from the absentee blogger....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

and my apologies for my lack of blogging.

this is also the first year i didn't do a christmas card.

{sigh}

i can't believe i didn't do one.  i always do super cute ones!!

it just didn't happen this year.  much like blogging, it hasn't happened much this year.  oh well.

right now i'm sitting in my living room, watching my man check out the map of an enormous box of chocolates.  Doh Doh and Bruiser are sleeping together.  or rather, whispering loudly to each other.  Bubba is shushing them in between all of his coughs.

and my man is trying to rush me off to the shower so that we can get in bed and watch Psych.  or something.  but i'm stalling.  because it feels so good to have my computer.  a computer that is used primarily for minecraft these days...not blogging.

but before i hit the showers and lounge in my jammies watching TV with my man, i'll share some super cute pics of my Bird.

she loved getting to decorate her bed for Christmas.  and every night, when stealing sleepy sugars, i love seeing her room all lit up.

y'all....i love her.  seriously.

i just heard another shush from Bubba.  probably time to intervene.  and then shower. jammies.  bed.  and something i've had recorded for 3 months and have yet had time to watch.

MeRrY ChRisTmAs!!!!

weekend projects

Arkansas weather is a crazy thing.

One minute we're bundled up, watching the smoke drift from the chimneys, and smelling that heavenly aroma of a fire crackling in someone's fireplace.

The next day we're in flip flops and tank tops.  And turning the AC back on.

True story.

That was our weekend.  

Friday the kids and I marveled at the frost on the rooftops and shimmering on the brown grass.  Saturday we were sweating as we cleaned out the garage.

That's just the way it is here.
If you don't like the weather, stick around a few more minutes.  It'll change.

But taking advantage of said warmer weather......we cleaned out the GARAGE!!!!

Now, I must confess......
I had grandiose dreams when I concocted this plan.
Shelves were going to be moved, another shelving unit added, and hooks and pegs in all shapes and sizes were to grace one wall.

And I was going to take pretty pictures with my actual camera.

Yes, I saw future Pinterest pins in my head.

But that plan involved my man being at work.
And my Dad helping with all the grunt work.

My grandiose plan most assuredly did not involve my man.

I don't work as fast when he's around.
And I certainly don't make very quick decisions.

But we did it.  Together.

Although one of us shot down the idea of adding another shelving unit.
You know that someone wasn't me.

But the job is done and even though it doesn't look like Pinterest the picture in my head...the job is DONE.  Yay.

And every time I step out into the garage I'm surprised!
As if I almost forget the sweat, the laughs, the arguments, and my indecisiveness of our windy beautiful Saturday.

And because I have yet to post this on Craigslist, I'll put it here first.

FOR SALE:::::

6 leather dining chairs.  4 are ripped.

Yes, ripped.
But fixable.
If you like a project, here ya go!

oops.  I forgot to take a real pic.  {sigh}
The rips looks like this.

Leave a message in the comments
OR
email me at covet the dust {at} gmail {dot} com
no spaces, and symbols instead of the {at} and the {dot}

ALSO FOR SALE:::::::

Britax Frontier Car Seat/Booster

I love Britax car seats.  My kids have only had Britax car seats.
You can read about the Frontier seat here.

I used this seat for 2 of my kids, but only in my husband's car.  So despite the look in that top picture, this wasn't used all that much.  It doesn't look as bad in real life as it does in that picture!  And the cover has been washed since I snapped that pic.

Email me for details!

decadent pumpkin cake

i took this today to church for our thanksgiving feast.

source

Pumpkin Coffee Cake with a Brown Sugar Glaze

i can't type PUMPKIN without adding a G on the end.  

every.  blasted.  time.
no joke.

you have to make this cake.  i mean, now.  this week.  make it.
i call it Decadent Pumpkin Cake.
(yes, i added a G that time too.)

if you follow me on Instagram then you already saw my cake.
{not a great pic, by the way.}

see all the little holes??  you poke those in before adding the brown sugar glaze on top.
oh yeah.  that's right.  just think about it.

it is THE most moist cake.  (say that 10 times fast!)  and other than my man's favorite chocolate cake i make, i think this is THE MOST moist cake i make.  seriously!  for reals.  {and to keep it that moist, use only a Duncan Hines yellow cake mix in the recipe.}  

and you're welcome.

