Saturday Snack {herb butter}

Last night Rachael and I had our 4th annual pumpkin decorating party with our friends.   It's always a fun night.  

Here we are with our pumpkins ❤️❤️

Each person brings a pumpkin and then Rachael and I provide ribbon, paint, monograms, etc. so each person can decorate their pumpkin.  Rachael made pumpkin soup and a salad and I made homemade bread and herb butter.

Here is the recipe for herb butter.

2 sticks butter softened

1 t dried basil

1 t dried dill

1 t dried parsley 

2 t onion powder 

Mix until combined with your kitchen aid mixer. Serve in a small bowl  with homemade bread 

You can add any herbs to this.  I added what I had on hand.  

Also this recipe makes a lot so I have plenty leftover for another time.  I keep this butter in my cabinet so it stays soft.

Here is the homemade bread I made. I always love making this bread because it's so easy to make and everyone loves it.  

One of my favorite things to do is sit around a big table with my friends :-) 

Here are some of our finished pumpkins.

I just love our pumpkin decorating tradition.

Xoxo

Friday Favorites

Hello friends!  I can't believe September is almost over! It went by so so fast!  

Today I am linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites.

1.  It's been unseasonably warm in upstate NY and last weekend I was out in the sunshine both days.  Saturday I went tubing at my friend Amy's lake and on Sunday I took a hike with friends to Vrooman's nose.  I just love being outside when the sun is out.  ☀️☀️

Look at this beautiful view at Vrooman's nose ❤️❤️

2. I made a quick trip to Itacha with my bff  Rachael this week so she could get ideas for the organic grocery store that she owns with her family.  Ithaca has wonderful organic markets.   It was so fun to see all of them and get ideas for Rachael's store.  

3.  Ava sent us this picture from Czech.  She was visiting the Bolt tower.  She's really settling in and starting to enjoy it. We haven't heard from her much this week which is always a good sign I think.  

4.  The annual Pit Run is this weekend.  I am on the committee that plans the race and I always love race weekend.  We will have 1200 runners and walkers at the races on Sunday. 

5.  My neighbor grows beautiful dahlias and she always gives me a ton of them this time of year.  I just love flower arrangements made from dahlias. She gave a talk to my garden club this month about growing dahlias.  It was so interesting and I'd like to try growing some next year. 

6.  I just love fall signs.  I saw this cute one on Pinterest and I printed it off and popped it in a frame in our kitchen.  I love  decor that you can use through Thanksgiving.  

I hope you have a great weekend!

Xoxo

Ava update {one month}

As of today Ava has been in the Czech Republic for one month.   I thought I would post a monthly update during her year so everyone could stay up to date with what's she's been up to during time in the Czech Republic.  

Ava is staying with a great host family  and we have been in touch with them via Facebook.  Ava's host mom sends me pictures every week which has been wonderful.

One month ago we were at the airport saying goodbye to our Ava.  I was so happy to get passes to go all the way to the gate with her.  It was great to be able to spend extra time with her.  

Ava's host family met her at the airport with a big welcome sign.  

After they left the airport they visited a few places in Prague before heading home. 

Here is Ava in front of her school. She started school a week after she arrived in Czech.

Here is a Snapchat pic from Ava's host sister ❤️

Ava's host family likes to eat out (just like us!) so that has been fun for her. 

Last weekend Ava went on a weekend retreat with all of the other exchange  students that are living in Czech.  She made some new friends

.  

This pictures is also from the retreat.  I loved it so much I had it printed on a wood panel for our dining room.  

She's also been doing some sightseeing.  She sent me these pics yesterday.  She was at the Bolt Tower in Ostrava. 

I can't believe it's already been a month.  I hope the rest of the year flies by.  We miss her so so much!

Xoxo

What's Up Wednesday {September Edition}

Today I am linking up with Shay, Mel, and Shaeffer for  What's Up Wednesday where we share random things that we've been up to this month.  September was a busy month for us!  We have been getting into our fall routine as new empty nesters. Ava has spent the past month in Czech Republic and will be there for the school year and Brock is starting his second year living in Arizona.  You can read my past WUW posts below

August

July

June

March

January 

What were eating this week...I've been using my fitness pal to track my calories so I've been eating a lot of salads, lean protein and fruit. I did make a fall popcorn treat for us on Saturday.  You can see that post here.

  

What I'm reminiscing about...Summer!!  We had a great summer and I'm sad that it's over.  

What I'm loving...Our warm temps. It's been 85 degrees and we have been enjoying ots of time outside.  It's been so fun!

What we've been up to...work, work and more work.  September is always the busiest month for me and I've been crazy busy.  

What I'm dreading...Thankfully nothing!  It's just a busy season of life for us.  

What I'm working on...I'm working on lots of different projects and I'm trying to keep everything straight.  It's a fun time but fall is definitely a busy season. I've been working on our fall for Branch and Bloom.  In October we are going to make succulent topararies.

What I'm excited about...Everything fall!  I just love everything about fall!  This weekend is homecoming and the Pit Run 10 k race.    I'm on the Pit Run committee and we have been working hard all year to make this race a success!

What I'm watching/reading... I read three books this month and I hope to have my September book review up soon.  Monday we had  the author of Hidden Figures  Margot Lee Shetterly on campus.  I went to two of her talks on Monday she was fabulous. 

 

What I'm listening to...I love listening to podcasts when I'm at home or in the car. I did a post on my favorite podcasts that you can read here.  

What I'm wearing...Lots of summer dresses.  It's been so hot and they keep me cool.  

What I'm doing this weekend....Friday night Rachael and I are having our 4th annual pumpkin decorating party! We provide paint, monograms and other decorations and our friends bring pumpkins and we all decorate them. 

What I'm looking forward to next month...I have a couple of fun trips planned.  Trips are always fun!

Have a great Wednesday

Xoxo

Saturday Snack {fall popcorn}

I love making homemade popcorn.  My whole family loves it!  I usually make it at least once a weekend and it is SO good!   I made this popcorn last night  for us as a treat.  I love the mix of salty and sweet.

I always make my popcorn on the stove using Orville Redenbacher oil and popcorn.  It is so good!  

Pop up your popcorn and then add salt to taste and add some candy corn..

It's an easy, delicious fall treat!

Happy Saturday!

Xoxo 

Friday Favorites

Hello friends!  September is kicking my butt.  Graig and I are SO SO busy at work.  I haven't had time to blog at all.  This weekend is our Family Weekend at the College where I work so I'll be busy with that, the Graig and I are going to work on a few house projects tomorrow afternoon and then Sunday I am going hiking and out for lunch with friends.  It's going to be a great weekend!

Today I am linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea to share my Friday Favorites.

1.  I have three friends that had September birthdays so we went to celebrate them in two seperate nights in Cooperstown.  It's been absolutely beautiful here and we got to sit outside and eat at the Otesaga which I always love to do!  I just love celebrating my friends birthdays!



















2.  Ava is still getting settled for her year in Czech Republic.  Some days she loves it and other days she is so homesick.  Her host mom is a complete doll and sends me pictures of Ava all the time. I love that she does that.  It's so good to see our girl.  This weekend she is going on a two night retreat with other rotary students.

3.  My father in law brought me about 25 pounds of tomatoes so I could make pasta sauce and pizza sauce.  I spent some time last weekend making the sauce.  I am going to post more pictures and the recipe I used soon.  I have enough sauce to last us through the winter!

4.  My friend M and her husband had a goodbye to summer party last weekend.  The weather was beautiful and it was great to be outside in the sunshine.  It was a great night!



5.  I went to a Ted Talk event last weekend in our town.  The speakers were amazing.  I am so glad I went.  My friend Rachael's father in law was one of the speakers.  He talked about gratitude.  Another talk I went to was on entrepreneurship.  It was a fantastic event!

6.  We also had our monthly craft night for Branch and Bloom!  We made DIY beer flights at a local brewery.  It was a fun night and I will have a blog post up about our craft night soon!

That's it for me for Friday favorites this week!  I am hoping things calm down and that I'll be back to regular posting soon

Have a great weekend!!