{pumpkin chocolate chip muffins}

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

So this post is a tad late considering Thanksgiving and all things that celebrate pumpkin was last week, but I had to share this yummy pumpkin chocolate chip muffin recipe. Despite the fact that it is now December {how did that happen?!} I still think anything pumpkin is a good choice, right?

The nice folks at Pacific Foods sent me a package of their chicken stock, cranberry sauce and pumpkin puree to try out.



I kind of laughed at the thought of doing a cooking post because my husband is THE cook in our house, but this forced me to branch out and actually bake something from scratch...something I hardly ever do.

I love how these products come in cartons instead of cans...and the products are all organic! You can learn more about these products here:  Become Carton Smart.







I went straight for the pumpkin puree and used this recipe to whip up some yummy muffins {with chocolate chips added...because why not?!}



The pumpkin puree is not only 100% organic, but pumpkin is the ONLY ingredient in this product. The muffins turned out wonderfully - very moist and flavorful. And since the pumpkin was organic I didn't feel so bad about adding the big chocolate morsels. ;)



Would you like to learn more about Pacific Foods and their Carton Smart packaging?
You can follow them on Twitter and Pinterest here:

 Tweet @CartonSmart
Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest

How can you be #CartonSmart this holiday season? I would love to hear about your environmentally friendly cooking and entertaining ideas!

And now excuse me while I eat a few of my yummy muffins...

{Hello Christmas!}

I'm just a tad excited about Christmas this year, so the fact that we didn't have Thanksgiving at our house gave me permission to haul out the decor before we even ate the turkey and stuffing.

I couldn't help myself.

And I'm SO excited about how our fireplace turned out this year. The mantel is always a huge challenge for me...ours is very shallow so it is hard to find things that will fit. I wanted a large Christmas piece and was inspired by these pins...





But I wanted to keep the cost to a minimum so I got creative. I used my large DIY chevron canvas, added a temporary burlap cover {taped around the edges} and some painted letters {with double sided tape} and voila!

The best part, aside from how cute it is, is that my chevron art remains untouched underneath!

And here is the rest of the fireplace all decked out...

Everything else I used to decorate the fireplace, aside from the new $10 deer from Target, were items I already had. I painted the modern wooden trees last year - you can see that DIY post here.

This is by far my favorite year to decorate the house...I'm having so much fun! Have you decorated yet? What is your favorite area of your house to add holiday cheer?

XO,

{Christmas bucket list}

I'm determined to not miss a beat this year and do as many fun Christmas things as possible with the boys. If you read yesterday's post this won't come as a surprise to you. :)

So I put together a fun little "bucket list" of Christmas activities I want us to do. It could have been much longer and I'm sure I'm forgetting some things, but I think this is a good start...

We have already done a few of these...like put up the boys' tree in their bedroom, read some Christmas books and paint pottery gifts, but that doesn't mean we can't repeat some things too!

I'm really excited to make paper advent chains with them because that is a fun memory from my childhood. And I think it will be fun to let them make some wrapping paper with plain kraft paper and stamps, stickers, markers etc. Last year we took them shopping separately to buy gifts for each other and that was really special so I'm very excited about that as well.

Do you have a "bucket list" for the holidays? What is on yours?

{5-year-old magic}

"Is Santa Claus real Mom?" 

The question came without any warning...no time for me to come up with a response that wasn't a lie but didn't tell him the truth either.

We sat snuggled on the couch, coffee in my hand, soft fleece blankets wrapped underneath our feet, The Polar Express playing on the TV.

That question hit me like a ton of bricks...THIS might be THE Christmas.

The most magical one we'll have with the boys. The wonder is still there...Santa is still real to them. Listening for the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof on Christmas Eve. Looking up the chimney to see if a pair of black, soot-covered boots are dangling down. Using Santa as a reason for them to behave extra-well in December. I know we aren't the only ones that do this. 

Next year all of that might be stuff for little kids. They will be 6 and maybe too grow up for Santa and all of the Christmas magic.

I'm hoping we might be able to squeeze out one more year...but just in case I'm going to soak up every single minute of it with them this year.

We went shopping for Christmas craft supplies over the weekend. Snow globes and pipe cleaner ornaments are on the list. We watched Christmas shows and I sorted through all of their books to make a pile of Christmas favorites.

Last night we read The Grinch and I think I enjoyed it even more than they did.

