the best pumpkin roll EVER

30 November 2008

good ol' pumpkin roll.
my ma-inlaw taught me how to make this when i moved to ohio at the ripe ol' age of 18.
growing up in georgia, i'd never heard of it.
but now i HAVE to have it every year.
you say thanksgiving, i think pumpkin roll.

what y'all will need:
the cake ingredients ...
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup pumpkin
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons cinnamon

the filling ingredients ...
2 packages (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar + 1/4 cup to sprinkle
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

the making part:
preheat oven to 350'
spray a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan; line with wax paper.
grease and sugar the wax paper.
sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel or cheesecloth with 1/4 cup powdered sugar.

combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice and salt in small bowl.
beat eggs and granulated sugar in large mixer bowl.
beat in pumpkin and lemon juice.
stir in flour mixture.
spread evenly into prepared pan.

bake for 15 to 25 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched.
immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel or cheesecloth.
carefully peel off paper.
roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end.
cool in fridge while you make the filling.

for filling:
beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small bowl until smooth.
carefully unroll cake.
spread cream cheese mixture over cake.
sprinkle with nuts, if you want.
reroll cake.
wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour.
slice and serve.
if you want you can sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

i can't be help accountable if people fight over your pumpkin roll.
or if you decide to eat half of it all by yourself.
;)

hope y'all enjoy.

rachel

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shopping.

29 November 2008

shopping.
{only 25 more sleeps until christmas!!!}

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decorating.

28 November 2008

decorating.
{yayyy christmas is coming!!!}

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eating.

27 November 2008

eating.
{happy thanksgiving yall.}

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cooking.

26 November 2008

cooking.
{yum yum yum.}

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now that's a wrap.

25 November 2008

well today's the day.
our secret santa christmas swap packages had to be mailed today!!!

so my package is off to australia!!!
yes australia.
exciting i know!!!

i couldn't share a 'real' pic...it's a strict 'don't open until xmas' kinda swap.
but i thought i would tease yall {or her.} with a little 'hint hint' pic.

can't wait to see what my pressie is!!!
and where it's coming from!!!
oh i love the excitment!!!

a big thanks to elf donna for hosting this swap!!!
you rock chicka!!!

oh and in case anyone wants to know:
twilight did SO well opening weekend that the sequels have been greenlighted!!!
yayyy!!!
*insert irish jig here*

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hubby's yum-o veggie pizza

24 November 2008

shane & i made this together this evening.
just thought i would share the wealth.

what y'all will need:
2 pkgs {8ozs each} cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1 pkg hidden valley dressing mix
2 tubes pillsbury crest rolls
1 pkg shredded cheddar cheese {2 cups-ish}
veggies of your choice

mix together cream cheese, sour cream & ranch mix.

spread crescent rolls dough on cookie sheet.
{we spray ours with cooking spray.}
bake until lightly brown.
{375' for about 11 minutes.}

once cooled, spread cream cheese mixture over crust.

sprinkle with veggies & shredded cheese.

note: you can use any type of veggies.
broccoli, onion, carrots, peppers, etc.

hope y'all enjoy.

xo, rachel

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yeah baby!!!

23 November 2008

okay yall...big news!!!
are yall sitting down???

seriously if you are blog hoping standing up...
i might have to laugh at you!!!
{in the name of love of course.}

so back to my BIG news...
we are going to momma's house for christmas!!!

for those of yall that don't know:
rachel=ohio.
momma=charleston.
daddy=georgia.
that's why it's a BIG deal!!!

i'm not going 'home-home' cause that's georgia.
but momma & my big brother {sean} are in charleston.
so that's close enough to say...
i'm going home for christmas!!!
yayyy!!!

exciting stuff i know.
and yes...that means a new countdown!!!
i know what yall are thinking:
what is it with her & countdowns???
i can't help it. sorry.
tehehe.

we will be in charleston in 24 and a wake up!!!

p.s. yall still have time to sign up for...
you know you want to!!!

