Just like I promised....

But first...
Went to church this morning and I think the Christmas music we sang made my whole week. Afterwards, we (Charlie and Ash, Michael, me and my parents) went to Krispy Kreme and enjoyed coffee and a dozen delicious donuts...that might have also made my week:) Lots of birthdays in the family this month. Mine was last week, Michael's was Wednesday and dad's is today...Happy Birthday Daddy! So besides each individual celebration, we always do a big one for all as well. And this year we decided to go to Flip Burger. So tonight we're going to the new one in Buckhead and it is going to be verrrrry yummy. If ya'll ever come to Atlanta, Flip Burger is a must. The chef is a guy that was on Iron Chef America. They have small "slider" style burgers and they have all different kinds of toppings that they put on them. And of course french fries, onion rings, fried pickles and really good smoky mayonnaise dipping sauce...and all kinds of milkshakes, including the Krispy Kreme one. But I think I will have to pass on that, I think I've had my share of that for the day.
And while I have been workin' dat night shift (as the cuz likes to say), Turner has been skiing his little heart out. He DROVE to Colorado, and I was worried sick because the roads were icy, slick and snowy all over the country that night. And I didn't even know the boys that were driving him! (that really drove me crazy). I just kept imagining the worst and was so glad when he finally called and said that they had made it there safely. Needless to say to people who know her, I have become my mother when it comes to worrying about people's safety. I am constantly telling people to "be careful," a habit I feel certain I picked up from her (one time Turner counted that she told us to "be careful" 15 times before we walked out the door to go somewhere haha).
But alas, I digress. Onto what I sat down to do! Please enjoy! (sorry I don't have pictures, lame, I know)

Cracker Candy-

40 premium crackers (saltines)
aluminum foiled lined cookie sheet
cook 1 cup regular butter
add to 1 cup brown sugar
stir and boil for 3 minutes EXACTLY
line pan with crackers
pour mixture over crackers
bake in 400 degree oven for 5 minutes EXACTLY
pour 1 bag milk chocolate chips over pan mixture
let melt for 5 minutes (will melt on it's own) and then spread
refrigerate for 2 hours and then break apart into pieces

Chess Squares (Ash's faves)-

1 box of butter cake mix
1 stick of butter (softened)
1 egg (slightly beaten)
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 box of Confectioners Sugar (1 lb)
3 eggs (again, slightly beaten)

Mix cake mix, butter and first egg and press into a 9x13 in pan. Mix (with a mixer) the cream cheese, sugar and eggs and pour over crust mixture. Bake 35 to 40 minutes on 350 degrees.
Optional: dust final product with powdered sugar.

Christmas Candy Pretzels-

Square pretzels
White chocolate peppermint kisses
Christmas M&M's

Place a kiss on each pretzel and bake at 250 degrees for 5 minutes. It is verrrry important to not bake longer because the white chocolate dries out really fast and then crumbles and becomes a mess. After baking, press down one M&M on each kiss. Let cool and enjoy.

Fancy Oyster Crackers (REALLY good)-

1 bag of Nabisco oyster crackers
3/4 cup canola oil
1 pkg Hidden Valley original ranch dressing
1.5 tbsp dried dill

Mix ingredients in a bowl and then add crackers. Stir to coat. Stir occasionally over 3 hours and let sit overnight to completely cure.

XOXO, MO

Merry Christmas Ya'll

Look at these cute presents I wrapped. My sister and I made our Christmas tags with stamps we bought at Hobby Lobby. Glitter and ribbon added, they turned out really cute. I also stamped some brown packaging paper and brown paper gift bags...I got a little carried away but the stamps were so darn cute.








Next...if you like holiday candles, this is the BEST smelling candle. It's from Bath Body Works (I bought $60 worth of candles for $25 there after Thanksgiving.) It smells like cinnamon and hot apple pie and Christmas, and ya'll I'm not kidding, I could eat it, it smells THAT good.


The newest additions to Mom's mantle this year.


It took Mom a lot to actually hang these, since they are not facing the same way as ours...and if you know my Mom, you know only perfection is okay. (Michael's stocking is actually red, not pink.)


