Tee-Pee+6 Years+Bug

Last weekend I had the itch to make a tee-pee for the kids while they were napping.

I just used what I had on hand at the house.

4 curtain rods, some canvas material, bakers twine and a sheet.

I think it turned out pretty good for just winging it!

After football season I'm going to have Travis help me make a super big one for the kids' room.

This one is fun... but not quite big enough for all three kids to play in.

 

Sunday was our six year wedding anniversary.

In some ways it feels like we've been married alot longer!

Lots of changes...lots of babies added...

but one thing is for sure... I love him more today than I ever knew possible!

He is SO good to me.

I love living life with you Travis!
Happy six years!!!

Here's to 70 more;)

 

We went out for dinner as a family to Dairy Queen.

My request:)

We don't go on an "official" anniversary date until after football season.

Just kind of how we've always done it!

Then Sunday night we watched a movie and ate pie after the babies were tucked into bed.

Those are my favorite kind of dates.





We started our Tuesday off with fevers and then a stomach bug.

I knew Colt didn't feel good when I found him curled up in the teepee sleeping.

The past two days have been filled with lots of snuggles, Sprite and hot baths.

 

And last but not least.

Since I'm posting phone pics.

This is the cowl from yesterday's post.

I wore it with one of Trav's plaid shirts, skinny jeans and boots.

I seriously could wear it every day!
So if you live in my town...please excuse the fact that you'll be seeing me wear it ALL winter long:)

 

Hope your Wednesday is great!!!

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And before I forget!
My friend Amanda from Red Barn Candle Company is giving away the cutest necklace!

Head over here to enter!



November Advertising+Favorites



If you have a blog you would like to promote I would love to have you for the month of November!
I am offering one size (200x150) at an inexpensive rate.
E-mail me at thevanillatulip (at) yahoo (dot) com for more info!

___________________________________________________________________________

I love handmade.
I love supporting the people behind handmade.

If you haven't checked out the Holiday Gift Bazaar make sure you do!

There are over 40+ plus shops.

And I'm not kidding when I say that each one is divine!

 

I thought it would be fun to highlight my favorite item from each shop over the next few months.

I've added a link as well as pricing for each item.

 

Let's support Handmade this Holiday season!



Little Green Thread's Fold Over Clutch in White and Gray Pebble Stripe

$32

*I have one of Little Green Thread's Fold Over Clutches.

I absolutely adore it!

It's incredibly well made and is such a cute accessory.

I'll show you the one I have in a later post!*

 

HappiKnit's Chunky Knit Cowl in Amber

$79

*I have this exact cowl and I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

Super soft and the color is absolutely perfect!*

 

French Press Morning's Praise God Print

$15

*I had a hard time picking my favorite print from French Press Morning's shop.

They're all incredible!

It was a tie between this print and her "tee-pee" prints.

I ended up picking this print... the Doxology Hymn is one of my favorites!*

 

Eclectic Joy's Black & White Checked Infinity Scarf

$18

*I gave my sister a similar scarf from Eclectic Joy's shop.

It took everything in me not to keep it for myself... so adorable!*

 

 

A Flair for Button's Days of the Week Banner's Flair

$6

*I love this shop! These buttons would be the perfect stocking stuffer!*

Random Bits



Today was a great day.

The past few weeks have been crazy and fast.

Moving houses, a wedding, company at our home.

It felt good to have nowhere to be today.

I know I've been busy when staying at home to clean the house and do laundry sounds nice. :)

 

Friday night's football game was our first loss of the season.

It was disappointing but we're ready for this week's game!

It was the first game I have been able to fully watch this season.

Cade can be quite a handful in the stands.

This past game was so cold that he cuddled right up with me

and fell asleep for the evening just minutes in the first quarter.

Glorious!

October has flown by in a rush.
Moving homes mid way definitely had something to do with it I'm sure.
I want to settle in and slow down for November.
I've begun making a list of crafts and recipes for us to do as a family in November.
Pie making, caramel apple making, crafts with leaves and pinecones...
October, November and December are my favorite months of the year.
Do you have any recipes or craft ideas that I should try?!
I'd love any suggestions you might have!





Orange Caramel Monkey Bread

This recipe is a delicious twist on a normal Monkey Bread recipe.

I've started using a 9x9 baking pan for my Monkey Bread instead of a bundt pan.

I feel like more of the biscuits get the orange and caramel goodness this way!

This recipe is perfect for a chilly fall morning!
Serve it up with some bacon and orange juice and you're set!

