Fall Decor

Fall is beginning to be my favorite season.  I love the jewel-toned colors, the warm scents, and the cozy blankets I bring out from our blanket box. I created a list of my favorite things for Fall, but unfortunately I wasn't able to splurge on any of those items, but I do see some DIY projects for the future.  This year I got some new flowers to brighten empty corners.  Here's some of the fall things you spotted around my house this year.  Seeing as it's November 30, my Christmas Tree and decor start going up tomorrow.  I'm pretty excited about seeing all the lights around the neighborhood, but that's another story.

Anyways, here's our dining room.  The table runner is from Crate & Barrel, so are the tea light candle holders as the centerpiece.  The orange tea lights are from Yankee Candle Company.  The black place mats are also from Crate & Barrel and are actually the backs.  The orange place mats I made last year and have fall leaves on the other side, but no one knew that!  I'm sneaky sometimes.

Joe had a good idea to put some flowers I'd gotten to coordinate with the table runner over here in the corner.  I thought it was a great idea and it looks fantastic and really finishes out the room.  I'm not sure if I'll ever move it. I might just rotate the flowers. These flowers are from Hobby Lobby and the vase is from Marshall's.  The frame I picked up on clearance at Bed Bath & Beyond and filled it with my favorite wedding pictures.

You saw this up in the dining room picture. I used contact paper, cut into shapes to give our door a frosted look.  I LOVE the way it turned out but it was a TON of work.  The windows next to this won't get the same treatment.  I think it'll make the room look to dark at night.

Here's another view of the dining room to view our finally completed photo wall and buffet decor.

Here's the little set-up.  The green vase I got from Nebraska Furniture Mart in Kansas.  The purple bowl is from Hobby Lobby.  The fake goards are from Jo-Ann's last year.  The vine ball is from Pier 1.  I made the runner for the buffet just out of linen from the fabric store.  It's the same color as the one on the table.

And here's our Photo Wall!  FINALLY! We've got a bunch of miscellaneous pictures and prints up there.  In the center we've got some scrapbook paper in Fall Theme, of coarse.  Starting to the right of the "S" and working clockwise we've got:
- Photo strips from weddings we've been to
- A picture of river rocks I took myself
- An image of the River Market downtown Kansas City from an old calendar we had laying around
- A picture we took during our vacation to Atlanta Botanical Gardens of a Lily Pad
- A sketch-up of our pooch, Daisy that my Hubby created on Picnik
- A piece of scrapbook paper
- A printable saying
- A Picture of a waterfall at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas
- A poem that came with the frame
- and finally, A picture of the pond at Forest park in St. Louis

We'll change out the three slot frame along the way.

Last but not least, here's our mantle and fireplace. Nothing fancy.  Just a cute little turkey hanging out there I picked up from Hobby Lobby.  I got the Owl from Nebraska Furniture Mart.  The Pumpkin from TJ Maxx, The leave garland from Jo-Ann's, The white vase from Target.  The candles and the holders are from Kohl's.

So Happy Fall Everyone!  Hopefully, you enjoyed my little fall decor tour.  What did you think of it all?

It's almost Turkey Day!

My favorite memories of spending time with family are always at the holidays.  Thanksgiving is no different. As a child I remember driving 5 hours from our home in Kentucky to my grandma and grandpa's house near St. Louis.  It was always exciting to see our aunts, uncles, and cousins. So much so that my sister and I would stay up as late as we were aloud before being forced to go to bed, where we would wait until we heard the front door close and RUN out of the room to see our cousins that always arrived long after we were supposed to be sleeping.  Over the course of the weekend, we would play dress up, get our hair french braided, and watch movies with grandma and grandpa while all the parents went out to catch up, I kinda wish I new where but I really think it was dinner and the casino. When it comes down to the meal, I remember having tables in every room to seat the 50 or so people ready for sit-down dinner.  We'd have SO much food: turkey, sweet potatoes, canned cranberry sauce (with the lines and all), pumpkin pie, cool whip and much more.

I'll never forget the year that the sink got clogged and the dishes had to be washed in the bathtub.  HOPEFULLY nothing like that will happen on Saturday when I am hosting Thanksgiving at our house for the first time EVER!  It's not going to be huge, but 10 people is quite a bit more than the standard 2 in our household.

I won't lie, I'm pretty nervous.  Thankfully, since I'm a list-maker I think I have everything under control.

I've got a few lists going right now, including:

• Dinner Menu
• Shopping List
• Cleaning List
• Timeline for Cooking
• Decorations and Serving Dishes

So what am I cooking?  A ton of things!  I am just so excited, but I'm still trying to figure out how to have everything ready at the same time.

