Manic Monday and a little muffin too

Manic Monday is hosted by the talented fleur-de-lisa

How many hours of TV do you watch per week? It is usually on in the evening. I DVR pretty much everything I can watch. But I have to have my dose of trash reality TV.

Do you feel that's too much, not enough or just right? Just right

Which of the 5 senses do you feel is your strongest sense? hands down, smell....

What's the wackiest belief you held as a child? that my imaginary friend, "my teacher" said ruled...even if it was different than what my mom told me


Cranberry-Pecan muffins





1 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 c. quick cooking rolled oats
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. ground cinnamon or apple pie spice
1/4 t. salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 c. fat free milk
1/2 c. sugar
3T. canola oil
1/2 c dried cranberries (I used craisins), coarsely chopped
1/4 c. walnuts, toasted and chopped (I used pecans)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat 12 2 1/2 inch muffin cups with non stick spray or line with paper baking cups, set aside.

2.In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. In a medium bowl combine egg, milk, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture, stir just until combined. Fold in cranberries and toasted nuts. Spoon into prepared muffin cups.

3. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until tops are lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool muffins in pan fir 5 minutes. Remove from pan, serve warm.





4. Share with friends and neighbors.

**Notes: we made these in the acorn pan. It only took 13 minutes to bake. We did not "glue" them together with any kind of cream. It made 25 of the little acorn muffins.

These are really good muffins, not too sweet. Cranberries just scream November and thanksgiving to me. This recipe is from the Oct Better Homes and Garden issue.

weekend update

With Halloween, it was a fun filled weekend. The kids had fun trick or treating. They had just as much fun handing out candy as well. Even after giving each trick or treater mongo handfuls of candy, we still have a huge amount left. You know all that candy is going to work with Husband! I do not need any temptation around.

I think the kids just loved staying up until the sun went down. Since they are usually in bed asleep by 8, it was a rare thing!

Last weekend when it rained all weekend, we were supposed to go to a neighborhood camp out. Well, the kids have had it in their minds that we are going to go camping. I stayed out there with them until Will fell asleep. Livi had to come in and potty once, I stayed in after that. I was quite surprised they stayed out as late as they did. But by 2AM, they were all safe and sound, tucked into their own warm beds!

Of course no camp out is complete without s'mores.

Want a bite?

Yeah, sugar 'em up and send them into a close confined space!

While roasting the marshmallows, I realized our little leaning tree is a gorgeous shade of yellow. All too soon those leaves will all fall off and winter will be on our doorstep.

Happy fall, y'all!

Photohunt: blue

Photohunt is hosted by TNchick

The sky was so blue as the kids wrapped up Trick or Treating last night. They rarely are up this late to see the blue sky turning a gorgeous salmon pink color.

Next week's theme: together

Photostory Friday.....and a Happy Halloween

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

So much has happened in a year. This was taken last October while we still lived in Texas. We had gone to post to do a Video TeleConference . Not like we were counting down or anything, but Husband would be home in 54 days.

I wrote one of the sappiest (is that a word?? ) posts ever.

We were getting ready to celebrate the second Halloween away from Husband.

But now, we are together. We are in a different home in a different state. I hope the kids never have to leave a VTC and play in a parade field, trying to find something to keep them busy to pass the time.

Thursday Thirteen- the letter U

Since the year is almost over, I thought I better finish my ABC Thursday thirteens. I stopped on the letter T back in May just before we began our massive move to KY....via Oklahoma, Ohio and finally Kentucky!

Anyhow....on to the letter U.

1. University of Oklahoma.....proud graduate. Loved my time there, Norman remains one of my favorite places ever. Stop in at Brothers if you are ever in town...best cheesy fries ever!

2. Ugly- I do not think I am ugly..I refrain from making negative body image remarks in front of Livi. She repeats way too much as it is!

3. Uggs....NEVER have been a fan of them, but the Ugg Kona Boot is kind of cute. I wonder if it will be cold enough here to justify getting them??

4. unique- I think most military spouses have a unique personality: adaptability to new places and situations; resilience to get through TDYs or deployments, willing to volunteer for almost anything, social skills to meet and greet anyone. I know these definitely can describe me.

5. UPS- My kids know the little brown truck is the UPS guy. They get disappointed when he doesn't stop at out house!

6. ultimate-the ultimate best cake ever...oh yeah: the chocolate chocolate chip cake. Even better as muffins with a cream cheese frosting.

7. ultra: I am ultra organized. Here is an old TT of my best organizing tips. I think it is my little attempt at keeping my world sane.

