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PJ’s, Hot Cocoa & a Christmas Tree Farm

This year for our family portraits we took ourselves to a Christmas tree lot in Ramona. We decided to switch it up and wore pi’s and the kids had hot cocoa (er, cold cocoa). It was a fun moment the day after Thanksgiving to spend time with the family.

If you’re looking for a photographer in the San Diego area you should consider Amira Gray Photography. I met Amira when we were in High School, we got closer when we were both in yearbook together. A few years post High School I was lucky enough to bake for her gorgeous wedding in Temecula. Amira has a wonderful spirit and is a wonderful photographer.

Happy Fifth Birthday, Peanut Butter Pie.

Dearest Payton,

Today you are five years old. How we got to an entire hand is just insane. I have loved every minute of being your mother. You have the sweetest soul and everyone who knows you cannot wait to tell us this. You are a genuine friend and care deeply about those you love. You are the best big sister and watching you teach your brother brings so much light to my life. I love our tooshie dances, our chases up and down the hallway, our lunch dates and your story telling. My! Oh my! Can you tell a story. You have one wild imagination and I cannot wait for you to start writing your own books. Though, this is your new thing to do at school, your picture books tell amazing stories already, sweet girl you are destined to do amazing things. Everything about you is amazing. I could not imagine my life without you in it.

When I was growing up I had a love for Winnie the Pooh. I know I have told you about this but that silly old bear holds a special place in my heart. When I was gradutaing high school my parents made me a scrapbook of my life thus far. A special Winnie the Pooh-ism that will forever be with me is:

If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together. There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. But the most important thing even if we are apart I’ll always be with you. – Winnie the Pooh

My wish for you sweet girl is for you to live by this. You are a strong girl with the biggest heart and no matter where you are, I will always be with you. Happy fifth birthday! Your birthday, along with your brother’s are by far the best days of my life.

Things you are loving:

horses, all things princess, puzzles, drawing picture books, Frozen, Taylor Swift, dance parties & playing dress-up.

You are:

51 pounds, you wear a size 12 shoe, wear a size 6/6x.

Pumpkin-Apple Spice Cheesecake with Rolled Oat Crumble

No matter what the holiday is I am the one in charge of creating the desserts. Before it was me, it was my Dad and before him, my Grandma. It’s like the passing of the torch per se. I can never bake the same dessert, I wish I could because it would be a lot simpler to just re-create the recipes my family has already approved. But if you know me, you know I like a challenge and a baking challenge is always right up my alley. No matter what the dessert spread always includes: pumpkin pie for my sister because it’s the only pie she likes, there’s apple for my husband because that’s what he likes and typically there’s a cheesecake for my Mom and I. The kids never seem to mind what there is as long as there’s plenty of cookies and whipped cream involved. For Thanksgiving I baked the most amazing pumpkin bourbon cheesecake. For Christmas, I felt that I could jazz that recipe up and create a spin on my favorite, dutch apple cheesecake, creating my newly developed pumpkin-apple spice cheesecake with rolled oat crumble. Doesn’t it sound so heavenly decadent? I mean, the name in itself is a mouthful to say so why not make it the most amazing holiday dessert all wrapped into one?!?

This decadent cheesecake will complete any dessert spread for the holidays and if you’re the giving type, it makes an even better present to give to neighbors and friends alike! You can make this cheesecake as individuals, mini’s or as an 8″.

If you’ve ever baked a cheesecake you know that it takes time. If you’re baking a cheesecake with many layers it will take even longer to prep. Make sure to give yourself enough time for prep and chilling. A good cheesecake needs to rest and chill in the refrigerator overnight.

Gingersnap Oat Crust: Gingersnap Cookies, Rolled Oats & Butter

Rolled Oat Crumble: Oats, flour, cinnamon, brown sugar & butter

Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Filling: Cream Cheese, Pumpkin, Brown Sugar, Eggs, Flour, Spices & Sour Cream

Pumpkin-Apple Spice Cheesecake with Rolled Oat Crumble

Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

1 hour

Add this decadent cheesecake to your holiday spread or gift to neighbors and friends this holiday season.

Author: Melissa

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

Crust:
20 Ginger Snap Cookies
¼ cup Quaker Oats Quick Oats
½ stick Melted Butter
Filling:
2 (8oz.) packages Cream Cheese
1 cup + 2 tablespoons canned Pumpkin Puree
2 Eggs
4 tablespoons Sour Cream
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
¼ teaspoon Fresh Ground Nutmeg
2 tablespoons Flour
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 Apples, thinly sliced and diced.
Crumble:
½ cup All-Purpose Flour
¼ cup Quaker Oats Quick Oats
¼ cup + 2 tablespoons Brown Sugar
¼ tsp Cinnamon
¼ cup Butter, cold and diced into ½-inch cubes

Instructions

This recipe will make: six 3" individual, three 3" individuals + eight cupcake size, one 8", or 24 mini cheesecakes.
Preheat oven to 350*F
Prepare crust by combining cookies in a food processor. Pulse until a fine crumb is achieved. Toss any large chunks of cookies that didn't process. Add in Oats and melted butter and pulse until combined.
Add two rounded tablespoons of moist crust crumbs into each individual springform pan (1 tablespoon if mini). Use the back of the spoon (or I like to use my fondant rolling pin) to press down the crumbs, to form a crust.
Prepare the filling-
Beat the cream cheese, pumpkin, eggs, sour cream, sugar and spices, flour and vanilla in a food processor until well combined. (You can also use a hand or stand mixer but since my food processor was already out I opted to minimize the dirty dishes).
Pour filling into prepared crusts.
Top each cheesecake with 1-2 teaspoons of diced apples.
For the streusel:
In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, quick oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. Add cold butter and using fingertips, rub butter into dry mixture until it comes together it small crumbles and pieces of butter are no longer visible. Add 1-2 teaspoons of crumble to each cheesecake.
Bake cheesecakes in pre-heated oven for 20 minutes. Turn off oven and let cheesecakes sit for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool about 15 minutes. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours minimum or overnight.
For a large (8") Cheesecake- Follow general directions above. Press crust into the botom of a 8" springform pan. Prepare filling (as listed above). Bake cheesecake 1 hour, let cool in oven for 20 minutes and then remove. Cool 15 minutes at room temp and then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight before serving.

