My Grown Up Christmas List

With the holidays fast approaching, I thought I would share some things I'm loving. This year I am just asking for gift cards to Lowes and Home Depot because we have to buy some things we actually need for the new house this year. But... it is always fun to think about things I want.

I love my makeup brushes, but they are starting to get a little raggedy. A new set would be awesome!

Source: jengrantmorris.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

I haven't really found a pair of boots I love. But in theory these are pretty awesome!

Source: freepeople.com via Megan on Pinterest

My gray Toms are getting kind of shabby. It is time for some pretty red ones :)

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I would like to get gray paint to cover my kitchen and living room walls & some yellow fabric to make my own accent pillows :)

Source: decorpad.com via Megan on Pinterest

I am excited to set up my crafting space in the new house. These jars would be awesome to store my supplies.

Source: 33shadesofgreen.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

And pretty much anything on this list...

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What are you asking for this holiday season? Any great gift ideas?

Pinspiration & Life

What a currrazy week. I am so very close to finishing my graduate school project. I will probably finish it up by Sunday, but I am taking a little break after a long day working on it to write this post. I made it through the week pretty well with only one full out meltdown on Tuesday night around midnight. And in the midst of my academic chaos, I took a group of 65 kids out to eat at a Mexican restaurant on Thursday. Double whammy. I came home yesterday after finally finishing the html program for my project (I still have some editing to the design documents and a final reflection paper to write) and crashed. hard. I took a glorious hot shower and passed out on my bed for about two hours--thank you weather blocking curtains!

But this week I had some really awesome things happen as well.

Monday
I stopped by a thrift store on my way home. I was really looking for a cool lamp/shade to dress up, but didn't find any. What I did find was this awesome wine rack for $5. I got in line to purchase it, but they don't take out-of-state checks. Boo. The staff kept trying to convince me to go use an ATM machine -- which would cost me another $5 (not a bargain anymore). I decided to just leave it there because the only real reason I was buying it was because it was just $5.

Then, I saw just what generosity looks like. The lady in line behind me told the cashier she would buy it for me. I insisted "No way José!" I am really not one for charity. The woman told me that she would buy it for me if I would do the same for someone else another day. Wow.

Now, I know it is weird to talk about God and wine racks in the same sentence...but I'm going for it here.

Forrest and I have been praying a lot about being more generous and I had just read a verse the day before about how God's mercy calls us to love others (which sometimes love happens in the form of generosity). I left feeling so aware of God's presence all around me and excited to take care of someone's financial need in the future.  

Let's skip ahead to Wednesday
As I have mentioned before I have had a .littlebit. of a hard time getting adjusted to my new city. Mostly I miss the friendships that I had established back in Williamsburg. I miss being able to call up my good girlfriend Danyelle to grab a coffee or dinner. I miss heading to Sweet Frog after working out with my gym girlfriends. I miss my weekly hang out times with Beth, and coffee on Wednesdays with Alexis and reading Cold Tangerines and talking about life with the girls in my small group. I miss the familiar faces I had grown to love at Starbucks, Trader Joe's and church.

A few weeks ago at Summit (our new home church) I ran into a girl who had gone through "Starting Point" with Forrest and me back in September. She and I are both new to this area, so I asked her if we could get together over coffee sometime (she goes to seminary like 2 seconds from my school). She texted me this week, and we met on Wednesday at the Wake Forest Coffee Company. You might already know about my obsession with that place.

It was such a blessing to sit down in the midst of this crazy week and talk about God, relationships, spiritual growth, and being new to a town, to a church, to a community. That conversation was a light in a rather abysmal week.

That conversation encouraged me.

I am building new friendships. The people we have met here are lovely. Our church is amazing. Our small group is full of couples I admire and want to be like. Life is good here.

Thursday
Field trips are insane. Collecting money, permission slips, order forms...counting heads, organizing transportation...Why do people still do field trips? Although the week was crazy busy, and planning the trip was a bit hectic, it was awesome to see my kids out in the community, trying to speak Spanish, having fun, and understanding the wait staff.


Okay, I just wanted to share those things with you all, thanks for reading.

But now...here is what has Pinspired me this week.




PINSPIRATION!!!
I want to try and sew a simple version of this soon...

 

Source: anthropologie.com via Megan on Pinterest

I like this idea for creative gift wrapping

Source: blogs.babble.com via Megan on Pinterest

I'm loving this Saturday outfit

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I want to make these

Source: weheartit.com via Megan on Pinterest

Striped walls are calling my name (I want one behind the headboard of our bed in the new house)

Source: cottageandvine.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

This looks delish. I can't wait to cook up something good this weekend.

Source: realsimple.com via Megan on Pinterest

What has pinspired you this week? If you haven't yet, you can follow me over at Pinterest by clicking on the icon over on the left!

A Weekend with the Packetts

The past two weekends have been very busy with travel, but it has been such a blessing to spend quality time with our family and friends.

Last weekend we celebrated the wedding of good friends of ours. It is always so good to see old friends and meet new people at such a joyous event! On Friday night we caught up with some of our Williamsburg friends at Bonefish, and on Saturday Forrest got in a workout with his buddy Gary while I did some work on my grad project at Aromas in City Center. We also enjoyed time with the Cory family, and I got my Plaza fix at lunch with my wonderful in-laws on Sunday!


