this has a more shiny finish to it but i felt like it stayed on my skin pretty long. the smell is stronger for me, but it's not bothersome.

extras:

Sunscreen Sticks (around $5)

these are so great! they get the ears and nose perfectly- and they don't rub off as fast as other types of sunscreens. i also like using on the tops of my hands and feet. its also great to throw in the beach bag or your purse. i know its not a moisturizer, but i would like to start using it as a cuticle balm to keep dryness out and protect from the sun of course. 

i only remember getting burned once in my life. my best friend and i went to the beach like most California girls do and go boogie boarding and swimming then lay out to get tan. well, all we did was get burned! haha. i never thought i had the type of skin to get burned. 

well, when i went home that evening my dear mother lectured me for a long time. 

no more sun. 

lots of sunscreen.

carry umbrellas when you walk home from school. 

yes, most of the days that i did walk home i carried umbrellas to block the sun. 

to this day i have my mom to thank for my suncare vigilance. she is a great example to me. she doesn't look her age at all either. she tells me it's because she stayed out of the sun and wore a lot of sunscreen. i believe her and hope to age as well as she is. no i am not going to tell you her age because she would get really upset at me!

hope this little list helps you on your way to blissful sunscreen happiness! good luck friends! 

thoughts for today

via

i love this video 

makes my day and hopefully yours a little brighter 

The Colors of Christmas

The traditional colors of Christmas remain my favorite each year,

especially red and white-

mixed with Christmas Tree Garland, red berries and outdoor elements.

(Inspirational pictures by Better Homes and Garden)

This year, I brought a lot of RED and WHITE to my Christmas Decor!

I love the traditional colors of Christmas!

( I made the quilt-Turning Twenty Pattern and Reversible Candy Cane/Polka Dot Pillows)

My favorite part is the RED and WHITE ribbon!

Red and White checkered ribbon with strong accents of SNOWY WHITE bring a warm

country "Home Sweet Home" feeling to your Christmas Decor!

( Better Homes and Garden)

Who can resist Christmas Dishes and Little Red Chairs? Not I!

(BHG)

Welcome Christmas!

My little daughter was dancing and singing all day yesterday and reminding

us all that Christmas will soon be here!

Children keep the Magic of Christmas alive!

GIFT IDEA:

Helping Hands

These mittens are more than the eye can see,

They represent the kindness in you and me.

It's the Holiday Season so lets do our part, to help

someone in need or to mend a broken heart.

Our helping hands can put a smile on a face,

and make the world a better place. 

So see what an act of your kindness can do,

It may even warm a cold hand or two.

A POEM for KINDNESS!

A great gift for

 Kids, Teachers, Neighbors and Friends!

From Grandma's kitchen:

HOT CHOCOLATE ON A STICK

 My son who is TEN loves it!

I love it!

Go HERE for a recipe!

                                                 Combine Hot Chocolate and Warm Mittens

A great gift for everyone!

Enjoy the SWEETNESS of Christmas!

Delightful Disney Days in October!

Last year, we celebrated our youngest daughter's Birthday at Disneyland!

We all enjoyed the Fall atmosphere and  

PUMPKIN HAPPINESS everywhere!

I could go every year in the month of October!

We had so much FUN!

The Disney Parade, Fireworks

and Disney Characters dressed up

in Halloween attire was a super TREAT!

Speaking of TREATS.......

When you loose a little black shoe on the log ride

and it's your Brithday, welcome NEW

Minnie Mouse Shoes and Polka Dot Socks!

My boys were rolling their eyes and thinking more shoes??!!!

I was thinking, maybe I should loose a shoe!

I made my daughter a Minnie Mouse 

Reversible Twirly Skirt

with a matching side bag!

 It all worked GREAT for Disneyland!

I must say........

The joy of having a little girl after FOUR boys is

DELIGHTFUL and SEW FUN!

Halloween Twirly Skirts available in my ETSY SHOP

For A Limited Time!

I'm missing Disneyland and I'm wanting my daughter to stay SIX!

Minnie Mouse and her October Attire!

(Picture taken before the log ride!)

Black shoes with white and Purple beaded socks

We love purple!

What a magical time! 

(Mary Engelbrite Fabric on the reverse side)

Besides the Fall/Halloween Festivities-

I think the best part of the day for me,

 was seeing my boys carry a tired

little sister around the park, after a full Disney Day!

She remains the Princess and in charge!

Thank goodness for brothers that LOVE her--

Who needs a stroller?!

Happy Fall!

It's The Little Things....That make House a HOME!

The radiant smiles and sounds of loved ones running through the house with joyful laughter in their voices.

The messes that fill our life each day, like cereal and milk left out on the counter, crumbs on the kitchen floor.

The artwork that fills the front of the fridge along with crayons all over the house and under the sofa cushions.

The endless laundry that is evidence of family at work, school, sports and play.

Little boys pockets filled with treasures.

The stuffed animals, polly pocket, barbie dolls, blocks, trucks and legos left behind on the family room floor.

The endless tents and club houses draping the furniture and chairs made from blankets.

The sound of music, childrens music and music from the piano or a musical instrument.

The sights and sounds of a child playing in costume as a princess or a favorite character or super hero.

All these sights and sounds make a house a HOME. So many little things that are put in our daily lifes, our busy lifes, we tend to forget how precious they really are. I for one, as my children grow older have learned to appreciate them more. They are all evidence of a happy life filled with love.

Happy Father's Day!

My JOY!

"Young boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about young boys. "

Happy Father's Day!

My JOY!

"Young boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about young boys. "