Here's a Quick Way to Make Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Ashley is back in the kitchen and making the most amazing Pumpkin Spice Muffins!  You can find out more about Ashley on the Contributors tab at the top of the blog.

If you missed Ashley's first contributing post last month then you must go to that post and make those cookies as well as this amazing recipe she is providing for us today!  Fall is here and I am in LOVE.  There is something about Fall that just makes me smile.  I can't contain it.  

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am so excited to introduce to you a new contributor to the blog.  She is one of my best friends and is SO VERY talented.  You can read more about her on the contributors tab.  She is amazing!  Also, I have to give a shout out to our friend Brissa for taking the amazing pictures of these cookies.  She also has an awesome blog at Mother, She Wrote.

Before I turn the post over to Ashley I MUST say that these cookies are AMAZING.  I have not met one person that has not liked them.  Some of those people not being "cookie people".  When she brings them to our house I always hide one first so that I know there will be one left for me.  I know.  I know.  I am greedy.  So now it time to hear her secret!  Ashley everyone!

7 Things I Learned from Allison Miller's New Cookbook

Last year we did a lot of work to our backyard.  We are planning on putting in a putting green as soon as it stops raining for more than a day.  We are looking forward to the Summer months and hosting many outdoor parties/barbecues.  The only problem I have is that  I want to wow my guests, but I am not a master chef and I don't have a lot of time on my hands.

I have a few go to recipes, but they are not "show stoppers".  They run more on the boring side of things.  I have been on the hunt for a good Summer cookbook.  I am kind of picky about my cookbooks.  My cookbooks have to meet the following criteria:

Here's a quick way to find out what produce is in season and recipes to go with them

I plan a meal and it sounds so perfect.  However, when I go to buy the food for the recipe I realize that the food is not in season.  So I try and decide: do I want to buy mediocre/terrible produce and possibly not even find the item I am looking for OR do I change my whole meal plan?  Neither option sounds that great to me.

This is almost constantly my dilemma.  I am not a huge foodie.  I can cook, but I am not a genius in the kitchen.  So I needed a resource to help me know what is in season.  Well there are many things on Pinterest to help me find out what produce is in season, but then I am presented with another problem....I have to go searching for recipes that use those produce items that are in season.

I do not have a ton of time and although I love cooking home cooked meals I do NOT love searching for hours and hours for recipes that will work for my family.  Again, it isn't my strongest passion.  So do you want to know my solution, because I am giddy to tell you about it!  Drum roll!!!!

What's on my menu?-Week 3

When I planned out the meals for the month I looked at this week in particular and thought, "How in the world am I going to have time to fix dinner?"  This week is one of those weeks that is over booked.  This week looked stressful before I even got to it.  Then to top it off my little family has been sick the last 5 days.  So my house is a disaster.  Needless to say I am glad I planned for a week that was a bit hectic.

What's on my menu?-Week 2

I have not posted my weekly meal plan for awhile.  I know a lot of my readers like when I do that so I thought now would be a good time.  I always stick with my meal planning routine.  (and yes just like it says in that post...I have my meals planned out for the month)

Chicken Noodle Soup Take 2

It has been awhile since I posted the last chicken noodle soup recipe.  I am on the hunt for the best chicken noodle soup recipe.  Today I am posting about the second chicken noodle soup I made.

The next recipe that I used for inspiration is from Kami at NoBiggie.  (see post here)  Again I changed some things.  So check out my recipe, but if you want the original source of inspiration then check out her's as well.  That way you can see what you like best.   

Chicken Noodle Soup Take 1

I recently had someone ask me if I would write a post about Chicken Noodle soup.  I thought, "Um...yes!"  I love soup during the Fall and Winter so this was perfect timing.  I decided to try out three recipes and make them my own.  Then I tested them along with my husband and friend.  There are going to be three different posts with each of them and then at the end we will share our favorites.  

Cookbook of Choice

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase using the link above.

Ok, so I might be a little biased, but I promise this is an honest review of a cookbook that makes me smile every time I look at it.  Kelsey and I go back to junior high.  We went to the same junior high, but became great friends in high school.  We cheered together our junior and senior year.  When you are on a cheerleading squad you spend A TON of time together.  Sometimes you might not like spending the time with certain people, but Kelsey always had a contagious personality.  I always knew she would do something big and I am so proud of her.

Blog Tour!

Today I am participating in a blog tour!  I was very happy when Shanice from City of Creative Dreams emailed about being part of this blog tour.  I had to say yes because I love reading blog tour posts from all bloggers.  It is a fantastic way to get to know them.  Of course I want you to get to know me better so I jumped on the idea!  I will also introduce you to a couple of my favorite blogs right now.  I have a lot, but picked a couple.   First, let me answer the same questions that all the other bloggers have answered and then you get to see the bloggers that I am absolutely loving right now. You can see Shanice's answers to these questions on her site here.  She has an amazing linky party every week on Friday.  Go check it out to get a lot of inspiration from some very talented bloggers.  

