New Blog Address

I updated my blog address to - http://adozenyearslater.blogspot.com/ in case you need to update it.

 

Thanks for reading.

Insta Friday

The other week I made Buckeyes for my husband to to have while watching the Ohio State game.  Please forgive the holes in the center.

My mom came the other weekend and we went shopping for Madison's birthday - Here is Madison with all of her bags.

A TO DO list Madison made for me the other week...

I was so excited to pick up this pumpkin bar mix... but then I softened the butter instead of melting it and then cooked it for too long.  They weren't very good.



Portraits I had taken of Madison



On Tuesday I was off.  My husband stayed home too and we went to Hobby Lobby, out to lunch, and to Trader Joes.

Apparently at the new pediatrician's office if you have a cold or cough you have to wear a mask when you walk in the door... Madison happily obliged.



While at Trader Joes I stocked up on some seasonal pumpkin items.



 

 

I AM THE FACE - October 15 - Pregnancy & Infant Loss Rememberance Day

I am 1 in 4.

 

So many other women I know are too.

 

Today... like most days I think of the pregnancy we lost - it is never really far from my mind.   I still think is is especially difficult because we haven't gotten pregnant since our loss - but we are working on it.   I also think of friends and family members I know who have lost a pregnancy, who have lost babies... and the ones who have lost both a pregnancy and a baby. 

 

It sucks.  It is sad.  It is so unfair.  

I am 1 in 4.

 

So WHAT Wednesday!

 

It is time for So WHAT Wednesday!
 

  

 

SO WHAT if... this cold, rainy, dreary weather just makes me want to be "too sick" to work so I can crawl in my bed and watch the gobs of reality TV shows on my DVR.

 

SO WHAT if...  I softened instead of melted the butter for the pumpkin bars I made last night and I also over-baked them.  What a baking fail.

 

SO WHAT if... I gave my mom crap all weekend for her Phillip Phillips ring tone.  I was seriously wondering while at the mall on Saturday where that song was coming from... from her phone.

 

SO WHAT if...  I haven't order oil to fill up our tank yet.  We have oil heat and it is so expensive and I hate it.  Calling and paying that lump sum... multiple times each winter hurts me.

 

SO WHAT if... I am glad I ordered the smallest cheerleading photo package possible.  I am pretty sure the one I took via Instagram turned out way better than the ones I paid for.

 

SO WHAT if... I got an email from my boss yesterday asking for a company "meet-up" before the end of the year.  In Washington, D.C... no less... which means I would have to fly. I have a huge list of reasons why this meet-up won't be happening (don't like my co-workers, don't get paid enough money to leave my family for a work trip, they are only covering airfare and hotel... what about other expenses, too close to the holidays, etc..) and just explained I have anxiety when it comes to flying.

COOKIE Butter (or Biscoff) Cookies

Cookie butter or Biscoff is pretty popular.  I always hear others rave about it on other blogs or on Instagram.  So a few months back while at Trader Joes I had to pick up a jar.  But when I tried a spoonful I didn't really care for it.  I am a Jif Reduced Fat kind of girl.

 

Last weekend I stumbled across a recipe for Cookie Butter Cookies and figured it was a great use of the cookie butter or Speculoos (the name on the Trader Joe's jar) that was still in my cabinet.

 

 

 

 

I got the recipe from The Coterie Blog and tweaked it a tiny bit.

 

Let me just say... these were a big hit.  My husband brought the leftovers to work and the guys at work also enjoyed them.  My husband may have also requested I make him a cookiewich after dinner tonight with vanilla and a bit of chocolate ice cream smashed in between two of these great cookies.

 

 

 

--------------------------------

 

Cookie Butter Cookies -

 

3/4 c. cookie butter/Trader Joe's Speculoos
1/2 c. butter - softened
1 1/4 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. vanilla

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

 

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and cookie butter on medium to high for 30 seconds. Add in 1/2 cup of the flour, the sugars, the egg, the baking soda, baking powder, and the vanilla.  Beat until thoroughly combined.  Beat in the remaining flour until well incorporated.

 

And if you like to eat raw cookie dough... have a nibble.  This dough is fabulous.
 

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. I placed mine on a pan lined with parchment paper.
Bake 9 minutes until lightly browned, then cool on a wire rack.

 

This recipe makes about 2 dozen. 

I am linking up this post here -

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SO WHAT Wednesday!

I am linking up with Shannon for -

  SO WHAT if... I am really completely over my blog design, but too cheap to pay for a new one.   I just want something more simple.  With chevron.   SO WHAT if... I have planned our Friday meal out this week around my friend Kara telling me that Red Robin has pretzel buns... so that's where we are going.   SO WHAT if... we are having Mexican again for dinner tonight - last night was turkey taco salads and tonight will either be chicken fajita burritos or quesadillas.   SO WHAT if... I have lots of work to do today, plus dishes, plus the house to clean, but I am about to watch last night's Private Practice instead.   SO WHAT if...  I am super excited for our Thanksgiving trip home.  I am also looking forward to being close to Nordstrom Rack, World Market, Pei Wei, and a chocolate chip cookie... or two from Chickfila.    SO WHAT if... I am dreading winter... and the crazy looks I will receive when I continue to wear my favorite flip flops to the grocery store when it is 30 degrees out.
SO WHAT if... I cannot... will not give up my cherry Coke zero.  Unless of course I end up pregnant and then I'll stop buying/drinking it.    

Miscellany Monday

I am linking up for Miscellany Monday @ lowercase letters.

 

 

1) I have created 5 things on my TO DO list for October.  Of course there are many other things that I could've added to it, but I decided to start with 5 in hopes I will get through all five.  I bought a dresser at Ikea over the summer.  It is unfinished.  I REALLY need to get it painted.  I love pumpkin rolls and would love to bring one this year to Thanksgiving dinner, but I need to do a practice one first.  I have started the invitations, but I need to get this party planned and pulled off by late October.  I do not want to wait until December to take our photos, I would like to get them down this month.  I stink at reading books. I want to finish 2 this month.

 

2) One word to describe our weekend would be relaxing.  I love a weekend with no plans and nothing to do.  Our weekend consisted of lots of football, cooking (footballs snacks and homemade pizzas), baking (pumpkin bread), and family time.  My mom will be in town next weekend, so that will be fun.   Sunday morning we got up, ate breakfast, and got dressed to take Madison to cheer in her game.  Chris already had the car started and Maddie and I were headed to the car when her coach called to say the game was cancelled due to the weather.  So thankful she caught us before we piled in the car.

 

 

3) I am about to follow this pin to clean out my dishwasher.  I sure hope it works.

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com via Melissa on Pinterest

4) I went grocery shopping this morning at 7:45.  I love going early in the morning.  The shelves are usually stocked and there are rarely ever any other shoppers or lines to check out.  I have been doing much better going with a meal plan for the week and a detailed grocery list.  Tonight I am making this recipe I got off of Pinterest.  I hope it tastes good - it only requires 3 ingredients.

Source: foodforahungrysoul.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest