Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Fall is fast approaching. I can feel it fill the air. Soon enough it will be creeping in through the windows and turning the leaves every shade of red, orange, and yellow. I suppose that means we will need to start switching out the summer gear and implementing a few different organization schemes to accommodate winter and all its glory. Ah, the changing of the seasons. Always bringing a renewed sense of hope...and a lengthy to-do list!

With all these changes and going-ons I can't help but be moved in that same Fall direction in the kitchen as well. I am all about deliciously warm comfort food this time of year - bring on the soups! This year at our house that means breaking out the crockpot, Vita-mix, and the flavours of Fall. First stop? Pumpkin. I've been aching for anything and everything pumpkin. It has been much too long my friend. 

So this week, kicking things off on a scrumptious foot, I found a recipe that adds a pumpkin twist to an old favourite. 

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie anyone?? 

Do give them a try! They come highly recommended from our household. Easy and equally as delicious are always a hit around these parts.

Cookie Ingredients:

• 2 Cups Packed Brown Sugar
• 1 Cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 1/2 Cups Packed Pumpkin Puree
• 2 Eggs
• 3 Cups Flour
• 1 Tsp. Salt
• 1 Tsp. Baking Powder
• 1 Tsp. Baking Soda
• 2 Tsp. Vanilla 
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. Cinnamon
• 1/2 Tbsp. Ginger

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 Egg White
• 2 Tbsp. Milk
• 2 Tsp. Vanilla
• 2 Cups Confectioners Sugar
• 1/2 Cup Shortening

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F {175°C}.
2. Go ahead and lightly grease your baking sheets. Set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine the oil and brown sugar.
4. Mix in pumpkin puree and eggs. Beat well.
5. Add in the dry ingredients - flour, salt, baking powder, soda, cinnamon and ginger. Mix well.
6. Add the 2 teaspoons of vanilla. Mix one last time.
7. Drop the dough onto prepared baking sheets by heaping teaspoons. *I made mine bigger actually, so used heaping tablespoons which worked just as well but had to bake for fiveish additional minutes. They where more snack size with coffee versus snack bites at a party. To each their own.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes {or 15-17 if larger} until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. While cookies cool completely make the filling: Beat egg white and mix with the milk, vanilla, and 1 cup of confectioners sugar. Mix well. Then beat in the shortening and remaining confectioners sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
10. Make the sandwiches from two cookies filled with icing.

These pumpkin sweets went perfectly with morning coffee and blogging chez-moi. *Feel free to add that to the recipe. But they would make for a great party treat or favour in a smaller snack size.

How will you enjoy your Pumpkin Whoopie Pies? 
It is a gloomy Sunday here. Ideal for baking... Just throwing that out there! Wink. Wink.

Time Out in Metallic

As promised our latest project is done-like-dinner and all ready for the viewing. 
Honest Moment: Usually I am over the moon excited to share my finished products with all of you - success or fail. It is my extra reward beyond the project itself. The cherry on top so to speak. But for some odd reason I am nervous for todays sharing. Perhaps it is because I stretched myself beyond my comfort zone with the metallic paint? Or it could be that I am questioning the small lettering choice... Either way, it is what it is. Can't let the nerves get the best of me.
Solution: An attempted mini photo shoot with a tired Mr. Finn. He enjoyed exploring the possibilities the 'his size' chair had to offer. 
Take a look and see what you think.

The subtle blue - a leftover from the laundry room - flows nicely with the metallic silver. And the original wood, though small, adds a glimpse into history. 

Finn is a huge fan! And that is what matters. 

Well, at least until it becomes a spot to gather himself. Then he will dislike it either way.

What do you think? A success or a flop?
Looking forward to hearing from you! Chat soon.
I linked up at Remodelaholic

There Was Once A Wee Chair

... trapped all by its lonesome in the basement with no one to love it. The end.

Not! What a terrible story that would be. Gosh, what do you take me for? No, the story does not end there but yes, that is how todays tale begins.

