Pumpkin Patch Love

One of the Fall events I look forward to most is taking the girls to the pumpkin patch. Natalie hasn't made the trip yet this year with her half day kindergarten schedule, but Michaela Byrd and I got to explore a local pumpkin patch last week with our MOPS group. If you have young kids (or even babies), I highly recommend this as a family friendly activity...lots of good photo opps! I was heading up the event, so I didn't have too much free time to snap pics, but I did get a few....

What's more fun for kids than a morning at a farm?

The animals are always a big crowd-pleaser...

"Why, hello, EstherSue. May I borrow a cup of sugar?" 

"Of course, Betty Mae. Y'all come on in!" 

The hayride and the barn are just as much of a hit for the moms as they are for the little ones! I love the look of this worn-in old tractor...

Lots of eye candy on a farm....

And let's not forget the whole point, which is the pumpkins. Slim pickins' this year, but someone enjoyed it enough to get a little crazy with the posing (she is soooo my child!).

Do you have a favorite Fall outing that you look forward to?

Scentsy Holiday Warmer Winner

The winner of the Scentsy Holiday Warmer Giveaway is #137, Diane from In My Own Style.

Diane linked her Clip-On Style post to last weekend's Weekend Bloggy Reading party--linking back really does pay off!

Diane, please be sure to email me by Friday night at amandaserenitynow(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your prize!

Big thanks to Theresa, our resident Scentsy Consultant, for hosting such a great Giveaway!

Chicken and Biscuits Casserole (Fall Comfort Food)

Fall is here and that means occasionally indulging in comfort food. I shared this recipe (one of T's favorites) a couple of years ago, before I knew enough to take food pictures as I cooked. I thought I'd post this recipe for Chicken and Biscuits Casserole again, as I have decidedly more readers than when I originally hit "Publish." I think you will appreciate this simple, yet satisfying meal. One serving is filling!

Disclaimer: This is about as far from healthy as you can get! I cook this meal on a very limited basis...usually only when T begs. But it is a real crowd pleaser---even my very picky three year old enjoys this meal.

Chicken and Biscuits Casserole:

• 1 Can (10 3/4 oz) Condensed Cream of Celery Soup (Fat Free is ok)
• 1 Can (10 3/4 oz) Condensed Cream of Potato Soup 
• 1 cup of Milk (I used whole because that's what my girls drink, but I'm sure skim is fine too)
• 4 cups cooked, cut-up vegetables
• 2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
• 1 package refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (Grand's are good, but the WM brand was what I had)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

I just microwaved the frozen chicken breasts and cut them into small pieces...no time for perfect cube shapes! In a baking dish, mix soups, milk, vegetables, and chicken. (I add my own herbs and spices: pepper, thyme, Nature's Seasoning, etc.) Add vegetables and chicken to the mix. I use frozen vegetables and do not cook them before I add them to the dish. (They seem too mushy otherwise!) T loves corn so I add that too.

Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until hot. Stir. Arrange unbaked biscuits over the mixture and bake an additional 15 minutes, or until biscuits are golden.

I modified this recipe from Campbell's Classic Recipes, which was a wedding gift from my grandmother. This was the first dish I cooked for T after we were married!

I like to cook, and I like to try healthy recipes, but sometimes there's just nothing like a hot casserole on a cold Fall night...maybe one of these days it will be chilly enough to make some more comfort food!

Does your family have a favorite meal?

Linking to Home Stories A to Z, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Salvation Army Shopping Inspiration

My friend Christy and I hit a few of our local thrift shops a few weeks ago in search of something special for an upcoming MOPS event we are planning. The Salvation Army near my house had all sorts of fun finds that were just begging to be made over. As my budgets for spending and craft-time are low right now, I decided to snap a few pics of our finds to share with you...rather than bringing them all home and listening to T yell at me for dragging in more STUFF.

How cool would these old theater seats be in a home media room?

Clearly, they are in desperate need of cleaning and fresh fabric. If I were building my dream home, I would snap these babies up and have them reupholstered (or figure out how to DIY the job). SA was asking $200....

This little side table/magazine rack is a little shabby right now, but I can imagine a fresh coat of white paint and a really cool modern stencil on the sides of the racks:

We spotted this small console table (piano bench!) in the back of the store.

It's a small piece, but those of us who don't have foyers or large entryways (me!) could use something like this to hold a basket of keys/mail and a picture frame. It was definitely more table height rather than bench height. Not a lot of storage, unless you pair it with...

...this neat basket.

All it needs is a coat of paint to modernize it a bit. You could stow hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens in there. And it would fit perfectly under the piano bench console table for that extra storage!

We thought this little nightstand would be another nice addition to anyone's home with a coat of paint:

This coffee table looks dated now, but like the other pieces, sometimes paint and updated styling are all that a thrifty find needs to make it fit into your home today!

