Preheat oven to 325. Simply mix the pumpkin and the spice cake mix powder together and drop by heaping tablespoons into greased muffin cups. Bake18-22 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. We opened our muffins up and put a dollop of cool whip on them-Yum!
This is a quick, easy fall breakfast that smells yummy baking.
2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup Crisco
1 T sugar
3/4 cup milk
2-3 T melted butter
Preheat oven to 450. Cut shortening into flour using a pastry blender (or criss-crossing 2 knives, or just use your hands) until mixture looks like fine crumbs. Stir in milk until dough leaves side of bowl (dough will be soft and sticky)
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead lightly 10 times. Pat to 1/2 inch thick. Using round biscuit cutter or top of glass cut biscuits. Place on ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart. Top each biscuit with melted butter.
All I can say is these biscuits are delish! If all you have is all-purpose flour add 3 t baking powder and 1 t salt. Stir well before adding in shortening. One time I didn't stir well and my boys said the biscuits tasted like poison...and they did. You can have these on the pan by the time the oven is done pre-heating. Such a quick breakfast or addition to dinner.
I really enjoyed reading the book, The Help and watching the movie. They fry up lots of chicken in the book and movie. It looked so good. Last night we had a couple families over and learned how to fry chicken and make homemade biscuits. We had homemade strawberry jam, blackberry jam, mashed potatoes, veggies and Minnie's chocolate pie.
These are Minnie's pies-can't tell you about The Terrible Awful...you'll have to read the book.
After awhile Todd came in, his Mama is the fried chicken expert so he took over the reins for a while.
And we kicked back and sipped our sweet tea. It took us 3 1/2 hours to do all this cooking! And it was worth it-so much fun and so tasty.
Cheering wildly when everyone else does in an attempt to feel a part even though I have no earthly idea what is going on out there on the field
Enjoying seeing the blue and green field, it's so colorful and pretty
Watching my husband yell at the field and predict the next song the band will play
This week however:
There were 2 touchdowns in the last couple minutes and I saw them both with my own green eyes
That was so stinkin fun. So, these guys were running, running, running and they scored. I liken it to the feeling of scoring a sale at Steinmart-very memorable.
Now I feel like a football expert because I saw a play that I understood
At the end of the game, my husband picked me up, gave me a small bleacher spin in the air cheering, "We did it we did it!" He won the game while enjoying a popcorn and Dr. Pepper.
Now let's talk about hosting a football party at your house. My friend did this last week and it sounded like the greatest idea. Here's what you need to host a great football party.
Invite your friends and their family over
Get some great food together. Let people join in on the fun by bringing their favorite football food.
Play the game
Burn good candles-my current favorite is Leaves from Bath and Body Works (you must try it!)
Aaaaannnnd, yep, I think that pretty much covers it. (now shhh, just between me and you, if you want to have the ladyfolk bring decorating magazines so you can sit at the kitchen table drinking coffee and talking all things burlap, gingham and fall i would not judge you one iota.)
As for great football food, well, my friend grilled hot dogs and had homemade chili and cheese dip to go along with it. Lots of other dips as well. I love a 7 layer Mexican dip, a homemade ranch dip, chips and fresh veggies. That's all I've got for today but seriously, go get a Leaves candle. It is sheer joy in a jar.
For the last month or so I have been praying a lot, asking God to give me a vision and direction for how to spend our time each day.
There are so many things we can put our hands to. So many choices. So many good opportunities. Starting a new school year with new commitments can tend to always be overwhelming for me.
I've been asking God to give Shane and I wisdom so that our schedules will reflect His Glory. There is that fine balance between stepping out in faith to be used by God, trusting your resources of time and money are safe in His very capable hands, and then crossing the line of being too busy.
I just had to write and share that after weeks of praying it is becoming very clear that God has given clarity to my thoughts regarding very specific things I can do to make our days run smoother. I asked for clarity and He gave it.
So specific and detailed.
