More requests for pumpkins....{Contest closed...a year ago:)}

So, here are the instructions again! Yay for pumpkins! I just made some more to be auctioned off at a family reunion and thought it would be fun to give away a few here, too! So, leave a comment and you'll be entered in the drawing. Put a post on your blog with a link to the pumpkins and you'll receive another entry. I know TONS of church groups and sisters and friends have gotten together to make these cute little pumpkins. If you're the lucky winner - you'll receive a box of pumpkins, handsewn by moi.

Passionate about pumpkins...
I have been beside myself with utter and complete happiness as I wander through stores and see ALL of the fall decorations coming out. In fact, just this morning I was flipping through the mail and looking at some magazines with some fun Halloween stuff. I showed Brett and said, "Don't pumpkins just make you happy?" He doesn't quite share my enthusiasm for decorating. Ha! Fall is my absolute favorite time of year to decorate. Maybe it's because it's the beginning of my favorite time of the year - holidays, traditions, family time, happy memories. Maybe it's because the weather starts to cool down a bit and I can open my windows and enjoy the fresh air. Maybe it's because our neighborhood comes alive again as neighbors wander the streets, go on bike rides, and hang out in the front yard for hours chatting about life. Maybe I'm just looking forward to making harvest loaf cake, delicious soups, and homemade bread. Mmmm...yum! I must admit, it is hard for me to think of all this when it's still over 100 degrees outside. But, I'm getting so excited to decorate that I can hardly stand it! So, since I've been asked (probably at least about 50 times) to post my instructions for the pumpkins, and I took the pictures a year ago.... I guess it's time to share with you my passion for pumpkins.

Originally, I saw these super cute pumpkins in a boutique and they were $20-$25 a piece. Um...yikes! I decided to make my own. I went to Jo-Anns and bought their red-tag home decor fabric. I don't think I paid more than $5 a yard for fabric (and you don't need much!). I bought deep orange velvet, green and brown brocade, mustard swirls, etc. I kind of made it up as I went, so hopefully you have some "sewing knowledge" and I'll try to be as specific as I can (I am gonna apologize right now - because I'm obviously not so good with instructions!).

Okay, first step... find some fabric that makes you happy and cut 2 pieces about the same size. You can do them all different - some taller, some wider. Whatever you want. I believe that for this particular pumpkin I started with 2 pieces that were 12x14.

Take your first piece, fold right sides together and sew this - sorry I never measured to see how much I did... aren't you glad that I took pictures? Do this to both pieces, separately.

Trim off the excess fabric on both pieces - your front and your back

Open up each piece and it should look like this...

You'll need to make a stem - again you can do random sizes and colors - sew right sides together, leaving the bottom open, turn right side out, and stuff with your favorite stuffing... Place the back side of your pumpkin, right side up, place stem on top (like you see in the picture), place the front side of your pumpkin right side down, and pin your pieces together. When you sew all of these pieces together, round out the corners and make sure to leave an opening on the bottom so that you can turn your pumpkin right side out. Before you turn your pumpkin right side out, trim off the excess fabric.

Oh, look how cute! Aren't you excited???

I made little bean bags and stuffed them with rice - I'm sure you could use beans or sand or whatever else you want - to weigh the bottom of the pumpkins down. Then I put the little bags inside the bottom and handstitched the bags just inside the pumpkin, while stitching the pumpkin closed at the same time.

Then you can add bows, raffia, wire curly-q's, or whatever else you want!

Make enough to decorate your tables for Thanksgiving. I placed them in little groups up and down the table with candles and garland...so cute!

Oh man, I can't wait for fall!!!

14 Crazy Cousins....

When Sherida called me and asked if we could get a "cousins picture" before some of the cousins moved to Alaska....my brain starting chugging through ideas. I knew it'd be hot outside and I knew the kids wouldn't last long. 14 kids - 10 years and younger. Whew!

We had about 25 minutes - start to finish. But managed to get some awesome shots! Here is one of the group!

Registration is now open for the Mesa, AZ "Picture Life Workshop" in November. Come and learn how to take all of those fabulous photos JUST in time for the holidays!!!!

