Decorating for Halloween!

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it a million times more, 

but I really LOVE Fall and everything about the season!!!

I love the crisp air and the cooler temps.

I love wearing boots, scarves and sweaters.

I love that it's the beginning of the holiday season.

And that means it's time to decorate my apartment!

I decorate and get all festive for a lot of holidays, 

but I tend to start to go ALL OUT for a few months -

starting the end of September for Halloween!

I get in the spirit with both store bought and DIY decorations.

I've accumulated a variety of things over the years, 

but I'm a sucker so I keep adding a little here and there.

Now, take a look below at the Halloween fun I currently have at my place!

Front Door Decorations with a homemade wreath.

DIY Spook Banner (link at bottom) and entry table.

TV Stand Festiveness.

Mantle decorations and fun DIY pumpkins.

The two large pumpkins are covered with fish nets,

the medium pumpkins have rhinestone stickers

and the small ones were painted and glittered!

Multiple black cats, a skull and some pumpkins!

Fall leaves over the french doors and bats flying in the hallway.

Guest bath Halloween spookiness!

Dripping blood and spiders all over.

And Halloween cuteness in my bathroom!

I even have a mini pumpkin in my bedroom.

And finally, the mini gargoyle that's more cute than scary!

If you're interested, here are past Halloween Decoration posts:

Halloween 2013 Part One

Halloween 2013 Part Two

DIY Spook Banner

Fall Garden Guests

Halloween 2010 Part One

Halloween 2010 Part Two

Pumpkin Carving 2013

Pumpkin Carving 2011

Pumpkin Carving 2010

My Poor Forgotten Garden

When I was talking to my mom recently, she said to me, 

"You haven't posted about your garden in awhile".

I know, it's been a long time - almost five months in fact,

but if I'm being honest there hasn't been THAT much to share.

Yes, I still have a garden growing on my balcony, 

but it's not what it used to be.

I'm pretty sure I'll always have fresh herbs

and I do enjoy the beauty of fresh flowers,

but I don't think I'll ever have "crops" growing

like I did when I first started this blog 

over FOUR YEARS ago!

So without rambling and saying much more,

let me show you what I do have growing  in my garden these days. 

Four different views of the balcony.

And of course a little appearance by Kahn!

My two balcony trees!

A lemon tree with FIVE lemons growing.

And my Christmas Tree from a few years ago.

It started off less than a foot tall,

and is now HUGE!

Can't wait to decorate it this Christmas!

A mixture of flowers.

And another mixture of flowers.

LOVE the dark purple pansies!

Some red geraniums with a cute little harvest sign.

And pink geraniums in hanging baskets.

My collection of Fresh Herbs!

I currently have the following in my garden:

Basil, Rosemary, Dill, Chives, Parsley, Oregano and Sage.

My jalapeno plant!

I thought I lost this one earlier in the year,

but then it came back and is doing so much better!

And I currently have a handful of peppers growing too!

A recent addition to the garden.

A Thai Chili Pepper plant.

I have yet to use the peppers,

but I'm betting they're HOT!!!

A mixture of other plants between the two trees.

I have two little mum plants (that aren't currently blooming),

two little gardenia plants that are very fickle and 

another that used to have flowers in in with some ground cover,

but I lost the flowers when the ground cover took over!

Oh and I can't forget!!!

One last thing before I go...

I MUST introduce you to someone!

With Halloween being just around the corner,

there's a little visitor in my garden!

Keep on reading to see who it is!

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Ahhhhhhh!

Got'cha!!!

My hope is to return to posting about my garden more often,

at least more often than every five months that is!

Kansas City FUN with Auntie Mommy!

I've been meaning to post about this for awhile,

but I was pretty busy the last few weeks

 and LIFE kinda just got in the way.

About a month ago, I had the pleasure and privilege

to watch my two adorable nephews for about a week.

My brother, his wife and my niece were headed out of town

and they needed someone to watch the boys.

When they asked me I instantly said "YES!",

and pretty much started planning immediately!

Keep reading so you can hear all about my AMAZING trip to Kansas City!!!

It's me - the person who blogs about a lot of the food she makes,

so you better believe I made some yummy food while I was there!

I took some recipes I have made numerous times, 

but made them a little more "kid friendly" for the boys.

A few of the things we ate were: Baked Mac 'n Cheese and broccoli, 

Fruit Kabobs with Yogurt, Pulled Pork Sliders with Waffle Fries 

and finally Pancakes, Bacon and Fruit for our Breakfast Party!