You can find the limited edition Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Oats 42oz & Quaker Oats Quick Oats 42oz winter canisters exclusively at Target. Pick up a canister for all of your holiday baking and breakfast needs! Plus you can use this coupon to save on your purchase!

Brayden’s Vintage Airplane Big-Boy Room

A few months ago we transitioned Brayden into his big boy room. This came after he was consistently climbing out of his crib and with turning three it was just time to turn the modern zoo nursery into a big boy room. I knew I wanted his room to have transportation as the theme so I started creating a Pinterest board to see what I liked the most. Because we were working on a budget of $1,000 I went off of my board and found a comparable piece for less. I would have loved to purchase all the swoon worthy products but in the end I am happy I went the route that I did! I love to lay in his bed and cuddle with him, it’s a perfect space for him and he loves it. For the first couple weeks he would ooh! and aah! over every little detail and ask, “this is for me?” There are still a few things to add like: recent pictures of Brayden, a few more pillows and my Dad’s Air Force patches that I want to frame with his photograph. My favorite pieces to the room are the airplane decals above his dresser and the custom airplane propeller above his bed. {To see a complete breakdown of where I purchased everything scroll to the bottom.} I just love this space and cannot wait to watch my big boy grow with it!

I highly recommend Urban Walls vinyl decals. We have our entire playroom decorated in the farm and we love it. They are easy to use and made from quality vinyl that will not peel easily. We have highly textured walls as you can see in the close-up picture and I didn’t have any issues with them adhering.

Bunk Bed: Ikea / Dresser: Ikea / Airplane Decals: Urban Walls / Bedding: Target / ‘B’ Pillow: Land of Nod / Vintage Metal Airplane Posters: Amazon.com / Airplane Propeller: Concept Wood Works / Metal “SOAR” Letters: Michaels /

phone dump {summer}

Holy Hell it’s hot out. I am thanking God everyday for our a/c and cursing at the electric company for our regulated thermostat that we thought was a good idea to install. I need to take a note to remember that they need to give me my old thermostat back that enables cold air to flow freely through my house when it’s 100º+. I really sound like I am pre-menopausal…hmm…

We have a little more than a month left until both kids venture off to preschool. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!!! school God’s because these bickering kids might be what’s causing my hot flashes, both mentally and physically. While we have not taken a vacay we’ve kept ourselves busy with our Summer playgroup, impromptu beach trips, endless hours bronzing in our pool (it’s no joke, if y’all saw Payton’s white fanny you’d call the sunscreen CPS). Before I go another year without updating on our life I thought I should virtualize our Summer thus far. If you follow me on Instagram you’ve probably already seen 101% of these so you can now move on to the next blog for your reading and viewing pleasure…

I celebrated another glorious birthday at the end of June. With another year checked off into my thirties I was graced with new glasses to help my old eyes see better. My very special day was uneventful (just the way I like it!): worked out, breakfast, family time, presents (yay to a new macbook pro and some fun camera gadgets), lunch, I baked myself the most horrendous cake ever which luckily tasted amazing otherwise I might have to close up the baking shop.

Payton went to horse camp for an entire week. It was an entire week of spending time in the car with my main little man driving back-and-forth but she loved it. I also attempted my first juice cleanse which I failed miserably at by day two. The kids are ready to venture out on their own to get jobs across the street at Schack Farms aka the aunt & uncles who are adding animals by the hour.

We celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary by taking a last minute trip to Las Vegas since the in-laws came into town. We basked in the very cool Vegas sun, saw Zarkana (which I highly recommend), we rode The Linq, attempted drinking and relaxed.

Birthday weekend wouldn’t be my birthday weekend if we didn’t go to the fair. I would like to report that we consumed so much fried food that I had open heart surgery but it was a mild year, sorry fried butter and krispy kreme burger, you’ll have to wait until next Summer. Payton had a yummy secret Starbucks drink, a cotton candy frap. Yum!

I have gone to Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley so far. Earning my wannabe hick status one concert at a time! Brayden went to the ER yet again, I swear, boys should be born with a lifetime pass of spending countless hours and co-pays in the ER. Or, mother’s should be given a complimentary case of wine per month. I’d take either. Payton continues to be fab by baking in her NYE gown.

Payton began ballet/tap classes and loves it which is great because last Summer she wasn’t the biggest fan. Brayden’s nursery is transitioning to a big boy room. It’s very exciting and sad at the same time but I love this space. Payton still wants to be a nurse or doctor. Rita’s has exploded all over California, so our once New Jersey treat with the grandparents can now happen whenever we want!

Dierks was this past weekend, as well as my nieces dance recitals and Payton had her first girls trip at grandma’s house for four days. Phew! and we still have over a month to go.