Love & Laughter

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

Fun fact, my birthday is just 2 days after Valentine’s Day so I’ve always looked forward to the holiday and have always felt extra love surrounding February 14th and 16th.

With 3 young boys of our own and little Valentines being passed out by each to their classmates, I tend to think back on a personal memory of Valentine’s Day.

This year’s Valentines for the boy’s classmates are done and of course they include an allergy friendly option. Made Good granola bars are my go to. See below.

Do you remember the days of exchanging Valentines with your classmates in elementary school? One year in particular stands out for me and it’s because I was embarrassed and uncertain how to respond to a personalized Valentine in my bag.

The setting: 3rd grade, Mrs. Houston’s class. Oh how I loved her.

I remember the white paper bags that we decorated individually that were lined up under the chalkboard. A chalkboard. I just aged myself didn’t I? We had a week to fill all of our classmate’s Valentine bags with personalized goodies and notes.

I was in a unique situation at the school because my mother was a teacher there. I was at the school before and after “normal school hours” so I often assisted in the classrooms when help was needed by teachers. 

I was a busy bee as a kid and almost always needed something to do. I loved helping others and still do. I helped Mrs. Houston in the classroom one day during Valentine week and it was on this occasion that I noticed a unique envelope sticking out of my Valentine bag. I peaked at the white legal sized envelope and read what was written on the outside:

To: Amanda

Love: Andy

When Friday came, it was time to take home our Valentine bags.

My mom recently reminded me that I was too nervous to open this letter and made her read it to me when we got home.

Inside was a hand written note, “Will you be my Valentine?” and check boxes, Yes or No. Of course there were check boxes.

Also included with the note was a small 1 inch picture of him. Do you remember those tiny pictures that came as a 8×10 sheet that we used to get with our school picture orders and we’d pass them out to our friends? If not, I have definitely aged myself.

I still recall my cheeks flushing when mom read the note.

Such an innocent request but one that made me nervous and uncertain what to do or how to respond. He was a classmate. What would my response mean? 

I checked NO and returned the letter to him. <gasp>

When I told mom what I had done, I remember her saying, “AMANDA!” But it was said in a way of “Poor Andy”, knowing that I likely hurt his feelings. I can laugh about it now.

Looking back on this small life event, I now recognize 3rd grade was a time when I was beginning to worry about what others thought of me. 

Fast forward to today, I LOVE Valentine’s Day & I no longer care what others think. Life is too short my friends. 

I love the colors associated with Valentine’s Day. The bright pinks and reds tend to lift my spirits and evoke feelings of joy and anticipation for the upcoming season. Here in North Carolina, signs of Spring tend to show up shortly after Valentines which means longer days, vibrant blooms, and warmer days are near.

This Valentine’s Day, I hope you can celebrate love and connection. Use the day as an opportunity to express appreciation and gratitude for loved ones, friends and family.

Write the note. Send the text. Mail a card. Make the phone call.

Brighten someones day.

Do something for yourself.

Celebrate beautiful new beginnings.

Make that special treat. (If you need an idea for this, check out this post for two little Valentine treats.)

Below you will find a few printables which I created that you can use for writing a note or to include with a small gift for that special someone, friend, neighbor or family member.

Let’s spread love like confetti this Valentines and everyday—for Haven’s sake.

PS – I’m sorry Andy.

PPS – I love you Adam.

Double the Delight

Published on by Amanda Leggette1 Comment

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by creating a memorable mess in the kitchen with your little ones, by baking delicious themed treats that are sweeter because they helped.

These two kid-friendly treats are both interactive, delicious, and semi-healthy? Can a cookie be healthy? One of these cookies is topped with fresh fruit of your choice so let’s call it, healthy-ish.

First up we have mini fruit pizzas.

My memories of fruit pizzas go WAY back. I vividly remember my aunt and uncle bringing ingredients and the activity for fruit pizzas to one of our family gatherings at my grandparents home. 

All you have to do is make a classic sugar cookie, following any recipe of your choosing, and use heart shaped cookie cutters to make them Valentine themed.

Wash and prep fresh fruit for toppings and make this simple cream cheese frosting that you will use as the glue that holds the fruit on the cookie. 

