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ALSO, you can get 50% off photo books!

The girls are already itching to get into their costumes and it's not even noon yet.  It's going to be so cold tonight, I hope trick or treating goes well!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!  Be safe and eat some candy!!

Wordful Wednesday: enjoying a fall moment

I thought I would try to join in on the Wordful Wednesday fun this week! I figured a family update was a bit overdue and I have a lot of new readers who may not know about our crew!

Last week, we were able to have a fun (yet FREEZING) trip to Orchard Hill Farms.  If you are in the Grand Rapids area, I highly recommend checking it out.  It's a perfect size for little ones, a lot smaller scale than others we've been to.

It was 40 degrees that morning, we were COLD!

This fall has been so busy for us that it was really nice to stop and enjoy each other.  The twins are almost 4 and Gabby is quickly growing into a toddler.  I am trying to keep her a baby as long as possible, but it's just not working!

Early in the summer, I sent in the forms for the girls to enroll in preschool and they vanished in the mail.  Thinking they were signed up the whole time, I didn't worry about contacting the preschool until the end of the summer.  Since they never got our forms, we didn't have a spot!

At first I was super mad, but now I am very happy we waited until they are 4.  We have been doing play groups and fun trips as a family.  They have plenty of time to be in school!

Maddie, Olivia & Gabby. 

Olivia is all about funny faces.  Maddie is probably hiding something in her pocket.

As the twins grow older, it's so fun to just sit back and listen to them.  They have the funniest conversations while sitting in their bunk beds at night.  A lot of people ask me if they are identical and I really don't see how they look alike.  Especially since their personalities are night and day.

Olivia loves to color and do puzzles all day.  She can sit and read books for hours.  Olivia also thinks she is queen bee.  Poor Maddie just listens to her.  I think when she gets to school she is going to have a big reality check when kids don't actually listen to her.  I try to keep her attitude in line, but toddlers pretty much do what they want.

Maddie has completely different interests.  Out of the two, she is the most quiet...but also very silly.  If you tickle her once, get ready to do it all day long.  She is obsessed with princesses and jewelry.  Everyday she has her purse full of who knows what.  We have a little hoarder on our hands!  Maddie is the one who likes to sing and dance the most.  She can remember words to a song after hearing it just once or twice.  Her favorite line right now "OH OH OH! That's what makes you beautiful".

The funny thing is, even though they are so different, they insist on dressing alike most days.  We always pick out different outfits and they decide to dress identical. 

Gabby (or Gaga as she calls herself...) was on a mission to see some chickens.

It's really hard to believe Gabby is 15 months already.  Wasn't it just yesterday we brought her home? Now that she is walking, everyday is interesting, to say the least!  She cannot sit still and she is always running around with her car (pronounce Cah, like she's from Boston).   This week she hit 25 pounds and she is very close to being the same size as the twins.  I really didn't realize how small the twins were until we had this "little" lady.  She is quickly learning words and different ways to make us laugh.  It will be very interesting to see her interaction with the girls as they get older.  They always say "three is a crowd", I hope that's not the case!


Ricky is getting into the spirit of the season by decorating the house.  Every.Square.Inch.  Outside we have tombstones, boarded windows, spider webs and the whole works.  It's really cute how he gets so into Halloween and fall. 

As you may have noticed, I am rocking a new 'do.  I have a love/hate relationship with my short hair.  It's a big change!  At the end of the day, I have to remind myself it's just hair.  Things could be so much worse! 

I hope everyone else is enjoying this season!  I absolutely hate that I see Christmas trees lit up in every store already.  Let's slow down people!

Quick tip: how to roast garlic

Garlic is super cheap right now and one of the best ways to enjoy it is roasting it!

Your house will smell amazing.  Plus it will keep the vampires away.  Maybe even the neighbor kids.  I'm kidding....kind of.

What do you do with it?

Add it to pasta, make hummus or add it to your favorite dips.  I put it in my creamy pesto sauce and it adds an amazing flavor to it.

You can roast garlic in 4 simple steps!

1. Chop off the top of the garlic.  Leaving the root end keeps it together.
2. Place on foil, add some EVOO and salt and pepper.
3. Wrap in foil and roast for 35-35 minutes at 350.  When it turns golden, it's done.
4. Let cool and squeeze out of clove.  I store some in the fridge and the rest in a bit of EVOO in the freezer.

Have you tried to roast garlic before?

Music freebie: Spin magazine

Get your free iTunes download here

Did you know that Spin Magazine offers free featured tracks each month?  If you like music, it's worth checking out each month! 

Ricky calls these "Ashleigh music"...I tend to gravitate toward alternative or different music.  Usually they feature new and upcoming musicians. 

Just go here and it will start up your free download on iTunes.  

NOTE: These tracks aren't edited, so you might want to be careful around little ones.

Mmmm Monday: Corn & potato chowder

It's no secret, I love Rachael Ray.  Her magazine is my favorite monthly read.  I don't have time to watch her show every day anymore, but this recipe is an old 30 Minute Meals favorite.  We've been making it for the past couple of years and it's one of our go-to fall recipes.

Most chowders are mostly cream and super thick.  Don't get me wrong, those are amazing, but I love how this recipe has so many great veggies in it.  Veggies totally cancel out bacon, right?

In the past, I have made a few changes while making it (turkey bacon, instead of regular...etc), but in the end I always go back to the regular recipe.  You have to be able to indulge a little.

Corn & Potato Chowder 

Recipe from Rachael Ray

Ingredients

• 1 tbl EVOO
• 4 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1.5 cups of frozen corn, or 4 cobs (fresh tastes great, but frozen is MUCH easier!)
• 1 medium or 2 small zucchini, chopped
• 1 pound red potatoes, chopped
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 to 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 tea paprika
• Salt & pepper
• 3 tbl flour
• 1 quart (4 cups) chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream 
• I use skim milk and thicken with a bit of corn starch
• 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• A few dashes hot sauce, to taste
• Oyster crackers or Goldfish

Let's make some chowda!

1. Heat a soup pot over medium-high heat with EVOO. Add bacon to hot oil and cook until crisp at edges. 
2. Add onions, corn, zucchini, potatoes and bell pepper as you get them chopped. Also add to the soup pot the bay leaf, thyme sprigs, paprika, and salt and pepper, to taste. 
3. Cook for about 7 to 8 minutes to begin to soften the vegetables. 
4. Sprinkle flour into the pot, stir and cook 1 minute. 
5. Stir in the stock and let it come up to a bubble and thicken up a bit. 
6. Then stir in cream, parsley and hot sauce, to taste, and simmer 5 minutes. 
7. Season the soup with salt and pepper
8. Serve with crackers! 

When I make this recipe, I usually serve the hot sauce on the side.  This is a great one for the whole family. Surprisingly, Gabby is the biggest fan!

Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite Rachael Ray recipe?  We have quite a few!

MYO "Skinny" Drinks: Apple Cider Martini

Being clumsy, I don't even try to use martini glasses anymore!

You may have noticed, I am addicted to Crystal Light mocktails.   I love how they are sugar free and they make really great drinks!  The margarita is by far my favorite, but this new addition is way up there.

I've had the Appletini packets for a while now.  Since I'm not a huge fan of Appletinis, they have just been sitting in the basement.  The sweet apple taste gives me flashbacks of bad Pucker shots taken in college.

Somehow, last weekend I got the idea to turn the Appletini into a more cider-like martini.  I guess I should call it more of a drink, since I steer clear of martini glasses....way too clumsy for stems!

Talking with some friends about our favorite place in Madison, The Vintage, I remembered they had these amazing apple pie shots. Voila!  My idea popped into my head. 

Here's what you need:

• Rum, any type.  We used dark.
• Crystal Light Appletini mix, Crystal Light Cranberry Apple
• When you make the mix, just use 3 cups of water. Keep them in separate pitchers though!  I get those half pitchers, they are perfect for this!
• Diet Vernors (Never heard of it?  You must not be from MI!...use Diet 7up instead)
• Cinnamon

Mix it up! (Makes one drink)

• In an iced glass add:
• 1 shot rum (or more...)
• 1/4 cup appletini mix
• 1/8 cup Cran-Apple mix
• Dash cinnamon
• Splash of Vernors

SO easy!  I made a pitcher last weekend and added sliced apples to it.  It really tastes like cider.  Mmm Mmm!

Have you tried the Crystal Light Mocktails yet?  I really need to be a spokesperson...I am addicted for sure!

Weekend project: 50% off Shutterfly photo books!

Save 50% on photo books from Shutterfly.com with promo code BIGBOOK. Offer valid 10.2-10.7.

Since it's going to be on the chilly side this weekend (LOVE IT!), I have decided to get my photos in order.  After 2 years of having empty frames, we have FINALLY filled up some around the house. 

Poor Gabby doesn't have a baby book yet , though.  I would love to make a few photo books for the girls.  Before the twins were born, we made this awesome book from our old bulldog Izzy to the girls.  It is such a keepsake now, especially since we no longer have Izzy with us.  The girls love to read it and look at me with a pregnant belly.

This weekend, all photo books are 50% off using the promo BIGBOOK.

Want another great deal?    Get 50 free prints when you sign up for Shutterfly.com!

You all know what I'll be doing this weekend!

I would love to know how you keep your digital photos organized!  We are a mess!

My new project: Shopping Matters

I have created a quick survey for people interested!  Tours will start this fall!

I have been working on a major project lately.  To be honest, it's been quite overwhelming!  I have decided to finally write about it to get the word spread around! 

When I found out about this program, Shopping Matters, I was so excited.  Then, I realized there wasn't even one in existence in the Grand Rapids area! 

What is Shopping Matters?  It is a branch of the No Kid Hungry campaign.  I will be guiding tours in local grocery stores and educating people about healthy and affordable meals.  You all know I can save money, but I feel people don't realize that healthy cooking is VERY affordable on a budget. 

Here's where I need your help!  I need to gauge my interest.  I have set up a form to get more information about everyone.  I would like to start these by the end of fall.  The more people I have signed up, the easier it will be to set up the tours in different stores.

There are two different types of tours you can take: a general tour or a WIC tour.  All information will be kept confidential, don't worry!

I will keep you all updated on this program as more details get ironed out.  I would love some helping hands, as well!  

Spread the word!  If this program may be of interest to anyone you may know, pass on the survey!