Our Thanksgiving Dinner Menu:

Main Dish
Herb Roast Turkey

Sides:
Old Fashioned Stuffing
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Green Beans with Toasted Almonds
Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Creamed Corn
Fresh Made Bread 

Desserts:
Pumpkin Pie
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie
Whipped Cream

What's on your menu?  Do you think there is anything I'm missing for our dinner?

Happy Veteran's Day

Happy Veteran's Day!

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a check payable to "The United States of America" for the amount up to, and including, their life.

So thank you, to those who have served, who are currently serving, and especially those who gave everything.

Fall Pinterest Challenge Project

Oh Pinterest, how I love you.
Each and every day I explore your world and find even more reasons I love you.
I LOVE the Pinterest Challenge Fall Edition.

And now, here's your hosts:

Sherry of Young House Love 
Katie of Bower Power
Ana of Ana-white.com
Erin of House of Earnest 

I unfortunately am one of those people who has about 15-20 projects going at one time. It usually takes me a long time to finish a project since I have so many going at one time.  I really need to work on this! Here's a few pins that are currently being worked on at my house:

So there's five things I didn't finish for this Pinterest Challenge.  I'll try to finish them soon and post them here.

Make sure you check out the hosts' blogs listed above to see what other bloggers have completed with the Pinterest Challenge: Fall Edition.

What have you been pinning or working on lately? Leave link and I'll go check it out.

Countdown to Halloween...Even Though It's Halloween!

I have recently come to LOVE Halloween!  I'm not sure why I never really got into it in college.  I love the idea of spooky yard decorations, creepy cob-webs, pumpkins, and the best part: the food that goes along with it.

One of my favorite crafts seen last year is the countdown wooden cubes.

I think these blocks are sooooo cute!  I love how easy they are!

Here's the supplies needed:

- Two square blocks (mine were 2" x 2" from Hobby Lobby priced $0.99 each, on sale 50% off)

- Mod Podge Gloss (already had some but costs about $5)

- Foam Brush ($0.25)

- 6 different Halloween scrapbook paper

Directions:

- First you should paint the blocks.  I painted mine white. I've seen others painted orange and black.

- Use scissors or a paper cutter to cut the scrapbook paper to fit on the blocks.

- Use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge to the block and the back of the and place on the block.  Then paint Mod Podge over the top of the paper to seal it.  

- Cut out numbers or use some larger stickers.  Apply the same way you applied the square paper. 

- Apply a final coat of Mod Podge and let dry.

Place them out for everyone to see!

Here's My version!

Happy Halloween!

Now, back to handing out candy.

Top 10: Fall Decor Wish List

I love Fall!

I love the textures, colors and scents.  My favorite thing about fall is really the leaves.  The colors are just so warm and wonderful.  I'm just glad we don't have big trees at our house yet.  Raking leaves are not my favorit thing.  Hopefully you don't have too many leaves to rake up this year.

I also love decorating my home with the warm colors and wonderful scents of fall.  Here's a few things I just can't wait to get my hands on! I see home decor shopping in my near future!

1. Sphere Table Lamp (west elm, $99)

2. Acorn Vase Filler (Pottern Barn, $14.50)

3. Large Square Farmer's Market Basket (Anthropologie, $20)

4. Metallic Leaf Votive Holders (Pier 1, $7.95)

5. Zambales Tray (Crate&Barrel, $42.95)

6. Rattan Wall Decor (Pier 1, $59.95)

7. Talin Wall Clock (Crate&Barrel, $169.00)

8. Rona Amber Placemat (Crate&Barrel, $9.95)

9. Embroidered Square Pillow (Pier 1, $34.95)

10. Shaded Spruce Chenille Throw (Pier 1, $39.95)

What are some of your favorite things for fall?

10 years later.....

September 11, 2001
Just like the rest of the country, I can't believe it's been 10 years since the day we were attacked.  I was a sophomore in high school.  I was sitting in the front row, third seat from the left in Driver's Ed.  It was second period.  We flipped on the TV after the science teacher came running down the hall shouting to turn on the news.  We watched it live, as the second plane hit.  I was 15 years old, so naive, so innocent, so clueless.  The entire class's immediate reaction was "well, how are they going to get the planes out?"  It seems silly now.  None of us even knew what the World Trade Center even was, and here it was, in front of our eyes, changing history forever.

I've always been patriotic.  My dad was retired Army, my grandfather fought in the Battle of the Bulge in WWII.  It's in my blood. But this changed my outlook on this country.

