What a Happy Halloween Weekend!

This year I am extra excited about all of the Holiday events and traditions, now that these little ones (you know the ones whom have been attached to my hip as of late) are old enough to enjoy and kinda understand that some days are more special than other.

When I remember this time of year I remember it feeling magical.
I remember the apple cider, and pies and scent of apples and cinnamon which seemed to be stuck to the air
I remember the hot coco and little Marshmello's
I remember getting sick and getting the good juice mix (7-up and OJ) and chicken noodle soup, the cheap kind made by cambells
I remember reading the Christmas Story from the Bible every day, chapter by chapter starting December 1st
I remember every fall I got to go on a huge winter shopping spree
and I remember snuggles and thick blankets
and long family drive to see every cool completely decorated Christmas decorated house
then laughing at how long it must have taken them to do it

And I want...
I want my kids to feel that special magic I felt myself
I want joy on their faces and I want them to feel the excitement of knowing that this feeling gets to come back,
every year
This feeling gets to light up in their hearts

This is why I spent so much time putting together the girls halloween costume. I had plans to make Carli's by hand but last minute my hubby and I bought her dress. 
Which BTW, Chloe refused to put on the Merida costume I made to match the Brave movie and opted for her sisters costume we bought. Haha. Plans-out-window

Can you just see how happy they look?

Multi-generation shot (from left: Chloes cousin, My Grandmother, Chloe, and me)

Waiting for Choo-Choo train tickets

little fam (hubby, me and lil' Carli)

From left: my mother-in-law, my grandma, me, carli, my father-in-law, chloe, and chloe's cousin

Me and lil' Carli 

Bishops Pumpkin farm is Awesome!!!!

Wee lil' Cousins 

lil' Sauce 

play is in the works 

What a lil' fairy 

"Come on Grandpa!"

The End. 

DIY Hair Mask Recipe

I have been growing out my hair for a few years.

I don't get a lot of hair cuts and I cut my own bangs.

I don't use high end shampoos and conditioners,

I dye it every 6-8 weeks from a box

and I either blow dry or straighten my hair on a daily basis.
These are the truths of how I do not care for my hair. 

Sometimes my hair feels less than bountiful. It feels old and rigid and dry, so every once in a
while I like to throw in a hair mask to my weekly beauty rituals. I usually plan for it because
I usually have to wash my hair twice to get it out of a non-oil state, but I love it. 

"It's like magic" I told my 2 year old when I blended and applied it to my hair. 

And the next day I let her brush my now super soft hair.

I love my new soft hair so much I would almost compare it to silk 

though it's not quite that.. Fantastic

It's really does work though and most of you probably have the ingredients in your own home. 

3/4 cup of mayo (I know gross)

2 tbsp of Honey (locally grown honey is always best)

1 tsp of milk

1 tsp of baking soda

Optional 

1 tsp of apricot oil

a few drops of essential oils (I used lavender to calm down the mayo smell)

Steps

1. blend 

2. apply to chucks of hair like you would when dying hair at a salon

3. Pin up hair and let the paste soak into your hair and scalp for 2-4 hours

4. Wash out of hair. Repeat (most likely. I always have to rinse a second time so my hair isn't super oily)

So, what kind of special beauty treats do you make for yourself? Do you have any weird ones? Like I wash my face with baking soda 3 times a week.... Kinda weird but its a old trick for an at home micro-nonabrasive scrub. 

The Best Strawberry Oatmeal Cookies Ever Recipe

So these delicious looking cookies are even so much better in person. My hubby and kids couldn't keep their paws off. After a few requests I decided to post the recipe. 


3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 cup of butter, or margarine softened
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of white sugar
2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of ground cinnamon
2 tsp of baking soda
2 cups of rolled oats
2 tbsp of apple sauce
1 cup of diced frozen strawberries

{Optional}
Any kind of nutt
raisins

1. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, raisins, and vanilla. Cover and chill for 1 hour.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda; add to the creamed mixture and stir until all of the dry ingredients are absorbed. Next, stir in the egg and raisin mixture, then stir in the rolled oats and pecans. Dough will be stiff. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto an unprepared cookie sheet. Then place a frozen strawberry right on top of the cookie. 
4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges are golden. Allow cookies to cool 5 minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a wire rack to cool completely OR they will crumble. 

A bit of a lot of news

I am getting news from every which way it seems lately.

Good news and bad news, and better than no-news news.

So, I decided to kinda just do a blast post so I can update everyone all at once.

First off, little Carli's hearing appointment was yesterday and sadly they were not able to confirm anything, because they didn't get a super accurate reading, but they did say they are worried about hearing loss, so they want to do a ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) evaluation while she is under sedation. Basically they will be able to measure whether sound waves are reaching their destination. 

We are going to research some more but will most likely go along with the test since it is the only other option to get answers..... 

We will still be praying but I will let you know when her next appointment is.

On another note I got the call I have been waiting for telling me that Chloe did indeed get into the school we have been trying to get her in! She starts on the 31st of this month, so I only have a short time to prepare but am so so excited  nervous! 

It's been so fun shopping for little backpacks and prepping for school lunch boxes. 

It's been a little harder realizing that my first born is off to school! I can't believe it's already happening.

I am also very excited that my shop will very soon be carrying stock of the black lace iPhone Lace Cases! Now that Chloe will be starting school, I will have much more time to be able to expand my shop and offer new products and trends. 

