Tasty Tuesday – Pumpkins!

Last week I was taking a small break from unpacking and spent a few hours swimming with my daughter at a friends house.  While I was there my friend started telling us about a pumpkin shortage.  Her daughter had been craving pumpkin muffins:

 

Pumpkin Muffins:

1 box spice cake mix

1 small can Libby’s pumpkin

12 oz chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix all ingredients together.  Place in greased or lined muffin pan and bake for 22-26 minutes.  Eat and enjoy!

So the good mother she is went to the store to get the ingredients, only to find there was no Libby’s pumpkin.  She checked Wal-Mart and a few grocery stores.  This is when she found out that there was a pumpkin shortage.  She then decided to try and find some online, which she did, the bad news was that people were selling a can for $36.00!!!  Can you believe that?  Well the worst part about this story is that I had been craving Chocolate Chip Pumpkin cookies and had planned on shopping directly after our swimming. 

I had Libby’s pumpkin on my grocery list and the craving only got stronger after all the talk!!!  So of course I looked for the canned pumpkin and of course there wasn’t any!!!  I can’t believe it!  So I am hoping maybe AZ has some, and maybe my mom can ship me some!  Since I am such a nice person I thought I’d share these recipes in hope that someone out there can find Libby’s pumpkin and make and eat these delicious treats!  Or if you are really lucky you already have some in your pantry, because I promise you I will be stocking up as SOON as I see it on the store shelves!!!  Enjoy, I’ll have to find something else to crave!

- Cammie

Manic Monday – Storage

I am BACK!!!  It has been one crazy summer!  Moving 3 families in basically 6 weeks was what I call insane!  But it is SO worth it because now I have 2 MORE sister-in-laws, 2 brother-in-laws and of course 6 more cousins!  We have been helping each other unpack, babysit, and just trying to get everyone settled in.  I ended up moving days before school started, so that was a bit crazy too.  I have the basics done as far as unpacking, but the decorations are still in boxes, and I am needing much more storage units than I did in my last house.  The kids bedrooms are HUGE and their closets are too, but I REALLY want the toys in the basement/playroom.  This just means I need to make (or buy) some storage units for all their toys.  I have been searching craigslist hoping to find something I like but nothing tops what I really want, and that is the playroom units from Knock Off Wood. 

Are these not just perfect?  Now if I could get myself to do these in the next 4 weeks (before the baby is born) that would be amazing.  Have any of you done any projects from Knock-Off Wood?  I’m hoping the plans are as easy as they seem!!  Wish me luck, I think I’m going to need a lot of it!

- Cammie

WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY – What I’ve Been Up To

Our basement is finally to the fun point…decorating!  The doors are up, the trim is up, and the only major thing left to do is add closet doors (not totally necessary at the moment).  So, I’ve been busy arranging, organizing and decorating!  I’m not completely finished with the fun part yet, so no pictures as of today…but I will share something I just did in our living room!

I’ve always been a huge fan of modge podging pictures onto canvas or a piece of wood, so I was inspired by that look.  However, I’m also all about making it work with what you’ve got, and I didn’t have canvas or the right size wood.  So this is what I came up with…using cheap picture frames!  We also recently did family pictures, so I needed to update the frames.  I love the way it turned out.  I smile every time I see my cute boys!

(We have a thing for pictures on stair cases!)

Happy Wednesday!

-Emily

TASTY TUESDAY – Summer Veggie Pizza

Once a month we do a recipe exchange with a bunch of ladies from church.  Tonight is this month’s recipe exchange.  The theme for tonight is a “COLD recipe.”  That means I have to make and bring something cold to share, plus the recipe to share.  I was looking through some recipes and am thinking I may make this yummy veggie pizza…and of course had to share with everyone! 

I love this little treat, it’s great for parties or even for a light lunch!  Enjoy!

-Emily

MANIC MONDAY – Back, finally!

So, in case nobody noticed, we’ve been TOTALLY SLACKING the past couple of weeks!  And we truly apologize!  It kind of feels like life was on fast forward for a couple of weeks and that maybe we’ve slowed down to normal speed, at least for now!  So, in the spirit of Manic Monday, let me tell you why it’s been so crazy around here!

1. Cammie moved (YAY!!) And we all know moving is never a one day event! 
2. Cammie has been unpacking for a week, and I’ve been trying to help as much as I can!
3. Cammie has been without internet for a week, can you imagine?!
4. My house got turned upside down putting the finishing touches on our basement.  And, me and my indecisive self had to go and change all the rooms and what went in them!  My boys now share a room (that should be an entirely separate reason!), the office came back upstairs, all the toys moved downstairs (BEST THING I”VE EVER DONE!), and we added a bed to make a guest room!  I almost feel like we just moved!
5. We celebrated a cousin’s birthday and Cammie and I helped our sis-in-law make the cutest Pockemon cake ever!  That turned into an all day thing!
6. My almost 3 year old came down with a mysterious illness, with high fever and complaining of a headache (a toddler with a headache??), and then ending up covered in the weirdest looking rash.  We finally decided it must have been roseola, and he seems to be fine now (thank goodness!)
7. Said 2 year old got 2 other cousins sick…oops!  Hopefully it ends there!

