Call me a slacker

Go ahead...call me a slacker, I deserve it! I know I haven't posted much lately, but I've had so many other things going on at home that I haven't had time to make much. I've got to get on it though - Christmas is almost here!!

Just so I feel better about myself, here's one thing I did make while the in-laws were in town over the weekend. I'm such a slacker that I'm having to use the pictures from Our Best Bites because I completely forgot to take pictures.

So, I promise, I will try to do better. I have to, right! Christmas is only 38 days away...excuse me while I have a little breakdown!

OK, all better, thanks!

Easy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 spice cake mixes (Duncan Hines, although not pictured, is the best for this recipe)
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
1/2 - 12-oz. bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Combine cake mixes and pumpkin. Add in chocolate chips.

Spoon mixture into lined muffin tins. This can make as many as 24 muffins or as few as 12, just depending on how full the tins are filled. These really don't rise very much, so you can fill the tins pretty full. If aesthetics are a concern, keep in mind that how they look going into the oven is very much what they will look like coming out of the oven. So a cookie scoop works great to keep things on the prettier side.

Bake for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of one of the muffins comes out clean.

12 Weeks to a Peaceful Christmas

I borrowed this from simplemom.net, but I definitely need it, and I'm sure others of you do to, so here's to a PEACEFUL Christmas!

Love Christmas, but hate the chaos? I’m with you. It’s a shame that the holiday created to focus on the birth of Christ somehow means overspending, crowded malls, and constant busyness. It shouldn’t be this way.

I’m all for holiday traditions, but only if they’re done sanely. Each year, Simple Mom starts exactly 12 weeks before Christmas and delivers one small task to do each week. In doing this, we’re eliminating the need to do these tasks all at once in December, which makes the holiday of peace much too stressful.

You can still enjoy the height of the season and relish in the little delights that Christmas brings. You just need to plan ahead, so that those things don’t make your end of the year a chaotic train to Busyville.

Plan ahead, and enjoy the season sanely.

2009 Checklist

12. Prepare Your Holiday Budget – October 2
11. Gather Your Addresses and Plan Your “Greetings” – October 9
10. Start (or finish!) Gift Shopping – October 16
9. Make Plans to Give Back – October 23
8. Inventory Your Decor and Watch for Sales – October 30
7. Finalize Your Family’s Holiday Calendar – November 6
6. Prepare a New Family Tradition – November 13
5. Get Your Christmas Cards and Address the Envelopes – November 20
4. Decorate for Christmas – November 27
3. Make Meal Plans; Batch Cook and Freeze Meals – December 4
2. Make and Freeze Cookie Dough and any Food Gifts – December 11
1. Prepare for guests, or Prepare to be a Guest – December 18
0. Celebrate! – December 25

Chalkboard Frame

Tonight I'm going to focus on something that Glama made, since today is about her and her new business, Sylvia's Spaces. When Hubby, EC and I got back from the in-laws last weekend, I found this surprise waiting for me!

Glama and I found this empty frame at a local antique store a few weeks ago. She added the chalkboard and cork and painted the frame. How cute is this!?

We really needed a space for organization in the kitchen for all of the papers that tend to fly around our house. I LOVE this idea! Thanks Glama!

Sylvia's Spaces

I am so excited to tell all of you that Glama has started a new business! Sylvia's Spaces is a interior design and staging company that can help you with all of your home interior needs - from organizing your pantry, to wrapping your Christmas gifts, to decorating your entire home. She will try to use what you have to keep costs down and so that even people on a budget can afford it! Try her, I promise, she's amazing!!

Sips N Strokes

Last night, Glama, PS (my aunt), and I went to Sips N Strokes - a local painting/gathering place. It was amazing! Beth (the owner) and the whole crew were great to work with. I highly suggest taking a group of girfriends and going one night!

I went intending on creating a picture to give away as a Christmas present - because, as we all know, that's what I'm obsessing over right now - but, I may have to keep this one for decoration.

This one is mine.

I just love how everyone's turns out so different. This one is Glama's.

This one is PS's. Who said trees have to be green? They can be orange and blue!

Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Today is National Boss Day. So, last night, I decided to try my hand at dipping pretzels. I'm not much of a chocolate person, and honestly, white chocolate is not as easy to work with as I wish it was, so I haven't done these because of that, but I'm actually pretty happy about how they turned out. I think my boss likes them too!!

First, you melt 1 cup of white chocolate chips with 1 Tablespoon of vegetable shortening for 1 minute in the microwave.

Layout all of your "extras" while it is melting: sprinkles, colored sugar, or milk chocolate.

I wasn't terribly excited about the way the sprinkles/sugar covered ones were looking, so I decided to just drizzle milk chocolate over them once they cooled a little.

FYI...if you cook white chocolate too long, it will turn into a malleable plastic-y kind of paste. Not that I did that (ahem...), I'm just letting you know!

Happy National Boss Day to all you bosses out there!

Swap?

I've been toying with the idea of having a yearly "Swap Meet". Here's the idea: say it's a housewares swap; that lamp that's covered in dust, but you're holding on to it because it's cute and you just "know" you'll use it somewhere...bring that (and any other items you have) to the swap. You get 1 ticket for each item you bring. For each ticket you have, you get to "purchase" one item. There's food and drinks and girl talk. And voila! You go home with way fun housewares and everyone else does too!!

Now, it doesn't have to be housewares, it can be kitchen stuff, baby clothes, women's clothes, or, like the picture says, a vintage apron swap, anything you can think of, basically. For all of you in and around the Auburn/Opelika area (or those of you who would come down for this), would this be something you're interested in? Which "Swap" would you like to come to?