Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies

Did you know that Saturday was National Pumpkin Day?

We celebrated by taking the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.

It was the Little Pumpkins first time!

Even though it was chilly, my Big Pumpkins had fun too!

 In honor of National Pumpkin Day I'm going to share with you my new FAVORITE pumpkin recipe.

These blondies are very easy to make, but I guarantee it's more fun with little helping hands!

 (I love the perfectly placed chocolate chips!)

These are as good as they sound, look and smell! They are super moist and the perfect dessert or snack.



Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies
{from Carmel Potatoes}

What You'll Need:

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 1/4 cup chocolate chips, divided

Here's How:

Preheat oven to 350*. Line bottom and sides of a 9x13 baking pan with foil. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt. 

In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture will look curdled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in 1 cup of the chocolate chips.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips over the batter.  Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool completely in pan.

Lift the blondies out of the pan and peel off the foil. Cut into squares and devour!

Not Too Late For Fall Wreath

I received an email the other day with the title: 

"Not too late for fall"

Well THANK GOODNESS!

I put out my few fall decorations (inside my house) yesterday. 

{Better late than never!}

My mums, 

that have been sitting in the garage waiting to be planted for almost a month, 

on the other hand...

it is too late for them!

So... I'll stick with artificial flowers this fall!

I recently got a special visit from my oldest friend. 

Not that she is old, but I've known her my entire life. 

We are alike and different in the perfect combination.... when we see each other, even after months of being apart, we can pick up our friendship like we just hung out the day before. 

She's one of my bestest friends and extra special to me because were are family. 

Here we are this summer, holding each others' 3rd baby...

We decided to get crafty when she visited a couple weeks ago.
We pinned fall wreaths like crazy and came up with a combo that we liked.

To start, we took a trip to Hobby Lobby to purchase grape vine wreaths, burlap and flowers.

We started by bunching the burlap roll into little sections and secured with floral wire.

Then we placed the burlap onto the wreath to get an idea of how we wanted the burlap to lay...

When we liked how it looked, we attached it to the wreath with the same wire....

Next came the flowers {attached using hot glue}.

To make the bow, we used this technique:

VERY simple and easy. You can follow these instructions as well.

Then we came to a stopping point. Or at least, I did. My original idea was to add my last initial but the one I purchased was too big.

My cousin's initial was the perfect size.
After spray painting it with chalk board paint, it was the PERFECT addition to her wreath.
It will be so easy to change her 'Welcome' wreath to a 'Thank You' wreath or a 'Happy Birthday' wreath... the possibilities are endless!

I finished my fall wreath with a chevron burlap bow (made the same way as the one above) and a small burlap bunting that I painted with the letters F-A-L-L.

And meanwhile, in the living room....

{love time with family}

Happy FALL y'all!

Happy 4 Months Tagg

Yesterday marked 4 months of having our new baby Tagg.

{may 10, 2013}

I cannot tell you enough what a fun, sweet, cuddly baby he is!

{may 25}

If you're like me, every time we add another child to the family, you wonder how the family dynamic and your schedules will change. 

{july 28}

Sure, adding a third has definitely made life busier, but Tagg is the PERFECT baby for us.

If I was given the ability to design my own children, I am certain, 100%, that I would not be able to design them more perfect!

(Everything from that intoxicating baby head smell down to his clammy little tootsies!)

{june 17}

Everyday I marvel at God's grace. His love overwhelms me and I am so thankful for this little bundle of joy....

{may 20}

THE FIRST MONTH:

We just love those sweet cheeks.

{may 24}

Lots of naps. Adjusting to a new baby in the house is tiring!

{may 31}

Lots of snuggles. Tagg gets the award for my 'most snugly baby'.

{june 2}

HAPPY ONE MONTH:

Proud BIG Sister!

{june 13}

{june 20}

First long trip in the car. He was an angel, of course, and loved to stretch when we stopped to get him out of his car seat.

{july 7} 

HAPPY TWO MONTHS:

Every mom dreads the two month doctor visit...

Tagg cried. Reese cried. Mommy cried.

{july 15}

First diaper change from Big Sis!

{july 17}

LOVES to be wrapped tight for naps.

{july 24}

Such a happy boy in the bath! 

There's just something about how a baby smells fresh out of the bath.

{july 25}

HAPPY THREE MONTHS:

It's a rough life y'all!

Continuing his nighttime ritual of falling asleep on Daddy....

{august 14}

Reese is off to school. We sure do miss her smile around here during the day!

{august 18}

He loves his play mat and toys and I love his peacock hair!

{august 19}

I have a couple of couch potatoes on my hands thanks to Disney Junior!

{august 20}

I got to use my Moby Wrap several times and we both love it. Worth the investment- just remember, practice makes you better!

{august 22}

First cereal...not a fan.

{august 25}

Bath time, on the other hand, is still a thrill.
Can't you just hear the scream through the picture???

{september 4}

Not sure how I deserve these three....

{september 6}

Baby Dedication Sunday....  

{september 7}

HAPPY FOUR MONTHS TAGG!

{we can't wait to see what this month holds!}