Thanksgiving is fast approaching

Those of us who are preparing (both physically and mentally) to host a family Thanksgiving dinner this year know it is quickly approaching.  Of course its not a hard decision to come up with the basic menu since most of the norms are expected, but we all have that little twinkling in our eye to come up with something a little different or fun to impress our guests.  Well hopefully I can make your job a little easier with these cute Thanksgiving ideas.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Deviled Eggs

So simple, just add the spice and a green olive to make it a pumpkin!

{image from Foodista}

Pumpkin Oranges and Clementines

Just take the peel off and add a celery stock and you've got a pumpkin!

{image from halfhourmeals}

Mini Caramel Apple Bites

Scoop the apple, stick it with a toothpick and dip it in the caramel.  Easy, yummy fingerfood!

{Image from EatPrayWearLove}

Hersey's Acorn Bites

Eatable decorations, who could ask for more!  Hershey's Kisses, and Nutter Butter Bites.

{Image from Learnist}

Donut Acorn Bites

Donut holes, chocolate icing, brown sprinkles and pretzel sticks

{Image source unknown}

Rice Krispie Pumpkins

Orange Rice Krispie balls, rolos and green tootsie rolls

 {Image from grinandbakeit}

Personal-Size Pumpkin Pies
I made these beauties last year and they turned out so precious!  Check out the how-to and original post here

Warm Grown-Up Apple Cider
Add some caramel vodka and cinnamon sticks to spice up your apple cider, YUM!

{Image from Cookingincollege}

Pumpkin Cake
Try putting two bunt cakes together to create a pumpkin cake!  So simple and SO cute!

{Image source unknown}

Flower Bread
This idea isn't necessarily Thanksgiving, but its not NOT Thanksgiving, so why not, right?!  

{Image source unknown}

Pumpkin Pie Bites
Self explanatory, YUM!

{Image from Bakerella}

Don't forget, even if you aren't hosting a Thanksgiving get together, you can always bring these puppies along to gain some points with the fam.  I'm sure they will be appreciated :)

Smokey Mountains Majesty

{ this is a totally unrelated picture of some trees in my parents' neighborhood..  It was just too pretty not to post }

Every Tuesday my Glafenhein side of the family has a family dinner.  Absolutely love it.  Getting to be around family and eat meals with them is one of the best parts about being back in K-town!  Even better, Wil's GooGoo (grandma) and Papa Bill (granddad) get to drive in from Sevierville for dinner every other Tuesday.  It is such a blessing.

So, yesterday was like every other Tuesday night.  After hours of yummy food, good talks and a good while of lounging on the couch to work off all the food we just ate, people started trickling out.  We started to head out and I could not for the life of me find my phone.  Which is pretty weird because I hardly ever lose anything and am especially good at keeping track of what Wil looses.  So after I look around for a while the whole family starts getting into the search.  Couch cushions were lifted, pots and plates were shifted and steps were traced.  I literally did not know where else to look.  In desperation I would lift up perfectly flat plates off the counter and look under them.   After about 20 minutes of the whole house looking for my phone, someone had a thought that maybe Wil's grandparents took it with them thinking that it was theirs.  (They had left about 45 minutes earlier)  We call them up, and sure enough the accident had been made.  (On a really great side note, Wil's grandmother DOES have an I-Phone and is very tech-savvy in using it, so it was a very easy and honest mistake for her to make- no hard feelings at all)  However, it did mean that my phone was in Seviervill and I was in Knoxville.

Basically, that was a dramatic tale of why I was without my phone for the day.  And ya'll, being completely honest.  I.  Loved.  It.

Now don't get me wrong; I love my phone and am so thankful for the technology that allows me to be connected to the world in an instant and lets me keep in touch with family and friends etc.  But man oh man was it a relaxing and freeing to have no phone for a little bit.

I took a walk and talked with God- instead of my usual reading of emails or texting friends.  I read the Bible without being distracted. I organized my room a little bit.  I made breakfast and enjoyed the view while I ate.  I sang acapella to myself and got a really good laugh out of it.  I had no idea what time it was for a while.  I wasn't worried about missing a call or a text because there was nothing I could do about it.  Man oh man it was freeing.

So, as crazy as it sounds, I am so thankful that GooGoo and Papa Bill accidentally took my phone last night.  God used that time- however short it was- to just bring me back to reality for a little bit and help me breathe a little better.

And while the 2 hour drive today was not exactly ideal, the sky was crystal clear and the landscape was Majestic.  There were a couple of times that I actually said "WOW" to myself in the car and at one point I busted out "OH BEAUTIFUL FOR SPACIOUS SKIES, FOR AMBER WAVES OF GRAIN! FOR PURPLE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY, ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAINS!!"

I literally couldn't help myself.

There was a little weight lifted off my shoulders today that was replaced with a gentle embrace by my Father.  God is so sweet and knew exactly what I needed.

I am so thankful.

Off to Canada 'eh!

Wil and I are headed to Canada this weekend to finally love on our new nephew. It had been 3 whole months and we have not gotten to hug him yet, so this trip has been a long time comin'! 

He is just the cutest thing! I really can't get over it! I honestly can't get over how much I love all of my nephews and my niece! They are my favorites and I can't get enough of them! I'm going to be a complete mess when I have my own, that's for sure! 

Anywho, we are headed to the most picturesque town and I cannot wait to share all of the pictures with you! I will definitely be posting some pictures on my blog after the fact but if you want some real time photos be sure and check my Instagram feed. 

We are flying into Halifax and then making out merry way to Chester the beautiful. 

Ill be sure to keep you guys posted! Until next time, eh!

Cruisin!

Just got back from a wonderful fun filled family vacation!  Here are some sneak peek pictures from the cruise.  I'll post more pictures as well as get back to my regular blog posts soon, don't worry!  But for now I will leave you with a few, mon!

St. Thomas

St. Thomas

Dawn Beach, St. Maarten

Dawn Beach, St. Maarten

Atlantis, Bahamas

The siblings on Dawn Beach, St. Maarten

Local Restaurant on Dawn Beach, St. Maarten

Wil and I at Dawn Beach, St. Maarten

Happy Things

Day 14: 10 Things That Make You Happy

It would not even be fair if I answered this post with the general term for "things" and wrote about my family and friends that make me happy.  Because honestly the list would go a mile long and you would get so sick of names and pictures.  I have soooo many family and friends that genuinely make me happy and I am so thankful for that!  So, for the sake of your time, I will keep it simpler by writing on the more specific term for "things" that make me happy.

JEEP RIDES WITH THE TOP OFF

SUNSETS

 FLOWERS, ESPECIALLY LILIES

SATURDAY MORNING SPECIALS AT MY PARENTS HOUSE

GAMES OF ALL KINDS

THE TEACUPS AT DISNEYLAND

FOOD

 RIDING HORSES

MORNING CUP OF JOE

TRAVELING: ESPECIALLY EUROPE

Christmas Blessings

  Whew!  The holidays are over, and as much as I absolutely loved time with family and seeing good friends its good to be back home and start getting back into a semi-normal schedule.  This past Christmas was so fun, and every year I am completely overwhelmed with how blessed I am.  I have the most amazing family and in-laws!  At both our family's houses it is so much fun being together, even if we aren't doing anything!  Catching up together, playing games and sharing a table filled with delicious food are just a few of the things that fill up our holidays and and the moments I cherish so dearly.  The Lord has showered His blessings on my family and I am so aware and thankful for that.  Here are a few pictures that capture these blessings....