More of my current favorites

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on some of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

When I did this post last month I had a hard time coming up with just 10 favorite things.  What can I say?  I have a lot of favorites.  That is generally my problem.  I do not have a problem coming up with a hobby to have.  I have a problem only having one hobby or even three.  I have a lot!  So I am revealing 10 more of my favorites.  Lets jump in!

1.  Makeup product:  I have chronic under eye circles.  It is something that I almost HATE about myself.  I have been searching for something that would cover the darkness but doesn't look cakey.  I have tried so many and FINALLY found the perfect one!  It is Josie Maran Argan Creamy Concealer Crayon.  I love it.  It has fabulous coverage, but blends very well and is not cakey at all.

2.  Savings website: Utah Sweet Savings is so wonderful.  There are so many fabulous deals on this website.  I have found deals on here that I can not find anywhere else.  I love it.  Go check it out.  I signed up for the emails so I do not miss out on anything.

3.  Blog: Andrea Dekker is a blog I love to look at everyday.  She reminds me of myself in a lot of ways.  That could be why I like it so much.  She has great tips and tricks for everyday.  Go check it out.  I can guarantee it will not disappoint.

4.  Memory keeping item: Project Life is genius.  Need I say more.  It makes memory keeping very doable for a very busy mom like me.  It is a breeze, but still very, very cute!  To make things even better Becky Higgins announced that there is going to be a new Project Life app!  Yay!  That will make it even easier.  If that is possible.

5.  Book: Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood  This book has fabulous ideas on how to deal with kids in their early years.  I love it because I feel it gives me great advice on how to help Hannelore have a voice in our family, but still establish good boundaries.

6.  Place to shop: Amazon  I am seriously laughing out loud right now, because I am sure my close friends and family and really anyone that talks to me for more than a couple minutes will hear about my obsession with Amazon.  This site is ah-mazing!!!  I had to do a major detox awhile ago because I was ordering stuff from there EVERY SINGLE DAY.  I have scaled that back, but I still order often from there.  Actually I just got a package a couple days ago and should be getting my birthday package today (thanks Joe and Julie).  You can get almost anything on there and usually it is cheaper (there are some exceptions, but not much).  I signed up for Amazon Prime when I had Hannelore because you can get fabulous deals on diapers.  I now get Pull-Ups from there for so much cheaper than I could get them anywhere else.  With Amazon Prime you get free two day shipping, borrow Kindle books (I do this monthly), and instantly watch movies or TV episodes.  I could go on and on.  Believe me people who are close to me already hear about it.  Click on the like below to try it for free and see what you think.  I LOVE IT!  It honestly deserves a post on its own.

Join Amazon Prime - Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime - Start Free Trial Now

7.  Decoration: I love these printables that I have hanging in my kitchen.  You can find your own here.  The 36th Avenue blog has fabulous printables often.  They always are just my style too!

8.  Clothing: This shirt makes me feel so feminine.  I love the lace detail on top and I love the color.  I have received so many compliments while wearing this.  Actually while I was riding the merry-go-round in this post I received a compliment by a woman that made my day!  She couldn't stop telling me how much she loved it and how she loved the way I looked with it on.  I need to find her and be her friend!  Every women loves to receive compliments.

9.  Kid item: Munchkin Nursery Projector & Sound System My daughter loves this.  She has loved it since she was little.  I love it because there are a lot of sounds and music to choose from.  There are 3 different slides to choose from as well.  So she never gets bored.  I also love that you can choose how long the timer is set to and you can choose to just have the projector and/or the sound on.  There is also a nightlight on it that you can turn on if you would like.  Lastly, but one of my favorite things is that there is a switch to turn on or off voice activation.  I love this, because when she was younger and would wake up during the night this would turn on and calm her down.  

10.  Food:  Nutella!  It's a food right?  It should be in its own food group.  I love it by the spoonful, on graham crackers, really on anything.  I am thinking of doing a blog post on all my favorite recipes that use Nutella.  Stay tuned, because I am sure that will be coming.  

Meal Planning Routine

Hey loves!  So you know that dreaded time of the day when you say to yourself, "What should we have for dinner?"  Yeah I do not like that question or the feeling I get when I ask that question.  I am a HUGE planner.  So this question stresses me out.  I try and avoid it at all costs and plan it out.  Some of you might find this crazy, but I plan my menu out for a whole month.

What's on my menu?-Week 1

I have had a reader request that I post my menu for the week.  So I thought I would do that every once in awhile for you.  Maybe it will help you come up with some ideas.  Hopefully it will help you.

Easiest Chicken Dinner Ever!!!!

This meal is the easiest meal to put together.  I have some picky eaters in my house and this recipe was a hit!  It only takes 6 easy steps!  So simple.