About 2 weeks ago I came home late one evening from working. After I washed my face I stepped into my closet to grab my pj's. When I walked in, I looked on the floor and noticed my 3 year old had dumped a box of puzzle pieces on the floor. Even though it was very late, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging my heart to sit down and work the puzzle.
I can tell you I was like, seriously Lord? It's after midnight and I am tired. But you and I know that still small voice is something you do not argue with. So, I sat down and began to work the 100 piece Incredible Hulk puzzle and talked with God the entire time. Do you know what God told me as I sat there working that puzzle?
I will establish peace within your borders.
I am in control of all the pieces of your time and your days.
I will establish peace within your borders.
The puzzle comes together one piece at a time. After searching you begin to see the big picture unfold and it is one piece at a time.
I will establish peace within your borders.
It takes focus.
I will establish peace within your borders.
You can't quit or give up.
I will establish peace within your borders.
Ask me to give you eyes to see.
I will establish peace within your borders.
Slow down, why are you in such a hurry always?
I will establish peace within your borders.
At the end, when the puzzle was complete, there were 6 pieces missing. Even though we might not always have the entire picture...
I will establish peace within your borders.
When you are seeking God for every move you make, the things that need to be added or removed can become very obvious. There was a piece in the mix of pieces that did not belong to the puzzle I was working. It had gotten thrown in the box at some point. When the pieces were a jumbled mess on the floor I could not discern it needed to be removed. It was only when I stopped. Slowed down. Sat down. Touched each piece one by one to evaluate where it went. Only then was I able to have eyes to see what was unfolding.
I will establish peace within your borders.
How much do we miss out on because we are not asking for eyes to see? The clarity of vision I'm experiencing is a gift because I asked and He gave. Guess what?
I am living and enjoying the peace within my borders.
There is peace, joy and direction available for you. I pray this video is an encouragement to you, it is a song of prayer. A song of worship. A song of commitment to take one thing at a time, to seek God and ask for direction.
Can I just tell you I haven't been this torn up over a cleaning product since the Shark Steamer infomercials came out.
I was at a ladies house several months ago and it was the most calming, peaceful atmosphere. She had her blinds pulled up and the sun was shining through her sparkling clean windows. Her daughter's room was painted the most gorgeous aqua color. The windows had sheer curtains on them. The window was cracked open and the breeze was blowing the curtains.
Glorious!
In her kitchen the sparkling glass was just over the top pretty.
Sparkling windows with raised blinds is such a simple thing you can do to enhance the look of your house.
Yesterday I was talking to my sister and she told me about this new product she found on QVC. Target and Walgreen's sell it (it's actually cheaper at Target, it is in the car cleaning section in both stores). The women in my family are QVC aficionados. I'm talking they're on the preferred speed dial lists and the whole nine yards. Our family shopping tendencies are another post for another day though. When Natalie told me about an amazing glass cleaner she had me at hello and I knew it would complete me. Bwahhaaa. Snort.
If you click on the links below you'll see exactly what products I bought yesterday that changed my life.
Changed. My. Life.
Do you hear what I'm telling you? No I haven't lost weight and no I'm not pregnant. That healthy glow is my new changed life.
The first tester area was my big kitchen window.
Shane was here, you can ask him. I sprayed the first pane and wiped it with my micro fiber cloth. MAN ALIVE. It was noticeably different. Wiped off so easily and left a mean sparkle! Next I went to my big bathroom mirror. As I walked in before I even turned the light on I could see streaks and a light layer of dust. I had just cleaned the day before OK. (with Windex) (OK with fake brand Windex because I couldn't find the real stuff). I sprayed the Invisible Glass on, wiped it off and voila! Perfection!
You can use it on your car windows and tinted glass too. Mirrors, glass, cars...
Here are the links you can click on to see more... QVC (I'll wait while you run grab a Vanilla DP from Sonic Happy Hour and pop a bag of popcorn. Invite your friends over to watch. This is Date Night good. If you want to send your Redbox monies to me because I just saved you $1.08 just email me for my address)
Blue Micro Fiber Cloths (The new cloths I bought that were sitting right next to the cleaner. LOVE these. You can't use fabric softener when you wash these. They are special.)
