Pumpkin Patch 2013 + A Winner

One of my favorite things to do each Fall is take the kids to the Pumpkin Patch.
Last week, my younger sister and I took the kids to the Patch on a lovely weekday afternoon. It was one of the first days that it actually felt like Fall. We have had a really, really, warm October here in Nor Cal. The weather has been in the 80's all month. Finally, the day we went to the patch, it was 65 degrees. Love it.

How cute is my nephew, Jack?

Luke & Jack are such good buddies. 

Love these Brother-Cousins!

Luke loved chilling in the wagon:

This is Luke last year at the patch. Where has my baby gone?!?! Time, you suck.

Such a big boy now.

Obligatory  "How Tall this Fall" photos:

One of my favorite things to do is take pictures of pumpkins. 

Especially,  kids with pumpkins.

Pumpkins just make me happy.

I also love the mini pumpkins & gourds!

We ended our time at the patch doing the Corn Maze.

We tried to get a picture of all 4 kids for my mom. She just really wants a picture of all 4 of her grandkids. But everytime we try and take a picture, they turn out like this:

FAIL.

Sorry, Mom. We tried.
Even though going to the pumpkin patch can be a little bit hectic with little kids, I am always so glad we go. 
Our Fall isn't complete unless we go to the pumpkin patch. I have learned that the BEST time to go is on a weekday afternoon. There is NO ONE there. We had the patch to ourselves. The weekends are WAY too crazy busy. By the time we get there after school during the week, all the field trip kids are gone also. Love having the patch to ourselves!

Goodbye, Pumpkin Patch. See you next year!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The winner of the Scentsy Giveaway is:
#87 Virgina!
Leave a blog comment with your email and I will get you in touch with Lisa!
AND
Just 1 more day until the Crockpot Giveaway ends!
Enter HERE if you haven't yet!
AND
Friday is November 1st, which means it's our Pin-Spired Link Up!

Link up those Pinterest Inspired Outfits with me, Sheaffer & Shay!

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles + A $100 Visa Giftcard Giveaway

I am so excited to share with you one of my favorite cookies to make during the Fall.

During the months of October & November, these are my go-to cookie. 

Perfect for the Halloween & Thanksgiving Holidays.

 

Whenever I bake, I make a mess on my counter. Especially when I am dipping cookies in a sugar mixture.  If you know me, you know I am a germaphobe & I don't like sponges. I always use Clorox disinfecting wipes to clean up my kitchen counters & bathroom counters.

That's why I was thrilled  when Clorox & BlogHer asked me to be a part of this Clorox Spread Prevention During the Holidays campaign. It is a product I use & love.

Here is what you need:

• 2 sticks of butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup  brown sugar
• 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 3/4 cups flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

For the coating:

• 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the pumpkin puree, then beat in the egg and vanilla.

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
 With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until fully incorporated. 
 Cover and chill the dough for at least an hour.

Use a cookie scoop or a spoon to make cookie balls.

Place in cinnamon sugar mixture:

 Roll to coat the entire cookie ball:

  Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liner.
Set cookies on cookie sheet.

Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 12 to 14 minutes, or until baked through.
 



The holiday season is can spread more than holiday cheer – it can mean spreading germs, too. With baking cookies, having visitors in and out of the house, holiday travel, shopping among a sea of people with the sniffles and holiday parties, it is important to practice flu prevention during the holiday season, so you don’t miss out on any of the festivities! We already have holiday parties to go to every weekend in December! 

Before and after hosting festive parties and holiday guests, remember to disinfect germ hot spots – like doorknobs, light switches, TV remotes, faucets and plastic toys – using an EPA-registered disinfectant like Clorox^® Disinfecting Wipes, which helps reduce the spread of cold and flu viruses.

We have a lot of people in and out of our house during the Holidays..for parties, playdates & neighborhood cookie making. Clorox^® Disinfecting Wipes help keep my house clean & our family healthy.

 How would you like to win a $100 Gift Card to help with your Holiday Shopping?

Just leave a comment letting me know:

How do you stay healthy during the holidays? 

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/30/2013 - 11/27/2013
Be sure to visit the sponsor's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Disclosure: I was compensated for this post, however, my thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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October 27, 1911

The day my amazing Grandma was born.

102 years ago.

Today, my amazing Grammy turned 102.

102 years old. 

I can't believe it. 

She still lives in her house by herself....at 102 years old!!!

(My aunt lives a few blocks away and checks in on her each day & does her grocery shopping for her) but for 102, Grammy is still pretty self sufficient for her age.....can still walk,  get herself dressed & fixes herself meals.

But, her vision is decreasing, her hearing is declining and her memory is starting to fade.

All of this is understandable, considering she is 102.

We headed to Grammy's yesterday for a Family Birthday Party.

It was so great to see all my cousins on my mom's side and all their kids. 

Grammy's favorite color is pink (just like me) so, there was lots of pink at her party.

 Grammy & my Mom (her daughter):

Me & Grammy:

My mom, my sisters & I and Grammy:

 So thankful Grammy has gotten to meet my 3 kids.

I made my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes (recipe here) with pink frosting, of course:

 Singing Happy Birthday:

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.

I am not going to lie, this was a very emotional visit with Grammy.

The last time I saw her was this Spring and her memory has really taken a down turn since I last saw her. Grammy's memory has always been REALLY sharp, but not as much anymore. 

She would sometimes forget who was talking to her and I had to remind her of my kids names a few times. It was not like this a few months ago.

It was really, really, really hard for me to see that yesterday.  

It it totally understandable, I mean she is 102 and of course her memory is going to fade, but it was just hard to see that happening.

I gave her a big birthday hug as we left. 

She told me how much she loved me and that I need to come back and visit soon.

Grammy has lived a really incredible life. 

I am so lucky to have a Grandma like her.

She is one of the most inspirational women I know.

Happy, Happy, Happy 102nd Birthday Grammy!