8. ultrasound: On Will's ultrasound, he was all kicked back and relaxed. He is still like that. On Livi's, she was sucking her thumb. At four years of age, she is still sucking her thumb.

9. umber: I remember rubbing burnt umber paint on furniture and home decor items to make them look more rustic and old!

10. umbrella: I need a new umbrella...mine looks like a spider with a broken leg!

11. undergarment-Firm believer in having great undergarments, they can make or break an outfit. Get those girls back up where they used to be!

12. under: Caving under peer pressure...Ashlee at Meet the Leighows wants to see the ball gowns. okay, circa April 1997...the first formal ball I went to with Husband, we were still dating!

13. under...more....pressure: kind of cheating, but you get another picture...caving under more peer pressure since CrackerJacks of Izzy 'N Emmy wanted to see old ball gowns as well.

a day in the life

upper left- Totally loving my hair now. I have been letting it grow out since we found out we were moving here. I whacked it off when we moved to Texas. I didn't want to be pulling it up in a pony tail every day! I have an appointment with a girl here that a friend in TX recommended. She used to live here. I love it that I can get pointers from almost any military post ....someone or another has been there before!

upper right- The sky was so blue today. Not a cloud in sight. This was taken through my windshield. I was quite surprised how it turned out!

lower left-The trees are finally peaking in all their fall glory. I haven't lived somewhere with seasons in so long. I am loving the cooler temps. We even turned on the fireplace!

lower right-I was in the old downtown part of my town today. I love all the old houses.

Happy Tuesday, ya'll

Manic and a Muffin Monday

Manic Monday is hosted by Fleur de Lisa

What is the greatest value that guides your life? Loyalty......to my husband, to my children, to my family and friends. I would like to think I make a difference in a small way in this world. Starting with those closest to me guides those choices I make daily.

Fill in the blank: If I could be anybody besides myself, I would be still me but with a full time chef, massuese, and trainer....Can I answer it that way? Sure I can, it's my blog.

What is one item in your house that you should really throw out but probably never will? I am certain it is the ball gowns I wore to formal events from BEFORE I had kids. Like I am ever going to fit into those again! Maybe I will freecycle them....okay, maybe not!

For muffin Monday, we had a little surprise. My old neighbor Brandt at Wait4thenews was passing through town on her way to Maine. She and my other neighbor A were the happy receipents of our muffins the entire time we made them in Texas.

**above pic is from Williams-Sonoma ***

My mother-in-law sent us this adorable acorn cakelet pan. With a little cream cheese frosting you can join two halves to make a three dimensional acorn. She was here while the second batch came out of the oven.

Acorn Cakelets

For the cakelets:

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour (we use 1c whole wheat, 1/4 c all purpose)

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/4 t. ground ginger

1/8 t. ground cloves

1/2 c milk

3/4 t. vanilla extract

8 T (one stick) unsalted butter

1/2 c maple sugar (we used brown sugar)

1/4 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs, lightly beaten

For the frosting to "glue" them together:

2T. unsalted butter

2 oz cream cheese

3T maple sugar

1 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar

For the glaze

1/4 c granulated sugar

1/4 c. maple syrup

1T water

1T bourbon

Coarse raw sugar for decorating

*Have all the ingredients at room temperature.

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour the acorn cakelet pan (I used Pam and flour), tap out excess flour.

*Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl: flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, finger and cloves, set aside.

*In an small bowl, whisk together the milk and vanilla. Set aside.

*In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the maple sugar and granulated sugar and continue beating until light and fluffy (3-5 min). Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

*Alternate adding flour and milk mixture to butter mixture, until all combined.

*Spoon 1T. ( I use a tiny ice cream scoop) into each well of the prepared pan. Bake about 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the cakelets cool in the pan for 15 minutes.

Using a serrated knife, gently saw off any portion of the cakelet that rose above the edge of the pan. Tap the pan gently on the work surface to loosen the cakelet. Place a wire rack over the top of the pan, invert the pan onto the rack and lift off the pan. Repeat for any remaining batter. Any wells that aren't filled with batter, I always add a bit of water in them. It helps the other cakelets to cook evenly. (PS, Brandt told me to add that!)

To assemble the cakelets, spread about 1/2 t. frosting in between two cakelets. Plate and share with a friend...

**Note, despite living very near the Bourbon Trail, I did not make the bourbon glaze. I didn't even sprinkle them with the sugar. Since children would be consuming these, it didn't make sense. Also this is a dry county!

These were really good!

