Happy Thanksgiving

This will be my last blog post until after the Thanksgiving holiday, so I would just like to say I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I will be spending the day with my family, and for that I am thankful. I have been thinking about the things I am thankful for, there are so many. I will be the first to admit these are things I often take for granted. Then I have to remind myself of just how blessed I am. So with that being said, I just wanted to blog about a few of the things I am most thankful for. What are you thankful for?

1. My kids. I don't think anyone knows what true love is until they have a child.

2. My husband.  He  saved my life not once, but twice. After having my last child, I didn't feel well and everyone else had left the hospital. Well he stayed there to make sure I got something to eat, but walked out to the nurse's station for a minute. He came back in and said I didn't look well, so he lifted my covers and I was bleeding out. The next thing I know there were nurses and staff everywhere. If he hadn't been there I would have died. Last year, he kept fussing at me to get my mole checked. I kept telling him it was no big deal, he said otherwise. Well in May after cancelling two other appointments, I finally went to shut him up. The next day my dermatologist called to tell me I had Malignant Melanoma. She then told me to tell my husband thank you, because if it would have been found any later, I probably would have died.

3. Our family and friends. I think we may have the best of both!

4. For my renewed sense of faith. There was a time in my life, a few years ago, that I got through each day just by the grace of God. Without faith, what do we really have?

5. For moments with my family. One of my favorite moments is that night before Thanksgiving. I will be cooking in my small kitchen with all the kids gathered around the kitchen table or gathered around me, just laughing and talking. Another is putting up our tree. We pick a day to do it, and make a day of it for that matter. We all hang ornaments, and then decorate the house for Christmas. It's perfect.

6. For all the gatherings at our house with the people we love. 2013 has been our biggest entertaining year yet. We have hosted so many different gatherings here this year, and each has been so much fun. Two of my most memorable would have to be my 30th birthday party, and then we hosted my family all week during the week my aunt Darla passed away. Her memorial dinner was held here, and it was so nice to have all my family here together just laughing and talking about childhood memories. Another I am looking forward to is my dad's 65th birthday party here in two weeks. Should be a great time and I wanted to make this special for my dad because this might be his last year to remember his birthday.

Happy Thanksgiving 2013!

Friday Night + Day 29 + 30 of Thanks

We bought a few new Christmas items over the last couple of weeks. I didnt realize I had gotten this much stuff until I laid it out on the table tonight to organize it. We put our tree, decorated the fireplace, and had a little fun with our Elf on the Shelf . I will post pics of everything tomorrow. We are kicking off the holidays and December with cookie making, Christmas movies, a photo session, and a little more Christmas decorating. How will you be starting   December?
Day 29

I am thankful for the opportunity to travel to new places this year. It was such a great experience for our family.

Day 30

I am thankful for the courage God gave me to go after my dreams and do what makes me truly happy.

The Pioneer Woman's Sheet Cake + Day 28 of Thanks

I have been craving chocolate cake, not just any chocolate cake, I wanted to try the Pioneer Woman Sheet Cake. I am in love with this cake. It is absolutely divine. Eating it reminds me of my childhood. My mom makes a cake very similar to this every year for Christmas. I took her a few pieces and she has decided I should make it this year. Yep, it is just that good. Half of the cake is gone already. I expect my husband to come into the kitchen around midnight and eat a few more pieces with a cold glass of milk. He does things like that. I find myself going back for just one more bite and by now I think I am on bite 12. I am afraid I am going to have to be like Miranda on Sex and the City in the episode where she makes a chocolate cake and keeps eating it. Finally she has to throw it away, but eats it out of the trash. Then finally she pours dish detergent all over it so she will not eat anymore. Yep that is going to be me. I am a little pathetic when it comes to chocolate. I dont have much willpower. Then again, unless you are allergic or a fitness fanatic, who does? Well thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great night.

Day 28

I am thankful for chocolate. Go figure?