Now that I've showed you the yummy food, 

let me show you some of the fun we had!!!

First off - look at this guy!

I can't believe he's a Kindergartner now!

A little Auntie Robyn and Logan selfie fun!

I mean - look at that smile!

Gavin getting off the bus.

Such a little man now!!

Bike riding fun after school.

And look at his awesome helmet!!

Being silly before school.

Dancing and singing in the car on the way to the airport.

He got PINK at school!!!

Pink is the highest color on his behavior chart,

so I was a proud aunt that day!

Gavin did homework and Logan colored.

And then....

They became SUPERHEROES!!!

Can't get enough of that pose OR the baby feet!

There's not much cuter than this!

Logan and I went on a playdate with a gal I met in Kansas City last year.

We went to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead in nearby Overland Park,

and then hit up Pig & Finch where the kids won over the chef with their cuteness!

With it being Fall, the leaves were just starting to change.

And Logan LOVED to collect them when walking to the bus.

At Gavin's request, we did Make Your Own Pizza one night for dinner!

And of course one must wear their superhero cape while cooking. 

Be still my heart.

Loved this view so much!

Almost as soon as I was asked to come watch the boys,

I knew I wanted to make a Welcome Home banner with them.

One day when Gavin was at school, Logan and I made a trip to Hobby Lobby.

A few hours later, during Logan's nap, I put the banner all together

and had the boys add their own special touch!

Both boys loved eating their Fruit Kabobs!

After refueling on fruit, we went outside to play with some friends.

Bike riding, sidewalk chalk drawing and then this happened...

A selfie series in front of the garage!!!

And you can't forget the fun we had making foam figures!

Gavin is such a great big brother and was super helpful 

because this project was a little advanced for Logan.

We already had lots of fun, 

but it didn't stop there...

I wanted to do something extra special one day, 

so I decided I'd throw a little Breakfast Party on Saturday.

I stayed up late on Friday to decorate the kitchen

and set out special place settings for both boys.

They didn't know what to think when they woke up,

but soon dug into their little craft packs while I whipped up

a little feast with bacon, pancakes, fruit and orange juice.

Oh and lots of coffee for me!!!

After we got cleaned up from breakfast,

I gave them both a little present from my parents.

Then we kept busy playing with a race track I drew using leftover banner paper.

And yes, Gavin is wearing a Storm Troopers costume! 

When we got up from naps and quiet time,

it was time for more fun so we went outside

and blew bubbles with a giant bubble wand!

They were being extra adorable on the stairs one morning,

so of course I had to document their cuteness.

And man, Logan's got some serious moves!!

Last but not certainly not least, 

Ninja Turtle Gavin out front with the rope swing.

Now that you've read all about the adventures I had with Gavin and Logan

you're probably confused and wondering about the title of this post.

Well - let me tell you!

A few days into me watching them, I woke Logan up from his nap

and instead of calling me Auntie Wobyn like he had been,

he called me Auntie Mommy and gave me the biggest hug!

I thought it was the cutest thing and it melted my heart.

I love those boys more than I can describe

and was honored to have been able to take care of them.

Hope you enjoyed the little glimpse into the fun I had in the Midwest.

Individual Turkey Sloppy Joe Portions

I've always loved Sloppy Joe's.

They're easy and tasty and remind me of being a kid.

But since I'm usually cooking for just myself,

I didn't make them too often.

Why?

Because I didn't want to eat them for so many meals in a row.

That is until I got smart!

One day I decided I would make a whole batch,

eat a helping and freeze the rest in individual servings.

GENIUS!!!

You could do this with any Sloppy Joe recipe,

but keep reading and see how I made mine!

The Goods:

1 Pound Ground Turkey 

1/2 Cup Chopped Onion 

1/2 Cup Chopped Green Pepper 

2 Tablespoons Water 

1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Salt 

8 Ounces Ketchup 

Dash or Two Hot Sauce 

1 Teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce 

1 to 2 Teaspoons Chili Powder

Hamburger Rolls (Not Pictured)

Chop up your Green Pepper and Onion.

Saute the Green Pepper and Onion, 

then add your meat and start browning.

Once cooked, remove as much excess oil/fat from the pan.

Add the remain ingredients, stir and simmer for 5 minutes or so.

If your'e not freezing any, serve and enjoy!

But if you are freezing some keep reading.

Put liners in muffin pans and spoon in Sloppy Joe mixture.

Flash freeze in freezer for an hour or two.

Remove from muffin pan and packaged individually.

Freeze in freezer bag until ready to use!