thrift store

I love thrift store shopping. You can always find a deal on things you need when crafting. I loaded Mason up the other day and we headed to a small store just 2 blocks away.

This is how mason chilled during our outing, I am positive shopping will be easier once he can sit by himself and before he can walk and talk =)

These are my finds. I have ideas for some of them and the others were just too hard to pass up. I will let you in on what I am making after the Holidays.... some are gifts

EASY pumpkin bread

I bought a can of pumpkin a few weeks ago with intent to make something pumpkin around Thanksgiving.... i never did

I decide some bread would be perfect to munch on while enjoying coffee and I would feel better about myself after eating multiple pieces a day, even though I knew it would be just an unhealthy as a pie would be. I searched around for an easy recipe that didn't take 100 ingredients that i didn't have

I came across this recipe

1 cup pumpkin

4 eggs

2 cup sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

Mix

Add:

2 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

mix and divide into 3 bread pans. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes

I ALMOST made the mistake of doubling the recipe simply because the can of pumpkin was 2 cups and I didn't want to throw away half of it. Luckily I didn't because we would have been eating pumpkin bread for weeks!!

over the break

We had a lot of family relaxation time over the break

Here is some of what we enjoyed

wearing hats like daddy

practicing our harmonica

FINALLY reaching the annoying bird that hits us in the head when we jump

Then we enjoyed Thanksgiving

Papa visited us

Lounged with Grandpa

got spoiled by our aunties

 

finished with the Christmas tree!

And amused mom for one picture

mini shoot

As promised, i finally got Mason all dressed up in his tux and suit for some pictures.

He only made it through the tux and one vest but what can you expect from a 5 month old?

 Thanks to a high shutter speed and photoshot we got a few good pictures in between the falling over and drool

happy friday all

future blogger

I am usually on the floor with Mason, whether we are playing, talking, or just hanging out.

A few weeks ago I was blogging and I got up to get a drink, when I came back Mason was finishing my post up for me =)

 Austin said he was trying to get a message out for someone to come save him

and i am done

a little baking

For Christmas I asked for a Kitchen Aid mixer. Last week for our anniversary Austin got me one, he said the sooner I got it the sooner I could make him treats. 

Today I decided Mason and I would put it to some good use

We gathered all our ingredients and put together a quick cake with homemade frosting

Yes, I was so excited to use it that I stood over and watched it.

While the cake part was baking Mas and I hung out

 and when it had cooled we threw together the frosting.

Of course we tested it out.

On a funny note, after I ate my piece I kissed him and placed him down for a nap. When he woke up and I went to get him, I leaned in to kiss him and he smelled of chocolate frosting!

Back to cake baking, 2 things I learned today...

do not leave the butter sticks you are planning to use for the frosting on the stove while the cake is baking in attempts to soften them... they melted everywhere

Also, do not and I mean do NOT lick the spoon used to scrap the unsweetened melted chocolate into the mixer. I almost puked...seriously

Crochet-a-thon

The last week has been a mad rush to crochet as many things as I possible can.

My aunt lives in Alaska and runs a children's boutique

I send her items to sell in hershop

Sunday she told me she would be attending a very large craft fair in 2 weeks and if i sent her stuff she was almost sure it would sell. I had a huge tub of yarn that needed used up so I told her I would kick my butt in gear and send her as much as I could. Even though the craft fair still was 2 weeks away, shipping to Alaska takes 4-5 days so I only had a week to get my stuff together and shipped

Every night this week after putting Mason to bed around 7:15 i have spent four hours crocheting. Needless to say I do get distracting here and there but I really worked hard on getting her as much as I could.

not only would it be good Christmas money but I also wanted to help build the craft side of her shop. Her shop sells adorable clothing, toys, diaper covers, knitted goods, and hair accessories. She is super kind to allow me to sell my good there and  even labels each of my products with my etsy shop label.

This is what my dinning table has looked like for the last week

And here is a sample of the finished goods I sent her

She sent Mason the cutest suit and tux that I just can't wait to photograph him in, be sure to check back next week for that!!

winner winner chicken dinner

I didn't have time to get a whole post up today 

but...

I wanted to let the winner of my cowl giveaway in on the news

MICHELLE!!

Please e-mail me your address and I will have a lovely package sent your way by the end of next week

Have a happy weekend all!

hanging with daddy

Over the last few weeks we have decided that instead of driving all the way east to my mom's just to drive all the way west to work I was going to leave Mason at home with Austin at least one day out of the week. I would have to leave work early but with the colder weather things slow down.

 

When Mas was first born both Austin and I were overwhelmed, how could we have not been? First time parents not knowing what to expect. Austin never kept Mason alone, a lot of that had to due with the fact he is breastfed. 

It has taken Austin some time to get use to having a small child around but he has become an excellent dad. I always knew he would be. He loves hanging with Mason and vise versa.

They are two silly boys and I am grateful for them both. I love watching Austin take care of him, making him laugh and telling him about all the trouble things they are going to do together.

I definitely have my hands full with these two but I love that they are best buds!

