Our weekend and a new scarf.

Happy Monday everyone!

I am already looking forward to Friday..sad, isn't it?

This past weekend we had a nice relaxing time.  Friday night we went and did a little shopping and then watched the last world series game.  Sad day, the Rangers lost.

Then on Saturday we went and had lunch with hubby's parents at Cafe Carolina.  Man, that place was great.  And I love spending time with family.

I'm SO lucky to have such great in-laws. Love them!

And Saturday afternoon I got to work and did some crafting! Man, it felt good to get back into the groove.  I hadn't crafted in several weeks and I was dying to do a project.

Here's my latest project:

DIY Infinity Scarf

I got this fabric from JoAnn's fabric store for less than $2!

 {I needed some lip gloss!}

It's super easy to make and it really does keep my neck warm!  Maybe I'll post a tutorial for the next one I make...I couldn't find my measuring tape so I just eyeballed it for this project..but I think it may be smart to actually measure it for next time.

Love the way it turned out though!

I also made a few felt flower pins for my scarves.   And could probably make a million more in every color because i love them so much.

So..if you are my real life friend and want to know what you're getting for Christmas,  SURPRISE!  :)


I also did a couple projects with a Goodwill sweater I picked up over the weekend..I'll share those tomorrow!! Can't wait- I love them too!

How was your weekend?

Xoxo,

Pumpkin muffins with brown sugar filling and cinnamon streusal topping

Time for another Pumpkin recipe, y'all!!

I have been thinking about this recipe for the past two weeks, so I pulled this one from my archives.

Y'all gotta try these.  

For real.

I've made a handful of different types of pumpkin muffins, and these are BY FAR my all-time favorite.  So, be sure to hop in the kitchen ASAP!!!

Pumpkin Muffins 

with brown sugar filling and cinnamon streusal topping

Recipe from here.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg*
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/3 cup water
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


Streusel Topping:
1 1/4 cup oats
1 tablespoon flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Dash of nutmeg
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks





1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two muffin tins with paper liners or spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, oil, water, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until smooth and combined.
4. Slowly stir in the flour mixture. Mix until ingredients are combined.
5. For the brown sugar cinnamon filling: in a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.
6. For the streusel topping: in a small bowl mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Mix in the butter with your hands until the mixture is crumbly.
7. Fill muffin cups half way full with the pumpkin batter. Sprinkle the brown sugar cinnamon filling over each half filled muffin cup. Fill the muffins cups with the remaining batter. Top each muffin with streusel topping.
8. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove pans from oven and cool on a wire rack. Remove muffins from tins and enjoy.


I promise, you will eat more than one.  Or three.

Enjoy your weekend!! 

My to do list for the weekend?  Garage sale-ing, thrifting, and hopefully lots of DIY projects and crafts!  Come Monday, I'll have some great things to share!! (I HOPE!!)

Xoxo

Insta-Friday!

It's FRIDAY!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!  I can't wait to have a relaxing weekend full of crating, friends, and spending time outside!

Here's my week via Instagram!! If you'd like to follow me throughout the week, I'd love to have you (@ mrskaitjones)

I seriously cannot get over how big my cat is now.  He is HUGE.  But happy. :)

Hubby and I send baby whales to each other throughout the day.  Haha! We are dorks. )

We met some of our good friends in downtown Raleigh for a bowling night.  It was so much fun! We bought a groupon and it was a great cheap way to explore the city!

Beautiful sun flare.

My snack while watching the World Series.  

Stresusal topped pumpkin chocolate chip muffins and a glass of milk.

YUM! 

To find the recipe, just click here!

I started a new bible study this week by Priscilla Shirer. 

I've heard great things about her studies, so I am excited to dive in.

I just love cooking with fresh veggies from the Farmer's Market! 

I usually make a trip there once a week to get what I need.  

Got any tasty ideas on how to cook them?

And lastly, if you'll notice my potted plant is no longer "potted".  

It's uprooted and almost dead- it used to be full of beautiful greenery.  But NOW...

all of these pesky squirrels have been hiding their nuts in the soil for the winter and killing my plants! 

Ugh, I could strangle them! 

I have tried replanting them, but they always come back and dig them up.  

I have two window boxes, and three potted plants that are now ruined.  :(

Oh yeah, and Huey cat usually hangs out behind the blinds during the day. 

I guess to look at the squirrels while they destroy my beautiful flowers. 

 

Happy Happy Friday!!!

