my blessed life

These were a huge hit this morning! Easy to whip up and perfect anytime! I Want S'More Muffins (Taste of Home) 3 Tbsp. butter, softened 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 4 tsp. sugar 1 egg 1/3 cup sour cream 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs 1/4 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. baking powder 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/8 tsp. baking soda 3 Tbsp. 2% milk 1/3 cup milk chocolate chips 6 Tbsp. marshmallow creme (although I needed more) ***** In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Stir in sour cream. Combine the flour, graham cracker crumbs, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with the milk just until moistened. Fold in the chocolate chips. Coat six muffin cups with cooking spray (this recipe actually made 9 muffins for me) . Fill each muffin cup one-fourth full with batter. Spoon 1 tablespoon marshmallow creme into each muffin cup; top with remaining batter. Bake at 400F for 14-16 minutes or ...

Don't worry, I'm not really buried alive in my bedroom ... not yet anyway. I was hoping to have those *after* pictures for you by today, but as it turns out I'm still working in there. It seems like everything is going very slowly at my house this week. Last week my husband really did a number on his back and his been mostly down for over a week now. He is self-employed and works from our home right now. I realize how dependent I've become on having him around all the time~he's just so handy. It's been slightly overwhelming this past week not having him truly mobile where he can do the stuff that he usually does around the house and with the kiddos. All of this definitely makes me appreciate him even more! So this week has really taken its toll on me, it seems. I don't know when I've felt so tired. And it's been a combination of several things, not just my hubby being down. But I got a good night's sleep, got my desk cleaned off last night, hav...

...I'm buried in my own bedroom. It's not feeling like a haven today. Today I was seriously overwhelmed by the mess and piles that have accumulated in there. Ugh. The office side of the room~I've already been doing some dusting, straightening and organizing here. But looks like it's not done yet, does it? The oh-so-hated pile of ironing along with tubs of Fall/Winter clothing that needs to be put back into the closet. Let's not even talk about the junk piled on that table...or the dust everywhere. The bed~it did get fresh sheets today and the laundry is folded, sorted and ready to be put away. One plus:) My hideous desk~it drives me crazy. How does this happen?! And the piles around on the floor. {sigh} I promise to be back soon with *after* pictures!! What's your *messy* room? Tell me and make me feel better:) 0528ba71-4143-48d9-96e4-6d639ad16b46 1.03.01

0311. visiting the woods where I played as a child 0312. fishing with my kiddos 0313. enjoying God's beautiful creation 0314. the gorgeous change of the seasons 0315. a Fall picnic 0316. cooking with my kids 0317. a new scarf to wear 0318. a new book to read 0319. simple, quiet nights at home with my family 0320. watching the sun rise *all photos taken at my grandpa's woods and Natural Dam, AR. 0528ba71-4143-48d9-96e4-6d639ad16b46 1.03.01 0528ba71-4143-48d9-96e4-6d639ad16b46 1.03.01

I don't know about you, but our schedule has been a little busy lately and I've only been getting about half of the dinners on my menu plan made. Last week was pretty good, with only missing a couple. And I have to share with you this amazing new recipe that I tried, it was easy, yummy and a hit with every one. Can't beat that! Lentils & Rice Tacos (from my cousin Serina ) 3/4 cup dry lentils 3/4 cup brown or white rice (not *minute* rice) 2 tsp. chili powder 1 tsp. onion powder 4 beef bullion cubes 1/2 tsp. cumin 1/4 tsp. garlic powder 5 cups water ***** Place all ingredients into slow cooker. Turn it on low and cook for 6-8 hours, checking partway to see if more water should be added. When it is done, this will have the consistency of refried beans. You can use it (in place of meat) to make soft tacos, burritos, tostadas or even as a side dish. It's delicious! This week there is a lot on the calendar, especially in the evenings, so I am keeping things as s...

It's that time of the year and I've been adding Autumnal touches to the house for a couple of weeks now. Meet *Patches*. He's a new addition to our Fall decor this year. The *trick-or-treating* bags are at the ready on the hall tree! My fave coasters~I love to get these out each year:) I have this thing for jack-o-lanterns, I think. A special addition made by Mr. B this year in one of his co-op classes. Our Fall batik banner that we made last year. This was a fun project~ get the *how-to* here . Our dining table is all decked out. The kiddos love to play with the loose pumpkins I have tucked in the swag. A favorite Fall dish. I love seasonal dish towels! The ceramic pumpkin that will soon be full of candy:) 0528ba71-4143-48d9-96e4-6d639ad16b46 1.03.01

This past Tuesday we decided it was a great day to take the kids out to my grandpa's woods for the first time. It's really not my grandpa's anymore. He died in 1999 and my children never got to meet him; the land now belongs to my uncle's family. However, in my mind it will always be "Grandpa's woods". As a child I spent many hours playing down there with my cousins, then as a teenager taking long walks with my family. Vince and I even cut our very first Christmas tree in those woods. They have a very special place in my heart. We went with my parents for a picnic and a little fishing and just had so much fun simply hanging out there. The weather was perfect and I loved just looking around at the familiar sights that I hadn't seen in nearly 13 years. I hadn't been there since my grandpa died and I could almost see him out there just tinkering around. The kids had a wonderful time, exploring and even catching a couple of fish! That day will be tuck...