It's here! It's here!

It’s time for fall! YESSSS!!!! I wait all year for the fall season. I feel like I really come alive this time of year! I cannot express to you enough how much I love absolutely everything about the fall, and I’m sure there will be plenty of posts on the way attempting to do just that…

My first fall candle of the season! I woke up so excited about fall this morning that I ran out special just to buy this candle because I could not wait to have my house filled with the scent of autumn!

Can’t you almost smell the cinnamon apple-y goodness?? This is a great scent I found at Pier One called Golden Apple Orchard.

But now, I thought I would take a minute to tell you about my moment of pure contentment.

There are few things I love more in this world then my afternoon tea/coffee break. When I’m having my afternoon break I like to take time to be quiet with myself. I turn the TV off and either look through a magazine, write in my journal, or do nothing at all besides sit outside and enjoy nature around me.

A lot of the time what I write on here are things I started to write about in my journal.

Things I think would be nice to share with my sisters. For example I think it would be nice to share with you some mindless pleasantries. Like how much I am enjoying sitting in the silence with yummy coffee, watching the flame of the candle beside me dance around in its little can. And through the windows I see big white fluffy clouds in the sky and the trees blowing wildly in the wind stirred up by all the recent storms in the area (...big deep sigh...)

I've learned that the most important thing I can do in my day is allow myself to have this little afternoon break. I make it almost mandatory. It helps to calm my mind and re-center. Otherwise I just keep spinning and spinning because there is always so much to do in any given day. Watching the wind blow through the trees is quite meditative. It reminds me of the important things in life, the little things, and getting myself all worked up and stressed out isn’t worth it. 

No matter what I have going on in my life, after my little afternoon breaks I always feel better. I feel lighter and calmer of mind. Most of the time I actually just keep my mind relatively blank. Which feel sooooo good. Kinda feels like I’m giving my brain a nice big stretch. I keep my thoughts away from anything negative or stressful, and if my mind does care to think about something, I make sure it’s light and happy. 

But right now, all I want to do is watch the wind blow...

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Me Day

I really think a "Me Day" is in order! I'm starting to get a little bit of that Christmas panic feeling. I have so much to do, so many Christmas presents to buy, I haven't finished decorating, I haven't made one cookie yet, and every day is getting closer and closer to Christmas! I'm running out of time!! AHHHHH!!!!!

I certainly don't want to feel this way. Especially this time of year. So I think the most important thing to do right now is have a day where I get caught up on the very basics.

It is a cozy, rainy morning out right now. I am going to have a nice relaxing morning in front of my Christmas tree (please don't take any notice that the tree is a little crooked). Then I am going to finish decorating and get the house all cleaned up! Nothing makes me feel more like I have my life in order then a clean house.

So that is my goal for the day. I am giving myself ONE goal. I am not going to overwhelm myself by trying to get everything done in one day. I am not even going to worry about all the presents I have to buy right now. I am going to sit and make a shopping plan and do all my shopping another day. (There is something about getting thoughts on a piece of paper that really helps to de-clutter my brain!)

Tonight, once my house is perfectly clean, I think I'll make some cookies and watch a Christmas movie!

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I Heart Thanksgiving!

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving are the fun tablescapes! As a kid, I was always the one to decorate the family Thanksgiving table. I loved digging through Mom's box of Thanksgiving decorations and coming up with a fun, clever way to set the dinner table each year.

One of my weird things I like to do around Thanksgiving is to spend some time looking at different Thanksgiving table settings I find online. More so then any other holiday, Thanksgiving just seems to have the most important table decorations in my eyes. Probably because the food is the main event at Thanksgiving and you want the table to look like the star of the show!

I always like the tables that are a bit over the top, flooded with candles, pumpkins, fabrics, and fall decor. Sure, it doesn't leave any room for the food, but that can be figured out later.

Here are some of my favorites from the HGTV website.

