Fab Finds...

Tis the season to be shopping, here are a few fun shops to check out along with a few holiday decor items to swoon over.

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Thankful...

I want to wish you all a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving! Extending blessing to you and your family!

Tablescapes...

While I will not be hosting Thanksgiving at my home, I do appreciate a beautiful tablescape. Maybe one of these days I'll stop the madness that comes from trying to be so many places in one day and host our own Thanksgiving. Then I will give one of these lovely tables a try. Do you host or travel to be with family on Thanksgiving?

Yum, Pumpkin...

Do you need a good dessert for your upcoming Thanksgiving meal? Do you like pumpkin? This recipe is fantastic. I made it last week just to test it out. It was a big thumbs up. It was gone in a day, between Josh, myself and the kids. Hope you enjoy it too. {Found at Southern Living}

Pumpkin Pie Spectacular:

• 1/2  (15-oz.) package refrigerated piecrusts
• 2  cups  crushed gingersnaps (about 40 gingersnaps)
• 1  cup  pecans, finely chopped
• 1/2  cup  powdered sugar
• 1/4  cup  butter, melted
• 1  (15-oz.) can pumpkin
• 1  (14-oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 2  large eggs, beaten
• 1/2  cup  sour cream
• 1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground ginger
• Pecan Streusel
• 7  thin ginger cookies, halved
• Ginger-Spice Topping, ground cinnamon

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Fit piecrust into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate according to package directions; fold edges under, and crimp.

2. Stir together crushed gingersnaps and next 3 ingredients. Press mixture on bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of piecrust.

3. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack (about 30 minutes).

4. Stir together pumpkin and next 6 ingredients until well blended. Pour into prepared crust. Place pie on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet.

5. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Sprinkle Pecan Streusel around edge of crust. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until set, shielding edges with aluminum foil during last 25 to 30 minutes of baking, if necessary. Insert ginger cookies around edge of crust. Let cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Dollop with Ginger-Spice Topping; dust with cinnamon.

Pecan Streusel

Ingredients

• 1/4  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup  firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons  butter, melted
• 3/4  cup  pecans, coarsely chopped

Preparation

Stir together flour, brown sugar, melted butter, and chopped pecans.

Ginger-Spice Topping:

Ingredients

• 1  (8-oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground ginger

Preparation

Stir together thawed whipped topping, cinnamon, and ginger.

Breath of Fresh Air...

I need to get away. I would love a little trip to...

{Lake Austin Spa Resort}

A Gift or Two...

Have you started your Christmas shopping? I have. Here are so subtle hints I will be dropping to my husband via Etsy. I love this ipod holder. They have so many different patterns to choose from.

{Shop}

I have wanted one of these stamps for some time now. I keep holding off in hopes of moving to a different house, but I am thinking I will just get a new one when I do move.

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I LOVE this necklace!

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You might need a pretty Christmas card to two. This shop has so many beautiful options. 

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How do you address your gifts? I think these gift tags are too sweet!

{Shop}

                  

Happy Shopping!

Business, My Biz-ness...

After much thought about the closing of the shop where I have currently been working, I have decided I won't be leaving hairstyling for good. I will continue to do 2 days a week, and go back to a salon I previously worked at. I feel like I will be getting the best of both worlds this way. I have such a family of clients that I would have dearly missed. So I feel blessed to get to spend so much time with my family and then have that time out of the house with my "other family". I said all of that to say I am excited to have just ordered some cute new business cards. YAY! I think they are so cute and if you are in the market for business or calling cards you must check out this shop. So many beautiful cards to choose from.

{Paper and Ink}

Loving This...

Entry way...

And this living room.

{via martha stewart & google}

Crafting...

I got the bright idea one night to make a cork board for work, which morphed into "hey I could make a few extras for holiday gifts". Then I found out I could send a few over to a local craft boutique. So wish me luck, this is how a few of them turned out.

Fingerprint Friday...

What is Finger Print Friday?

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god
So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them? 

I am so thankful this sweet boy has been put in my life. He is totally going through a cuddly mama's boy stage and I am eating it all up!

If you would like to join in, link up at Pampering Beki!

Mexican Chicken Lasagna...

I subscribe to Oxygen Magazine, in no way am I trying to be a body builder. hehehe Don't quite have time for that. But I do love the magazine. In last months issue they had a super yummy looking recipe, Mexican Chicken Lasagna. So I put it on the list to try, and finally did last night. Safe to say it was almost completely gone by the time dinner had finished. So hope you enjoy.

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion, diced

1 15oz. can black beans

1 7oz can green chilies

1 15oz. can corn

1 can diced tomatoes

2 tbsp taco seasoning

cooking spray

4 whole wheat 8" tortillas

1.5 lb chicken breasts,

cooked and shredded

1 c. shredded 3 cheese blend cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Place a large skillet over medium heat and add oil and onion.

Cook until soft. Add beans, chiles, corn, tomatoes and

seasoning.

Stir to combine and cook until sauce bubbles.