Weekend Update

We had a great fall weekend. Saturday morning I was unloading all the junk from the back of my car so I could load with a more junk from my errands. As I was stacking the soccer chairs, Husband made a comment about being a soccer mom.......ooops.....SOCCER! Will had his final soccer game that morning. After a quick glance at the clock, we realized we had 45 minutes to get over there. The kids were still in jammies. (It was going to be a jammie day after all.) While Husband showered, I loaded the soccer stuff back in the car. I filled water bottles and got the kids dressed. Whew hoo, we made it.

During the game, he scored a goal. He was so cute. He glanced at us on the sidelines and did a little snap. The he pointed at us with the biggest grin on his face. It is a wonder these shots turned out, I was laughing so hard.

Once the game was over, he got a trophy. He has been carrying that thing around all weekend. He wanted to sleep with it, but I was afraid he would poke his eye out!

That afternoon we carved pumpkins. Each of the kids drew a face on a piece of paper. Husband did the carving. I just can't imagine letting a 4 and 5 year old use a knife. I did the cute little flower one. It is one of the few times I use a drill.

Now, I am toasting the seeds....pepitas if you call them that. A little olive oil, a little salt....bake at 250 degrees for an hour or so. Yummy! I have seen a couple of recipes that made sweet ones with cinnamon and sugar. I have never had them that way. I did save a few to try that way though.

Overall, the weekend was great...I even got to sleep late today. That is a great weekend!

Happy Sunday, y'all!

Friday FIll In.....

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet

1. Right now, I'm feeling tired, it has been a wet rainy day all day.

2. Snuggled in bed is where I want to be.

3. How does one keep the house clean with an upstairs and downstairs? I am still struggling with this three months later.

4. My calendar and control journal keeps me on track.

5. Please don't burp at the table....what is with five year old boys and burping?.

6. My kids, my family, my home fills me with joy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the family, tomorrow my plans include carving pumpkins, toasting pumpkin seeds, drinking hot cocoa and Sunday, I want to sleep in of course!

Photostory Friday.....feeling blue about my berries

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

My last little bit of summer is gone. We spent so much time picking these blueberries. Grabbing a bucket, we would head out to the bushes. My father-in-law planted them when they first moved into their home. There are several varieties so they ripen at different times. I think Livi ate as many as she picked. You could tell when her little belly would get full, because then the bucket would start to get full!

We picked these blueberries while we shacked up with my in-laws while we were in transition from Texas to Kentucky. We have savored these for as long as we can. We made blueberry-yogurt muffins. Husband makes Livi blueberry pancakes every Sunday. We sprinkle them on cereal. But they are gone.....oh well. We now live close enough to go next summer and pick twice as many...no, wait...if two gallon baggies only lasted three months, then I will need 8 bags. Dang, that is a lot of picking! But so worth it to have fresh berries all year long.

**the baggies were only half full....so technically it was only a gallon***

Happy Thursday, y'all. So what is your favorite thing to make with blueberries?

Happiness is.......

This week Carmi at Written Inc had the theme of happy for his Thematic Photographic.



Happy to me has so many meanings.....for today this is what it means:

I would like to think I am raising (or is it rearing.....you raise crops, rear children?? I swear I have heard that somewhere??) Anyhow...I do hope the kids are growing up happy.

Happiness is being able to ease that worried little look on Will's face. Husband is gone TDY (military speak for Temporary Duty...meaning he is gone away from us for the time being). We made another days paper chain for this week. It is much easier when it is just a few days rather than fifteen months. But when Will wakes in the morning his daddy will be home! That is happiness for this little boy!

Happiness is seeing Livi finally get off the couch and take more than three steps. After one visit to the doctor, two x-rays, three days on the couch, and countless times she watched the new "Sleeping Beauty", she can put some pressure on it. PS, happiness is eating muffin batter. Happiness is staying in your pjs all day. Both kids love a good PJ day!

Happiness can be fairly shallow things as well.....like a pair of corduroy mustard yellow scoots with a little brown patent leather band. Yes, they make me happy every time I wear them.

So, just for today, I am happy that Will won't be worried about his daddy. I am happy Livi can walk and her foot isn't broken. Finally, I am happy I have some cute shoes that scream "Fall".

Happy Wednesday, what makes you happy?

Tassels, tassels, tassels

I loved my first tassel from The Tassel House so much that I had to get two more as well. I am a firm believer in the things that make a house a home are the little details. This black lamp was made by Federal prisoners in Kansas! They also made the Pottery Barn knock off iron wall art.

Anyhow, doesn't the lamp look oh so cute with a little tassel hanging off of it? It picks up the colors of the curtains as well as some in the rug. Just the right little detail if I do say so myself.

The pear one is going to hang on the hutch during the holiday season. It has the same colors as my Christmas decorations.

