What is Playing Wednesday

My newest music purchase was the new Kings of Leon album, Come Around Sundown, and I really enjoy it! While it's not has rockin' as some of their previous albums, this is still really great stuff and it doesn't hurt that the lead singer's name is Caleb either and boy, do I love to hear him sing...I just love his gravelly, deep, sexy voice!

Check it out!



Happy Wednesday!

Why we work

After 10 years of marriage some people wonder why and how my husband and I manage to stay together and are so happy. Well, this past weekend I was reminded once again of why we are a perfect match for each other!

Over the past two weeks they have been resurfacing all of the streets in my part of the valley and when they do that, they also cover up all of the lane markings and you just have a large wonderfully spacious black surface to drive on. My husband and I were in the car together this weekend and when we came upon one of these roads (it was supposed to be a three-lane road) and since no one was around he began swerving and we looked at each other and said at the same time “Look at this. Wide lanes…this is sooo luxurious!”




Yep, we are both Seinfeld lovers and we can recite amazing quotes that fit our situations perfectly. And it is one of the many reasons that I love my husband... 'Cause a man that can quote amazingly perfectly timed pop culture references definitely has my heart!

Pudding Cookies

My husband and I love a good, soft, thick cookie and when I came across this recipe from my good friend Chelsea's sister's blog, Double Dipped Life, I knew that I had to try them. It had some of my favorite things in it...chocolate pudding and chocolate chips.

You can really use any kind of pudding. We have substituted cheesecake flavor and vanilla, but my favorite is definitely the chocolate since it gives the cookie such a great rich flavor. But be prepared this recipe make A LOT of cookies!

Chocolate Pudding Cookies

• 4 1/2 cups All-purpose Flour
• 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
• 1/2 teaspoons Salt
• 2 cups Butter, Softened
• 1 1/2 cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1/2 cups White Sugar
• 2 packages (3.4 Oz. Package) Small Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
• 4 whole Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 3 cups Your Favorite Chocolate Chips (I used a mixture of Semi-Sweet Chocolate and Butterscotch)

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees, or a convection oven to 325 degrees.
2) In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3) In a very large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended.
4) Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in chocolate chips. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
5) Bake for 10-12 minutes. If you are using a convection oven, bake for 10 minutes.
6) Leave cookies on the cookie sheet for a few minutes, and then transfer to cool on wire racks.

These cookies are very rich and this recipe makes quite a lot of cookies, so it would be great for a cookie exchange this Christmas! I also think that it would be great with the holiday dark chocolate & mint chocolate chips that are available this time of year.

Enjoy!

What is Playing Wednesdays

As I stated before I am a music lover...I totally and completely love music, and it's not just one kind. I love just about everything...country, rock, alternative, singer/songwriters, pop...I love it all.

One newer album that I just can't get enough of is Jamey Johnson's The Guitar Song. It is a double album with 25 songs consisting of old-fashioned honky-tonk tunes, acoustic renderings and some awesome southern rock anthems.

Check it out...I think that even those country-hatin' people might like it!

Here is one of the first releases from the album, Playing the Part:
(Video directed by Matthew McConaughey)



But here is my favorite song off the album, Macon:



Enjoy and Happy Wednesday!

The Halloween that went on, and on, and on...

This year it seemed like Halloween was never going to end! We had a harvest party at Caleb’s preschool, pumpkin carving night, and two days of trick or treating...all in one week!

But along with being long, it was also such a FUN year. Caleb finally got what it was about and he wasn’t afraid of knocking on doors and he actually would say “Trick or Treat” when people answered the door instead of running and hiding behind mom's legs.

It was so cute to watch Caleb and his friends literally run from house to house just to have the chance to say trick or treat and get their candy. What a fun, long weekend spent with my lovely little family and great friends I can't wait to see what next year will bring...I don't know if it can top this one!

In the bounce house at the preschool Harvest Party

Rosy red cheeks courtesy of bounce house jumping for 1 solid hour

Showing off mom and dad's carved pumpkins

Caleb & I just before heading out for our first trick or treating of the year

Caleb and his favorite Star Wars character.
He is still talking about meeting him!

Caleb and his "bestest" friend just before trick or treating on Halloween

Three kids, three cameras...each one looking at a different one!

  
Now if I can only get Caleb to stop asking to wear his Spiderman costume everyday and every night!

School Photos

So about a month ago I remember seeing signs at my son's preschool that a photographer was coming in to take photos of the kids. Being the absent minded mom that I am, I completely forgot about the photos and making sure my little one has a fresh haircut and all of the stuff that goes along with photo day. So photo day came and went and I didn't think anything about it.

Then last week I saw another sign announcing that the photos would be back later in the week and that we could purchase them if we wanted. I then began mentally kicking myself in the rear for forgetting about photo day. I wasn't expecting anything good to come of the photos since I didn't prepare my little monster for them...

But when I saw them I was so happy with how they turned out! It didn't matter that I didn't have his hair done or that he wasn't all dressed up. They did that all for us!

My little golfer!

The Rodeo Rider

Rico Suave!

Isn't he just FREAKING ADORABLE?!? Now I'm not one of those mom's that goes for the "dress up" photos in any way, so I was so surprised to find how much I liked these!

I hope that everyone is coming out of their candy hangover and ready for the week. I've got some Halloween photos and recipes that I am preparing for the rest of the week...until then, have a great Monday!

Pumpkin Handiwork

My hubby and I finally got to our pumpkin carving tonight. Down here in the desert you can't carve your pumpkins too early or they get pretty gross and moldy...and believe me, we have learned our lesson! It's just too hot down here, even in October. (Today it was 92 degrees!)

Here is what we carved:

My hubby carved the witch and I did the ghost. I think they turned out pretty good and we had such a great time carving them. While we were carving, Caleb was painting since he's still too little to use a knife and afterwards we took the party outside and laid on a blanket in the backyard looking at the stars. 

Pretty good way to start the Halloween weekend, isn't it? Tomorrow we are going to a local "Trunk or Treat" and then traditional trick-or-treating on Sunday. I can't wait!

Happy Halloween!