The strength of this country as a whole and individual communities will always be remembered in my heart.

Has it really been 10 years.....

I think of all the things that have happened in 10 years:
- I learned to drive
- I went to Prom
- I graduated High School
- I started college
- I bought my 1st car
- I had my heart broken....a few times
- I joined Zeta Tau Alpha
- I met my best friends
- I found the love of my life, my husband.
- I graduated college
- I moved to Kansas City
- I started my 1st "real" job!
- I got married
- I bought a house with my husband
- We adopted a dog
- I've created a life for myself

Sitting in that classroom, 10 years ago, this day was WAY too far in the future.  But I've never forgotten.

There are many heroes in this world because of that day.  There are those who immediately responded: Fire Fighters, Police, and others at the scene.  There are those who gave blood, donated money and time, those who drove across the country to lend a helping hand in any way they could. There are heroes who signed up to serve their country in the military knowing they would be sent to dangerous places to fight with the risk of never coming home.  There are those who return after volunteering to serve deployment after deployment.  There are those who give the ultimate sacrifice. Heroes from that day are all around us.

I think about 9/11 often.  It's the little things that bring it to my mind.  My husband.  The woman in uniform at the supermarket. Hearing a stranger thank someone for serving this country.  Flags flying out side the neighbor's house.  Going to work.  Donating blood.

9/11 is all around us.


Tomorrow I'll be spending the day with my husband.  Thinking of those who lost loved ones and praying for those in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tomorrow will also be the day I convince my Husband to go with me to Lowe's and purchase our 1st United States Flag and hang it outside....but he doesn't know that yet.

Patriotic Decorations

The thing I love most about decorating for Memorial Day is knowing that it gets to stay up until after 4th of July.  Since we've moved into our home almost 2 years ago, I've gathered a few items containing stars & stripes.

Almost every item on our buffet is an everyday item.  The white tray we received as a wedding gift and was just sitting in a box tucked away in a cabinet until now.  The lace framing the flag plate was something we purchased on our honeymoon.  It adds such grace.  The pitcher is something we use whenever we have company and fits right in. The candles can be seen around for some other holidays too, and might even be decorated accordingly.  See the picture's on the wall? Those I'll be blogging about later.  It's our photo wall.

I LOVE how our table turned out.  After watching some awesome videos here and here made by Sherry from Young House Love and Katie from Bower Power, I took notes and this is the result.  The great thing is that the only thing actually holiday specific is the runner and I snagged that from Kohl's after the holiday last year for a whopping $10.  I originally bought it for the buffet, but it was WAY too long so I threw it on the table.  It looks fantastic if I do say so myself.  Oh yeah and see that beautiful candle in the middle? Yup, that's the unity candle from our wedding.

Are you putting together any decorations?

Happy Mother's Day

Photo Source

Happy Mother's Day!

To all those mothers out there, Thank you!  A special thanks to my mom.  She's there through thick and thin and loves me just the same.  Have a great day!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Photo Source

Did you know there was such thing as Military Spouse Appreciation Day?   Did you know that was today?

I had no idea until my husband forwarded me an e-mail he'd received through work.

Here’s a bit about the history of Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

Back in 1984, President Regan proclaimed the Friday before Mother’s Day to be designated as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.  Ever since that day, each President has followed in recognizing this day.  The purpose of this day is to recognize the countless personal sacrifices military spouses have made in support of the Armed Forces. These spouses have a tough job themselves.  They are mothers and fathers, full time workers, rocks when strength is needed.  They show their support the Armed Forces and America every single day.

So today, I would like to show my appreciation to all Military Spouses.  

Thank you to every Military Spouse out there.  Thank you for the sacrifices you make.  Thank you for supporting your Spouse, the Armed Forces and the United States of America.

I am making a personal donation to the USO in honor of Military Spouses everywhere.

Have you said "Thank You." to a Military Spouse you know?

Sources:

www.military.com

Happy Christmas & Merry Birthday

Every Christmas Eve I go with my Grandma, Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother-in-law, and Hubby to the service at the church I grew up in.  We hear the Christmas Story, sing carols, and light candles.  It is one of my favorite things to do all year.  But most of all, I look forward to going to the 11pm service wherever that may be to be awake and in a state of praise when Christmas Day greets us.  After the early service with the family we went back to my parents' house and had snacks and cookies.  With no avail, I'd begged my mom to go with me to the 11pm service at the church up the street since our church decided against it this year.  I'd even asked my hubby to go with me and his response was "Two services?!? That's too much Jesus for one day". I'd convinced myself that I'd have to wait until next year to restart my 11pm service tradition.  Then, at 10:45, my sister and her mother-in-law said they had to go if they were going to make it to service.  I was so excited and quickly invited myself and was the first one ready to go out the door.  Christmas Eve Candlelight service at 11pm is honestly my favorite service all year.  I love seeing the Churches all decorated with lights, trees, Nativities, poinsettias, banners, and filled with other lovers of the Christmas Season. I love the silence in the night as we prepare to celebrate the Birth of Jesus.

