Pumpkin Pie Dip

  Hey y'all! With all of the holidays coming up, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, you'll probably have a few get-togethers to attend, and you'll probably need/want to bring something to share with everyone. That's where my favorite dip comes in, Pumpkin Pie Dip. It's so delicious, easy, and only 3 ingredients. I'm not sure if I should actually call it a recipe since it's so easy, but I think I will.

Ingredients:

• Cool Whip ( You can use fat free or sugar free, but I used the original )
• Canned Pumpkin Pie Mix 15 oz. ( I could only find the 30 oz. can so I just used half )
•  Instant Vanilla Pudding (Again you can use the sugar free, but I used the original )

  Take all of your ingredients in a large bowl and mix together thoroughly. Make sure your cool whip is completely thawed, if you forgot to thaw it in the refrigerator you can just thaw it in the microwave. Once mixed allow to chill in the refrigerator for a few hours. That's it. Serve it with ginger snaps, pretzel sticks, pretzel crackers, vanilla wafers, or apple slices. It's the perfect appetizer for Thanksgiving, snack for last minute company, or do like I did and make it for your child's birthday party. Happy eating y'all!

My Avon Favorites

   Hey y'all! I hope everyone's day is off to a good start. I thought I'd share with y'all just a few of my favorite make-up and skincare products I use from Avon.

• Anew Vitale Day Cream

 
 I use this day cream every morning after my facial cleanser ( which is the same brand ) all over my face, neck, and décolletage. It's light and creamy, not sticky, and helps even out your skintone and improves clarity. It has SPF 25, oil-free, allergy-tested and dermatologist-tested, and immediately boosts your skin's hydration by 178%. All of the Anew moisturizers are on sale for 2 for $30 by the way.

• Avon Nailwear Pro+

  I painted my toenails with this nail polish 2 weeks ago and it's still in tact, so you could say it's super durable. It increases nail strength by 80%, high shine resists dings and nicks, no formaldehyde, toluene or phthalates. This shade is pastel pink in crème finish. It comes in 20 different colors and 4 different finishes, and it's on sale for $3.49.

• Beyond Color Lipstick

  This shade is called Divine Wine. It's the perfect shade for Fall. It has a satin finish, light to full coverage, very moisturizing, contains Retinex Color Complex (a dual plumping formula that leaves lips looking plumper and fuller), in just 2 weeks, reduces lip dryness by 90% and increases lip plumping by 35&, formula with Retinol retexturizes lips, boosts moisture by 115% after 4 hours, 62% after 8 hours, and has SPF 15. You can now get two of these lipsticks for $7.99.

• Anew Clinical Eye Lift Pro Dual Eye System

  And last but not least, this dual eye system. I love it. It says to use it twice daily, but I only use it every night before bed. It feels tingly when you put it on, which I love. The gel goes all over your lid up to the browbone, and the cream goes under the eye and on the high part of your cheekbone. It makes your eyes looks wide awake, noticeably reducing sagging skin and crow's feet. It infused with Injectable-grade arginine* and firming Polymer. It's suitable for sensitive skin, is, hypoallergenic, allergy-tested, dermatologist-tested, and ophthalmologist-tested. You should see results in 7 days. All of the Anew Clinical products are on sale for buy one get one for $5 right now.

Also heads up on the coupon codes and sales I have going on in my Avon eStore this week!

  Any of these free gifts with purchase would make the perfect gift for Christmas! Thanks for reading y'all!

Linking up with Natalie and Annie

Fall Decor For Less

   Hey y'all! I hope everyone is enjoying all that Autumn (or Fall) has to offer. From the gorgeous floliage to the abundance of all things pumpkin, there's so many reasons to smile. Well today I bring you something that will make your wallet smile. I'm just being funny, wallets don't smile. But you will with all the money you'll save on decorating for Fall this year. Enough talking (or typing) here's a little budget friendly Fall décor inspiration for y'all!

Leaf icon isn't part of the décor, it's just for privacy!

 Other than the pictures and the actual vases, everything on this buffet is from the Dollar Tree! I simply put one strand of leaf garland in each vase, then I put a few packages of mini gourds and a few packages of the loose leaves in front of the vases and frames.

 Here is what I did with the mantle this year. I used 3 strands of the leaf garland, about 7 pumpkins (orange, green, and burlap), and then a few packages of mini gourds to make it appear a little fuller. The white fox and owl were $3 each from the Target dollar spot, love that place! The squirrel is from Home Goods, and the painting is from Kirklands. Everything else was from Dollar Tree. Odds are if you ask me where I got something that's seasonal in my home I'll say Dollar Tree or Target.

  And last but not least, if you happen to have any uncarved pumpkins hanging around and wanna make use of them here's a really simple DIY. I made this at a friend's pumpkin carving recently. All I did was put polka dots on the pumpkin in acrylic paint with a small paint brush. It took about 30 to 40 minutes to dry. I don't know if you can tell but the colors are peach, blue, and gold.

  I hope this is helpful and y'all make the point to soak in every last minute we have of Autumn, happy decorating!

September Instagram Roundup

  Hey y'all! I hope y'all are having a great October so far. I thought I would do a little roundup of my Instagram feed to catch y'all up on what we've been up to.

         The very 1st pumpkin spice latte of the season, a moment to be savored (and then captured on Instagram of course!)

                           
             The Muffin. Artsy, understated, delicious.

            My 1st selfie of Fall? Is that a thing? It is now!

        Miller is not ready to accept that summer is over, so he decides to sunbathe indoors.

          Our kitchen window is all decked out for the season!

        Miller is trying out costumes for his 2nd Halloween.

     Our Fall mantle, complete with woodland creatures!

Chicken pot pie, the ultimate comfort food.

       Miller is all dapper for a big Saturday afternoon!

The Fall cups are here, this is NOT a drill!!!!

       My new favorite lipstick for Fall! Avon's Beyond Color lipstick in Divine Wine

Here's the close-up of the lipstick I'm wearing above. You can buy it in my Avon eStore.

      Clearly Miller is thrilled that it's officially Fall....

 I was thrilled to break out my sweaters! Even if it was only in the high 60s that morning.

And lets be real, every day is National Coffee Day.

I have tons more pictures on my Instagram, but I didn't wanna bombard y'all with pictures. If you want to follow along just follow me on Instagram. I don't just share cups of coffee, I also share EXCLUSIVE coupon codes for my Avon eStore customers. Happy Instagraming!

My Avon Weekly Deals

   Hey y'all! Most of y'all know I'm an Avon representative. So today I thought I would share a few of my favorite exclusive deals you can score this week in my Avon eStore. I wanted to put it all together in one convenient place so my customers don't miss them!

October 4th - 6th

You can get a FREE 5-piece Skin So Soft Soft & Sensual Set + Clear Pink Trim Cosmetic Bag when you place a order of $55 or more. Use coupon code: PAMPER.

October 7th

Then you can get FREE shipping on orders of $25 or more by using code: FORYOU.

October 10th

The last of my exclusive coupon deals for this week is in honor of National Handbag Day ( who knew that was a thing?!). You can get a FREE Grommet Saddle Crossbody Bag in Black with a order of $60 or more. Just use code: BAGLOVE. You can take a look at the bag here.

If you have any questions about any of these deals or just questions about Avon in general, please ask away! Happy shopping y'all!

The 5 Stages of Fall

  I wasn't always in love with Fall like I am today, but with each passing year I love it a little more. Maybe it's all of the pumpkin spice lattes. Maybe it began with the invention of Pinterest and their insanely cute and often time-consuming DIY Fall projects. Either way Fall has inched it's way into my heart where Summer used to be. My love of Fall is why I bring you the 5 stages of Fall today.

1. Pumpkin Flavored Coffee Creamer

  This. This is where it all begins. You're strolling down the dairy section. You need milk. 2%. Then you see it. The pumpkin spice coffee creamer. Hey it may just be August, but suddenly you wanna break out your favorite sweater and jump in a pile of leaves. Okay I don't actually jump in piles of leaves when Fall comes around, but you get my point.

2. Fall Décor

   Once I found the pumpkin creamer I had to put up the Fall decorations, it's the only logical step. So I put up my Fall mantle décor on August 28th this year. Of all of the seasons I like changing the mantle for Fall the most, well right after Christmas haha. The vibrant colors are so soothing and put me in a cozy mood. I think that's all the reason you need to put your decorations up a little earlier, so you can enjoy that cozy feeling just a little longer.

3. Pumpkin Spice Lattes

  I know I already have pumpkin creamer on this list, but this is totally different. That first day you know you can pick up a pumpkin spice latte wherever you would usually get your vanilla or caramel latte or regular coffee, well it's a little magical. Okay, I guess that's just me. Oh by the way, I recently heard someone talking about getting the pumpkin flavoring in their chai latte (for those of y'all who don't drink coffee), so give it a try and tell me how y'all like it. I need a few more people to endorse it first before I'd give up my coffee.

4. Fall Clothes

This is Miller on Thanksgiving last year.

   I get very excited about switching out my wardrobe for Fall, but honestly I'm looking forward to switching out Miller's even more. Little sweaters, little coats, little pants. The best part about this age right now is I can dress him like I want with zero eye rolls. I highly doubt he's going to let me put him in pumpkin overalls once he knows better, so I have to soak this time in while it lasts.

5. Oh Yeah, The Weather

  This part is where I remember it's not truly Fall yet. Sure September 22nd (the official 1st day of Fall) has come and gone, but everyone knows Fall isn't truly here until the weather is nice and crisp. We've had a day or even two where the morning felt slightly brisk. But that's about it. Although we don't have a shortage of rain by any means. The leaves seem like they're trying their best to stay green but every morning I see a few more of 'em resting on our lawn.

  When is it truly Fall for you? What's your favorite season? What's your favorite thing about that season? I can't wait to hear!

Linking up with April and Christina

A Book Review: That Mama is a Grouch

   When I was pregnant with Miller my sweet blogger friend Sherry was thoughtful enough to send us a few of her lovely children's books. I was touched by the gesture, and I was even more pleased when I sat down to read the books with Miller. Today I wanted to share with you our favorite of them all. That mama is a grouch.
     The basic premise is about a mama who is not so secretly frustrated by the things her daughter gets into, and the daughter decides her mama is, you guessed it, a grouch. It's funny, clever, and thought provoking for little minds. The illustrations are adorable as well. My son loves books and was instantly taken with this by the pictures and poetic words. He's still a little young to understand the concept of the book but I know this will be a book we can enjoy for years to come.
   I highly recommend this book to other moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas, and babysitters, or really anyone who knows a child that enjoy books. It makes a unique birthday present, or maybe it could be a new baby present like it was in my case. Either way, you can buy any books by this award winning writer, Sherry Ellis, on her blog. Happy reading y'all!

Miller says "thanks for the books, I love them!"

The Mom Bun: An Age Old Tradition

  Mom buns. They're everywhere. At the supermarket. At church. Across the street sifting through the mail. Standing in front of you in line at Starbucks. Maybe you're the one sporting the mom bun. My point is, they might just be THE hairstyle of this era. They're so popular they have even graced t-shirts, mugs, and wall art. But is it really anything new?
   Now buns have nothing really to do with motherhood. Ballerinas wear 'em (proud ballerina here!), people wanting to save time, people wanting to try something new with their hair, even men have gotten in on the hairstyle. Still the term "mom bun" gains popularity. For the obvious reason of buns projecting someone wishing to save time, and moms being a major people group always looking for a few extra minutes.
   It wasn't until a few months back though that it hit me. Mom buns aren't just a trendy thing to iron on your t-shirt(although I think it's super cute haha), they're something moms and women in general have been doing since prairie days. As in Little House on the Prairie. Ma Ingalls.

    As someone who used to love watching the Ingalls, and still does, I find that extremely funny. That today in such "modern" times as these we "modern" women don something that in some minds would make people think of log cabins and no electricity. I'm always trickled by deja vu moments like this. It's little things like this that reminds us that we're not all that far from our ancestors or foremothers in a good way.
    There's a lot of trends in style or lifestyle that are throwbacks to our pioneer ancestors. Maxi shirts, I'm pretty sure our great grandmothers would rock one. Chicken in the backyard, no home was complete without them. Freezer meal cooking, our great grandmother would make enough sausage to feed a family of 5 for the whole winter.
    Now we have plenty of conveniences they didn't. The world wide web couldn't even be imagined in that time. Can you picture Ma on Pinterest? She would have probably put a intricate braid in her mom bun with one of Pinterest's many hair tutorials. Or maybe she would have finally figured out the best way to get grease stains out of her pans. If she had had Starbucks she might have taken a part time job as a barista instead of  working at the restaurant in season 6 (okay I know that wasn't real life, just for the show). Or maybe she would be a online Avon representative like me. I really wanna know how she got her buns so perfect back before elastic hair ties. I can't get them right WITH one. FYI the scrunchie was patented in 1986. You're welcome.
    I don't sport a mom bun as much as media and advertising might suggest moms do or should, I actually wore my hair in a bun more when I was a early teen. But that bun was much more polished. I'd say I wear my hair up 50 percent of the time. Keep in mind though I used to work in a salon. I learned a lot about taking care of your hair, and got used to having to have my hair styled for my job.
Although I've noticed that in friends and family that I knew before they were moms they wear their hair up exponentially more than they did pre-kids. I guess the cliché is true after all.
    Whether you're a mom or not are you a fan of the "mom bun"? Or more of a unwilling participant in the trend?

 Linking up with Annie and Natalie
                                           

  

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Hey y'all! With Fall here (and yes I know it's not "technically" Fall yet) baking is definitely on my mind. Pies, cakes, cookies, basically anything that can also have pumpkin in it haha. The funny thing is though I made these cookies for the first time back in August. They're easy, yummy, stay very moist even days later, and they're gluten-free as well as dairy-free. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar (you could obviously use Splenda if you wanted)
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

* Depending on how big you want your cookies one batch of this recipe makes a little over a dozen.

1. Take all of your ingredients minus the chocolate chips and put them in a bowl and mix evenly. I used the standing mixer to mix the dough.

    2.  Add in the chocolate chips, you may have to mix them in with your hands.

    3. Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place on ungreased baking sheet.

   4. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes.

   5. Once done allow to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes because otherwise the cookies
        will fall apart. And that's it. Happy baking!