After the cookies have cooled, fill a jar with icing and provide a small spatula or butter knife for the kids to spread the icing on their cookies. You may have to assist with this part. 

On a platter, arrange the fruit options that will serve as the toppings for their individual cookie pizzas and let them create.

The next Valentine themed cookie is a play on a classic thumbprint cookie. This recipe is vegan and gluten free too.

Instead of pressing a thumb into the center of the dough balls as you normally would for the classic version, you will help your little one use the side of thumb to press into the dough ball twice to form a heart. 

No two hearts are equal but that is the beauty of these personalized heart prints.

You can fill the hearts with a jam flavor of your choice. We usually have the organic strawberry preserves from Costco on hand. It has basic ingredients and is free from high fructose corn syrup.

Baking with kids can be an opportunity to bond and laugh with your little one. It isn’t just about the final product; it’s about the shared moments, the laughter, and the love that goes into making the special treats.

So, gather your ingredients, embrace the joyous mess, and enjoy creating sweet memories that will last far beyond the heart shaped bites.

Take HEART & bake, for Haven’s Sake.

Little Changes Make a Big Impact

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

This past November my husband and I were asked if we could help with a feature wall in my brother and sister-in-laws home. They are expecting their first baby in April. Being a mom of 3 boys, I was elated when they are shared they are expecting a BOY.  Queue the biased happy tears for the blessing of raising a son.

Back to the opportunity: Would you be able to help add an accent wall to the future nursury?

Yes. 1000 times yes.  I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity and spoiler alert, it turned out SO good. 

A quick look at our calendars and throwing dates around, one thing after another fell into place and we were able to get over there within the week. 

A dear friend who is an amazing designer, Amy Huber, told me about a company that will send you paint samples on sticker sheets that you can move around.  Wait, you mean you don’t have to paint samples on different walls in the room to determine which paint looks best anymore? The company is Samplize. For less than $6/sample, you can select as many paint colors as needed and they ship them to you within 24 hours.  No waiting at the paint store for colors to be mixed and no painting the walls with each and washing paint brushes. You simply stick and move the samples from wall to wall during different times of the day.

My sister-in-law and I were both sold on this. They ordered paint samples and sent me pictures of the walls as they started from all the colors they ordered to a smaller selection which they had narrowed down to as their favorites.

In preparation to go to their home with the tools needed for the wainscoting and framing out the window, we did have them send measurements of the room.  Having the measurements helped us all plan out which wall would likely be best for the accent wall and to plan accordingly for supplies. 

Check out the room before. A perfect canvas to transform with 3 simple updates: Paint, wainscoting, and quick trim for the window.

How precious is my sister-in-law?! Can you tell how much the boys adore her just from that last picture? 

We did take all three of our boys with us for our project day but I was sure to pack plenty of snacks and food to appease their endless appetites. My brother in law, Michael, had set up the sweetest movie viewing pallet for the boys. He inflated a giant air mattress and loaded it with comfy pillows and blankets. 

While the boys watched a movie, we got to work right away.

The men set off for Home Depot for the wood supplies while Rachel and I began painting right away. The men purchased primed boards which helped painting go smooth and required less coats.

We try to use primmed MDF on these types of accent walls as those boards have clean cuts when trimmed. This hardware store location didn’t have the product in stock that we usually buy for these projects so we made an easy swap with an alternative, primed pine, and it turned out perfect.

I had the best time chatting as we painted the entire room. It’s a day I won’t soon forget and can’t wait to share about the project day with baby when he is older. His mama worked so hard to make his room special. 

Adam took lead on measuring and cutting the wood for the accent wall. While it may look simple to plan out the spacing for the boxes, I can assure you the math is a little more challenging. 

*We also purchased a piece of cove molding to add to the existing baseboard. When flipped upside down, you can rest it on the baseboard and it creates for the perfect flat surface for your board and batten pieces to run in flush with no overhang.

It was a long day of painting and had to be cut shorter for me so I could get the kids home and ready for bed. I left Adam to finish off the wall but showed Rachel how to finish caulking all the seams after the final boards were up and the process for filling nail holes. 

