Dipped Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies "Peanut Butter Bash"

Good Morning! I was recently asked if I was interested in joining a cooking challenge group.  The challenge was,  to join a Peanut Butter plus an additional ingredient recipe link up event.  I love to cook and enjoy a good challenge, so I thought, why not? This, now, from this point forward, will be  called "The Peanut Butter Bash". I get to link up with some other awesome Blogging ladies and cook and share what we made. Kind of exciting! So, here is the hitch: the additional ingredient! This month, I must say, was fun for me, because I picked "CHOCOLATE" to be the additional ingredient for the month. 

How To Make A Beautiful Fall Harvest Bushel

Have you ever noticed when you start doing crafts, or celebrating the Seasons more, around your home,  that you find inspiration everywhere? Things that you may not have looked at or thought about twice before now come to life in your imagination?  I certainly have found that to be the case for me & I love it.  

Just a Fun Saturday Morning Share!

I don't usually post quick little fun Daily things, here.  I share them over on Shoestring Elegance's Facebook page!

But, that being said, this was too much fun for me not to share with you!

I'm always so excited to see a store go all out with their decorations! (especially, if its actually the right Season)!

So you can imagine my delight, when I popped over to our local Safeway, yesterday and came upon this display!

What a truly pleasant surprise!

I imagine it's good for business, but I think it was so Family friendly and innovative, that who really cares?!

Go take a peak around your town today and see what's out there that makes you smile! This sure did for me! 

Happy weekend blessings, Friends!

~Theresa

By the way, I am in no way affiliated with or speaking for Safeway.. My joy and opinions are my own!

File under: Halloween, Fall colors, Harvest, decor, #trickortreat #safeway

Welcoming Autumn & It's Not A Wreath!

Happy Autumn!! Well, it will be, actually, Autumn, the day after tomorrow, for those of us, here in the United States. I think I long for this Season all year long!  The beginning of cooler days and nights, blankets, baking, sweaters and, of course, Lots of decorating!! Fall seems to be the kick off for all the wonderful celebrations ahead. What can I say, I'm a sucker for traditions. Even if they're new ones. Which kinda brings me to this post. I have welcomed Autumn for the past 2+ years by sharing with you my Autumn Wreaths. I have loved every one of them. 

Here's the teaser I posted on Shoestring's Facebook page.

This year, however, I was drawn to decorate my front door in a different way to 'Welcome the Fall Season' in.   Ready.....??   It's a broom!  Well, not a broom you could sweep with, but just the same a broom! I love it. I haven't seen many others and thought it would be a wonderful change and a thrifty way of using all my old and still beautiful blooms and leaves (with a few new ones). If you don't know me, I'm all about less cost, for the highest beauty. So here it is!  What do you think?

This wonderful broom, that serves as the base for this door hanging, was all of $2.99 @ Michael's & I got 50% off, so, yeah, a buck fifty! I did by one new group of stems that were regularly $6.99 but they were 60% off,  and this awesome Red edge-stitched cloth ribbon (for the bow), that was also 60% off of $6.99, I believe I can very easily say that in all total, this Autumn Door Decor still came in under the $10 mark!

After removing the tags, It was just as easy as this. I attached my hanger to the back and then laid the foundation of Fall leaves down, attached them and then just added from there until I had what I was hoping for.

Don't you just LOVE the stitching on the edge of the bow? As soon as I saw it, I knew this was exactly what I had been looking for.

Here it is last night hanging on my open front door, while I was finishing up the final little "tweaking"

And..... here it is this morning, in all its glory hanging on my front door to greet all who enter. The day's weather here, in Northern California, is playing along with me, (for today, anyway) It is cool, the wind is blowing and really is beginning to feel like a Fall day!! I'm not looking at the forecasts anymore!

I hope you have found a fun way to welcome Autumn/Fall into your home. For yourself,  and your guests!  I always think it's a nice way to say, "You are welcome here" & "I even decorated for you!" Plus, it makes me smile! There really isn't a price tag for that! I hope this will Inspire some of you to embrace and welcome the Season, your friends & family, with some of the Beautiful colors of Fall!

Many more colors of the season to come! 

Thank you for taking the time to pop in on me and let me share what I've been up to with you.  Many Blessings,
Theresa

There are NO words.

Today, Let us all pause in Remembrance.

God save us all from such a day. My heart and prayers are with those personally touched, in any way, by the events of September 11, 2001.

Finally, Signs of Autumn!

