The Greaat Pumpkin!

I loved the flat pumpkin. Looked just perfect to sit on!
What a fun day at the pumpkin patch!
We can't wait to go back to the farm to see the babies in the spring!

Happy Homemaker Memories . . .

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday hosted by Sandra. Today I am a little short on time so I am posting without Sandra's template. Let's see how many topics I remember.

The weather in my neck of the woods: Cooler mornings, warm afternoons and cooler evenings. Fall is in the air and leaves are showing up around my door.

Things that make me happy: Holidays everything about them. The planning, the cooking, the shopping, the people! I am just smiling!

Book I'm reading: Finished all my review books at least for today and reading a novel donated to the girls halfway house called Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith. It's a page turner.

On the t.v.: As always nothing.

What am I cooking for dinner: Not really sure we need to do a major grocery shopping. Have no idea when that will happen. But I have shrimp in the freezer and chicken. Maybe tortilla soup if I can stop and get a ripe avocado. Yum.

On my to do list: laundry, finishing up unpacking boxes brought home from storage and moving things around in my 'small space'.

New recipe I want to try: The photo's speaks for it.

I found this at Monica's it is from Taste of Home. These are called apple nacho's I am planning on making them for a Fall party for our apartment ministry.


In the craft basket: Aprons to finish once I un-bury the sewing machine, a quilt to finish binding only have about 12 inches to go might get that done quicker.

Looking forward to this week: I always look forward to Tatooed Hearts and Sunday Worship. I love my boys.

Tips and Tricks: Just figured one out. My memory isn't what it used to be. I didn't get past the weather. So I opened a new window and put up Sandra's last post. Now I am going back and forth between windows reading her topic questions then typing them in my post. It's working for me today! FYI be sure and save every few minutes just in case!

Favorite Post and New blog: I found a great craft project over at Tator tots and Jello it's a really cute blog too. The post is a tutorial showing how to make black spiders out of beads.
I loved it I am going to make some for our apartment Trick or Treat event.


No words needed photo:

Don't forget to help Stamp out Hunger donate to a food drive in your community.

Lessons I learned this week: I have words from The Word hidden in my heart. Some forgotten. I need to work at memorizing scripture. When I was helping the boys last Wednesday they were working on verses I should have been able to recite too. Need some practise!

On my mind: Working on calendar for apartment ministry and finding time for required activities around our ministry and holiday activities.

Scripture or Devotional: We loved You so much that we are delighted to share with You not only the gospel but our lives as well. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (paraphrased)

Beyond the Brady Bunch

Beyond the Brady Bunch Hope & Help for Blended Families by Ray & Debbie Alsdorf
I enjoyed this book. I have never experienced the trauma of divorce or the struggles of blending a family but I have had many friends that have been through both.

I wish I had been able to share with them some of the truths brought out in this book.

Blending a family is far more messy and complicated than any television show portrays. Beyond the Brady Bunch is a heart book, not a how-to book. Christians who find themselves in the midst of step family life often feel hopeless and far from God, struggling with grief and unforgiveness. From personal experience, the authors have found that all the how-to steps in the world don’t work if there isn’t first a heart change. Speaking with honesty and vulnerability they share their mistakes and how God dealt with their hearts. The book will help stretch hearts, minds, and homes past the image of “perfect” and another "happily ever after” into the hope of God’s promise to restore, heal, and rebuild.

I really liked what Dr. Gary Smalley had to say about the book . . .

“This book is a treasure chest of encouragement, hope and inspiration for the blended family. It has been said that some families cannot blend, they can only collide. Not true. The Alsdorf family have “collided” well. They are the real deal and a beautiful picture of a fantastic blended family.” -Dr. Gary Smalley

It is indeed a treasure chest of encouragement. The book includes personal stories and stories the Alsdorf collecting from friends and other couples they have met through ministry.

Each chapter includes sound Biblical truth and each topic is discussed and then referenced back to scripture.

Toward the end the Alsdorf's even included a chapter titled From the other side our children speak where they interviewed their children and then included their perspectives.

I found an excerpt of Chapter One here. I would highly recommend this book. Even if you have not experienced divorce or death of a spouse you may know someone who has. This is a great book to give to a friend struggling with blending a family.

I am going to donate my copy to our apartment ministry library. I know that many families can benefit from the sound advice and encouragement found in Beyond the Brady Bunch.

You can purchase online at Amazon and Christian Book (dot)com

And also at Family Christian Book Stores. (click on the bold colored words to go directly to the links).

I received this book to review from B&B Media. Thanks to Karen Davis for offering this book.

I finally made a desperate phone call!

Well actually I really didn't call but back in the day I would have. I actually just got up the nerve and drove down to a cheap $10.00 haircut place that is actually $13.00 for a cut and blow drying started at $10.00. Yes I said started at $10.00 at one of those cheap places!
Now if I had a lovely 'up do' like the one photo'd or if mine would do that then I would not have resorted to desperate measures.
But alas it was desperate measures I had to take. The jury is still out on whether I like my hair or not.
Mainly because I had made a huge mess in the bathroom this morning trying to find some barette's or pins or something because my bangs just weren't cooperating today.
And btw I was in a rush and didn't clean up the mess I made. Which I forgot to mention included all the electrical devices I own trying to find something that would work.
But, I did get two compliments today on my hair so I guess it turned out o.k.
And then when I came home and finally checked the computer I saw that Rachel Anne suggested cleaning up, straightening out and sorting through all our hair stuff. And so even thought I made a huge mess this morning I get to get points for cleaning it up.
And I really do need to sort through all that stuff anyway and figure out what I need to keep. Don't need all those hair scrungies anymore because there won't be any pony tails here again!

