A few things

I fell asleep on the floor last night. I had been up with Zoey and I decided to crash closer to her room just in case she needed me again. It was a terrible idea! She didn't need me again and I woke up hours later unable to move my neck or arms. I am going to spend today dreaming of a full night's sleep in my wonderful bed!

Since I was feeling so stiff this morning, I skipped my cardio and spent my workout time stretching. I am feeling much better now.

Max, Mia, and Zac all have school today. Zoey and I will be running a few errands this morning. To the post office to send a package and to the store to buy Cool Whip for Zackary's Thanksgiving feast at school on Thursday.

There are a few things that I need to try immediately....

THIS Reese's Fudge from Something Swanky

and

THIS Gingerbread White Hot Chocolate from Nutmeg Nanny

 

Today is going to be cold and foggy. We will be using our fireplaces for sure!

Monday Things

This edition of Monday things focuses on the  "things" that are making me happy right now....

1. Thanksgiving Plans.

For the past 5 years I have hosted Thanksgiving and I have loved it! I loved planning the menu and enjoyed all of the cooking.

This year, however, I just couldn't get into it. I kept meaning to plan, but I kept putting it off. Finally....today and less than 2 weeks away from turkey day.....I gave the hosting privilege away. I am suddenly looking forward to Thanksgiving!

2. Christmas Music.

I recently started listening to Christmas music....at home, in the car....There are few things as comforting or uplifting as Christmas music. 

3. The final season of Gossip Girl. 

I started watching Gossip Girl when the series began in 2007. I was pregnant with Mia. The series ended in 2012, but I have been patiently waiting to finish the show when it came to Netflix. It finally did and I have spent the past week of my workouts loving each episode! I loved how the show ended...Everyone ended up with the right people :)

4. Candy making.

I have mentioned before that I am deep into Christmas candy making, but this is the first year that I have added toffee/almond roca to the mix. I followed THESE instructions from Recipe Girl, and have made 3 batches so far.....(2 for gifting and 1 for keeping!!!)

5. Deadlifts.....

My FAVORITE toning move

Not too hard, but great results!

Happy Monday!!!

Friday!

Happy Friday! It's finally the weekend and it's finally freezing!!!

Which brings me to this thought:

This is so very me.....

The Christmas candy making is in full swing. So far I have: 2 batches of caramels, 2 batches of rocky road fudge, 2 batches of salted chocolate almond bark, and 1 batch of dark chocolate peanut butter truffles!!!

I am hoping that most of it can make it to Christmas gift giving time. The kids and Ty have already found their way into the fudge.

I love this idea for a weekend project with the kids:

DIY chalkboard painted mugs for cocoa !

I love the red one!

With everyone getting so sick after Halloween, I really fell off the exercise bandwagon. I spent a good week completely out of commission. I have tried, this week, to get back into it. I think I am finally feeling back to "normal". 

I might fit this into my weekend plans:

(to help balance out all of the candy/cocoa)

If you are not a jumping-jack person, I suggest you give them a try. They are simple to do and a great indoor/limited space cardio option.

Have an awesome weekend!

1. The kids are home from school in honor of Veteran's Day. We made pancakes this morning, did a little origami, and colored lots of pictures.

2. The Christmas candy making starts this afternoon! I finally got a new candy thermometer and I am ready to get going. It's all about the sugar.

3.  Cookie centerpieces and table settings......

Maple sugar cookie leaves for Thanksgiving.

Gingerbread trees for Christmas.

4. Love this quote from Mother Teresa

5. French Silk Pie on a stick...

Perfect for a party!

Have an amazing week!

Why Fridays are so very AWESOME

1. NO homework.

2. Monday-Thursday Zackary has speech and/or school each day. On Fridays he has neither. If I am not driving the older kids to school I basically have a free day and can go to Target....which I did today.....and it was awesome.

3. Movie night!

On Friday evenings we have family movie night. We look forward to it all week. It is a family favorite tradition. It is also a good excuse to eat pizza and make caramel corn.

4. NO worries.

On Friday night we can ignore bedtimes and routines. 

5. Weekend Plans.

Fridays are the kickoff to the weekend. I love weekends! 

Weekends mean pancakes.....

Gingerbread Pancakes

Pumpkin Pie Pancakes

and Snickerdoodle Pancakes

I am just happy it's Friday!!!!

Have an awesome weekend :)

1. After spending a good week inside my house, recovering from and caring for those with sickness, I am ready to get out and spend the evening with the relief society sisters in my ward! Hopefully I can stay awake past 7:00!

2. I am loving THIS pantry makeover!

I must do this in my house immediately.

3. Frosting Grahams!!!

I basically lived off of these my first summer at BYU. Of course we used store bought canned frosting and THIS recipe uses delicious home made buttercream. Quite the upgrade. My kids would love all of the colors.

4. Ty has been gone every day for a week......and he will continue to be gone every day until this weekend. We are going out Friday night and I can't wait to spend a little time with him!!! 

5. I made THIS vanilla bean coconut peanut butter (from: healthy food for living)

I have been eating it on cinnamon raisin toast and it is pretty much the best thing ever.

6. I am very excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas and all of the fun!

I really need to go to Target. Target makes holidays real :)

That's about all the excitement I can handle for now!

Happy Wednesday!

Thankful

 1. Today I am thankful for health. You really miss it when it's gone!

2. I am thankful for parents who are willing to come put the spare tire on my car when I have a flat.

3. I am thankful for a husband who rushes out, after being gone all day, to get the flat tire fixed so that I can drive again.

4. I am thankful for kind friends who bring dinner when we really need it.

5. I am thankful for antibiotics.

6. I am thankful for a new week!

(Note: It was a very long weekend......)

November!!!!

 October is gone.

Halloween was a happy one....

Ty and I had both forgotten how delicious all that candy was!!

I got up early for a detox workout this morning.

I am home today with 2 sick little ones. Zack and Mia have terrible coughs.

We took a little sick person field trip. We bundled in blankets and got some hot chocolate using the Starbucks drive thru.

They happened to have their holiday cups out and ready to go!

It was a bright spot in our day!

I think I need these Suede Boots to get me through the next few months of holiday hoopla.

Time to plan Thanksgiving!!!!

Getting Ready

 As of yesterday morning we had not yet had a chance to carve our pumpkins and get ready for Halloween!

We dedicated the afternoon to pumpkins.

 Ty did all of the carving. I did the gutting and the pumpkin seed roasting.

 I bought pumpkin scented tealights to go inside of the jack-o-lanterns. I thought it was quite fitting!

 Then we made Halloween Monster Cookies. They were the best ever.

We ended the night with a Halloween music themed dance party featuring Ghostbusters and the Monster Mash.

Everyone is excited for tonight!

Wednesday Things

1. We went to Costco this morning and I came home with the Pioneer Woman's new holiday cookbook!!!

I can't wait to make all the things :)

2. Also at Costco....Ty and I were able to pick out everything we would need for the kid's Christmas.

Now if we can just get to Costco without the kids at some point. That would be very convenient.

3. This morning I learned how to toast and pop quinoa on the stove. It was an important part of THIS recipe.  (Chocolate covered superfood!)

4. We are spending this afternoon carving pumpkins for tomorrow night. Ty does the carving and I roast the seeds. It makes for a happy balance.

5. Speaking of tomorrow!!! I can't believe it is Halloween already. This year I am doing something a little different for our Halloween dinner. I usually do Jack-O-Lantern pizzas, but this year I saw THESE....

Mummy Dogs!!!

Happy Wednesday!

Have an awesome Halloween :)