All Over

This post is going to be all over the place.

It is raining out today so Mason and I are enjoying the warmth of inside. 

I love  this picture of Mas and Me, I wish it wasn't blurry

I want more coffee.

The time change has Mason up at 6 am.

I dyed my hair today, I put red and caramel highlights in it. My friend, Allie, did a fantastic job on it. It is different and I am still getting use to it.

I finally found my mustard colored yarn! It was labeled marigold but it is the exact color I imagined in my head. I finished a cowl out of it and love it.

I think I now have an addiction to cowls. 

I want a turquoises one. 

I put this outfit on just for this picture. I really wanted to show off my mustard cowl.

I am actually wearing a Wichita State baseball shirt and sweats, both of which are grey 

It's Monday so this is the best excuse for a post that you are going to get
=)

Playdate

Friday Mason had a playdate with Clara. Not only was it nice for him to have a little buddy but it was nice for me to have some time with a friend as well.

Clara was born just 2 weeks after Mason and it has been great building a closer relationship with her mama, Emma. We were able to go through pregnancy together, chat about symptoms and what kind of moms we would be. Now that our babies are here we love watching them grow together and talking about a whole new range of topics.

Right now they just lay on the floor together and share a hatred for tummy time

They are literally the exact same size, weight and height

They were so cute together. Clara was a chatter and Mason couldn't get 2 words in. Guess he better get use to that, girls will be girls.

They looked into eachother's eyes, smiling, talking and holding hands. 

it was priceless

something for me and ~giveaway~

I am always crocheting things for my shop or for Mason. Last night I decided I wanted to make something for me. As the weather is getting cooler I was interested in a warm scarf or cowl. 

I really wanted a cowl but wasn't sure if it was for me... Could I pull it off or would I look silly in it?

Lucky for me I grabbed this massive ball of yarn at Hobby Lobby a few months back when they were clearancing it out. It was only $10 and a million yards long. I had no plan for it but couldn't pass the deal up. Austin called it a basketball of yarn. What better way to try out a cowl then with already bought yarn? 

No trip to the store and if I didn't like it I wasn't dishing out any money I already hadn't dished out

I sat down and began crocheting, I had no pattern but cowls are simple and you can basically crochet rows however you want then sew them together to make a circle.

When it was finally done and on me I loved it! It was warm and neither too thick or long!

I want more! I know I want a mustard yellow one but I can't find the right color/thickness of yarn I am picturing in my head anywhere! I might have to break down and order it  =(

With that being said I want to let you guys in on the awesomeness of this cowl, that's right I didn't use the whole basketball of yarn and I have plenty more to make one of you lucky readers one as well. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what you like best about Fall time; the Holidays? Warm tasty drinks/treats? Being with Family? Wearing cute scarves/cowls? Whatever it is I want to hear!

I will randomly pick a winner Friday Nov. 11

First Fish

On the what could be the last decent weather day of the year we took Mason fishing for just the second time. And he caught his first fish

  

Austin loves to put Mason in his pack and wanted him to be right there when they caught a fish. As you can see Mason was less than thrilled when they reeled one in

A man stopped and smiled at us and said "starting him young" We both love fishing and spend many days and evening out doing so, so we hope Mason will enjoy it just as much

Mason spent most of his time with his tongue out or making silly faces in the wind

The weather, other than the wind, was perfect fall weather. The trees were turning colors and the sun was just warm enough to keep us comfortable in light jackets.

WIWW

I have never done a what I wore Wednesday and that's probably due to the fact I wear sweats or gym shorts most days and a t-shirt. I usually throw my hair in a ponytail and I don't do much in the make up department. 

I actually wore this outfit on Tuesday but was excited I put myself together semi decent so I though I would share

 Shirt - Old Navy clearance $3.49

 Earrings from Beads By Desi $3.99

Jeans - American Eagle 19.99 (2 years ago)

Watch - Target 12.99

Shoes - Toms, birthday gift 

=)

Maybe next week I will keep it real and show you my pajama outfit

My favorite Days

If any of you have been following me for awhile you know how I felt about working and being a mama pre-Mason. I thought it was going to be totally awesome to work full time and be a mom. I didn't want to stay home all day when I had a little one, I wanted to contribute.

That being said I went and had me a baby and my feelings could not have changed more. I am lucky that I work only 3 days a week and only for 3 hours a day.

Now that Mason is here I have no idea what I would do if I worked full time. I love being home with him, playing with him, seeing him smile, hearing him coo, watching him grow.

My favorite days are my days off and the weekends when Austin gets to spend the day with us. I am also grateful that when I do work my mom is able to watch him 2 days a week and on Mondays Austin keeps him. I think it is good for him to spend time with his daddy and his grandparent so he doesn't become too much of a momma's boy and not allow me time to myself later down the road.

Being a mom is special and awesome. Looking back on the idea of working 40 hours a week and having someone else care for Mason almost all day everyday seems crazy. I am one lucky mama to be able to work enough to contribute but stay home enough to love on my little man