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pay it forward: the p.s. i quilt edition

22 November 2008

well here goes my first pay it forward.
i was lucky enough to sign up for one via jojo's blog.
{my irishness was on my side for that one!!!}

so i'm hoping someone *might* wanna receive a gift from me.
maybe...just maybe yall might.
:O)

here are my rules.
'rules...what rules???'
i heard yall say that.
tehehe.

pay it forward: the p.s. i quilt edition
{that just sounds cool huh???}
so here’s how it works:
i will make and send a 'rachel-ish' gift to 3 lucky peeps.
i don't wanna do 'the first 3 people who sign up' like everyone does.
cause that's how i roll.

so how am i gonna choose???
well i'm glad yall asked that.
everyone just sign up that would like to be included!!!
let's say by MONDAY.
on monday's post, i'll draw 3 names.
{name in a hat method.}
and those 3 peeps will be my pay it forward pals.
how's that???

i'm not telling what the 'rachel-ish' gift will be yet.
{only cause i don't know!!!}
you can bet your bottom dollar that you will love it!!!
if i don't already 'know' you...i'll get to know you via your blog.

and another thing about that gift:
i won't send it out this month.
not so much for next month either.
{it's almost christmas baby!!!}
i'm thinking within the next 3ish months.
how's that sound???

how about by saint patty's day???
oh yeah...that's it!!!
i'll send yall's stuff out by march 16th.
yayyy.

note to add: deadline has been moved to...before july 4th.


now the only other thing is...you gotta share the wealth!!!
if you sign up with me...you gotta pass it on.
just make the same promise on your blog.
{making your own 'rules' and deadline.}

so...good luck yall.

p.s. international gals are more than welcome to sign up!!!

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twilight night.

21 November 2008

twilight was AMAZING!!!
seriously.

without giving anything away to my fellow twilight pals:
the movie rocked my socks off!!!
edward was SO swoon-worthy it's not even funny.
*insert a HUGE swoon here*


the whole theatre was screaming, cheering, awww'ing & laughing.
the atmosphere was perfect!!!


the movie workers messed with us before the previews.
they turned down the lights and we all cheered.
then they turned the lights back on...we boo'ed.
we did that for a few minutes.
it was fun.

when edward first entered the movie we all cheered!!!
hardcore cheering!!!
{just like the days of new kids on the block cheering!!!}
♥ed that!!!
and the first kiss between bella & edward was such a great, tense moment.
trust me when i say: you could've heard a pin drop in that scene.
yeah...amazing.


wanna know where i sat???
FRONT ROW.
i know. crazy.
that was the only place with 3 open seats.
it was packed.
but it was good.


so being that i was in the front row i really saw every detail.
*swoon*
the movie DID justice to the book!!!
of course some things were shifted around...to make a better movie.
i'm SUPER happy with it though.

go directly to your local movie theatre.
do NOT pass go.
do NOT collect $200.
{and then tell me what you thought about it!!!}

here's me in my nifty twilight shirt.
ain't i cute???
tehehe.

i had to bargain with the hubby for it.
and now that i have a twilight shirt he thinks i'm a BIGGER dork!!!
{i love you baby!!!}

this is the sister...lissa.
she's a team edward girl...like me.
she's on my good side.
haha.
go team edward!!!

this is my gal pal stevie.
she's a team jacob girl...unlike me.
she's on my bad side.
haha.
no go team jacob!!!

this is us after the movie.
we have officially been 'twilighted'...yayyy.
we live in ohio.
this was taken at 2:30 am.
we have snow everywhere.
we were freezing...teeth chattering freezing!!!
but we HAD to take one last pic.
it was all in the name of twilight.
haha.

so we wanna go back tonight to see it.
i know what yall are thinking.
'is this twilight madness going to stop???'
haha.
well we aren't going back tonight.
*sigh*
but i will be counting down the days until the dvd release.
"what another countdown...is she crazy???"
i heard yall say that.
tehehe.

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and it's showtime.

20 November 2008

in less than an hour and a half...
i will be watching twilight!!!!

details coming soon...
to a blog near you!!!

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this calls for a 2nd post!!!

19 November 2008

i get to see twilight tomorrow night!!!

{at 12:01 am!!!}
technically friday, but it's thursday in my eyes!!!

with the movie coming out in about 24 HOURS i had to celebrate!!!
and in honor of that...you are now listening to the soundtrack!!!
please don't hate me if you don't like it.
{i'll change it back to the irish tunes later.}


i'm am SO stoked!!!
and the hubby thinks i'm the biggest dork on the planet.
haha.

edward cullen here i come.

p.s. i would love to be the proud owner of this soundtrack!!!
but since i'm not {sigh} i stole the pic from here.

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christmas cottage block exchange.

nanette {and terri} hosted one awesome swap!!!

look at all the fun cottages i got.
aren't they cuter than cute???
yall should be able to click on the pic to make it bigger.

i want to recognize all the gals that made these.
so we will work in a clockwise manner.
starting in the top lefthand corner.

tara {no blog.}
third one is mine...gotta love the celtic knot roof.
carolann {no blog.}
jane.
cate {no blog.}
karen {no blog.}
elaine {no blog.}
micki. {from ireland!!!}
and lastly lily.

didn't these ladies do a great job???
i honestly ♥ every single one of them!!!
i can't wait to make a christmas wall quilt.
yall should see the one that trisha is working on. i really ♥ it.
{and i can't wait to make a fall one like this!!! it's my fav.}

and to think that all this started from a tutorial.
:O)

i'm curious as to where my blocks live at now!!!
so if you have one...please tell me.
i can't wait to see them in a quilt.

this was the 2nd swap i signed up for.
it just SO happens that the deadline for this one came first.
{so i'm counting this one as my 1st swap.}
i ♥ the experience and can't wait to join another one.

p.s. i'm working on a new tutorial for yall!!!

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introducing alyssa jane.

18 November 2008


here is miss alyssa jane. and me.
she's the cute one.
tehehe.

born today!!!
6 lbs. 10 ozs.
18 inches long.

she is SO cute.
and i immediately fell in love.

who is she???
well my sister-inlaw. {who i refer to as the sister.}
her twin sister melinda is the mommy of alyssa jane.
{did yall catch that???}

we are all very close.
and melissa & melinda might as well be my real sisters.
so we call ourselves sisters.
so miss alyssa jane has an adopted auntie rachel.
:O)


here is the quilt i made her.
i didn't pick the fabric.
{the sister did. she's a HUGE betty boop fan.}
but i think it's SUPER cute.
{and i'm NOT a betty boop fan...lol.}


okay so the reason why the pics are SO shiny is:
my camera sucks. hardcore.
{hubby please make note to self that i need a new digital camera!!!}
the sister will take better pics for me...for yall.

and i thought i had baby fever before...now i REALLY do.
i already broke the news to the hubby.
tehehe.

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november 17th: andrew day

17 November 2008

well i made it.
i survived...today.

today my 'baby' became a 2 year old!!!
*sigh*

this is me & my little buddy.
aren't his eyes to die for???
i ♥ this pic so much.

today i also took jackson to the er.
{our 7 year old.}
before anyone freaks out...he's fine.
just has a horrible viral infection.
poor guy.
:O(

and to round out my day:
i JUST preordered twilight tickets!!!
one for me. one for the sis. and one for the gal pal.
SUPER stoked.

so with that being said:
i'm gonna go curl up in the hubby's lap and watch some tv.

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team edward.

16 November 2008

it's sunday night!!!
know what that means???

i'll be watching twilight in just a few days!!!

i'm going to the 12:01 am showing on wednesday night!!!
which is technically friday, but i say thursday to make it seem closer.
hahaha.

who's else is going???
i gotta know.

and for the record:
i'm a team edward girl!!!

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drumroll please.

15 November 2008

okay yall.
here's the moment we've all been waiting for.

nikki's. destiny. will. be. THIS. quilt.
yayyy.
*confetti flying everywhere*

so why am i the only one singing auld lang syne???
hahaha.

okay seriously:
i just want to say thanks to everyone for voting.
i had a great time reading everyone's blogs!!!
{people really come out of the woodwork for giveaways huh???}
i really was struggling trying to determine nikki's destiny.
i could...you know...make one of each.
hahaha.

okay back to the winner...
well after writer's cramp and a sharpie high a name was drawn.
that name would be:


yayyy mary anne!!!
congrats mary anne!!!
email me your particulars: ssg3369{at}hotmail{dot}com

this was SO much fun!!!
i can't wait to have another one.