Orange Caramel Monkey Bread

 

Ingredients

1 T. Butter

1 small jar of Orange Marmalade

1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts

2- 10oz. cans buttermilk refrigerated biscuits

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

1/2 Cup Melted Butter (set aside)

1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

 

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Grease your 9x9 inch pan OR a bundt pan (your preference) with 1 Tablespoon Butter.

Spoon your marmalade into the bottom of your pan and spread around evenly.

Sprinkle the walnuts on top of the marmalade.

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon.

Mix well and set aside.

Seperate your biscuits.

Cut each biscuit into four pieces.

Dip the biscuits into the melted butter and then into the sugar mixture.

I used a slotted spoon to help strain off the excess butter before I placed them into the sugar mixture.

Place the sugared biscuits on top of your walnuts and marmalade.

Drizzle the remaining butter over the biscuits.
Then sprinkle the rest of the sugar mixture.

Bake for around 40 minutes or until brown.

Cool upright in the pan for 5 minutes.

Invert onto a serving plate.

Serves 8-10.

 





A day around here...

 

A Wedding

This weekend we snuck away for a special wedding.

Trav's sister got married!

Our whole family was in the wedding.

Travis was a groomsman, I was a bridesmaid, Emma a flower girl and the boys were ring bearers.

The kids and I went early for the rehearsal on Friday

 and Travis joined us on Saturday for the wedding.

There's no missing Friday night football games :)

(our team had another win! 7 and 0!)

 

The location was absolutely beautiful.

In the Texas hill country...down by Austin.

Katy the bride looked absolutely stunning.

My favorite part of her outfit was her veil.

It was the same veil her mom had worn when she was married.

 

I was so proud of the kids on this trip.

They did SO good!

Happy and easy-going.

They loved spending time with their cousins who are almost the same ages.

 

And now we're back home.

Kids are tucked into bed...

laundry is going...

and I'm making making my to-do lists for the week.

 

Here's to a new week!

How was your weekend?!



Rest

 We've been going and going the past few weeks.
And today it caught up with me.

 

I put all the kids down for naps at 1:30 and laid down with them.

I didn't wake up until 4:30 and everyone was still sleeping.

I guess it caught up with all of us!

 

Napping or even sitting down for me is hard.

Not because I don't like to.

I love to sleep.
I love to just sit and do nothing :)

 

But that mom-guilt pops in.

The one where my to-do list is telling me I've got a million other things to do than rest.

There's a kitchen to be tidied.

Boxes to be unpacked.

Six loads of laundry to be folded.
A budget to be worked on.

People to e-mail back.

The list goes on and on.

 

What I always have to remind myself is that I'm a much better mom and wife when I rest.

What good is a spotless home and a checked off to-do list if I'm exhausted, fussy and short-tempered.

 

So today...

today my to-do list is not even close to be checked off.

And I have a date with six loads of laundry that needs to be folded and put away tonight.

But I'm feeling like a more patient mom and wife to my family.

I'd say that trumps any old to-do list:)

 

Does anyone else struggle with this?!

 

 

 

 

And just a quick side note.

I've started doing a little blogging for the Family Dollar website.

You can find my articles here!

 

 

 

Pumpkin Saturday

What do you do when your house needs unpacking from a recent move?

You go pick out your fall pumpkins of course! :)

 

Saturday morning I decided to take a break from the unpacking.

The kids have been so great this week...just playing amidst the boxes and mess.

They're a good little group of troupers!

 

We loaded up and headed to a precious greenhouse that has

the BEST selection of pumpkins/gourds/squash I have ever seen!

 

They each got to pick their own pumpkin.
And they picked a tiny little pumpkin just for Eloise...

I love that they're already thinking of her and wanting her to be a part of the fun :)

 

There was an attempt at a group picture.

You would think that one of these days I would realize

that a group picture just isn't going to happen with them. :)

But call me crazy...
I absolutely love the pictures of them all going and looking their seperate directions.

It is straight-up our life right now.

And I wouldn't trade it for anything!

 

Hope your weekend was good...

here's to a new week!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Insta-Friday

Just a few pictures captured this week using my phone...

 

*Movie nights after bath time.

I rented Charlotte's Web for the kids (the old cartoon).

The kids LOVED it!

Templeton the rat is their favorite character.

Colt does a pretty stellar impression of him:)*

*My sweet friend Kristin brought by homemade bread and honey butter tonight...love it and her!*

 

*Cade always seems to find me and beg for a drink when it's my last sip of Dr. Pepper.

Anything for this sweet face! *

 

*Living in town there's always something or somebody to watch out the window*

 

*I love the knobs in our tub...originals!*

*Coffee doesn't get much easier than this.

Thankyou Keurig and tiny Coffeemate creamers!

My favorite part of the morning:)

How has your week been?

Big plans for the weekend!?