I love Fall!

Fall is coming!  This is Logan last fall!
I can't wait to take pictures with pumpkins this year

As we approach the Fall season, I am super excited!  Fall means a beautiful array of colors, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin spiced lattes, Kuiper's Apple Orchard, Edwards Apple Orchard and cool "I can wear a light sweater" weather!

Fall is also bringing very new things for me.  I am attempting to organize my life and family, I am aiming to eat and feel healthier, and I will lead my first Connect Group at Judson beginning in October.  Along with these somewhat new endeavors, I plan to be more faithful and organized in my blog posts.  Here is my plan for the new blog schedule...I hope you enjoy the new look and some updated content.

Mondays-Menu and weekly family plan-I will be sharing recipes and my shopping plan for the week.


Tuesdays-Toddler focus!-Tuesdays are all about my son Logan and our educational journey.


Wednesdays-my Wednesday Weigh-in...not exactly what you think, for I do not own a scale.  However, I will be weighing-in on the book "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst.  This book is the focus of the Connect Group study I will be leading in October.

Thursdays-Thrift finds and other projects.

Fridays-{REMIX} -A picture recap of the our week or other random thoughts.

Saturdays and Sundays- Rest and Relax (meaning no posts) =)

A Frog and her Blog: Dear Friend, There is something I wish I would have told you......

My dear sister-in-law, Janice, had an awesome blog post yesterday...I hope you all will read it!

A Frog and her Blog: Dear Friend, There is something I wish I would have told you......

My New Obsession: Spray Paint!

I recently found some treasures at a few garage sales and Goodwill and have just been waiting for a the perfect day for a junk makeover!  Here is my first summer project...

I purchased these brass candlesticks at a local church rummage sale for $1.00 for both of them. (No it was not at the Judson sale in case anyone was wondering.)

I used Rust-Oleum primer in gray to prep the metal surface.  I did three light coats waiting a half-hour between each coat.  I also did some light sanding in between coats to remove any bumpy edges to ensure a smooth surface.

To finish, I used Krylon Silver Metallic spray paint in a Satin finish.  I did two light coats waiting about an hour between coats.  As you can see it is a vast improvement from the outdated brass.  And it only cost me about $3.00 total!!

Yay for recycling old treasures! 

Count Your Blessings

I am in the midst of reading the book, Growing Grateful Kids, by Susie Larson.  Today, as I was reading, I was drawn in (and pretty convicted) by a powerful portion of the book.  I wanted to share it with you...

Susie titles this section "Count Your Blessings"


1. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head, and a place to sleep...you are richer than 70 percent of this world.


2.  If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace...you are among the top 8 percent of the world's wealthy.


3. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness...you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.


4.  If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation...you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.


5.  If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death...you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.


6. If your parents are still alive and still married...you are very rare.


7. If you hold your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful...you are blessed because, although the majority can, most do not.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are--no more, no less.  That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.  You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God.  He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."  

(Matthew 5:5-6 THE MESSAGE)

I Heart Vacation!

Landipalooza 2011 started with breakfast from my favorite hole-in-the-wall dining establishment...WAFFLE HOUSE!  Nothing compares to a Pecan Waffle at the Waffle House!

We had lots of fun cruising... 

and I have to admit my husband looks pretty cute in his cruise hat!

But seriously...we had to watch Bob and Janice make out the whole trip! 

 I'm kidding...aren't they so cute!

We got dressed up a lot...and let's just say walking down a grand marble staircase, in 3.5 inch heels, on a giant moving boat...not the most elegant.  But I survived and quickly changed shoes after dinner! 

 This sunset was one of the best parts!!!

Highlights:

First time on a cruise ship!  Loved it!

Food, Food and more Food! 

Climbing a waterfall in Jamaica!

Hanging with Bob and Janice everyday (even if they did make out all the time)

Spending some much needed time with my cute husband!

Lowlights:

Being away from Logan for 9 days.

Being threatened with all but death if I post some incriminating pictures of my brother-in-law Bob.  

Let's just say Bob is a true competitor and will stop at nothing to win! 

Don't worry Bob, your secret is safe with me!

WARM WEATHER AND HOT DEALS!

Okay, so I am so excited while typing this I can barely contain myself!  I went to Gap today and bought 4 shirts and 1 pair of jeans for Logan for $3.81 out of pocket!  I don't normally shop at the Gap but this deal was too good to pass up!

I saved $80 off the regular retail prices!!  Thanks to a friend and Hip2save.com, I was able to get a "$25 off a $50 purchase" coupon sent to my cell phone.  Plus, I had a  $25 gift card thanks to another friend.

I also went to JCPenny and got a necklace, earrings, and a ring for $3.00 (I had a $10 off a $10 purchase coupon) All in all I would say it was a great day!

Cappuccino Goodness

Over the weekend, Judson hosted the REAL Women Conference.  I was on the planning team and volunteered to be in charge of the dessert table.  The conference was fantastic and there were lots of yummy treats. The day before I was busy making about 140 mini Cappuccino Cupcakes for the dessert buffet. I had several people ask me for the recipe so here it is.  

The recipe is from the KitchenAid Best Loved Recipes cookbook. 

Cappuccino Cupcakes

Cupcake Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1 1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 Tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons instant espresso or instant coffee granules

3/4 cup milk

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

 Beat butter in bowl of electric stand mixer on medium-high until creamy.  Add sugar gradually with mixer running and beat 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.  Reduce speed to medium and add eggs, 1 at at time, beating 30 seconds after each addition.  Stop and scrape bowl. 

Dissolve instant coffee in milk. Set aside.

Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Turn mixer on low and add a third of flour mixture alternately with half of milk mixture, mixing 15 seconds after each addition.  

Spoon batter into 8 greased and floured custard cups.** (see my notes below about what I did) 

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean.  Remove from cups and cool on a wire rack.  

**Since I did mini cupcakes, I made the following changes to the recipe.  I used mini cupcake liners instead of greasing the pans.  I also baked them at 350 degrees for 13 minutes.  You may need to test the amount of time but each batch was always done right at 13 minutes for me.

Coffee Cream Cupcake Topping

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso or instant coffee granules

Beat cream, sugar, and instant coffee in bowl of electric stand mixer on high until stiff. It will take a few minutes.  I frosted the cupcakes right before I served them.  I didn't have a frosting bag so I used a zip lock sandwich bag and cut the corner. Worked great!