happy halloween!

Halloween is the time you can be anything you want to be... 

for example:

You could be an adorable pumpkin...

...or a western cowboy!

Maybe you want to live under the sea like Ariel...

...or chill out with your hippy friends.

You could even be a big fuzzy bear, or Cinderella.

Maybe you've always wanted to be a policewoman...

...or rock out like Wayne and Garth!

The possibilities are endless!

We are so looking forward to making 

new halloween memories together this weekend!

We wish you a spooky holiday filled with costumes, jack-o-lanterns, pumpkin goodies and many trick-or-treaters!

jammin'

This weekend, I made homemade jam for the first time.

peach jam to be exact.

The fruit stands here in Utah have absolutely amazing peaches.

fresh, juicy, perfectly ripe peaches.

I spent a few hours of my Saturday peeling, dicing and tasting.

These amazing peaches made some pretty dang good jam.

Now, our freezer is stocked for winter.

(plus one in the fridge)

We've already had PB+J's and wheat toast with jam.

I can't wait to eat some hot homemade rolls smothered in the stuff.

Why buy bland grocery store jam when you can have the real thing?

delish!

dear diary...

I love writing in you.

I think that's an understatement.

writing is therapeutic. 

whether my day has been good or bad, it feels great to record my thoughts in you.

reading old entries is the best. it is so fun to re-live the past for a minute.

writing down memories is my favorite way to remember them.

I like to think I will always remember everything. 

but I need you to make that true.

I made a goal to finish you by the end of 2010..

see... only a skinny section left.

I will have to write on a more consistent basis to finish.

there is something so great about completely filling a journal.

I've only done it once.

hopefully by the New Year you will be sitting on my shelf.

there are just so many cute journals out there that tempt me on a 

daily basis.

you are cute, but you are now worn and tattered from time.

you lived in my backpack, purse, and church bag.

you have recorded one of the best years of my life.

I am excited to see what the rest of the year has to hold...

...but I'm looking forward to choosing my next cute friend (no offense).

love, Shelb.

shelby's pumpkin cookie recipe

I have had a lot of requests for my family's pumpkin cookie recipe.

So, without further ado...

How to bake:

Pumpkin Cookies

ingredients:

cookies-

2 cups sugar

2 cups shortening

2 cups pumpkin

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

5 cups flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

2 tsp. nutmeg

2 tsp. cloves

frosting-

1 box powdered sugar

1 stick of butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 cup milk

*add little orange food coloring if desired

directions:

1. in an electric mixer, blend shortening and sugar

2. add pumpkin

3. add eggs one at a time

4. add vanilla

5. in a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg and cloves

6. mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients

7. bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes (I never set a timer.  I just watch them until the tops begin to harden up just a little bit. So, cooking time may vary.)

8. mix frosting ingredients together in an electric mixer for about two minutes (I use one and a half recipes of frosting.. but I get a little frosting happy! :) )

9. frost when cool

I promise these amazing morsels will NOT disappoint!

enjoy!

pumpkin cookie day

today was pumpkin cookie day at our house.

the first day of pumpkin treats is one of my favorite days of the year.

Growing up, every October 1st my mom would bake the most delicious pumpkin cookies!

It is an unwritten rule in our family that any type of pumpkin goodies are off limits until October.

So, "pumpkin cookie day" is greatly anticipated.

It is means fall is officially here.

It means the weather might start cooling down. 

It means the holidays are right around the corner.

I decided to carry on the tradition for the past 2 Octobers.

Seriously, our house looks like a cookie factory.

This recipe left us with so many cookies.

(not that I'm complaining or anything...)

Luckily we have a few friends to share with.

Giving them away is half the fun of baking them!

If we didn't give any away, I'm sure Me&Ry could finish these off without any problems.

scaryyy.

happy fall!

...now go make some pumpkin goodies!