Pilgrim Pumpkin Pie

I made my very first pumpkin pie last night. It actually turned out very good. I should have never doubted The Good Housekeeping Cookbook. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 pie crust
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (my own little addition to the recipe)

• Prepare pie crust in dish as directed.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In large bowl, with wire whisk, mix all ingredients until well combined.
• Carefully pour pumpkin filling into pie crust.
• Bake until knife inserted 1 inch from edge comes out clean, about 50 minutes.
• Cook on wire rack at least 1 hour before cutting.
• Serve with whipped cream.

Here, try a bite!

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Away in a manger

I think I may have a compulsive disorder. I simply HAD to finish these today!

Closer picture of the Three Wise Men.


Yeah, their crowns aren't even dry yet. I just had to take a picture to show you!

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Done!

In all honesty, I thought this advent calendar was going to take much longer to complete. But since it only took a few days to complete I suppose I will just have to hang it up on my mantel (quiet little squeals of joy). I'm now patiently (not really) waiting for Joseph and Mary to start their journey on December 1st.

Here's what I used:

• Wooden gift tags (sets of 4 found at Michael's)
• Thin Popsicle sticks
• Wooden disks
• Wooden star (glitter optional)
  
• Stiff felt (found in kid's craft aisle)
• Wood glue
• Black spray paint (matte finish)
• Oil pastels (could also use paint, I just had these on hand)
• Self-adhesive magnet strips
• White puffy paint
  
• Twine
  

Here's how I made it:

I lined up the wooden gift tags with their holes at the top (the wooden disks will hide them) and then glued Popsicle sticks on the back to hold them all together. I glued about 4 sticks on the back of each row (see inset picture). I let it dry completely before flipping the rows over and gluing the wooden disks over each tag hole. Then I spray painted it all black. I then penciled all the numbers in because I know I make mistakes. After making sure my numbers were correct I went over the pencil with white puffy paint. Next, I drew in windows and doors with the oil pastels and stuck on pieces of the magnets for each house. Then, on the top row of houses, I glued on a piece of twine with 2 loops; these loops are used to hang it. I then glued all the houses onto a piece of felt, making sure that the 2 twine loops were peeking out the top. I attached a Popsicle stick manger to the top row using 2 more Popsicle stick braces which I wrapped twine around to appear more rustic. Finally, another piece of twine was tied between the two loops so that I can hang it on my mantel.





To make Joseph, Mary, and Donkey:

This was tricky because of how small they are. I used two layers of felt for each figure, this makes them more sturdy. The bottom layer of felt for each figure was light tan. I simply cut out a hole for their faces which let the light tan show through. I used webbing to stick them together (something I had left over from my wreath craft).









Here's a closeup of the village. I drew cozy little windows and doors using oil pastels.















Mary and Joseph makin' their way up!











I can't wait till they are sitting up there in the manger. I'm probably going to make a different set for this scene, though... I'm thinking a whole manger scene including baby Jesus and the three wise men. Going to need more magnets! Pin It Now!

Fish-in-a-bag Soap

I love this! From Little Birdie Secrets, found via One Pretty Thing.
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Guess what I'm making

Here are some clues.... (Thank you Jaime at Chirpings of Little Bird for the inspiration!)





I'm very giddy about this project. I'll fill you in once it's complete! Pin It Now!

Melt in your mouth Pumpkin Bread

Get ready for a mouth watering, eyes rolling to the back of you head, involuntary "mmmm" experience. Yeah, it's that good.


Ingredients
3 cups sugar (hey, I never said it was good for you)
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1 1/2 teaspoon each ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves (I used less ginger and nutmeg)
2/3 cup water
2 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup finely chopped walnuts


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
   
2. Mix together sugar, oil, and eggs; beat until well mixed.
3. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add to the egg mixture alternately with water.
4. Stir in pumpkin and walnuts.
5. Pour into greased bread pans.
6. Bake about 1 hour for 9X5 pans and about 45 minutes for smaller pans (pictured).
   

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I'm Flip Flops, what shoe are you?

You Are Flip Flops

You are laid back and very friendly. Cheery and sunny in disposition, you usually have something to smile about. Style is important to you, as long as you can stay casual. It takes a lot to get you to dress up! You are a loyal and true person, though you can be a bit of a flake. You tend to "play hooky" and blow off responsibilities a lot more than most people. You should live: By the beach You should work: At a casual up and coming company

What Kind of Shoe Are You?

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Ornament Exchange

This is why I love holidays!

Go HERE to sign up, you know you want to.

Cut off date for sign up is November 12 and they need to be made and shipped by November 23.


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Falling for felt

Fall is technically taking place, I know that, but it sure doesn't feel like it here. After living most of my childhood in upstate New York, nestled in the sloping Appalachian mountains, I've become very accustomed to judging my time periods by the ever changing color of the trees. With the temperature edging around 80 all week in Texas, I have a feeling that I'm going to have to make my own change. Maybe I'll hang some of these lovely felt creations around the house.

Lovely felt leaf garland from Pam Garrison found via You Are My Fave.


Fall Berry Wreath from Martha.


A wreath that I made last Christmas using Martha's idea from above.

Felt Apple Tree found on Esty.
For some reason, I love this idea and might make one for my desk when I get my own classroom.
Although I would make one change... I would definitely put apple leaves on the tree instead of oak.

