Weekend Reads

Tonight is Aletheia's annual Chilly Chili Fest. Love it.

Last year my oldest son was a rock star... and last weekend I dressed him as a rock star again (totally impromptu so we could get free candy and a free hot dog from the grocery store...haha.)

I feel like he is growing up so fast...

Let's be honest though, is he not the cutest little rock star you have ever seen???

I will be posting pictures on Monday as to what he dressed up as this year. :)

What are you doing this weekend?!

. . .

A few reads from around the web:

You should make this. I know I want to.

I think this would help my life be a little more organized and inspired and less chaotic. I emailed them for more information... as of yet they are only handing out personal invitations. I will let you know if I get one of those 'personal invitations.'

This bride made her own wedding dress... out of a sheet!

Ok. So, I love babies... and would probably have a gazillion if it weren't for the pregnancy/labor part...haha. BUT I kind of want to be pregnant again just so I can dress like this super cute mama.

LOVE this.

AND this.

. . .

Lots to look forward to next week! So check back for another sale and the Christmas Card preview!

Have a great weekend!

Halloween Treats

Our church is having our annual 'Chilly Chili Fest' this Friday! (Note - not so 'chilly' here in Florida... the a.c. had to be turned back on today when the house temperature reached 86 degrees... ugh.) But nonetheless our little festival, which includes a chili cook-off is one of the highlights of my year! So excited! Drew was going to dress up as a lego but I ran out of time and couldn't seem to find the right size box... strange I know, seeing that I have a gazillion boxes laying around... Anyway, a sweet friend loaned us a costume for him and you will just have to wait and see how adorable he is before I tell you what it is. We will be hosting this little festival at our house and I wanted to make a few cute little (easy) treats that could also act as a little decoration. How cute and tasty do these look?! I can't wait to try them... (I'll let you know how they turn out.)

*All recipes and photos come from the magazine Simple & Delicious (can access the recipes online here.)

{Halloween Pretzel Treats}

Ingredients

• 8 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped
• 1 package (10 ounces) pretzel rods
• 1 cup orange candy coating disks
• Yellow, orange and brown jimmies

Directions

• In a microwave, melt baking chocolate; stir until smooth. Dip each pretzel halfway into chocolate allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set.
• In a microwave, melt candy coating disks; stir until smooth. Dip pretzel tips into coating allowing excess to drip off; sprinkle with jimmies. Let stand until set. Store in an airtight container. Yield: about 2 dozen.

{Caramel Corn Treats}

Ingredients

• 5 cups caramel corn
• 2 cups miniature pretzels
• 1 cup miniature cheddar cheese fish-shaped crackers
• 1-1/4 cups Reese's pieces, divided
• 1 package (10-1/2 ounces) miniature marshmallows
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the caramel corn, pretzels, crackers and 1 cup Reese's pieces. In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt marshmallows and butter; add vanilla and stir until smooth. Pour over pretzel mixture; stir until well coated.
• Press into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. pan. Sprinkle with remaining Reese's pieces; press lightly. Let stand until set. Cut into bars. Yield: 2 dozen.

. . .

Ok. So you have to try this recipe. AMAZING. I am pretty sure I (with the help of my 8 month old...) consumed 3 entire sweet potatoes. haha. They have a little kick to them which is a great mix to the sweet nature of a sweet potato. I didn't have the ingredients for the dip so I just consumed them (literally... like a vacuum...haha) by themselves. Sooo good.

{Spicy Sweet Potato Chips & Cilantro Dip}

Ingredients

• 4 to 5 large sweet potatoes (3-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/8-inch slices
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon taco seasoning
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 
  DIP:
• 1-1/2 cups mayonnaise
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions

• Place sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Combine the oil and seasonings; drizzle over potatoes and toss to coat.
• Arrange in a single layer in two ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans. Bake at 400° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.
• In a small bowl, beat the dip ingredients until blended. Serve with sweet potato chips. Yield: 16 servings (3 cups dip).

Let me know if you try them!!!

Inside Look: Notepads?!

That's right.

Ashlee Proffitt Design will be adding coordinating notepads to the Fresh Lines series. I can't wait to show them to you!