There was once a wee chair trapped by its lonesome - if you recall it was a {free} score from my sweet cousin Stephanie which I told you all about here. Said chair did go unloved for quite some time. Which is in fact a very sad truth. But as of today it has found a temporary new home in our garage while it undergoes a little construction. 'Wee' chair is in the process of transforming into 'Time Out' chair for Finley's misbehaving bum. 

Check out the steps we have taken thus far: *And note the embarrassing reason why we came to a stand still. {Blush}

First things first, this little guy needed some serious sanding. That clear coat is no joke. 

At first I just did a quick job of it which only angered the beast. The clear coating started to peel and lift in layers. It was a hot mess! But after what felt like hours of sanding, which was likely twenty odd minutes, it all lifted and we were left with the good stuff.

Enter my next nemesis: The Rubber Gripper. 

Only to be followed by his pal The Rusty Nail.

I am not exaggerating when I say these little buggers were nearly the cause for temporary insanity! It actually took me over an hour to get them out of there. But with the help of a hammer, needle-nose pliers, and some sort of cutting device discovered in Robert's toolbox I came out the victor!

*And though I may not feel fully justified in my efforts today, it will come down the road. No one wants rusted nails and metal scratching the floors.

With the nitty-gritty out of the way we are down to the good stuff. 

So here is my thought process {be afraid}: Clearly, I want to paint the chair. Paint is my go-to. I'm thinking it will be perfect as a spot for Finley's fast approaching need for time outs. *My brothers family had a purchased one and it was way too cute and functional. But I also want to be able to use it for other tasks as they present themselves {hello helpful step stool} so let's avoid any crazy in-your-face boy style. It is going to be in my kitchen area after all.

Enter the above cursive foam stickers. They call it as it is but in a subtle way. Right? And when it is all said and done they will preserve a bit of the history the chair holds. Just you wait and see...

Now let's add a little metallic spray to the mix why don't we? 

Oh my gracious I must be off my rocker today. *Maybe those rubber grips did get the best of me after all?! Metallics are not typically my thing but when I was going through my supplies the can caught my eye and before I knew it everything was taped up and getting a solid coat of silver!

Even the back got a little frosting! On the front lawn I might add. 

What? You mean it isn't all the rage to spray paint miniature furniture pieces on the front lawn? Few. News to me!

Could that picture be any cuter? My kid and his dirty finger nails!

But seriously, it actually turned out! I was tickled with delight. Once the designated silver areas dried, after receiving three coats of spray paint, I pulled the stickers back to reveal a peak at the original wood grain. It is just enough to make the chair special.

Are we all on the same page thinking this is too cool for school? Or is it borderline tacky with the metallic? I can't tell just yet. Shall we wait until the rest is painted before drawing any conclusions? Done deal.
And why, you might ask is the rest not done? For a complete reveal and all. Your logic makes sense. It is a small chair. Shouldn't take too long to paint. Well I will tell you if you'd quit badgering me! :) But it is quite an embarrassing truth for a DIYer such as I... Our paint brushes are MIA. There is not a single paint brush to be found in our entire home. This is no word of a lie. Not even a sponge brush. Notta. So we are at a standstill the chair and I.
Check back soon {and by soon I most definitely mean tomorrow} for the final product.
Until then!
...Tell your friends all about Slippers by Day of course! 

Let's Get Inspired

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Organization, Storage, Built-Ins, and Crisp White. Yes Please!!
Sarah converted me to healthier eating - I'm definitely trying this Chickpea & Roasted  Red Pepper Burger Recipe asap!
This kitchen quote poster made my day - Ahh how I love me some wine.

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Who has one of these speckled granite pots stashed away somewhere? Dig it out, like they did over at Our Clover House, and kick off your Fall decor on the cheap.
I've got wainscoting on the brain these days. Robert?
The handiest tip ever for hanging those heavy items - Thank you Calling it Home!

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Ahh...Fall.

