Initial Tukery Shirt {No Sew}

Do you all remember the turkey applique shirt I made for Ms. T?  Well, I made Mr. J one today...just a little less girly! It's the same steps as Ms. T's shirt.

Candy Corn Cupcakes & A Birthday

Yesterday was my mom's 45th birthday (or 54th according to Ms. T) and Mr. Homemaker & I decided we would have her and my dad over for a birthday supper and cupcakes! I wanted to do something different...something non-traditional in terms of her cupcakes.

So, being the Pinterest addict that I am, I found Candy Corn Cupcakes!!

Bear in mind, my cupcakes are not as pretty as the one's in the above photo, but boy were they yummy!!

So here you go, instructions (with pictures) on how to make your own candy corn cupcakes!

All of your ingredients needed, minus the red & yellow food coloring I forgot to add in the picutre! :)

Add your oil, water, and egg whites to your boxed cake mixture. Add the quantities that the box calls for.

Have an adorably, enthusiastic 4yr old to assist with the mixing.

Take a break, and let your enthusiastic helper lick the beaters {her favorite part...I think that's why she likes helping!}

Divide your batter into 3 seperate dishes. This is so you can add the food coloring to make the batter white, yellow, and orange.

Add your food coloring and mix, mix, mix!!

Put a scoop of yellow batter in (I forgot to photograph that part), and next a scoop of orange batter on top.

Finally, add a scoop of white batter on top!

Once you fill the cupcake liners with the batter, bake according to the package instructions.

When the cupcakes are done baking, take them out of the pan to cool.

Finally, once they are cool, frost with vanilla frosting and top with a candy corn...or two!!

And when you open it up, this is what it should look like!

30 Days of Thanks: {Days 6-15}

{Day 6}: I am thankful for the teachers my kids have! They are a blessing!!

{Day 7}: I am thankful for having a great support system with my diet & exercise!!

{Day 8}: I am thankful for the silly things my kids say!! They turn a frown upside down with something they say and not even realize it! :)

{Day 9}: I am thankful for having a job that will allow me to work but still be home with my kids everyday!

{Day 10}: I am thankful for GOD and everything HE does for me!!

{Day 11}: Thankful for those have served our country, {my uncles} Jerome Parker & Terry Kiser, and those who are currently serving {my cousin, Tommy & my FIL, Ray Dalton Jr.}

{Day 12}: I am thankful that I get to visit with my family down at the coast...even if it is just for the weekend!!

{Day 13}: I am thankful for family relationships and the trials that only make us stronger.

{Day 14}: I am thankful for my momma!! She is an amaing woman with the courage of a lion and a heart of gold.

{Day15}: I am thankful for my creativness!! It saves me some money in the long run & it's enjoyable for others! :)

No Sew Turkey Applique Shirt

I finally got around to making Ms. T her very own Turkey shirt for Turkey Day!!

How stinkin' cute is this?!

You want to know how to make this for your little one?????

I used THIS tutorial! It's super easy to follow!!!

Happy crafting!

30 Days of Thanks: {Day 5}

 I am thankful for the date nights that Ray and I have sparatically...and they're all possible because of the wonderful momma I have keeping the kids!! Because of our nights together, our relationship grows stronger and more connected.

Ms. T's Turkey Day Hairbow!!

I don't know if I have told you all or not, but I am in L.O.V.E. with Pinterest. I scour it almost daily and I could stay on there for hours on end! Anyhow, one of the pins I saw on there yesterday was this little beauty:

How stinkin' cute is that??!!??!!

I told Mr. Homemaker that I wanted to try my hand atleast at the turkey bow for Ms. T for Thanksgiving!

He was a bit skeptical at first because I don't have the patience when it comes to making attempting hairbows, let alone one like this!!

So, I scoured the internet and found THIS TUTORIAL!

It was soooooo easy!! I changed my bow up a bit from the directions. I doubled everything instead of just one layer.

This is the final product, minus the wiggly eyes that I forgot to buy!

It's not exactly as perfect as the turkey in the first picture, but I am super proud that I made it and didn't get frustrated once!! LOL!

30 Days of Thanks: {Day4}

Day 4: I am thankful that I have a roof over my head & food on my table at night.

So many take these things for granted, yet others in different countries would die for this!!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 3

  I am thankful to be alive and to enjoy life and make memories with the ones that I love.