Wheph!  I’m sure I missed quite a bit, but you get the picture!  Unfortunately, the chaos isn’t quite over for us!  Cammie is due in like 5 weeks (YIKES), we’re having company come this week (YAY!!), and in 2 weeks a large group of friends is starting a Joy School/Preschool together, twice a week!  BUSY!  but I love it!  And, we promise to not neglect our little blog for that long again! 

Happy Monday!  I’m off to organize all those toys!

-Emily

TEACH ME THURSDAY – So Behind!

I am ashamed to admit, that we got home from a week long stay in Seattle on Monday, and I have STILL not unpacked!  Why is this so hard for me???  For some reason life did not stop while we were gone and I had to jump head first back in as soon as we got home!  I did do my grocery shopping, and a little laundry, and I’ve helped Cammie pack a little bit.  Other than that, nothin!  I have got to get it together!

Anyway, because I’m so behind in life, I don’t have a very exciting tutorial today…in fact, I don’t have one at all!  So, I thought I’d just list a few (seriously, not even close to all!) of my favorite blogs for your reading and perusing pleasure!

Ucreate
eighteen25
Somewhat Simple
Knock-off Wood
Blue Cricket

Enjoy…I can get lost in these blogs for hours (seriously!).

-Emily

WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY – Proof!

I was extremely excited to do this…can you tell!

-Emily

MANIC MONDAY and TASTY TUESDAY – A Bit Behind

Obviously, Manic Monday got skipped this week!  Oops!  I was out of town all last week and came home yesterday and realized I was supposed to post, but forgot and never had time!  Sorry folks!  But I’m back and ready to tell you all about my great vaca! 

My little bro came home from 2 years in Portugal!  He’s amazing, and it was awesome to see him.  My whole family was together and we had so much fun!  I was even able to get up on one ski on my first try!  I haven’t done this in like 10 years!!  I was pumped!

So, after a week of being away, it’s so nice to be home (except for the crazy heat and humidity!!).  Now it’s off to helping Cammie pack and move this weekend!

More tomorrow!

-Emily

Freebie Friday – Fun School Idea…

I saw this cute idea on Crafty Chicks.  These are conversation cards to use with your kids.  When I would pick Jer up from kindergarten the first week of school I would always ask what he did that day.  I was ready to be filled with an ear full about all the things he did, but instead he would say I don’t know.  So I finally figured out I had to ask specific questions, did you have art today? and did you like it, etc.  But these conversation cards look like so much fun for the kids!  Check them out at Crafty Chicks.

- Cammie

Teach Me Thursday – Make a boy’s tie from a Men’s tie…how cool is that?

Emily and I purchased a pattern for making boys ties awhile back and we have made several ties for our boys.  It is a really good pattern and we’ve gotten pretty good at making them, BUT when I came across the idea of making a boys tie from a Men’s tie I loved the idea.  There are probably 10 ties in Ben’s closet that he never wears so how perfect would it be to let my boys where them…after I follow this amazing tutorial from Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky!  I can’t wait to make them, I have a feeling I am really going to like them!

(picture from Hideous! Dreadful! Stinky!)

- Cammie

What’s Up Wednesday…Back to School

Is it just me or did summer FLY by????  I can’t believe my kids are going back to school in 2 weeks!  I know several schools in the west start in a week, how is this possible?  I am not ready!  Seriously as if moving and being 32 weeks prego wasn’t keeping me busy enough, now I need to get school supplies, and start preparing for a schedule?  Man I wish I had another month or two of summer left.  I could really use it!  I did however, do school clothes shopping in July while I was in AZ with my family…thank goodness!  I also registered my boys on Monday since they are attending a new school.  So that is what’s up for me…so much on my mind…wish me luck getting back on a schedule for the school year! 

- Cammie

Tasty Tuesday – Yummy Summer Fruit Dip

I found this Yummy Summer Fruit Dip from Crafty Chicks a few days ago and it looks delicious!  I LOVE fruit, especially in the summer, and who doesn’t love a fruit dip to go along with it? 

1 (8 oz.) cube of cream cheese

1 (7oz.) container of marshmallow cream

1 1/2 C. Cool Whip

Favorite Fruit (I would choose, strawberries, and grapes)

(For directions please check out Crafty Chicks Post)

- Cammie

Manic Monday – Moving

We are moving in 2 weeks!!!  I am SO excited but there is SO much to do!  We are only moving about 10 miles/20 minutes from where we are now, but it is going to be a GREAT and much needed change.  We are moving closer to church, family, friends, shopping, the hospital, the gym, seriously it feels like everything we do is there.  It is going to be AMAZING!  (can you tell I am SO excited?) 

You would think I’d be feeling overwhelmed since I haven’t really packed even one box, or made one phone call for moving changes…but I must remind you all I have AMAZING family around me.  Emily is out of town for this week, but next week she has offered her assistance and I know she’ll make the job go by so quickly.  I also have Liz, my other sis-in-law that just moved here and I know she’ll help in anyway, she’s so kind like that.  Then Ben’s parents, brothers, and so many good friends have offered to help.  I am so blessed don’t you think?  Especially since I am 32 weeks prego (which means I am large in the belly, AND I can’t lift much) With all this help I feel the best thing to do is be organized.  I found a great website with an AWESOME moving checklist.  The site is called Squawk Fox.  The thing I love most about the checklist is that it is broken down into time frames….what to do 2 months before the big move, 2 weeks, 1 week, all the way to the day of the move.  How cool is that?  Go check out the MOVING CHECKLISTS if you are moving soon too!

- Cammie