But until then, here is how I will be making them. (Hopefully mine will turn out half as great as the ones in the tutorial.)

What do you think? Is your desk in need of a cute notepad? I think so.

A Winner! And a Few Favorites!

{Fall Loves}

1 Full Bloom Bracelet - Pumpkin Edition by Sparkle Peach

2 Vintage Style Flower Hair Bobby Pins by Earings Nation
3 Fall Rose Blossoms by Supplier
4 Sunny Chocolate Duo Cupcake Dessert Plates by atelierBB
5 Ecru Hat with Orange Flower by Ona Jeans
6 Orange Hummingbird with Eucalyptus Rectangle Pillow by Joom
7 Organic Cotton Bamboo Rib Receiving Blanket by Sweet Memories Quilts
8 Whimsical Bird Coasters by Paizley Polka Dot

{Cute Costumes}
How adorable are these?
I am thinking my 3 year old needs a cape just to have... not just for halloween. :)
And I love the little baby beanies, perfect costume for a little one! Just add a coordinating onesie and you are done.

1. Sack O' Taters by Tater's Place
2. Super Boy Cape by Pip and Bean
3. Donut Costume by Embroider Me Boutique
4. Owl Earflap Hat Pattern by The Fuzzy Nogin
5. Mouse Cashmere Hat by Dream Knits by Ellen
6. Froggy Earflap Pattern by The Fuzzy Nogin

. . .

Congratulations to...

{ L i n d s e y B a l o g h}

My childhood dream was to become an astronaut. I decorated my room with pictures of space, planets, space shuttles and astronauts. and watched the movie Space Camp every weekend. I quickly realized this dream was not going to happen since... I hated math, so the dream evolved into watching a shuttle take-off in person. Well fast forward 16 years and I move to Florida for grad school and what happens? I win tickets to see the shuttle take off at NASA!!!! Very awesome day. What else happened you ask? I met a man who would only talk to me about our mutual love for the space program. When he was ready to propose he was orginially going to do it overlooking the shuttle launch pads (totally not kidding - super romantic to me though!). We married and now plan our late night dates around meteor showers and shuttle launches. Dreams do come true, just maybe not how we think they will.

. . . . . . . .

Lindsey won a set of address labels along with her choice of a set of notecards or calling cards!
Please email me with your mailing information!

Thank you to everyone for taking the time to enter the giveaway. I enjoyed hearing about your childhood dreams. :)

Be sure to check back often for the next giveaway opportunity!

Weekend Reads

Last weekend seems to be a blur but I do remember that my little ones and I had some fun outside... I am thinking we should make that happen again tomorrow for sure. And there may be a little pumpkin/fall festival action thrown in there somewhere too, we shall see.

What are you doing this weekend?

. . .

Here are some highlights from the week!
Enjoy & have a great weekend!

+ Don't forget to take advantage of the sale on recipe cards
+ Enter here for a chance to win a FREE set of address labels and notecards or calling cards. {Just leave a comment telling us what your 'when I grow up I want to be/do...' dream was when you were little.}
+ I am obsessed with before & afters. These two are amazing!
+ A perfect fall wedding color palette. {Her inspiration board is amazing... love the printed details.}
+ I like this Christmas journal (last year I tried to make my own and keep it up... um... let's just say we are going to try again this year.)
+ A giveaway coming from here, 4 weeks of budget friendly menus, AND I can't wait to see her finished Christmas journal.

I relax by creating, making, doing... if you are the same way, here are some things you could make this weekend:
+ A fun weekend project idea
+ If I had a sewing machine and if I could sew I would be making one of these... right now. Love it.
+ Make your own notepads?! Please and thank you.
+ Cute and relatively easy?! For her probably... not sure if mine would turn out so amazing.
+ I kind of love this and think it would make a really great Christmas gift.
+ I am thinking my 3 year old would like to make this... and then hang it in his window like we did his snowflakes last winter. I'm going to go do that now. :)

A Giveaway: What Was Your Dream

'My Dream' was a hit... and now I want to know yours.
Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page with your dream.
How did you imagine your little fairy tale going?... the best dream/story wins!

