Crock Pot Macaroni

Here's a recipe for the easiest, best tasting macaroni and cheese ever! Well, that could be disputed but I sure like it.

3 Tbs. butter, chunked
2 cups uncooked macaroni
2 cups shredded sharp cheese
24 oz. small curd cottage cheese
2 cups boiling water

Place butter chunks in bottom of crockpot. Add next 3 ingredients and pour boiling water over all. Do Not stir. Cover. Cook for approx. 2 hrs. Stir just before ready to serve. Can be baked in 350 degree oven for 1 hr. (I sprinkle macaroni with salt). Enjoy!

Christmas Is Coming

Christmas is coming and I'm getting ready! This year I'm making everyone's gifts and to make it simple I'm making the same thing for everyone, personalizing each gift. I can't share with you now what I'm making because some of you will be the recipients of these gifts! So for now, just take a look at my desk as I'm in the midst and know that this elf is a busy beaver.

If You Like Color...

I found these great instructions for crocheting a blanket full of hexagons. I suppose if that much color is too shocking for you, you could use the same 4 colors for each hexagon. Enjoy!

Autumn

Fall is my favorite season! I could go on and on about why I think it's the best, but today I have a list from a friend of some of her favorite things about fall. Thanks, Emily!

• making caramel apples
• pecan pies from the neighbors
  
• the Iron Kettle pumpkin farm with the kids
  
• corn mazes
  
• leaf piles with little boys
  
• my gingerbread scented candle
  
• and of course apple picking!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthdays are still my favorite, though 31 is not quite as exciting as 30. My hubby did great this year, he watched Zane so I could work on the yard uninterrupted (that's what I wanted) while he installed these under cabinet lights above the stove.

Before

AfterWe ordered in Chinese, also what I wanted, and he bought me these snazzy slippers.

And best of all he watched Zane while I took a 3 day road trip to Pittsburgh to visit my longest friend and her new baby.

Freezer Jam

I love feeling like I'm domestic and there's nothing more fun than being domestic with a friend. Today, I went to my friend, Anca's house, and we made grape freezer jam. It 's so easy. A single batch can be made in ten minutes. Just follow the recipe that comes in a box of this and you've got it!

Mask Night

If you have a good health food store near you, you might find this amazing facial mask that actually makes your face pulsate. It's a powder that you can mix with either water or apple cider vinegar. It's definitely one of my favorite masks.