Scuttlebutt

There is so much Halloween fun going on in our house that the wee ones are going to be flat pooped out for tomorrow night!  Hopefully, this will help ease the disappointment of the annual visit from the Halloween Grinch (otherwise known as "Mean Mommy" who rations the candy and then donates the remainder to our Sunday School class).  Here's a quick re-cap of all our fun:

1.  We took the kids for Krispy Screams on Saturday.  They had a ball watching the  donuts come off the line.

 

 

 

2.  Thing 1 and Thing 2 enjoyed our Church's Fall Festival.  This idea replaced our normal Trunk or Treat and while they were sad not to wear costumes, they got over it pretty quick when they saw the fun 40 foot choo-choo.  Unfortunately, the didn't get to ride the choo-choo.  After being the first in line and waiting for 15 minutes, they were not allowed on because they didn't have a ticket.  My sweet hubby didn't know they were supposed to go by a booth (neither did I) to get tickets (free - mind you) because they came straight to my booth where I was volunteering. They were so upset but the adorable sweethearts made their own train the next day at home.  I promise I am not going to get upset about that episode.  I am not going to get upset. I am not going to get upset that my children got kicked off  a train at a free church event. I really am not.........if I say it enough times hopefully, it will become true. 

Yes, I tried to crop the photo. To do so would result in chopping off one head or the other......and it is SUCH a cute photo of the wee ones.  Go ahead, giggle.  Uber Photo Bomb!

 

Need a (FREE) ticket to ride train

 

They made their own train - my heart melted when I saw this. 

Notice how Mr. Bear and Mickey got to ride too.

 



3. Said Church outing left my littlest wee one with the croup.  Thankfully, he is on the mend.  So sad to see him sick but I do love the extra cuddles. 

4. H had his final tennis lesson on Monday.  They were allowed to wear their Halloween costumes but, since he is Darth Vader this year, I was afraid he wouldn't see out of his mask.  So we opted for this funny face that he brought home from his teacher - perfect timing Mrs. O!!

5.  We had a ball last night at the annual Halloween Spooktacular Festival.  I was sad Daddy and S couldn't come but H had a ball with all his classmates and friends.

 

Who knew Darth Vader was a cutie????

 

 

 

I do have a few last minute ideas to share.......that are totally stolen.  If you happen to find yourself entertaining adults tomorrow night, Ron at the Uptown Acorn has collected some adorable cocktails. Check them out here.

And, you need to hop over to Dixie Delights to see this fun idea of "Booing" your kids and/or neighbors.  How fun!!!

Here's hoping you have a Happy Halloween!

xoxo,
TSS

Advent Calendar Upgrade

Since I jumped ahead to Christmas in September with this post, I figure I could justify another Christmas post.  After all, Christmas decorations are starting to pop up (ridiculous).  But I know I am not the only Mama thinking about Christmas and I just had to share this sweet idea with y'all!

I pinned this on my Pinterest Christmas board a few weeks ago and am totally in love with the idea.  And since it will take some time to acquire the ornaments and accompanying scripture versus, I wanted to go ahead and get started.  As you see in the picture, you get 25 bags and fill them with a scripture verse and ornament about the birth of Jesus.  What a wonderfully, sweet idea to keep the wee ones focused on the true meaning of Christmas.  I can't wait to share this with Thing 1 and Thing 2.  I hope you will enjoy this tradition with your family too!

xoxo,
TSS

Sunday Supper - Pumpkin Stew

Recipe photo

We have our Church's Fall Festival this afternoon so we enjoyed our Sunday Supper on Saturday this week.  I don't know about you but I LOVE making a big pot of homemade soup or stew when the temperature falls. It offers a hearty meal and then provides leftovers for me to nibble off for lunch throughout the week.  And since we woke up to a 27 degree morning yesterday, this stew was the perfect choice.

One of my college besties posted a picture of her pumpkin stew on Facebook a few weeks ago and I have been dying to try this idea out ever since.  This is the recipe I used and while it took four hours to cook, it was certainly worth the wait.  The only comment I would say is that we did find it a bit salty.  Since it calls for two beef bouillon cubes, I will probably just season the meat prior to browning and leave the two teaspoons of salt out next time.  But to each their own.  As a rule, I always follow the recipes to the letter the first time and then alter to taste until I have it just how I want it.