Life lately

{Play time}

{Walking Franen-minni-stein}

{"Hi ho Hi ho it off to work we go. Hi ho, hi ho"

{"Um are you sure mom?"}

{Home Made pizza's are now a staple. Bomb!!!!}

{I was so proud that Chloe ate all her lunch until much later when I found it in my candle holders"

 

{Mommy snuggles}

{Shopping for Halloween costume stuff}

{A convo with my mom. haha}

{I gave my hair a home made hair mask and now its been super soft}

Shop Review: The Blissful Body Shop

Every week I spend an evening pampering myself for the up and coming week. I give myself a hair mask, a face mask, 
I loofah,  shave, and give myself a manicure and pedicure, then moisturize. 

I primp and prime. 

Tweeze and then regret the tweezing idea. 

Each and every week

I apply these rituals in order to feel more female, 

more beautify,

rejuvenated and fresh.

Instead of 

well...Old

Not saying I am old, but each year I am beginning 

to feel

Older.

For real. 

Well, recently my very good friend that I have actually known since we were both tiny babies opened up her very own Etsy Shop and guess what she specializes in all things for pampering and daily primping. Not only are her lotions and creams amazing to apply to the skin. It feels like lotion kissing my skin. Soft and fluffy, though rich and creamy. I was amazed by the smell too. Not too strong to overwhelm, but also not so soft that you miss more of it. 

Cassies' Shop deemed The Blissful Body Shop has these amazing lotions and creams are available now, but keep selling out! Which you must know means that they are amazing! 

What sets her apart you ask? Well, I have the answer. All of her current products and her future products are made with all natural products and do NOT contain harmful products like alcohol and mineral oil seen in so many of the lotions we as woman have all tried. 

If you want to know more about your own skin and the harmful effects and ingredients in lotions that are probably in your bathroom (just like the ones I found in mine), you can read Cassies recent blog post all about Skin.

Even though this lovely shop is still so new, she has already been reviewed by another amazing Small Business promoter. Kristina Streeter from 'The Streeters Unlimited' received her product in the mail, tested each out and was so in love with these lotions and body butters that she accepted Cassie into the A-List! What is the A-List you ask? Well, I tell you about it. Kristina reviews products for small business owners and if they pass her tests and she loves everything about the company, she will accept your small business and offer amazing and FREE advertising and promotion. She is an amazing person who thrives on setting the bar for small businesses all around. 

If I haven't sold you yet on this amazing shop, I also have a special treat for all my lovely readers! Cassie has given me a discount code for all of you! 

One morning in the future, a love letter

I was reading some old poetry of mine from when I first met my husband Brian. The words feel like a love letter now. Sharing it seemed too compelling to me.


One morning in the future,
Will I find you sleeping
Next to me
Will I be able to kiss your eyelids
And hear the beating of your heart
Thump
Thump
Will I find the breathe of your morning
Smelling the sweetest scent
Could I sink into your skin
Before you wake
In the future will I find us loving eachother
Will I wake one morning
And find you sleeping next to me

Asking for prayer

 

I don't ask for prayer very often. I usually like to keep worries to myself, but as a crucial date approaches I can not help but become filled with worry and wonder. 

In September, a day before my youngest 1st Birthday she had a doctors check up. Normal shots and normal questions, but I mentioned to the doctor how focused she is and how she doesn't answer when we call her name. He began to test her hearing and shared with me that he was indeed worried about whether she could hear. Her ears look normal on the outside, but no banging or clapping or screaming her name can get her to turn around. 

Ever since that appointment we have not been able to get her to turn our way unless it's the occasional super loud clapping or sometimes saying "Bababa", but even then it's not certain that she heard it but more over was looking around....

Her hearing appointment I could not get booked until the 23d of October at 10am and me and her father have been anxiously waiting and praying. 

Praying and then worrying and then in reverse. 
Day in day out. 
I try to forget about it, but when every day she does not...
Respond. 
I worry more. 

If you fellow readers, friends, family and bloggers could pray for her and this up and coming appointment, we would deeply appreciate it. 

Even if it does turn out that she is deaf or hard of hearing it just means I will love her more and begin a new journey and increase my sign language vocabulary that much more. 
It means difficulty and challenges but also that overcoming them will mean so much more to us.

I am not in fear of what could be, but only carry fear of the unknown in my heart. 

She is my little "sauce" as she has been nicknamed since birth. 
The apple of my eye. 
Her character is addicting to know and her smile melts my heart. 
If you know her, I am sure you know what I am talking about. 

Meanwhile, if you could all pray for her hearing and that parental worries subside. 

Thank you all my lovely readers.

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake Muffin Recipe

 

As I am learning to cook dinners and good meals for my family, baking is something I actually am really good at. Of course keeping  my sweet tooth happy has never been a problem. Yesterday I tested a new recipe out but made a few alterations of my own to make it perfecto!

Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake Muffins

2 cups of flour
2 cups of sugar
2 tsp of baking soda
2 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp of all spice
1 cup of cinnamon chocolate chips
1 cup of applesauce
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
6 egg whites
3 cups of peeled, graded and chopped carrots

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Mix the dry ingredients together. In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients. Then combine them together and beat for 2 minutes.

For muffins bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Basically until you can pull a tooth pick out of the middle muffin with out stuff on in. It needs a nice smooth exit.

For Cake bake at 350 in 2 greased 8" round pans.

For the (optional) Cream Cheese Frosting

8oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick of margarine or butter, also softened
2 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar  (add more to thicken)
2 tsp of vanilla extract

Blend the cream cheese, vanilla extract and butter then sift or slowly mix in the powdered sugar.

What the baby is really saying

"Ah ha! At last it is all mine!" (insert evil laugh here)

"I swear I have not been drinking officer. Is this a straight line?"

Pretty

This is called setting an example. A bad one. lol. Sister

"I'm just tuckered momma"

"I swear I won't do it again momma. Can I get out of baby jail now?"

"Ha ha, I lied. Here I go up the slide again"