Weekend Plans

November... dear, sweet November...PLEASE slow down! OK, now that I have that off my chest...Friday afternoon we are taking a trip to spend some time with my father. I am cherishing each and every moment with him. : )

Saturday we have no plans during the day...I am thinking of getting out my Thanksgiving prep notebook, sitting down with a hot cup of coffee, and start my list making. We have Mass in the late afternoon, and then are going out to dinner to celebrate my friend's birthday. Her daughter is Madison's best friend, and her son is Rhett's. Pretty perfect. Peyton is going to make a cake for her too. : )

Sunday is party day! We are celebrating my sweet Flynn's 4th birthday with a small party including some family and friends. She decided to go with a Sesame Street theme again and is soo excited. We are having the party early...noon...as this time of year is quite busy and Madison has Confirmation class Sunday evening. And also because Peyton didn't want any interference with her Walking Dead episode. And yes, I'm serious. Flynn's actual birthday is Tuesday and we will celebrate her again...just the six of us. My fave. : )

So that is our weekend, my friends. I hope yours is happy and cozy and yummy, whatever your plans may be. Thanks for stopping by!

Fall baking is in full swing here...a few weeks ago we made this

 Fall Harvest Cake. It is the perfect autumn dessert. Or as you may have seen in a previous post...the perfect autumn breakfast. : )

So what to do with all that leftover Halloween candy? ( You know it is just driving me crazy all piled up in the pantry!) Well, Peyton chopped up some random candy bars and baked some brownies. And they were good. Really good.

Bought myself a new Christmas mug. And started to use it. Because...Life IS good. : )

This beautiful sight is what we woke up to last Friday morning...

and this is what my little ones were doing before school...playing outside in the snow...a homeschool perk we are enjoying this year. : )

My almost 4 year old...all ready for Mass last weekend...

and here she is being really happy because she was allowed to take her new best friend Jingle to Mass. If you do Elf on the Shelf...this is an awesome pre Christmas gift. I got it at the Hallmark store and it comes with this cute note saying that he is not the real Elf. He doesn't fly or visit Santa...he is just a friend to hug. : )

One more autumn treat...Peyton made some yummy pumpkin bars for weekend snacking. And snacking we did!

Here's my son...my little Daryl Dixon...another Walking Dead reference...He and Steve had sooo much fun at camp. No deer...but that didn't even matter. They had such fun together!

And to finish it off...a new hair...Monday morning...schoolroom selfie...

Happy Weekend, my friends!

Stuffed Pepper Soup

You know how much we love a good bowl of soup here. This is one of our favorites. Peyton found the recipe on Pinterest. I hope you enjoy!

Stuffed Pepper Soup

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb. ground beef
2. 1 onion, diced
3. 1 bell pepper, diced
4. 1 can diced tomatoes, 29 oz.
5. 1 can tomato soup, 10 oz., undiluted
6. 1 can chicken broth, 14 oz. or beef broth
7. 2 cups rice, cooked
8. 1 tbsp. sugar
9. 1 tsp. garlic powder
10. salt and pepper to taste
11. shredded cheddar cheese, for on top

Directions: 

1. Brown ground beef with pepper and onion in a large pot.
2. Drain well. Really well.
3. Add diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and soup.
4. Stir, then add rice.
5. Stir in seasonings.
6. Cover and let simmer on low-medium heat for 30 minutes.
7. Top with cheddar cheese.

Love a pot of soup simmering on the stove...

Love a bowl of soup and a biscuit on the table even more! : )

 Note: I do double this for our family of six.

I have used both chicken and beef broth. : )





Keepin' It Real...I Lost Track Of How Many Edition

Here we go with another Keepin' It Real post. You know...the ones where I share some of the mundane true facts of my life, and hope you all like me anyway. ; )

Oh...and first of all...these quality pictures were all taken with my phone because I was too lazy to go downstairs and get my camera.

So...I am extremely fashion challenged. For real. I wear almost the same thing every single day. Because I like it. I have always loved black and khaki and beige. And that's about it.

Here is a look inside my closet. See all the neutrals?

Any bursts of color I may wear are most likely gifts, and are chosen only when my Madison decides to give me one of her "What Not To Wear" makeovers.

And my pants...jeans, black, and khaki...because I like to blend in.

And here I am sporting my daily uniform...black shirt...

and jeans. Ahhhh comfort...

While we are at it...here is what you will find me in by 4:00 in the afternoon these days. I love when it gets dark early...cozy evenings inside call for cozy jammies, right?

Now I'm off to enjoy a piece of this...for breakfast. Because we are keepin' it real here, and the truth is, I love my sweets!

Thanks for visiting, friends!

A Touch Of Thanksgiving...2013

Halloween is packed away for another year, and now we embrace the quiet and warmth that is Thanksgiving. After we put the Halloween tubs away, we dusted and swept and brought out the small Thanksgiving tub and added a few touches to our autumn home.

The Thanksgiving mantle...

and a cute little couple here on the computer table...

a sweet new sign sent by a very dear friend...

and the cutest little wooden playset that Flynn plays with for hours. : )

The schoolroom got some Thanksgiving love too...here is Flynn's preschool corner...

 the dry erase board and chalkboard did too.

And as the darkness comes earlier and earlier...we are loving our Be Thankful candle every evening in our country home. And I am loving my new candle holder...another gift from my very dear friend. : )

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!