Earning His Keep {DIY Tire Rack}

A day last week Robert disappeared all of a sudden. Poof. Just like that. Gone. Of course I assumed, like most women would, that he had gone to the john. Am I right ladies? But after nearly an hour I got worried and went looking. Thankfully he was safe and sound in the garage working away to my utter surprise and delight. Typically, when home, he only works after persistent request. Not that day!
Our garage lacks serious organization solutions - well you've seen it {here}. I'll give that it has come a long way in the past months as far as cleanliness and a bit of added function but it still has a long road ahead. Since moving in I have insisted that we need to make use of the high ceilings in there for additional storage - oh there is the nagging - but we have never made any official plans. Until now apparently.
Upon my discovery of Common-Law he was more than half way through creating a tire rack to be mounted just below the ceiling and above the electric panel for seasonal storage. Now that is what I am talking about! He went with a straightforward L-shaped plan of attack with leftover wood from previous projects - which essentially makes this DIY as good as free in my books. Win. Win.

It was wasted space, so why not?

An L-shaped bracket style. Simple yet Effective.

It isn't finished - to my standards anyhow. Robert insists that it is just in the garage and more than serves its purpose but I will be tackling it with some hole filler and paint one of these days {leftovers of course so it stays on the free track}. 

The best part is that those tires are gone from beneath the work bench. Which clears up the perfect space to house the summer gear. For now anyhow.

It's not too bad, eh? Fits right in. And it clears up floor space! Can I just say that I love handy men and clever, simple storage solutions!
What do you think? Is the Common-Law earning his keep? 

First of the Month

September is upon us. That is no joke. It certainly has hit this household with a BANG. Perhaps your household too? School back in session? A weather shift? New job? Do share!

Roberts two weeks home with us are up - already! He was off to the airport bright and early this a.m. Leaving home before three. Blah. He has a long day ahead. Actually, a long two weeks ahead of fourteen twelve hour work days back to back. My hero. Thankfully he is a trooper and plays the tough guy when he leaves so that I don't get too down in the dumps. But I know the time apart if difficult for him too. How could it not be? Being away from my bossy britches and our two sweet boys. Finley is getting so big, much too quickly. And Moe is, well Moe. Well worth missing!

Surprise Flowers for Sweetness in Roberts Absence

The other factor in September bringing the BANG is Sarah. My dearest, sweet friend Sarah who came to spend the summer with us here in Pictou County has no time left. Sadly, September was the inevitable mark that signalled our time together coming to an end. Having her here these past months has been above and beyond helpful to me.  And of course, as per usual, the memories we have made, mostly silly, will be added to the stock pile of those that came before. Good friends are few and far between are they not? And though I may be sad today, thankfulness will return soon enough. Until then...I will welcome my sadness with hot coffee and try to see the good.

The good, in my books, being the change in weather September brings. Let's clarify that I welcome each season with open arms but the Fall has a particularly warm place in my heart. The change in the air, that crisp cool breeze, sparks flames in the neighbourhood fireplaces spilling out 'the smell' of fall. Moe will have no problem getting his walks in this month. It is a compilation of everything: The smells. The leaves changing colour. The wardrobe switch. Scarves! Boots! Wool socks! Can I hear an amen?! The craft possibilities. Oh, and the desire to spend more time inside. At home. Doing projects...and puzzles. If that doesn't give you the warm fuzzies you need to get yourself check out. Scoot. You must be a sicky-head!

Finally, September brings me back to my monthly list of goals. Another good. Perfect timing with all those once near and always dear to me taking off. Productivity tends to be the key to upbeat moral. I had given myself a very basic list of to-do's for August because I know myself and how distracting the sun can be. Overall, I think I played it by the book but let's take a closer look:

• Priorities
• Rob - Enjoy time together as a family, a couple, and individually - Check! We did just that! Lots of time just us as a family. We went out on at least two mini dates just the two of us. Robert got out golfing five times! And I had a few solo hours working on the blog as well as two afternoons out with Sarah.
• Finley - Give him every moment I can - As a mother I don't think I will ever feel that I have done enough in this department but that sweet boy is most certainly loved. No question.
• Moe - Walk twice a day {Exception: if we go to the beach or have an off leash play} - Now to  be honest Moe didn't get out for many official walks but he was one busy dog. He went everywhere we did and enjoyed every moment to the point of exhaustion. 

• Productivity
• DIY Projects - 4 to 6. *Anything - Check! Just made it by with a hodgepodge of tasks.
• Master To-Do List Done
• DIY Sandbox Beneath the Deck
• Project Gallery Page Up
• Personalized Wedding Gift

• Personal
• Reading - *Anything. As long as it is enjoyed - Check! Instead of pressuring myself to get through an entire book I relaxed and enjoyed several magazines as well as many of my favourite bloggers!
• Get Fresh Air - Walk, Run, Play... - Check! Literally every single day! Rain or shine we were out and about.
• Water Intake - 6 to 8 glasses daily - Just about. I'm up to roughly five. 

So that is me. Well us. How did you make out in August? I would completely understand if you strayed from your plan - hot weather is hard to overcome. But September may be whistling a different tune! Will you challenge yourself? Or give yourself a break on the list front to get settled back in to the reality of life after a summer of bliss?

To break up the writing overload - A pic of my sweet boy over the weekend!

Hmm...what to do? What to do? Originally, I was thinking jump in head first in all categories. But when I look at my calendar and what we have coming up in the next few months I am second guessing myself.  Let's go with a middle ground:

• Priorities
• Rob - Enjoy time together as a family, a couple, and individually.
• Finley - Give him every moment I can. Then a little more!
• Moe - Walk twice a day.

• Productivity
• DIY Projects - 8 to 10. *Anything. Dig in!

• Personal
• Reading - *Anything. As long as it is enjoyed.
• Get Fresh Air - Walk, Run, Play...
• Water Intake - 6 to 8 glasses daily. 

How is that? I am feeling good about it. Keeping the focus on what really matters and upping the anti in the productivity department since it was lacks last month. Wish me luck!

I'm sending luck and motivation your way! What are you hoping to get up to? Do tell!

Buttermilk Pie

Good Morning All! What a lovely, raining first day of September! Today, I bring to you one more scrumptious sweet treat before I return home to New Brunswick and all that it entails. {School, work, 2AM study nights and so on} Therefore, with just a few sweet days of “summer break” left, I decided to spend some time in the kitchen for one last relaxing baking escapade.

This week’s recipe is a gem I unearthed thanks to one of the charming ladies I have had the pleasure of spending the past few months with at my summer employment. This summer was new for me. I spent my days {and nights… long, awake nights, to be clear} working in a Senior’s Care home here in Pictou County. I am typically a nanny and student in New Brunswick so, this was both different and not. Anyhow, back to the point of this long-winded story, I found myself discussing favourite food and recipes with one of my residents. She mentioned how much she love, love, LOVED something called Buttermilk Pie. She was kind enough to dig through her closet for the recipe so I could copy it and enjoy at our home! I have to admit, I have been blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people here in Pictou County this summer!

Ever heard of Buttermilk Pie? Myself, not so much. This was the first time I ever heard of such a thing, so I looked it up. Apparently, it originated in the UK and is now well known in the south, particularly Texas. But enough about that, let’s get down to it.

Here is goes:

In a bowl (I used a KitchenAid Mixer) mix together:

• 3 Lg. Eggs 
• ½ Cup Melted Butter 
• 2 Cups Sugar 
• 2 Tbsp. Flour 
• 1 Tsp. Vanilla 
• 1 Tsp. Fresh Lemon Juice 
• ¾ Cup Buttermilk 

Pour the mixture into an UNBAKED piecrust. *I used Tenderflake frozen pie crusts. Yum. And easy. **Makes two pies. Few, tenderflake comes in a two pack!

Bake at 375º for 50-60 minutes.

Optional: Finely chop ½ Cup walnuts and sprinkle on top of pie. I did not do this – nuts are ew. {Read “ew” in Jimmy Fallon’s Sara voice}

***Please see video below to completely understand ew. And for a laugh!

Sarah