Except, we had to hang the stockings separate since they do not all face the same way. Sidenote: for some reason, me and Michael and Ashley's stockings are like the only stockings in the whole world that face towards the right. EVERY stocking we looked at, which was A LOT, faced towards the left. Which way does your stocking face?


And just for fun.



Anyways, that was a random post but I'll be back tmrw with some recipes. We have been doing lots of baking lately and have some really yummy, easy Holiday treat recipes that I will share. Hope everyone is enjoying this wknd!
XOXO, MO

'Tis the season to be....

more consistant with my blogging!

I know I've been slacking and I am sorry. I have been so busy doing so many fun things lately...and of course, not taking enough pictures as usual. My excuse for now is that I don't have my Canon Rebel EOS...yet. Santy Clause is hopefully bringing it:) and that will be my incentive to just snap away. But for now, this will have to do.

So, Thanksgiving came and went and was wonderful. And the only picture I took was of our breakfast (typical)- really awesome, ooey-gooey, cinnamon-y, melt-in-your-mouth monkey bread that my mom made (BEST I have ever had.)


Then came the SEC championship, which was also wonderful. But unfortunately, this is the ONLY picture I have to prove I was there...poor quality since it was taken on my iPhone. As you can see, we could touch the back wall of the upper deck, but hey, we were there and we won. And we will look back in 50 years and be able to say we were at the SEC championship where Auburn killed South Carolina to finish off an UNDEFEATED season!!! War Eagle!

And being on the subject of Auburn, congrats to Cammy Cam! Happy Heisman! and I hope to see all (6) of you in Glendale! I cannot wait. Turner got us some National Champioship tickets and we're headed to Vegas for a few days before! Wahoo! I absolutely cannot wait!! I think this season is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to Turner, he is the BIGGEST Auburn football fan ever. I have loved every minute of this season but he has REALLY, REALLY loved every minute so I am glad he gets to go and experience the National Championship. I will have my new camera by then, so a good post should follow shortly after the trip:)
Some more pics from a REALLY FUN AND WINNING SEASON- WAR EAGLE!!




And then my super sweet and thoughtful boyfriend made my 23rd (I know, it's old...touchy subject) birthday the best birthday EVER! I have always, always, always wanted to go to the Biltmore (especially at Christmas time) and sweet Turner planned a fabulous weekend trip for us. The whole weekend was fun-filled but Saturday night topped it off. After an awesome dinner at the Biltmore Winery at Antler Village, we had candle-light tour tickets. We saw the house all lit up and decorated for Christmas. There were carolers throughout the house and the best hot chocolate and apple cider I have ever had. If you have not yet visited the Biltmore, I highly recommend it, it is beautiful!

Turner and I at this fun place we found Friday night with a great Motown band and a very interesting crowd.




Some pics from the Gardens at the House. We went for a little while during the day on Saturday before heading into Downtown Asheville (also a very cool place to visit.)




And I only got a few pictures of the House because there was no picture-taking allowed during the tour. I was very bummed out because it was all sooooo pretty and I wanted a picture of every room in the House!


Thanks Turner for a fantastic birthday present and for always being so thoughtful! (and for putting up with me, of course.)

I'll be back soon (I PROMISE) with some Holiday Cheer! Hope everyone is enjoying the season as much as me!
XOXO, MO

Sittin' on the Dock of the [Apalachicola] Bay

In my dreams...I own a historic mansion in the quaint and sheltered town of Apalachicola. Just across the bridge from the beach I grew up at, St. George Island, lies one of the best secrets of all time, a tiny Southern fishing town called Apalachicola. Ever since I was little I have loved this town. With all the cute shops and seafood restaurants, it is a place where my family spent many rainy beach days. It is also where my dad keeps his boat. The streets near the Bay are filled with sprawling green lawns, picket fences, trees that have been there for centuries and my future summer home.













This might be mine one day...


or [hopefully] it will be this one...


Anyways, back to my dream. Long days at the beach or out on our boat fishing. Quiet afternoons on the porch with sweet tea, a good book and a lazy dog. Evenings entertaining friends with seafood and wine. Big Fourth of July parties with lots of fireworks and food. Basically scenes out of Coastal Living and Southern Living 24/7, with all things beachy.

A kitchen that looks like this. [minus the kid]


A bedroom that looks like this.


My bathroom.


The bunk room.


