Family Christmas List

**Revised**

Most of you probably won't be interested in this post unless you're family. I know it's not quite Halloween, but I've had a lot of people already asking me about Christmas. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to do some Christmas shopping myself! I love the holiday and wish I knew what to get everybody like right now.

So, to make things a little easier for people asking about us, I have a list! Here's to early Christmas shopping!

For Cora:

She's really into using her imagination and dressing up so things like doctor, princess, cowgirl kits, etc.

I'm hoping to get her a play kitchen, so dishes or food. She loves reading so books, and loves drawing so art supplies as well.


             

I of course love getting her new clothes and accessories such as these:

              

More ideas can be found on my Pinterest page here. Oh, these are birthday ideas as well since her birthday is like only a week before Christmas.

For Joel:

I admit, he is hard to buy for because he always wants expensive stuff! I'm pretty sure he doesn't read my blog so it's safe to say what to buy for him. Hehe. So instead of getting a new camera, computer, or software, here's some more affordable ideas:

New xbox controllers, underarmor (large), and movies such as:  Marvel movies (Thor, Captain America, Iron Man), Lord of the Rings series, Studio Ghibli movies. (He prefers Blue Ray).


Also, Halo 4 and The Avengers movie on Blue Ray!!

i pad floor mount for car. $32.95 on amazon.

Folio Trio for i pad. $46.20 on

amazon

Click the Amazon link to take you there.

 For Me:

I had to think long and hard about what I really wanted, but then I remembered that I have Pinterest! Mostly, it has everything I like and want. Lol. So here's the link to that here. But more specifically:


Set of simple, white dishes, apron, barnes and noble gift card, stainless steel pots and pans.

A cake stand.

Cookbook by Candice Kumai.                                      Cute necklace.

Drink dispenser.

Glass canisters.

More accessories and jewelry that I like can be found here.

As for family gifts, we can use gift cards to anywhere! Like restaurants, target, wal mart, GAS, grocery. Hope this is a good start for people already shopping. And PLEASE everyone else we have to buy for, give us ideas too!

Thanks!!

Play in the leaves

It's fall around here! All the leaves have fallen off trees and if you have a toddler, you'll know that they LOVE to play in the leaves. The crunchy sound and the throwing leaves up in the air is just so fascinating. Although, she has been a sicky the last couple days. I was hoping to take her to the pumpkin patch today, but poor baby is so tired, running a fever off and on, and has a sore throat. I'm hoping she gets well soon so we can enjoy this wonderful weather.

Any suggestions on soothing a sore throat? I've tried honey, warm broth, and chloraseptic spray. 

Just to name a few

 

Platinum skinny mac and cheese. Use almond milk!

It smelled really sweet, and was very creamy.

Surprisingly just under 400 calories a serving.

Ok, this recipe took me 2 hours, because I had to bake the potatoes (which took an hour), let them cool, peel them, make the dough, and boil the gnocchi. Worth the wait though!

We used olive oil and parm, but you could use marinara.

Brown squash and apples with onions.

I am soo stoked I was able to try some new recipes with my new cookbook. These are a few that we tried: mac n cheese, potato and herb gnocchi, and butternut squash apple soup. These were all under 500 calories a serving! Unless, you add something extra like I did...chicken in the mac and cheese and bread and yogurt in the soup.

 I wish I had a better camera for better pictures (I'm using my almost useless phone). I'm also mad at myself for not bringing any of my appliances! We weren't planning on staying for so long, and I was worried about storing them in our apartment. But I wish I at least had my food processor because the soup was lumpy. I resorted to mashing it with a fork, because I also didn't have my potato masher! So I'm sure the sure it is supposed to be creamy, but for me it was chunky. It did taste pretty good all the same. Such a wonderful fall dish, especially with the maple and pumpkin spice. Speaking of which, I'm hoping to take Cora to the pumpkin patch this weekend!

Just another day

Eating pizza at a local restaurant.

Walking at Garden of the Gods.

Getting side tracked by dirt.

Wanting to sit by dad.

Swinging just a little high.

Palmer Park.

Picking flowers.

Trouble maker with her sweet smile.

Yet another park

Over the weekend we took Cora to a park/playground. It's only down the road and has beautiful views (but where in Colorado doesn't?!). There's a big lake with a walking trail that runs along it. Cora loves being outside and we're taking advantage of that opportunity while the weather is a perfect 75 degrees. Crazy how its gonna drop and have snow flurries in just a couple days! Fall is my favorite season, and I'm gonna miss it in Missouri. Out here there aren't as many deciduous trees so not as many red, yellow, and orange fall colors. Lots of pine trees though! I can't wait for comfy sweaters, boots, and warm coffee. Happy Fall!