We had a couple mishaps with placement of boards in the wrong place, having to remove them, remeasure and nail them back up in the correct spot but Allas, the wall was complete.

The window wasn’t completed until the following weekend. We had run out of time. I went back over the following weekend to finish up the wood working and did the window all by myself. I say this in a way to encourage you to tackle projects that seem daunting and just TRY it. Turns out, it was a simple update that, once complete, looked like it was always meant for the space.

My sister-in-law even said she wanted to add it to all the windows in the home now. It’s an update that can be made room by room and doesn’t have to be rushed.

I have never trimmed out a window before. I’ve watched numberous videos and how-tos but never had the opportunity prior to this project. 

I used this as a guide and customized it to their space.

(Pic of window trim guide)

I have to admit, projects outside of our home are my favorite.  Painting is therapeutic for me. Transforming a space is relatively budget friendly but brings a big impact. Adding texture to the walls in the form of wainscoting adds depth. Framing out the window added character and contributed to the overall aesthetic of the room that complimented the accent wall and helped create a finished look.

I’m excited to watch as they make all of the selections to finish out the room with furniture and decor in the theme they are going with.

Come on baby Chappell. We cannot wait to meet you.

Until then, my other sis-in-law are planning the SWEETEST baby shower which is coming up in February. Queue the happy tears anytime party details arrive in the mail.

This is your reminder to make a project list and TRY something new. Make it yours and create your Haven one room at a time.

Delicious + Gluten Free Pumpkin Muffins

Published on by Amanda Leggette3 Comments

I recently saw Jennifer Gardner share a recipe for pumpkin muffins on her pretend cooking show, which I love, and had to give them a go.  

After reading over the ingredient list, I knew I could make simple modifications to make them gluten free. 

Let me tell you, they are delicious and were loved by everyone in the family.

In the past when I’ve made pumpkin muffins, I’ve topped them with either unsweetened dried cranberries and/or butterscotch or chocolate chips. Our boys requested butterscotch on them this time. They add just a tiny bit of sweetness without being too much.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did.

Whole 30 Made Simple

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

Keep it simple. Think protein, veggies, fresh fruits and raw nuts.   

Are you considering trying out Whole 30 for the first time? If so, I am here to put you to ease as it’s really not that difficult. Chances are you can make simple modifications to recipes you already know and love but make them Whole 30 Compliant.

I highly encourage you to do Whole 30 at least once.  It’s eye opening to how much is in our food that is “approved by the FDA” as safe. I can promise you when you’re forced to read labels to avoid certain things in your diet, whether by choice or allergy related, you’ll quickly see that things you thought were already healthy choices, are not in fact, healthy.

Don’t stress about what you’re going to eat and meals you’re going to cook. You don’t have to do a complete overhaul but read the labels. You’ll be shocked to see how many products, including meats, have added sugars, nitrates, carrageenan, just to name a few (all things you need to avoid while on Whole 30), but there is always a substitution. 

So what does Whole 30 compliant mean. Essentially, you are eliminating foods that are free from added sugars, grains, dairy, legumes, soy and you also avoid alcohol and processed foods. By doing so, you are choosing compliant options. All of the things you’re asked to avoid during Whole 30 are know inflammatories which can affect how you feel, your quality of sleep, joint and muscle pain, acid reflux, gut issues, and more.  

Sugar is the number one inflammatory and is found as an additive in so many foods that it should not be in. I was SHOCKED when we first read labels. Even a label of “nitrate free” doesn’t mean it is sugar free. 

As someone who suffers from carpel tunnel, the first time we followed this elimination diet, I saw instant relief within the first week. Four years later, I know what triggers my carpel tunnel the most from a food perspective and try to avoid it throughout the year. We maintain a 80/20 lifestyle eating this way, with a few exceptions during holidays of course but let me tell you, I pay for it later. Joint pain, check. Inflammation, check. Carpel tunnel affecting my sleep, check.

Recommitting to eliminating the inflammatories after the holidays is a great way to kickstart a new year for my husband and I. It’s something we actually enjoy.