Christmas has always been a special time for me.  Being a Christmas Baby isn't a common thing {although it's probably just as common as being a Halloween Baby, Valentine's Day Baby, or 4th of July Baby}. I haven't always been as grateful as I am this year of having my Birthday on Christmas.  My whole life, my parents have done the best they could to make me feel special.   When I was younger, they separated Christmas and Birthday by having my party on the 15th.  As I got older and didn't do so many parties, Christmas was in the morning then we'd break out the balloons and banners in the after noon.  Still, I always felt a little bit 'jipped' when it came to presents.  It seemed to me that others got to open just as many as I did when it was MY birthday!  This year's big milestone of 25 was no different.  The morning started out with slight jealousy, like most years.  I made an escape just after presents to think quietly for just a few minutes and I quickly realized that for all these years I've been taking the best gift for granted!  The gift of family.  For 25 years now, I have been shifting from praising God on Christmas Eve to thinking only about material things on my Birthday/Christmas.  I'm not sure why today was different.  Maybe I gained some magical wisdom I gained at that moment 25 years after my birth {not very realistic, but just go with it....}.  Most people get cards in the mail from aunts and uncles, phone calls from parents and siblings, or text messages and facebook wall posts from friends.  Not many get the privilege of seeing their faces and receiving hugs from them to celebrate a birthday.  I'm not sure why it took me so long to see this but it was the best gift I've ever gotten.  I am more grateful than ever to share my Birthday with the most gracious human to set foot on earth.

Merry Christmas to all!

Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Top 10: My Christmas & Birthday List

Well, it's that time of year again.  Time to make wish lists for the 'rents, in-laws and siblings.  Every year this list game becomes more challenging.  It makes me think about things I wouldn't normally buy myself but I would like.  Things on my list typically include sewing or baking items.  These are things I enjoy doing and wish I had more time for.  Since my birthday falls on Christmas, I typically need to begin writing things down in October in order to have enough options to split the list for Birthday AND Christmas. 

This year, I've come up with the Top 10 things I'd love to get.

1. Baby Lock: Sophia2
My poor little Brother machine that I got for Christmas a few years ago just isn't quite cutting it anymore.  After making all those aprons for my "bride-to-be" friends, it's not sounding so great anymore.  Poor thing.  I'd love to start dabbling in embroidery so this little machine would be the perfect starter.

2. Sonia Kashuk Make-up Brushes
In college I bought a set of Sonia Kashuk brushes and LOVE them.  However, I have pretty much warn them out.  Lately, I've noticed a lot of bristles coming out and I just think that the past 6 years has finally taken a toll on them. 

3. Wine Decanter and Journal
My BFF Kelly and I got into wine when we lived together that summer.  We'd go to the store and just pick the bottles that had great labels.  I know, so juvenile of us.  These days I forget which wines I've had and which I should get.  A journal would really help out in this department.  I was visiting Crate & Barrel a few months ago and saw they used a wine decanter to store their wine corks.  I love the look and can't wait to replicate it to decorate the bar cabinet Joe just refinished.

4. Cookie Press
Because I love the spritz cookies my mom makes at the holidays and I'd love to have my own press to make some that are just as delicious.

5. Indoor Weather Station
I'm not quite sure that I would have survived college with out one of these.  Mine happened to die after about 4 years.  I really would love to know the outside temperature before I leave the house in the morning so standing at the bus stop isn't as shocking.

6. Pampered Chef Double Boiler
I have this slight obsession with Pampered Chef products.  Just about everything in my kitchen is from Pampered Chef.  I'm pretty much a walking sales woman for them (even though I'm not a Consultant).  I just LOVE their products.  I have the pot & pans set that this will be perfect for.  I do lots of baking that would be much easier if I had this around.  Yes, there are probably some double boilers out there that aren't as expensive but I'm very much a minimalist and this would take up less storage since I've already got the bottom half.

7. Fiskars Easy Action Pinking Shears
I have a set of scissors in the Easy Action series.  I love the set.  They work so well and are easy on my hands.  They also lock closed so I don't have to to worry too much about them.  Pinking shears would be the perfect addition to my set.