Easy Chocolate Pie + Day 27 of Thanks

Easy Chocolate Pie

1 9inch pie crust - store bought or homeade

3 ounces of milk chocolate chips

5 ounces of semi sweet chocolate chips

1 cup heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Poke holes into the bottom of the pie crust and bake for 12-14 minutes. Remove and let cool down. Place the milk chocolate chips and the semi sweet chocolate chips into a medium size bowl. Set aside. Put the heavy cream into a sauce pan and bring to a small boil. Remove and pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Then stir until completely smooth and glossy. Pour the chocolate mixture into the pie crust. Refrigerate for at least an hour or until completely set. Enjoy!

Day 27

Today I am thankful for all of the basic things we take for granted daily that so many people do not have.

Our 8th Year + Day 26 of Thanks

On this day eight years ago I married my husband, my best friend. In honor of our anniversary my blog post is for my husband. Happy anniversary Allen!

Day 26

I am thankful for my husband. He and I grew up together, our families were good friends. I cannot remember a time in my life that he wasnt a part of it. I also cannot remember a time that I didnt love him. He was my first love and now he is my husband. I truly believe with all of my heart he is my soulmate. Marriage is hard, but he makes it easier most of the time. (Ha ha ha.) He has saved my life twice so I guess he is a bit like my knight in shining armor. If it werent for him I might not be alive today. He is the one who pushed me to go see the dermatologist earlier this year when I was diagnosed with Melanoma. I truly believe with him by side we can do anything. I am blessed to be married to my best friend.

French Toast Souffle + Day 23 24 25 Of Thanks

I expected to slow down a bit after Thanksgiving was over, boy was I wrong. It seems like we are busier than ever. We spent Friday morning shopping and running around Dallas. It was fun, but exhausting. Saturday we spent our day in town shopping, again. After the last few days, I was ready for a slow, lazy Sunday. To start off the morning I made french toast souffle. It is super easy and super good. I made this last night, then baked it this morning. How easy is that? I love anything that can be made in advance.

Our morning started off slow and lazy, but our afternoon became so busy. Again. My husband started working on our new laundry room to make room for my new pantry. Woo hoo for my new pantry space. It is long overdue. Then we had Sunday dinner and my aunt requested a chocolate pie. So at 7pm tonight a chocolate pie was made. She enjoyed it thoroughly so it was worth it. Finally I am sitting down long enough to write a blog post, then off to bed I go. Goodnight everyone.

Day 23

I am thankful for a very silly thing...........Starbucks. Today a dear friend came over and she brought me my usual from Starbucks. The grande white chocolate mocha was the pick me up I needed after such a busy weekend.

Day 24

I am thankful for the internet. It makes Christmas shopping so much easier.

Day 25

I am thankful for being able to give back to others in need. What good is what you have if you cannot share or give it to others.

Thanksgiving + Day 20 21 22 of Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I hope you had a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. The last couple of days have been filled with family, cooking, baking, and errands. We had a great Thanksgiving, well we actually had two. One was held at our house on Saturday, and the other was at my uncle's today. We have been having Thanksgiving at my uncle's house since I was a little girl. My sweet potato souffle was the hit of both Thanksgivings. I will post the recipe later in the week. Then of course we had the usual pumpkin pie, pecan pie, turkey, ham, stuffing, and a few more side dishes. I used Ina Garten's recipe for pumpkin pie from her new cookbook, Foolproof. It was delicious and almost like eating mousse.

I also made a chocolate coconut pie. The crust is made entirely of coconut. The filling is a velvety chocolate ganache. Freakin amazing! I will post the recipe later in the week as well. Can you believe there are only four ingredients to this pie?

Tomorrow we plan to do a little shopping. Hopefully some of the black Friday crowd will be gone by the time we get to the stores. Are you a Black Friday shopper? Are you one of those people who waits in line for hours in search of a great deal? If so. that is awesome. I dont have the patience for it, and it seems to have gotten a bit dangerous over the last few years. My friends have shared some outrageous Black Friday stories with me. Have a great night everyone and thanks for stopping by!

Day 20

I am thankful for traditions such as going to my uncle's every Thanksgiving no matter how old I get. It is now a tradition my kids look forward to as well.

Day 21

I am thankful for life. It continues to teach me so many things and reminds me of what matters.

Day 22

I am thankful for God. Without God, I would be nothing.

Day 16 + 17 +18 + 19 Of Thanks



Day 16

I am thankful for beautiful fall weather. It has been cool, crisp, and perfect. Nothing compares to watching the golden yellow leaves fall from the trees, and then hearing the rustling of the leaves beneath the feet of my children playing.

Day 17

I am thankful for good times with family and friends. We made so many wonderful memories this weekend. My dad's brother came to our house on Saturday. We havent seen him in two years. It was amazing to see our families all together, laughing and having a great time.

Day 18

As materialistic as this may seem, I am thankful for all of the things that make our home feel like home. I am most thankful for all of the photographs displayed through our house. Each one is a memory and each tells a story.

Day 19

I am thankful for my husband's business and all of his hard work. With the economy the way it is, we expected the worst, yet we continue to thrive and grow. God has been very good to our family.

A Little Christmas Spirit + Day 15 Of Thanks

Normally I try to avoid the fast pace of the holiday season by enjoying Thanksgiving and then at the beginning of December I start thinking about Christmas. This year, however, is different. I am getting into the Christmas spirit rather early. Maybe it has something to do with all of the beautiful homes decorated for Christmas on Pinterest. The photo on the left is my favorite, and I am going to try and mimic some of the decor in my own home this year. Isn't it beautiful? This makes me want to get the tree and decorations down from the attic and start getting the house all decked out for the holidays today. My husband and I also became proactive about our Christmas shopping and already starting buying our gifts instead of waiting until the last minute like we usually do. Holiday stress of last minute shopping can definitely hinder ones spirit.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacations is my favorite holiday movie and I was lucky enough to find it at Target last week. Watching that movie while we put up our Christmas tree was a tradition in our house, so I cant wait to continue that with my children this year. Starbucks is already serving their coffee in their signature red cups. Another sign it is right around the corner. Potterybarn was having a sale on stockings with free shipping and free monogramming. I could not pass that up so I bought four of them for the kids. I found a few additions to add to our ornament collection, and I bought a new wreath for the front door.

There is just something about Christmas that is truly magical. It
brings out the generosity of the human spirit in us all.

Day 15

I am thankful for everything God has given our family. We are truly blessed this year. Someone has definitely been
watching over us.




Photos from Pinterest

Day 14 Of Thanks

Day 14

Today I am thankful for my culinary abilities. I am no iron chef, but I can make a wonderful meal for my family and friends. I am so happy to be hosting Thanksgiving at my house this weekend. Even if it means cooking and baking all night and well into Saturday evening. Looking forward to it.

Day 13 Of Thanks

Day 13

I am  thankful for all of my friends, old and new. I have been fortunate to meet some pretty awesome people over the last few years. I have also been blessed to have the same best friend since the fourth grade. How did that happen? We have been through everything together. The ups and downs of high school, marriage, having babies, deaths of our loved ones, and even cancer. Our busy lives and schedules may not always allow us to see each other as often as we like. But we can call each other and always pick up right where we left off.

Day 11 + 12 Of Thanks

Day 11

I am thankful for all of the wonderful men and woman who have served or are still serving our country. Thank you all so much for everything you do to ensure freedom and safety for us. God bless you all, your families,  and God bless our country.

Day 12

I am thankful for the colder weather we are having. It is finally starting to feel like the holidays.

Day 10 Of Thanks

Day 10

Today I am thankful for being able to spend time with my mother and brother. We had a fun day of shopping, then had lunch, and then more shopping. That's my kind of day. This was the first day my mother, brother, and I have went anywhere without my kiddos in ten years! Long overdue and we will be doing it again very soon.

Day 9 Of Thanks

Day 9

I am thankful for all of the little things in life that make me happy.

my kids playing together
late night movie watching in my bed
my husband coming in and kissing me on the forehead while I sleep
early morning breakfast with the kids
watching my daschunds run around the house
laughing about absolutely nothing with my best friend
impromptu trips to Dallas with my brother
blogging

These are just a few of the things making me happy lately. What are a few of yours?

