mug swap 2012

I recently participated in a mug swap, hosted by Kim.
She organized the whole sha-bang.
And with over 240 participants, that's a ton of work, so thanks, Kim for all you did to make this swap amazing!

So, this mug swap - buy a mug, mail a mug, get a mug.

Sounds like fun, right?!

Who doesn't love a pretty mug to help start the day?

Full of coffee, of course.

It went like this:

Sign up, get e-mailed a person's information for whom you are to buy a mug.  A completely different person (from the person you're buying for) gets your name and sends you a mug.

It's like a chain of mugs.  A mug chain, if you will.

The person I was to buy for, was someone I actually kinda "know", so that made it all the more fun!  (She's an Instagram galpal and a fellow blogger.)

The shops around here, pretty much, consist of Ross and Walmart.  I knew I wasn't going to find "just the right mug" at either of those stores, so I turned to online shopping.

I had been eyeing this mug for myself...I even had it pinned on Pinterest.  I had to have it.  Even if it was only for a day and then to be sent off to it's forever home.  I kinda love her.  Yes.  Her. 

She's pretty, no?

So I packed her up, with a few other little goodies, and sent her on her way.

A week, or two, after I sent my mug off, I received this one, from my new blog friend, McCall.

She sent a sweet, little mug with a ton of goodies!

I love how classic and timeless the mug is, it's just right.

And how did she know I love anything peppermint?!

The icing on the cake was that I won the give-away that went along with this mug swap!

Craziness.

I don't win things, so this was such a shock.

And we were nearly out of coffee on a tight budget month - total blessing!

I can't start my day without a cup.  Or two.

Kim sent me all this goodness.

Hannah sent me two pairs of beautiful earrings.

You can get yourself a pair from her etsy shop.

Katy sent me this ridiculously fun print, I love it.

(You can check out all the goodness in her etsy shop here.)

When my husband saw it hanging by the coffee pot, I told him it should read, "I love you more than coffee (after the first cup)".

I was kidding.

Mostly.

And Lindsay sent me these beautiful, colorful coffee notecards (along with an obscene amount of other goodness).

She pretty much oozes talent - browse her etsy shop, you're sure to find something you love.

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This mug swap was a ton of fun - I can't wait to participate again next year!

Thank so much, Kim, for hosting it!

meet Kona

like the coffee.

black & strong.

not my dog.

i was persuaded.

this is a man's dog.

my man's dog.

but she's kinda cute.

she'll be cuter when she learns to go to the bathroom outside 100% of the time.

the boy loves to draw

He gets giddy excited when I ask him if he wants to get in his chair to draw.

Markers are a fairly new thing for him.

I picked up a box of washable Crayolas at Target during the back-to-school sale.

Crayons are a thing of the past - markers are the way to go.

But seriously, thank God for washable markers.

my favorite pumpkin muffins

Autumn bring so many things that I love.

Cool weather, crisp air, colorful foliage, crunchy leaves, sweaters, sweatpants, fireside coziness...

(the list goes on, and on)

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And of course, pumpkin treats.

Fall may not officially arrive until September 22, but on September 1, I start pulling out my fall decor and getting in the autumn state of mind.

This 100+ degree weather isn't helping, but that's only a minor detail, right? 

To kick off the season, I whipped up a dozen (which is a half recipe) of my favorite pumpkin muffins.  And when I say favorite, I mean favorite.  None compare.

That cream cheese filling might be the best part.
Or maybe the streusel topping, or the cake-like pumpkin muffin, itself.
Or maybe all of the above, together, in one delicious bite. 

I made these for the first time last Fall.

I won't, ever, make another pumpkin muffin recipe.

These are my pumpkin muffins.

My go-to, perfect-and-delicious-every-time-pumpkin-muffins.

Make them.

a trip to the zoo

Yesterday was a perfect day to spend at the Oklahoma City Zoo.  School is back in session which means a quiet zoo day.  Just the way we like it.  We love that zoo.  It's a beautiful, clean, safe zoo.  We think a membership might be in order next year.

I took lots of pictures.  Here are a handful (maybe a few handfuls) of my favorites.

At the petting zoo.

One landed on my head.  I might have been just a little shocked/freaked out/grossed out.

I didn't have to put a bird on it.  The bird put itself on it.

Mesmerized by the sea lions.

We fed the ducks.

A picnic lunch.

When did he get so big?!  Can you believe he'll be TWO in just over 2 months?!!

Pygmy hippo.

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas...

These are beauty berries.

I think they live up to their name.

Travis' favorite part of the zoo.

The nocturnal exhibit.

Grizzly bears, keeping cool.

First time we got to actually see the otters enjoying their little corner of the zoo!

I might want an otter for Christmas, too.

The gorillas were quite active (it was feeding time).

They put on a show.  Gorilla quarrel and all.

It was a wonderful, family day.  The only way the day could have been better is if it was about 15 degrees cooler and we were wearing sweaters.  

See ya in November, zoo!  With sweaters on.