Ham and Cheese Rolls

Last night's dinner in photos!

I start with a can of crescent rolls. If you're a bigger family, you'll need a second can. This is designed to be a lighter dinner. We were all in the mood for simple last night.

I unroll the dough onto a baking sheet(while the oven is heating up as directed on the crescent can!) I fold a piece of thinly sliced ham(folded into a triangle seems easiest) onto each unrolled triangle.

I then place a proportional slice of cheese on each piece of ham. I roll up each roll like normal, wrapping it around the ham and cheese. When I put it in the oven, I have found if I add 2 extra minutes to the cook time of the crescent rolls it cooks better.

This is how it comes out! Cheesy ham filled crescent! Yum!

This has become our favorite tomato soup. Our true favorite is the tomato bisque that is served at Medieval Times. Since, we could not afford to go every time we want some, we have found a good substitute, We've probably tried every brand by now. This is our top rated! It is easily bought at our local Target. That makes it even better! I serve 2 cartons of it because it goes fast around here. If it doesn't, then the leftover makes an excellent lunch the next day!

So yummy! I do add a dash of Italian Seasoning. It adds a nice flavor.

Sweater Weather Tag

Last year I saw this tag video float around YouTube and kept thinking how fun it would be to do. So since I'm in "Project: Force Fall to Happen," I bring you the questionnaire in blog form! So here I go:

1. Favorite fall candle scent?

We had this out last year and I just bought a new one for this year from Cracker Barrel! It's amazing! So in love! I bought another one so definitely worth the money!

2. Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?

Well, I do love coffee and all the flavors that you can make it. Except I cant really get into the pumpkin flavored drinks. I don't know why. I love pumpkin treats that you bake and eat. I even love pumpkin seeds. I, however, do not enjoy hot pumpkin drinks. Coffee becomes my favorite at Christmas when the peppermint starts being added(and mocha!) 

I'm definitely not into hot tea either. I've tried it in many forms and my grandmother use to make me drink it with honey when I was sick. I would very slowly sip through it, wishing I could have it iced and sweet instead! I loooove sweet iced tea. There is always a pitcher full in our fridge. So I suppose that leaves me with enjoying hot chocolate in the fall! Here in Texas, though, it's usually not quite that cold yet..So I'm not real sure what my answer is here!

3.What's the best fall memory you have?

I'm not sure I've created one yet. I am so excited that our kids are old enough for us to do so much with them! I'm sure a favorite fall memory is just about to be made!

4. Which fall makeup trend do you prefer? Dark lips or winged eyeliner?

Winged eyeliner. I think eye makeup is my favorite to play around with. My skin is such a pale color that dark lips look a little funny on me.

5. Best fragrance for fall?

My year around favorite is my Victoria's Secret Heavenly. I don't know if it's seasonal or not but I like to wear it.

6. Favorite Thanksgiving food?

Cranberry sauce. I like all kinds of course, but what I really prefer is the kind that comes out shaped like the can! It may not be considered the most healthy or anything. I just love it that way. For some reason, it tastes best to me!

7. What is autumn weather like where you live? 

Here in Texas, we barely have a change in weather. During the day is usually still pretty warm. At night it gets crisp and cools down though! There are usually some cool days leading up to Thanksgiving but it takes until pretty late in the season.

8. Most worn sweater?

I love sweaters..I'm not sure any are most worn! Actually what's usually worn the most is my black hoodie! Oh that's where the true comfort is!

9. Must have nail polish? 

This time of year, I start drifting towards grays and cranberry red colors. Sometimes grey-purple colors. I like the ones that make me think of fall leaves.

10. Football game or jumping in a pile of leaves? 

Leaves! Most definitely leaves. My kids discovered piling up leaves to jump in last year. I loved watching them do it! I don't get into pro sports at all. I do really love listening to and watching the high school marching bands though! *geek alert*

11. Skinny Jeans or leggings.

Neither. I don't like to wear tight things. I like things fitted and comfortable.

12. Combat boots or Uggs?

If I had to choose, uggs

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?

I do enjoy baked goods made of pumpkin. I don't really enjoy hot drinks flavored of pumpkin or pumpkin pie though.

14. Favorite Fall TV Show? 

I loooooooove Parenthood! I love the shows Lauren Graham and Ray Ramono came from. Now they've been put in a show together? I'm in! I love everyone in the show. I'm just particular to them too! Just a great show! It makes me cry so often!

15. What song really gets you into the fall spirit? 

Probably my old high school song. Every fall, every pep rally and football game. That time of year, this was a pretty prominent song in my life. To this day I can easily remember it and it brings back the Friday nights at the high school games. The half time shows that I really enjoyed. The cute drummer I dated. Seeing the entire little town shut down to come out and cheer the team on. it was such a classic little town come Friday night!

My high school team ^^

So I hope you enjoyed the read! Go answer the questions on your blog! Comment with the link!