I loved this one! I really like all the dark fall colors, the ribbons, the mis-matching of candle sticks, and the small vase of roses in the center. Roses for Thanksgiving, who woulda thought?

This one I just LOVED the dishes. And that's all I have to say about that...

Now this one seems like something I could manage! I love the center filled with gourds, pinecones, and tea-lights. Simple and easy yet very Thanksgiving-ish.

This table setting caught my eye because of the rustic feel. Outdoorsy/rustic/natural seems to work so well with Thanksgiving. And I love those pumpkins sitting on the candle holders! What a great idea.

I put this one on here because of the candle holder placed up on a couple of old books. Love it! It is a really great unique way to get different heights in the tablescape. I don't know if it's something I would do for Thanksgiving, but something I think I will keep in my back pocket.

Okay last one. I just liked this one. It caught me eye. I really like the ribbon tied around the wine glass. I'm going to use that one at Christmas! A great way to add some color to the table.

Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, I thought I would end this post with a few things I love most about Thanksgiving...

*The smells!

*Waking up to the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

*Getting to listen to Christmas music for the first time (yes I always try my hardest to hold off on Christmas until Thanksgiving).

*Getting to eat amazing decadent food all day and not feeling the least bit guilty about it, because it's Thanksgiving and that is what you are suppose to do!

*Candles lit and a fire roaring in the fireplace.

*Getting all dressed up in my Thanksgiving day outfit.

*Nursing a great glass of wine as I cook.

*Having family in the kitchen all helping to prepare the feast.

*Setting the dinning room table with a beautiful Thanksgiving theme.

*The kitchen table set up with yummy appetizers that you definitely don't need to eat but so enjoy anyway.

*After dinner coffee and pie!

*Getting my jammies on after dinner and sitting around doing a puzzle and watching a Christmas movie.

*All the nostalgia and childhood memories the holiday brings.

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DIY Thanksgiving and Fall Decor on a Budget

As my sister Brittany and I were discussing, we don't have a lot of extra money for decorations, as I'm sure most people don't nowadays. Homemade decorations are such a great way to make your home festive on a budget. Not to mention the personal satisfaction that comes with making something and displaying it in your home. SO beats any store bought decor.

I was so excited that Brittany found inspiration from my post on DIY Halloween decorations, by creating these adorable light up jack-o-lanterns. So I thought I'd share some more inspiration for DIY Fall and Thanksgiving decorations.


Here are some of my favorites:

          

I have a love affair with DIY wreaths, like my Valentine's wreath here, and my Spring wreath here.  It's been a great way for me to break into crafting. You can find some great Fall wreath inspiration at my new favorite craft site, U-Create. You can buy plain wreaths and wreath forms for cheap at any craft store and add anything to them. LOVE the look of the burlap here.

I love this "Count Your Blessings" jar. You could use any container you already have, anything to fill it, and just make your own cute little sign.

                                             

I love the idea for a "thanks board" and it looks pretty easy. I really want to work on bringing a more personalized touch to the home to surround me with more family pictures and things with meaning.

I was thinking you could also do one with your last name and hang family pictures below. You could buy pre-made wooden letters from Michael's or Joann's or just make your own templates and cut them out from scrapbook paper.


                                

Here you can find a tutorial and free templates for this adorable Fall banner, just need some felt, which runs pretty cheap.

I love this "be thankful" board also:
                                          
You could do this with a phrase for any holiday. You could also make it on a piece of paper instead of the board and use a frame you already have (or get one at the dollar store).


And the Graphics Fairy is an awesome site with tons of free images. I love the vintage-y look!
                                          
                                          (Something about this picture totally cracks me up! :)


                          

I love ideas like this wheat basket that are so simple, but my very uncrafty mind would never think of on my own. Just find a basket or any container (look around the house, you may already have one), and add a ribbon and some wheat or other Fall looking fillers from a craft store.

Here's another take on the wheat that I love:

I think a trip to the craft store to stock up on some wheat stalks is in my near future.

Let me know if you make any of these or have found any other fun craft ideas to share!

