Halloween 2016

Another Halloween has come and gone!  It's the first Halloween where they both have picked exactly what they wanted to be, without any help from me ...  I can't choose any cute costumes anymore ... they are growing up before my eyes!  My older son went off and tricker treated with friends ... *tears. But you know what, these two make me so happy, and they are SO funny!  Best friends!

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

 

  

#halloween2016 #skeleton #hunter #lion #racehorse #imhoffboys #murphy #crosbie #teamimhoff #thepamperedmom

Pampered Mom's Summer S'mores Bar

This past weekend we had a few of our neighborhood friends over for a super casual night.  The boys and I made homemade icecream and then at the last minute we decided to make some s'mores.  But not just your "usual go-to s'mores," nooo... we needed MORE!  

Our Summer S'mores bar included:
Honey, Chocolate, and Cinnomon Graham Crackers
Strawberry and Reg. Marshmallows
Hershey's Milk Chocolate, Hershey's Cookies n' Cream Chocolate, and Chocolate Mint Patties

YUMMO!

One of our favorite combos ...

Chocolate Covered Strawberries
1. Choc Graham Cracker
2. Strawberry Marshmallow
3. Milk Chocolate

 

 Hope you all Enjoy!

#smoresbar #pamperedmom #summertime

Pampered Mom's Winter Tablescape 2016

After the Holidays are over and all the decorations are put away, do you find yourself thinking how bare your table looks?!  I do every year, and it's usually around February when I set the table to our February dinner parties.  In the Winter, I always look for clean, natural pieces, without a lot of fuss.

Artichokes are great statement piece.  Not only to do they look great, but we love cooking with them. Actually, buttered artichokes are a great appetizer for when we have friends over, as well as, spinach artichoke dip.  Warm up the table a bit with candles both tall and small, and add a fresh bouquet of flowers.  We usually run to Trader Joe's the day before our guests arrive.  Add soup bowls for the first course instead of salad in the winter, and you'll be a hero on those chilly nights!

Since I had a lot of cotton hanging around, I incorporated it on the host plates and in the bowl on our china cabinet.  When decorating any table, a secret it to always bring something from outdoors in. 

Cheers! xoxo

#thepamperedmom #wintertablescape #atrichokehearts #cotton #imhoffhome #teamimhoff #dinnerparties #friscotexas

A Story of Two Families ...

This blog has long served as my creative outlet.  I was actually surprised on how little information about me and my family I have provided over these past 8 years.  EIGHT years, can you believe it?!

 

Although this story isn't about me per-se, it is about a family member and has always made me step back and think ... this is truly a small world after all!  Have you ever really had a moment, where all other coincidences seem so small in comparison? 

 

This is a story of my Grandma Joy, my Mom's mother, and how a hat with a small town logo dug up

 a long history of two families and their personal story.  The photos below is of my Grandmother Joy, sent to my bestie, C, from her cousins, which she later sent to me.

There are probably many renditions of this very story, but I will tell it how I remember and what I know to be true.

 

When I was around 8 years old, I was put on an All-Star softball team.  This consisted of girls from all over the town, on different teams, chosen to be on this select team to compete for State.  I had known C, she and I went to school together the year before, and we were going to be in school together now until we finished HS.  We also knew each other through Softball, which if you had played for any amount of time, you knew who everyone was.  On this specific day, we were practicing, C as catcher, and myself directly in front of her in center field.  The day in age where no matter how long you practiced, parents still stayed the entire time to watch and help [where did these days go??]  Her father sat on the bleachers and close by was my mom and dad.  J, her father was wearing a ball cap with the words, Wyaconda written visibly on the crown.  You, like probably 99% of all other people would walk by and probably not even notice OR think to yourself, what the heck is Wyaconda?  I am not sure who first said something, my mom or dad, but either way, one of them noticed J's hat and instantly had a connection.  You see, my mother's side of the family was from Wyaconda, Missouri, a small, rural town in the Northeast part of the state.  A town that would go virtually unnoticed if accidently left off the map.  HOWEVER, there are a few people who do know this small town and how interesting that our families were both familiar?!