I will be giving away a set of my newly designed address labels,
along with a set of 10 calling cards or 4 note card sets, all from the Fresh Lines series.
You pick your favorite design.
{Deadline to enter}
Sunday, October 24.
Winner announced Monday.

A SALE.

Time for a sale.

For all of you faithful readers, the new recipe card sets will be 10% off their regular price! {You can find them here: Recipe Cards}
These sets would be a great addition to any kitchen or great as a gift too!
All recipe card sets are 10% off ($16.00 -> $14.40) through 10.26.10.
(Enter Promo Code: SALE10/10)

How to use the code:

1. First add an item(s) from my shop to your cart and start the check out process.
2. Enter the code in the 'notes to seller' and the email address where the revised invoice should be sent.
3. Complete the order but do NOT go to Paypal to pay.
4. You will receive a revised invoice, and a link to complete payment, via email reflecting the discount.'
5. If you have any questions email me for further instructions.

. . . .

Something funny.
My mom found this old picture and had to send it to me. She kept telling me that it was hilarious and she couldn't wait until it arrived. When it arrived yesterday, I understood her excitement.

I mean, yes, the artwork is phenomenal. What can I say, I started young. ha.
Please note the outfits and side pony tails. haha.

But the truly funny part is the writing on the back.
It reads:
My Dream
My dream is that I could when the lottery and then move to Florda. I would buy a very nice house in Florda. Then I would go make some friends. I would ask them if they would like to come over to my house for super. If they want to come to my house and want to be my friend we can go out to the ocean and just play until supper time. I wish this would come true.

Wow. So, I live in Florida and I think we have a nice house and I am pretty positive we have friends over for dinner... a lot. :)

Yummy Recipe

{ P e c a n P u m p k i n D e s s e r t }
This dessert is my favorite. My mother-in-law makes it every fall and I do love it... so much so that last year when she was living in another state I got desperate and had to make it myself. I am pretty sure I ate the entire thing. :) It really is amazing. I just made it for dinner guests this past weekend and it was a hit (as I knew it would be.)

Try it and let me know how yours turns out!

{recipe & photo courtesy of allrecipes.com}

Ingredients

• 2 (15 ounce) cans solid pack pumpkin
• 1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
• FROSTING:
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Line a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan with waxed paper and coat the paper with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, milk and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle with dry cake mix and drizzle with butter. Sprinkle with pecans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until golden brown. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Invert onto a large serving platter; carefully remove waxed paper.
4. In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Frost dessert. Store in the refrigerator.

{ More Fall Decorating }

I did a little of my own fall decorating this weekend. I tend to lean toward the simple decorations, that means the table and the front door. I don't like clutter of any kind and sometimes I think holiday decorations can become just that, clutter. haha. I like clean, simple, pretty... that can easily be used year after year. (Really, I wish I had gone over to my friend Johanna's house and photographed her fall decorations because they are perfect. But I didn't... so you will just have to be happy with mine.)

So, I knew I wanted a colorful, fall arrangement on the table and I knew that it had to be cheap (i.e. pretty much free). So, I took a little trip to JoAnn Fabrics and picked up a couple of different fall colored flowers and stems (and used my 40% off coupon). I played with it until I decided that I liked it. I added two green candles on either side and there you go. It communicates fall without being tacky or cluttery and works well with the rest of our home decor.

. . .

I also tried my hand at the wire pumpkins.
I think they are adorable. I did a big one and a baby one.
This little set-up hangs out on our bar between the kitchen and living room
(including the most amazing candle - three scented layers: pumpkin spice, apple vanilla, & cinnamon walnut).

I love baby pumpkins.

Introducing Recipe Cards & Labels

Hi friends.
For the past month or so I have been working on a line of day to day stationary that would include personalized note cards, address labels, calling cards, and recipe cards. They all coordinate and are based off of the Fresh Lines Save the Date series I created.

I N T R O D U C I N G
{Recipe Cards}
. . .

The recipe cards feature a double-sided design, the back of each card is an original design by me with a cute quote incorporated (i.e. I got a chance to use my love of typography...)
I must say, I love them. What do you think?

Which one is your favorite?

I am thinking these would make really great Christmas gifts... just saying.

They are currently for sale in my shop.