Cupcake Challenge Part Two

Cupcake Challenge secret ingredient revealed.

I really wasn't sure how these would turn out but they are great. I am so pleased. I struggled with this all week trying to find a recipe and finally ended up adapting from the good 'ole Betty Crocker cookbook! You will have to look really, really close but inside the cupcakes are crushed Fruit Loops.

Like I said I searched for a recipe and found a great one that used orange, lemon and lime zest but I never got to the store for the fruit.

Now about myself and why I chose the secret ingredient.

1. Probably a lot of people would think I am a little Fruit Loops. My husband and I are volunteer chaplains at a prison for teen age boys and girls. (seperate facilities for each) In fact the cupcakes are going to the boys tomorrow and they will love them.
2. I tend to 'wing it' a lot with my cooking and baking and when I saw the Fruit Loops used on an episode of Chopped I knew I wanted to try it. On my budget many times I have to 'wing it' and make substitutions. The reason for the Fruit Loops. I happened to have them because I used them for a project for our 'apartment ministry' and I needed to figure out a way to use the rest of the box. Now I can share the recipe with my Mom's of Preschool group.
3. And, one of my favorite things to do is to take an item and re-purpose it. The fruit loops were perfect to try and re-purpose.
4. I love cake especially bakery and wedding cake. My icing is a buttery wedding cake recipe and it turned out perfect.

So that is about it for this little Fruit Loop girl. Please com back and visit next week Amy's challenge is our closets. Oh wow!

Lovely Fall Scentsy Wickless Candle Giveaway! over at Proverbs 14 Verse 1 this is what June said about these wonderful Wickless Candles.
"Homemaking is a beautiful thing. It is so exciting to be able to go about your day and create a beautiful, peaceful home for each and every single one of our family members. I know that one of the ways that I personally love to do that is by creating an ambiance in the home. I will turn on some low classical music or hymns, turn on some glowing lights and maybe light a candle or two.
As keepers of the home, wives "set the stage" for comfort and hospitality. Fragrance is a big part of this, and a lot of us light scented candles. However, because of the safety factor we limit candle time. But now all that can change-- let me introduce you to Scentsy! Scentsy uses a light bulb to melt wax cubes in a small plate, making it much safer than an open flame. They also have 80 incredible scents from which to choose that makes a better selection than an air fresheners from the store!Safety is one of the major benefits of this product. No burning means no smoke in the air. The fragrant wax is chosen because it melts at a lower temperature and won't burn a child if they were to stick their hand in it. The warmer itself feels like a coffee mug when it is hot.
We got our warmer system kit in the mail and tried it out. I could not believe how wonderful they made my home smell! Fragrance is a powerful thing as it conjures up old memories and new--and with Scentsy you will be glad to know that these fragrances last a LONG time (even after you turn it off), and is much better than your average candle! The great news is that it is safer than candles and that is is important if you have lots of little ones like I do. I remember when I used to lament about not being able to use many candles but Scentsy really solves that dilemma. All you need to do is put a few blocks of wax on the top plate, turn it on and enjoy!
There are also small openings on the sides where the light can shine out of and reflect beautifully on the walls, the reflection on ours actually looked heart shaped. Our family likes to dim the light of the room to experience and enjoy the natural, calming ambiance that Scentsy creates.Scentsy also carries holiday warmers, fragrance foams, room sprays, do-it-yourself kit warmers, Scentsy bars and bricks, and my favorite-the Scentsy Buddy--a stuffed animal for children containing one of Scentsy scents packs inside!
Now, Toni Swayze, who is an Independent Consultant for Scentsy has generously offered a free warmer system to one of my readers! That's right---take a look:
This warmer is just beautiful and oh-so cozy for decorating your home just right in time for fall! It will also come with three amazing Scentsy bars--Maple Butter, Clarity and Eskimo Kiss that can be reused until the fragrance is gone. "

Click here to go by her blog and see the great photo's and check out the Scentsy website too.

Did you say cake? No I said . . .

Cupcakes. Actually it was Amy that said cupcakes. And I am accepting her challenge.
I have pulled together my ingrediants . . .

Except for the secret ingredient that I am not sharing. Yet.

And I got . . .

a major tool. Isn't she pretty. (not actually mine but this was a pretty photo. I'll have to make one of my little cobalt blue girl). And I made a plan. And then. It happened.

Blogger decided to act up and not let me load the best of the photo's! I bet your thinking it is the photo of the finished product. Nope I have to tell you it isn't.

I'll show you later but let me tell you why no cupcakes yet.

I got a phone call from . . . (insert photo when blogger decides to cooperate)

my sweet grandbaby that is 2 and once I deciphered his words . "eat mexican food GiGi". The cupcake plan went awry. At least until after I eat lunch.

So come back because I know you want to see the finished product.

BTW I will be taking my lovely creations to a birthday party tomorrow. More on that later too.