Tiny Prints

It is my great joy choosing the perfect family photo each year for our Holiday card. This year, I had a million ideas and almost no time to execute them. Initially, I wanted to have a cheery, Christmas-y photo of the five of us chopping down our own live tree. With unseasonably warm fall weather, that idea was quickly nixed.

Plan B. Everyone needs to look like Gap models. Can do! Enter our wonderful family photographer, Maren Miller. In just ten minutes, she had captured the sweetest photo of our family. It is, literally, perfect. 

When our friends at Tiny Prints reached out for a collaboration, I was thrilled! Not only does Tiny Prints have some of the best quality prints, they are such a joy to work with. 

This year, Tiny Prints is featuring personalized foil cards, as well as glitter cards! They are stunning, you guys! As always, they have unique designs, shapes, and sizes. 

Now through Tuesday, December 6, 2016, use code: BESTSALE for 40% off your card order and 30% off gifts and home decor! You can also nab free shipping on orders of $49 or more using code: FREESHIP49.

Head over to Tiny Prints to browse card ideas for your family's holiday card! I will warn you: you will struggle to choose to just one design that you absolutely love!

Happy shopping!

J&Mo Design + a Hutch Reno | Sponsored Post

I'm not much for DIYing these days. I want to be Joanna Gaines, but really, I don't have her budget or her time. Work, kids, husbands, responsibility and crap get in the way of playing real life JoJo.

This project, however, I can do. I can take 2 days of feeding my kids Lunchables and fruit snacks with Paw Patrol on repeat to get this kind of thing done.

Here's the funny thing: now that I love my kitchen, we're moving.

Ain't that the way.

Now, if Annie Sloan chalk paint did not exist, this would never have happened. I definitely don't have the time to sit and sand a gigantic hutch down to it's raw wood. This only happened because of blessed Annie Sloan.

This hutch was gifted to me by my brother-in-law. I loved it, but the color was too dark for our kitchen. An easy $70 later and I had paint and wax and 2 whole days to work my magic.

The easiest part was painting. I took my Annie Sloan Paris Grey and did two coats on all surfaces. Waxing took longer, but once I figured out a wax on/wax off technique, she was perfect. All-in-all, this project took about 2 days to complete. I removed the glass doors to make it more open and look more farmhousey, and it is now my favorite place in the house.

The most perfect Welcome sign now sits front and center as people walk into our kitchen. It's handmade, and quite well-made. Clean lines, beautiful wood frame, and it's the perfect touch to welcoming people into our home. You need one. You do. I'm so glad I chose J&Mo Design for this sign because the colors could not be more perfect. And Melanie couldn't have been more wonderful to work with. Thank you for letting me brag on your signs and your beautiful work, Melanie!

Head over to J&Mo Design for all your Eclectic Home Decor needs! Tell Melanie I sent you! And follow her on Instagram for her newest creations!

PinkBlush | Sponsored Post

There is something about a simple black dress that is so feminine and forgiving and sexy and versatile. Dress it up, dress it down. 

This long black dress from PinkBlush is my new favorite. I have worn it no less than three times a week since I got it. It's comfortable, soft material, and I love to throw a black choker on with it. You can grab your own here!

I know you're dying to know: NO. I am not pregnant. Why are you wearing PinkBlush then? Well, I'm glad you asked. Did you know that PinkBlush is now a women's clothing boutique and not just for the pregnant mamas? They are. You're welcome. I'll pause so you can go spend all your money.

Pink Blush also offers fun baby accessories, so you can buy yourself a dress, buy your pregnant sister a dress, AND get something for your new niece or nephew.

Now for the fun stuff! Do you like free stuff? Good! PinkBlush wants to give one of you a $50 gift card to find yourself a fun dress for the holidays! Enter to win below!

This post is sponsored by PinkBlush, however, all opinions are completely my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pecan Pie Tradition

We have multiple traditions around here: Friendsgiving and Dear Abby's Pecan Pie.

