The Caitlin Moss Blog

While chatting with a friend the other day, she said, "So it looks like you've had a busy week." I was a little confused considering I felt the previous week was pretty relaxed. She was making this assumption based on pictures I had posted on social media.  Her: "Oh, is that a normal week for you?"  Me: "Yeah, I guess so." And, honestly, that's the truth. That is our normal pace. We go places and we do things. And I like to share it mostly because I love when other people share their happy moments, whether it's at the aquarium or at the kitchen table.  While I do think experiencing new things is great for our kids, I don't take our kids places because I feel like I have to, nor is it simply because I want to. It's because that is where I am a better, more present mom. When we're out exploring and visiting new places I am constantly engaged and living in the moment with my kids. When I'm home, I am way...

Apple crisp is one of those desserts I love to eat seasonally. It just doesn't taste right if it's not eaten during the fall months. My crockpot apple crisp recipe is the easiest thing to make and will make your whole house smell heavenly the entire day. 3-5 lbs. apples of your choice, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces 1 cup quick oats 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 Tbsp cane sugar Pumpkin pie spice All spice Cinnamon 3 Tbsp. butter Once you've peeled and cut your apples, place them on the bottom of the crockpot. Sprinkle in a little sugar and a few shakes of pumpkin pie spice and all spice. Mix the apples around with a spoon until the sugar and spices are evenly coated on the apples. Mix 1 cup oats with 1/2 cup brown sugar. Sprinkle evenly over the apples. Add a few shakes of cinnamon on top of that because...why not? Melt about 3 Tbsp of butter and drizzle that over the top. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. It tastes like the ooey, gooey...

Happy Fall, y'all! Officially. We loved using our summer bucket list so much over the summer to help us decide what to do tomorrow or this weekend that, after a friend's suggestion, I decided to do one for Fall as well.  Here is our list: Make apple cider Hay ride Bon fire Turkey Trot Be Thankful Pumpkin Patch Turkey Trot Do something kind for someone Movie Night Nature Walk Fall Crafts Corn Maze Trick or Treat Bike Ride Apple Crisp Make pumpkin bread Fall crafts Visit Farm animals Leaf rubbings Carve pumpkins Leaf Pile Fall Hike Paint Rocks Harvest Carnival Play tag Chances are we won't get to everything. So often Fall is the season of getting used to new schedules and playing catch-up, but if we have a moment free, I'm hoping to tackle some of these fun activities with my family.

Over the last few years, my husband and I have been slowly remodeling every surface of our cookie-cutter 2004 home. It is such a process but is incredibly fun to put our own "touch" on our house. The laundry room was something I've kept on the back burner for a while because, frankly, I don't care. I figured closing the door hid the mess and I didn't care. The problem is it wasn't really that functional (and also, with a 7 year old and 5 year old in the house the door was rarely closed). So we decided to spruce it up a bit and I am loving how clean, organized, and open it feels now. After Before A few years ago we added the one wall of batton and board and found it wasn't enough space for all the kids' backpacks and jackets and my jacket and purse. We decided to extend the batton and board and also remove the shelf on the wall opposite of the door to give the small room a more open, less-cluttered feel. Before Keep in mind we have...

Photcred: Trisha Marie Photography My kids always have a catchphrase. For my 5 year old it was, "Mom, let me tell you something." And then she would proceed to tell me sumthin like it was the most exciting information on the planet. I don't remember the stories but I will always remember her enthusiasm. This week she started kindergarten. [SOB] Which, by the way, I thought sending child #2 to kindergarten would be easier but nope, I cried harder this time. Every day she got home buzzing with energy and stories and her phrase changed. "Just one more thing I need to tell you..." Story after story. "One more thing, mom." In the car, through dinner, at bedtime. The girl has stories. It is exhausting sometimes because I have the type of personality where I need to be left completely alone sometimes. (But I have 3 kids and doting husband so joke's on me!) As a parent, there is always one more thing. One more dish to wash, one more bill to pay,...

Have you heard of Canvas House yet? My sweet friend, Megan, started this line a couple years ago and the pieces are just beautiful...and actually affordable compared to many other small shops. She asked us a few weeks ago if my girls and I would participate in the photo shoot for the Fall line. We had such a great time and are really loving the pieces in this collection. To shop, check out Canvas House . Photocred: Oliver Blue Photography.

If you know me, you know I love a good book. It is one of my favorite things to do if I get a moment to myself. So light your pumpkin spice candle, cozy up with a warm blanket and get to reading one of my top 5 book picks for this Fall: 1. Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton - Cleeton does a beautiful job transporting you into this book. It is rich in history and love and family, with a hefty side of revolutionary. You will fall in love with both of the main characters and find yourself dreaming of life in Cuba. 2. Small Great Things by Jodi Piccoult - This is a gripping novel that will have you hooked from the very first line. It is one of my favorite books of all time. A black nurse is forbidden from caring for the baby of white supremacists but when the baby dies, guess who is blamed. This book dives into issues of racism and social justice, bringing you to tears in every chapter. 3. In A Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware - I love a spooky read during the fall. You could...