Nutcracker Market

If you have never heard of or been to the Nutcracker Market you are SOO missing out!

The Reliant Stadium is full to the max of "booths" where companies from Houston and surrounding cities come in and sell their stuff. You can get anything from food (nuts, jams, soup mixes) with samples everywhere, lots of Christmas decor, home decor, clothes, jewelry, baby stuff, fun bags... pretty much anything you can think of they sell there. (Every man's worst nightmare.)

My mom and I went this year and had such a good time. We got in around 11am and left at 2pm and hadn't even seen HALF of the stuff there. Our arms were so full, we had a good laugh trying to treck back to the car. It was awesome and surprisingly the stuff wasn't overpriced, like you would expect. I went thinking I would come home with a few finds- I was wrong. I wish I could put up pics of everything I got but most of it was Christmas shopping for people who look at this blog....Chelsey, Sally, Lisa, Teresa and a few other people I will leave unnamed :)

But I can show a few things I found...

This is for my adorable niece Kate for Christmas. She loves to help cook and I thought the cupcake on this fabric was so cute. It comes with a hat, spoon, cookie cutter and 3 recipes! Love it.

This is wrapping paper I bought. I get so excited when I find cute paper and these were 3 for $10! The zebra and leopard will probably be used for birthdays but there might be a few animals prints under our tree wrapped in a big red bow!

These adorable little boxes were buy 10 get 1 free for $1 each! Perfect for a little gift, Christmas cookies box or birthday present with a little bow on top! So of course I bought 10!

The trip was a success! I think a big trend right now is to monogram everything because it was EVERYWHERE at the market. On plates, cups, bags, make up, wall hangings- so cute. I might have bought a few of those but they will have to wait... The market lasts until Sunday- GO!

Sweet Spot

Being Austin's mom, I know lots of little things about this boy. One of my favorite things I know is his 'sweet spot'.

It is on his side right under his little ribs.

...and if you get it just right, he laughs and giggles uncontrollably. It is the most wonderful noise to my ears and I could do it all day.

On this particular day, he ended our tickle session by grabbing his blue blanket and running back to where I was laying on the floor to cuddle with me.

It doesn't get much better than that.

What I am Wishing For

Here are a few things I am wishing for this Christmas...




Kitchen Aid Mixer in Black- so DONE with the hand mixer, I need the real deal! Hopefully this is my 'Santa' gift from my hubby.

Fun Baking Stuff

Sexy Shoes! There is just something about a hot pair of shoes that I will never get over. I am loving Nine West right now.

I died when I saw these- I will purchase them if they make it under the tree or not!

Isn't this an adorable summer shoe? I could wear it to church with a white or khaki skirt...

A new Scent- smells so good.

Cardigan from Express- I helped Houston buy this for Cristina for her birthday and haven't stopped thinking about it. Click here for a better picture.

That's all for now!

A few of HIS favorite things...

Austin is right at 21 months and I wanted to post a few of his favorite things for memory's sake.

Favorite:
Movie: Madagascar

Food: Mac & Cheese, peas, corn

Snack: Fruit snacks

Drink: Gatorade (it's a treat when he gets it)

Toy: Any car, train or motorcycle. He loves to line them up perfectly and drive them around the furniture

Song: Batman theme song- he tries to sing it to me

Time of Day: When Daddy gets home or nap time

Word: Puppy, Car, Nana, okay and Buh bye!

Comfort Object: The beloved "blue blankey" and binky (he just doesn't know the binky is goin away soon)

'No No' Toy: my phone, dad's deodorant under his sink. weird- I know.

Newest Word: "hi-ya!" as he tries to karate chop you

Animal: dogs but it is always a "puppy!"

Place to Visit: Nana's house. She has lots of cars and fruit snacks

Store: Target- he always gets popcorn or Sam's cause he gets a cookie.



That is all I can think of for now. Here is a cute picture to end the post (another favorite thing!)

Helpin' Daddy brush his teeth

watching Madagascar- I love those cheeks!

Apple Cupcakes

photo from Delish.com

This one is sooo good! They are super moist and full of fresh apples. It could pass as a cupcake topped with frosting, great muffin or even a little loaf of bread to put on a Christmas plate. I used the recipe as a cupcake and topped it with a cream cheese frosting, which was made by my mom cause she makes the best frostings!

2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 cups coarsely shredded apples (about 1 3/4 lbs or 4 apples)


The recipe is from Martha Stewart on delish.com
**FYI: We tried the recommended frosting- Brown-sugar Buttercream and it was gross.**
And thanks Cristina for helping me make these, it's always more fun to bake when you're around!

Strange Coincidence

I was looking on facebook today and came across this picture:

The little guy on the left is Cameron, who is a few months older than Austin and the son of my very good friend Janey! We were friends in Utah, lived close to each other, worked in the photo lab together (some of my fondest Utah memories) AND we were prego together. She is one of those friends that you just click and that's all it takes. I keep in good touch with her and probably talked to her twice last week and we had no idea our boys would be in the SAME costume. Especially since I borrowed the costume from Sally, who bought it 2 years ago! I died laughing.

So Janey- we have great taste and I am so sad our boys and future babies can't grow up together but I do look forward to a visit to Houston very soon!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween this year was so much fun! I have tons of pictures, so I will tell about the weekend through all the pictures.

Here is Daddy & Austin on our way to Trunk or Treat Friday night. Austin was a golfer- probably the cutest thing I have ever seen! Also very fitting for Nick's taste. Thanks Sally for letting us borrow the costume!

At Trunk or Treat- it was so much fun.

Austin with his buddy Lincoln who was a little Monkey and Jake as a zoo keeper. Love it.

Giff Nielsen showed up as a golfer so we had to get a picture together.

my BFF/SIL- ha love that.

Sally with Peyton and Brookie. We are missing Kate but she was a pretty witch with sparkly make-up!

We then went to my mom's house to carve some pumpkins. It was Austin's first experience with pumpkins- he is checkin' out the inside.

Helpin' Mom scrape out the guts

Nick and I

Forrest and Sarah

Houston and Cristina

The finished products- I think they turned out great! Starting from the left the artists are: Dad, me, Mike (Houston's friend), Nick, Cristina and the last was by Forrest and Sarah.

Halloween night about to go trick or treating at Nana's house. Austin loved wearing his costume and he kept the hat on all night!

It took little coaxing to tell Austin to knock on the door for some candy. It was so cute! He knew how to work the crowd by saying, "thank you" and "buh bye" as he walked away. People just kept giving him candy as they would call their family to the door to see the cute golfer!

Excited about all his treats

and this is what we saw for a full 2 blocks of trick or treating- Austin running ahead knocking on every door.

Now what I am going to do with that full bucket of candy?