Halloween Peak.

I am exhausted.

Jack is exhausted.

Jeremy is exhausted.

I'll post more of his trick-or-treat photos soon.

He did have a good time!!

My little man.

I took a few photos of Jack this weekend and these two have to be my favorite.

He's growing up so fast, but these show just how little he is.

He's still my tiny baby.

And he's a goofball. 

Man, I love him.

Pretty flowers...

I got a tattoo. 

My first big one.

I'm in love with it!

Pumpkin Patch.

We went to the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago.

Jack had just gotten out of school, so he was super tired.

It would have been a better idea to go on a day he didn't have school, but Jeremy and I don't usually have days off together. We took advantage of it!

So many pumpkins!

Walking in.

Riding the tractor with Daddy.

Pulling the wagon.

Picking out a little pumpkin.

 Happy little guy with his pumpkin!

Birthday Week // Birthday Cake

I made myself a cake.

A birthday cake.

A purple cake.

A GOOD cake.

I used this recipe.

Happy Birthday, to me!

Birthday Week // TODAY I AM 27.

I am 27 today! 

I've had a great day! 

 Jeremy brought me flowers last night along with my favorite chocolate bar.

He had plans to make me a pretty amazing dinner, but we went to the tattoo parlor instead.

I'll write up a whole different post just for that experience soon.

I was going to make a birthday cake for myself last night to take to work today, but after 4+ hours getting tattooed, I was too pooped. 

Plus, I have the day off tomorrow with Jack so we'll do some baking. 

And probably some playdough playing.

And some dancing and playing with cars.

This long birthday weekend shall be a great one!

This is what I wore today after work.....

Shirt: Dressing on the side

Skirt: Anthro

Boots & socks: Target

Locket: ModCloth

Flower: from my lovely husband!

Birthday Week // Favorite music

I made a little playlist of my favorite music. 

I love love all of these bands and songs. 

A few a new favorites, but favorites all the same.

Lana del Ray... omg. 

Birthday Week // 27 Facts

My birthday is Thursday! I'll be 27!!

So, this week I'm going to do a few posts about myself and my birthday because I can!

My first post is for everyone to get to know me a little better....

27 Facts about Amanda

1. I have six siblings. Tim, Matt, Iliana, Kenny, Erik, and Kassidy.

I am exactly in the middle. Three older and three younger. 

Thank God they are not all in the same family!

2. I am a chef. 

3. I love LOVE movies. I love going to the theater and I LOVE dvds.

I have way too many... I'm actually a little embarassed!

4. I don't wear a lot of make-up. Concealer when needed, mascara, eyeliner, and tinted lip balm.

5. I technically have 2 dogs. Sophie and Bia. 

Bia was given to me by an ex my junior year in high school as an "I'm sorry." 

She was adorable and loveable, so I kept her. The sorry did not work. 

He didn't want her back so I kept her! 

I couldn't exactly take her to college so my mom took over her care.

Now Bia is in love with my mom. Follows her everywhere.

6. I love to read...and re-read. I've read the Harry Potter series 4 times and the Twilight series 5 or 6 times. 

7. I love Starbucks.

8. I have the worst eyesight ever. I've had glasses since I was in 5th grade.

9. In junior high, a few friends and I started a band. 

None of us really had any talent at the time.

I was the singer.

10. I love Friends. 

11. I have a small record collection. Most are from an antique store down the road.

12. My ALL-TIME favorite vacation was Disney World/Universal Studios. 

13. I like to sing in my car. Loudly.

14. I have 4 tattoos.

15. I think I like Toy Story more than my two year old.

16. I don't have cable in my house. 

17. I've always dreamed of owning a bakery like in It's Complicated. 

18. I am afraid of falling. Not heights. From falling... like tripping or falling down stairs. 

19. Fall is my favorite time of year. 

20. I hate summers.

21. I have a plan for a huge tattoo. But I have a problem saving money for said tattoo.

22. I have an online shopping addiction.

23. I really miss being home with Jackson.

24. I really want to take a road trip to Missouri. Springfield to be exact.

25. I love The Sims. Love. Love. Love.

26. I love Coldplay.

27. I love lists.......

Oh, Jack...

This face. I love it.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins // Recipe

Another autumn recipe! 

I love pumpkin pastries. 

Add in some chocolate chips and you've got yourself a gooooood muffin!!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree

2-3 tablespoons water

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line your muffin tin with paper liners.

Mix sugar, oil, eggs. Add pumpkin and water. 

In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients.

Add the wet mixture, and stir in the chocolate chips.

Fill the muffin tins 2/3 full and bake for 20-25 minutes.

