Microwave Pumpkin Spice Carrots

This past week I wanted a quick side dish to go with our pork and potatoes.  Remembering I had a bag of carrots in the fridge I grabbed them and whipped up this kid approved side.  They were done in just 5 minutes.  Can't beat that!  The picture isn't the best, but you have to try these!  They are awesome!

Some carrots, coconut oil, honey, pumpkin spice and 5 minutes is all you really need to make this tasty side.

Microwave Pumpkin Spice Carrots

Print this Recipe

1 lb. bag carrots chopped into 1 inch pieces

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1/2 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Place all ingredients in a microwave safe dish and cover.  Microwave for approximately 5 minutes or until carrots are tender.  Stir and serve.

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22 Healthy Crockpot Recipes for Weeknight Meals

I have always enjoyed cooking in my crockpot/slowcooker, but this fall I have been hitting it pretty hard.  In fact, it now has a permanent home on my kitchen counter.  Crockpot meals are generally so simple to throw together and have such wonderful flavor.  I love the added bonus of how amazing my house smells from them!  I have been rounding up some recipes for you to try.  I hope you enjoy them.  Let me know your favorite!

 Venison Stew Recipe

 Slow Cooker Spicy Chicken Thighs

 Frugal Vegetarian Chili

Sweet Potato Mash

 Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

 Slow Cooker Pizza Stuffed Peppers

Creamy Chicken Corn Chowder

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

North Carolina BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Crazy Pineapple Chili

 Crockpot Lemon Rice Soup

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Tender Slow Cooker Roast

Easy Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Crockpot Drumsticks with Fresh Tomato BBQ Sauce

Slow Cooker 7-Can Soup Recipe

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chili with Hatch Chiles, Corn, and Beef

Easy Celery Rice Soup (with Slow Cooker option)

Slow Cooker Green Tomato Garlic Chili

Cinnamon Applesauce (no sugar)

Crockpot Sausage with Peppers and Onions

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DIY Halloween Costumes for the Whole Family

Halloween is just around the corner.  My kids are already buzzing about what they will be this year.  I told them they needed to use their imaginations and come up with something using items we have around the house.  I will not be spending money on costumes this year.  We rounded up some fun ideas for everyone in the family and are sharing them with you!

Which one is your favorite?

Slap Dash Mom - $1 DIY Paper Doll Costume

Slap Dash Mom - $3 Medusa Costume

Slap Dash Mom - DIY Tardis (From Dr. Who) Costume

Bare Feet on the Dashboard - Easy DIY Family Football Themed Costumes

Carrie Elle - Super Simple No-Sew Elsa Dress

Carrie Elle - DIY Power Rangers Costumes

Mission: to Save - Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 Costumes

Mission: to Save - DIY Buzz Lightyear Costume

Mission: to Save - DIY Star Wars Costumes

Mission: to Save - DIY Posion Ivy or Fairy Costume

Mission: to Save  - DIY Riddler Costume

Little House Companion - How to Make Felt Braids

Grinning Like An Idiot - Bird Halloween Costume

The Exhausted Mom - Couples Halloween Costumes

Swoodson Says - DIY Ewok Hood Tutorial

Fairytales and Fitness - Are You Ready For a Wicked Good Time?

Fairytales and Fitness - Creative Costume Ideas for Halloween

Pam's Party & Practical Tips - Making Your Own Halloween Costumes

Pam's Party & Practical Tips - Last Minute Costume Ideas

Need even more inspiration?  Come check out my Halloween Costume Pinterest Board!

Follow ATIPicalDay's board Halloween - Costumes on Pinterest.

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Star Wars Themed Cub Scout Popcorn Kickoff Skit

It is BSA popcorn season again!  That means I am up to my eyeballs in popcorn and popcorn themed events.  Fortunately I was able to hand the position of Popcorn Kernel off this year, but I remain heavily involved due to my position as Committee Chair.

This year our Council chose "space" as the theme for popcorn.  I admit that I was a just little bit excited when I heard this as there are so many things you can do around space.  Right away I got to work putting together a skit that would cover our theme and explain the details of our sale.  This is my favorite part about popcorn.  I love interacting (or maybe just acting) with the Scouts.  One of the mother's in our unit informed I am freak for how quickly I was able to put this together.  I just smiled.  When you love something, it just comes easily.  My only regret is that I didn't get any pictures.  :(  

This is what our Kickoff Party looked like:  

Invitations:  Our Pack has about 80 boys, so we started out by sending a space themed evite to the unit.  This really helps with getting a head count for the event and allows them to easily share details with others.

Food:Our Kernel ordered pizza and made up veggie, fruit, and cookie trays.  Dinner was served while everyone was arriving.

Presentation: Boys need that "WOW" factor to really get them energized.  Doing a really fun themed skit is a great way to get their attention.   Here is the link for the printable Star Wars Skit!  Our guys loved this!   I think this may have been my all time favorite one to write!  Be sure to add the special effects and come up with some type of costume.  Most ours were very simple, just enough to tell who we were.  

Fun:  After the skit, we put on a space themed movie (Planet 51) and handed out glow sticks.  We couldn't have a kickoff without popping some of our Trails End popcorn too. So we served this during the movie. 

This was a pretty simple event to put together and requires very little prep time (except for maybe the skit.)

Hope you will use the skit and find this information useful!  Your Scouts will enjoy this.  Please let me know if you end up using it!  What other themed skits would you like?  If you have something specific let me know, I will be happy to write one for your unit for a nominal fee.

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You Are Stronger Than You Believe

I am training to run a 5K in November.  It will be my first.  I am really nervous about it.  I am not a runner, never have been.  In fact, in high school I use to fake injuries to get out of gym class because of how much I despised running.  So the question begs, why would I start running now at almost 37 years old?  The truth is that I wanted something to challenge myself.  Something I would really have to work at, and something I wasn't really sure that I would be able to complete.  I chose well!  Five weeks ago when I started, I could hardly make it through one sold minute of running without feeling like I would pass out and die.  It took everything I had to push through that first week of training.  Each time I run, I feel stronger and push myself a little harder.  

This morning as I finished my intervals I was celebrating.  While I am still a long way off from where I would like to be, I am nearly half way to my goal.  During those times when I feel like giving up, I am reminded of Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who gives me strength."  The words echo in my mind and I am reminded that my strength flows from the Lord.  As a result I am so much stronger than what I think I am. These words encourage and motivate me to keep going.  

While I have been applying them to my running, they can be applied to so many other aspects of life.  No matter what you are going through right now, know that you are so much stronger than you believe. Set your mind to getting through, put your trust in the Lord, and take courage in His strength.  It will carry you through the tough times because your strength comes from the Lord.

What goals have you set for yourself?  How hard will you push to achieve them?

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