Every Halloween we do a little get together over at my house with my sister and her family and my parents. We have the kids dress up in their costumes and we bring soups and treats and play games.

My sister brought over the best soup ever!!! I have made it a few times for church gatherings and I'm always asked for the recipe, so here it is.



Zuppa Toscana Soup

(4-6 servings)

1 lb. Italian sausage
2 large russet potatoes, sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices.
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 bag Oscar Mayer bacon bits
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C kale, chopped
2 cans chicken broth
1 qt. water
1 C heavy whipping cream

-Cook sausage in 300 degree oven for approx 30 min.
-Drain on paper towels and cut into slices
-Place onions, potatoes, chicken broth, water and garlic in pot and cook on medium heat until potatoes are done.
-Add sausage and bacon and salt and pepper to taste.
-Simmer for another 10 minutes.
-Turn to low and add kale and cream.
-Heat through and serve

I don't know about you, but when the weather gets cooler, my family craves bread, rolls and biscuits with dinner.  In fact, they want them for after school snacks too!  My family LOVES bread!  I could take it or leave it, but with this cinnamon honey butter, I usually choose to take it.

There is just something so comforting about a nice warm dinner bread.  During the majority of the year, I have to admit, we are not the best about gathering around the dinner table for dinner.  We are a busy family of five, and we aren't always all together for dinner, so we end up eating at the counter, by the T.V., in my bed (yes, sometimes I just need a break and I'll go upstairs and eat in my bed and watch netflix!)  Usually we the only day I can count on for family dinners at the table, is Sunday.

BUT in the fall!  Everything slows down this time a year a bit.  My hubby doesn't work as many long hours, the kids don't have as many soccer games or practices, we aren't tired from spending the day at Lagoon, we aren't rushing here and there.  It gets darker earlier, and I feel like making dinner more often.  In the fall, we gather around the table more.  We talk about our day, and we butter a few rolls!

Let me tell you,....you need this recipe!  It's not only delicious but it's a family togetherness conductor!  (I don't know if that's a real thing, but it sounds good!)  Your kids will want to linger around the table a little longer, talking, laughing, sharing and eating yummy rolls with cinnamon honey butter.

It's also a fantastic neighbor gift!  I made some for the girls I visit teach and brought it to them this month.  It's easy, affordable, yummy AND a thoughtful gift!  So here's the recipe:

Directions

I love a good tablescape!  (is this a word?)

I so wish I could have my table set at all times, but that just isn't practical for my family seeing as how my dining table is also used for an art desk, a puzzle table, a homework station and to occasionally eat from!  In an ideal world, it would always look perfect and set and ready to sit and eat at!

I think that is why I am so in love with Sunday dinners and special occasions.  Because I actually set the table and make an effort to make it a gathering to celebrate.  Setting the table doesn't have to be expensive or stressful.  For these four ideas, I just went through my craft stash and found things that I loved.



For the first one I used ribbon from the Dollar Tree, and a pine cone from my back yard.  Super easy, but it fancies up the table a bit, and announces that its a special dinner.






This second one is so farm chic!  I used gold Washi Tape from my stash and attached notebook paper to the plate with "I'm grateful for....." for your guests to ponder while waiting for dinner.  I tied a napkin with ribbon and florals from my craft stash.  You could use any floral stem here.




This third one is again, ribbon and a min frame from the Dollar Spot.  I had this hounds tooth fabric and the burlap in my craft stash.  Then I just decorated with white pumpkins I bought at Target.




For this last one, I just used different plates that I have, showing that you can mix and match any dishware that you may have.  It doesn't have to all match, or be fancy.  I painted a pumpkin from the Dollar Tree gold, and then used fabric from my fabric stash.


I hope these ideas gave you some inspiration to look through your stuff, make a trip to the Dollar Tree and make your family dinners something to celebrate!

One of my family's FAVORITE tradition is the gratitude runner!

We love when the calendar turns to November and the home gets nice and cozy!  I take the Halloween decor down just add the pumpkin, spice, flannel and all things warm!

When the kids were little, this is how we would celebrate our gratitude.

Hello there!  It's getting cold around these here parts, so naturally it's time to pull out the skinny jeans and leggings!

I am a firm believer that your rear needs to be covered when you are wearing leggings, but it seems that the stores don't always agree with me!

I am also in love with Flannels.  They are cozy and warm and scream IT's AUTUMN!!!

I had this brilliant idea one day at my weekly thrifting outing to get some men's extra large flannels, and upcycle them to make the perfect Fall Flannel tunic!

The results were what I was after!  I can't wait to make more of these cuties!!!
Second - measure how much in on the sides you want to have your shirt cut in.  I needed about 2 inches on each side.  Then pin each side.
Third - Cut off the sleeves at the seem.  Now  you can re-hem your sleeves, but I left mine raw and got a fun little frayed look around the arm holes.

Fourth - Trim sides to the pins

Fifth - Sew up the sides and VOILA!!!!  You are done!!!  Easy Peasy!!!



I think it's the perfect look for fall.  Layer over a long sleeve shirt, add a sweater, or cardigan for extra layering.  Wear it with skinny jeans or leggings!  You really can't go wrong with this look!

Have fun, and let me know if you try it!

Quick (1 Min.)
Easy (mug, cooking spray, Rhodes frozen micro cinnamon roll,caramel syrup, chopped pecans)
Treat Idea - Microwave Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls


Recipe found on Rhodes from Kami of Sweet Charli 

Pictures are from Kami's blog Sweet Charli

The "H" word!

Sparklers is all about encouragement and empowering you to LIVE your life!  And to me, that was getting a hysterectomy.

I have had "girly" problems for as long as I can remember.  Lots of pain!!!  Lots.  And not just once a month.  No No!  Then the pain started leading to other problems as well.

In April I was diagnosed with an ovarian tumor.  While I was in surgery to remove it and biopsy it (non-cancerous!  YAY!) my surgeon was able to un-attach some of my organs that were stuck together from endometriosis.  She strongly suggested a hysterectomy.  She is the third Dr. to STRONGLY suggest a hysterectomy.

She said it wouldn't solve ALL my problems, but she suspected Adenomyosis and the only cure for that is to remove the Uterus.

At this point I had had enough!  I agreed to the hysterectomy.

It's been five weeks today from a complete hysterectomy by LAVH.  (Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy.)  I was able to keep both ovaries.

Now I'm not going to talk too much about what to expect after surgery, because everyone's circumstance, surgery and recovery process is going to be completely different.  I read so many horror stories before my surgery that I actually postponed it once because I was so scared.

I will say for me, it's been hard.  The recovery process is slow.  I knew it would take awhile to be 100%, but I didn't realize all that was involved.  I'm tired.  Take that back, I AM exhausted.  The pain was completely tolerable, which I'm glad because my pain meds made me sick, so I stopped taking them.  I can't get comfortable long enough to get a goods night sleep, but I take lots of naps.  I didn't feel like leaving my house for almost 3 weeks.  And when I did, I felt it the next day.  My core is sore, and my back is too.  Digestion has been an issue, and even though I was able to keep my ovaries, I have been on an emotional roller coaster.

With all that said, it's been doable, just long and hard.  I am a control freak, so not being able to do things for myself is driving me crazy.  I can't vacuum, sweep, load or unload a dishwasher, push a grocery cart, or carry loads of laundry.  I have another week before I am cleared to do any of that.
But I am starting to feel like my old self again.  I am slowly able to get back to doing what I love.  I have more energy.  I haven't had pain at all in 3 weeks.  That's a new record for me!  AND before surgery I looked 5 months pregnant all the time, and now, that's gone!!

So for me, a hysterectomy was the right choice, (even though those first two weeks after I was doubting it!)  I did end up having Adenomyosis, so having my uterus gone will help with A LOT of my issues.

Here are my 10 things you need to be prepared for to help you get through your Hysterectomy!

1.  Expect it to be a slow recovery.  I think that is why it was so hard for me.  I honestly thought that I would be back to normal much sooner.  It depressed me that by week 4 I still needed a nap if I left my house for longer than 2 hours.  If I was more mentally prepared I think I wouldn't have had such a hard time with it.

2. Hospital stay.  I was there for two days.  I read all the things to bring, and honestly all I needed was my chapstick, my robe, my lotion and my phone.  I slept through everything else.

3.  Stock up on lounging/pajama pants.  I lived in them for the first two weeks.  My hubby was super cute and went out and bought me more, and less PJ looking, to get me through the first bit.

4.  Buy a nice comfortable bra.  I went and bought a bra with no under wire and it was the best thing I did.  I could nap in it, see visitors in it, and it was super comfortable.

5.  Netflix will be your best friend.  I watched an insane amount of TV the first week post op.  My brain was too foggy to read, and it hurt to sit to play on the laptop or do a craft or anything, so I watched TV.  Just beware, after awhile Netflix makes you feel like a loser and asks you if you are STILL watching.  Yes, I was!

6.  Prepare food.  Stock up on some food for you and your family.  I didn't have much of an appetite the first week.  But I obviously needed to eat.  The first week I lived off of Otter Pops, Cup of Noodle Soup and toast.  Yum!   Luckily my Hubby was able to be home with me that first week, (and if he wasn't he got me a babysitter) to prepare food for the family.   Some awesome friends brought us dinner 3 nights and we had a few frozen dinners prepared too.  I wish now, I had more frozen dinners prepared.  My hubby took great care the first week, but then the second week, he had to get back to work.  So by the time he got home and dinner made, it was kind of later than I would have liked for the kids.  If I had more frozen dinners prepared, I could have helped the kids put one in the oven to start cooking, so by the time he got home, it was ready to serve.

7.  WALK!  This is a biggie.  Walk as often as you can.  Even if it's just around your house.  It helps with the recovery process greatly.

8.  Get help.  I wasn't allowed to drive for two weeks, so we needed help getting the kids everywhere they needed to be.  I hate asking for help, but it's so nice to have it when you need it.  I scheduled as much as I could BEFORE my surgery so that I knew I wouldn't have to worry about finding rides after.  I was able to rest and recover properly because I knew I had the kids handled.  Then towards the end of your recovery you will still need help grocery shopping (You are not allowed to push a cart.)  So call up a friend, take her out to lunch and then hit the store together!

P.S.  Take a friend vs. your kids.  When they "helped" me we ended up with a lot of items like this in the cart, Pumpkin Marshmallows.  Tis the season!


9.  Get out of the house as soon as you are able.  Even if it's just a drive to get ice cream.  Getting out and getting some fresh air does the body and soul good.

10.  Listen to your body.  Do not push the recovery process, it will set you back more.  If you need a nap, take one.  If you need help, ASK!  Listen to your doctor and be patient.  It will be worth it in the long run.  It's hard enough for me to have to take these 6 weeks to recover, I DO NOT want to add more time to that!


So, what did you find helpful in your recovery process?

I love Banana Bread!

I love Streusel!

I don't know why I didn't think of combining the two before, but now that I have, I can't go back!



This recipe is so moist and delicious with a flavorful crunch topping.  My family always gets excited when they come home and smell this in the oven.   I want another piece right now!

Banana Bread