Oh gosh, I could go on forever...All ya'll are welcome to this wonderful retreat one day, I can't wait!

Happy Birthday to YOU!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sweet, sweet Turner! I hope your day is as wonderful as you are!! You are so great and I hope that when I'm 100 years old, I'm still singing Happy Birthday to YOU!!

I really wish I could get you this sweet little girl as a present...


Her name would be Rosie. But you told me I had to wait.

Or one of these fuzzy little cute guys.





His name could be Winston. Or Abe. And even though you would love him to death and could even take him hunting, you still told me no
:( Don't these little pups just make your heart melt?

Anyways, hope your day is wonderful and it kills me that I can't be with you in Auburn to help celebrate! But I can't wait for the wknd! Auburn football has been AUsome (lol, lmao, hehe) this year and so much fun! Cam Newton is so much fun to watch. I love being no. 4 but it makes me nervous! and oh yeah, I CAN'T WAIT to see my frands either! yippppeeeeee

Now I'm off to attempt to be creative with some black and white pictures I am having developed (a little birthday surprise). Have a great week all...(3 readers:))!

XOXO, MO

Oh, be still my boot lovin' heart....

So, mom and I were out shopping around today (with zero intentions of purchasing $350 cowboy boots, mind you) and I came across this little number, a beautiful pair of real cowboy boots made by Lucchese.







It was love at first sight. My mom was encouraging me, saying things like "you will regret this when you get home if you do not buy them, I know you," and "if you come back to get them, they will be gone." And just like that, within 10 minutes, they were mine. Purchased on a whim. Impulse buy. However, I have been looking for a good ole pair of "shit-kickers" (as Turner calls them) for quite a while now. I will no doubt wear these boots forever, and have every intention of having to have them re-soled a few times in my lifetime. I had no buyers remorse.

And I finally got the purse I have been dreaming about. (Remember that little thing called the Exhibitor?) It had been back-ordered for a while. And yes, I love it just as much as I knew I would. I need to stop shopping, however, it seems to be all I ever want to do on my days off...bad news. But if your interested in saving a little moola, check out J. Crew from 12AM Friday night to 12AM Sunday night and they have a Factory Store section on their website. I have always loved J. Crew factory, but they have never had it available on their website. It's like the exact same clothes at cheaper prices. The selection is not as big, but there is still some good stuff. Also, I always thought Lands End was very plain and for like older people, but then I discovered Lands End Canvas Shop. I really like some of their stuff, and they have alot of sales.

And completely random, but I had the best breakfast this morning. I love oatmeal, I eat it a lot. But this morning, I jazzed it up a bit. I did my usual instant Brown Sugar oatmeal packet that I add about 1 tsp of cinnamon to and 3/4 cup water, but after it had cooked, I added half and half and some light Maple Butter syrup and it was sooo good! So if your an oatmeal lover like myself, I recommend this little treat.

XOXO, MO

Sunday FUNday

Great sermon at late church: check.
Yummy brunch at J. Christophers: check.
Successful shopping date with mom: check.
Long walk on a beautiful fall afternoon: check.
Watching the Braves with a bowl of ice-cream: check.

Love, love, love Sundays, what a wonderful start to the week! Hope everyone has a fabulous Monday! and, GOOOO BRAVES!

XOXO, MO

These are a Few of my Favorite Things [right now]

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with string,
these are a few of my favorite things.

This Watch [Michael Kors Jet Set in horn]



Target's new brand called Tucker- seriously, check it out.





My new subscription to Cook's Country!



Toothpick riding pants from J. Crew- my faves right now. You'll probably see me wearing them every time you see me until it's hot outside again. [for real, they are perfect. if you are in the market for a new pair of black pants, buy these.]




Because I'm wierd and like to sew baby clothes, this website. I drool just looking at these fabric swatches.

fabricworm.com







and because it's Fall, Pumpkin Spice from Starbucks. YUM!



anddd THESE Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup canned or cooked pumpkin
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups finely chopped peeled apples

Streusel

1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 teaspoons cold butter or margarine

1.In a bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin and oil; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in apples. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. In a small bowl, combine sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.
2.Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Oh, and about those necklaces I made on Friday. Not quite done yet, I'll letcha know when I am though.

XOXO, MO