Good Morning and Happy September!! As you may already know, I am in love with the Autumn/Fall & Winter seasons!! I just can't wait! I know some of you are still clinging to the last days of summer, but I am anxiously looking forward to Autumn!! You may even recall, one of my most read and featured posts, here, with you was "Anxiously Awaiting Fall"! You can see that one
Here
Great Bread pudding recipe!

Well, It's that time of year again, where I CAN NOT wait!! I am so excited that the first sign of Fall's arrival are starting to show up around my home!  In Northern California, that mean that the grapevines lining one side of my driveway are starting to turn those Beautiful shades of RED!!

And the pathway, in my rose garden, (on the other side of the drive) are beginning to be littered with dried rose petals and leaves!! I love the way it looks so much, I haven't had the urge to sweep them up just yet!

This is looking back down my driveway from the carport!! LOVE! Do you enjoy this time of year, too? Or are you clinging tightly to the last days of Summer? 

 With all that said and pictured here, I must tell you, that I still have the random, beautiful rose blooming here and there!! It's the best of both worlds, right now! What a beautiful feast for our eyes the Lord provides. I am so abundantly Blessed!

,So to celebrate this "in between seasons," yesterday I baked up a batch of both, Pumpkin-Chocolate-chip muffins and some wonderful Apple Cinnamon ones!  Are hey ever a hit! Both of them!

 

I made the Apple Cinnamon ones with Applesauce, in place of oil, and I chopped up a whole Golden Delicious Apple to throw in the batter! I love those chunks of fresh fruit!

This morning I have started peeling and seeding a couple small Butternuts to make some of my "Roasted Butternut Squash Soup"! You can find that recipe Here

I hope you are enjoying your weather, whatever it may be,  and finding a way to enjoy and celebrate it, before the bigger changes of the Season begin! 

Many Blessings to you all, Always..

~Theresa.

Today, I'll be linking up with these wonderfully talented ladies:
Between Naps on The Porch   By Stephanie Lynn   Create With Joy    Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home   Yesterfood and Treasure Box Tuesday     A Stroll Thru Life   Making The World Cuter  The Dedicated House   Lou Lou Girls     Kathe With an E    Katherine's Corner    Ivy and Elephants  The Charm of Home    My Romantic Home    From My Front Porch To Yours

All Because 2 People Fell In Love ~

This is In Honor of My Parent's 57th Wedding Anniversary!

Two More Loving People you will never meet.

Congratulations Mom and Dad! I hope you enjoy this! We sure enjoy you!

All Because Two People Fell In Love!

                                         

        Did you ever Imagine this?!!

Yes, It keeps going!

And,

And, then

 Mustn't forget 

And, I'm certain not last and that I've probably missed someone, so not least!

We Love You So Much! Thank you for being you!

God Blessed You and Continues to Bless us all with your Love.

~Theresa (with the consent of my sisters, Ha!)

Sharing with Create With Joy's Wordless Wednesday

The Perfect Gluten Free Apple Pear Crisp

Welcome!! If you are new here, you already know how much I love to Bake.  And, usually, I love to bake the good old fashioned way with lots of flour, sugar, nuts and butter! Who doesn't?! Recently, I  have noticed that a few of my wonderful friends are completely gluten-free... One, by choice, but the other two have to be based on health issues. This presented a challenge to me because let's face it,  I have to be able to share my cooking with my friends and family! Yes, I've said it! There is absolutely NO joy, for me,  in baking my wonderful yummy recipes if I can't share it with the people I Love.

So on that note, I took it to task to come up with a great recipe to make/bake for my gluten- intolerant friends!  I looked over A LOT of Gluten-free recipes, to see how they were replacing flour, mostly.  There is actually quite a bit of information out there! But, I didn't find a recipe that I was super-excited to try. With it being summer and the wealth of fresh fruits available, I wanted to make something that would celebrate that...  I love Apple Crisp! My family has made it since I was a child. We had a Golden Delicious apple tree in our yard and made all things apple from it, every summer. But, the one thing that every person in my family still makes is a good crisp.  So I got my inspiration from there!

Ruffles & A Rummage Sale Desk Make My Room Complete

Well, Happy Summer 2014! Is it warm where you are? It sure has been here, and not the usual heat, the "new" 'monsoonal moisture' as they've been calling it on the news. Between you and I, it's not my cup of tea. Or should I say Macchiato?... I have been very busy working on many things for myself, my family, church, and home these last few weeks! Least of which,  was finally finishing up my Bedroom the way I really wanted to!

