Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Happy New Year ~ Goodbye 2013

Hello, dear friends!

As I sit here staring at the twinkling lights on our Christmas tree I can't help but feel a little sad that the holidays are just about over but excited that a brand new year is upon us. 2013 was a wonderful year for me. Becoming a mama is something that I have always wanted and having my dream become a reality this past year is the hugest blessing of all. 



In 2014 I hope to get back into blogging a bit more. I still have a few projects to show you all that I did for the nursery and also the big nursery reveal. 

Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you will be having a safe and happy New Years Eve tonight.

Our Christmas was a bit crazy this year as a big ice storm hit our area and we were without power for a few days. I don't have a lot of holiday pictures but here are the few I managed to get.


Our tree this year. I had hoped to do something great with the mantel then our power went out and we left home for a few days. We came back home on Christmas Eve.


My front door wreath that I made for the holiday


Sheet music cones that I decorated and hung on my shutters over my couch


My hot chocolate station that I set up on my dining room buffet


Our family as the holy family for the live nativity in our Church Christmas cantata. This photo makes me smile every time I see it. Olivia is about 14 lbs. here and my husbands head gear is all messed up, and my hair is far too short to be the virgin Mary. It was a lot of fun though! 


I won this cute ornament from Kathy at Creative Home Expressions. She had a big blog giveaway and I was one of the lucky winners! The snow lady ornament and all the packaging was made by Celeste at Celestina Marie Designs. Celeste really made my holiday a little brighter with her beautiful ornament and extra goodies in the prettily wrapped packaging that she sent. Check out both blogs if you have the time. They're wonderful!


The snow lady hanging in her rightful place on our tree


Christmas morning


Olivia was pretty good at opening presents!


Everything goes in the mouth first thing!


Loving her new toy!


She liked opening presents so much that she went under the tree for more

Whitney VanDussen Photography

 Olivia's beautiful Christmas photo ~ Almost 6 months here

Wish me luck as I try and start blogging more often, do less Facebook, and try to spend more quality time with my husband and baby. I don't really do resolutions but I do like to set a few goals for the upcoming year.

Here's to a wonderful 2014!



Love,



Vintage Postcard images via: Holidaysgalore.blogspot.com

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Miss Connie's Peach Pie

Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends!



I have yet another pie recipe for you. I know, I know...But when I told you all how much I love pie I wasn't lying.
This Peach Pie recipe is probably my all time favorite pie recipe. It's a toss up between this and strawberry rhubarb. 
I grew up loving this recipe! I didn't know until this past year that the recipe wasn't my mother's recipe but it's actually my best friend's mom's recipe. 
Thanks Miss Connie for sharing this recipe with my mother so many years ago!   


Let's roll up our sleeves and make some peach pie! 


I know that peach pie isn't the most traditional Thanksgiving pie ever. I usually only have it in the summer when peaches are in season but 
you can make peach pie any time of year if you have friends as nice as mine that give you canned peaches. Delish! Thanks, Sarah!


 Mix your dry ingredients for your double crust pie

2 Cups flour, and  1/2 tsp. salt 


2/3 Cup butter flavored shortening & 6 to 7 TBS. ice cold water

Yes, I use butter flavored shortening. Once you find a pie recipe that works, stick with it (At least that's my opinion) and this recipe works for me!

Mix well with your KitchenAid mixer with your paddle attachment.


After mixing your dough in your fabulous KitchenAid mixer, refrigerate while preparing the peach mixture.

Now for the peaches ~


 Don't you love handy little kitchen gadgets? I do! A present from my thoughtful dad.


So simple!


 I like to clean up as I go. It makes the whole baking experience a lot more enjoyable than having a huge disaster area to clean up when you're finished. Just another little tip!


I mixed a little of the peach juice with lemonade. It was amazing! Peach Lemonade is my new favorite drink. And I wonder why I can't drop that pregnancy weight...It's a complete mystery to me!


1/2 tsp. almond flavoring, 1 1/4 Cup sugar, 1/3 Cup flour, & 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, 

The secret to this amazing recipe is the almond flavoring. I just love it! 


Stir it all up and pull out your refrigerated crust


 Roll out your dough


Add 1 TBS. butter and sprinkle 1/4 brown sugar to the top of the peaches


Cover with your second crust and cut decorative slits and/or shapes into your crust


I cover my crust edges with this handy tool.


Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes

Enjoy!

