Pumpkin Spice life

 

At this time of year I am completely OBSESSED with Pumpkin Spice Anything  and Everything. The Local Organic store Trader Joes is also obsessed...

Here's my latest haul

 

 

 

Photobomb courtesy of Teddy Bear

 

Found this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte that calls for real pumpkin...

 

Made it and it is TO DIE FOR!!!

 

Super thick and rich...

 

I did not have evaporated milk so made mine with 1 can Sweetened condensed milk and omitted the milk and sugar from the recipe

 

I like strong coffee so made mine extra strong and it was perfect...

 

Go for it

 

You Will Need

• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
• 1-3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice mix (see headnotes)
• 1/2 cup strong hot coffee
• whipped cream

Directions

1. Add milk, canned pumpkin and sugar to a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until hot, but do not boil.
2. Remove from heat and add vanilla extract, pumpkin spice mix and coffee.
3. Pour into two large mugs then garnish, if desired, with whipped cream and an extra pinch of pumpkin spice mix.

They are called War Stories for a reason...

Yesterday was Veteran's Day...

They are called War Stories for a reason...

If you have ever listened to a Veteran tell their tale of service you will realize that they have been on an adventure...

And lived, to die another day!!!

The key word is IF you have ever listened...

We went to Denny's to get our free Veteran's day meal and next to us was a man in full uniform who was more than happy to share his adventures with Steve and our friend Reggie...

 

Funny thing I noticed that as he was talking none of his family was listening...

I am sure they heard it all before...

 

But have they???

 

I realized I didn't really listen to my dads "War Stories"

I regret that...

 

I know he served during WWII but that's about it... Yikes...

 

Gonna have to get together with my brothers and sisters cause I think they listened..

 

I hope so...

 

Listen to the War Stories...

 

They are important...

 

10, 11, 12...

I have 33 first cousins on one side of my family... I love that I have tons of relatives, but one thing I especially love is that I have a cousins whos birthday is the day before mine and another the day after mine...

Happy Birthday Rayes 11/10

Happy Birthday Troysie 11/11

Happy Birthday Annie 11/12

I wonder if you think like I always have that it takes WAY longer for my birthday to come around that anyone else's

Grateful for another year...

Thankful

What a day!!!!

I needed this reminder today...

Tomorrow is my birthday, my birthday is my rough day, it is my "I miss my mommy" day. Some years are worse than others and I never know what kind of year it will be till I get there...

Was feeling a little under the weather, so I was super thankful that my birthday is on the National Holiday Veterans day... I get to rest and have a day off tomorrow and celebrate my birthday with a wonderful day off. I was expecting the rest to begin as soon as I got home, bit down on my snack and the next thing I knew I was in the dentists chair getting a root canal and crown...

But...

I am thankful my dentists office could get me in, I am thankful for dental insurance, and I am thankful for a hubby that knew that after three hours of dental work I was in no condition to drive myself to get my prescription...

Home, resting, pain medicated...

Thankful...

We went to Jared...

When we got engaged 32 years ago I got a simple solitaire engagement ring and paired it with matching wedding rings...

Over the years I partenred the solitaire with many other wedding rings but I always wanted a matching wedding ring set...

As we approached our 30th anniversary Steve said I could get a new wedding set so we went "looking" at rings at a jewelry store called Jared.

I was fully expecting to take Mr. Miller to the cleaners, after 30 years I was going to get any ring (any size) I wanted and that was all there was to it!!!

Come to find out, I am not a large stone girl, I am completely happy with my original 1/2 carat stone and had it re-set into another setting which I COMPLETELY LOVE!!!

 

Every time I put on my ring I am happy...

 

Because the setting has so many small stones, I have been diligent in having my ring inspected and cleaned every 6 months in order to guarantee my ring for life...

 

Thank God I did!

 

Took my ring for it's inspection and cleaning and the next day looked down and I was missing a stone!!! Yikes!!!

 

Took it in to Jared, they looked at it, discovered other loose stones, my ring spent the night at the jewelers and today I picked it up looking just as lovely as it did two years ago when I took this picture...

 

No questions asked, no strings attached...

 

I know you can purchase jewelry for a lower price elsewhere but today, I was so grateful...

 

We went to Jared...

The Magic Fridge...

Oh how sometimes I wish I were a male in the Miller house...

I would feel the joy of opening the cupboard and always finding Peanut Butter and bread for when I want my sandwich...

I would reach up and always find a box of cereal ready and waiting for my snacking pleasure...

I would open the fridge and there would always be milk...

The coffee canister is always full and there is always my favorite creamer available for the times when for some reason Coffee is not magically already made and hot waiting for me...

I would go in the shower and there is always body wash, shampoo and razors there for me...

When I leave a new roll of toilet paper on the counter the next time I go in the bathroom it is magically on the roll...

I would go to feed my dog and the dog food container is always full...

I would use utilities without a care. My TV always works, as does my cellphone...

A girl can dream... But instead I hear...

"Honey you look tired, How about you just make something simple for dinner"

That's me...

M( Magical)
O (Organizer)
M (for Men)

( Disclaimer...This post is a comical observation only...I am married to the most wonderful, kind husband in the world... I also have the most wonderful son at home too! I just don't want a peanut butter sandwich or cereal for dinner!!! )

What a difference a year makes...

Last year, my retired hubby who has taken a part time crossing guard job was asked by his schools PTA to play Santa and walk around the school to see the kids.

Well, that experience changed his life (and mine too)The joy on the kids faces was such an unbelievable experience for him that my darling hubby...

 

Who never had facial hair in our entire marriage decided to see if he could grow a beard...

He looks a little different these days...

 

 

He is different too! Being a real bearded Santa has brought him a joy he never expected. He is thrilled when kids come up to him and he is always armed with his favorite Santa question "are you being good?"

We all were so excited when we came up with his Santa name Smilan Santa which combines his first initial with his middle name Milan... We feel this is indeed Gods plan for him... He even naturally says Ho Ho Ho in his laugh...

Our mission is to spread Gods love and to remind the real reason for the season is Jesus with the fun of Santa included...

Smilan is available for personal appearances, call us with your ideas and we can probably work something out...

It is an exciting time for us... And hopefully for you too...

We thank our family and friends in advance for their support