Happy Halloween!

We are all ready for Halloween around here. We had a family pumpkin carving contest yesterday...Michael and Clyde vs. Alyson and Camille. We used the same stencils we used last year. I would say Michael and Clyde  are the clear winners  with their pirate pumpkin! Ours is a  kitty cat...it is hard to tell.

Excuse the leaves...Guess I should get to those before the trick or treaters come! ;)

Another busy weekend. Saturday morning, I was up early for my HandsOn Day service project with Target at Southside Child Development Center. We had an amazing group of close to 100 Target employees who came out in the cold and rain to beautify and make improvements to the center. We made a sandbox cover, landscaped and spread playground mulch in addition to sanitizing the classrooms, washing windows and repairing and hanging new shelving. It was a great morning!

Later that night, Michael and I had our 15 year high school reunion...for those that don't know, we are high school sweethearts. :) My friend, Melissa and I, planned the event which was held at Europa. It was lots of fun catching up with everyone.

Here I am with Melissa.

I am feeling tired today. ;) I have planned our menu but haven't done my grocery shopping yet. Tonight, Michael is making italian sausage spaghetti with ingredients we have on hand.

Here goes....

Monday - Happy Halloween!

Tuesday - Chicken Pot Roast with Sassy Salsa

Wednesday - Meatball Sub with French Fries & Salad

Thursday - Skinny Chicken Enchiladas

Friday - Chicken Pizza with Homemade Pizza Dough

Toddler Activity Exchange

Last week, I attended a toddler activity exchange organized by my friend, Kristen, and based on the exchange found in this post. It was lots of fun and I came home with 19 new activities for Camille & Clyde.

We had to make 21 kits and I decided on an i-spy kit. Well after sewing about 14 of these pillow like bags, I have to say I was sorta over it and keep having to give myself pep talks to complete. Here is a quick review of my project....

I don't have a good picture of this but I sewed clear plastic to this fabric square. Then attached the two fabric pieces like I would a pillow leaving a little opening to put in the rice.

These items went in the ispy bag and then I printed this picture and included it with each kit.

Finished Product

All 21! Finally done. ;)

It was a fun experience getting to know some new moms. And we came home with some great kits that Camille and Clyde have really enjoyed playing with.

Apple Pie!

We did it! After our trip to the apple orchard last Saturday, Camille and I decided we would make an apple pie. It was my first attempt at a pie and I think it turned out fabulous. I used Mark Bittman's apple pie recipe from How to Cook Everything. I cheated and used a store bought pie crust.

Here is our experience in pictures....

Weekend Recap & Menu Planner

Phew! Where did Saturday go? Michael left for Blackburg to see the Hokies play at 8 am yesterday and Camille, Clyde and I hopped in the car shortly after and dined on donut at Martins, then headed to Carter Mountain Orchard in Charlottesville. I thought a few times..."am I completely crazy to take a 2 and 4 year old on a road trip to an apple orchard by myself?". I guess not because it went really well. We had a lot of fun with C & C being very well behaved. We went on a hayride, picked a bunch of pink lady apples and ate apple donuts (yes...our 2nd donuts of the day...no judging).

We made it home in time for Clyde to get a quick nap, then we were off to my nephew, Winters, 3rd Birthday. More sugar was in store with cupcakes and a pinata!

The birthday boy in his fireman costume which he wore the whole time!

Cute cupcakes with toppers from etsy.com

Yum! More sugar!

And now to the pinata that would not break!

Here it is...cute firetruck pinata!

Birthday boy takes the first shot!

Clyde gets in on the action.

Now after every other child swings at it 2 or 3 times, Kate tries to break it open.

No luck. Now tries Ross!

Finally...it starting to break and we pulled it open and candy fell! Yes...more sugar.

Today, we have trick or treating at my grandmother's retirement community. Maybe, I should re-name this post, Sugar Weekend! And I am taking a barre fitness class. This my 3rd one and I am really enjoying it.

Here is this week's menu planner....

Sunday - Steaks with Goat Cheese & Red Pepper Sauce, Asparagus, Twice Baked Potatoes

Monday - Family Night at C & C's school and then Slow Cooker Chicken Gumbo

Tuesday - Mom's night out

Wednesday - Soft Taco's with Pineapple Sauce (I am going to use leftover pork shoulder that I have in the freezer for this instead of the beef)

Thursday - Over Chicken Risotto

Oh and Camille and I are going to try to make apple pie this week. So I will let you know how that goes.

Thursdays Tips & Tricks!

My friend, Ashley, recently asked me to post some of my favorite on-line retailers. But I was not sure I had enough to make a very full post. So I decided to post some of the deals and steals I have found lately.

CUTE KIDS CLIPS
We all love etsy.com and I discovered Crowe's Nest last spring. They have the cutest hair clips and so reasonable...most are under $4.

VINTAGE JEWELRY
I just discovered Silver Lining Decor on etsy.com. The owner is local to Richmond and has the neatest vintage jewelry. I purchased some great studs for $14 that I have been wearing almost daily.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS
Christmas is just around the corner and I found these Dollar Tree ornaments this week.

BOYS POLO SHIRTS
I have been having a hard time find plain polo shirts for Clyde. After an extensive google search, I found these at jcpenney.com. Use code RMNAFF10 for an extra 10% off.  They are good quality and I took them to Atlantic Embroidery Works for a $5 monogram. I purchased white, red, light blue and yellow. The yellow looks tan in the picture but it is a very soft yellow color. I am really happy with them.

LIBRARY
I don't know about you all but I get tired of reading the same books to my kids over and over again. We have gotten really into the library and go about every 2 weeks for new books and movies. Scholastic makes a bunch of great DVDs that have their book narrated by famous voices. I have also been searching on-line for decorating books then requesting the library hold them for me. They e-mail me when they are in and are waiting up front for me. So easy!  I need to do this with cookbooks for some new recipe inspiration.

Alice turns 1!

My sweet niece, Alice, turned one last week and her party was over the weekend. My sister, Anne Hunter, is an interior designer with a great sense of style so the decorations were too cute!

The theme was scarecrows. Here is the invitation that we received in the mail. Invite source is Libbie & Winston. She is local to Richmond but can ship anywhere.

On the big day, two scarecrows greeted us at the front door.

Here is the sleepy party girl watching her guest arrive. It is hard to nap with all the excitement of a first birthday bash.

The menu was chili & sour cream corn muffins with a few apps to get us started.

More scarcrows in the dining room.

Cake table display with rice krispie treats made in pumpkin shapes and chex mix in bags for favors.

Oh and I can't forget the scarecrow cake based on the invitiation. It was so cute and delicious.

The smash cake was a pumpkin!

Outside more harvest decorations....

Tables with mum centerpieces and burlap covers.

Scarecrow shirt is also from Libbie & Winston.

Here she goes...this girl is a good eater so there was no doubt she would like the cake!

My dad gave my niece, Vail, a Cozy Coupe when she turned 1. So my grandmother, continued the tradition and gave Camille & Alice coupes on their first birthdays. Here is Alice in hers...

Cute family all dressed in green!