8. Electric Tooth Brush
Well, lets just say I really need one.  I have always taken care of my teeth, so I thought.  Honestly, I try.  Probably even harder than others and still I have too many problems to count.  I just can't seem to get my teeth healthy again.  It all started with a bike ride turned disastrous when I was 6.  Lets just say that one should never face plant into concrete especially one with bad jeans to begin with.  I'm not quite 25 and I've gotten 2 root canals, 1 crown, and 1 crown on the books for next year.  Yikes!

9. Crock Pot Carrier
I saw this when searching for an inexpensive 1.5-3 quart crock pot to add to my appliances.  It just seems so genius.  They're pretty inexpensive and definitely a must if you go to a lot of pot-lucks or parties. 

10. Barefoot Contessa Cookbooks
Can someone really have too many cookbooks?  I think not! Especially if they are ones that have delicious concoctions in them.

Veterans Day

A Veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact.

Freedom is definitely NOT free.

Freedom is fought for day in and day out by those who serve in our Armed Services.  I was lucky enough to grow up as a daughter of an Army service member.  I feel privileged to have so many people in my life who sacrifice or have sacrificed everything to allow me to have the freedoms that I have today.  I can personally thank the following people who have had an influence in my life.

Thank you Grandpa Blew.  You never spoke of the days of your service, but I remember you and your buddies at this time every year for your bravery in the Battle of the Bulge, WWII.  I love and miss you.

Thank you Dad.  You and mom always were great role models and taught me to be a grateful American Citizen.

Thank you A. Foster, J. Kovach, J. Hines, C. Sloan, Blood, J. Senft, W. Viegas, B. Spohr, J. Rapone, S. Rapone, R. Rapone, J. Deehr, C. Moline, K. Ralston, B. Ralston, B. Stone, A. Martin,  and many more that I know I'm forgetting.  You are my all friends.  I thank you and think of you often as you are serving our country. 

Thank you B. Smith.  You were a true hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice.  You will never be forgotten for being a hero. 

Thank you Hubby.  You are my friend, and my rock.  You get me through the trials in our lives and you celebrate with me the joys.  You are humble, smart, caring, and many other things.  You are a veteran.

Have you thanked a veteran today?

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I hope everyone out there is enjoying this holiday favorite of many.

Tonight I'm decked out in costume passing out candy to Trick-or-Treaters with the Hubby!

Halloween Party 2010

Yup, hubby and I decided to be Tourists this year.  Thanks to some last minute brain-storming with Alex before leaving work yesterday.  Alex and her hubby were having a halloween party at their house and we had no luck coming up with something ourselves.

The only thing we bought to complete the outfit was Joe's fabulous shirt.  A total of $5 was spent on our costumes.  Don't we look awesome?

Pumpkin Cake Pops

When I opened Bakerella's Cake Pop's Cookbook {blogged about here} and saw the cute little pumpkin cake pops, I knew immediately that they would the hit of whatever party I went to.  They were so fun to make and now that I'm getting a bit used to the technique I'm getting better at the crumbling, mixing, rolling, and dipping.  Hubby and I couldn't find green tic-tacs so we used a light green so I don't think they turned out that well.  Also, I tried to use the edible pens on the pop without luck.  It was carving the pop instead of drawing on it.  I might need some new edi-pens.  However, here's the result:

 

Patriot Day

WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:National_Park_Service_9-11_Statue_of_Liberty_and_WTC_fire.jpg#filehistory

Sorting M&Ms

So, I like to be thrifty.  I had TONS of M&Ms left over from Kelly's Bridal Shower that I helped throw for her over the weekend.  I mean TONS!  So I thought to myself that I'd sort them into their colors to make holiday cookies with! 

Orange, Yellow, Brown: Fall/Thanksgiving/Halloween
Red, Green: Christmas
Blue: hmm....any ideas?

Holidays: 4th of July

It's Independence Day!  Time to celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, and baseball games.  This is one of my favorite Holidays! I just love having fun with family and friends on a 3 day weekend.

The History of Flag Day

For the past few years I've been wondering what the purpose of Flag Day is.  Every year all the neighbors hang their flags out for everyone to see.  This year I looked it up.  Thanks to 'A website dedicated to the Flag of The United States of America' I now have my answer.

Essentially, June 14 is the day the US adopted The Stars and Stripes.  It is also considered the Flag's Birthday.

Who knew!?

After reading the website's history on Flag Day, I feel very let-down by my education.  I wish I would have been taught the meaning back in school.

Next year, I will be proudly displaying my flag with the rest of the country in celebration of the Flag's Birthday!