DIY Thursday: Autumn Subway Art (free printable)

I see people always having these cute subway art things.  I made one out of vinyl that turned out super cute but that doesn't really work for those who don't have vinyl cutters....so when I found this I was excited.  For a scrapbook challenge we were given a template and told do change it up and do whatever we wanted.  I love the colors of Leaving a Legacy's Happy Fall Ya'll" kit.  It has become one of my favorites.  I love the turquoise in it. Here is my version. Lucky for you I am giving you the link to download your own!  Yay!! There are 2 sizes for you, 8x11 and 5x7.  I hope you enjoy!!!

Subway Art Printable 8x11

Subway Art Printable 5x7

Halloween Wreath

I don't know why but I really enjoy making decorations for my front door.  I decided to make a cute Halloween wreath.  I went to pinterest for inspiration.

All you need is:
-wreath (I used straw wreath, a foam one would work to)
-Halloween colored tull (I used purple and green)
-ribbon for bow
-Spiders, skulls, ghost or whatever other thing you want to glue on the wreath

I started by wraping the tull around the wreath.  Then I made a bow for the wreath,  Last I glued on the bow and spiders.  Side note I painted spots on the spiders. 

I love how my wreath turned out.  My husband liked it to.  We think its looks spooky. 

Sweet Tooth Tuesday: Caramel and Chocolate Dipped Apples

I must be in the mood for Fall already.  I am wanting to wear my cozy sweats and pajama's.  I want to curl up with a blanket and watch a movie or read a book.  I also want to make some great fall recipes for dinner.  Too bad the heat hasn't broken yet.  The best I could do for now was make dipped apples.  I found my recipe here.

Here is what you will need:
1 cup melted butter
1 cup light Karo syrup
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 14oz can of sweet condenced milk
1 tsp. Vanilla

9-12 apples (I used granny smith0
candy or popsicle sticks.  (I used kabob scewers)
melting chocolate.  (I used milk chocolate chips and it didn't harden without the fridge.  I would suggest the wilton melting chocoate.  You can get it at Michaels)
optional: spinkles, nuts or candies

1. Wash and dry the apples.  Be sure to remove the stick
2. Remove stem and put in the stick
3. Combine the melted butter, Karo syrup, brown sugar, and sweet condenced milk into a heavy sauce pan.  Bring it to a boil on medium high.
4. Once boiling bring to medium to medium low.  Stir Constantly
5.  Let the temperature reach 233 degrees or soft ball stage
5. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla
6.  Dip each apple in caramel and place on greesed peice of tin foil.  I placed my greesed tin foil on a baking sheet. 
7. Let cool completely. 
8. Melt your chocolate and dip apples in chocolate
9. Let cool a minute and sprinkle on nuts, sprinkles, or candies.

Foodie Friday: Stuffed Acorn Squash

HI friends sorry I have been missing in action for so long! My husband got a new job and then we found an even better new job so after 6 weeks he is switching jobs AGAIN! It is a little stressful for us here at the Moon house. I am happy to say with this newest new job he will be on days again not swing so I will actually see him again. YAYAY!! I work 7-3ish and he was going to work at 2 so during the week we really never saw each other it was rough. And of course he was working swing when there was soccer practice, 2 flag football games a week and 2 of my soccer games a week then kids soccer on the weekend.  Things are starting to settle down now just in time for the holidays to really get under way. Now onto the knowledge your really wanted from this post. 

 The only reason we tried this recipe was we had an acorn squash from our bountiful basket and didn't know what to do with it. Now this is one of mine and my husbands favorite dishes. We wont discus my kids my kids feelings about this tasty dish. 

Stuffed Acorn Squash                                            

2 med. acorn squash                                          

1 lb ground beef                                                        

½ C. chopped onion                                          

¼ C. chopped celery                                         

1 clove garlic, minced                                       

1 can (16 oz) tomatoes whole, chopped

1 tsp oregano

 1 egg, slightly beaten

 1 C. rice, cooked

1 tsp salt & ½ tsp pepper

1 C. grated cheddar cheese 

Wash and pierce the whole squash with a fork several times.  Microwave squash 12-15 minutes on high. Turn over midway during cooking then set aside.  Cook beef in a skillet with the celery, onion, oregano and garlic.  Drain grease off the meat mix. Add the tomatoes, egg and rice. Now cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.  If squash isn’t tender cover with plastic wrap and cook for a few more minutes.  Fill squash with the meat mix. Then microwave for 5-8 minutes then cover with the cheese and cook another 1-2 minutes. 

 There are my 2 silly older kids! I love these crazy kids and their willingness to put up with me :) 

 I LOVE the sweetness mix into the savory of the meat and rice. When I eat mine it is a little bit of everything in each bit! 