When I meal plan for the week, I try to think about how one protein can be used in other meals later in the week. For example, if I cook a rotisserie chicken in the crockpot one night, I know I can use left over chicken for fajita bowls/salad, chicken salad (using Primal Kitchen mayo), or tossing chicken in our kitchenmaid mixer with the whisk attachment, pouring in either BBQ or Frank’s Hot Sauce to shred/mix it then put it over a baked sweet potato, light drizzle of Primal kitchen ranch (or DIY your ranch). Trust me on this last one. Buffalo Chicken over a sweet potato is the perfect balance of heat and sweet.

Simple Meal Ideas for 2+ weeks:

Snack Ideas: Hardboiled eggs sprinkled with everything but the bagel seasoning & franks hot sauce or wrap the egg with prosciutto. 

Chomps sticks

Small sweet peppers sliced in 1/2 and filled with tuna, I like to drizzle Frank’s on mine but you could also pre-make a compliant tuna salad to fill the pepper boats. 

Apple slices with almond butter.

Fresh fruit & raw nuts just no peanuts as they are considered a legume and should be avoided during Whole 30.

Breakfast Ideas:

Crustless egg and veggie quiche. Easy to meal prep in advance. I use mostly egg whites, add in spinach, leftover veggies, peppers & onions, mushrooms and bake at 350 degrees until firm, approximately 25 minutes. You can sprinkle on Nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.

Sweet Potato Hash – Prep in advance on Sunday and portion out to reheat each morning

Egg Muffins filled with veggies and/or cutup sausage links or bacon. These are an easy grab and go option, paired with fresh fruit.

Dinner Ideas: I’m included this before lunch ideas because we often have dinner leftovers that we try to eat for lunches. 

Whole Chicken in Crockpot with roasted sheet pan veggies. 

– If you follow my Whole Chicken in the crockpot recipe, you can save the stock and use it in this recipe. I make this recipe in the crockpot as well.

-Debone remaining chicken after dinner and portion out for lunches over salad, cauliflower rice bowls with roasted veggies, fresh veggies, avocado slices, ect.

Marry Me Chicken

Eggroll in a Bowl – a family favorite we cook year-round

Sheet pan meatloaf patties with veggies – another meal we keep in rotation year-round

Fajita Bowls/Salads

Paleo Running Mama’s Stir fry (It’s so good!) serve with cauliflower rice

Spaghetti sauce over either zucchini noodles or roasted spaghetti squash (make noodles for kids if needed)

Baked Lemon Pepper chicken thighs with steamed broccoli or sautéed asparagus, and cubbed roasted potatoes

Pork chops with a sautéed veggie hash. 

Grilled Salmon with sautéed asparagus and beets.

See this post for our family’s top meals that we keep in rotation.

Lunch Ideas:

Salads with left over proteins and raw or cooked veggies

Continue the theme each day. Breakfast on repeat, lunch can be protein leftover from the night prior over salad, and select a dinner option.

Our top recommended ingredients to buy:

Coconut Aminos, Rice Vinegar, Sesame Oil, Frank’s Hot Sauce, Ghee, Nutritional Yeast, olive oil, Tapioca Starch or Arrowroot flour

These are substitutes for soy sauce, inflammatory oils and butter and flour (when needed for thickening agent. We keep all of the above as staples in the home for cooking at all times.

If you’ve made it this far, I want to thank you. My goal for this post was to be brief and provide a very simple guide to being successful on Whole 30. It turns out, there’s a lot to say about this meal guide as it can really become a lifestyle, if you choose. 

My hope is that you’ve found tips and tricks for success that can apply today and every day.

Key takeaway, read labels.

Happy cooking my friends.

Whole 30 Top Meals for our Family

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

Egg Roll in a Bowl

Paleo Running Mama Stir Fry

Recipe Here

Crockpot Whole Chicken

Sheet pan meatloaf & veggies – Follow Skinnytaste’s Recipe but omit the oats and Worcestershire sauce, substitute coconut aminos and a splash of rice vinegar.

Marry Me Chicken

Recipe Here

See my first Whole 30 blog post where I shared several favorite recipes, below.