Best thing about these tassels is she gave me free shipping! Whew hoo!

Happy Tuesday, y'all

It has been a Manic Monday!

Yesterday Livi was running through the kitchen with just socks on her feet. Chasing balloons in socks and a tile floor don't mix. After wiping out and hearing a slight crack, Livi couldn't walk. Not only couldn't walk, but couldn't put pressure on her foot at all.


Thank goodness Grandpa was still here. He is a pediatrician. He looked at it and said it was either a sprain or a hairline fracture. We gave her some Motrin, took a wee little nap (I think I wanted the nap more than she needed it!) By the evening it still wasn't getting better. Livi loved being carried around as well.

I honestly thought she was just being the drama queen that she is and can be. But this morning, she still couldn't put any pressure on it. It is also a little swollen and bruised. OOpppss, start filling out my Mother of the Year application right now.

(Insert a little note here: Of course Husband left for a TDY this morning in the wee hours as well. TDY=Military speak for Temporary Duty.....meaning he is doing his job someone where other than KY for the time being....until Thur). So of course Husband isn't here to share the joys of taking our baby to the hospital for her first x-ray. What is it with husbands being gone and some minor emergency happening?? I swear it happens EVERY single solitary time!

But on the upside, I was so thankful I called for an appointment and got in first thing this morning. I dropped Will off at school. My in-laws stayed in town for a few more hours to get Will if I didn't get back in time. Of course I didn't, so he got picked up in the big ol' honkin' motor home. You know he loved that!

Four hours later, we are home. It only looks like a bad sprain for now. She is not too happy about skipping gymnastics....but what can she do but roll down the incline mats! So we will head over with her Leapster while Will does his class.

So for a few more days, she will continue to be carried and toted from room to room and be treated like the true princess that she is......happy Monday y'all!

is hosted by Fleur de Lisa

How long does it take you to get out of bed in the morning? Depends if I wash my hair or not...I only wash it every other day. Washing days...40-45 minutes. Non-washing days...20. I lay my clothes out the night before. I do the same routine in the same order every single day!

ps, totally read this wrong.....get out of bed....if a kid hasn't gotten up at least once in the middle of the night, I get right up. Otherwise, my name is Tommie, I am a snooze-button hitter. But just once!

Do you usually sleep on one side of the bed or another? Always the side closest to the bathroom...always have, always will.

Something you wish to accomplish before the end of the year: get caught up on Livi's baby book....yes, it is still not done and she is four!

Weekend Update

Hard to believe my baby girl is four! We had a small party with just our family, grandparents, and aunt M and her family. We did invite a few neighbor kids as well. Just enough to have a little fun.

We have used Laura at WeddingCookie.com for Will's dinosaur cookie and Livi's princess cookies last year. I emailed her a copy of the invitation. Then she does some frosting magic! The princess dress looked exactly like the invitation. She even puts a pretty little bow at the top. I tie a balloon to these and use them as party favors. Much easier than finding a bunch of crap to go into a party favor bag. She does an amazing job. We even ordered enough to share with her preschool class.

She received a couple of the Disney princess polly-pocket sized dolls.....I guess my Polly Pocket sized world is getting bigger!

Overall, it was a great time and a fun weekend. While things get hectic with ten people in the house, I do have to remind myself: It is so far and few times in between that we get to see family, that it is going to be crazy. Get over it and let the kids enjoy being around their grandparents and cousins.

I can go back to my simple little life until the next holiday....well, the next next holiday.

Happy weekend, y'all!

Photohunt: family

The kids are so ex-cite-tic (Livi speak for excited) to have Grandma and Grandpa here this weekend for her birthday. Husband arranged to have the day off....so we headed over to the pumpkin patch.

This is a little local patch. The kids' preschool went there on Wed. I didn't want to make the kids stray from their class to get pics, so I knew I wanted to come back.

Livi found this little baby pumpkin ....just a peek into her jibber jabber: "Oh, little orange punkin you are the cutest sweetest little thing. You won't be a decoration, no sirreee, you will sit right here and I will show you love. Love...what is love? Love is not having to be a punkin muffin, Love is just sitting here and being cute!" Yes, she is only four...kind of scary how much she talks...and the rambling she does!

Will headed straight for the hale bale maze. He would try to confuse himself and go ways that didn't make sense. When Grandpa tried to move a bale, he was like, "uuuggghhhh, Grandpa it doesn't go there!" Just a little note: it was maybe 60ish degrees when we left the house this morning....when Will puts on his hat. In Will-world....if you put on the hat when you leave the house.....it stays on the entire time. EVEN if it gets up to warmer temps....