You can find this awesome post linked up to the following Fantastic Parties:

Foodie Friday: Homemade Pumpkin Steamers

Fall is in the air! I love the brisk chilly mornings and evenings when I can enjoy a nice, warm pumpkin steamer. I found this recipe at Annie's Eats and it's truly delicious!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
3 tbsp. pumpkin puree

Directions:
Put water and sugar in a saucepan and heat over medium high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved completely.
Add cinnamon sticks and whisk in the ginger,nutmeg, and pumpkin puree.

Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, without letting the mixture come to a boil.
Remove from heat and cool for 10-15 minutes.
Strain the syrup through a cheesecloth, place in a container, and store in the refrigerator.

 Now for the final step to make the perfect pumpkin steamer. Depending on how much pumpkin your taste buds can handle, add 1 to 2 tbsp of your pumpkin syrup for every cup of milk. Place milk in microwave and heat for 2 to 3 minutes (depending on how hot you like your milk!) Top with whipped cream and carmel syrup and you now have a perfect fall drink! Enjoy!!!

You can find this awesome post linked up to the following Fantastic Parties:

Sweet Tooth Tuesday: Pumpkin Sheet Cake

I love Fall time for many reasons-especially the yummy smells and food. I LOVE to cook up a ton of pumpkin stuff when fall arrives. This is one of my recipes I especially like! I found this recipe several years ago in the newspaper and I'm so glad I decided to cut this recipe out because it is seriously one of the best recipes ever! Every time I make this I get rave reviews and people asking for the recipe! The cake is really moist and the cream cheese frosting tops it off!

Pumpkin Sheet Cake

• 15 oz can pumpkin
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt

Frosting:

• 3 oz cream cheese, softened
• 5 TBS butter, softened
• 1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 3-4 tsp milk
• chopped walnuts

In a large mixing bowl, beat pumpkin, sugar, and oil until blended. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture, beating until well blended. Pour into a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Let cool.
For frosting, in a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla til fluffy. Gradually add sugar until smooth. Add milk. Frost cake and then top with chopped nuts. Slice and enjoy!
.

You can find this awesome post linked up to the following Fantastic Parties:

Fall Wreath-Kayla's first post

Yes we know today is a Foodie Friday, but today we are switching thing up-again! Recently we have had a few of our girls need to leave the blog to focus on other stuff in their lives (which we totally understand and still love them! =)  )  So we decided we needed to add another girl to the mix.  So here is our new addition to the blog!  We are excited to have her and look forward to having lots of fun with her!  She is a super cute and fun girl and we know you will love her as much as we do!


I am Kayla Sherman.  I feel really honored that I got asked to be an author on this blog.  I wouldn’t really describe myself creative or great crafter, cook or do it yourselfer.  I do however enjoy it.  I think that’s what counts right. 

I have been married for almost a year to my husband Ben.  We bought a house right before getting married and have spent the last year fixing up it as we have had time and money.  It is still a work in progress but it at least feels like home now. 

I have discovered that I really do like to cook and bake.  I hated baking and cooking before I got married because I had to clean up the kitchen to my mom’s standards (Which is hard to do).  I now can clean it when I please and to my own standards.  I am really loving crafting too because I have a house I can decorate.  I also like to bike ride, roller blade and run.  I am an organizer.  I love to have things organized.  I love finding things in my house to organize and make it more efficient and neat (Although my house doesn’t always stay organized because life gets busy).

Right now I am currently a nanny for a 5 month old baby and occasionally these adorable 3 year old twin boys.  I have been a nanny for several other families as well.  Sadly kids grow up and no longer need babysitters.   I love kids.  I am kid at heart.  I love to find activities for kids to do.  I am excited to one day have kids of my own. 

When I told my husband that I got asked to be an author of this blog, he suggested I could use this fall wreath I had been working on.  I am really excited about how it turned out.  I got my idea from pinterest.  Which can be found here.  I liked this wreath a lot but it shouted Halloween and I wanted more a fall wreath that I could hang up more than the month of October.

Supplies needed:

-Wire wreath(I found mine at Michaels

-Fabric Scissors

-Patterned fall fabric(I got a yard which ended up being too much)

-Accent colors to match the patterned fabric(I had 5 accent colors and got 1/3 of a yard of each)

-Ribbon (to hang up wreath)

1. I first cut all the fabric up in strips.  I would suggest making the stripes 3/4inch by 6 inches.  Some of my stripes were smaller and they didn't look as good.  I wish I would have made them all the same.  I also cheated by cutting a small snip into the fabric and tore it.  It made for straighter strips and less time consuming.

2. Once all the fabric was cut I began tying the strips onto the wreath.  I wish I would have started with the middle wires instead of doing a section at a time. 

3. Once the wreath was filled with the strips I started fluffing the fabric. I decided where more strips were needed.  I found that by pushing the strips together and adding more strips the wreath looked more fluffy and stayed fluffy. 

4.  I then took my ribbon and made a loop by tying to the back of the outer most wire, so I could hang it on my door hook.  



Wired Wreath

Cute Patterned Fabric

Stripes and accent colors

Finished Product

Close up