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Trick or treat

Treats! Oh, treats please!

Ghoulish Petits Fours

Little Devil

Monster Pops

But maybe a little trickery later... I'm going to keep my eyes open for dog and cat masks in the stores. How chic to go to a party as Holly and 'Fred'!

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Designer Kleenex boxes... hehehe

As if I need a new reason to go to Target, I find out that these adorable Kleenex boxes will be available there this season. Betz White, my favorite crafter, designed these for Kleenex and I am absolutely in love with them.... plus it helps that I'm just itching to put up my Christmas tree!





I am so going to be switching from Puffs to Kleenex this cold season! Pin It Now!

Shrimp Fajitas

Light, flavorful, and absolutely delicious! Made these last night for dinner from a recipe that I adapted from AllRecipes.

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  
• 1 red onion, sliced
  
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• Sour cream for topping
  

In a medium bowl, combine the Worcestershire, lime juice, soy sauce, and chile powder. Add the shrimp with a few onion slices and a little chopped cilantro, marinate in fridge for 30 to 60 minutes.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the bell pepper and onion for 10 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Remove from skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet heat remaining olive oil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until the shrimp are opaque. Combine the shrimp and the vegetables. Place shrimp and vegetable mixture in tortillas; sprinkle with the Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.




Finally, a use for these little guys! They are 1 tablespoon each.

Yum yum!

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Road Trip Anyone?

About 30 miles south of Amarillo lies the town of Happy. I think we should go there if only for nothing more than a photo of this sign.

Found via DanielleOctober

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Neighborhood Shenanigans

Pumpkins, lights strung between the trees, BBQ, and exotic animals.... who knew what a fun combination this could be?! Last night we went to TGR Exotics which is an amazing place just a few minutes away from our house in a surprisingly neighborhoody setting. Good times!

Such a cozy hometown feel and really good food!

Yes, that is correct, we rode a camel. All was going really well until.....

(You're going to want to click on the pic below to zoom in on our faces!)

And down we go!!

There is no zoom going on in this picture. That is a Bengal tiger with only a chain link fence between us. And, yes, it is sucking its thumb. So cute!

It was a very good night with good friends.

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This is what teaching is all about: FUN

So I put my noggin to work last night and came up with a costume to wear to the Storybook Parade at school today.

These were my conditions:

1. Had to be a character from a book that I already owned.
2. Quick and relatively simple to make.
3. Use only materials that I had at my home.
4. And exciting for the kids.

Using all those conditions I quickly crossed off Doctor Suess characters because I have no feathers or funky wigs. No Chicken Little because I own no red babooshka. No Max because I have no wolf costume or crown... and definitely no Wild Thing for obvious reasons.

So it all came down to some green construction paper, a little ribbon, a brown sweater, sharpie markers, and an apple shaped stress ball (thank you Titi!). And Voila, I present to you The Giving Tree!

I spent some time cutting out green construction paper leaves, attched them to a length of ribbon which I then wound around my hair and also to some bangels which I wore on my wrists. I scavanged that brown sweater from Estevan's closet (which I'm pretty sure was bought some time in the early 90s) and "carved" out the inscription so lovingly remembered in the book.

The kids absolutely loved the costume and the parents did as well. I'm positive that the principal will remember me as being the sub who went all out and had a blast! Being remembered is an assett to me in this time of subbing. Pin It Now!

To be Happy

Found via Basically Anything That's Awesome.

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Thinking of Fall

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted anything! Not much has been happening around here... same old, same old. We're thoroughly enjoying the weather but missing the fall colors on the trees. I'm trying to immerse myself in the normal fall things... delicious smelling candles, festive treats (yeah, the Halloween candy didn't quite make it through the month), and pumpkins. Here's some of my favorite things this week:

My favorite fall scents from Yankee Candle Company.

Mulling Spices, Farmer's Market, Spiced Pumpkin, and Be Thankful.

I'm totally going to try to make some Apple Cider Doughnuts, found via Katie Elliot's blog.

Reminds me of Uncle John's Cider Mill in Michigan.













S a i p u a never ceases to amaze. I am completely in love in with the orange ranunculus.

And these little guys are just adorable.

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Knitted Etsy Finds

A cold front came in yesterday. Get this, it was 83 degrees in the morning and by 8pm it was 59 degrees! I'm so happy this morning because it's still a little chilly and I can finally wear a sweater. I love the feeling of being bundled up and cozy! However, I do need to do a little sweater shopping this season. Here's some cute knitted items that I found through Etsy.

DesignByNihan's Bulut Sweater
By the way, her photographer is amazing!

Starpompon's Grey Mohair Shawl


Berniolie's Shrug

Deniz's Earth Colored Scarf
I'm a sucker for those knitted flowers!

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Wee Green Spot

Now this Green Tea with Lichen is just sickeningly cute....



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Wool Felt Brooches & Fashion Accessories

Felted wool is quickly becoming the fashion accessory of the season. Accessoire is an Etsy shop that sells handmade felt accessories; perfect for pinning to a sweater, a purse, or putting in your hair. Oh and get this, the shipping is free in the U.S.! So frugally chic.

Millicent

My Grandpa's Coat
I can totally see this one pinned to my red jacket!

Jane's Obsession

Mrs. Lovett
"A little torn, a little tattered, a little ladylike, a little...psychotic?"

That, my friends, is seriously funny.

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