Christmas Farted in My Daughter's Room

It started out a lovely Sunday morning. Stephen is working today(not so lovely.) The kids and I woke and had a nice breakfast together. Then I turned on some morning cartoons for them(Lorelai requested the Sprout channel today) and started doing some dishes that I was too lazy to do last night. As I'm loading the dishwasher, Lorelai walks in and is behind me talking. I just talk to her for a few minutes without really looking back. Then, as I finish dishes, I ask her to step out of the kitchen so I can get the floor swept. She says sure and runs off! The next thing I know, they are playing in Lorelai's room together. Great!

 So I sweep and get the stuff to mop out. I decide to go check on them real quick. As I walk to her bedroom at the end of the hall, I'm engulfed with the overwhelming smell of cinnamon. It's in that moment the dread hits me, as I know what I'm about to walk in to. I put on my serious mommy face and walk to the door...

Turning to me are 2 very brown children in a brown dust covered room. It was everywhere! I notice they were particular about covering the window sill. I find the bottle and it is, of course, entirely empty.

They went straight to the shower! I am now spending my Sunday vacuuming over and over in one little room. I just can't believe the sneaky little turkey swiped it from the kitchen while talking to me! This happened right under my nose! Her room now smells like Christmas farted.

Oh and did I mention our vacuum has become incredibly unreliable. We've actually been shopping for a new one. So that's making the clean up process real fun.....

So how is your Sunday going?

My Fall Show Lineup!

I love this time of year. The holidays start fast approaching. Things cool down and turn crisp. You can start getting cozy after putting the kids down in the evening. What goes well with all of this? The return of all the good shows! This is the first time in years that we have cable. In the past I just watched everything on Hulu. Now I'm anxious about getting to watch most of them at their regular time on their regular channel! Hulu(as well as Charter's On Demand feature) is now just for when I miss an episode. So here is my lineup! There are some double bookings, so I'm glad there are other places to catch the ones I have to miss!

-It all started with the new show THE RED BAND SOCIETY which aired this past Wednesday at 7( all of these are central standard time) but I caught on Fox's website after. I did notice it aired again Friday night though!
-This Monday the 22nd is the return of  THE VOICE at 7pm on NBC. I do know this is always added on HULU as well. That's how I watched it last year.
-On Wednesday the 24th I will be watching the premiere of BLACKISH on ABC at 9:30
-Thursdays has some double booking! Argh! I have GREY'S ANATOMY at 7 on ABC, PARENTHOOD  at 9 on NBC and HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER premiering on ABC at 9 as well. Luckily ABC has playback on their site and this is available on demand with my cable.
-Im pretty excited about these two new series SELFIE on Sept 30th at 7 (which you can watch the first episode of on abc.com.) and MANHATTAN LOVE STORY at 7:30.

I will also be watching LAST MAN STANDING when it returns October 3rd and ABOUT A BOY  when it returns October 4th. Of course, GLEE will be added into the mix when it airs too! Once I know the date of premiere for HART OF DIXIE it gets added in too!

I watch a few other fall shows like ONCE UPON A TIME but I can not find time to watch what I already do, let alone add any more to it. So I tend to watch those in my own time on Netflix a season behind!

What shows are you waiting for?

Lemon Chicken using Fogg City Spice

Tonight's post will be brought to you by pictures. I have more to say on this spice I used. It came in my Food With Love box this month. That will be a whole other post though. It also includes a Knorr pasta side. I love grabbing a few of these when they are at sale prices. They are such an easy add on to any meal!

Preheat for chicken 

Sliced up a fresh lemon

Opened up my sample of Fogg City Spice Co.'s Lemon Rosemary seasoning. I was actually excited to receive this little packet. I had been planning to make lemon rosemary chicken already. However, when grocery shopping I forgot to purchase a new thing of Rosemary seasoning. I've just planted a sprig of it so I'll eventually be able to use fresh. It hasn't grown much yet, though. So this saved my dinner!

I placed a slice of lemon on each chicken breast. I also used a slice to squeeze juice over all of them and a little in the bottom of the pan. After I added fresh lemon I evenly sprinkled some of  the seasoning on all 6 of them.

Placed in oven for 30 minutes

Cooked up this quick and easy(and tasty) side while I waited for it. I also prepared side salads to add to our meal.

I forgot to take a picture straight out of the oven but here is one lonely piece left at the end of dinner!

Which didn't last much longer than this picture! 

It turned out so yummy and the pasta side and salad were great compliments to it!

Progress of Finnigan- PPCD-3 Program, Part 1

 Way back in January, I posted about our concerns with Finn and his lack of communicating and the beginning the process of getting him some help. Shortly after, I lost my laptop. So, I wanted to come back and give an update of what has happened with that. I feel this is an important post, in that this is something that makes life a little better to know others are going through similar situations. If you have a child that is behind, then you know it can be such a worrisome thing. Constantly wondering if you're doing enough. Trying to research for any and all tips or anything to reassure yourself it will all turn out fine. That your child will someday function on a level with his peers. Worrying if someday he'll be bullied or left out because he is a little different from those around him.