30 Days of Thankfulness {Day 1 & 2}

Have any of you ever heard of this? I hadn't either until this morning. Below is the information I found on it.

"This idea was adapted from Tessa Hall's great idea! Thank you Karen for bring Tessa great idea to all of us on FB! I love it...

"30 days of thankful"

This was given to me by a friend whose husband is a pastor in Marshall, Texas. Last Sunday he preached on complaining and that everyone (even on facebook) seems to always have a lot to complain about. I am just as guilty as anyone. With that in mind, I have committed to this for the month for November, I hope you will too.

What if we all committed together to “30 days of thankful” on facebook? What does that mean, exactly?

1. Each one of us would newly write something we’re thankful for every single day for the month of November right there in our status update for all the world to see – and it is the only update we would make to our status for those 30 days!

2. Even if we don’t normally update our status every day, we WOULD for this project.

3. Even if we’re having an awful day, we would choose to express our thanks – and in a clearly thankful manner. In other words, no status updates like “I’m so thankful that even though my dog got hit by a car and my hair is falling out and I have toenail fungus, it’s a new day!” You get the picture.

I wonder what kind of impact “30 days of thankful” would make on His plans and handiwork. I wonder what kind of impact it would make on those who are exposed to “attitudes of gratitude” (sermon notes - grin), especially as they are bombarded with words of hope in our thankfulness for 30 days. I wonder what kind of impact it would make on our hearts as we are prompted to focus on thankfulness for 30 days instead of focusing on our daily concerns, struggles, pains, and difficulties which are, by the way, very real."

I know this is meant for Facebook, but why not give it a whirl in the blog world?

So, since I missed yesterday Day 1--I will do Day 1 and Day 2 today!

DAY 1: I am thankful for the 2 wonderful children that GOD has blessed me with.

DAY 2: I am thankful for the amazing man that I get to call my husband!

So, what are YOU thankful for??

Halloween...Halloween...Celebrating Halloween!

I know Halloween was 2 days ago, but I've slacked on the blog and I'm JUST NOW getting the pictures up!

Our The kids Halloween started by having Halloween sugar fests parties at their schools.

Little man sporting his pumpkin shirt that all of the kindergartener made for Halloween.

Then it was home for some pumpkin painting.

Ms. T's finished pumpkins

Mr. J's finished pumpkins

After pumpkin painting, it was time to get ready and head out for some good 'ol fashion trick or treating!!

Brag Alert!

I just have to share with you a couple of photos from Mr. J & Ms. T's fall photo session with none other than....me! I've mentioned it before but I am a budding photographer and the kids needed some updated pictures--especially since Christmas is {right} around the corner and it'll soon be time to start thinking of holiday cards! Anyhow, here are a few images of  my precious kiddos!

A visit to the Pumpkin Patch

Friday {after Mr. J's field trip and after we picked up Ms. T from mawmaw's} the kids and I headed to the local church pumpkin patch in the town we live in. The kids were super excited to pick out their pumpkins to paint, and of course playing on the slides when we were done  didn't hurt their feelings! :)

Mr. J has a field trip!!

 Friday, Mr. J had his first Kindergarten field trip!

His school took them to Discovery Place: Kids in Huntersville.

He had a grand time! Mommy on the other hand, was quite wore out by the time we left!!

Crock Pot Spinach & Chicken

I have to say, if you are not a spinach lover then you will be quite skeptical with this dish as it calls for an ENTIRE bag of spinach. BUT! Mr. Homemaker (who repluses spinach) L.O.V.E.D this dish!! I can't take credit for this recipe since I found it at http://www.crockpotgirls.com/, but I do HIGHLY recommend it!! Enjoy! :)


Start with 1-1 1/2lbs chicken (I used the breast tenders).

Top the chicken with bell peppers & onions.

I used 1/2 of a green bell pepper and about 3/4 of a red onion.

Next, add a good handful of cajun seasoning.

To your mixture, add zucchini & mushrooms.

I used 1 zucchini (chopped) and about 1/2 of a container of fresh mushrooms.

Next, add 1/2 of your bag of spinach and a large jar of spaghetti sauce.

I used Dole baby spinach & 6 cheese spaghetti sauce.

 

 

Finally, add the remaining half of your spinach to the crock pot.

Cover, and cook on low for 6 hours!

Serve over your favorite pasta (my kids love the farfalle "bowtie" pasta) and sprinkle with some parmesean cheese!!!

Yum!!