Random Weekend: Pumpkin, Hydrangeas and Butternut Squash Oh My!

Happy Weekend! How was your week?

This weekend seems to be full of surprises,

and it's only just begun. Just a little bit of everything!

It's a glorious Fall day here!
Today I am busily painting away,
and trying as fast as I can to get a few projects finished up!

One you can get a peek over on Instagram, or actually two,
and since I'm not sure if the sweet friend I'm making it for,
has already seen it or not yet, I'm keeping
it a secret for now, and I'm crossing my finger's
she'll get it in time!

I know I've said it before, that I was a Summer girl
I couldn't help but not be, growing up in
Southern California! We were at the beach every day
during Summer vacation!

Now living in Arizona, we don't really do too much because of the heat,
if we do it's usually spending a day at the lake or the pool, but
 really some days are too hot to do much of anything.

That is until Fall comes, and we have this phenomenon,
 that happens this time of year!
Our cities fill up with, what were once called
"Snow Birds", to now the term being used is
"Sun Seekers"!

I actually like the new term, it's true!
The winter's here in Arizona, are very mild,
and since I am not a cool weather girl,
Fall has become my new favorite season!

If you are like me now, I can't get enough of Pumpkin, or Apples or Pears!

Salted Pumpkin Caramels from TheTartTart

My new found love is drying Hydrangeas!

via funkyjunkinteriors

When I saw this wreath, and couldn't get over how gorgeous it is! It's an excerpt
from this book! I have the Flower recipe book, I will do a review on one day!
I might just pick this one up to accompany it! (affiliate link)



Another one of my new found loves, is Butternut Squash!
If ever there was a comfort food, butternut squash is mine!
This recipe had my mouth watering right away!

 Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta from A Hint of Honey 

or you might like to try my

Portabella and Butternut squash Crepes with a Creamy Parmesan Sauce 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Until next time!

xo,

 

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Weekend Notes: Sedona, Chocolate, and Roses

Happy Weekend! I am so glad you came to visit with me today! How has your weekend been going?! This weekend, I am finishing up with Halloween decorations, and painting Katelyn's room. Last weekend, was a fun filled adventure! There is nothing funner than a three hour tour, that turns into a get lost adventure! Sunday morning, the girls and I headed out on our road trip to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, Arizona. Little did we know what a fun adventure we would have! My mom lives in Prescott, so I was imagining an hour or so up to Sedona, have lunch do a little shopping than take the 17 South back to home, but as we all know, well thought out plans rarely go as they are expected to.

{ Snoopy Rock in Sedona, AZ. I took this from a moving vehicle

 with my cell phone, wrong time of day}

It's called Snoopy rock, because the smaller rock formation is reminiscent of when Snoopy is laying on his back on his dog house!
Can you see it??

Here is what a PRO took of the same Rock Formation. 

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While driving up North in Arizona, I noticed there are a ton more round abouts than I remember. I know it's been ten years or so, since I've been up North, besides visiting family. This is what happened!
I thought I was supposed to take and that I was taking, what was supposed to be 89A, which was a roundabout, and instead I kept on heading North! About an hour later, when I knew I should have passed through Jerome, this thought popped into my mind.

Why haven't we hit Jerome yet, and we shouldn't be headed to Ashfork!

 Ok, that's two thoughts, but I thought we were on the right track! When I realized, we missed our turn, and now had to travel to Flagstaff another hour and a half away to take the 17S or the 179 to Sedona. My three hour trip has now turned into a six hour trip!

Which my youngest daughter, Lindsay replied, "Well, you wanted to take a Roadtrip, Momma!!! I love how she is just a so matter of fact, no nonsense kinda girl!

It turned out fine in the end, a very gorgeous and relaxing roadtrip! If we had come up through Jerome, we wouldn't have seen all the Scenic Views of the Red Rocks. In Flagstaff we saw several deer right off the road. The leaves are changing colors in Oak Creek, but haven't changed all the way, but they were striking none the less. They've changed to yellow, but there were barely any red or orange. In a couple of weeks, it should look something like this.

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Now I know where to catch the trail head to hike Oak Creek Canyon, and that my daughter was seriously scared of the switchbacks along the Scenic Route of Oak Creek Canyon.

By the way the weather here in Arizona is absolutely gorgeous. We are enjoying 85F weather, with late afternoon showers. Pure heaven!

Autumn never used to be my favorite season, I've always been a Summer girl. Except for the last couple of years the Summers have been really hard on me here. Not having all four seasons here, in the part of Arizona where I live, I forget that Fall produces some absolutely Gorgeous displays of color; that just 'PoP' with their striking beauty!

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I have a confession to make, I love just All Things Pumpkin, but it may come as a surprise, that I don't really care for Pumpin Pie. There is however a special place in my heart for Pumpkin Cheesecake Icecream from Ben and Jerry's. 

When I got to thinking about it, I haven't had anything with Chocolate and Pumpkin. That is all going to change when I came upon this recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars! They look amazingly delicious!

 Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

Here are a few more links to enjoy reading!

10 Unexcpected Ways to cook with Pumpkin

Great Tips for Storing, Cleaning and Using your Produce

5 Natural and Simple Engergy Boosters

10 Healthy Snacks You can Pack and Eat Anywhere

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Until next time!

xo,

 You can follow me here!

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Weekend Notes

Happy Weekend! 

I hope your week went well, and 

you are enjoying the cooler Fall temperatures, as I am! 

Yesterday afternoon was fabulous, and 

earlier this week we had a nice rainfall for about an hour! 

My rose bush is literally glowing in this Fall weather.