Day 8 Of Thanks

Day 8

I am thankful for my four amazing children.  They have blessed my life in so  many ways and I could not imagine my life without them. Each of them have changed me in a different way. Each of them has taught me so much about myself and about life. As parents we should be teaching our children, but I never knew how much they would teach me. I learn something new just by watching and listening to them. Sometimes we forget what it was like to be a child, full of hope and innocence. My kids remind me of all the good and wonderful things there are in the world. Blake is witty, smart, and has a heart of gold. He is such a great kid. I had him when I was 19 years old. I was so young and knew so little, but then he was born and suddenly he was all that mattered to me. We kind of grew up together. The day he was born he instantly had my heart. I never looked back. Then Hope Elizabeth came along, my baby girl. She is so funny and confident, and absolutely beautiful. She can find wonderful qualities in anyone. She sees the best in people, even me. She has such a love for life. Then there is my Kaile, one of the sweetest children I know. She is so tender hearted and lovable. She has star quality for sure, and makes her presence known. Her big brown eyes will light up a room and her voice is beautiful. Last but not least is my Kristin. I have never met anyone with a bigger imagination. She can take a piece of trash and make it something beautiful. She is so strong and determined, she has her own way of figuring out and doing things. She reminds me so much of myself. Look out world, look out. I love them all oh so very much. They are my world , my family. God truly blessed me when he brought them into my life. Goodnight and God bless you all.

Day 6 + 7 Of Thanks

Day 6

I am thankful for the right to vote. Election day is always filled with promise and hope.

Day 7

In spite of everything going on, I am still thankful to be an American. I still believe there is no greater place to live in the world than the United States.

Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup + Day 5 of Thanks

If you haven't noticed I have been on a soup kick lately. I could eat soup every day and be perfectly fine with it. It is the perfect meal for this time of year. I also love any meal that can be thrown in my dutch oven and cooked. Last weekend I was watching the Food Network and Trisha Yearwood's cooking show was on. She was making her chicken tortilla soup recipe. We were leaving so I never finished seeing how it was made. Today my curiosity got the best of me and I looked it up online. I instantly wanted to make it. I went by the grocery store on my way home from work to get a few more things I needed. I came home and made it in less than an hour. It was one of the best soups I have ever had. It was hearty, simple, and delicious. It has so many layers of flavor, and the creaminess sends it over the top. I am still completely full and I only ate a bowl full. Try it and I bet you will like it. I certainly did.

Day 5

I am thankful to be a woman. There has never been a better time to be a woman than now. Women are acccomplishing so many wonderful things in the world. We are no longer only housewives and mothers. We can do anything. I am so proud to be a woman. I want my daughters to be proud of being women as well. We are amazing human beings and are capable of so much. Females have come such a long way, and I hope we continue to go even further in the future. Maybe one day a female will become our President. Anything is possible.

My Sunday Afternoon + Day 4 What I'm Thankful For

I spent my Sunday afternoon baking with Ina Garten. I'm kidding, well sort of. I did spend the day baking Chocolate Peanut Butter Globs from Ina Garten's new cookbook, Foolproof.  Her new cookbook is amazing, her best yet in my opinion. The recipes are simple, easy to follow, and well foolproof. The globs are addictive. This dessert is crispy on the outside like a cookie, and chewy and moist on the inside like a brownie. I want to take an entire day off just to make everything in the dessert section of her new book. You will just have to buy it and see for yourself. It is worth every cent. Have a great night.

Day 4

I am thankful for my home and all the wonderful memories made in it, and the many more to come. Home is where the heart is.

Day 3 - What I'm Thankful For

I am thankful for turning another year older this year. It is a privilege denied to so many. I am blessed. After receiving the Melanoma diagnosis earlier this year I wasn't sure what would happen, but I was one of the lucky ones who found it early. I am happy to be 29, and looking forward to 30.

What I'm Thankful For- Day 2

I am thankful for Sunday dinner with our family. No matter how my week has gone, I always look forward to Sunday dinner at our house. My kids also look forward to Sunday because they know grandma, uncle Chance, and cousin Tyler are coming over to eat with them. The dinner tradition started about 2 years ago and we have been doing it since. Sometimes we may only have 2 other people over, then the next Sunday it might be 10. The more people we have, the more I like it. There is just something about everyone gathering at my house in our tiny kitchen laughing and talking while I am cooking. I love it. I think families should have dinner together at least once a week if not more. I am really looking forward to our Thankgiving dinner at our house this year. Only a few more weeks.  I better start planning and shopping.