Friends...even 9 hours away,

Do you have those people in your life who you can't imagine not knowing them??? Think about it...how many people came into your life and now you don't know what you would do if you hadn't met them! When I was dating my ex I got to meet quite a few amazing people who I love to death. Even though the situation with him ended badly, I am still thankful for most of what went on. ESPECIALLY meeting Mrs. Danielle! :) Honestly, she is one of a kind! I can't tell you how many times I've whined, complained, vented, laughed, joked, and obsessed about Twilight with her. She is just one of those people I have clicked with. I haven't known her longer than 6 months, but I feel like we've been friends out entire lives. I hate that she lives in 9 hours away, but that's ok... And even though we don't get to talk all the time, I know if I ever needed her she would be there to listen in a minute (and I hope she knows that I would do the same for her :)). So Danielle, you are awesome! Oh and check out her blog...she's an incredible blogger! :)

Some Pumpkin recipes for your enjoyment :)

Yesterday I made quite the fall meal! A roast in the crock pot, pumpkin mac & cheese (yes you read that right), creamed corn, and pumpkin, bacon, carmelized onion muffins. Now, before you say eww or gross to any of these, let me tell you about them!!! Oh and I made homemade pumpkin puree, which is waht I used in these recipes.

The Pumpkin Mac & Cheese was a recipe I found off of Food Gawkers. It looked so good and Murray loves mac & cheese so much I just had to try it!! The recipe came from THIS blog. Lauren is the name of the girl at this blog and she has some great recipes. Her recipe called for nutmeg and cayenne pepper, but I can't stand nutmeg and I didn't want the pepper so Murray could eat it. I added cinnamon instead, and it was amazing. Here is my slightly altered version of her recipe that I used:

8oz penne (or whatever you prefer) pasta, cooked according to box
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup whole milk
2 oz cream cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
3/4 cup colby jack cheese
a few dashes of cinnamon

-Whisk together milk and pumpkin over medium heat.
-Add in cheese and whisk until all melted. reduce heat to low.
-Stir in cinnamon until mixed.
-Add pasta, stir. Let stand if not thick enough. Serve and enjoy! :)

Now for the muffins, oh man. They were delicious! It smelled so good cooking! They came from THIS blog. Now, it's in French and it has a translator on the site. BUT, just to make to make it easy on you, I'll post the recipe right here! :)

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp dried thyme ( I omitted this)
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• Pinch of salt
• 2 medium onions, chopped (I used half on one, but it could have used more)
• 1 tsp tablespoons butter
• 3 slices bacon, chopped
• ⅔ cup milk
• 1 tsp table vinegar
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• 1 cup pumpkin
• Pumpkin seeds 'sweet' n spicy "(optional)

In a small bowl, pour the milk and vinegar and let stand for at least 30 minutes, set aside.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and herbs and set aside.
In a skillet, heat butter over medium heat and will break down the onion and bacon together, for about fifteen minutes.
Transfer into a large bowl.
Add the reserved milk curd, oil, maple syrup and pumpkin puree and mix well.
Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until moistened (do not overmix!).
Complete all 12 holes of a muffin pan lined with boxes of previously paper or lightly buttered, this unit each muffin and sprinkle a few pumpkin seeds 'sweet' n spicy "if desired.
Bake on center rack at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean.
* Makes a dozen large muffins.

And today, I made Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with a cream cheese icing, but they are from an old Betty crocker recipe book so I'll have to type it out when I get a chance! Enjoy!!!! :)

My first award!

I got my first blog award!

 Thank you to Liz at Chalkboards to Strollers! You are too sweet!

On to the rules for accepting this award...

1. Accept the award. Post it on your blog with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pay it forward to 5 other bloggers that you have newly discovered.

3. Contact those blog owners and let them know they've been chosen.
Here we go!
1) http://kiser-danielle.blogspot.com/
2) http://averyfan.blogspot.com/
3) http://soldierslady.blogspot.com/
4) http://www.courtneykirkland.com/
5) http://talesfromasailorssoulmate.blogspot.com/

Go check out these awesome ladies!!!!