Whole 30 Recipes

DIY Oyster Shell Garland

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment
2023 Tablescape and Tree – @4HavensSake

Over the years, we have always collected treasures from the beach whether it be unique shells, beach pebbles, sea glass, sharks teeth, or drift wood but more recently, I started finding myself drawn to oyster shells. Each one is so unique and almost like it’s own piece of art with the various colors and shapes.

Like most things, these oyster shell collections were stored away and forgotten about. That is until I came across the recycled strawberry bucket on a shelf of our laundry room FULL of them.

Last year I was asked to collaborate with King of Christmas Trees and was delighted at the opportunity. Christmas is a favorite in this household, my husband included. He was all in for adding another tree to our dining room.

I needed to come up with a theme.

Insert me finding the collection of shells and my brain started to run with an idea. I’d seen oyster shell ornaments, Christmas trees made from shells and other various ideas but never had I seen a Christmas tree adorned with a beaded and shell garland.

I took to the challenge, collected items I needed and got to work.

While I waited on my shipment of wooden beads, I prepped the shells for paint.

  1. Thoroughly cleaned all shells with a solution of dawn, bleach and water
  2. Allowed them to dry completely
  3. Laid out my favorite shells on a protected surface
  4. Painted edges of the shells with this perfect gold paint
  5. Allowed to dry
  6. Drilled tiny holes in each end of every shell to allow for fishing line

The beads arrived and I began to layout the pattern of beads:shells that I felt looked best. Using a heavy duty fishing line that I borrowed from our boys’ fishing gear, I began stringing beads and shells. The two holes I drilled in each shell allowed for one continuous strand. My initial strand was 5 yards in length. I ended up adding 3 additional yards to the strand which was perfect for our 6.5 foot tree.

You could easily make a short strand and add it as decor on a coffee table with books, and other items.

My favorite accent color in the home has always been copper and coral tones. When I saw some of the oyster shells had this coloring in them, I immediately knew which color theme I was going with. I dug out the matte copper ornaments that are usually on our main living room tree and only purchased one package of glass ornaments that had a hint of copper coloring to them and these mini mercury glass ornaments. All other ornaments were some I’d collected over the years and had on our main tree year over year.

Ornaments + Decor links

For me, this tree represents our time living in Wilmington, NC and is a reminder of memories we have made at many beaches both as a couple and with our boys.

2022 Dining Room Christmas Tree
2023 Christmas Tree and Tablescape

My hope is that each space in our home is a reflection of what brings us joy and fills our thoughts with moments of nostalgia.

I hope you find inspiration from this fun DIY. Don’t be afraid to create something outside of what is trending in popularity.

Make your home a HAVEN filled with meaningful spaces.

A Recap on our Getaway to Greenville, SC

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

I didn’t know much about Greenville, SC other than things I had recently heard from a few friends. Everyone said it was beautiful and the perfect place to travel with your family. I was intrigued and wanted to know why Greenville was on the map as a desirable destination for a getaway.

I’ve been following Getaway House for quite some time so when I saw they had a new location open in Greenville, SC, we knew immediately it was a top contender as a destination for this year’s annual trip with our dear friends.

I suggested the idea of Greenville and staying in a cabin to them and they said, “Yes, let’s do it!”

Spoiler alert, it was worth the trip!

Getaway House’s concept is based on the idea of encouraging you to get out in nature to rest, disconnect from the everyday while also being close to cities where you can explore all they have to offer. Yes please! Getaway House has two cabin types, a single queen or a bunk cabin with a second queen bed that is lofted. They provided me with a referral link that will get you $25 off in addition to any specials they are running, book here.

Our youngest is 3 and doesn’t require much space at all so I knew the bunk option would accommodate our family. I could tell from images online that there was a good amount of space next to the lower queen bed and would likely fit a toddler cot and our dog. I was correct and they both fit in that space perfectly.

Weekend Itinerary:

Thursday – Travel day and meet our friends in Downtown Greenville. The cabins were another 45 minutes south so we wanted to stop in and explore downtown, find somewhere to eat dinner, and burn that travel energy. Greenville is both family and pet friendly so please, don’t hesitate on bringing your dog along with you on.