Doesn't everything look just heavenly with a little sparkle to it?! I was actually editing this photo to share with you an accidentally clicked this button, I'm not sure I could do it again if I wanted to. But, I like it! Here is a look without the "magic". Isn't it still just heavenly? 

I have been waiting for some time for two very important things for me to feel my space was the way I truly wanted it. The first one you are seeing...Ruffled curtains! Aren't they wonderful?!  I had intended to make ruffled curtains myself but had read from many bloggers, whose style I love, that they used bed skirts, dust ruffles and other things to achieve the same look for pennies on the dollar. Now you're talking my language! So, as suggested by another Blogger friend, I checked out ruffles on Amazon! I'm not kidding! Unbelievably, they knew what we liked! I found these ruffled curtains already made! And, no they did NOT break the bank. But, with the money I saved on my New Desk, the second thing I needed to complete my room, It was a very do-able makeover! And, I am thrilled with the results. I couldn't wait to share with you.

Do you notice how you have never seen a picture of my desk?! Be thankful. An absolutely wonderful man, from long ago, bought it for me, and though his intent was so incredibly wonderful and generous, it was never 'my style'. I never had the heart to tell him. Well, if he's reading this post now n(Thanks, K!), he knows, and I'm actually certain he would be pleased for me.

This is my new desk!

I absolutely love it! Since I work in my bedroom, it was imperative for me to find a nice piece that would match the style of my room and be large enough and very welcoming to come to. I wanted a nice cherry wood to match my bed and I really wanted a front drawer that would drop open for my keyboard and mouse. I have been looking for about two and a half years.  A couple of weeks ago, a quick pop over to my Mum's church for a rummage sale and there it was! 

(These are some adorable little business cards my sister made for me. Thanks, Di!)







I absolutely love it! Did I say that already?! I do. It was exactly what I had wanted and get this, I'm not ashamed to dicker on the price, I walked away with my perfect desk for twenty dollars!
Yes, $20! So, now you see why I could afford to buy the curtains!

  Different view (sorry about the light)
See the drop-down drawer!!

When all is said and done, my room is, now, how I had always pictured it. Can you feel me smiling, because I am? 

Dreamy Image here:

But, quite honestly even without the fun effect, I Love what I ended up with!

Thanks for coming along with me as I navigate through the Blessings and pitfalls of this life. You have all been so wonderfully supportive and kind. I hope you have a space that you have or are working on to call your own and that makes you smile.  Have a wonderful week. 

~Theresa

I'll be sharing this post with:

French Country Cottage Katherine's Corner Nancherrow's Fridays Unfolded  Imparting Grace  My Romantic home  The Charm of Home

Posed Perfection  Colorado Springs with We Got the Funk

The Shabby Nest  How sweet the Sound   Natasha In Oz

Create With Joy   Dwellings - Amaze Me Monday  Creative K Kids Under The Table Dreaming By Stephanie Lynn Skip To My Lou

Kathe With An E  A Stroll Through Life The Dedicated House Yesterfood's Treasure Box Tuesday  Mamas"Little" Treasures Wake Up Wednesday  My 1929 Charmer  Cedar Hill Farmhouse-The Scoop  Ivy and Elephants  Shabby Art Boutique

How to Make Your Own Butter - Great Summer Project to Do With Your Kiddos

Good Morning!! Thanks for popping over for a visit.  So, have you ever made your own butter? If not, you are truly missing out and I don't think it could be easier. It's funny, little things can give us such a feeling of accomplishment. Not to mention, that you will shock your friends and family with your amazing talent! (LOL, really it's so easy, you'll be almost embarrassed at all the praise you will get for doing this simple thing)!

Brownies With Flair!

Happy Fourth of July!! I had hoped to have this recipe up for you all a little earlier... but, life happened, as it tends to do.  So, It's here now, and (I think) a great thing to bring to your Barbeque or Celebration!! I was trying to come up with something rather easy, but more special than just another brownie.  Hence, I now have "Brownies with Flair" to take and share with my friends and family with all its Yumminess for the Summer celebrations going on!! I know the kids will absolutely love it! (If the adults don't eat it first...hehe)

Can anyone tell me, when  Chocolate with some more chocolate, marshmallows, nuts, topped with some more "pretty" chocolate is not a hit?! Well, at least in my family, the answer would be never! 