Streusal-Topped pumpkin chocolate chip muffins

I am not sure y'all understand my love for fall.  More importantly, my love for PUMPKIN.  Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin cakes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin bread, I love it all. And I found a great recipe to share tonight.  It was yummy to my tummy!

I took all of the photos with my iPhone, so the quality is not great..but I couldn't find my camera! I think it's underneath the gigantic pile of unfolded laundry.  Go figure.

STREUSAL-TOPPED PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

Ingrediants for the muffins:

1 Duncan Hines spice cake mix

1 15-oz. can pumpkin

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 12-ounce package chocolate chips

Ingrediants for the streusal:

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

3 tablespoons butter

Pictured above are only two eggs.  Please note that you will need THREE. (Also, I didn't edit the photos..which explains the Macbook in the photo..oh well!)

Directions:

Ignore the directions on the box. Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake liners and set aside.


In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cake mix, pumpkin, sour cream oil, eggs, and vanilla. Mix on low for 30 seconds or until all the ingredients have been moistened, then beat on medium speed for 2-3 minutes or until the batter is smooth. Mix in the chocolate chips.

Divide the batter evenly in the cupcake liners. Whisk together the flour, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice, then cut in the butter with two knives until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping over the batter.

Bake the muffins for 20-30 minutes or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out completely clean.

Cool on a wire rack before serving. Makes 24 muffins.

 

These turned out really yummy, but I hope to make lots of different kinds of pumpkin muffins so I can find my absolute favorite! 

Happy Eating!

{Recipe taken from here}

Weekend To-Do List

I don't know about you, but I've been super busy around these parts.  When I get home from work, I am so exhausted that all I want to do is sleep...I've just got a lot on my mind lately and that is draining me!  I will share more details once they are more concrete, but until then I will share my to-do list for the weekend.

First of all, I am watching the Rangers play right now!  Hopefully they'll take the title tonight-let's hope so!

I haven't done a DIY or craft project in the longest time. I seriously think that is some of the reason I've been so down and gloomy! It's my outlet of creativitiy and my passion.  I need to get with the program.

SO...

here's my weekend to-do list:

1. Make boot socks!

Source: madebylex.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

2. Pumpkin Fro-Yo! Yes Please!

Source: blogs.babble.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

3. Ruffle Scarf

Source: Uploaded by user via Kaitlin on Pinterest

4. Make a new headband or two.

Source: None via Kaitlin on Pinterest

5. Carve Pumpkins

Here is a photo of some pumpkins Seth and I carved three years ago!

6. Enjoy time with my husband.  I live for the weekends now that hubby is in law school because we actually get to spend quality time together on Saturday and Sunday. 

7. Reorganize my fabric! I have it stuffed in my desk drawer now and I'm hoping by the end of the weekend, it'll look like this:

Source: thisismeinspired.blogspot.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

Do YOU have plans for the weekend?  



Also stay tuned for a  great fall recipe coming up really soon!  You're not going to want to miss it!

Xoxo,

Happiness.

During the week, it's easy for me to forget about the small things that make me happy. I get caught up in the business of my week, cleaning house, working, doing this and that, worrying about things that I can't control..it can really weigh me down. 

It's time to focus on the things that make me happy!  

For example:

Huey cat purring so loud I can hear him from the other side of the room.

Wearing sweatpants.

A warm pot of taco soup simmering on the stove.

Cuddle time with my husband.

Watching Modern Family on Wednesdays.

Seeing Penny play in the yard.

Sitting on the porch in the fall weather.

A nice, hot shower.

Getting up one minute before the alarm goes off.

Sweet text messages from my husband.

Lunch dates downtown.

Fresh honeycrisp apples from the Farmer's Market.

Finding great deals at a garage sale.

Sunflowers from Trader Joe's.

Oranges and cinnamon potporri over the stove.

Freshly painted fingernails.

Reading my bible.

Hugs from friends.

Coffee.

Tall boots.

Sweet tea in mason jars.

The ability to worship God freely and openly.

Laughter.
Community, friendship, fellowship.

This week my goal is to forget about circumstances that I can't control and focus on the blessings and wonderful things in my life.  

Happy Sunday!

Instafriday!

Here is my week via Instagram! If you'd like to join, go here!

I made funtetti cookies.  Those things are the BOMB.

Hubby and I had a picnic in downtown Raleigh while he was in between classes..

it was a beautiful day outside.

We also celebrated my father-in-laws birthday. 