Wasn't that fun? The thrifty-find-hunter in me wanted to bring some of those pieces home for rehab, but the common sense in me sent a reminder that I have plenty of projects waiting already!

I haven't been into our SA in a long time because I felt like I needed to complete more of the projects on my to-do list before planning any new ones. Sometimes it is very hit or miss with what you'll find, and my SA often seems to mark furniture up beyond what I think is a fair price for a thrift store...but it sure is fun to hunt!

Have you scouted out any cool thrifty finds lately?

More Highlighted Links--Share Your Best Post!

Good morning, friends! If you're here to link up to Weekend Bloggy Reading, it's open for new links until 10 pm (ET) tonight. Please share your best post of the week with us...crafts, recipes, home decor, book reviews--all kinds of posts are welcome.

I also like to Feature bloggers who not only have great projects, but who also take the time to follow through with good blogging etiquette and link back to me within their post(s). I add many of these Features to Pinterest, so there's some extra incentive to be a gracious blogger and add a link back to this party.

Here are a few links from Weekend Bloggy Reading that caught my eye!

~Front Porch Makeover

~Burlap and Rosette Wreath

~Letters to Soldiers

~Caramel Apples with Sprinkles

~Spray Paint Chair Makeover

~Be My Guest (Entertaining)

*For even more fabulous inspiration, don't miss out on today's edition of The Best of the Blogosphere at Centsational Girl! Kate and I teamed up this weekend to share some of the blogosphere's finest links of the week. Did we feature you?

*Please, if you haven't already, take a few moments to visit a few of the other links from the party if you linked up this weekend. I love hosting, and I love commenting on posts...but it's no fun for anyone if we just have stale links sitting around. Get out there and find some fun reads! {wink}

Did I feature you today? If the answer is "yes," feel free to grab this button for your sidebar!

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Enjoy your Sunday!

Highlighted Weekend Links-- Share Your Best Post!

Happy Saturday! Are you enjoying your weekend? Please pop in to link up YOUR best post of the week at my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. Open for new links until Sunday at 10 pm (ET).

*And don't forget to enter to win a Scentsy full-size holiday warmer and bar of Christmas Cottage scent in this week's Scentsy Giveaway (link back to me within your post for an extra, automatic entry)!*

All kinds of posts are welcome: We have recipes, home remedies, room makeovers, crafts, fashion advice, book reviews, and more! The code for the button is near the end of this post.

There are a lot of fabulous posts this weekend! If you haven't yet, please be sure to visit some of the other links from the party and say a quick howdy to those who have taken the time to visit you. That's how a good blog party works--lots of participation. Otherwise we just have a bunch of stagnant links, and that's no fun for anyone!

I'd also really appreciate it if you'd take the time to link back to me within your post(s)...I like to return the favor by Featuring the bloggers who follow through with good old fashioned blogging etiquette!

Keep reading to see just a few of the posts that caught my eye so far:

~Kitchen Island Makeover

~Pumpkin Pecan Braid

~Yarn Wreath

~Camera Strap Tutorial

~Batty Halloween Mantel

So, what did you have up your sleeve this week? Come by and share it with us here! Be sure to check out some of the other bloggers' work too. Here's the button in case you'd rather use that than a link back.

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I'm working at commenting as well as balancing my family and fun time this weekend...thanks for your patience!

If I've featured you, feel free to snag this button for your blog:

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I'll be back tomorrow with more Highlights...there are so many great ones to choose from!

::Weekend Bloggy Reading:: Link Up!

Welcome to Weekend Bloggy Reading. I hope you'll link up your best post of the week today, and maybe leave me some comment love!

All kinds of posts are welcome--recipes, crafts, funny stories, home decor, etc.; but please do not link to Etsy shops, businesses, items for sale, etc. (I have a Sponsors section, if you'd like to Advertise with me.)

Here are a few of my faves from this week:

sources listed below

~Beckie will wow you with her Guest Room Makeover.

~Check out this fab Halloween Art!

~Learn How to Make Gourmet Caramel Apples (a guest post Comfy in the Kitchen)

~ Love this Antique Buffet and Vintage Art.

~And Me? This week featured:

• Series Wrap-Up and Blogging Resources (Blogging Myths)
• Virginia State Fair
• Scentsy GIVEAWAY (win a holiday warmer and Christmas Cottage scent)--join this party and include a link back to me within your post for an extra automatic entry
• Mini Keyring Photo Album (guest post at Positively Splendid)

Time to link up your best post of the week

Rules:

• Please link back to me within your post. I will not feature your link if you don't link back.
• No items for sale, shops, etc. and please don't link up the same post week after week. 
• Please visit some of the other links--that's how a good blog party works--participation!

Here's the button code if you'd prefer to use that rather than a text link-back:

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Party is open until 10 pm (ET) on Sunday night.

What are you up to this weekend?

I hope to be back tomorrow with some highlights from Weekend Bloggy Reading!

(This Code is for blogs featured today!):

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