I will also say that if you don't like pumpkin (which come to find out, the hubby doesn't - whoops) don't let this recipe deter you.  It really just tastes like a beef stew.  You can scoop out some pumpkin, if you wish, as you serve the stew; but you certainly don't have to.  Another thing that shouldn't deter you is the time it took to make.  After you chop all the veggies, all you have to do is brown the meat, pour the veggies in and simmer for 2 hours.  Then you transfer the stew into the pumpkin and bake for another 2 hours.  Super simple and the house smelled amazing.

Simmering the stew

The final product

And even though I have an adorable pumpkin soup tureen, I just love the idea of serving the stew in a REAL, cooked pumpkin!  This will definitely be recycled for a Thanksgiving Eve meal.

Enjoy!

xoxo,
TSS

Spooktacular Surprise #4

My goodness!  How has a month of "Spooktacular Surprises" passed us by? I've already decided how I will transition into Thanksgiving because I have really had a ball this month.  I was never big into Halloween so this is new for me.  I guess I just love making a big fuss over my boys.  That said, I'm trying to do it in a fun way and not a, "you are going to be so, so, so spoiled by the time I'm done with you" sortof way.  Hopefully, I am succeeding.  At any rate, I'm really excited about today's treat. It isn't all that exciting but, if I may toot my own horn, just looks so darn cute!!! 

Bugs and Kisses

 

Thanks to Pinterest, I got this adorable idea and free printable here

 

I picked up these adorable Halloween cups at the grocery store for $1 - how fun!

 

Ghost Milk- couldn't resist the ghost peeps in chocolate milk.

 

Fun Halloween balloon that H has gone nuts over all month at the grocery store. 

 

Even the hubby gets a fun treat when he gets in from fly fishing.

 

I also wanted to share this fun snack idea. It looks adorable on the sideboard.....

 

 

.....and taste better than it looks.

 

 

Well, the house is a wreck so I am off to do laundry and clean.  Please try your hardest not to be jealous.  Spooktacular Surprises may be over but I have Halloween's Spooktacular Supper to pull off and then this Halloween will be in the books.  *Sigh* life is going by too fast!

 

Have a frightenly, fantastic Friday!

 

xoxo,

TSS

 

 

Blast From The Past - The Worst Witch

We've been having fun getting ready for Halloween. I can't believe it is a week away! I picked up "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" and "Bernstein Bears Halloween" DVDs at Target a few weeks ago. The boys have also been enjoying Toy Story of Terror, Mickey Mouse Treats, Mickey Mouse Wizard of Dizz, Jake and the Neverland Pirates Golden Pumpkin and Tricks or Treasure and Bedknobs and Broomsticks - all DVR'd over the past few weeks.  And while I promise my children haven't been parked in front of the TV, it is fun to have a Halloween special on as we wind down for the day.

 

 

All these fun Halloween specials reminded me of one of my favorite movies as a little girl.  The Worst Witch - I thought it was such an adorable movie and pretended I was enrolled at the witch's academy.  Silliness - I know - but I loved it.  I looked the movie up on Google yesterday and was thrilled to see you could download it for free from Youtube.  Well, I was working on a mindless mailer at work, which totally justified my watching it.  HA!  I love my boys but sometimes I wonder if I could just rent a daughter for the day to enjoy some fun, frilly movies and outings.  Anyhoo - it was a fun stroll down memory lane.  What are some of your favorite Halloween movies?

Have a great day!

xoxo,
TSS

Treasurers from Home

This past weekend I visited my mother in Georgia and I was dreading the trip.  You see, my father died unexpectedly in March of 2011 and it still kicks me in the gut.  I hated going home for visits after his death because the house just wasn't our home without him. 

Last October, Mother moved into an apartment.  In between all the emotions of the past few years, my Mother has lost her vision and is legally blind. The house was becoming too much of a stress to keep up with as she has fallen twice.  And so it was time to bid farewell to what I lovingly refer to as "3058"......otherwise known simply as, home. 

We found her an apartment in Sandy Springs and she has plenty of folks who check in on her.  As a result, I basically spent the latter part of last summer and fall making weekend trips to Atlanta to help clean out the house.  I brought back several treasurers but had a few surprises waiting for me upon my arrival this time.