Thursday 5!

Thankful

Giddy

Happy

Excited

Adored

All you need to do now is come up with five things that have made you feel these words in the past week, then post about it, make sure include the button, then go back to Mrs. Gambizzle's blog and link up with the linky at the bototm of this post so everyone can share! Happy Thursday everyone!

1. Starting tomorrow I am officially not working Friday nights any more! Yippee! This is a major reason to celebrate!! I have been working Friday nights FOREVER now and I am so glad to go to Monday and Tuesday nights!

2. Murrat and I made sugar cookies this week and had so much fun. She loved to lick the icing... I wonder where she gets that from? :)

3. I saw a picture of Dave Barnes' new Christmas album cover and I am stoked!!! Dave Barnes and Christmas music??? Yes, please!

4. I am thankful Paypal refunded the money that someone spent when my account got hacked this week.

5. I am super duper excited that the Gamecocks kicked Georgia's booty last weekend! We're #13 now! Woot Woot!

Now, it's your turn. What are you 5?

30 Day Journal- Day 25

Day 1 - Your Favorite Song
Day 2 - Your Favorite Movie
Day 3 - Your Favorite Television Program
Day 4 - Your Favorite Book
Day 5 - Your Favorite Quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - A photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - A photo you took
Day 10 - A photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - A photo of you recently
Day 12 - Something you are OCD about
Day 13 - A fictional book
Day 14 - A non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - An art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - My wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - A talent of yours
Day 20 - A hobby of yours
Day 21 - A recipe
Day 22 - A website
Day 23 - A YouTube video
Day 24 - Where I live
Day 25 - Your day, in great detail
Day 26 - Your week, in great detail
Day 27 - My worst habit
Day 28 - Whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - Hopes,Dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - A dream for the future

Because I know you all are soooo interested in what I did ALL day yesterday, I'll tell you :). Murray got me up around 7:30, so we played for a little bit and watched some Playhouse Disney. I made her french toast for breakfast. I FINALLY got it right! It was my third attempt at making it. I don't know why I had such trouble with it! She was so funny when she was watching me fix it. I was pouring a little syrup on the toast and she started saying "Mmmmmmm"! Haha. We came back to the bungalow and played for a while. I attempted to get her to nap and she refused, so again we played more :). Lunch time came and I fixed Mummy Dogs! They are so cute! It's hot dogs that are wrapped in crescent roll strips to look like mummy's.

 

I know you can't see it too well because I took the picture with my phone, but it gives you an idea! Anyways, moving on. After lunch I convinced her to take a nap! I took a shower and did my makeup. After her nap I got her ready and we went to my grandparents. She played there for a while. I went to work later that afternoon and was there until like 10:15 or so. I came home, ate chicken salad, and went to bed! Interesting day, right/ :)

Hit me...

with your favorite cupcake and brownie recipes!!! I've been in a baking mood and I am in need of some new creative recipes!!!! In fact, you can post your favorite recipes of any kind!!! I just want some new things to try! :) Thanks!!!

30 Day Journal- Day 1

Ok so there is this blog I follow and I LOVE her! It's a daily read and I'm always looking forward to what she has to blog about: Miss JLA I noticed she started a 30 day journal and I have decided to follow along!

Day 1 - Your Favorite Song
Day 2 - Your Favorite Movie
Day 3 - Your Favorite Television Program
Day 4 - Your Favorite Book
Day 5 - Your Favorite Quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - A photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - A photo you took
Day 10 - A photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - A photo of you recently
Day 12 - Something you are OCD about
Day 13 - A fictional book
Day 14 - A non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - An art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - My wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - A talent of yours
Day 20 - A hobby of yours
Day 21 - A recipe
Day 22 - A website
Day 23 - A YouTube video
Day 24 - Where I live
Day 25 - Your day, in great detail
Day 26 - Your week, in great detail
Day 27 - My worst habit
Day 28 - Whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - Hopes,Dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - A dream for the future

 

 

Ok, so if you know me you know how indecisive I can be... about everything! So I guess I am going to have to post my top 3 favorite songs of the moment. These probably aren't my all-time favorites, but I have too many to decide :)

 

1. Dave Barnes- Nothing Fancy. I love Dave Barnes. If you haven't heard him, GO CHECK HIM OUT! He's fabulous and so funny! I can't wait until Sept. 5 when I get to go see him in concert again :).

 

2. Carrie Underwood- Undo it.  Obvious reasons? :)



3. Jimmy Needham- Hurricane. I love this guy's music.



Ok, so that's all for my first day of the 30 Day Journal! Hope you all enjoy :)

<3bri

Nothing to report...

so no exciting blogging going on. I'm off all week though, which is awesome! My beautiful friend Sarah gets married on Saturday!!! Her bachelorette party is Thursday night!! WOOT WOOT! It's going to be so fun!! Friday we have the bridal luncheon and the rehearsal, then Saturday is the BIG DAY! It's going to be so great! The only sad part is that she is leaving us :(. Yes, she's been in school in Virginia, but now she's going to be married and living up there!!! 3 goodbyes in one week is NOT FUN!  My friend Ashley is leaving for California on Sunday and we met up for coffee earlier today. Even though we haven't got to hang out in a while, it's still hard to say goodbye to someone you've been friends with for years. The other goodbye was bittersweet.

I forgot to participate in Tuesday 3 with Miss JLA yesterday, but please go check her out! Her blog is alot of fun and she's super sweet! :)

Sorry for no new pictures lately!! I can't get my memeory card to work on my computer... :( Boo! I probably won't get any more posts on here this week, so next week be ready for wedding pictures and posts galore :)

Thursday 5!

I was really sad when MannLand5 decided she wasn't hosting Thursday 5 anymore, but luckily one of my other favorite blogs decided to host it! So if you want to play all you have to do is post 5 things that make you
All you have to do is list five things that have made you

Happy

Joyful

Appreciative

Giggly

or

Excited

and then go back to Mrs. Gambizzle's  blog and link up! Here's my 5... what's yours?

1. I am happy because fall is going to be here soon!! I love cooler weather, not this ridiculously hot stuff we have right now.
 

2. I'm joyful because I have the most amazing daughter in the world. Currently she's dancing... typical. 

3. I am appreciative of the amazing family and friends that I have. Even when I am grumpy they still love me!!

4. I'm giggly because I found this picture of Jackson Rathbone :)

5. I am excited for all the fun things next week for Sarah's wedding! Bachelorette, bridal lunch, rehearsal, WEDDING!!! YAY! :)

Old friends and cupcakes!

Sorry for no posts the past couple days... Murray had a fever and I didn't take time to post since I was tending to my baby. She seems to be feeling better now, not that she really acted like she felt bad in the first place. So besides from playing with her I haven't done too much. Oh yeah, except make awesome cupcakes on Thursday! They were so yummy, especially the icing! I really wanted to just lick the whole bowl!!!!

Yes, they are Chocolate Peanut Butter cupcakes, complete with Reese's on top! YUMMO!!!!! This is yet another recipe I got from Joy the Baker's website. She's amazing! You really should check her out!!

Tonight I get to go see an old friend get married... Am I really old enough to say old friend??? WAHHH! Hard to believe! But still exciting at the same time! After the wedding I am off to a Pampered Chef party with some yummy things to try and awesome stuff to buy (and yes, I know that rhymes!). Sleepover with the girls (Nicole, Sarah, Tammi, Tammy, Mom, Emily, and Murray!) after that, so it's going to be a long night, but super fun!

<3 bri

oh shoutout to Whispering Writer. Funniest blog you will ever read!!!!! Check her out!