And we put up their little tree next to their bunkbeds. {Still adjusting to THAT.}

The fact that they are taller than their tree now isn't lost on me...

The ornaments of their tiny two-year-old hands...

And then for an hour after decorating their tree, they took turns playing Santa, wearing Landon's astronaut suit. Apparently Santa is from outer space. One of them would act like they were sleeping and the other would bring in a toy and give it to them. Then they would hug and say thank you. Can you say precious x 1,000,000?

I really just want to bottle up this magic so I can save it for the Christmases when this childlike innocence is long gone, and take a few sips each year to remind myself of this five-year-old Christmas and how special it is. There is nothing like it in the world. And I am blessed for getting to experience it.

{And if you are wondering...I never answered his question.}

XO,

{playing dress up}

Hi friends!

So sorry for the blogging silence...yet again. Life hardly gives me time to pause lately. I'm not complaining about that because my minutes are filled with good things, but blogging has certainly taken a back seat.

I still post a ton to Instagram though, so be sure to follow me over there if you want a daily Mandy fix. ;)

I've been enjoying my fall/winter wardrobe lately, especially my sweaters and boots. Wearing them just makes me feel at home, happy and comfortable.

I took both of above photos in the bathroom at my local coffee shop...it has a great vintage full-length mirror. I have no shame. :)

Cardigan, denim top, ring and flats above are thrifted

I recently started following artist Kelly Rae Roberts on social media...her art is SO inspiring to me, and she shares the cutest outfit photos...her wardrobe is so fun. She blogged here about what she calls "the wear your joy project." She posts her outfits on Instagram and uses the hashtag #thewearyourjoyproject.

Here is an excerpt from her blog post that I love:

"Style isn’t superficial. It’s the call of your heart, made visible — and wearable." 

That really speaks to me because sometimes I feel like I'm being too superficial/materialistic about wanting a new sweater or piece of jewelry, but most of the time it is because wearing it will make me happy and feel more like me. If that is your intention when you get dressed in the morning, in my humble opinion, you are doing it right.

If you post your outfits on Instagram, be sure to use Kelly's hashtag and let's start wearing our joy! :)

{you can follow me here}

XO,

{Instagram Giveaway}

When I started posting on Instagram back in the spring of 2012 I had no idea what an amazing community I would experience. I have found so many wonderful and supportive friends through Instagram, and also have it to thank for my doodling success these past few months. 

A few days ago I hit a really fun milestone...

1,000 followers! Say what?! {that doodle image is SO appropriate, right?}

I decided I wanted to give away some fun prizes to say thank you to all of my Insta friends...

So head on over to my Instagram, follow if you aren't already, and enter to win some really great stuff!

Love you all!

{raising a creative soul}

"Can I get this Mom?"

His hand stretched out, holding a small, black leather journal.

Benny and I were in the stationary aisle at TJ Maxx last night and he found a treasure that he absolutely couldn't live without.

"Let's tell Santa about it and maybe you'll get one in your stocking!" I told him.

Of course I wanted to throw that $3.99 gem into our cart and continue on our way, but I had to keep to our rule of "we're not buying any treats on this trip." Darn self-imposed parenting rules.

Of course I'll be heading back very quickly to snatch it up and put it away for "Santa" to give to him.

My heart fills to about bursting when he asks for items that foster and nurture his creativity. All parenting/budget rules are out the window for me when it comes to art supplies.

And the fact that he wants a journal?! Well just stick a fork in me.

This kid...

How did I get so lucky?

{so I've actually been reading...}

Hello there friends...sorry for the silence!

To say I've been overwhelmed the past week is a bit of an understatement. Between a super busy work schedule, keeping up with the boys and being sick with the head cold that never ends I have felt like crawling into a dark hole in the fetal position.

Yeah...that was a fun night. 

Buuuut...I went to the doctor yesterday, got some medicine, took a bit of time off of work to recoup and am feeling a tad better today. Thank goodness!

I wanted to share with you some books that I've read/been reading this month. The fact that the words "books" and reading this month" are in the same sentence is crazy for me because I think it has been over a year since I read ONE book, let alone THREE in one month. :)

With all three of these books, it has been a necessity to have a pencil/highlighter in hand while I'm reading because there is SO much good stuff to underline. SO.MUCH.GOOD.STUFF.

When I went to the Influence Conference, I was lucky enough to hear Shauna Niequist speak. Her talk was so encouraging, and I wish I had a recording of the prayer she gave to the group because it left me with mascara stained cheeks. 

