world series, pumpkins, donuts, and football.

posted on: Tuesday, October 28, 2014




































my dad got early christmas presents for the boys and took them to the world series game 4! literally, these guys were in heaven. with the giants winning, i don't know if their day could have gotten any better. when i saw danny after the game, it was like i was meeting a kid version of him on christmas morning. PURE BLISS. he was so giddy and so happy that he was able to be at that game. thanks dad! and i can't really complain because i got another trip home out of it! 

we went to the cal - oregon game at the new levi stadium. that place is unreal! and i got to spend some time with two of my best friends in the whole world! whenever i see them, it's like we were never apart. and it was funny to see them obsess over the little tummy i'm growing. our little babe loves them already! we were able to go to my favorite donut shop growing up. one bite of that maple bar brought back so many memories! for years, friends and i would roller blade there saturday mornings and get donuts and apple juice. heaven for a 12 year old (and 23 year old). we watched my little brother and his team win their football game in the last few seconds. i love that little stud. on saturday, while the boys were out doing baseball stuff, us girls (and baby collin) got to have a girls day. it was filled with shopping, nails, pizza, and ice cream. also a fun night of trunk or treat with sulley and mike wazowski. aren't they the cutest?! i was so happy i was home for the annual pumpkin carving! it's my favorite when i don't miss out on my childhood family traditions! the weekend was so crazy, so busy, but so absolutely perfect.

i want to take a second and say how much i love being an aunt. i know these posts about home are just filled with pictures of bailey and collin, but they make me so so happy. my sister and i have always been very close (although we had our fair share of fighting over clothes in high school). because we are so close, when she had bailey, i felt like she was kind of mine too. yeah- im that crazy obsessive aunt. it's insane how much i care about these two little people. i can't even fathom the love that i will have for this little nugget inside me. one reason i am so excited to be a mom is because becoming an aunt has been one of the best things that has happened to me. the joy that comes from playing with these kids is kind of indescribable. they just make my heart smile. thank you christy and dan for having the funnest babies around town! i can't wait for our little one to meet them.

Pumpkin Better Than Sex Cake

posted on: Sunday, October 19, 2014



Ingredients:

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)

1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk (you can use fat free!)

1 8 oz tub of cool whip

1/2 bag of heath bits (or chop your own)

caramel sundae sauce


step ONE:

in a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and the pumpkin puree until a smooth batter forms


step TWO:

pour batter into a greased 9x13 baking dish and bake at 350 degrees, according to the directions of the cake mix box (i cooked mine for 25 minutes!)


step THREE:

remove cake from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. 

then using the end of a spoon- poke holes all over the top of the cake. 


step FOUR:

pour the sweetened condensed milk all over the cake. this should fill the holes and soak into the cake. 

refrigerate for 30 minutes.


oh. my. yum. 



step FIVE:

remove the cake from the refrigerator and spread cool whip over the top of the cake. 



step SIX:

sprinkle the heath bits all over the top of the cake. 

drizzle the caramel over the top. 


try to refrain from drinking the caramel. 



step SEVEN:

refrigerate for 3-4 hours, or overnight. 

last but not least... ENJOY! 
this is such an easy recipe and your people will love it. perfect fall dessert. ahhh mazing. 



quick trip to the bay

posted on: Wednesday, October 15, 2014


















quick trip or long trip.. any trip to my hometown is a heavenly one. we got in friday night and left sunday evening to get back to work. our excuse for the trip was to watch my lil brother's football game. any excuse will do. (they won- obviously- he's a payne). we were able to go to one of the happiest places on earth.. the pleasanton farmers market. i've been going since i was a little kid- it's every saturday, year round. the best local produce, nuts, flowers, cheese, balloon man (danny's favorite), kettle corn, etc. my. happy. place. we also went to the pumpkin patch. the corn maze was not quite the same adrenaline rush in the day. but still a good time! there is just something about home that heals everything.

p.s. yep- still pregnant. baby bump is coming in strong!

p.p.s. if your heart doesn't melt a little when seeing bailey in that sulley costume- you might want to get that checked.

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