So yummy!

Fall Soup // Recipe

I love fall and I love soup in the fall. This recipe is something that I make every year. Last year I made it for an autumn dinner party at a friend's house. We had to bring a fall inspired dish and I brought this soup, pumpkin cupcakes, and apricot pork tenderloin. And now I'm hungry.....

Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Soup

1 small butternut squash, cut in half and seed scraped out

1 small white onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, chopped

Olive oil

3 cups chicken stock

1/2 can pumpkin puree

1/2 cup heavy cream

Drizzle the squash with olive oil and roast at 350 degrees until fork tender.

 Let the squash cool to touch then scrape out the flesh leaving only the skin.

Then in a pot, saute the onion in oil.

When the onion is tender and opaque, add the garlic. Don't toast the garlic too much. It gets bitter.

Add the chicken stock then stir in the pumpkin.

Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.

In a blender, or with an emersion/stick blender, blend up the soup. Make sure the soup isn't boiling when you puree it or it will be all over you and your kitchen.

Pour back into the pot and add the heavy cream. Bring back to a simmer.

Then season with salt and pepper.

DONE!

It's so good alone or with a yummy sandwich or a full blown autumn meal!

Birthday Wishes

My birthday is this month! I'm not too too excited about being 27, but it'll do.

Here are a few things I wouldn't mind enjoying my birthday with...

This super cute dress from Vanilla and Lace.

These shoes are begging me to wear them.

This amazingly sweet little custom blue bird by the ever amazing Katie at Skunkboy Creatures.

 I need one of these. I love Danny Brito! 

 I am dying for a new tattoo! Rachel's at Smile and Wave, is AMAZING!

And a lovely drive-in picnic like this one that Dani at oh, hello friend had would be the perfect place to spend my birthday!

It's not until the 20th...  27 on the 20th... geez. I'm getting old.

Playing catch up...

Since my parents left on Monday, I've had a hard time catching up on life. A lot has been going on and some small changes in my life are happening (good stuff!). I have a big weekend to-do list that includes lots of scheduled posts so I don't lose track of my beloved blog.  For now, Jack and I are cuddling and he's about to nap. Then hopefully we'll head to Central Market! PUMPKINS!

Jack's 2nd Birthday Party.

We had Jack's 2nd birthday party on Saturday! 

It was a CIRCLE party!!!

Circles circles everywhere!

Decorations :
ribbon garland- me
"Jack is 2" banner- me
Circles on walls- me

Food :
Cake- friend from work
Cupcakes- Sprinkles
Cheeseballs, cheesewheels, crackers, m&ms, blueberries, grapes, tomatoes, Chickfila nuggets
Sugar cookies: Sugar and Flour

Supplies :
straws, cups, bamboo sporks, balloons : sweet lulu

I had so much fun planning this little get together for my little man.
I still can't believe he's TWO!

Saturday morning at 4am...

Jack woke up barking. Yup. Like a seal... or a dog.

 We both jumped up at ran to him because it sounded so strange. He was sitting up in bed coughing and trying to breathe. Jeremy called the doctor while I calmed him down.  He stopped coughing and relaxed a few minutes, but started up not long after. The doctor sent us straight to the ER.

I packed a quick bag, and dressed him warmly since it was actually around 50 at 4:30am. He has(had) croup.  He got a dose of some steroids to help open his upper passages. After some observation and popsciles, we were sent home at around 10am. Jack's party was Saturday.  I was a little heartbroken when I realized his party wasn't happening. I had planned it for so long and my family was in from out of town (10 hours away). After talking to my mom via text for a few hours while we were still in the ER, she convinced us to still have the party minus the kids. 

So we rushed home (after stopping for coffee) and started cleaning and setting up. It's amazing how much mess can be made at 4am when you're rushing out the door. We set everything up and I rushed through a shower and pulled myself together. Jack wasn't even dressed when people started showing up...he was actually just in a diaper and his hospital anklet. I'm pretty proud of myself for pulling it off. Jack fell asleep half way into the party. We rushed through the present opening and just let him play. He fell asleep in his big boy bed (we converted his crib into a toddler bed). 

All in all, it was a crazy day. It has taken me a few days to catch up on sleep. It hasn't helped that I've been so nervous that he's going to start his coughing again that I've been sleeping in his room. 

Party details coming soon!!

PHOTO A DAY 53

Jack's party was Saturday. 

The party was great... the before party was eventful.

I'll post the details soon! 

His party was really cute. 

I'm actually pretty proud of myself for pulling it off with the lack of sleep I had. 

Thank God for my mom and family.