The downtown is beautiful. The leaves were beginning to change and beautiful landscaping with open green spaces were speckled throughout the downtown area and around Falls Park on the Reedy.

While waiting for our friends to join us, Adam and I were in need of an afternoon pick-me-up and found this local gem, Spill the Beans, which is also a known gem for their creamery as well.

When our friends arrived, they too got coffee then both of our families set out to walk downtown, walked across the Liberty Bridge and then settled on dinner.

After dinner, we set off for our cabins at Getaway House. We stopped in by the grocery for a few items that were needed for breakfasts and dinner the following evening.

Thursday Night – Get settled and relax by the fire for s’mores.

Friday – Stay close by to our accommodations and hike Yellow Branch Falls Trail

The trail was less than 30 minutes away. We drove through a couple of cute towns, one of which we all agreed we’d come back and explore after hiking, Walhalla.

Our hike was beautiful with a few creek crossings, a range of forest trails and some climbing that lead to the serene falls. We didn’t see a single person on the way to the falls so it was so peaceful.

We ended up splitting up along the hike from our friends but they ventured on to Stumphouse Tunnel which they said was really cool to see. We all met back downtown at Trailhead restaurant. We loved their outdoor seating area for the kids and dogs to run around. The food was delicious and offered plenty of options for everyone.

After lunch we snagged coffee after lunch from a local shop then headed back to our cabins to prep Turkey Chili in the crockpot.

The cabins have everything you’d need for cooking on a 2 burner stove or on the fire grill grate. Knowing this, Ashley and I planned out dinner and I brought our crockpot from home. She prepped cornbread muffins in advance for the kids and brought them from home.

Our chili dinner by the fire was perfect and followed by more s’more making for the kids.

The adults enjoyed bubbles, wine and a fall cocktail.

The men and a few of the kids ventured to a local brewery about 10 minutes from the cabins. The said it great and brought back an app of peppery pimento cheese. When the chili was still simmering, everyone was able to snack on the app, and fresh chips and salsa.

Our cabins were next to each other which made it easy for us to continue hanging out when the littles went to bed. The monitors reached with no problem.

Saturday – Checkout wasn’t until 11 so we had a leisure morning making breakfasts and packing up our belongings before heading back into Greenville for more exploring, lunch, then hiking at Paris Mountain State Park.

(The men actually had to make a run to the auto parts store as something was needed for our truck but that’s another story for another time.)

First the kids hung out on the rocky area of the Reedy while the adults enjoyed coffees from Spill the Beans, again. We walked around a bit then the group ventured on the Gather GVL, ranked the 6th best food hall in America in 2023 according to the USA Today Readers’ Choice Awards. It was busy but such a fun spot for the families. Their website indicated pets aren’t allowed on weekends but they later told us they are allowed daily so just look into that before going if you have your dog with you.

Because we thought dogs weren’t allowed, I stationed up at the coffee shop for wifi and downloaded a couple movies for the ride home then ventured around downtown with the dog and our youngest. There was a crew breaking down the last of the setup for the downtown market which seemed to draw a big crowd on such a beautiful day.

Our two families went our separate ways after lunch. We ventured on to Paris Mountain State Park to burn off energy in prep for the 4 hour drive home while our friends stayed in Greenville for a while, explored and shopped.

Paris Mountain State Park was beautiful from the moment we drove in the park entrance. We were greeted with views of the first lake. Not really realizing how large the park was, we found parking at one of the earlier lots and set off to find trails.

I’m glad we didn’t venture further into the park because the 2 trails we hiked allowed us to stumble upon a Music in the Woods concert. The amphitheater was on the Mountain Creek Trail. As we got closer to the amphitheater, we were greeted by beautiful Greenville Symphony Ensemble. As you can see from the photo below, many were there to watch the show. I would have loved to sit and enjoy for longer but we had to head on and finish our hike.

The boys requested a trail with a creek so they could once again, hunt for crawdads. We hiked the Mountain Creek and a good portion of the Sulfur Springs Trail before turning back. In total, we hiked just over 4 miles. The trails were easy for all of us. We’ve hiked much more challenging trails with the kids but they did great.

