christmas

Whoa! So, Christmas came and went in a blur. How was your holiday weekend? Ours was...busy? Holidays = lots of driving for us. This was truly was the best Christmas I have had in a looong time, and no I'm not saying that because of all of the fabulous and unexpected gifts I received like:

A KitchenAid mixer in RED from my mom and sister.

A Keurig from my mother in-law!!!

AND A CANON REBEL T2i FROM MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have done nothing but take photos all weekend long. Wanna know what its like to be follow around by the paparazzi? Just go hang out with Allison after she gets a new camera. I am going to take a class in OKC  next month with Melissa-Pineapple Lily, who by the way, was the FIRST person I text when I opened my camera! The manual is 258 pages and I think mine is written in Chinese. Ok, no not really...but I really need/want to know how to use this thing correctly! 

This is seriously the first moment I have had to breath, so I don't have a lot of words for you tonight. Not to mention I have felt pretty yucky the past few days. My normal life starts again tomorrow and I have TONS to share with you. Until then, here are a few photos from the weekend! 

Family Bake-off and Pumpkin Granola {recipe}

Heeeeyyyy! Remember me?? Yeah, so life gets in the way of blogging sometimes. Remember that annual family bakeoff I told you about? I have been meaning to share some photos and a recipe from it! The women in my family (8 of us this year) get together and bake, and bake, and bake until there is no butter left.

Here goes!

Here is my nephew packaging up some almond brittle. Yes, he washed his hands. 

My sister! She made these super cute ornaments from Pinterest!

My brother! I'm getting him a pair of scissors for Christmas. 

My mom! She is the artsy one of us all. Need a tiny pair of felt elf boots? She's on it. 

We were frantically trying to finish the ornaments. This meant dull scissors and lots of hot glue.  

Whoa. Monster Baby. 

Nope. Try again. 

Perfect. 

Like I said, we package it all up and send them out as gifts. I made the Cowboy Cookies (seen here, Pinterest inspired packaging!) and 3 batches of Pumpkin Granola (recipe below).

In addition we had Lemon Squares, Chex Mix, Pistachio Seat Salt Bark, Almond Bark, Pumpkin Bread, Puppy Chow, Hello Dollies, Peanut Butter and Maple Rice Krispies Treats, Tarts, and Pecan Muffins.

Pumpkin Granola

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Bake: 325 degrees for 20 minutes 

Cool: 20 minutes

Yield: 6 cups granola

Ingredients

5 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and brown sugar.

In another bowl, combine the pumpkin, maple syrup, applesauce, and vanilla.

Pour the pumpkin mixture into the oat mixture.

Toss the mixture until all of the oats are coated. Spread the granola onto a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment.

Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 20 minutes. Take the granola out and stir it around. Bake another 20 minutes or until the granola gets crisp. Take the granola out and mix in the cranberries and almonds.

Christmas Ornament Exchange

I am the worst person at keeping surprises.

Seriously.

At Christmas, I want to tell my husband what all his gifts are because I just cannot handle the anticipation. I have somehow made it a few weeks without sharing the ornament I chose for Jennifer at Vintage Gwen. She is my ornament exchange partner and blew me away with her creative ornament she made me. I love, love, love homemade gifts.

I pinned this ornament a while ago and really wanted one for our tree. 

My crafting/creativity skills are limited and really only show their face at random and unexpected times. I didn't have time to wait for them, so I bought this ornament instead of making one. I'm ok with that....I hope she is too. It showed up last night and I may have danced a bit when I opened it. 

Ready?? 

If you know me...at all...I love a little bling. I just think this will look amazing on her tree with the lights! 

Do you like it? Do you want one? Visit Paper Princess Studios Etsy shop! 

Giving Thanks

Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

I will admit that a lot some of the time, I could point out 10 negative things in life before one positive thing ever come onto my radar. I need to work on that. 

I told my husband that I am ridiculously excited for Thanksgiving this year. Why? No clue. I mean, someone might need to give me a sedative soon. I'm that excited. 

I even bought a new edition of Trivial Pursuit so that a family game will, without a doubt, take place. Who am I???

 Last year, the holidays were pretty much a miserable blur for me. (Yeah, boo hoo, Debbie Downer.) I was 4 months post baby and a hot mess....physically and emotionally. 2010 was filled with a whirlwind of events including (but certainly not limited to) getting pregnant, getting married, having a baby, and buying a house. I had no clue on where to start managing my time as a full time working mom and wife...and workout? Don't worry. I stumbled through it, without any grace (as in graceful) whatsoever, and came out alive. 

As I reflect on my life over the past 365 days, it is a true and humbling reminder that no matter how much I think I'm in control...I couldn't handle being in control. I have been commanded by my Father to devote myself to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And for me, that feels really good. 

I am thankful for ...

today.

the promises He has given me.

a happy, healthy, and vibrant little boy. 

that he still needs me to rock him to sleep. 

I am thankful for my loving, supportive, and handsome best friend and husband. 

I am thankful for... 

two dogs that could be mistaken for pigs any day of the week. 

all of the family we will be seeing this holiday. 

a great job to return to on Friday. 

I am thankful that I don't have to worry about where our Thanksgiving dinner will come from. 

I am thankful that I do not have to worry if we will have heat tonight. 

And I am thankful for the wonderful blogging community I have found. I have prayed for friends  for...well, a really long time, and I have already met some of the most fantastic women, just by being me. 

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!