This weekend we went back to my roots on the Packett farm and got to spend some quality with my parents, my sister and bro-in-law, and my beautiful niece Cora. Cora is just under 15 months, and her uncle Forrest and I just adore her! This weekend she started calling us by name! I am "Mimi" and Forrest (FoCo) is "GoCo." Whenever Forrest disappeared from her sight for more than 10 seconds, she would call..."GoCo" and put her hands up asking "Where is he?!"

Here are some pictures of our weekend.

MiiiiiiiMiiiiiii!

Baking Pumpkin Muffins with Mimi :)

My beautiful sister Rebekah and I got to play dress up and hit the Christmas Open Houses at the local shops!

Unfortunately I spilled a pan of these delicious Pumpkin Streusel Muffins in my mom's oven, but luckily there were still enough for all of us and a special visit from Grandmama & Atdaddy! Check out the recipe here.

A felt ruffle that got a little out of control!!! It is way too huge to wear on any garment!

Cora and Uncle GoCo playing before dinner!

Cora calls Fish...ish!

GoCo????

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend too. For me there is just nothing in the world like going home. Being with family is something I need, and being so far away from them can make that kind of tough. After this long weekend with my favorite people I feel totally refreshed and ready to tackle one week of work before a week off at Thanksgiving, and 9 days and counting until my grad project is due!!!

Oh Brother!

I am so excited!!!! A few weeks ago I called my mom and told her that I wanted a sewing machine for Christmas. I have always wanted to learn to sew, but I haven't really had much motivation in the past to learn to sew something. Now that I am reading more DIY blogs, I want to learn how to sew to do some things for our house to help save some money.

This weekend Forrest and I spent a few wonderful days back on the Packett farm, and when we pulled into the house on Friday night, she had her old Brother sewing machine waiting for me. She had taken it to a local sewing machine repairman and had it shining like new.

 

We started out by trying a few different stitches and learning how to get everything set up. Mom had a few pieces of an old quilt that had been cut up in the attic, so we brought those down so she could teach me how to make a pillow.

My mom is a great teacher, and with her guidance I was able to piece together this really cute little pillow!

I don't have anywhere to put it right now...since we are packing up next weekend and getting ready for our second move in 6 months at the beginning of December. Luckily this time we are just moving about 20 miles north, but I can't wait to find a sweet little spot to put this pillow in the new house!

Pumpkin Streusel Muffins

The other day I was reading what Kait over at Mrs. DIY & The Tennis Guy has been up to recently. I saw her post about Pumpkin Streusel Muffins with Brown Sugar & Cinnamon Filling and have been dying to try them out ever since. 

I adapted the recipe from the one on her post, mostly because after filling up one muffin pan with batter, I ran out, and had a lot of steusel & cinnamon filling left over (which is fine...I plan on making some more tonight!). I actually like only making about 12 to 18 muffins because I have no self-discipline and if there were 24 in the kitchen...I'd probably eat them all!

Pumpkin Struesel Muffins (makes 12)

1 3/4 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1  tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 1/2 c sugar

1/2 cup canola oil

1/3 cup water

1 cup canned pumpkin

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Streusel Topping:

3/4 c oats

1/2 tbsp flour

1/6 c brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

dash of nutmeg

3 tbsp cold butter, cut into chunks

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Fill1 muffin pan with muffin liners 

3. Combine the 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon (Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling) in a medium bowl and set aside

4. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg into a medium bowl, mix together with a whisk

5. In an electric mixer, combine the sugar, oil, water, pumpkin, eggs and vanilla and mix on a low speed for 2 minutes.

6. Continue mixing and slowly add the flour mixture. Mix at medium-low speed for 2 minutes.

 

7. To make the streusel topping, combine the oats, flour, cinnamon nutmeg, brown sugar and cold butter. Use your hands to incorporate all of the ingredients until it is a crumbly mixture. 

8. Pour batter into the cups until they are 1/2 full. 

9. Top each with the brown sugar and cinnamon filling.

10. Fill the muffin cups all the way up and top with the streusel topping. 

 

11. Bake for 15 to 20 mins, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Window to My Wednesday

I can't wait to have more time to write. For now, let my pictures do the talking!

Simple Treasures

Lately I have been running around like a crazy woman trying to finish up this big grad school project. I have been doing a little less cooking, a little less baking, and sadly...even a little less blogging :(

But I am taking a little break today to bake some Pumpkin Streusel Muffins...they smell amazing...and to do a little blogging. I have to get back at it this evening, but it was time to do something just for me!

 I can't say much today, but hang in there with me for a few more weeks (my project is due on Nov. 22nd) and I will have many fun and exciting holiday posts coming your way!

Until then...here are a few snapshots from the past week!


I added this felt rosette to an old white costume necklace from Nannie's collection of jewelry.

I made homemade Rubens with pastrami one Saturday

 Delicious tacos last Monday

Friday night entertainment...making felt flowers and brooches :)

Spinach, Tomato, Pancetta & Ricotta stuffed shells with asiago cream sauce...still working on that recipe, but it was still pretty good!

On our way home from church last Sunday with my HUGE brooch!

Paper plates + chicken and black bean quesadillas = perfect Monday night dinner!

We had a little fiesta on Día de los Muertos last week. I set up a mock "altar" with ofrendas.

i.love.yellow.

that is one of Nannie's old clip-on earrings!

Last Friday leaving the Wake Forest Coffee Company on my way to work.

What have you been up to recently? I'd love to see links to some great recipes. I have just 23 more days in school until my next track out. But, I mean, it's not like I've been counting down since our first day back or anything!