Poppytalk handmade

Here are a few things that i love from this website.

Every thing is handmade and reasonably affordable

here

here

here

DAY ONE

This is Day ONE of our master bedroom project. We needed to pour a cement pad to extend our bedroom and to enlarge our lanai.  Caeden really helped a lot and it was so adorable.  As you can see the cement driver got a kick out of seeing our child laborer.   Poor Owen slept though the whole project.  Caeden somehow new exactly what to do and how to help.  He has watched the men pour cement at Woodsmoke before.  Notice the special "cement boots", He asked specifically for those a few days before.  Good ole target garden boots to the rescue.  It was a super hot day and the cement they brought us was "junk" according to mike.  It is complete and on to the Day two.

The videography and editing is my first try so please don't judge me on that.  i don't even know how to attach music to the video yet.  

homemade fresh blueberry muffins

To die for Blueberry Muffins

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with muffin liners.
  2. Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, salt and baking powder. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup; add the egg and enough milk to fill the cup. Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups right to the top, and sprinkle with crumb topping mixture.
  3. To Make Crumb Topping: Mix together 1/2 cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins before baking.
  4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done.

summer reading

Every Tuesday at 10:30 am, our Local County Library has story time for children 2 and up.  It is a very enjoyable time of stories, reading, and singing.  Caeden has always loved reading and Owen will get there someday.  At this point, Owen would rather run around and knock the books off of the shelves, than sit down and listen to a story.  

Every Tuesday, we have checked out  books for reading during the week.  We started with one book the first week, and today we brought home 6.  I want to keep a list of all the books that we have really enjoyed over the weeks.  What better way to do that than on my blog, because if i write it down, most likely i will lose the paper.  

The first two books that we really enjoyed from last week are Boo to a Goose and Animagicals Sports

Both books are fun and and witty and contain a lot of pictures of animals, which are enjoyed by both the boys.

Homemade Granola

Homemade Granola

simplest granola recipe that i have, and maybe one of the yummiest.

mix together

1 box Quaker Oats (about 4 cups)

1 bag sunflower seeds

1 bag slivered almonds

1 bag shredded coconut

pour 1/2 cup canola oil and 1/2 cup honey on top of the mixture and stir

put in deep pan in oven at 250 deg. for 1 hour and then 200 deg. for 2 hours.  stir every 1/2 hour

summer recipes

These recipes are light and easy and great to serve at any party.  Especially a DeTOX SPA Party

Thanks to Martha Stewart.  

Lighter Chocolate Cinnamon Pudding

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 6 tablespoons light-brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup evaporated skim milk
• 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
• White- and milk-chocolate shavings, for garnish
• Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Directions

1. Whisk cornstarch, sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium saucepan. Add milks, whisking. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking constantly. Cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Whisk in chocolate; cook until chocolate has melted, about 1 minute.
2. Divide evenly among six 4-ounce cups. To prevent a skin from forming, press plastic wrap onto surface of pudding. Refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour and up to overnight. Serve garnished with chocolate shavings and cinnamon sticks.

Fresh Fruit Spritzers

Ingredients

Serves 8

• 1/2 cup sugar
• Fresh seasonal fruit, such as 8 cups cubed seedless watermelon, 6 cups cubed honeydew melon, 6 cups cubed cantaloupe, 6 cups cubed mango, or 4 1/4 cups raspberries
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• Pinch of coarse salt
• Sparkling water, or club soda

Directions

1. Put sugar and 1 cup water into a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat; let cool slightly.
2. Puree fruit, syrup, lemon juice, and salt in a blender. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. Refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes (up to 2 days).
3. To serve, fill 8 medium glasses with ice; pour 1/2 cup puree into each glass, and top off with sparkling water. Stir to combine. Serve immediately.

Hope's Talent

I wanted to showcase my little sister's Talent.

These pictures are from a recent photo shoot.  She was the makeup artist for this model.

Hope is the new manager for the MAC counter at Dillards Coconut Point.    Opening day is this Friday!! Stop by and say hi and encourage her!!

Happy Father's Day

MIKE is the greatest Father.  First and foremost he Loves Christ and it is reflected in how he treats us as his family.

I have no doubts that i want Caeden and Owen to grow up to be just like their Father.   I also hope that they will treat their wives as their daddy treats me. 
  I just read an article recently on the Fatherless Nation that our society has become and it breaks my heart to know that most people don't get to know the joy, love, and security that comes from having a father that truly loves you. It is also hard to relate to Christ as the Father, if one has not had a meaningful relationship with his earthly father.  This is the link to the article .  
I want my kids to be grateful to their heavenly father for the Wonderful Earthly Father that he has provided them.  

I want them to know that all good things come from God above and that they should cherish their family as a gift from God. 

 I want them to know that their Heavenly Father loves them unconditionally and will never forsake them.

Happy Father's Day, to my husband!!

10 things i am loving right now!

I gave in. I had too much fun reading everyone else's posts so i had to create my own.

1.  My man and boys of course!

seriously, how could i not love these guys!  My best friends, all 3!

Thank God for these guys, i am loving and cherishing the mommy hugs, the daddy wrestling, Owens' words....lion, apple, boat, plane......any many more, &

Caeden's constant reminders that mike and i are his best friends!

2. Caeden's Style  (takes after his dad)

I love This necklace that Caeden picked out for me in American Eagle. 

I want to wear it every day!

3.  My new bike

I haven't gotten to break it in yet, let alone take pictures, 

but i am excited for the many rides ahead.

4.  My new bag that declares my love for my new bike

couldn't pass it up for 6 bucks!

5.  skinny vanilla latte(decaf)

It used to be frapps in college, then white chocc mochas, then cinn. dolce lattes, pepp mochas in winter, but  i tried the skinny and i feel less guilty drinking it and am pleased with great taste, less filling! (that works for coffee, right?)

6.  mighty-mite basketball league at the YMCA

Caeden and Aspen have been playing every friday night for 6 weeks.  Tomorrow is the last night.  It truly is so cute, even when caeden wants to sit on the bench with us and play with Owen instead of follow his coach and teammates down the court.

7.  skype

For the simple reason that i don't have to miss out on Amber's life and cute face!

8.  FREE HAIR CUTS!!............thanks to Carly for the gift card and Robert of Philadelphia for my great cut.  Not much change, just a little trim and color. But i like how healthy my hair feels after a cut. no picture needed!

9. Build-a-belly

Every Recipe that i have ever made off of this blog has been Post-worthy delicioso!! 

10.  Netflix

I get excited every week when our movie comes in and mike and i get to have a movie date.  Most recently American Gangster, great movie!! Next up Semi-Pro.

race car wallies

i was about to order these race car wall decals for the kids play room, but it is out of stock....well i guess i can save some money now.  

Carly Jo

Carly,

I remember first meeting you in Banana Republic when you and Laura were shopping for a green jacket and the perfect outfit to wear on the plane to England.  3 1/2 years has gone by and I am so thankful for the talks and laughter that we have shared together.  I am really proud of your attitude and your trust in Christ through all the the struggles this past year.  The Lord has proven faithful and you will soon have a little one that is so blessed to have you and Kev as parents.  I am excited for your new home and Kevin's new job, but, I will miss my friend!

We will continue to pray for you guys,

By the way, those pregnancy pictures are HOT

i love you