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Halloween Decorations 2011

Happy Halloween!!!

I know it's a little late, but I wanted to share my Halloween decorations for this year with you guys (and I just finished them).

.

I want to keep our decorations more creepy than scary, with my little munchkin in the house now. Some of the stuff out there nowadays is just gross and disturbing. I'm going to stick to bats, rats, spiders, black cats, and pumpkins from now on.

The spiders are a play on my fighter pilot husband's call sign "Spydr". Thought that was kind fun.

My all time favorite place for Halloween decorations in the Dollar Store, where I got the black "creepy cloth", the spiders 2/pack, rats, and the "cobwebs". I got the little pumpkins at Walmart last year on sale for $0.50. My Mom got me the Jack-O-Lantern thing years ago. It's lights up and I love it. 

I'm in LOVE with my Halloween subway art. It was a free printable I downloaded HERE and printed at Staples for like $1 and then used a frame I already had (and swapped out one of our wedding pictures :)

All in all I spent maybe around $5 for mantle decorations this year.

These were some odds and ends I already had and just threw them up on our shelves with some of the cobwebs.

In the kitchen I went with a Jack-O-Lantern theme. Normally I put out all of my Fall and Halloween decorations at the same time, then put Halloween away for Thanksgiving. But this year I just put up Halloween-y things and will take those down and put up Fall decorations. I love it. Much more festive and I won't get sick of everything being up for 2 months.

Here's a bunch of stuff I liked and just threw on this table in our foyer. I probably should have edited it down, but didn't feel like it. Oh well. Fun.

The one place I didn't do Halloween specific decorations was on the outside of the house. I really wanted to make a Halloween wreath this year. Oh well, next year.

I love my Fall wreath. I just used a $3 grape vine wreath from Michael's, made a bow, and stuck some grape-y leaf things in there. I love wreaths. It's the easiest way to instantly make the outside of your house festive.

My husband has been trying for years to overtake the title of "Pumpkin Master" from Dad.  He still has a ways to go (my Dad is AMAZING) but he's getting really close! Love this big pumpkin eating the smaller one.

And, of course, the F-16/Spydr pumpkin.

But you didn't think that's all there was to it, did you??

You wouldn't if you knew my husband....

The back is carved out to display his name "Spydr" when the pumpkin is lit. He cracks me up :)

Note the details...complete with little pumpkin missles. HA!

Okay.. have a big batch of chili in the crockpot, pumpkin seeds waiting to be roasted, a bowl of candy by the door, one last pumpkin to be carved, and a baby girl ready to go Trick-Or-Treating for the first time! Happy Halloween everyone!!

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Pumpkin Mac & Cheese

Yes, that's right. Pumpkin Mac and Cheese. I saw this recipe and thought, "I HAVE to try that!"

Friends of ours are having a "Pumpkin Party" this Saturday and everyone is to bring a pumpkin food or beverage (I'm going to be so pumpkined out after this month! I think I've had something pumpkiny like everyday! :) So I figured everyone will probably bring something sweet because there aren't too many savory pumpkin recipes that come to mind. I was searching through recipes for something different to bring to the table, and I came across this Rachel Ray recipe: Pumpkin Cheddar Mac & Cheese

I did a test run last night and cut the recipe in half (which was still more than enough for Immanuel and I). It was SO different and really yummy! Immanuel gave it his approval, and you know how much that boy loves his mac & cheese! The cheese sauce reminded me of a beer cheese soup. The pumpkin adds a creaminess and an added depth of flavor, although you can't really taste the pumpkin.

*A few notes:

- I added chicken to make it more of a meal.

- I also used brown rice pasta to make myself feel better about eating such a rich heavy dish.

- Be careful with the spices... nutmeg, clove and cayenne are strong spices... you don't need a lot and you can always add more if you need to.

- I used a Pumpkin Beer. It only seemed right. And you can drink the rest of it with the meal which pairs perfectly!