That ice cream cake from Cold Stone was awesome!

We made a trip to the State Fair last Saturday night.

Yes. that is a Krispy Kreme bacon cheeseburger.  

Instead of bread, two doughnuts are in its place.

I declined that lovely treat.  (EW!)

 

Now, I don't consider myself OCD or an organizing queen, but I do enjoy a color coordinated closet for a couple of days (until I throw everything on the floor from trying it on)

I had Tuesday off from work, and Penny girl and I enjoyed a nap in the backyard. 

my favorite part of the week?  Hubby agreed to rub my feet with lotion if I read his law school books outloud to him.  DEAL!  It was my very own in-house pedicure..minus the nail painting part.

Fresh sunflowers from Trader Joes.  Beautiful.

And there we are on our little picnic!

 

I have to work late tonight and early tomorrow..so my weekend plans are not that exciting. :(  But we will spend lunch on Sunday with our small group from Church and then a picnic in the park with Penny.  

(I love picnics...if you can't tell)

ALSO, if you'd like to follow me on Instagram, please do! I'd love to have you join me during my week! :)

My username is mrskaitjones.

What are your weekend plans?  

Happy Happy Friday!

Xoxo,

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Here's what I'm loving this week:


1. I'm loving these recipes I've pinned this week:

Source: jessicainsd.blogspot.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

Source: alexandracooks.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

Source: amerrierworld.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

2. I'm loving that the world series is starting!! Is anyone else rooting for the RANGERS?

3. I'm loving the Fall Collection of Essie Nail Color.  I want them all!!  I especially love the gray.

4. I'm loving my small group at Church. It's so refreshing to have like minded people who love the Lord and are there for you when you are struggling.  I love them!!


5. I'm loving that it's almost the weekend!!!!  I have to work late Friday night AND Saturday, but I am trying to see the bright side of things.  I get to sleep in on Friday and Saturday won't be so bad....right?



Have a great Wednesday!!!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

Y'all.  Stop what you're doing and go make these.  And then right when they come out of the oven, give me a call and I'll be right over with a gallon of milk to help you eat them.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Cookies

Source: fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com via Kaitlin on Pinterest

{click on the photo to go to the source}





Ingredients: 

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp baking soda

Cinnamon-sugar-spice coating
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream softened butter and sugar until fluffy.
Whisk in egg, pumpkin, and vanilla one at a time.
Dump remaining dry ingredients in the bowl and stir until all combined.
It might seem dry at first, but keep stirring until it comes together as a dough.

In a shallow dish, combine sugar, nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon.
Take a teaspoon of dough, roll it around in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until coated and then flatten between the palm of your hands,
coat with cinnamon-sugar again,
and place on a greased baking sheet.
Repeat with remaining cookies.

Bake for approximately 10 minutes. Makes about 36 cookies.

I know it'll be hard to do, but please share.  They are too delicious to keep them all to yourself.

Happy Monday!!!

Fried everything.

We made a trip to the NC state fair yesterday evening.  

i couldn't believe some of the things I saw! 

(All these photos were taken with my iphone so it won't be the best quality.  I hardly ever take my big camera places because my phone is so convienient now!)

Hubby had a KRISPY KREME HAMBURGER.  

and I had a little bite...

it was actually not as horrible as I thought it was going to be. 

Of course, he LOVEd it.

men...

 

Yes. It is two krispy kreme doughnuts, with tomatoes, bacon, cheese, a burger patty, and pickles.   

Ever heard of it?

 

My sis in law had a frozen chocolate dipped nut covered banana. and it was delicious!

(In case you haven't caught on by now, I took a bite of everyone's food.. hehe)

 

The roasted corn was quite yummy to! 

Of course they dipped it in a crockpot full of butter before they handed it to you..so all my hopes of it being healthy went down the drain.

 

And of course we saw several people holding oversized stuff animals. 

Didn't really want to bring one of those home for myself this time.

Anyone care for deep fried mac and cheese?

deep fried ho ho's?

deep fried cheesecake?

deep fried snickers?

deep fried kool aid?

deep fried oreos?

WOW.  I couldn't believe all the things they were selling.

And guess what I found?  

PUMPKIN SPICE FUNNEL CAKE.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. 

and it was pretty much indcredible.

So pumpkiny, sugary, and of course...fried.

So yes, we don't go to the fair to ride the roller coasters.  

We go for the food.

even if it's extremely overpriced and probably not the best quality.

It's the fair!  

Are YOU planning on going?