Happy Halloween!

Hope your day was full of pumpkins, candy & more treats than tricks!

From Tinker-Claire & Pirate Princess Kate!
Happy Halloween 2011!
And, a look back on past Halloween's:

2007:

2008:

 2009:

  2010:

100.

Today, Grammy (my Grandma) turns 100.
100 years old!!!!!
Triple Freaking Digits!!!!
That is amazing.
Even more amazing is that she still lives by herself!!
At 100 years old! By herself! In her own home!
Amazing, amazing, amazing.
Grammy, FTW.
(Grammy at age 3 - circa 1914)

Grammy was born October 27, 1911 in the Blue Hills of Idaho.
She was the 3rd child of 7 children.
(She and her youngest sister, Jean are the only ones still alive. Jean is the baby of the family & is in her late 80's)
Her family moved briefly to Oregon and then settled in Eureka, California.
She married and then became a bank teller for Wells Fargo.
She survived the Roaring 20's, The Great Depression & The World War Era.
She is a Daughter of the American Revolution.
We have had 44 US Presidents. Grammy has gotten to experience 18 of them! That is 40% of our total US Presidents.
When she was born, there were only 46 states in the USA.

In 1952, she had a surprise baby at age 41...my mom!
She has 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren.
(with an 8th on the way, my cousin's wife is due in May)
(Grammy on her 99th Birthday)

Grammy is a remarkable person.
She is the matriarch of our family and has been through so much in her life but always has a positive outlook on everything.
She is an inspiration to all who meet her.
To know her is to love her.
I remember at her 90th birthday party -10 years ago- my cousins and I were all telling Grammy that we just knew she would make it to 100 year old. We chanted Triple Digits!!!
She said if she did make it that long, then she wanted Willard Scott on the Today show to mention her on her 100th birthday.
I emailed them in September about Grammy, but I never heard back.
Sorry, Grammy. I tried. I really wish you could have been mentioned on the Today show!
But, we are going to throw you an awesome 100th Birthday Party this weekend.
I can't wait to celebrate Grammy this weekend with all of our family...aunts, uncles, cousins.
All of Grammy's favorite people together in one place to celebrate her. Can't wait.

Everyone always asks Grammy her advice for living so long & for being in such good health (physically and mentally....her memory is still sharp!!)
Here is her list of advice:
1. Surround yourself with your family and people you love.
2. Drink Coffee every morning.
3. Have a Happy Hour cocktail everyday (Grammy's preference is a Cranberry Vodka)
4. Stay away from hospitals & doctors.
5. Be positive.

Congrats on making it to Triple Digits, Grammy!
(I hope to make it to 100 one day also...Grammy is my inspiration)

Happy, Happy, Happy 100th Birthday Grammy!
I am SO proud to be your Grand-daughter!

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

One of my favorite things about pumpkins is carving them so that you can make toasted pumpkin seeds!
Here is a yummy & easy pumpkin seed recipe for you to try out!
Here is what you need:
Pumpkins, Vegetable Oil (or Olive Oil) & Salt (I use Sea Salt)

Scoop the seeds out of your pumpkins:

Do not wash the seeds. It is good to have some of the orange stuff on the seeds!
Hollow that pumpkin out!
For every 2 cups of seeds, use 2 tbsp. vegetable oil and 1.5 tsp. salt.

Combine oil, seeds & salt in a bowl.

Spread out seeds on a cookie sheet.

Bake in a 250 degree oven for about 1 hour (or until seeds are dry, so maybe a little longer)

Yummy, Toasty Pumpkin Seeds.

After they are cooled, I store them in an airtight container.
They are such a fun snack. Even my girls like them.

So, when you are carving your pumpkins this week, be sure and save the seeds so you can make homemade toasted pumpkin seeds!

For the Win!

For the Win has been my new favorite saying for the past few months.

"For the Win" is also known as "FTW".
Occasionally, I would see people post FTW on their Facebook status updates & I had no idea what it meant.
Finally, after a month or 2, my curiosity got the best of me & I finally googled what FTW meant.
I found out it was "For the Win", like when something awesome happens, you end it with FTW!

So, here are a few things I have declared "For the Win" over the last few weeks.
(And, yes....many times I shout out For the Win! when no one else is around. It's fun. Try it sometime.)