Our youngest fell asleep in the hiking backpack before we made it back to the truck. He slept for hours before waking up around dinner time on our drive home.

As we were driving home, I told Adam that I see the draw to Greenville, SC and understand the draw of all that the city has to offer. You have the perfect mix of city nestled in so much green space, outdoor activities, and it’s close to so many other popular destinations. For example, Asheville, NC is only a little over an hour away and Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA are both around 2 hours away.

I’d say the general consensus on our time in Greenville was that we enjoyed the city and surrounding areas and would, without question, go back again.

Our time and adventures with the Boles Family continue and we look forward to making forever memories on future destinations.

Be sure to look into Getaway House and all of their current locations available in the US. Use my referral link for $25 savings . One other location I’ve looking into is in Asheboro and just minutes away from the NC Zoo and close to Raleigh and Charlotte areas, 45 minute drive to NC Wine Country.

See this post (coming soon) on our October day trip to the zoo and apple orchard during our two older son’s Fall Track Out from school.

Fall Apple Picking + Hearty Muffins

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

The crispness in the air that comes with Fall will always bring me the most joy.

It may be the nostalgia that comes to the forefront of my thoughts reminiscing of the annual trips my family took to the mountains of NC while visiting my grandparents cottage.

The aroma of soups and chilis filling the home, hikes and soaking up the changing of the leaves, the vibrant colors the season brings, sitting my a fire with friends and family, sipping on cider and warm teas, and baking seasonal favorites are just some of my favorite things about Fall.

Last year we visited The Orchard at Altapass for apple picking. The scenery was beautiful and apples plentiful. It was a sweet ending to our mountain trip and exactly what we needed after living through the experience of our oldest being stung by a yellow jacket and having a severe reaction. You may notice in the picture his sweet face was still swollen. We’re grateful for the swift action of the staff at the urgent care in Blackmountain.

We’ve started new traditions with our three sons which still include an annual trip to the mountains. Be sure to read about our favorite mountain town in this post.

Whether you’re picking apples fresh from an orchard in the NC mountains or you snag some from the local farmers market, you have to give my grandmother’s apple muffin recipe a try.

I’ve included my own modifications and added carrots to the original recipe to make them heartier.

I encourage you to get outside this Fall and try a new hike, bake something new, and do spend time doing things that bring you joy.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do.

Hey Boo, You’re Cute

Published on by Amanda LeggetteLeave a comment

If you saw my post on Monday, you know already that I took on a cheesecloth ghost craft as a way to decompress. On occasion, I am reminded why I thrive when I create, paint a room or take on a DIY project in the home. It’s where I thrive and find Amanda, a moment of pause from mama and the joys and stimulation that role brings.

I am beyond grateful to be available for our boys, don’t get me wrong. There’s always reason to take time for yourself doing something that brings you joy. Filling that cup of joy will spill over when you step back into your role of mom.

This craft requires very few things:

Cheesecloth

Modge Podge

Balloons

Bowl for mixing

Drop cloth of some form

Supportive base to attach balloons

First, blow up the balloons at various sizes to add variation to your ghosts.

Next, drop the cheesecloth over each support and trim accordingly. Tip: Cut them slightly larger than needed so the cheesecloth can puddle nicely.

Mix the modge lodge with a little water to thin out the consistency. Soak each trimmed piece in the mixture, squeeze out the excess and slowly stretch it out to drop back over the base supports you made. I did two layers on each ghost.

Allow them to dry overnight.

Gently separate the balloons from the cheesecloth. Your ghosts may loose shape as you do this step but don’t worry, you can shape them back.

Next you will cut felt eyes or sew on black buttons. Hot glue them on to each ghost.

I decided to add paper flowers and ribbon to two of the ghosts to add a little extra flare, because I’m extra. Have fun with it and make them your own.

Fairy lights were the final touch I added to the ghosts. One long strand worked for all of them.

This tables cape will be a fun one to enjoy before a night out trick or treating. Our family has a tradition of filling up on a hearty bowl of my turkey chili with a side of cornbread before any candy is consumed. Be sure to save that recipe! It’s a crowd pleasure and simple to throw into the crockpot.

Happy crafting my friends.