JEN SEVERN'S BLOG

Last Halloween Scott's sister and I hung out all day together.  All the cousins absolutely love to be together.  Scott's sister's husband is in the USAF, so they move around the country every couple of years.  Because we don't always live in the same state, we all feel pretty blessed when we get to hang out.  Here is a little fun we had last Halloween, Gummy Worm Races.  You will need disposable pie  tins, gummy worms, whipped cream and towels!  The kids will think it's pretty fun to put this game together.  First, make sure you have one pie tin for each participant.  Place an equal amount of gummy worms in each tin.  Then, cover the gummy worms in whipped cream.  Use a dish cloth as a bib, this game is MESSY!  Get everyone in position.  The goal is to see who can get all the gummy worms out of the pie tin the fastest using only their teeth.  Finally, on your marks, get set, GO!  Let the laughter begin! The k...

Here is a little contest for my blog!  I am giving away a sweet fall treat and a fall cookie cutter to whoever can guess what I am going dress up as for Halloween!  Leave your guess in the comments! HMMM.  Here is a hint I have never been this before.  The contest is over when someone gets it right!  Good luck!!

MUMMY DOGS Ingredients: Pillsbury Crescent Rolls Hot Dogs Mustard For the Mummy Dogs, wrap a hot dog in a crescent roll.  Place on baking sheet and cook according to crescent roll package.  Before serving add mustard eyes to the mummies. BONES & BLOOD Ingredients: Pillsbury bread sticks Pizza Sauce For the Bones and Blood, shape the bread sticks into bones.  Bake according to the package.  Serve with warm pizza sauce as the blood.

These look simple and festive. Candy Corn Sugar Cookies Instructions from Our Best Bites Ingredients: 1 batch sugar cookie dough yellow and orange food coloring Optional: Sanding sugar, coarse raw sugar, or sprinkles almond bark or white chocolate, melted Instructions: Divide prepared sugar cookie dough into three equal portions.  Leave one as is and color one other portion yellow and another portion orange. Line a standard loaf pan with plastic wrap.  Gently press layer of uncolored dough into bottom of pan and smooth flat, keeping it at least 1/2-3/4 inches high (you don’t have to use the whole pan if you have a small batch of dough) or larger if desired.  Layer orange dough on top of previous layer and smooth.  Finally layer yellow dough and smooth on top.  Wrap plastic over dough and chill until firm, 30-60 minutes in freezer or 1-2 hours in fridge.  Or you can store the dough in fridge for 2-3 days before baking. Remove plastic and sli...

MINI SMASHED PUMPKIN PARFAITS :: You’ll Need: • 1 box Jello Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix • 2 cups milk (as called for on the pudding box) • 1/8 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice* • Orange Gel Food Coloring • Oreo Cookies, crushed • Green Nonpareils • Piping tool (such as the  Dessert Decorator Plus ) OR ziplock bags • Mini cordial/parfait glasses with spoons, such as Pier 1′s  Mini Cordial Tasting Party Set • Free printable   “Smashed Pumpkin Parfaits” label This was posted by Hostess with the Mostess

Are you in a Bible Study this fall?  I would love to hear what you are studying and if you are enjoying it.  I just started studying the book of Esther.  We are doing Beth Moore’s study guide and videos to lead us through.  The book of Esther is only 10 chapters and they are full of royalty, parties and high definition drama.  I am really enjoying the way Beth is leading us through this book.  If you have never done a bible study or just looking for a good one this one is excellent.  Here is a little taste of this study she calls; ESTER It’s Tough Being a Woman.  (She had me at the title!) “The dust kicked up by the messengers spun like dirt devils all over Persia.  As they arrived with the news in each corner of the kingdom, we arrive at t perfect place to make a monumental point:  The conflicts we study in our journey throughout Ester will not become gender issues.  Despite buckets of ink...

Brynn brought these to Kristina's farewell bash and they were flying off the plate.  She was getting compliments left and right on how delicious they were.  One of the secret ingredients is a box of vanilla instant pudding.  If you are a cookie monster like I am you must try these!  Thanks for sharing your recipe with us Brynn! Brynn’s Incredible  M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients 2  Cups All Purpose Flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 cup butter softened 1 1/2 cups brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 large eggs 1 box of jello vanilla instant pudding pie filling 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips 1 cup of M&M’s For Altitude which we are here in CO add 1/4 cup of flour and 2 tsp. water (do it! they taste better) Pre heat  oven to 375 degrees F Combine  flour, baking soda, box of pudding in small bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir...

I had a really great night with a few friends and I just wanted to say Thank YOU!  I went to Old Navy and browsed the new fall line. Then we went to happy hour at PF Chang's.  For just $4.25 we had the delicious Asian Spicy Shrimp Street Tacos!  I can't wait to have those again! We finished the night off laughing and crying watching The Help.  I had listened to the well read audio book and enjoyed it and the movie was good as well.  I was doing the ugly movie cry at some points!  Again, Thank You!

I think I work fairly hard at friendships because I value them.  I try and call and connect and even fly out to visit my friends afar to keep in touch.  This is one of my dear friends Susan.  I was looking for a fall picture for my other blog and came across this picture from last year.  It was taken last October.  I was working about 50 hours a week with photography, my dad had passed away unexpectedly 2 months prior, I was a "stay at home mom" trying to help the kids with school and grieving, and I was exhausted.  I desperately needed to rest.  Every time I visit Susan I feel like I am on a mini retreat, it's a sanctuary of friendship, fun and and the beauty of the North East.  I slow down enough to hear the voice of God.  I am a little teary writing this.  One thing Susan has gotten good at is taking away the distractions of life, the material stuff that nags at me here and nagged at her here, she has figured out how to rem...

First thing in the morning, 6:30AM. Giggling, "Hey guys, one time I ran like Jack Sparrow!" Scott and I glance at each other, he with his face covered in shaving cream and me with a make-up brush in hand. Me "Oh really Lond, how does he run?"  (Mind you he has never seen any of the Pirates films.) "Oh mom, he runs really, really funny!  He runs with his head turned backward, like he is running from a dinosaur, with his hands in the air, screaming." We start to try and picture Jack Sparrows run and smile. Scott, "That's really observant of you London." Now we are all are wearing a smirk, shake our heads and join him in lol. I had to do a little research on what he may have seen.  I have NO IDEA, however, after perusing trailers from The Pirates of the Caribbean movies and searching Jack Sparrow's run I realized, again, just how hilarious Jack Sparrow's run is.  I love these movies and Johnny Depp is incredible.  Need a little...

These whoopie pies, my friend Jan sent to me.  Everything she makes is amazing and I am sure these will follow suit!  I can't wait to try this fall delight.  She got the recipe from the  Brown Eyed Baker's  blog .  It is amazing how many wonderful resources we have at our fingertips. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Maple Cream Cheese Filling Yield: About 4 dozen assembled whoopie pies (will vary depending on how large you make them) Prep Time: 15 minutes | Bake Time: 10 to 12 minutes For the Whoopie Pies: 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup dark brown sugar 1 cup canola or vegetable oil 3 cups chilled pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin) 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For the Maple-Cream Cheese Filling: 3 cups powdered sugar 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 4 ounces...