 

The rest of the story goes something like this ...

 

When my grandmother was out of High School, my now grandfather, then her fiancé, left for the Navy, leaving her behind.  She moved back to her hometown, Wyaconda and began teaching in a one-room school house.  Interestingly enough, back then, the teacher would live with another family during the school year.  Insert C's great-grandparents.  My grandmother lived with her family while teaching and living in the same area.  Get that small world feeling yet?  How about when her great-grandparents had a child, a daughter, they named her Joy, after my grandmother.  Chills.

Now, through the power of technology and ease of sending information through family members, our "Joys" still talk and send letters.  Photos of the times they lived together and shared memories are evident in photos through both sides of the family.  Last Summer while visiting with my mom and Aunts, flipping through photo boxes and albums, we ran across photos of C's family.  It's amazing to me how C and I found each other, and how we share this unique story.

 

To this day I have always thought of C as family, but this, this makes it real.  I never had a sister of my own, but our friendship feels like one to me.

 

 

 



{BF/GF Play Date}

Before the cutest mom ever has to go back to work, we decided to get together and have a play date. Melissa has two kids, Madison & Jamesom. We were preggers at the same time with Madison & Bayler, and we were so excited they were boy & girl. Yep, it's official. We have set them for life :) And cute little Jameson was born in May ... and boy is he a good baby. The whole time she just laid there, looked around, never fussed ... precious!

Here are a few pictures from our play date ... please note, I have recently got out of Auto Mode on my camera, so these pictures are less than impressive ... but hey ... I'm trying. {Feel free to give me LOTS of tips :)}

{Chamber Gala}

A couple of weeks ago was the annual Chamber Gala. Ryan and I usually go with his company, which I love. It's so much fun getting dressed up and having a night out with out the kids. This year was even better. We opted to get a room at the hotel it was held out, so we didn't have to drive anywhere.

My friend Ashley took picture from the night, and I am so glad she did, my camera didn't fit in my cute feather purse!






Can't wait for next year!

Girls Weekend in Hermann

* Warning: Lots of Pictures Ahead *

Okay, Hermann as a lot of fun, exhausting and a wake-up call to myself that I am not as young as I used to be :) We arrived in Hermann about 11:00, we did a little sight seeing and some antiquing till the whole group was together. Only three of us were able to make it, but it was the perfect number in the end.

Our room was incredible. When we arrived at The Wine Valley Inn, we were greeted by the staff, and then taken to our room ... which was upgraded :) It was a small apartment type room, with a sink, refrigerator, table, two rooms with a king and pull out couch. The best part about our room was the view. We had these huge bay windows that overlooked downtown Hermann ... so worth the price!

After lunch and getting settled in, Cody, Lauren & I headed to Stone Hill Winery. Seriously, the best part of the whole weekend! Stone Hill is one this beautiful Hill ... go figure, with vineyards all around. We opted to go on the cellar tour, which was awesome. It's all underground, and the amount of wine in there is unbelievable. I think I took like a million pictures! After the tour we went inside for the tasting ... yum! We tried EVERY single wine they had available, and our barista was Frank. Frank did not like it if you glass was empty. I just remember telling him some wine that I didn't want to try, and him just pouring it in my glass anyways. One in particular I loved, and every time I turned around, he was filling up my glass with it ... haha, awesome! In fact, we loved Frank SO much he had to get a picture with him!

Dinner was excellent, we ate on the waterfront, and scoped out some good night life. We went out that night to the Beer Barrel, it was a fun crowd ... not tourist like I had imagined, it was a huge party for the townies ... interesting, but fun. We met some friends a long the way ... Cody may have lost a million things (which I just happened to find), and we feel asleep watching the sun come up.

It was a great weekend. I am hoping to do something again in the fall with the other girls that couldn't make it.

Here's to Hermann ... our home away from home!