5 on Friday

After missing 5 on Friday for a few weeks due to my #31days posts, I’m so excited to be linking back up with Darci, Natasha and the girls.

five on friday

 

-ONE-

We had the most fun Halloween week! On Sunday night, we went to Boo at the Zoo at the Riverbanks Zoo with a bunch of our friends from church. It was so sweet to get all the little ones together. And we even managed a big group picture!

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My big pirate and his little parrot sidekick!

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-TWO-

Last night, we went to Ellen’s house to eat and catch up with friends. Then we all set out to trick-or-treat. It was so much fun watching the boys get  so excited and walk from house to house. For the first few houses Hayes got a little confused and kept trying to go inside the houses after getting his candy.

Ellen’s oldest boy was so sweet to hang back and walk with Hayes as the night went on. Poor Hayes was dragging and it was clear his little legs were tired, but he didn’t want to be carried or ride in the stroller. Both boys had such a great night!

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-THREE-

I posted this on Instagram this week, but a few years ago, I asked my mom for her “secret  chili recipe.” She told me to go out and buy the Wick Fowler’s 2 Alarm Chili Kit and just add what I wanted to add. And every time I make this or take it to an event people want to know the recipe. It is absolutely amazing! If you can’t find it in your grocery store (I got mine at Whole Foods), you can find it on Amazon.

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-FOUR-

This is just another little kitchen sneak peek. Our countertops were installed this week, and I am so excited to see them! Every day we’re on step closer to moving in!

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-FIVE-

My friend Ellen wrote a 31 Days series all about Hope and I guest posted over there on Wednesday. Hop on over there and read it if you get a free minute.

*I have a big surprise for Monday morning, so stay tuned!

 

Moon Pie Owls for Kids

moon pie owls

A few years ago, before my kids were born, I tore a page out of a magazine that had these adorable Moon Pie owls on it. I tore that page out and said that I would make those cute owls with my kids someday.

And that day finally happened!

I gathered up all the supplies we needed, and while Hayes napped, Hudson and I had a fun little afternoon activity of making these sweet, yummy Moon Pie Owls together. To clean up our fun Moon Pie Owl activity, Hudson and I used Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to clean the counter tops before and after the activity.

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Moon Pie Owls

Ingredients:

Chocolate Moon Pies

Chocolate Cookie Icing

Blue Cookie Icing

(any other cookie icing color you want to use to decorate)

Orange cookie icing

Oreo Cookies Brown

M&Ms

Candy corn

Popsicle sticks

Chocolate sprinks

We used the chocolate icing as a way to attach all the other food to the Moon Pie. The brown M&Ms are the center of the eye, two Oreo halves are the big part of the eye, and the candy corn is the nose. We also used the orange icing as a way to do some fun, simple decorating on the Moon Pies.

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We had the best time making these fun little treats together, and he was so excited to share them with his daddy and brother and even talked about bringing some to his friends at school.

I love the holiday season, and love that Halloween kicks it all off! I also love that my kids are old enough now to help out with some of the festive activities like cooking and baking, and helping make some of the decor.

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The holiday season can spread more than holiday cheer – it can mean spreading germs, too.

With visitors in and out of the house, baking, hands-on activities with kids, 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!

To help put a stop to the spread of germs this holiday season, be sure to get vaccinated, wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, do the elbow cough, and follow other good health guidelines. And encourage your children to do the same!

Clorox wants to help spread prevention through the holidays. It’s also important before and after hosting festive parties and holiday guests to 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.

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To be entered to win a $100 gift card, answer the following question:

“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.

Fall Favorites Giveaway

*31 Days of Creating White Space will continue later this morning, but I teamed up with some really fun bloggers for a super fun fall favorites giveaway today!

fall favs with writing

We’ve teamed up with some of our favorite bloggers, from across the country to share some of the things we all love about fall! We are so honored to work together with such a wonderful group of ladies. We love reading all of their blogs & we’re delighted to introduce you to them (if you don’t already know them!)

our fall favorites pics

Erin Carroll of Blue-Eyed Bride

Our first blogger joining the fun is Erin Carroll (top right). Erin Carroll blogs at Blue-Eyed Bride about her love for Jesus, her adventures raising boys, her kitchen successes and disasters, and everything in between. She is a wife, a boy mom, a Gamecock fan, and a lover of Reese’s cups and Diet Coke. She believes that a good cup of coffee and a great book are the foundations for the best vacation, even if you never leave your home. And she believes that the best moments as a family are spent gathered around the family table. A former event planner, Erin is now a stay-at-home mom to her two little boys, but she still loves to plan a party! She has found her passion in blogging about the work that Jesus has done in her life and in her heart, and sharing that testimony to help encourage other mothers. Southern hospitality is one of her favorite things, and Erin is passionate about making a home and loving the people in it. Erin and her husband, Todd, live in South Carolina with their two sons and their two dogs. Connect with Erin here:

Blog : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest : Instagram

“Growing up in the south and being married to a die-hard Gamecock fan, the arrival of fall means the arrival of the most wonderful time of the year… football season! I love the cool mornings and evenings and the warm days in early fall, and as November comes around, I love the crispness in the air. The first day that I need a scarf may be my favorite day of the year. I love curling up on the couch with a bowl of chili (the Wick-Fowlers mix is my “secret recipe”) and watching a movie with Todd. I love a Saturday nap with the sound of a football game on TV in the background. Selecting pumpkins and then carving them with my kids, and starting to make plans for the holiday season are some of my favorite things about fall. It’s my favorite time of year! I’m giving away a Le Creuset Enamel 8-quart pot in cherry red for all those yummy, hearty bowls of chili and taco soup, and a Cup of Love latte mug from NS Pottery and an engraved spoon from Jessica N Designs for those cozy cups of coffee, or even to eat your soup.” -Erin

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Shay of Mix and Match Mama

Another fun blogger that you have to get to know is Shay (top center). Shay blogs over at Mix and Match Family as well as her foodie blog, Mix and Match Mama. Shay is a Bible reading, coffee drinking, foodie blogging, reality TV watching, mom of 2 (with an adopted daughter on the way!) who is completely obsessed with the holidays!

Blog : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest : Instagram

“Fall is our favorite season at my house with visits to the pumpkin patch, lots of baking, playing in leaves, roaring fires, and snuggles in warm pjs. Since I’m a foodie blogger, my kitchen always smells like cinnamon, pumpkins and apples this time of year with easy and delicious recipes busy moms can put on the table in no time. To celebrate fall and the kitchen, I’m giving away some of my favorite fall items from Williams-Sonoma. Chestnut scented soaps, pumpkin bread and pumpkin butter. Fall in love with being in the kitchen this season!” – Shay

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Ashley of Fancy Ashley

Ashley (top right), is another fun blogger, you must check out! She blogs over at Fancy Ashley about the everyday art of being FANCY, the joys and struggles of mommyhood, Jesus, fashion, food, DIY, cocktails and more.

Blog : Facebook : Pinterest : Instagram

“While I love summer and basking in the sun, Fall is my favorite time of year. Oh how I love fall. Pumpkin scent fills my house pretty much constantly from September until January. It takes a little longer for fall to start here in California but I pretend that the air is crisp and cool outside by baking up a bunch of pumpkin treats and burning my favorite fall scented “pumpkin soufflé candle. I wear my scarves and winter clothes and darker colors in anticipation that the weather will soon change and fall will be upon us. My gift to you is a few of my favorite fall things, a cozy scarf from Anthropologie, my favorite pumkin-scented pumpkin soufflé candle, Kate Spade glitter earrings (the perfect fall accessory) and a gift pack of my favorite lip treatments for those cool fall and winter days when your lips need a little extra TLC. I hope that you love all of these goodies just as much as I do. :)” – Ashley

Ashley's Fall Giveaway Picks

Nina Helleny of According To Nina

Nina Helleny (bottom left) is passionate about motherhood, friendship, giving, entertaining, comfort food, and helping others with the abilities she has been blessed with. She’s grateful for being taught at a young age her faith, confidence, loyalty, what it means to be an entrepreneur, and that it’s okay to break the rules occasionally like wearing white jeans after Labor Day! Nina loves her family and friends, gathering around a table with both, celebrating everything from major milestones to weekdays, finding the perfect gift for someone, and shopping online. You can visit her blog daily to gather tips and resources on a wide variety of topics focusing on gift giving, entertaining, shopping, and product reviews. Nina loves bringing the very best content to her readers, and only recommends products that she uses and believes in. She’s a true believer in investing in shoes, handbags, and a beautiful watch. She says, “if you have those three items, you can pull off a gunny sack!” Connect with Nina here:

