Sunny Side Up Headband

I like to create fun homemade items for the girls when we have pictures taken. For our recent fall shoot, I quickly whipped up these clips using eyelet lace and a covered button. I put Cream's on a headband and Peachy's is just a clip.

Since I made them so quickly I don't have any pictures of the process, but I will try to walk you through the steps.
1. Cut a circle out of felt. (Mine were about 1 inch in diameter.)
2. Using a glue gun, I coiled the eyelet around the circle. I went around once on the outside and one more time just a little bit further in.
3. I made a covered button and glued it to the center.
4.  Attach to a headband or clip and you are done.

Working Woman

I dipped my toe into the working world over the last week. I had the pleasure of returning to the preschool that used to teach at as a substitute. The girls were left in the hands of good friends, and their dad one day. Peachy was sad that she couldn't come to preschool with me. She made this note for me. This side says "real preschool." The other side said my name. I think she intended that I wear it around my neck while I taught.
In the end it was fun to be back in the classroom. I enjoyed being with the preschool set again. It was pretty relaxed since I was the teacher's aide and the main teacher took over lots of the roles. I didn't necessarily enjoy getting the girls up and out the door at a certain time. Also the fact that it coincided with daylight savings time ending made for a little rougher time. (For some reason this year the time change has really kicked me in the pants.)
For now I will not be quitting my day job, but it was fun having a little time back in my old role again.

Pumpkin Mug Cake

I am a fan, make that a huge fan, of all things pumpkin. Combine that love with my love for a nice carb loaded breakfast and you pretty much reach euphoric levels here. And if you can give me both of those things in under five minutes I am weak at the knees.
And so today I am willing to share this pure happiness in a mug with you, my dear, dear friends. Here she is, the Pumpkin Mug Cake. One single serving of pumpkin pleasure.

Pumpkin Mug Cake
(adapted from {2 Minute} Coffee Cake in a Mug)
Ingredients
1 Tbsp butter
2 tbsp sugar2 tbsp pumpkin puree
vanilla extract, few drops
1/4 C All Purpose flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 Tbsp finely chopped pecans
Directions

1. Soften 1 Tbsp butter in microwave in mug. Stir in 2 tbsp of sugar and mix until well incorporated. Stir in pumpkin, vanilla, flour, baking powder, and pinch of salt; stirring until just combined. Smooth the mixture into the bottom of a mug.
2. For the struesel topping: Combine 1 tbsp of butter, 2 tbsp of flour, 1 tbsp of brown sugar, and 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice. Using your fingers, pinch together until toppings form a rough consistency  Pour over top of the cake mixture and top with pecans. 
3. Cook in the microwave for 50-80 seconds depending on your microwave. Make sure to check it after the 50 second mark to make sure you don't over cook it. (Believe me, you will not want it to be over cooked.)
4. Enjoy warm and if you really want to make your day, top with whipped cream.

It may not be as healthy as my pumpkin pie oatmeal, but it is worth every extra empty calorie.

'Tis the Season

Can you feel it in the air? We are in the thick of the Holiday season. Halloween is done and now it is time to prepare for Thanksgiving with Christmas following closely on its heels. And while I am excited about everything that this time of year brings, I am really excited for all of the fun seasonal food items that are hitting the shelves.
I was grocery shopping at Target the other day and I found myself loading down the cart with tasty treats. There is something about the flavors and then something about the fact that you just can't buy them year round. I couldn't resist.
1) Market Pantry Pumpkin Cookies (with Cheesecake Filling!!!) I couldn't fund these on the website, but I did find a few other blog posts about them. And let me tell you, if you see them, snatch them up. Yum!

Source

2. Market Pantry Candy Cane Chewy Cocoa Granola Bars: I haven't cracked these open yet, but I figure you can't go wring with chocolate and peppermint.

3. Yoplait Yogurt Apple Crisp and Pumpkin Pie: Its like eating dessert, only its yogurt!

4. And finally International Delights Salted Caramel Mocha Creamer: I have fallen for this new offering from Starbucks and am loving the creamer for DIY at home!

Don't worry. I am not getting paid to promote these products. Just sharing the love!

Peachy: Three and One Half Years

Being a parent is an amazingly wonderful experiences  Don't get me wrong, there are always going to be challenges and struggles. But in the end it mostly boils down to awesomeness. Peachy has recently gone and grown up into a little lady. I daily catch glimpses of the person that she is becoming and it is one of the neatest things.

She is at a point now where she is understanding more and more of how the world works and paying more attention to life as it goes on around her. Seeing her gears turn brings me such a feeling of pride. While she can be slow to warm up and be herself in new situations, it is fun watching her talk to those she knows well and tell them about the goings on in her life.

She is physically looking so much older as well. She is tall for her age and lately her face has really started to narrow. Her hair is still a beautiful shade of red and her eyes are as brown as can be. Such a pretty combination!

As for the big sister role, there are times Peachy relishes it and times she really could care less about Cream. All very typical. :o)

She is always saying funny things. One night she was really testing me during bedtime and I told her I was running out of patience. She replied with, "No, I think you still have one patient in you." Another time I was telling Cream that she need to wait as the world didn't revolve around her. Cream responded with, "No, it revolves around me."

Peachy is now old enough to attend Sunday School at our church. She is loving being old enough to go into the classrooms while we attend Bible Class. She has sung in church with the Sunday School as well and I have to tell you, I was almost crying when I saw her up there.

Our Peachy has such a joyful outlook on life. She is laid-back and almost always coming up with little projects to do. I am really spoiled by a three year old who is able to entertain herself so well. I can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings to her.