Ok now give it a try and let me know what you think!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole wheat or whole grain short-cut pasta, such as rigatoni or penne
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 3 slightly rounded tablespoons flour
• 1 cup amber beer
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
• 2 cups whole milk
• A couple of pinches ground cloves or 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• About 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• A pinch of cayenne pepper
• Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 14-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin purée or 2 cups puréed fresh roasted pumpkin or butternut squash
• 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp yellow cheddar cheese, divided
• Sweet paprika, for sprinkling
• Chopped parsley or chives to garnish

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Yields: 4-6

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Preparation

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt it and cook pasta to al dente. Drain and reserve. Preheat broiler.

Melt butter in a medium saucepot over medium heat. Whisk in flour, cook for 1 minute, then raise heat a bit and add beer. Reduce until almost evaporated then whisk in honey or syrup and milk. Season with cloves or allspice, mustard, cayenne, a little freshly grated nutmeg, some salt and pepper. Thicken to coat spoon, a couple of minutes, then taste to adjust seasonings.

Whisk in pumpkin purée then stir in about 2 cups grated cheese with a wooden spoon until melted. Combine pasta with sauce and arrange in a casserole or individual ramekins. Sprinkle remaining cheese and a light dusting of paprika. Broil to brown and bubble. Garnish with chopped parsley or chives.

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Easy Halloween Craft

I did a Halloween craft!! I think I'm really starting to get into this crafting thing. I really enjoyed making these! Aren't they cute? I got the idea and "How To" here. I was looking for a craft to do and I thought they looked fun, cheap, and easy. And they were! They were pretty hard to mess up and easy to make them look good. I used orange, red, and purple tissue paper and came up with the faces myself. You can't see in the picture but I also added some glitter so they are pretty and sparkly during the day. When Austin saw them he was shocked that I made them! He said "Really? I thought you bought those". Always a good sign.


When my husband is out of town, I like to try and fill-up my evenings with fun things to do to keep myself occupied. So I went out and bought the supplies, then in the evening I popped in one of my favorite Halloween movies, made some hot cider, lined my kitchen table with lots of newspaper, and went to work! To me it sure beats just staring at the TV for hours. It was fun to have something to do while I, well, watched TV. But at least I was getting something accomplished I suppose. It was fun!

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Hello Autumn!

I thought a good first post for me after our SisBliss hiatus would be to write about my favorite time of year, the fall! And everything I love so much about the season. It will be hard to sum up and put into words, but here goes...


Ever notice how the fall just kinda creeps in? I can always feel the Earth changing. Even those last few days of Summer in September when the weather is still warm, there is something different about the air, the sun. Then you get that first cool, cloudy day and BAM! It's Fall. Time to pack away summer and pull out fall decorations!


My favorite part of any season is getting to decorate! I love the excitement of pulling out all the boxes and going through them. Then running around the house figuring out a good place to put everything. The boxes always have a particular smell to them. The smell of the decorations I suppose. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Then that night when the house is all decorated and candles are lit, you get to relax with a good seasonal movie and enjoy all your hard work! Or what I like to do is bake something special that night. There is nothing like the smell of something sinful baking in the oven to kick off the season!


There is nothing I love more then a blustery autumn day, sitting outside all bundled up in my favorite fall sweater with a cup of hot cider. I love the wind. The way it blows through the trees, carrying with it the leaves from the branches that have finally surrendered to the season. I love the sound of the dead leaves on the ground being stirred by the breeze. And the feeling of the crisp fall wind blowing the hair away from my face and neck. Such a rejuvenating sensation! 


And the smells! ahh the smells... Best part of any season in my mind. The smell of camp fires off in the distance and fallen leaves. The smell of apples and spices in the air. 


There is a magic in the fall air that is almost palpable. You can feel is all around you. The Earth has this eerie stillness, even when the wind is blowing. Like the world is finally relaxing after a long hard Spring and Summer of growing things and being lively. 