Let me start by saying that I used to lie to my Dad every year about this damn pie. Since I was little, Dad made this pie every single Thanksgiving, and every single year, he'd ask me if I had had a piece of it. "Yes...," I would say and turn away. No, I hadn't. It was brown and it looked weird.

At about 16, I stuck my finger in the goo and wound up finishing off half a of pecan pie. At this point, I 'fessed up. Now, sixteen years later, I have stolen the tradition. It is what I bring to Thanksgiving with the family, and now, Friendsgiving.

Without further ado, the recipe from Dear Abby:

INGREDIENTS
unbaked 9-inch pie crust
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted ( I imagine that margarine can be substituted.)
1/3-1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecan halves

Now, here is where I take the wheel. I like my pie to be heaping, so I do 1 1/2c syrup, 1 1/2 c brown sugar, extra butter because DUH, 1 1/2 tsp vanilla, and nearly 2 cups pecan halves. 

DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine corn syrup, sugar, eggs, butter, salt and vanilla; mix well.
Pour filling into unbaked pie crust.
Sprinkle with pecan halves.
Bake for 45- 50 minutes or until center is set. I, typically, have to cover my pie crust with foil to keep it from burning while waiting for the center to set.
(Toothpick inserted in center will come out clean, when pie is done.).
(If crust or pie appears to be getting too brown, cover with foil for the remaining baking time.).
Cool.
You can top it with a bit of whip cream if desired.

No-Sew DIY Starbucks Cup Costume

If you're like me, you buy your Halloween costumes because you have no time to make your kids' costumes. However, when you cannot find a Starbucks cup costume for your child, you will go to great lengths to make it happen.

I don't sew. I don't craft. I do hot glue like a boss.

So, here it is. Making this super fun costume took about an hour minus rushing around when I realized I needed green paper for the straw and trying to find tights.

Supplies:

2 white poster boards

brown craft paper

off-white felt

green paper or poster board

white headband

hot glue

Directions:

1. Take your poster boards and make a large enough cylinder that your child can get it over their head to get in and out of the cup. Then, hot glue those seams.

2. Measure out how wide you'd like your sleeve to be, then be sure to cut your craft paper long enough to wrap all the way around. Hot glue the seam, as well as random dabs to keep it in place.

3. Cut a strip of your felt for straps. I folded these in 3rds and glued as I went.

4. Take your cup, place your child in the cup, and place the straps. Be sure to give them a little wiggle room. Mark where the straps need to go, take child out of cup, glue.

5. You are now ready for the whipped cream ruffles. I made 20- 9 in rounds with a glass bowl and cut. To make your ruffles, take one round, fold it in half and place one dot of glue in center. Fold in half again, another dot of glue. Now you can place your ruffles on the cup. Most of mine went between the two sheets of poster board. Keep the ruffles out of the armpit area. Hot glue. Boom. Whipped cream.

For your headband, take a paper towel roll and glue your green paper around it. Hot glue your straw to the headband. Take your whipped cream rounds and place around the base of the straw, making sure most of them are also glued to the headband to support it.

Finally, print the Starbucks logo and slap it on. I used green vinyl on white scrapbook paper in the CriCut, but printing out the logo will work just fine.

And there you have it! The cutest little costume you ever did see. The compliments on this costume were hilarious. Paired with her twin baristas, I'd say we won Halloween 2016. 

Butternut Squash Soup

I have two modes: "if you leave a crumb on this counter I will cut you," or "I wonder if my purse is under the laundry on top of the island."

No in-between.

When I cook or bake, I'm in cutting mode. The entire kitchen needs to look like the set of the Martha Stewart cooking show. So, while you guys get the splendor of my clean kitchen, pray for my family - they were likely yelled at in the making of this soup.

I am a basic white girl through and through. The second one leaf begins to look like a pale green, I have strapped on my Hunters and a plaid scarf. I'm also ready for soups and chilis and baking. Being that it's Halloween, I wanted to be sure and get something fall-y in on this fall day.

Not only is this a beautiful soup, it's delicious and the family loved it.

I allowed them back into the kitchen once I had finished making the soup and kitchen look perfect.


Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (about 2 tsp)
• 2 tsp minced, peeled fresh ginger
• Small pinch of cinnamon
• splash of Apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp salt
• 4 cups low sodium chicken stock
• 2 large butternut squash
• 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 3 Tbsp heavy whipping cream
• dash of black pepper black pepper
• dash of brown sugar
• Toasted pumpkin seeds

Directions:
1. Heat olive oil in pan. Add chopped onions and saute until translucent.

2. Add squash, broth, and spices.

3. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for 10-15 minutes or until squash is soft. Remove from heat and add pumpkin puree, butter, and brown sugar. Puree with a hand (stick) blender or in batches in a normal blender. Blend until very smooth.

4. Test soup. Add more whipping cream for a richer soup. 

5. Serve hot and top with toasted pumpkin seeds.

Baseball Baby Shower

I'm not a half-ass-baby-shower-thrower. If we're throwing a shower, I WILL spend excessive amounts of money on things that will make the day JUST SO. Plus, when it's your only sister's first baby, you have to go big or go home. So, I went big, and I just so love how it turned out. 

Want details? Keep reading.

This cute concessions sign was handmade by Magnolia Tree Designs. Fit easily in my suitcase without getting crumpled like a lot of other stuff.

Now, this. This you cannot buy in stores. This was handmade by Baby G's Papa just for this table. With 24 hours notice, sweet Dave sprang into action and created the most perfect baseball bat Cracker Jack stand. And it was my absolute favorite part of the entire table.

Modge Podged letters. Meh.

The Daddy-to-be keeping his distance from 40+ women.

Sissy & my girl.

Danny had seen this really fun idea - have the guests write love notes to Baby G on a baseball bat to keep forever and ever.

The sign. My nemesis. Forgot the letters at home. Called my niece at 10pm the night before, begging for help. She showed up with goodies and letters, and basically, saved the party.

And the pinwheels. Gah. Love them. You can snag them at The Parties That Pop!

A hot dog rotisserie. I know. #gobigorgohome
 

The detail on everything blew us away. I mean, this is just the coolest cake. And tasty. Holy crap. There wasn't a single piece left by the time the shower was over.

Handmade sugar cookies and cake pops from my darling niece, Megan. She is my go-to baker...oh, Megs! I need to pay you! Crap! Text me!

This day wouldn't have come together if not for the grandmas-to-be. Mom and Penny, thank you for letting me squawk orders at you when I needed things to be a certain way. 

Why I Don't Care Who You're Voting For

Guess what? I don't give a flying unicorns left testicle who you are voting for. I mean, I will judge you privately, but that's just life.

Why? Why don't I care? Because, ultimately, your greatest accomplishment in life is raising your spawns to be decent human beings. Your kids are the ones in school with my kids. I work hard everyday to be sure that I am not raising children who will become asshole adults. I feel that it is only fair that you do the same, mmmmkay?

When Maddie comes home from school and says she complimented a little girl's polo shirt and the girl tells her to shut up, I feel two things: angry at your kid and angry at you. Yeah, it's a polo shirt, so really, it's about as attractive as a muumuu, but whatever. She's being sweet, and your kid was being a jerk.

I will concede that, at the ripe ol' age of 6, PMS has begun to seep out of their pores. I feel it. I see it. It's internal and cannot be controlled. It's why adults eat chocolate, watch A Walk to Remember on repeat, and guzzle a box of wine when our hormones turn on us. This is also why I fear Hillary being voted in - the PMS could rage and someone could get wiped off the planet just for the hell of it.

I digress.

Vote for whoever you'd like, but please, for the love of all that is holy, raise your tiny humans to be contributing members of society who play nice with others. Children are the future - let's not turn them into future assholes.

This Week in Photos

One of the only times they weren't screaming or pouring water on each other's heads just to be jerks. 

If you aren't drinking pink champs nightly, you're doing it wrong. 

New hair. Still getting used to it. Yikes. 

Girl's trip with my girl who hates pictures like I stick  a camera in her face all the time or something.  I birthed you. You'll pose for a damn picture.