Blog : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest : Instagram

“Fall is one of my most favorite times of the year. The touch of cool air on my skin for the first time in months makes my soul come alive! The smell of spice, pumpkin, and falling leaves warms my heart. I love curling up on my couch with a soft, cozy blanket to read a book or watch a old movie while sipping a hot cup of coffee. During this time of year, I often remember this episode of Sex in the City, “There is a time of year in New York when, even before the first leaf falls, you can feel the seasons click. The air is crisp, the summer is gone. And for the first night in a long time, you need a blanket on your bed…” – Carrie Bradshaw. My gift to you is a warm blanket by Threshold, a pair of leopard socks from Anthropologie, Wuthering Heights covered in beautiful custom art, a deluxe copy of one of my all-time favorite movies You’ve Got Mail, and a $5 Starbucks card to treat yourself to your drink of choice.” -Nina

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Our Hosts, Courtney and Julie of The Chirping Moms

Courtney (bottom center) & Julie (bottom left) from The Chirping Moms are best friends that met at a neighborhood park in New Jersey. Courtney, a mom of two girls, and Julie, a mom of two boys and a baby girl, decided to jump into the world of blogging about 1 1/2 year ago on a rainy spring afternoon. Recently, Julie moved to the DC area but they have continued to enjoy writing the blog together despite the distance between them. Together, on the blog, they share their adventures in motherhood along with activities for kids, crafts, recipes and ideas for family travel.

Blog : Facebook : Twitter : Pinterest : Instagram

Courtney

“Fall has always been my favorite season. Growing up, my favorite memories are of the fun things I did with my family in the fall: from exploring farms in NJ to traveling to our favorite spot in Vermont. Tom & I got engaged on a fall night in Chicago. A year later, we got married on the perfect fall day. Now, we both enjoy the fall with our two little girls. They both love collecting leaves, picking pumpkins, baking with mom & snuggling up for football with dad. For my fall favorites, I chose a blue-ish purple Bridier Baubles necklace. Another thing I love about fall is the fashion. I like switching over to sweaters & fall colors. This necklace has become my fall staple & I wear it with everything. I am excited to send one along to our giveaway winner. Second, I chose a mini journal, which is perfect for jotting down fall memories. Last, but not least, I chose the Pumpkin Bread & Muffin Mix from Trader Joe’s. When this mix hits the shelves each fall, I stock up! I use it to make a variety of muffins & bread. Recently we used it to make a delicious pumpkin chocolate chip cake!” – Courtney

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Julie

“I’m a true summer girl. I love everything about it: the sunshine, trips to the beach, long evenings with dinners out by the grill, and so much more. And then fall arrives and now that a mom, I am starting to appreciate and love the beauty of fall. Walks with my kids among the leaves changing colors. Lazy Saturday afternoons while my husband and kids soak up college football. Pumpkin festivals and apple picking. And, most importantly, fall is the time of year when life slows down: no more traveling, kids are back in school, and regular bedtime routines. That means that fall allows me to rediscover some of my favorite hobbies with that little bit of free time I have (and it’s not much with three kids, four and under)! So today, my gifts to you are my fall “hobby” favorite. First, a 1000 piece puzzle and a Typecrush game is the perfect way to spend a quiet fall afternoon at home with the family. I love spending fall “nap times” catching up on a good novel and my gift to you is one of my favorites: Two Kisses for Maddy. And my last gift is a fun elastic headband perfect for an afternoon run in this gorgeous fall weather!” -Julie

juliepicks

We are SO excited to bring you this giveaway and would love to hear about your “fall favorites” in the comment section below! To enter this amazing giveaway, use the Rafflecopter below. Remember, one person will win all the wonderful prizes listed above. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

white space and the weekend

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This week didn’t lend itself to as much margin as I hoped.

My boys didn’t feel all that well, we rushed around, I had a meeting one night so I was away from home. But that’s just what happens. Like I said before, we aren’t just quitting everything we’ve committed to, but we’re making a conscious effort to create margin. I’m finding space for my soul to rest.

And on this Saturday, I’m looking for for that space so I can see the really good stuff.

So my goals for today?

I want to take the boys to the park without a schedule or agenda. I want to stay as long as they want to stay.

I want to take Boudreaux for a long walk, and really soak up the beauty of this October.

As I hope for every Saturday, I want to catch up on laundry folding.

I want my mind and my heart to be clear enough to notice all the sweet things happening around me.

I want to notice the things that Hudson notices, like how many clouds he sees in the sky, and the exact shape of the moon.

I want to put my phone down and forget the tendency to pick it up and check in.

I want to lay on the couch and watch You’ve Got Mail for the 100th time, and dream of sending a bouquet of sharpened pencils to a friend.

And I just want to see the good. I want my eyes open to the precious gifts God has blessed us with, and praise Him for those gifts.

What are your hopes for this Saturday?

This is Day 12 in a series called 31 Days of Creating White Space.

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