These kind of blustery fall days are the kind of days that I feel anything could happen and anything is possible. I do believe there is a magic in the world. A magic that is always there if you know where to look and is just waiting to be discovered. Or maybe is doesn't want to be discovered, and that is what makes it so special and mysterious.  


Fall is the time for homemade soup simmering on the stove. For apple pie, pumpkin bread, and anything with lots of cinnamon! It's for cozy nights in front of the fire, big fuzzy blankets, and a comfy couch. A hot cup of tea and a good book you can really get lost in. Or for one of those fantastical movies I've been waiting all year to watch (Tim Burton anyone?) 


Each season is wonderful and special in its own way. But autumn is the one that stirs something inside me!


I would love you girls to help me kick-off the rest of October with everything we love about the fall! What do you love most about the fall? What are some of your favorite fall memories?


~B

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Ucreate DIY Halloween Decor

I was hunting around for some fun DIY Halloween projects and came across this great new website, u-createcrafts.com.  TONS of complied DIY projects that have me totally inspired.



Like these DIY Halloween projects HERE:


I've been searching for the perfect inspiration for a Halloween wreath. I have a general Fall wreath now but want to make a new one specific for Halloween. This one is cute and seems basic enough.




But this one is so cool and funky. I have some dollar store crows I'm looking to do something fun with, and I could make some of my felt flowers like on my spring wreath.




I want to do something cute out from this year and love these pumpkin topiaries. I'm thinking I could stick some cut-out Jack-O-lantern faces on one side for Halloween and turn them around after for a Thanksgiving/Fall decoration.


Should be easier enough to put some fun scrapbook paper in a frame with a fun black silhouette. And you could pick up cut out letters like that at any craft store.


I've been wanting to try making a pillow for some time, This looks cute enough that I may finally do it.


Coffee filter spider webs..brilliant!



I'm determined to make a burlap banner this year. Or something, anything, out of burlap.

And finally, LOVE the idea for this Halloween advent calendar..a bunch of little treat bags hung on a black spray painted branch.  Going to be a fun crafting season!

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Homemade Spring Wreath

I'm a big wreath fan now and want to have one for every season. It just makes the front door and house look so welcoming.

I'm so in love with the wreath I made for Spring/Easter and had to share!!

I love grape vine wreaths. They are so inexpensive at any craft store. This one was around $4.00 at Michael's. Use the 40% coupons to get them for next to nothing. Sure beats the $30+ premade ones!

I may add some ribbon or something to jazz it up a bit still, but I'm perfectly happy with it as is.

And yes, I made all the felt flowers myself!! I'm obsessed with felt lately.  I'm planning on making some gorgeous hair bands for my daughter with some more of these flowers. It's the easiest craft in the world.

I'll do a post on how to make them in the next few days. Just have to get the pics off my camera first. No small task considering I've been home alone all week with a 9 month old into everything while Daddy was on a training trip. I also have some more Spring/Easter decorations to share. Some of the cutest ones from the Dollar Store!

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Spring Purge: A Fresh Start

I don't know what it was..but with the first few days of Spring-like weather, I snapped out of my Winter hibernation coma and felt an overwhelming urge to "clean house". I mean really clear out. I just needed all the excess gone immediately. 

I am definitely undergoing a personal transformation lately, since becoming a Mother and settling into my "grown-up" life after this past year of moving, having my husband deployed to Iraq, being pregnant/having a baby, permanently living in the same city/state and under the same roof as my husband for the first time in 6 years, and writing my thesis and graduating with a Ph.D...all at the same time.  Phew!

I've felt so at peace lately, really for the first time in my life, as I've been plagued with horrible anxiety as long as I can remember and debilitating depression the past 5+ years.  I'm finally learning how to go through my days focused on gratitude for this amazing life I've been blessed with.

So now I'm really ready to move on, get rid of the baggage from my old life, and make a fresh start.

