Christmas Books.

I love, love, love the holidays (if you couldn't tell already). And I always try to invest in festive books for each holiday season. I am picky about the books I get, because I like them to be around for a long time so I am a bit of a hard cover/good content snob. Since Christmas is upon us I knew that it was that time once again to start hunting and buying up all of my 2012 favorites for the Christmas season in books. Here is what we are reading now:



I love some more than others and Mini has her favorites as well. We always have our classics that are just a must, such as Grinch and the night before Christmas. Two of our favorite new additions are Yes, Virginia and also Aliens Love Panta Claus. I hope you all have an amazing time getting into the spirit of Christmas!

Eating Healthy.

Just like most women I strive to eat healthy and workout.... (both of which I slacked on horribly this past year) So I have devoted myself to clean eating and working out once again. But. I love food. SO much. So I searched for good 'snacky food' to have on hand while I am working or hanging out at home in between meals. I know for me personally that is when the calories sneak into my diet.

Here are some items I have been loving and munching on! And just by snacking on these instead of popcorn and pretzel (my go to comfort snacks) I am down a few pounds in less than a week! (While watching my meals and working out 10-20 minutes a day+ strength training lightly)





I like starting my day off with Low Fat Kefir, blueberry or strawberry, mixed with a 1/2 a cup or less of low fat granola or some Chobani Greek Yogurt. I am in love with snacking on Hannah's Tzatziki and small organic cucumbers. (One tablespoon goes a long way! One tbs and one small cucumber tides me over and is under 50 calories total!) I also love eating a few tablespoons of Chachies Mango Salsa while I'm working or a small back of apple slices (check what kind you get! Some can be packed full of sugar!)

I hope you guys enjoy these as much as I do!!! Happy eating!

The Pecan Pie Cheesecake!

Holiday Pecan Pie Cheesecake

 What you will need: 

Buttery Crust:

2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs

¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar

⅓ cup butter, melted

Pecan Pie Filling:

1 cup sugar

⅔ cup dark corn syrup

⅓ cup butter, melted

2 eggs

1 ½ cups chopped pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cheesecake Filling:

3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1 ¼ cups firmly packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 eggs

⅔ cup heavy whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To start: Preheat oven to 350°. Combine wafer crumbs and brown sugar. Stir in melted butter. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9″ springform pan. Bake for 6 minutes. Set aside to cool. It will be a little mushy but don't worry it's the butter ;) 

Next: Reduce oven to 325°. Combine all ingredients for the Pecan Pie Filling in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 8-10 minutes, stirring constantly. Pour into crust and set aside to cool. 

Lastly Cheesecake Filling: With a mixer, beat cream cheese at medium speed until creamy. Add brown sugar and flour and beat until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each one. Stir in cream and vanilla. Pour over pecan filling. Bake for 1 hour.  I would place a water bath under the Cheesecake to prevent cracking and also as a catchall for the butter that will leak from the crust will baking. 

Turn off oven and leave cheesecake in oven with the door closed for 1 hour. Remove from oven and run a knife along the outside edges to loosen cheesecake from sides of pan. Let cool. Chill for at least 4 hours before serving.

End product 

I hope you all enjoy as much as we did! 

So very Thankful.

What an amazing Thanksgiving. This year might just top the books for the best ever Thanksgiving. There was amazing food, amazing giggles, amazing fun, and so much relaxation.

We truly are blessed with a fabulous family (that really knows how to cook!)

Here are some of my favorite moments from this week:

My Princess 'Dragon Hunting' in the backyard.

Our Mr. he was guarding his Princess. 

After. Dessert. 

My Pecan Pie Cheesecake (recipe too follow)

The two Amigos. (This is their relationship perfectly.)

Cute (Girl) Baby Shoes

I loved, loved, loved buying shoes for Mini when she was a baby and I still do. Now that the next serge of adorable babies are on the horizon with many people I know I thought I finally had an excuse to look at ittle shoes again! Here are some of my favorites! Enjoy :)

Thanks.giving.

I was snuggling up with Mini today at work and we were chatting about life, and she had overheard someone talking about how when Christmas comes around they give less fortunate children toys. She was confused. She then told me about how just this month people talk about what they are thankful for. She was confused again.

The reason for her confusion? She said it so perfectly, "Mommy, we give all year round to people and donate what we can, and we tell God what we are thankful for all year round, not just November."

Out of the mouth of babes.

I am blessed every day out of the year. We all are whether we acknowledge it or not. I try so hard to make it a point to show my thankfulness and teach her to do the same. I believe the old adage, 'To much is given, much is required," And Mini and I have been blessed abundantly in love, grace, peace, monetarily and spiritually and because of that it is my joy as a roll model and parent to teach giving and donation to instill a servants heart. And let me just tell you, Mini has the sweetest heart out there. Goodness she is amazing!

So I may not partake in posting what I am thankful for, for a month, but I hope that I show what I am thankful for year round. I hope I make it personal, and I let those around me know my inner gratitude. I hope everyone embraces thanks.giving. Even maybe past Black Friday :)

Even the smallest of gifts count...

The Cruel Shoes.

I grew up around people with a special type of humor. And I notice that many things we joked about had to do with shoes...weird. 'Boot to the head' video and The Cruel Shoes- Steve Martin comes to mind immediately as very standard things to be quoted/watched in my house growing up.

This really never seemed of relevance to me until....today.