This is my little family trip to the punkin patch....happy hunting y'all!

If you’d like to play, here’s TNChick’s link!

Next week: scary

Friday fill in

1. Follow the map and you won't get lost.

2. Sunscreen and my wine opener is something I always take with me on vacation.

3. To achieve your goals, you must put your heart into it and you will succeed.

4. I really am friendly is something I'd like you to know about me.

5. I have a desire to be a better photographer.

6. Fat floats.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to wrapping presents, tomorrow my plans include Livi's 4th birthday party and Sunday, I want to spend time with Husband's parents and sister's family before they have to leave.

This is the first time we have lived a day's drivable distance to his family. So to be able to celebrate a birthday is fun! Thanks Aunt M, Tio and cousins M and E, Grandpa and Grandma,....we are so glad you can be here to celebrate with us!

Just a little peek into our day today....will post the rest of the "family" pics tomorrow!

Happy Friday y'all

Photostory Friday- have a little cupcake

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Happy Birthday to my little princess. When I asked her what she wanted for her birthday, all she said was chocolate cake. We usually make this as a bundt cake, but we had them as cupcakes at my surprise party this summer. This has been a favorite of our family for as long as we have been married.

Trust me, this is a cupcake you want to know. It is a chocolate chocolate chip cupcake.



1 box devil's food cake mix

1 box of large pudding (the cook and serve kind)

1 cup sour cream

4 eggs

1/2 c. oil

1/2 c. water

12 oz. chocolate chips

Mix all until thoroughly mixed. Just stir in the powder of the pudding mix (don't prepare it like the box says). Add in the chocolate chips after everything is mixed. For a cake, bake at 350 degrees for one hour. I made these as big muffins and it took almost 35 minutes. Mini muffins only take ten minutes.

edited to add: the cream cheese frosting is simple: one brick of softened cream cheese, a splash of milk (probably 2T or so)....then just keep adding powdered sugar until stiff enough to pipe through a bag. I used probably 2 1/2 c. , but could have used more. Mine was a little soft. Mix until combined. To pipe it on the top, I put it in a ziplock bag. Snip off the corner. Pipe in concentric circles on the top. Enjoy!

Hey hey, back away from the cupcakes. I am still trying to get a good shot! Boy, yeah, you...get your little mitts away from my princess sprinkles.

PS, why is it every time I say bundt I think of My Big Fat Greek Wedding? I love that movie!

Thematic Photographic- blur

This week Carmi at Written Inc had the theme of blur for his Thematic Photographic. Now this is my kind of theme. With two kids under five, 75% of my shots are blurry! I even have a set in my Flickr called "Learning to love the blur".



This one of Livi was taken during her second haircut. The first one was almost 18 months ago! But the words Livi and haircut just scream blur. I took her when I thought she could be fairly still. The stylist was very patient with her, she even let her hold the dryer a bit. But yeah, Livi and blur go hand in hand!

Soccer lends itself to some great blur. In this shot of Will can you read his lips?? He is saying, "SCORE!"....With one game left, he is finally getting the hang of it. Oh well, I do think soccer will be in our future for many many years!

Loved this photo challenge...now if only he could have one called "over exposed"!

six things....though I could go on for more!

I was tagged for this recently by whom....I cannot remember! Oops...note to self: make note on draft before I save it!

1. I like my coffee semi-warm, definitely not hot-but not cool either. As you can see I like it with as much creamer as coffee. Pumpkin Spice is my latest favorite flavor.

2. I never skipped school when I was in high school. My mom worked (and still works) at the high school I went to....I was too scared to even try it!

3. I will Freecycle things at the drop of a hat. When deciding if I want to offer it, I decide if it would be worth the amount of gas it might take to drive over here. If it doesn't rate, it goes into a box in the garage. I drop that box off at Goodwill on Thursdays when I go run errands with Livi.

4. I have a scar on my ankle shaped like the Nike swoosh. I cut it on a soda bottle when I was in junior high. Besides surgery, they are the only stitches I have ever had.

5. I have used an outdoor potty at the Arctic Circle. I had to trek through thigh high snow to get to it. This was in April even!
PS....this is up by the sign. The outdoor potty is to the right in this picture. The snow had blown huge snowbanks in front of it. Yes, this is a picture of a picture...way too lazy to get it out of the frame and scan it.

6. Husband and I drove from Oklahoma to Fairbanks, Alaska along the Alaska Canada Highway in November 98. It took us almost 10 days. It was almost 3800 miles. We had Josie and a cat, named Chance.

If you need some worthless blog fodder, consider yourself tagged. Just list 6 wacky things.

Happy Thursday!