A Wedding Weekend

This weekend I went to my best friend from high school's wedding. She got married at a beautiful house built in 1900 on the east coast..

We were very busy the day of, going to appointments and buying breast pumps because some new mother who shall not be named lost a quarter-sized valve to hers and had to buy another.

Spirits were not lost however, esp when I came upon this mirror in the bride's room

the view from out the window of the bride's room

The blushing bride and her entourage

Hola. I love the cordinating fern colored dress and bouquet.

Some post wedding action

Aisle made out of jutting stones + heels= scary trek up the aisle. Luckily no one biffed it during the ceremony!

Reception centerpieces

Yummy pumpkin apple soup with the guest gift, a cookie recipe and mini maple leaf cookie cutter. Such a cute idea, esp with the autumn season

I took so many pictures of the trees out there. I LOVE LOVE the fall colors!

A last look at D.C. from the plane on the way home. Tired, happy, successful wedding weekend!

Fog and stuff!

Cannot remember the last time we experienced 5 straight days of FOG! Well, actually, the fog rolls in at night and greets us in the a.m. It burns off and we have been basking in 10-15 degree warmer weather than usual. As I told a friend who just received their first snowstorm...we are in t-shirt and jean weather by early afternoon. Glorious!

Been doing a little of this and that!
And, eating a little of this...pumpkin bread. Yummy!

And, getting ready to make something out of this....

Stay tuned for the results of this simple and fun little project.

And, hey! 14 days until Thanksgiving. Love this time of year. Hope you are all enjoying your week! xo

Apple Brinkle Dip

Recipe and Picture source

Apple Brickle Dip

1 package softened cream cheese

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 package heath english toffee chips

Cream the cream cheese and sugar. add vanilla and toffee chips. Serve with cold apple slices.

Mmm Mmm good!

Acorn Dough Nuts

This weekend was busy busy but lots of fun On Friday I went to a dessert and appetizer party, the first of the holiday season! I scoured the internet and cook books to find something both creative as well as inexpensive and edible.

Click here for source and recipe

I think it's so cute for fall and perfect bite size pieces! I also made a cream cheese frosting as a dipping sauce because it needed a little somethin' somethin'.

Hmm well, they didn't turn out exactly like the picture.....Unfortunately the store only had cinnamon and frosted doughnuts so this was as close as I could get. I added crushed walnuts to the toffee bits topping for an added nutty taste. Next time I probably wouldn't crush the pieces so small I think the toffee was a little lost.

At the party:



We also learned how to make these Thai egg rolls... so easy, SO SO DELICIOUS!

Yum Yum. Can't wait to try this out myself!

We had a work party on Saturday where I got to talk to many of the wives of the men who work with Aaron. Since it's just me and M most of the time here I've started to crave any chance to socialize with other people. I've become quite good friends with the other moms in the mother's lounge at church because of the time we spend in there, ha! We're all meeting for lunch this week which I'm really looking forward to.

Alright, it's dinner time for the little one so I'll have to post my Focus of the month later. If you do this as well, be thinking of yours, I'd love to hear them!

Wanted: Frugal Shopper makes out like a Bandit.

Lately I have been exploring the unique world of couponing. According to a study, most couponers are middle-aged, middle class citizens, which dispelled a lot of couponing myths for me. There are so many online sites, blogs and coupon databases that have transformed the old methods into a literal business of housekeeping. I've had to brush up on my math skills major! So before I launch into my crash course of COUPONING 101 and go on and on about why it might just be a hobby you should get into, here are a few eye candies to spark your interest.

the night before a shop, gathering coupons..

the spread:

5 boxes Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal @ 10pkt/box=50 pkts Instant Oatmeal
14 lbs pasta
7 boxes Quaker Chewy Granola Bars @ 10 bars/box=70 Granola Bars
3 cans Cream of Chicken or Mushroom soup (free)
30 cans of Campbells Chunky soups
12 boxes Nestle Hot Chocolate @ 10 pkts/box= 120 pkts of hot cocoa
(which I will go through this winter)
2 Colgate toothbrushes (free)
4 cans Carnation Evaporated Milk
3 cans Peaches

total= $150

I paid= $41!!

Seriously, it felt like highway robbery to get so many things so cheaply. I keep waiting to hear my name on the news. The best part is that I finally feel like we have some food storage. So many times it's 6 o'clock (we eat late) and I'm wondering what on earth to make for dinner, what do we have on hand, do I have to run to the store to get something, do I have time to etc.. and now I can shop in my own pantry a.k.a. pile stacked in my closet floor from food I got at rock bottom prices and then re-stock when the prices are that low again. I like this because:
1) food security
2) I feel like I'm adding to our family finances even though I'm not out in the work force
3) no more empty cupboards on a Sunday afternoon before a shop
4) I can make meals for others more
5)being frugal always earns an A+

So that's my shopping adventure. It's been a lot of hours studying, researching, crunching the numbers, many trial and error shopping trips to get here but I think I'm starting to get it!

Anyone else have a great shopping trip story? Score any good deals?

Things we have been up to...

trying out our Jenny Jump Up. It's never to early to get those legs moving!..

Or using it for a chew toy!

Taking baths..look how the soap creates a cool pattern

Enjoying some rain and a rainbow...

Trying some new foods like stir-fry chicken..

Sitting in our bumpo playing with paper while Mom coupons

eating some of dad's homeade potato chips

playing, drooling and learning to crawl..

eating delicious coconut banana bread with a lime glaze

some howling..

staying in our pj's all day..

taking walks at the park..

taking to some people fishing in the man-made pond..in the middle of the park!

Ahh..so much busyness, so much happiness, some crankiness and and lot of cuteness!