We are also already scheduling the mini-photoshoots. We have filled a few of the spots but still have some openings available.

The mini-photoshoots will be held on Friday, September 11th in American Fork, UT and Friday, November 6th in Mesa, AZ. For just $200, you will receive:

• 30 minute session with BOTH of us.... how cool is THAT?
• 10-15 proofs presented in an online gallery
• 2 holiday card layouts presented in an online gallery
• Your choice of option A, B, or C

Option A: 24 holiday cards, 1-8x10, 2-5x7's

Option B: 3 full resolution digital files with copyright release

Option C: 1-10x20 storyboard, 2-5x7s

*Additional prints and specialty items may be ordered

To schedule a time, please contact us at picturelife@live.com. We will also be available for a full newborn photoshoot the morning of September 11th in UT or November 6th in AZ. For pricing, please see Amanda'swebsite.

For StubbsFamily.....

Here is the PEPPERNUT recipe - that you asked for. All ya'll....stay tuned for more info - because I've been sewing - and I'm kinda in the mood for another fun giveaway. Big smiles. I LOVE to give things away!

Peppernuts....
mmm...yum! Peppernuts just make me happy. They flood my mind with happy memories of baking with my mom and grandma and watching Christmas movies with my family snuggled up on the couch. The ONLY time that we were allowed to eat peppernuts was when we were together as a family - watching Christmas specials like Rudolph and Frosty and Miracle On 34th Street.

Peppernuts:
Mix the following together in a heavy-duty mixer (ie Kitchenaid or Bosch)
2 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 lb. butter (softened a lot!)
1/2 Tbsp lard (I never put this in - seriously, I don't need any more lard in my diet - even if it is just a small amount - ha!)
1 lb. Dark Karo syrup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Then sift the following spices with a cup of flour:
3/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp anise (if using the liquid add it to the sugar and butter mixture)
1/4 tsp cardamon
1/8 tsp pepper
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
Then just keep adding flour until mixture is like bread dough (last time I used about 8 cups of flour total). Roll into sausage-link-like-rolls, but long enough to fill a 9x13 pan. Put wax paper under and between each layer. Refrigerate several hours. Slice into little slices and place on well-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes or until lightly browned.

Rolls of peppernut dough (I make mine bigger than my mom and sisters, I'm NOT as patient as them - ha!)


Yesterday, my Dad sat and sliced a WHOLE batch for me, while Little Miss and my mom and I kept busy loading the pans up, putting full pans in and out of the oven, greasing pans, etc. Now THAT is love! I have the bestest DAD ever!!!

Watching the peppernuts bake...waiting...waiting...


Then Little Miss decided to get silly...a give Grandpa a hat!


Silly girl!
Once a pan of peppernuts is done cooking, we take them off of the pan (with a spatula) and let them cool on a towel...

ENJOY!!!

Plink, plink, plink.....

I LOVE that sound when I'm canning all kinds of yummy stuff! I've been hearing a LOT of it lately, too. Big smiles! I put a few new recipes on the canning blog. Check it out!!!

You Can Can

Idaho (Part 2)....

So, Amanda has been asking me (bugging me - ha!) wanting to see the family pictures that we did while we were together. I must say, that I actually was a bit nervous to take her pictures... I just didn't want her to be disappointed, I guess. I had driven around a bit with my cousin, scouting out a few spots for pictures and was AMAZED at what we had to choose from. I just need some gorgeous places like that here. Maybe I just haven't looked hard enough, or maybe I'm just tired of the heat.... but I want some gorgeous, lush, green landscape. Anyhow, on to the pictures....

Amanda and I are excited for our upcoming workshops (which still have available spots) and have decided to schedule some mini-photoshoots while we are together.

The mini-photoshoots will be held on Friday, September 11th in American Fork, UT. For just $200, you will receive:

• 30 minute session with BOTH of us.... how cool is THAT?
• 10-15 proofs presented in an online gallery
• 2 holiday card layouts presented in an online gallery
• Your choice of option A, B, or C

Option A: 24 holiday cards, 1-8x10, 2-5x7's

Option B: 3 full resolution digital files with copyright release

Option C: 1-10x20 storyboard, 2-5x7s

*Additional prints and specialty items may be ordered

To schedule a time, please contact us at picturelife@live.com. We will also be available for a full newborn photoshoot the morning of September 11th. For pricing, please see Amanda's website.