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writer's cramp. haha.

i'm writing all the votes down NOW!!!
please bare with me yall!!!
{we went to see santa today!!!}

winner WILL be announced SOON!!!
promise.

it's 9:36 now.
{so that means this is LAST call!!! go vote now!!!}

VOTING IS OVER!!!
YALL COME BACK NOW YOU HEAR.

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strickly by accident.

14 November 2008

i walked in...and there it was.
this amazing vintage christmas fabric.
it was love at first sight.

here's the story:
i walked down to the quilt shop today.
{with 3 kids. i know...crazy!!!}
when i walked in this fabric was sitting on the cutting table.
{because a lady had just bought it before i walked in.}
this beautiful fabric called to me.
"rachel...you NEED me!!!"
so i fought with myself for all of about 2 seconds.
looked straight at the clerk and told her i NEEDED some of that.
she giggled and cut it for me.

i am SO glad that i bought it.
i would have kicked myself for coming home without it.

don't you love it???
it's a jolly christmas ll by edelen wille.

i'm not sure what this fabric's destiny is...but at least i got it...right!?!
hahaha.

and lastly:
don't forget to cast your vote for my giveaway!!!
winner WILL be drawn tomorrow night!!!

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cast your vote.

12 November 2008


so meet nikki.
isn't she a beauty???
i ♥ her.

momma got me a fabulous fat quarter bundle of nikki for my birthday.
sweet huh???

where did momma get her???
from pat sloan of course!!!
to see all 26 {or to order your own} go here.

so what is nikki's destiny???
i'm thinking of making this quilt.
or maybe this one.
what do you yall think???
please cast your vote.

so why should you cast your vote???
today is my 100th post!!!
and for casting your vote...that enters you into a drawing for...
a giveaway!!!

yes...i just said giveaway.
my first one!!!
exciting stuff i know!!!

as for the prize:
a christmas table topper & matching fabric basket!!!
not to mention that the winner's vote will become nikki's destiny!!!
{no picture of prize yet because i am currently making this for the winner!!!}
i know i know...i'm evil...but you gotta love me.


i will announce the winner on saturday night!!!
i will be using the standard 'name in a hat' method.
cause that's how i roll.
haha.

so cast your vote for 'stars' or 'pinwheels' and may the force be with you.
i know i know...big dork i am!!!

please feel free to tell your friends.
it's not a prerequisite to post a link to your blog.
but if you do...and you win...i'll slip you a little extra goodie!!!
{and seriously, if you do link back, please tell me. it makes things easier.}

good luck yall.

p.s. also in celebration of my 100th post...
you may have noticed 'p.s. i quilt' got a facelift.
i like it. do you???

VOTING IS OVER!!!
YALL COME BACK NOW YOU HEAR.

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endless love: complete!!!

10 November 2008







well here it is.
the moment some of us have been waiting for...for months!!!
{click on pics to make bigger.}


granddaddy's 'endless love' quilt is done!!!
i wrapped it and sent it to granddaddy yesterday.
i'm expecting he'll get it around thursday!!!


obviously i wanted to give this to him in person.but sometimes things just don't work out.
{with me here in ohio...and him in charleston.}


but good news...
momma has assured the following:
it won't be opened until she gets home from work.
{the package is in HER name.}
i will be on the phone AS he opens it.
his reaction WILL be caught on video.
and i get to have a picture of him with it.


i'm SO excited.
and i know granddaddy will treasure it.
of course i'll share the excitement with yall as well.
only a few more days.
did i mention he has NO clue???
they were transplants from my old blog.}


so what do yall think???

today is november 10th...the marine corp birthday.
so to the hubby i say:
happy birthday marine!!! i love you!!!

oh go here. and here. trust me.

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duh moment.

07 November 2008




so how could i forget to post halloween pics of my kids???
what a dumb thing for me to NOT do.

well it's only...you know...a week late!!!
with that being said: here are my little trick-or-treaters.

my little pirate...mister andrew.
my adorable witch...miss melanie.
my own harry potter...mister jackson.

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