 In January of this year, as I mentioned in the previous post, we took him for an evaluation by the school. It was a definite that he needed some speech therapy and needed the classroom immersion to go with it. So they placed him in the PPCD program. Which here is preschool for 3-4 year olds who need the extra help and push. Kind of a special education, with the goal of having the child where they need to be by kindergarten. At that point, they want to evaluate him again. Then they will be able to see more clearly if autism still may play some role in his development or if he truly is at his own pace. They believe a good portion of it all is contributed to communication. So they want to give him some time to get more speech therapy under his belt. He currently goes to school daily for 3 hours. He gets 1 hour of speech therapy twice a week. They did say that he isn't needing behavioral therapy. That they think he will benefit greatly from the immersion in class with the socialization that comes from that.

He started the week of Valentine's day this past February. Within 2 weeks, I noticed him starting to change. He LOVES school. He went with no issues and actually cried when I picked him up the first couple days. Once he noticed he goes daily, that went away. I was so glad it was easy for him since he had always stayed home with me. In those first couple of weeks, he started making more effort when we talked to him. He'd start looking at us instead of down or at something else in the room. He started telling people bye and acknowledging when things were said more. As the weeks went, this continued. It was slow improvements but with each week Id notice them.

When school let out for summer, I was nervous about what this would mean for him. So I got on Pinterest and armed myself with some activities and things to do daily. I didn't want him to lose some of his progress. So daily I would have him sit at the table for about 30 minutes and we would go through a few things. Review letters, introducing sounds, counting, weather(which is kind of boring in Texas in summer since everyday is about 100 and hot) and by recommendation of his teacher we also incorporated activities of sorting. She mentioned that's where they were leaving off in class. So we did sorting by color and size. We are still working on sorting by categories.

In July, his school district offers a summer school program that lasts 3 weeks. It doesn't teach new things but it is a maintenance course. Just reviews things to keep it fresh on their minds. He did really well with that. It was at a different school with different teachers but that didn't seem to even phase him! My husband was having to fix things on his motorcycle so we were on one vehicle. I made the choice to let him try riding the bus and that went really well. He loved it. It hurt my mommy heart a little to see my little guy climbing up those big bus steps!

Now we are about a month into school starting. I have to say that between when he originally started until now, his speech has made vast improvements. As well as the rest of his communication. He will now indicate he is hungry. He'll point to things he wants and when asked to choose one or the other he will verbally choose. He says quite a few more things now. No where near where he should be quite yet but enough to know we are heading in the right direction. It's the biggest relief to see this happening for him. His teacher has actually mentioned that he is ready to start the beginnings of reading. Which I think is great and I think could be really helpful with his speech! His vocabulary is probably in the 50-70 word category now. We still cant hold conversations but we can get one word answers.

The biggest thing I've noticed is he sings quite a bit now. He loves music! He actually enjoys when I turn classical type music on. He will play around on our piano as well and we don't hate the sound he makes. He actually is seeming to understand there are orders you can play in to make it sound a certain way. I will definitely be looking into piano lessons when he seems to have a little more focus.

So as of right now, that is the update. I think I will try to track him weekly on here. With this post I've tried to remember everything I could about the last few months. I'm sure there is plenty I have forgotten to include, so hopefully updating weekly I can track his progress more accurately.

I would love to read posts about others in similar situations. We are still so new at this and are just kind of learning as we go. Id love to read posts about the issues you have gone through!

Cooking My Way Through Pinterest: DIY Pizza Bagel Bites

It's Friday, Friday! Gotta get down on Friday!
In my mind Friday nights=pizza nights!
Why, yes, we did have pizza earlier in the week. So, yes, that means we had a pizza type dinner twice in a week. Your point?
Tonight's creation is based on this finding from Pinterest:

You can find the original recipe over at RainingHotCoupons.com

I did tweak a few things and had it turn out like this:

And let me tell you, they went quick! I made 24 of them! For a family of 4(two of them with small mouths still) that's a pretty tasty dinner!

I bought a bag of 12 mini bagels and of course split them in half. I placed each piece on the oven racks for 2 minutes at 350 degrees to toast.

Pulled them out laid them out on a baking sheet. Then I spread on pre-made pizza sauce(original recipe has directions for making your own, if you prefer that route.) Then I topped them all with Mozzarella cheese. For the last note, I put pepperoni on majority but left a few just cheese(kid preference.) The original recipe says mini pepperonis. However, when on the aisle to buy the pepperoni, I noticed the tiny ones cost more. I thought that was silly so just bought normal ones. I think I would still prefer it that way even if they were same price. It made it so you had a good bite of it every time.

These came out so tasty and filling! I dont think I would have made any less. The kids had their bagel pizza with a side of pears. The hubs and I just filled up on these. So so good! I definetly recommend this recipe as a great dinner choice. I do think it would be pretty good with a light basic salad served on the side.

Hope this was helful!