The process has been so challenging and rewarding so far. Up to this point, I've mainly worked on growing my Faith and changing my mindset. Now that I've made some progress, I'm starting to take stock of the remaining obstacles.  And I realized something that is really holding me back is all the clutter in my life.

It was as if I woke up and could suddenly feel the full weight of it all. I didn't feel stressed about it, as I normally would. I actually felt at peace. I just don't want to go through life anymore with anything that doesn't bring me joy.

Now I only want things in my life that I truly NEED or LOVE in a clean, organized space.

Here are the main areas I want to work on:

1. Master bedroom closet and dresser

2. Linen Closet

3. Bathroom Cabinets

4. Pantry

5. Coat Closet

6. Guest Bedroom Closets

7. Nursery: closet and dresser

8. Office Area

9. Pantry, Fridge, Freezer

10. Office Area

11. Basement

12. Junk Drawers and Kitchen Cabinets

13. And finally, the dreaded Storage Area. (I'm going to have to break this down into smaller projects.)

With a busy 8 month old, I don't know how quickly I'll be able to get through the list. But I'm not going put too much pressure on myself. I'll be sharing my process and progress with you...what I'm doing and what I'm learning as I go. Hopefully, I'll provide some inspiration for you to join me!

First up this week...Master Bedroom!

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DIY: Valentine's Day Fabric Wreath

I did it!! I crafted!!

Check out this beautiful wreath I made for Valentine's Day!

Yeah..I made that!

I was inspired by the Valentine's Day wreaths in this post from MoneySavingMom.com. I loved the look and was surprised by how easy they looked to make.

Inspired by those and this...

Yeah...that's our new bed that my husband built completely from scratch, using techniques he completely taught himself. He even made the decorative wood trim pieces!! Granted...he is some sort of super-human that does things no normal person does...BUT, it made me realize that if he can teach himself to do that, and actually do it..in 2 weekends, no less...then I have no excuse to not at least try one of the crafts I sit around talking about wanting to do and dream about doing, but never follow through and actually do it.

So I busted out some crafting things I had sitting in a box in my basement. The kind of things you pick up on a trip to Michael's while you daydream about being crafty and think, 'hmm..I could use this for something, someday'..then pack away in a box in your basement storage area for a year (ok..2+ years).

I pulled out this woven circle thing I had bought for $1 to make a Fall wreath and never followed through, my glue gun that I've used once or twice, and this piece of red fabric remnant I picked up at JoAnn's with plans for a sewing project someday.

First, you need some sort of a base. Really, anything would work as a base, since it gets completely covered. You could even cut out a piece of cardboard. A heart shape would be really cute for valentine's day.

Get some fabric and cut up into a ton of squares. No need to measure at all or make them perfect. If you buy some, about 1/2 yard of the cheapest fabric you can find would work fine.  Any type of fabric you have around would work. Even coffee filters and cupcake liners work!

This gives you some sense of the scale. I cut mine around 2 x 2 inches-ish. You can see that clearly they weren't perfect. I tried to put the bigger ones in the middle and smaller squares on the sides

So, you just fold each in half..

And then fold in half again...

Add a dab of glue on the ends

And stick on the wreath. That's it! Now repeat about a 100+ more times.

Keep filling in until you can't see the base anymore. It took me between 1-2 hours to do in between taking care of my little rugrat.

Warning....I wouldn't recommend doing this on the floor near a very curious 7 month old. My newly crawling daughter made a beeline from across the room for the small pieces of fabric!

And there you have it...a very cute Valentine's Day wreath for less than $5. I loove how it turned out!

I made the felt roses to stick on there too. I'll have to do another tutorial on those..I'm addicted to making felt flowers now!

I didn't really plan it, but I love that the red fabric is the exact color of red roses. The woven wood base I used made a perfect hook for a picture hanger. You could also add a strip of fabric to hang from.

It makes me smile every time I see it! I foresee lots of these wreaths in my future for the rest of the holidays...a burlap one for the Fall,  a silky, sparkly, or all white one for Christmas. I'm in love!

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