Today the girls and I are going up North to spend time with my family and
then head up 

to Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon 

to see if the leaves have changed their colors yet!
If we have time, on Sunday on the way home, we'll stop for
the Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake!

This is a quick post, as I am running late to get on the road,
but first I wanted to thank my dear, sweet and hysterically funny
bloggy friend, Benita over at Chasing Quaintness, for the
lovely gift,  she sent to me in the mail.
It absolutely made my day!

You can't help but smile when you see this!!!

Here are some links to read!
Wishing you all a Happy Weekend!

25 Pumpkin Recipes that don't involve Pie

Avoid These Nine Foods - I have a really hard time with Diet Soda!

5 Foods that Taste Better in October - I confess I've never eaten a Persimmon. If you have
would you eat it again?? Inquiring minds what to know!

These chemicals can affect your metabolism

Weekend Notes: Fall Bucket List, Roses and Gold Pumpkins

Happy Weekend! Hope you all are having an amazing and relaxing weekend!

We're having a fun weekend around here, decorating for Fall!

The girls and I painted last night, here's a sneak peek on Instagram.

My mother caught a cold this weekend, so

 we're postponing our trip up North until next month!

For this weekend, I thought I'd get started

on our Fall Bucket List!

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I've picked up my Pumpkin Spice latte, and made a Pumpkin cake, to check off the list!
What are you wanting to do this Fall?

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I love bold Fall colors, and this minimalistic rustic orange rose centerpiece is not only
beautiful but very easy to make on a budget!

So far the rose bush I planted not too long ago, has survived the Summer, and is showing signs of thriving. It just shot off too new leaf outs, and a possible very small bud, so I'll keep checking back on it.

Three of my favorite Fall colors are Orange, Crimson and Gold.
While I am enjoying painting just about everything right now
Painting Pumpkins Gold is on my Fall Bucket List!

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Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Until next time!
xo,

Weekend Notes

Hello, and Happy Labor Day weekend everyone! September is one of my favorite months, Fall is in the air, announcing the end of Summer, like a breath of fresh air, especially living here in Arizona, it's still hovering around 100F, and I know Summer will linger here for a little while longer. I found out that my children also have a three day weekend next weekend, so instead of going up North this weekend, I will wait until next weekend, while my mother comes down for a family barbecue. Great news, I *finally* finished my paint project, and although it wasn't quite what I was envisioning, {I think the wood had it's own plan}, I really love how it turned out! I will reveal it all for you tomorrow!

via

. 8 Brillant Smartphone Photography Tips From a NatGeo Expert

. 10 Natural Energy Boosters

21 Things to do on Sunday to make your Monday suck less; I'm really going to do 3,4,and 5

 Pumpkin Snickerdoodle cupcakes with Pumpkin Cream cheese frosting by Seaside Baker

I hope you all have a beautiful weekend!

Until next time! xo, 

Weekend Notes

Happy Last Weekend of August! Hope you all enjoyed your week?? My week was full of surprises, mostly good, and much busier than I had imagined! I'd mentioned before my daughter Katelyn is in a blended learning program, that teaches her to integrate technology in her classwork. Which I thought would be something she would enjoy {and she does}, that the class room sizes are smaller, with only twenty students to a class, and the teachers are wonderful.  Let's just say, that even though she's been doing all the work, I've had to help in the back ground more than I thought I would be, and that she has had twice the amount of school work, my high school son has. Which is good, I've been saying for a long time now, that children nowadays, really don't understand what we went through in school with using typewriters, and not having google to check out answers, instead of looking it all up in encyclopedias. We couldn't use calculators or our cell phones to do math, in our heads, memorizing formulas. They are living in a different age! Some of what they are learning is good in a different ways, and some things make me go Hmmmmm....With that, I apologize for not getting around like I normally do, and today I am making another quick day trip up North, again to help my grandparents move, but I do promise that I am catching up!

Over at West Elm I found these cute fringe pillows and they are on sale for $15. Love the Fall color 'Sweet Potato' one is my favorite.

Where has this salad been all my life. Avocado and Tangerine Salad with Jalapeno Vinaigrette via Bon Appetit

One item I have always wanted was a Chalkboard Menu. I am updating my Autumn Bliss Pinterest board, and this pin is my absolute favorite!

I found a new series on Netflix to watch, called Chef's Table. If you like Travel and enjoy food as much as I do, you'll love this show!



Weekend Notes

Happy Weekend! Did you all have a great week? I am so glad it is the weekend! That means I get to escape up to the cooler mountains, for some needed relaxation! Yesterday, my MIL and I went to breakfast and spent the morning catching up. About the same time, she called, my daughter in Washington called, and I had a fun talk catching up with her. As much as, and I know is going to sound strange, but I am grateful for Social Media, because, and I know some of you are like Ugh, Social Media and Technology, I will admit that it really has changed our society, but I'm not posting about my thoughts on it today, that would take over this post. My point is, my daughter loves photography and posts on Instagram, about the hikes that she takes, the places she's traveled in the Pacific Northwest, and I love the fact that even though she is so far away, I can still feel connected to her. This is no way to say that social media can replace,  a phone call to her momma,  that makes all the world of difference, just to hear the sound of her voice and how she's doing, how happy she is. You can't get that feeling from a text or a tweet!

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This photo is one of the inspirations for an upcoming post!


Here are a few links that caught my attention this week!

20 Fall Decroating Ideas

How to grow dahlias

Enjoying the Aromas of Fall or anytime of the year

10 Greens that are healthier than Kale

50 Summer Salads

(affiliate)With Fall approaching, I wanted to pick up a few items, like this and one of these

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Enjoy it with the ones you love!

Until next time!

xo,