Mesa mini-photoshoots will be scheduled on Friday, November 6th. Online proofs from these sessions will be available by Monday, November 16th so you can still have time to make holiday orders.

I-dee-ho! (Part 1)....

Whenever The Hubs gets asked to lecture in Idaho, I normally tag along. With family and friends up there, it's just a fun place to visit. We left the munchkins with my parents (thanks Janell for driving the kids back and forth to the ranch), anxious for our time to just be together. Sometimes I feel like a different person when someone else is in charge of my kids for a long period of time. I feel like a teenager again and sometimes get a little goofy. Or maybe a LOT! It was fun to just be US! We left on Wednesday and were able to spend all of Thursday together...just the two of us....and it was F-U-N!!! The Hubs lectured all day Friday and Saturday and then we got to spend Sunday together again.

My favorite parts of the trip, included:

• Sleeping in... every single day
• Breakfast in bed... every single day (except Sunday)
• Laughing at The Hubs when he saw the elk farm and made me stand in the back of the rental truck to take pictures through the fence.
• Our visit to Shoshone Falls
• Shopping with (and without) The Hubs
• Laughing hysterically....we just couldn't stop. I almost wet my pants!
• Laying in bed, watching "Back To The Future", eating Haagen Daz - Dulce de Leche and Mango Sorbet
• Wandering aimlessly through Target.... just because we could
• The Food!!! Obviously, I ate like a pig (and didn't exercise at all) because when I got home the scale said that I'd gained 9 pounds while we were gone. For real? Is that even possible? You can bet that I've been living at the gym these last few days. So far 4 of those pounds are gone.... but I'm a little worried about those other 5
• Finding an AMAZING gumball machine at a thrift store. I got some WEIRD looks going through security at the airport on the way home. Whatever! You've never seen the top of a gumball machine stuffed inside a backpack?
• Picnicking on a blanket by the Snake River
• Doing a temple session at the Twin Falls Temple
• Enjoying the beauty of the Twin Falls area
• And.... taking pictures of my cousins BRAND NEW BABY and AMANDA'S FAMILY (next post)!!!

The very fabulous, very exciting elk farm....

Trying to get a picture of us together....on our picnic....with the self timer. He's a NUT! Stop grabbing my tooshie and make a normal face...please?

Awesome...thanks!

Okay, have you seen that IKEA commercial? The one with the crazy curly-haired blonde lady? Where she's running towards the car saying, "Start the CAR! Start the CAR!" Well, I kinda felt like that driving through this old run-down abandoned part of Twin Falls, except I was yelling, "Stop the CAR! Stop the CAR!" Luckily, Brett was a really good sport and hopped in the picture (with my newly acquired gumball machine), so I could have a picture to show Amanda....

Friday, I got to drive up to Hailey, ID (can you say GORGEOUS?) to take pictures of my cousins brand new (just 3 days old) baby girl...lil Miss Lyndie Lou Who. Amanda met me there and we had a blast, as usual. Lyndie slept like an ANGEL!

Amanda and I are excited for our upcoming workshops (which still have available spots) and have decided to schedule some mini-photoshoots while we are together.

The mini-photoshoots will be held on Friday, September 11th in American Fork, UT. For just $200, you will receive:

• 30 minute session with BOTH of us.... how cool is THAT?
• 10-15 proofs presented in an online gallery
• 2 holiday card layouts presented in an online gallery
• Your choice of option A, B, or C

Option A: 24 holiday cards, 1-8x10, 2-5x7's

Option B: 3 full resolution digital files with copyright release

Option C: 1-10x20 storyboard, 2-5x7s

*Additional prints and specialty items may be ordered

To schedule a time, please contact us at picturelife@live.com. We will also be available for a full newborn photoshoot the morning of September 11th. For pricing, please see Amanda's website.

Mesa mini-photoshoots will be scheduled on Friday, November 6th. Online proofs from these sessions will be available by Monday, November 16th so you can still have time to make holiday orders.