Thanksgiving 2016

Ah, Thanksgiving week.

I love Thanksgiving week. 

A week full of family and ridiculous amounts of food that kick-starts you into the most wonderful time of the year. Yes, please. 

This week also reminds me just how doggone lucky I am to have my family. I'm sure everyone thinks their family takes the cake, and I am no different. I am obsessed with my family. 

And y'all they're a crazy bunch. And give me some seriously good blogging material. 

The crazy kicked off on Monday morning when Jeff and I set out for the 5 hour drive to my parents' house. A couple hours in, we got word that my sister and the kids (who were about 20 minutes ahead of us), were on the side of the road with a flat. 

So then this happened. 

Of which I told Amy that we were quite fortunate that he was with us. Because if it had been just me, all I would have been able to offer is company while she waited for AAA. 

Yay for handy future hubs. So he worked on that....

...while the peanut gallery took selfies. 

And played in dirt.

We still had a good 2.5 hours to go on the drive, so Amy had to actually go get her tire replaced before finishing the journey. 

Which means we got the kids. 

It was just quite ironic, because as we left Dallas we turned on Christmas music and Jeff made the comment that we better enjoy listening to road trip music of our choice while we can (you know, before it changes to Kidz Bop on repeat). Then 2 hours later we have a car full of kids. :) 

But alas, everyone finally made it safely to Beaumont. 

And life got a little too real for Jeffrey :)

Every morning, I would wake up early to get some work done before the "house" woke up, and one morning I woke up and heard giggles in my dad's study. 

Then I walked into these two having a moment :)

My dad originally set out to do his Bible study, but Easton wanted to read about numbers (not the Biblical chapter kind) instead. I think my dad was okay with that!

So Jeff has only been to Beaumont a handful of times, but a staple of those in Beaumont is breakfast at Cracker Barrel. And Jeff has never been to Cracker Barrel. And I'm pretty sure that's unAmerican. So we remedied that. 

Oh, and snuggled with Easton some more. You'll see him a lot during this post. We're kind of obsessed. And he's kind of a hoot. 

 Uncle Allen showed up Tuesday afternoon and helped Jeff work on his ONE THOUSAND piece puzzle he got at the Hob Lob. I'm pretty sure he immediately regretted it when he opened the box. 

Oh, and Brookie helped too. 

After dinner one night, half of us decided to watch Finding Dory (seriously - such a good movie). And then I casually mentioned that ice cream would be good. And then Brooklyn proceeded to repeat that statement every 5 minutes. So we sent my dad out for ice cream.... 

...and he came back with 4 cartons. I love that man. We think the same way. 

And since Easton can't eat ice cream yet, we let him take a bath in the kitchen sink so he could still feel like part of the fam.

 Wednesday morning I woke up to a rain/thunder, and when I walked downstairs I couldn't find anyone. Then I proceeded to walk to the front porch where I saw my mom and E just rocking and watching the rain. 

So I grabbed a cup of coffee and joined them. Rocking on a porch during a monsoon whilst drinking coffee? All the good feels. 

And don't worry - it was like 70 degrees in Beaumont. We didn't have the baby in freezing rain. 

We were meeting my dad for lunch that afternoon, so Brooklyn made him some cookies for dessert. Baking cookies at 9a. That's how the Reeves roll. 

After lunch, Jeff and I did some work on the registry. And let me tell you what - when the people give you a registry scanner, you feel like you have ALL THE POWER. 

And ALL THE JOY. 

This is how B and I spent a good majority of the week - snuggled on the couch. I love this girl. 

Then she changed her face at the last minute and I just about lost it. I laugh every time I look at this picture. 

Then Wednesday night we proved what nutcases we are. 

So here's the thing, my dad is a self-taught master wood human. The stuff he makes is downright amazing. So when we built the cabin at the campground, he decided to build a kitchen table (complete with a lazy susan)...solely from wood he found on the side of the road. 

My dad's workshop is like foster care for reclaimed wood.

I mean look at that thing. That's also a chest he made from reclaimed wood behind it. 

Well, my dad really wanted to test out the new table, but there was no room to bring it into the house...

....so we ate dinner in the garage. 

Can't make this stuff up, people. Can't make this stuff up. 

Then I put my dad to work on another project for yours truly :)

So this little guy (who is ALL boy), has a very favorite place. 

And that place is the dishwasher. 

He just climbs up there like it ain't no thang. And has the time of his life. 

Cutest little dishwashin' stinker.

Now, I usually am in charge of the big Thanksgiving breakfast every year, but this year I told mom I wanted to actually cook the big Thanksgiving lunch. It's on my 30 Before 30 list, and since next year I'll be on a honeymoon, it was now or never. 

I love this crazy lady.

Thanksgiving morning is one of my favoritest mornings. We wake up, cuddle up, drink coffee, watch the Macy's Day Parade, eat monkey bread - it's just a good morning. 

And this year, all the girls looked pretty cute in our matching Ugg slippers. I saw them in Australia and decided they'd be perfect souvenirs for my favorite girls. And then I naturally had to get myself a pair....

PS - my mother's legs are so teeny. Woman has some rockin' legs. 

Then this guy was more than happy to help clean up after breakfast :)

After the parade, it was time to get ourselves cleaned up and put the finishing touches on lunch!

Uncle + Nephew; Aunt + Niece

I just adore these two. My little turkey trotter and my little butterball :)

My dad hates cutting the turkey.

And Jeff and I hate waiting for the last batch of rolls to get out of the oven.

Not the greatest picture (and we're covering half the food), but I loved getting to cook my first Thanksgiving dinner alongside my mama. At times it was frustrating (several recipes are a combination of multiple recipes/inside her noggin), but it's just always special sharing a kitchen with my mom.

After a period of straight up food-coma, we played dress-up with Brooklyn! My mom found my dress I wore when I was a flower girl (age 5), so we let Brookie try it on. 

All the feels. She is going to be the cutest stinking flower girl.

This is the last picture I took at home. I went up to bed and left Jeff with his puzzle. Four days later and this is his progress (and real-time emotion) towards that thing.

Then Friday morning we left in the wee hours of the morning to pick up Char Man from the boarder, watch the AMAZINGNESS that was the Gilmore Girls revival (seriously - so good), and begin transforming my tiny little apartment into the North Pole. 

Bless. 

And that was Thanksgiving 2016! Here's to hoping yours was pretty perfect, too :)

Happy Monday, everyone!

Until next time,
Katy

Friday Favorites

We have made it to FRIDAY! And it's an AMAZING Friday because it's a FRIDAY before being OFF OF WORK for an ENTIRE week!!!! 

I love Thanksgiving week. I love the family time. I love the food. I love the Macy's Day Parade. I love the transition into Christmas decorations. I just love this week. Corporate America only gives you a couple of days off, but I make sure to take the whole week off each year. It's just an important week. 

AND today is even more exciting because Jeff and I get married one.year.from.today. 
Insert all the smiles and claps. 
Then insert a slice of anxiety. Cause I really should start planning.

Anywho - today I'm linking up for some Friday Favorites. So the usual around here :)

 1 - The Good Wife

This. Show. 

My mom has been telling me to watch this show for years but I just never did. I honestly didn't think it was my cup of tea, so I started it one day just as "background noise." Yeah that was a mistake. I totally got roped in and now watch it every chance I get. Like I'm behind on my regular TV shows because I always turn on this. It's a problem. But it's such a good entertaining problem. I want to be Alicia Florrick. 

If you've been wanting to check it out you can watch the entire show on Hulu!

2 - Fall Gift Basket

 

 

So I think I've told you this before, but my future MIL makes me and Jeff seasonal baskets every year. And they're like my favorite things ever. If you're a mom - your kids are never too old to get a themed gift basket. I promise. 

 

I'm not sure what was in Jeff's (I took mine and ran for the hills) - but the contents of mine made me want to sing a fallelujah. Hah. I'm chuckling. Fallelujah. That's funny. 

 

 

I mean we have wine, dark chocolate wafer cookies (they're from World Market and delicious), Trader Joe's pumpkin pita chips, pumpkin granola, B&BW goodies, a Starbucks gift card - all the yeses here, folks. And she gave me a new fall decorative towel (which I shared on Monday with my fall decorations) that Jeff thinks is a normal towel that he can wipe his hands on. He has learned he is highly mistaken.

