Pumpkin Pickin' 2011

Every year since Claire was born we have made a trip out to our local pumpkin patch.  Hay rides, haunted mazes, corn cob cannons, sunflowers and pumpkins galore!  It is always a really good time.  So, if you aren't in the Fall mood yet, here are a few pics to get you going.

We each came home with a pumpkin.  Claire picked one for her and one for the baby and I got a white one as usual.  I love white pumpkins!  No carving for me this year since I am currently the size of a $7 pumpkin, which makes things a little more difficult.  Plus, there is a distinct possibility that I will be in the hospital Halloween weekend this year.

Happy Fall Y'all!

~ Andrea

Me, Stylish!?! If you say so.

My great friend Noelle at Gray Paint Decor blessed me with this little goodie.

I don't think I have ever been thought of as stylish in my life.  Seriously, I was voted least likely to pose for a low rise jean ad by my sorority sisters.  Although, I must say my style has improved since I stopped living with my mother (bless her heart, she has no clue).  Love you mom!

So here is where I tell you random facts about myself and then give you a list of other stylish bloggers to go visit.

1.  I have a minor in Mathematics.  I was a math major until I had a nervous breakdown while taking a theory class and decided that if I wanted to graduate I needed to change my major.  I still love math and am a huge fan of algebra.  I have a friend who is getting her degree online and had to take two algebra classes and I asked if I could do them for her for fun.  I know, I'm a nerd.

2.  I married a jock.  Chris played football, basketball, baseball, track, golf and whatever else in high school.  He was even voted athlete of the year his junior and senior year.  I was in the band and played doubles tennis so I wouldn't have to run as much.

3.  I would rather watch a movie that I found on tv than watch that same movie on a dvd.  Finding a good movie on tv is like striking gold plus it has built in potty and snack breaks.

4.  I refuse to use a GPS for directions.  The thing always gets me lost and is constantly yelling at me.  I just can't drive with that kind of pressure.  Typically it goes something like this: gps - turn left, Turn Left, TURN LEFT (in annoying woman voice).  Me - I can't turn left you stupid piece of (insert explative)!  It's a one way street!  Are you trying to get me killed!

5.  I hate the color red.  I can appreciate it, I can respect it but I don't have to like it, use it or recommend it.  So there.

6.  I'm an only child.  I hate/hated it.  It's bad enough that I never had anyone to play with growing up when all of my friends were grounded but now if something happens to my mother I'm stuck taking care of her.  I have no one to rock, paper, scissors for it which is just not fair.  I love my mother but if I ever have to live with her again I will kill her.

7.  I'm pregnant.  Yes people, you read me right, baby #2 will be arriving sometime around Halloween.  This is part of the reason I have been so scattered around here lately.  It takes every ounce of energy just to get through the day so I haven't had motivation to do much of anything else.

And now for some other great blogs worthy of a read...

Design Manifest

Little Brick House

Shannon Berrey Design

What's Up Whimsy!

Ravings of a Mad Housewife (not a design blog but really funny)

Home Ec 101 (again not a design blog but one I like)

Design Blooms

Atypical Type A

6th Street Design School

Chattafabulous

Well my friends, I'm out.  Off to the beach for a fun-filled Easter with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  There will be lots of food, lots of yelling and some Claire cuteness while hunting eggs.

~ Andrea

I love Thursdays

Because I treat myself to one of these

and one of these

while I watch this

Guilty pleasures.  What can I say?

~ Andrea

I love Little things

This week I want to share with you some of the many things that I love.  First up on the list is the little things.  I'm talking about little accessories that take time to find and accumulate and add personality to you home.

I went shopping with my mom this past weekend and picked up some really great little things.  While nothing I bought was really expensive, all of it made me smile when I saw it.

Our first stop was Pier One where I got these adorable wall hooks.  I don't know where they will live yet but I had to have them.  The best part was that they were only $6 each.

Then I found these great frames.  I plan on painting them and putting a mirror in the frame or an image if I find one I fall in love with.  At $32 for the 2-pack this was my most expensive purchase but well worth it in my opinion.



I found this little mug and immediately wanted it as a pen holder for my desk.  I love the colors and the pattern and at $5 it was a steal.  Actually my mom bought it for me for Valentine's day.  So sweet of her!

My next find was at Hobby Lobby where I snagged these cute little ceramic toadstools for $1.50 each.  Things like this are great fillers in a bookcase, on your mantel, nightstand, window sill or wherever.

I also wanted to show you a few thrift store finds I've had recently.  The wooden sign and candlestick I plan on painting one of my many fun colors.  And the studded pear, what can I say, it had me at hello.  Each of these I snagged for $1.

And the best Little thing of all...

This definitely adds personality to any home ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!

~ Andrea

Merry Christmas from White Picket Fences!

Happy Holidays from My Family to Yours!

Today we are off to my grandparents house for a few days.  This means no internet (they still have dial-up).  So enjoy the holiday and I'll be seeing you on the flip side.

One hundred and One Cookies

My husband is an educator.  This is the last week of school before Christmas break.  This effects me because this is the week of parties and gifts.  This effects you because I'm going to share my secret recipe for thumb print cookies that are guaranteed to make everyone your best friend.

In all honesty, it's not my recipe, it's my mother-in-law's, but our cookies taste nothing alike so I feel like I can call it mine.

The Dough... 

Combine 3 sticks of softened butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/8 tsp salt and 3 egg yolks in a large bowl.  Add 4 cups of flour sifted (I mix in one cup at a time, it's easier that way).

Cover and refigerate for 1 hour.


While I was making cookie dough, Claire was doing this...

She and I have had runny noses this week and we ran out of  kleenex today so she decided to fill the empty box with an entire roll of toilet paper.  She's a problem solver for sure.


Back to Cookies...

After refigerating the dough, pre-heat the oven to 350 and then pull out every cookie sheet you own and get to work rolling the dough into small balls.  Place each ball on the cookie sheet and put your thumb print in the middle (hence the name).
 

Bake for 8-12 minutes until golden brown on the bottom.  When you are done you will have a counter full of these...

I put them on wax paper because it makes the next step easier to clean up.  Make sure they are completly cool before adding the icing or else you will have more icing on your counter than on your cookies.

The Icing...

The icing is a combination of confectioners sugar, water, vanilla extract and food color.  I don't have exact quantities but use a lot of the sugar, a smidge of extract and add the water a little at a time.  You want it to have a thicker consistency so that it stays in the little bowls made by your thumb.  I use a baby spoon to put the icing on the cookies because it can really get away from you and a super tiny spoon doesn't hold that much so it can't get too far.  When you are done you should have something that looks like this,

I wanted to do some that were a little fancy so I tried multi-colored.  I think they are fun.

I let the icing set overnight to make sure it dries.  Nothing worse than icing everywhere except where it's suposed to be.  This recipe makes a boat load of cookies so it is great to take to parties and a very inexpensive gift for co-workers.  The number depends on how big or small you make your balls but this time I made 101 cookies.

Tonight we have the (football) coaches party.  I'm not sure if I have to bring a dessert or not but I'm prepared nonetheless.

Yippee!

My bff Erin just made my day/week/year!  We are going to see New Kids on the Block in June!!!!

1986

2010

I was obsessed with them (I heart Jordan) when I was young and I'm not ashamed to say I have a few of their new songs on my ipod right now.  Erin and I had choreographed dances to all of their songs (we did vanilla ice and paula abdul too) with hopes that we would be discovered and asked to go on tour with them.  Ahh, the dreams of seven year olds.  I can't wait!  And since the concert is a week after my birthday it's the most perfect present ever!  Thanks Erin, I think you just cured my winter blues!