Pumpkin Spice Muffins

These will be the easiest muffins you will ever make in your whole life.
Please don't laugh when you read the ingredients because they really are tasty! I think they taste like fall time.

Ingredients:
1 can pure pumpkin
1 box spice cake mix

Directions:
Mix the pumpkin and cake mix together in a bowl. Mixture will be thick! Do your best to get all the cake mix clumps out.

Spoon into greased muffin tin.

Bake at 400 Degrees for 20 minutes.

You can also use chocolate cake mix. It's pretty good too, I just think the spice and pumpkin flavors match better. If you want an extra tasty treat, put a little cream cheese frosting on top! Yum yum!

I don't know what they are, but I like them

I was rather inspired the other morning when I was out for a jog at a nearby park and saw these
funky little dead thing falling off the trees just waiting to be discovered by a creative mind!
Aren't they fun?

PLUS I have had this glass bowl sitting around that needed something to fill it! Now it sits
happily on my front room mantle. I just hope these things aren't infested with
bugs or something.



As a reminder of how wonderful nature is, read this!

Do you take time to discover each day how beautiful your life can be? How long has it been since
you watched the sun set - the departing rays kissing the clouds, trees, hill, and lowlands
goodnight, sometimes with tranquility, sometimes with exuberant bursts of color and form?

What of the wonder of a cloudless night when the Lord unveils the marvels of His heavens - the
twinkling stars, the moonlight rays - to ignite our imagination with His greatness and glory?

How captivating to watch a seed planted in fertile soil germinate, gather strength, and send forth
a tiny, seemingly insignificant sprout. Patiently it begins to grow and develop its own character,
led by the genetic code the Lord has provided to guide its development. With care it surely will
become what it is destined to be: a Lily crowned with grace and beauty, a fragrant spearmint
plant, a peach, an avocado, or a beautiful blossom with unique delicacy, hue and fragrance.

When last did you observe a tiny rosebud form? Each day it develops new and impressive
character with more promise of beauty until it becomes a majestic rose.

You are one of the noblest of God's creations. His intent is that your life be gloriously beautiful
regardless of your circumstance. As you are grateful and obedient, you can become all that God
intends you to be.

-Richard G. Scott
Finding Joy In Life

Mama Chic Wrist Cuffs

I have been waiting to write this post all week long because I am so excited about it!

I fell in love with these cute little Mama Chic Wrist Cuffs by JC Handmade! I don't even
remember how I found them, but I made one... and then I made six more because they were so
fun! And now I have one to match many outfits!

They are so fast and easy, PLUS they make you feel all cool and stylish when you wear them!
I am going to start a new trend, just you wait and see. You'll all want one and then you'll make
one (or seven) and pretty soon, they'll catch on! Everyone will be wearing them!

Ugh! Cords!

Cords are ugly. They get all tangled and messy and, well, ugly.

For as long as I can remember, my mom used the old toilet paper roll trick to wrap up her cords.
Well, I went a step further because in my opinion, toilet paper rolls aren't much more attractive.

I found cute paper in my scrapbooking stash (since I hardly ever scrapbook anymore) and
covered the brown toilet paper roll with some pretty paper and then covered that with packing
tape (you could also use contact paper). Voila! Now I have a cute cord cover.
I'm just waiting for the next roll of TP to get used so I can make another!

Photographing your Baby

I have always wanted to be a great photographer.
I took classes in High School, which didn't help;
One, because I slept during the lectures and two because I always procrastinated taking my assignment pictures.

If I could go back in time, I would listen to every word Mr. Davenport had to say and I would take more care in trying to get good, quality photographs. But, I didn't. So, now I am on a quest to figure it out on my own!

I found this book a while back called 'How to Photograph Your Baby.' by Nick Kelsh and it has some awesome suggestions. The three main things I learned from this book that have helped my photography skills are:

1. Get Closer! The closer you get, the better the picture. Get rid of all that ugly, cluttery background that distracts from your beautiful child! When you flip through your photo albums in the years to come you won't want to see your TV or dirty dishes, you'll want to see your children.


2. Keep Shooting! This is so easy with digital cameras! Just keep taking pictures, lots of pictures and you're bound to get a few really great photographs! (If you're like me, you'll have a hard time parting with any pictures, even the bad ones! but in theory, this is a good idea so that you can get rid of all the crappy shots and keep the best ones)

Blurry

Weird Angle

Almost got it

Good!!!

3. Turn off the Flash! Wow, you wouldn't believe what a difference this tip can make. Window light and outside light can do wonders for pictures. (There are times when you need the flash, but I'm not talking about those times, I'm talking about when there is light to be had, use it!) You can use light coming in from windows, doors, your porch or garage! Anything that gives off a nice, soft light (Remember, beware of the background!)
Experiment with this one, you'll have fun!

These were both taken using afternoon window light.

Anyway, I found these ideas to be extremely useful in my lifelong search to be a great photographer! I hope you find them useful too! If anyone else has some good suggestions, leave a comment for all to read! I would love to get some more tips!

Guess What?

Hey, it's my hubby's spring break... and so that means I'll be out of commission for the week.
So, sorry! No posts, but not to worry! I'll be back soon enough and man, have I got some goodies
for you. I'm kind of bummed I can't post this week because I spent the whole weekend sewing!
Just you wait and see what I have in store!

Mango Salsa Chicken

Mango Salsa Chicken
This is super quick, easy and soooo yummy!

Directions
Season your chicken breasts with any seasonings you like (I did garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, cumin and dried cilantro)

Cook your chicken until the juices run clear (I cooked mine in our George Forman Grill, but you can pan fry it or bake it too!)

Serve on top of lettuce or spinach leaves and top with Mango Salsa (recipe below).

Mango Salsa Recipe

1 ripe mango, peeled, pitted, and diced (about 1 1/2 cup)
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 Jalapeño chile, minced (include ribs and seeds for a hotter taste if desired)
1 small cucumber, peeled and diced (about 1 cup)
1/2 red bell pepper, diced

3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If the salsa ends up being a little too hot or acidic for your taste, you can temper it by adding some diced avocado.