Things To Come

It's been awhile since I have posted because I went on a week long vacation to visit my in-laws in Arizona! It was very nice to see them and other family members. The views there were beautiful! I will have pictures up soon.

I thought I would use this post as a "things to come" post. I have a lot of ideas brewing and hopefully telling you about it will get me jump started!

Since this is my oldest sons first year in school, I would like to give his teacher a gift for Christmas. *And also his bus driver because she is soo sweet*. Also, I really like B's preschool teachers. But I was thinking-how many candles, lotions, or cookies will they get this year? So I thought giving them a cute, decorated jar with soup ingredients in them might be a good idea and also cost effective for me! I realized I had this book:

It looks like that's what I will be doing! I will keep you posted!

I found this really cute blog Outoforderdesign.com . She has a full skirt DIY tutorial that I would love to make with some cute fabric I have laying around.

I am also feeling a puppet making kick coming on! I have tons of felt and have made puppets for the kids before by just gluing them together. Now that I have a sewing machine, I think I can do a bit of a better job! I think it would be a cute idea to make puppets for the kids that look like them :). I got this cute puppet template that I can do a lot with it.

The Unconditional Parenting book that I referred to in a previous post was a bust. When I get a book and start reading it and can tell that I am not that interested, I put it down and pick it up at a later date to give it another try. If that doesn't work, then I am done. That is what happened with this book. It was interesting because I had never really heard of the unconditional parenting way, but the book just wasn't for me.

On that note, I would really like to get the book The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. I know there has been some hype about this book for awhile, but I actually get it after watching the movie with the same name.

 This is the Denmark made movie so it did have subtitles,but I think those are the best movies. I have never read the book so I had no idea what this movie was about, and WOW! There were some definite disturbing parts to this movie, but all in all, that added to the mystery and suspense of the movie. It was very well made. If you can stand subtitles then a definite must-see. Just not one for the kiddies! If you do not like subtitles, they are making an English version with Daniel Craig *sigh* as one of the main characters.

Last, I would like to share a Double Layer Pumpkin Pie dessert recipe that I made for the first time this Thanksgiving. It is no bake and super simple to make. It was a crowd pleaser because there was none left at the end of the night!

Double-Layer Pumpkin Pie

prep time

20 min

total time

4 hr 20 min

makes

10 servings

What You Need

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1 cup,  plus 1 Tbsp. milk, divided

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tub  (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

1 can  (15 oz.) pumpkin

2 pkg. (3.4 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding

1 tsp.  ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp.  ground cloves

Make It

BEAT cream cheese, 1 Tbsp. milk and sugar in large bowl with whisk until blended. Stir in half the COOL WHIP. Spread into crust.

WHISK remaining milk, pumpkin, dry pudding mixes and spices 2 min. (Mixture will be thick.) Spread over cream cheese layer.

REFRIGERATE 4 hours or until firm. Serve topped with remaining COOL WHIP.