{francine}

this is francine.

francine is a leather recliner.
my husband bought her on a whim one day when furniture shopping in tulsa.
my husband never does anything on a whim.
i was NOT happy about this purchase.  we had to put francine in the family room...which was supposed to be MY room.
the room that held bright colors, vivid fabrics, and all my little things i love...read: not a leather wingback.

but i digress.....
for the last 3 days i've been praising the Lord for francine.

this is where i slept for 2 nights.
this is where my heating pad is plugged in.
this is where i'm currently sitting.
and i may never get up.

francine has become my friend.
in fact, she's become a bestie.

i messed up my back.  not sure what is wrong.
i had x-rays done yesterday, and lots of blood work.
and i got nighttime muscle relaxers.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
and anti-inflammatory meds.
ahhhh-ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

and hopefully i'll soon be on the mend.
in the meantime, francine and i have more episodes of frasier to watch.

hello, november

another October has come and gone.  a little too quickly, i might add.  

we had a nice Halloween.  did you?  next year i have to remember we need to start our evening earlier.  we got off to a late start.

my little football players.  again.  just like last year.  although one brother was a little upset when his big brother came home with a friend's football helmet.  which Bruiser really, really wanted.  {sigh}  momma failure moment.

and my girl....oh, this girl.  she was going to be Tinkerbell.  then her brothers talked her into being their cheerleader.  a few hours before we were to don our costumes she announced she wanted to be a princess.  then right before leaving she wanted to wear her Princess Sophia nightgown.  with one of my necklaces.  so cute.

and now i'm off to the gym.  then home to clean house for my mom's birthday party tomorrow.  {i also really have to figure out what in the world i'm cooking!!!!}  and at some point i have to figure out how i'm decorating for a baby shower next week.  

oh, november.  i'm already off and running..........

Enjoy your weekend!!

ToDaY

right now

i'm watching biggest loser.  episode one of this season.  tonight episode 3 aired...yes, i'm behind.  no, don't tell me what's going on.  i won't like you.

i'm propping my feet up after a long day with a very sick girl.
  

strep.  again.  this time our doctor said he thinks one of the reasons she gets it every month is because she sucks her fingers.  {sigh}  we've put off breaking her of that because...well, because it's just so darn cute.

what do a phone car charger, a hanger, a Mr. Potato head ear, a barrette, & a princess lipstick pouch have in common?  they're all on my kitchen counter.  i have no idea why everything congregates right there.  but it's inevitable.

earlier today

you know she's really sick if i let her go in her princess dress.

i cleaned out Bubba's closet today.  while watching listening to Sense and Sensibility.  doesn't Jane Austen make everything better?  or at least more romantic??  yes.  yes, she does.

i saw pretty Fall leaves today.  i love summer.  i love spring.  and i really do love fall...before it turns too cold.

tomorrow

i'm taking care of my girl.
i'm reading lots of books to my girl.
i'm cleaning. and doing laundry.

enjoy your wednesday!!!!

go ahead and make this

i made this for dinner wednesday night.

source

and it was a huge hit. HUGE.  in fact, both my man & Bubba declared it a close second to their favorite pork tenderloin i make.

we had pineapple, roasted cauliflower, yeast rolls, and key lime pie.  yes, it was a good night.

i, however, was fasting.  and was unable to partake of any of it.  {sigh}  the things we do to lose weight.  

i've been fasting 2 days a week using the 5:2 method.  i've been doing it for 7 weeks now.  sadly, i've lost very little weight.  very. little.  BUT i've lost quite a few inches.  and my body seems to be shrinking all over.  so i'm continuing on...and the fact of the matter is, i feel great when i fast.  anybody else??  so i'll take weight maintenance if it means my ole saddlebags are diminishing.

sooo, if you're NOT fasting....go dust off your crockpot and make that pork tenderloin!  the balsamic reduction that goes on it is what it's all about.  

of course, keep in mind i'm a vegetarian.  i've never once tasted pork tenderloin.  ever.  in my life.  so i'm going all on word of mouth here.  but considering my husband is actually look forward to the leftovers should be a big clue for ya.

enjoy!!  hopefully i just helped you plan dinner for tonight.  oh, and P.S. i used half that amount of sage in the rub.  simply because my man is not a huge fan of sage.  but other than that i followed the recipe.  quelle surprise, oui?