A little back story (again) since I became a mother I have had this problem of being a little over prepared in most every situation. I carry changes of clothes, first aid kits, and food and water at all times with me. You never know what you will need when you have children, no matter their age. And when it comes to work I am the same way, you never know what you will need, a suit, food, makeup...or a change of shoes. And because of this I have a 'emergency drawer' in my office with all of the essentials. Now I have not broken into this drawer in over a year, and I forgot that my emergency shoes had heels, sadly with my ankle I haven't rocked heels in a year, until today.

I have a bad habit of wearing my slippers to work.

Okay it's a really bad habit.

But it's comfy...and I like comfort.

Until I have to go somewhere that requires 'real' shoes.

 I think that big fluffy slippers should be allowed everywhere... but until I get that to be a thing I still needed shoes today. While weighing if I could pull off the 'pink fuzzy slipper' look I remembered my emergency drawer, grabbed my emergency shoes (boots) and was saved.

Let me just tell you, these boots are the most uncomfortable, ugly boots ever. Horrible. So today I am going to go emergency shoe/boot shopping. It's a thing. Trust me today totally proved it.

Really? I see acceptability in both. 

The Trouble with the Missing Voice

You would think that after all my experience with this time here on earth I would predict and be prepared to have Laryngitis...but it yet again plagued me. This didn't used to be a problem before babies and pets, but now...now it poses a problem or two.

It is hard to instruct, explain, ask, answer....when you can't talk and your children can't read yet....and your pets can't either for that matter. So today I am trying to save my voice...my instructions....my explanations for only the really important things. But when you are young, everything is really important. I think I might hire a translator. Yes I might just do that....

Well, until then I think I need another Venti Peppermint Mocha....chicken noodle soup...and some awesome snuggles. Have a great Wednesday....

Oh! And my new bed frame will be here today!Yay!

It's the little things in life that make me happy! 

Waiting Patiently

I love cold weather and so does Mini....we wait year round for it. The cold gets us ready for hot chocolate, peppermint scented and flavored everything, layered clothes (cute coats), gloves galore, and the most snugly of blankets. Today has been no exceptions in the cold department, though we are still waiting on our snow (cue sad face.)

We snuggled with the puppies, we snuggled and watched Max and Ruby, Charlie and Lola, we snuggled and read our Christmas themed books, we snuggled and read our devotions...it was a sweet morning one that I will not forget. Today we read about how important each and everyone of us are...

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.-Psalm 139:14

What an amazing thing to know in your heart, no matter how old or young you are, you are perfectly you. Have a blessed day! 

Take everyday and make it wonderful.

The Cookie Cure.

I have always believed that there is cure for pretty much anything if baked goods and giggles were involved. I am sure there are those out there that disagree but for me today I believe that we must try. The weather change/being in school/life have brought on a bit of a cold to my Mini today and I am ready to take that cold on!

First step surround her with the animals that she loves, favorite toys, blankie, and snuggle the cold out of her while watching her favorite movies....next make a pile of homemade gluten free cookies.... and then some more loving to top it off. I think it sounds like a good plan. Hope you all stay cold free and have a great weekend, I know we are!

Great Gluten Free Cookie Options in a Pinch

If You Tinkle....

Tonight I was presented with one of those teachable parenting moments...and I missed my mark. Let me give you a little back history....

I was petrified of potty training my angel and so I called in back ups when that time came (the grandmas) prepared for wet beds, soaked floors, and stained car seats ..but I was fortunate enough to not experience any of that! (Yes, I know I am blessed!) It took a few days and within that time we had our first/ and last accidents, to date as of tonight. We have gone over three years accident free....that is until tonight.

Tonight Mini was getting her stuffed animals tucked in, like she does every night before bed, the house had become quiet and I was ready to get her snuggled in and asleep so I could work on some assignments until I heard her yell out in excitement, "I'm drowning some ants!!! I am drowning some ants!" I wasn't sure what she meant, so I responded, "That's exciting baby!" But she didn't stop saying it, she came down the stairs and ran into the bathroom....still shouting, "I am drowning the ants!" Finally, I asked her what it meant.

"Mom! It's like what dogs do outside....only I did it IN MY PANTS!" She loudly whispered. I couldn't contain myself I was doubled over in laughter, tears running down my face, giggling uncontrollably. I knew this was one of those 'teachable moments' where I would explain to her how we need to listen to our bodies telling us when to use the restroom...but I ruined it and laughed instead....we both laughed instead....and then I almost 'drowned the ants too'.

So have a happy weekend, try not to drowned any ants...and remember to laugh...even when you aren't supposed too!

Jeremiah 29:11

Hear come the Holidays, Part 1

Top Right Clockwise: Glazed caramelized onions to top the mashed potatoes and gravy, Rosemary dinner rolls, Pumpkin Chocolate Tiramisu, Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake Truffle, Jerusalem Artichoke Gratin, and French Toast Dumplings. 

I love the Holidays....a lot. I love the cold weather, the excuse to layer clothes, drink everything flavored with peppermint or pumpkin, snuggle up and watch cheesy movies, and so very much more. Becoming a parent made all of that so much more than it every was to me, and because of that we start early and we enjoy every second of the Holidays that much more.

But today is not about the traditions, it is not about the crafts or the days and party favors to come, those are for another blog in a very soon post to follow. Today is about food! I love taking the tried and true recipes and mixing them up into something fun and unique, while still staying true to their roots. Here are some of my Thanksgiving foods for thought: