It’s back!

This morning, I started my day with a bowl of hot oats (tasted delicious but had my sweating by the end) with PUMPKIN.  This was my first serving of pumpkin this season and I cannot wait to have more.

My oats this morning were simple, filling, and had lots of complimentary flavors mixed in to keep things interesting.  I’m definitely making this combo again.

Peanut Butter, Jelly, and Pumpkin Oats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup oats
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup pumpkin
• 1/4 cup egg whites
• 1 packet stevia
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/3 banana, sliced
• 1 Tbsp peanut or other nut butter
• 1 Tbsp sugar free strawberry jam/jelly

Directions:

1. Combine oats and water in a large microwave safe bowl.  Cook in microwave on high for 2 minutes
2. Add the pumpkin, egg whites, stevia, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the oats.  Stir and microwave for another 2 minutes.
3. Remove oats from the microwave and top with banana, nut butter, and strawberry jam.
4. ENJOY!

Now that I have pumpkin back in my life, it really feels like fall.  I know that it is not “technically” fall just yet, but all the same this summer has completely sped by!

That being said, Brian and I enjoyed a last summer holiday weekend in Fort Wayne with my parents.  Brian and I wanted to relax and just have a great time, so Mom planned some fun things for us to do like play golf:

Brian and I both took golf lessons as children, but that is about the extent of our golfing experience.  Luckily, my parents were very patient, had  fun with the experience, and offered us some good coaching and advice!

Some may say I’m a natural…. 😉

Despite Brian and I feeling pretty clueless about golfing technique, it was still a great way to spend the morning with my parents.  Looks like we may have to play again!

Brian and I also worked hard to print out several of our favorite wedding photos and put them in photo albums for my parents, his parents, and us!

This project took a while, but we are both so glad it is done.

We then created a little engagement basket for our friends Joy and Alex who recently got engaged.  The basket idea was inspired by Julie over at Peanut Butter Fingers! Thanks for the great idea!

The basket included:

• Champagne
• Bride and Groom luggage tags
• Stuff Every Husband Should Know book
• The Knot Book of Wedding Lists
• a notebook
• wedding stickers
• wedding magazine
• I love you/date cards
• Wooden “T” (their new last initial)

We then delivered the basket to our friends last night! Brian and I had a lot of fun putting this basket together…now we (more like I) want to make little baskets for everyone!

All in all our weekend was fun, relaxing, and a great time with my parents.

Questions of the Day:

• What was one highlight from your Labor Day weekend?
• Have you given in and enjoyed pumpkin yet this season!?