My Grandmother's Cookbook

This cookbook is where my father learned to appreciate the art of cooking.  And as you'll read here, where I ultimately got my passion for cooking as well.  I will treasure this gift always.

 

Notice how the spine is taped together (as was her Bible, which sadly, I did not inherit).

 

The yellowing pages contains notes on the tricks of soufflés.  THAT will definitely come in handy!!!

 

Mother's chafing dish.  It is in need of some polishing TLC but will be in working order just in time for Thanksgiving.

 

Part of my Barbie collection.  A perfect example of why I have the sweetest brother on the planet.  I loved Barbies.  LOVED Barbies.  As I grew older, I collected them.  While I got rid of most of them during the estate sale (I have no daughters to pass them on to and my brother didn't want them for his daughter - so really, why keep them)?  Out the door they went.  Except for these two.  I adore Audrey Hepburn and "My Fair Lady" is one of my favorite films.  I acquired these two Barbies at FAO Schwartz in New York City.  While I swore I did not want them, my brother knew better and saved them for me after I left. Thank you, thank you, sweet brother.  I love you!!!

 

Eliza Doolittle ready for Ascot

 

Eliza Dootlittle ready for the ball.

 

and finally, a fun find I found shopping with Mom.  Pretty spot on, huh?

 

I am falling in love with my hometown again.  It no longer feels like home but it is where I am rooted.  Mother, brother and I are moving on - and Daddy lives on in my heart, my memories and the treasures left behind.  I'm thrilled to have these small reminders of my childhood.

 

I'll leave you with a pic of "3058" decked out for Christmas.  It reminds me of the reason I picked Ray Charles, "Georgia" as my father/daughter dance............."other arms reach out to me, other eyes smile tenderly, still in peaceful dreams I see, the road leads back to you.........Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through, just an old sweet song, keeps Georgia on my mind".

 

 

 

Love you, Daddy.

xoxo,

TSS

 

Scuttlebutt

Woo wee - life is hectic these days.  Too many thoughts to process and the hubby is out of town on business, so I am all over the place. So here are a few thoughts for Tuesday:

1.  I am baffled that Vandy beat UGA last weekend.  My beloved Georgia Bulldogs have lost two weekends in a row.  I can accept the loss to Missouri - but not Vandy.  Injuries or no injuries - baffling.  I love Vandy and have tons of friends who went there - but you just don't lose to them.

2.  Am completely jealous of all my friends in Atlanta that posted pictures of Ina Garten's (Barefoot Contessa) recent trip to town.  A few bloggers I follow posted about it too so I know it was a great event, which reminds me that I still have some recipes of hers to test.  Has anyone tested her lamb shanks with orzo - looks devine!

3.  Am overwhelmed at how much my hometown (Marietta, GA) has grown!  I was in town over the weekend visiting my mother and couldn't get over the traffic.  We moved her out of my childhood home a year ago into an apartment in Sandy Springs.  The house was too much upkeep after Daddy died and she didn't need all the space.  Of course, you know I did drive a drive by the old house and I couldn't get over how much the area has changed. I am sure it has been like this and I just didn't notice before but WOW!

4.  Said drive by through Marietta had me realize how much I am living without!!!  I love my sleepy southern town nestled in the foothills of the Western NC mountains but...........Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Williams Sonoma - ahhhh.....oh! how I have missed you!  I stocked up good!

5.  I can't believe H's soccer season is over.  His last tennis lesson is next Monday.  Seriously - where did fall go?

6.  I almost became a stalker Saturday.  Mother and I were meeting a friend for lunch at the country club where I got married and I drove by the house of my favorite blogger (on accident).  To see the house in person was even more amazing than the pictures.  I slammed the brakes so hard I almost sent my mother flying through the windshield.  I fought the urge to run to the front door and beg her to be my BFF - no need to turn into Single White Female (you remember the creepy movie from the late 80s/early 90s). But really - so.stinkin'.cute.  I really should pay this girl a royalty for all her ideas I copy. I don't think she follows my blog so hopefully, I didn't just freak her out.  If so, I promise I am sane.

7.  Did I mention that I can't believe Vandy beat UGA?  Really people...........

Well, I have a Fall Festival, Bible Study, Halloween Spooktacular and Sunday Supper to plan - oh, and my pesky job to get back to.  Have a great day!

xoxo,
TSS