Miss Connie's Peach Recipe ~

Mix together: 
1/2 tsp. Almond flavoring
1 1/4 Cup sugar
1/3 Cup All purpose unbleached flour
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Stir In:
4 Cups Peaches (I used 1 jar of peaches for this recipe)
Pour into pastry shell

Slice: 
1 TBS. butter over peaches
Sprinkle: 
1/4 Cup brown sugar

Add to top crust
Cut in slits to allow steam to escape.
Sprinkle with a little sugar to make crust shiny. Ring edges with foil.
Bake at 400 degrees for 45 minutes
Classic Pie Pastry from the Taste of Home cookbook ~
2 Cups un-bleached all purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt2/3 Cup shortening (butter flavored)
6 to 7 TBS. ice cold water

If you don't have a KitchenAid mixer to mix your ingredients quickly here are the directions for the pie crust:

In a small bowl, combine the flour and salt; cut in the shortening until mixture is crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Divide the dough into two balls. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.


Hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends!

Love, 


Free vintage Thanksgiving postcard images are via The Graphics Fairy.

Linking with ~
twelveOeight ~ Inspiration Monday 
Confessions of a Plate Addict ~ Tuesdays the Scoop 
So Much Better with Age ~ Give me the Goods link party
A Stroll Through Life ~ Inspire Me Tuesday
Cozy Little House ~ Tweak it Tuesday
The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Decorating for Fall ~

Hello, dear friends!

It has been such a long time since I've posted anything but there's nothing like fall, my favorite time of year to make me come out of hiding. 
I, of course, decorated my home to celebrate autumn, my favorite season. 
I somehow found the time in the last month and a half between taking care of my baby girl, keeping our home in some semblance of order, and all the every day life things that keep us all busy, to decorate and make a few crafts.

Be prepared for a major picture overload ahead ~

My fall mantel






My living room



The tree was a Christmas gift from my sister ~ I plan on decorating it for the seasons of course.


I found the pumpkin candle holder for $2 at a Goodwill store last year.


The Harvest Time pumpkin was from Walmart. I don't normally shop there but I check out the fall selections at as many stores as I possibly can during the fall season.


The sweater pumpkin was part of my birthday gift from my mother-in-law. It's from Home Goods.


Home sweet home!


My reading corner ~ Right now I'm reading an old Georgette Heyer mystery. Nothing like a good mystery book during this time of year!


I adore little white pumpkins. Don't you?!


My buffet display in our dining area.


A little banner that I made.



I decorated with this candle and the tray below in my fall display post from two years ago. You can check that post out here. There's also a pumpkin pie coffee creamer recipe and a pumpkin muffin recipe in that post. Check it out sometime!


I found these glass pumpkins at the dollar store this year.


My sister-in-law and I started a Pinterest craft day. The two orange pumpkins are from our first craft day. You can see how Johhnie from Saved by Love Creations made her pumpkins here


My favorite fall quote that's been making the rounds this year on Pinterest and Facebook ~ The words and wisdom of Anne are always so sweet!


Source: Unknown

On a little more personal note: We are doing wonderfully here. Our baby girl Olivia is now 17 weeks old! She is still an easy going happy baby. We are so blessed to have this sweet girl in our lives!

1 month old ~


2 months old ~


3 months old ~


Look at this face! Isn't it the cutest?!


(My sister-in-law took these beautiful three month old photos)

4 months old ~



I hope you all are enjoying a wonderful autumn season! 

I also want to send out a special thanks to all of my blogger friends who continue to check out my blog even though I haven't been blogging lately. 

Thanks for sticking with me!

Love,




Linking with ~

 Sunday:
Creative Home Expressions ~ The Creative Home & Garden Hop
The Tablescaper ~ Seasonal Sundays

Monday:

TwelveOEight ~ Inspiration Monday
So Much Better With age ~ Give me the Goods Link Party

Tuesday:
The Farmhouse Porch ~ Tuesdays the Scoop
Art is Beauty ~ Twirl & Take a Bow
Knick of Time ~ Knick of Time Tuesday

A Stroll Through Life ~ Inspire Me Tuesday

Wednesday:
Savvy Southern Style ~ Wow us Wednesdays
Ginger Snap Crafts ~ Wow me Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants ~ What's it Wednesdays

Thursday:
The Self Sufficient Homemaker ~ The HomeAcre Harvest Hop
Glamorous Affordable Life ~ All Things Thursday
Lambert's Lately ~ Create it Thursday
Saving4Six ~ Think Tank Thursday

Friday:
The Charm of Home ~ Home Sweet Home
Common Ground ~ Be Inspired
The Shabby Nest ~ Frugal Friday
Love of Family & Home ~ Inspire Me Please Weekend Blog Hop  
My Repurposed Life ~ Catch as Catch Can
My Romantic Home ~ Show & Tell Friday
Dear Creatives ~ Inspire Me Spotlight
Funky Junk Interiors ~ Party Junk
Vintage Chic ~ Friday's Five Features

Saturday: