Her Sea of Blue

Happy National Pumpkin Day! This week the kids and I made the very best batch of pumpkin muffins ever! The best part, they are a bit healthier than your average muffin and taste super delicious! So, of course I'm gonna share our recipe. We started with fresh pumpkin! My son's 2nd grade class did a huge STEM Project using pumpkins. I volunteer in his class and since I'm Room Mom, I just couldn't help myself. I cut the meat away from underneath the stalks and had plenty of pumpkin to make several batches for his teacher and classmates.   First, rinse your pumpkin really well and boil it on medium-high heat for about 20 minutes or until soft. Use a strainer to drain the pumpkin really well. You may want to let it sit for about 15 minutes so it can continue to drain. Then, using an electric beater, beat the pumpkin until smooth and pureed. INGREDIENTS: 1 3/4 whole wheat flour 3 scoops Muscle Milk Vanilla Protein Powder 1/3 cup cane sugar 1/4 cup light brown

Balloon Garland Tutorial w/ Jessica Reeves Photography DIY Balloon Garland Tutorial Is that a hint of sheer pink I see? Yes, folks. Yes it is. Party planning is sorta my jam and I'm kinda good at it. (Wink.) Seriously though, I think it's important to celebrate the people you love! Being able to make someone feel special is a gift. Ocean Inspired Balloon Arch Our son's birthdays are 2 weeks apart and we go all out for one joint party. (Hoping to get away with that for as long as I can!) Our January birthday babies had asked for a pool party for quite some time, so this past summer we celebrated their half-birthdays poolside, in shark-infested waters, with family and friends. It was JAWSOME! I should blog about that, too! Anyway, Kohen (7), and I made a huge 15' balloon arch for their party and it was FINTASTIC! Super festive and fun!  So, fast forward to last week. My sister-in-law, Jessica, asked me to come in studio to make a balloon garland for a

Halloween Porch Inspiration Halloween Inspiration &  DIY Pumpkin Topiary Tutorial Halloween is family favorite around here! I love celebrating the mysterious wonder and spooky enchantments! It's dark and it's magical all at the same time. My kids can’t get enough! Their little curious minds break through the unfamiliar scenes. They are perplexed and entertained. I can see their imagination spark and their excitement soars. Ah, love it! Now, I’m not talking guts and gory blood. We are more of your creepy spider, silly skeleton, wicked witch, and spooky Jack o Lantern kind-of-people. My 7 year old LOVES to help me decorate for the holidays, so I thought I’d share our Halloween porch scene he helped come up with! I’ve even included a DIY tutorial for the Pumpkin Topiary (power tool free)! Plus, I’ve put together a list of our favorite October traditions in case there’s a few you’d like to start with your family.  But first, I hope you enjoy a good scare from m

White Chicken Chili Recipe White Chicken Chili, in the Crock Pot of course, is my go to meal for Halloween night and throughout the Fall and Winter! It's so easy to dump all the ingredients into the slow cooker and then serve with your favorite toppings at dinnertime. White Chicken Chili Recipe: 1. Set your slow cooker on low for 8 hours. 2. Add your ingredients: 2-3 Large Chicken Breast, Trimmed 5 Cups of Chicken Broth 1 Packet McCormick White Chicken Chili Seasoning Mix 1 Can Hunts Fire Roasted Tomatoes 1 Can Green Chilies, diced 1 Can Bush's Reduced Sodium Cannellini Beans, Drained and Rinsed 1 Can Bush's Reduced Sodium Chick Peas, Drained and Rinsed 1-2 Cups Water (optional for desired consistency) Reserve 4oz. Greek Cream Cheese for later. 3. About 30 minutes prior to serving, shred the chicken. Stir in cream cheese to melt. You may need to whisk the cream cheese once it starts melting to help it blend. 4. Serve with your favorite toppings lik