3 - Guilt-Free Pumpkin Muffins

On Tuesday I shared about my love for the muffin, my inner struggle with the muffin top, and how I've come up with a recipe that gives you one without the other. Meaning it gives you the muffin without the muffin top, because the other way around is just downright mean. 

They're guilt-free, they're delicious, they're fall flavored, and they should be on your menu next week! If you missed the recipe you can check it out here.

4 - Favorite Quotes

So, you'll notice a theme here.... but I'm really tired. Work right now mildly resembles being in an ocean with a hole in your floatie (aka drowning), and adding life to that just has me plum worn out. So these spoke to my heart this week. 

 

I mean. This one I want to put on a t-shirt and wear as my daily uniform. I can't stay up late anymore, I can't wake up early anymore - I can barely stay awake during the lunch hour. I am the pigeon.

 

So... me 3x out of the week. My thoughts: if you're already 10 minutes late, what's 10 more if it means I'll have coffee in a red cup and therefore obviously be in better spirits? I digress.

My sister sent this to me and I laughed out loud. The past couple of weeks I get ready every morning and I'm like, "maybe I need new make-up, should I try R+F?, I should look into getting chemical peels..."

....I think I just need a break. And it sounds a lot cheaper, too :)

5 - Starbucks Christmas Coffee Thermos

I was in Starbucks the other morning (probably running late to work), and this caught my eye while waiting in line. #theygetmeeverytime Its a Christmas coffee thermos (so like a mug on steroids...and you know I have a mug obsession) and it comes in 5 different designs and I want them all. 

Do I need all 5? Why yes, yes I do. I have a 30+ minute commute every day and therefore I drink coffee (out of a thermos) every day on that drive. Math is my thing - and that math tells me I need lots of thermoses. And they're just more fun if they're seasonal.

6 - My Bridal Posse

This picture just makes my heart happy. I asked my girls to be bridesmaids this week, and part of the "gift" was these sunglasses in which they had to accept their positions by sending me a selfie. I honestly had no intention of making a collage, but when the pictures came back looking like this, it was just too cute not to. I love these girls. 

7 - Gilmore Girls Reunion

"Katy, you've already talked about this twice in the past month...."

I KNOW. But it is actually happening ONE WEEK FROM TODAY. 

I'm just too dang excited. I can't sit still. I miss Stars Hollow. I miss the coffee. I miss the quick-witted banter. I'm just so ready for this four part series. Along with the rest of the world. Netflix ain't even gonna know what hit it on November 25th.  If you need to get pumped up again, watch the trailer here.

PS - If you didn't watch the show, don't watch the reunion. Watch the seasons first.

_____

And those are my Friday Favorites! 

I'm just too excited about the next 10 days. Lots of wedding stuff, lots of family stuff, lots of Thanksgiving stuff, lots of Christmas decorating. 

Just lots of smiles. 

Happy weekend everyone!

Until next time,
Katy

Trim Down Tuesday: Pumpkin Muffins

Okay. I have done my research. 

I have studied several pinterest recipes.

I have tried various versions of recipes.

And I have finally found a healthy pumpkin muffin that I absolutely love. 

Because everyone needs a pumpkin muffin without worrying about the muffin top. 

I have a serious love affair with muffins. Like, it's the pastry that speaks to my soul, calls my name from the bakery window,and whispers sweet-flavored-nothings in my ear. I heart the muffin. 

But for muffins you need metabolism, and I'm almost 30.

So instead of working out (ew), we just make healthier muffins. 

Today I introduce you to...

The Guilt Free Pumpkin Muffin!

What You'll Need

3/4 cup coconut flour*

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup maple syrup

6 eggs

1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice

3/4 tsp baking soda

1 teaspoon lemon juice

*To get the consistency I wanted, I put between 3/4 cup to 1 cup

What You'll Do

Throw all ingredients into a bowl and mix (I love these types of recipes)

Line a muffin tin with muffin cups - this recipe made about 15-16 muffins for me

Fill each muffin cup to about 3/4 of the way full

Bake at 350 degrees for about 25-30 minutes

And guys. Don't be afraid of coconut flour. At first, it freaked me out too, but then I just bought some, measured it out, threw it in the bowl, and never gave it another thought. If you just don't think too much about it, it'll be fine. 

And yes, these are paleo, gluten-free, and really dang good. 

To see other Trim Down Tuesday recipes, click here.

Enjoy!

Until next time,
Katy

Falliday Decorations

Happy Monday!

So - it's mid-November. And that means we're in the last two weeks of the reign of the pumpkin. And while my decorations have been up for about a month and a half now, I never posted about them. 

Why? 

Well, 1) I mean, do you really care what my apartment looks like in the fall?, and 2) because pictures just don't do decorations justice. 

But nevertheless, I know I'll enjoy looking back on my (last) little apartment before I have to get to live with a boy. Plus these posts always serve as a really good inventory when I go to buy new decorations. 

So here we go :)

Welcome :)

So this little guy is what you see when you first walk in my apartment door, but before you walk in, you're welcomed by this welcome sign:

You're welcomed on the inside, you're welcomed on the outside. I mean - ultimate hospitality here!

My dad and I built this welcome sign (because I saw one at Canton but it was just too expensive), and then I bought the welcome sign and the various change outs. I have one for every season and it makes my heart oh so happy :)

I have a pretty long kitchen counter top in my new place, so that's where the majority of my decorations went.  And I completely understand that it looks like fall barfed on said countertop, but I promise it looks good in person. I also promise that there's a good amount of space on said countertop, it just doesn't look like it because of the angle.

On the left side of the counter you have the lantern and the FALL candle blocks...

And on the right you have MY AWESOME FALL SUBWAY ART THAT LISA MADE ME, and some more little punkin knick-knacks.

If you don't know the story behind this canvas, I basically drew it (in ugly form) on a piece of paper, gave it to Lisa, told her to paint it on a canvas, and this was the result. I've bragged on it every year since. I even wrote an entire post bragging on it. I bragged so much, the girl got subway art orders. I mean - she should own a shop. #andIshouldbehermarketingdepartment

Behind the counter in the kitchen we have two new little additions this year - fall decorative towels! Jeff was over one day, used one, and got smacked. I informed him that towels hanging off the stove are for our eyes and not our hands. He sighed, shook his head, and walked off. Marriage should be fun :)

Jeff's mom gave me the one on the left, and my mom gave me the one on the right! 

Jeff's mom also gave me this little gem from Bath and Body Works that not only looks cute, but keeps my house smelling like pumpkin pecan waffles. Like.. I wake up, walk into the kitchen, and half-expect a gourmet breakfast on the table. Unfortunately, the plug-in does not have magic powers.

So,if you've been around here for a while, then you know this is next decorative section is one of my favorite set-ups. The very first year I decided to decorate (and had a whopping zero decorations), I was home in Beaumont and my mom wasn't available to go to Hobby Lobby with me. So my sweet dad offered to go with me. 

I had no idea what I was doing or looking for, and hello, the Hob Lob is a tad overwhelming if you're new at the whole decorating thing, so my dad started grabbing random pieces from various shelves and put this together in the middle of the aisle. And I said "I'll take it!" 

It's been set up the exact same way for about four years in a row now :)

I really should probably name her. I'm surprised I haven't yet. That's so unlike me.

And finally, we have the little coffee table action...

Complete with fall magazines from Paula Deen and Southern Living :) 

And then when you sit on the couch...

 

Surprise! Tiger pumpkins and mini-pumpkins on the bottom. Courtesy of an impulse buy at the grocery store. 

And those are my fall decorations this year! To see last year's decor click here. Which is basically the same stuff in a different house. Me thinks I need to go to the Hob Lob over Thanksgiving and get me some more! 

And if you missed it, you can see all my fall plates and such at my annual fall scarf exchange recap. I have an obsession with dishes. Registering for the wedding is going to be so.much.fun. #triggerhappy

Okay, so TOMORROW is another Trim Down Tuesday - featuring a fall comfort food. So you basically can't miss it. So I guess I'll just see you then. :)

Happy Monday everyone! One more week til Turkey Week! 

Until next time,
Katy