The very best part of this is how easy and quick it is to make! You probably even have most of these ingredients in your cupboard, already. I love that! If not, easy enough to pick up & fairly inexpensive. I used store brand mini marshmallows, the brownies, well I like Pillsbury! :) The chocolate chips semi-sweet and milk are a great price here @ Trader Joe's and the walnuts were again another store brand. Not too tough, eh?

So, here we go. First, and this is a tricky one, prepare and bake your brownies, according to the directions on the box. I added 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts and substituted applesauce for the oil, but that's pretty much it.  

Then it looks something like this ( I used a 9x13" pan).

 Have your chocolate chips and marshmallows ready, because you are going to need to work quickly once it's baking.  About 3 minutes before it's done, pull your pan out of the oven and scatter 2/3 of a bag of mini marshmallows over the top, then sprinkle with 1/3 cup each of milk chocolate and semi-sweet chips and 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts. You'll  want to do this rather rapidly so you don't lose the internal temperature of your brownies.  Once you have all that evenly scattered over your brownies, pop it back in the oven for 2 mins. max! You don't really want to toast your marshmallows or you will get the crystallized sugar texture, so you're just really melting them. really, and that happens in under 2 minutes!  Pull them out and let them cool for about 5-10 minutes. Now you're ready for the fun part! 

This is what it looks like at this point! Very hard not to just grab a knife and dig in right now!! But, I'm an adult and I can show some restraint.. (So, I just lick my fingers, where the marshmallow and melted chocolate, accidentally got smeared. ;)

Melt about 1/4-1/3 cup of your leftover chocolate chips. Either kind is fine, I used the semi-sweet here.( You can use your microwave here, just be careful not to overcook) Now, when you have them melted add 1/2 teaspoon of canola or other rather tasteless oil to your chocolate. I know it sounds kinda gross, but you will really never taste it and it makes the next step so much easier to work with and gives you such a better appearance. Now, with a good fork, take your bowl of melted chocolate and drizzle your chocolate back and forth over the top of your Brownies. Have fun with it and choose a direction or pattern you want your drizzle to go, until you have used up your melted chocolate. (Just one last note, I usually do this with my pan over a washable surface on a wire rack, for easy cleanup). 

Then, lucky you! You end up with something that looks like this! It wows your family and really is very easy to do!!  Are you spending the day with your Family? I hope so. I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July with people you love!

I am blessed with family close by, and some more that will be down for a visit. My house just happens to be 1/3 of a mile away from where they put off our towns fireworks display and my large front covered porch is the best seat in town!! I think, at last count, there will be 8 or 9 of us out there! So, these goodies will come in very handy and I am certain not a crumb will go to waste!

I truly hope you will give this recipe a try, you will be completely surprised at how easy it really is!  Many Blessing to you and yours for a happy and safe Holiday!!

~Theresa

I will share this with:

French Country Cottage  The 36th Avenue   My Romantic Home   The Charm of Home  My Turn for Us  Rooted In Thyme  Sincerely, Paula   Katherine's Corner Natasha in Oz

Nancherrow Fridays Unfolded  Play.Party.Pin Six Sisters Stuff Treasure Box Tuesday  Create With Joy   Under The Table Dreaming By Stephanie Lynn   Make It Pretty Monday   A Stroll Thru Life   Moore or Less Cooking   Cedar Hill Farmhouse: The Scoop Home Maid Simple


I'm very pleased to tell you that this recipe and post was Featured by:

  

Summer is "Officially" Here - Time for something Cool...

Good Morning!! This morning I'm writing to wish you all a Happy, Healthy, fun-filled Summer!  

That being said, I am not much of a Summer person, myself. I'd pretty much prefer any other Season, actually!  I don't know if it is because I live in California and we get some very hot days here!! Eeeks! High 90's -100's Hot, or if it's just because I, So enjoy the other seasons so much. Hmmm. Point for me to personally ponder, I guess. I had Happy Summer Childhood memories, so nothing there. Oh well! I will not complain, as I know many people would love to trade places with me, and I probably wouldn't Love all of their seasons either! Aren't we funny creatures?!

One thing is for sure, I LOVE the time spent with the kids, the family gatherings and the celebrations, that we could not have any other time of the year!  So, on that note I wanted to share with you one of my new favorite recipes, that really is something to be enjoyed in the Summer!!  Do you like Lemonade? I have never been a real big fan.  However, now that i have discovered this new (well, new to me, anyway) infusion of raspberries, it has quickly become one of my all time faves! Odd, isn't it, how our tastes change over the years? :)