Carson Low Cal Pumpkin Bread!

So, with all the cool weather and Halloween just around the corner a little treat with pumpkin is always something special! Trying to eat healthy and not eat sugar is super hard- especially around this time of the year! I searched and searched online for a healthy pumpkin bread recipe and tada- here it is! Several of you have already received a loaf of this from me this year! (I already made probably 10 loaves! ha!)

I have found it to be the perfect fall treat- yummy, yet low cal and healthy too! Tie a cute ribbon around it with a tag and there ya go!! Instead of the sugar I used Splenda instead- just a thought! So at the request of a few- here is the "Carson Low Cal Pumpkin Bread." (Aka- Lowfat Pumpkin Bread from Taste of Home).

Yummy "Carson Low Cal Pumpkin Bread"

Print a cute Halloween "tag" and tie onto the bread and the gift

Finished product!

Pair the bread with a few Halloween Towels and the gift is ready!
Perfect for any fall gathering!

Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/2 cup egg substitute
• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg or allspice
• 1 cup chopped nuts or raisins (optional)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, pumpkin, applesauce and egg substitute; mix well. Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt and nutmeg; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir in nuts or raisins if desired. Pour into two 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Nutritional Analysis: One serving (1 slice) equals 122 calories, 0.55 g fat (0.55 g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 149 mg sodium, 28 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 2 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch.

Cake Smashin'

After this I finally think I am caught up on blogging! Before Crew's birthday we had his 1 year pictures taken so we could display them at the party. I really wanted to get some pictures of him smashing the cake, so they let me bring a cake to the studio. I had it all planned out, cake, balloons, outfit, planned the time right after Crew's naptime, etc... So I thought! Each 3 months we take pictures it gets harder and harder! It started pouring rain outside right when we were headed in. Imagine a mom with a wagon, cake, balloons, baby, diaper bag in the pouring ran- not a pretty sight! Ha! So we got there, took a few pictures in the blue/white outfit and then Crew fell and that was the end of that. Non stop screaming! So not like him. The sweet photographers let us go get some dinner to see if that calmed him down. NOPE- still upset! So, I put him in the car, drove to Brett's work and picked him up. Crew slept the whole way there and back. Just what he needed a NAP!! So, once we got back to the studio he was as happy as could be! We took all the cake pictures and they turned out wonderful! Crew had cake in his toes, all over his face, under fingernails! Ha! He LOVED it and had so much fun! I even signed a waver at the studio that they could use these pictures for marketing! =) I also have a cute bday collage hanging in my living room now and I LOVE it! Completes our 1 year of photos! Thank goodness we are not taking anymore professional pictures until 2 years old! (well, that may change until Christmas comes around-ha!) But all in all, the pictures turned out great if you want to check them out!

http://www.picturepeople.com/sso/publishconfirm.sso?data=pRMHuZFYXT8tsF09PJ8GpD20AREbRppp3AP74j4pbjmuuZb15ke3RGiu%2f8r4uGRK

Chosen!

This past weekend Brett and his best friend Paul ran in the "Chosen" half marathon in Gruene. Neither of them had run a half marathon before, so they thought it would be fun to do it together! Brett has been training for a long time trying to get ready for the big day! Crew colored a sign for his daddy and we cheered on the boys from the finish line! Brett finished in 1 hr 56 min- WOW!! And Paul was right behind him at 2 hrs 3 min. To top it off the whole race was HILLS, so it was a rough race! Both boys said they would never run another another half marathon again, ha!
We spent the weekend in New Braunfels and enjoyed some quality time with the Naizers which is always a blast! Since Crew's and Ty's bday parties happened to be the same weekend and we both missed the parties, we decided to have our own little party this weekend and celebrate!
What a fun weekend we had spending time with wonderful friends!!

Crew colored a sign for his daddy!!

I loved Kinely and Lathan's signs for their dad!
(Kinley even drew leg hair on her dad's legs, ha!)

1 hr 56 minutes!

Yea, he finished!

Completion Medal

The Runners- a little exhausted!
This is where they kept saying.. "I am NEVER doing this again!" Ha!

The race started/finished right at the Guadalupe River in Gruene!
Such a neat setting!


Boys with their medals!

Meghan and Paul


Ty and Crew!

We love our Paci's!

Yea- PRESENTS!

Fall Fun at the Dallas Arboretum!

The Dallas Arboretum is by far the best place to take pictures EVER!!! Last October we bought a year long family pass and enjoyed going there each season so snap some good shots, see the beautiful flowers, and walk around the lake. The BEST time of the year though, has to be the fall! If you have never been there during the fall it is well worth the trip! They have a pumpkin "village" filled with pumpkin houses, all different types of exotic pumpkins, mums, and fall decorations everywhere! Since we were in Dallas for the weekend we decided to get the last use of our pass and head out for some pics!

I really wanted a few pics of Crew in his halloween costume in the pumpkins. Guess what our little man is this year???? (Hint-You can see below!) So , we dressed Crew in his costume and let him go! All the little kids were so confused, they kept asking if it was a monkey or a baby? Haha! We had quite a following after a few minutes as the little monkey was everywhere!

We then changed him out of his costume and into his fall outfit. A sweet lady from the Arboretum came and showed Crew some "turkish" pumpkins, and he just thought they were hilarious! If you have kids, you know hard it is to just get ONE good picture, so this lady was an angel! Needless to say, our trip to the Arboretum was a success- we got some good pictures, enjoyed the nice fall day, and had fun in the pumpkins!
Oh, and Crew's favorite part of the trip- NOT the pumpkins...the HAY!! It was all over him, I am still finding pieces in the car.

(Fall outfit made once again by Amy Bailey on Etsy)

Our little MONKEY!

Some of the many "pumpkin houses"

Pumpkin "flowers"

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays! Wow, we have alot of Birthday's in September and October! We went to Dallas this past weekend to celebrate Brett's mom's birthday. ( We missed celebrating Brett's cousin, Duncan's birthday, so we celebrated with him as well!) It was so nice to spend time with family and enjoy a weekend away! I found these cute "It's all about you CUPCAKE" napkins, so decided to go with a "cupcake" theme. I made the birthday banner, and it was just the right length to fit across the dining room! Brett grilled porkchops and veggies and for dinner (Grancie's request), and of course birthday "cupcakes" for dessert! We had so much fun celebrating and are blessed to have Grancie in our lives! Thanks so much for all you do for all of us! We love you!

Poor Crew got sick that night, so he was resting and missed out on the festivities! Little did we know, he had the stomach bug and Brett and I would get it too! Thankfully it only lasts 24 hours, but not a fun thing to have! We are glad to all be feeling better!

I got a belated bday gift- "Babycakes" mini cupcake maker!
This is the cutest gift ever, its PINK, and makes mini cupcakes, muffins, pies in 5 minutes!
Can't wait to use it!