3. To assemble lasagna, spray 8x8 oven safe dish with cooking spray.

Place one tortilla in dish. Top with a layer of vegetable mixture.

Add chicken and part of the cheese. Repeat until complete, ending

with a tortilla and any remaining cheese. Put in oven for 15 minutes

of until cheese is melted.

Here are a few changes I made. I used fresh tomatoes, and I drained my corn and drained and rinsed my black beans. Also I used the whole packet of taco seasoning. Oh almost forgot, I used 2 cups of cheese.

So much for ultra healthy, huh?

Our family enjoyed it. Hope yours will too.

Bedroom Inspiration...

I am loving this soothing combination of colors. Has me craving a bedroom makeover.

Over The Top...

I am honored that Jessica from Lavender and Lilies awarded this blog the Over The Top blog award. Jessica's blog is really wonderful. From her style posts with fabulous outfits she puts together to her tasty recipes or beautiful home interiors posts, her blog is one to add to your reader! In order to accept this award I have to answer these questions. So here goes...






1. Where is your cell phone: I always keep it in my purse. 

2. Your hair: Dark reddish blond with light blond highlights.

3. Your mother: Has taken up a new hobby of ballroom dancing. 

4. Your father: Loves living out on his 100 acres.

5. Your favorite food: Honestly I like everything!

6. Your dream from last night: I very rarely remember my dreams. 

7. Your favorite drink: Sweetened Tea or Lemonade

8. Your dream/goal: To be a wonderful mother.

9. What room are you in: Living room

10. What are your hobbies: Blogging, reading and DIY projects. 

11. What is your fear: That I won't be a good mom. I want more than anything to have great relationships with my children.

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years: In a new house that we have remodeled to make a comfortable forever home.

13. Where were you last night: On a dinner date with my hubby, YAY!

14. Something you are not: Mean, even when I could use to be more stern. Sometimes I wished I could "man" up.

15. Muffins: Blueberry

16. Wish list items: A new armchair for my living room.

17. Where did you grow up: A super small town in Oklahoma.

18. Last thing you did: Went on an evening drive and then put the kids in bed.

19. What are you wearing: Jeans and a black cardigan.

20. Your pets: I always say "We don't have a dog we have twins"!

21. Your friends: Truly wonderful blessings in my life. Such Godly, strong women that I feel privileged beyond words to know!!  

22. Your life: Blessed, blessed, blessed 

23. Your mood: Thankful, That I got to spend some quality time with my husband this weekend.

24. Missing someone: My Grandma.

25. Vehicle: Honda Pilot

26. Something you’re not wearing: Shoes

27. Your favorite store: Francesca's, and Ann Taylor Loft. 

28. Your favorite color: Red was always my favorite growing up and will always be! But right now  all I see is blue. =)

29. When’s the last time you laughed: Today listening to all 3 of my kids cracking up together.

30. When’s the last time you cried: Don't remember

31. Your best friend:My husband

32. One place you go over and over: Target

33. One person who emails me regularly: My husband is always sending me silly things.

34. Favorite place to eat: Charleston's, Outback Steakhouse, and McAlister's

And now for the passing on of the award:

Shannon @ Imago Vita Photography

Deliciously Organized 

From the Right Bank to the Left Coast

Haven and Home

Strictly Simple Style

Pretty Far West

Home...

I came across a quote that I just loved this weekend.

"A house is built of walls and beams.

   A home is built with love and dreams."

{edit: this is not my home, although I would take it any day}

Happy Monday to you.

Family Photo Time...

I wanted to share a couple of family pics that we recently had taken. I am SO excited how they turned out!! The lovely and SUPER talented Shannon at Imago Vita Photography took them for us.

I can't say enough what a blessing she has been in my (and our) life! One of those people that I feel so blessed to call my friend! Thanks girl, for all you do!!

If you are in Tulsa or the surrounding area you really should need have to check out Shannon! She does an amazing job!!

Oh and mom if you see these, turn your head because this is part of your Christmas present.

Kitchen Dreaming...

I have this horrible urge to rip out all of my kitchen cabinets and start over. We still have the original 1954 cabinets and boy could they use to be... well torn out. I started to say something nice like redone, but that just won't cut it. I want them gone. For now I am going to dream, and with these photos for inspiration, I just may drool too. LOL!

Fab Finds...

I am so in love with this decorative sign. Sure makes me have the Christmas itch!

{Visit this shop}

The Bride's Cafe...

I am not a bride to be, but I recently came across this site that has a wealth of ideas and inspiration. So I had to pass it on. Happy hunting. =)

Kitchen Love...

I think this is such a cool kitchen!

Soak It Up...

I guess I am in a "how can I relax" kind of mood, because yesterdays post was also on restful spaces.  And how inviting would it be to sit and soak in one of these lovely baths. I love the large mirrors in the first two photos. And as the cooler weather rolls in a hot bath sounds better and better. It is the only way I make it through the winter months. Sometimes the only way to warm me up. How about you? Do you love cold weather or struggle to stay warm?