And if that wasn't enough, she gifted everyone with their choice of one of her three books. I chose Cold Tangerines because it was her first and I had heard great things. 

You all. It is SO.GOOD. It made me laugh and nod my head and tear up and feel affirmed as a woman and a mother and a friend, page after page. 

This excerpt from the intro sucked me in...

Best read while eating hot cinnamon rolls on a weekend morning...

I read it in less than a week and quickly ordered her second book, Bittersweet. 

It was like picking up where I had left off with an old friend...just like Cold Tangerines...full of more laughs and affirming stories and confirmation that life is a good thing not despite the difficult moments, but because of them.

I guess you could say I have a bit of a girl/writer crush on Shauna at this point. I'm not sure if I should order her third book, Bread & Wine, because it is about cooking and I'm sooo not the cook in our house, but I may just because I love her writing so much.  

And last of all, the book I'm currently reading...A Million Little Ways by Emily Freeman...

I'm only a few chapters into it but I've underlined a ridiculous amount and already had some major lightbulb moments like this one...

Oh, I hope so.

I really appreciate the fact that she is affirming those tugs we feel...the constant reminder of something we feel led to do...that it isn't a selfish thing. That God might actually be pulling us in that direction. I know I've been feeling a really strong tug these days. 

Oh, and one last book that I haven't started yet but I can't wait to dig in the minute I'm done with A Million Little Ways. I also purchased The In-Between by Jeff Goins, who was a workshop presenter at Influence. 

I also had the really great opportunity to chat with him for about an hour at the end of the day on Saturday. We talked about our kids and writing and our God-given talents and it was really wonderful. He was so genuine and that conversation is one of the highlights of the conference for me. 

So there you have it...my current reading list and I really think you all should try one or all of them. Like go add them all to your Amazon cart or put them on your Christmas list, OK? :)

What are you reading right now? What should I add to my list?

{on being an artist...and seasons}

I have found myself on an exciting road over the past few months, as I've had custom doodle orders streaming in. It has been humbling and crazy and for the most part, very fun.

It all started with that Instagram photo up there. ^^^

But I have to admit that as an artist, I'm starting to miss creating for me...grabbing my supplies and just making whatever jumps out of my head and heart. Scrapbooking...art journaling...I miss those things. And I want to explore my creative talent in other ways.

I'm BEYOND grateful to the many friends and Etsy customers that have been keeping my pen and paper busy. SO grateful. I just need to take some time for me...to get back to my roots and let my creativity flow in whatever direction it wants to move.

After I finish up the few orders I currently have, I'm going to be taking a break. I'm not sure how long it will be...if I've learned anything about myself it is that I'm unpredictable and tomorrow I could change my tune. It has been weirdly a short season that has felt like a very long one...probably because I've been drawing since I was old enough to hold a crayon in my chubby little fingers.

But right now, in this moment, I'm craving creative freedom. I feel like God is nudging me to work toward something else. Who knows what it is but Him. But I know it has to be good if I'm feeling such a tight tug from Him on my creative strings.

I have to say that I'm proud of myself because I am such a people pleaser, and love validation, so to turn down someone that wants to pay me for my creative talent is one of the hardest things I could ever choose to do.

But for now I am. And I hope you all understand and know that I'm working on another good thing. And my shop is still stocked with printables and a few ready to ship prints!

With an infinite amount of thanks from this artist's heart...

{hello friday}

It has been a very eventful week around here.

First I my doppleganger was on Jeopardy...

Isn't it ridiculous how much she and I look alike?! Even her facial expression is very me. I probably drove my social media friends crazy sharing this but I couldn't get over it!

And then apparently I came by that -400 score honestly because I did this to my phone...

SUCH a bummer. We just bought it and I love this phone. Not sure what to do but for now I'm living with the new crackled look. I know there could be A LOT worse things to be dealing with.

And I finished my most challenging house doodle to date...

Check out that ridiculous railing...whew! I'm still catching up on orders, so if you are someone that has asked me about placing one, just hang tight for another month or two, OK? :)

Oh, and just so this post isn't ALL about me {and my doppleganger}, I know two cuties that got their school pictures back...

Ben's smirk is just owning me, and Landon's big blue eyes...be still my heart. Oh how I love these boys.

How was your week? Have any fun weekend plans?

Linking up with...