First up...Starbucks opened up a new store a few minutes from our house. This shopping center opened up 3 years ago & there wasn't a coffee shop. Kevin & I have been saying for 3 years that they need a coffee shop and FINALLY Starbucks opened earlier this month. Last weekend we rode our bikes with the girls to it & it only took 6 minutes door to door......FTW!
The girls hadn't been to the dentist in over 2 years because our last experience was HORRID. I found a new dentist for them & this place is AMAZING. Both girls loved it & happily had their teeth cleaned. They had no cavities and the girls want to brush AND floss everyday now.....FTW!
I was cleaning out one of my old purses that I hadn't used in a year & guess what I found in one of the pockets? $40! FTW!
I won a giveaway on Kate's blog for a $40 credit to Crystal B's etsy shop.
My earrings & necklace came last week and I am wearing the earrings today!
Winning a giveaway & getting cute jewelry, FTW!
(image via crystal b's shop)

For over a year, I have been looking for an old fashioned wooden high chair that I can spray paint & use for photo shoots (for 1st birthday shoots) I have been searching & searching to no avail. I had pretty much given up. Then, out of the blue, earlier this month, I was driving to a bridal shower & I was running late. I was at a stop sign and to my left was a garage sale. (Side note: I have never been to a garage sale) As I am waiting at the stop sign, I see THE HIGHCHAIR that I have been looking for. But, I was running late to the bridal shower, so I knew I couldn't stop & I kept driving. Then, I came to my senses 30 seconds later, flipped an illegal U-turn and drove back to the garage sale. I asked how much she was asking for the highchair. She said $50. All I had was a $20. She accepted!!!
Highchair, FTW!!!!!!!! (can't wait to spray paint it!)

And, I must say, Crockt-ober was FTW for sure!

Every night this week, I am making a crock pot recipes. Thanks to everyone who linked up, there are over 35 crockpot recipes on the link up! Check them out!

Pumpkin Ice Cream from Trader Joes. Need I say more? FTW.
Several years ago, Milky Way came out with Simply Caramels. They were so good. Just chocolate & caramel. They lasted 1 year & then I could never find them again. That is until earlier this month. They are BACK! Milky Way, FTW!
We finally cut our homegrown pumpkin off the vine. This was our first time growing a pumpkin & it is huge! Homegrown Pumpkin, FTW!
It is ridiculous how long Claire's eyelashes are. She inherited them from Kevin.
Long eyelash genes, FTW!
Leaves turning orange & yellow and crunchy leaves on the ground?
Fall is here....FTW!
Last week, Claire's Cowgirl Party was featured on Apartment Therapy's Ohdeedoh site. FTW!
Also last week, the girls were sick & I had to take an impromptu day off work.
We hung out in our jammies until 11 am & did crafts. Lazy morning, FTW!

Claire still wasn't feeling well this weekend, so she stayed home with Kevin while Kate & I had a date day on Saturday. We headed to the Pumpkin Jubilee in our town. Quality 1 on 1 time with my oldest, FTW!
Kate (wearing last year's pumpkin shirt) sat at this table & we crafted for almost an hour. FTW!

I went to Joann's to get some fabric to make new pumpkin Tshirt's for the girls. It was crowded. I pulled number 91 for the cutting table when they were on number 68. It could have been a FAIL to wait that long, but while we were waiting, the nice lady in front of me gave me a 50% off coupon, so I got a yard of fabric for less than $2.00, FTW!
Sunday was spent dealing with 2 little girls who were still sick with nasty croupy coughs. Luckily, our doctor's office is open on the weekend & we got right in. FTW!

I have been wanting to see Bridesmaids since it was in the theaters, but we never saw it. I have been trying to get it at Redbox, but it is always sold out. Finally got it this weekend. Rebdbox $1.00 rentals, FTW!

And, finally...is there anything better by crawling into your bed with shaved legs & clean sheets? FTW!

Anything make you exclaim, For the Win! lately?

A Trip to the Patch

One of my favorite things about Fall is our annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch.

My mom, the girls & I headed to the same farm/pumpkin patch that we go to every year.
It is simple, rustic & fun.

And, like we have done every year in the past, we go in the late afternoon.

We go always go at that time:
1. Because that is when I get off work
and
2. Because when you go in the late afternoon on a weekday, you have the whole place to yourself!

A downside of going in the late afternoon is that none of the rides are running, but my girls don't know the difference (yet). I don't think they even realize that these barrel cars should be pulled by a truck. But, it was fun for them just to play around on the cars (and free!)

And, we didn't have to pay for the corn maze because it was so late in the afternoon. I love the corn maze, although we have never successfully found the exit. We always go out through the entrance.

Another perk is that there is no one in the background of your pumpkin pictures :)
The annual posed pumpkin patch picture:
Another one of my favorite things about the patch is all the pretty gourds, pumpkins & fall decorations on display:

I just love all the colors & textures!

We stayed until the sun was literally setting & the patch was closing.It was a great day at the patch.

Can't wait to go again next year!

Erin Condren Giveaway Winner!

Thanks to everyone who entered The Erin Condren Giveaway!
I just love their products & I hope you will also!

I meant to post this yesterday, but we were busy going to the Pumpkin Patch!
The winner of the $25 gift card to Erin Condren is:
Congrats, Abby!