Easy Peasy!

A couple posts ago, I mentioned I'd show you how I made this cute little thing:

I follow Shannon's blog, Bless Our Nest, and she had a great post about getting this subway art for free. So I went to the site she linked, printed it out on white card stock and cut the excess white edges off. Then while I was at Michael's last weekend, I found a really nice scrapbook paper print I liked and also a black frame for 1/2 off. Went home, cut the scrapbook paper to fit the frame, centered and taped the back of the subway art onto the scrapbook paper and there you have it! Like I said, it was less than $5.00! And I think it goes nicely in our living room...

Now it's got me thinking that I could probably make my own subway art too, and hang some more things like this in our guest bathrooms and our bedrooms. The possibilities are endless! :)

Wordless Wednesday

My adorable "niece." I just can't get enough of that face!

It's that time of year again...

Fall is finally here! And I've finally decorated for the occasion! Prepare yourself for picture overload that is soon to follow.


This year I decided to just go with general, Fall decorations instead of Halloween decorations. As you know, I'm not too fond of Halloween. Plus, I figure if I can stick with the general Fall decorations that I won't have to take down Halloween decorations once October is over. The ones I have out now can stay up throughout Halloween and through November until I'm ready to put up Christmas decorations. Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner?!


Most of the stuff I put out I already had except for a few things. Michael's was having a HUGE sale last weekend, so I really scored on some good things. I was kind of bummed because I had a 50% off coupon I wanted to use, but every single thing I got was already discounted and the coupons can't be used on already discounted items.


Like I said, a lot of pictures are about to happen right now. You might want to grab a beverage and snack and get cozy ;)

Our front door. I'm embarrassed to say that this is the first time I've purchased mums. It wasn't until entering the Blog World that I learned that mums are the go-to Fall plant. Brilliant!

Entryway
I filled this with cinnamon-smelling pine cones and Fall leaves. It smells yummy as soon as you walk in the door!
I wrapped the fake berry things (what are they called anyways?) around the "Welcome" sign.
Placed some leaves under the candle holders. I bought a really cheap garland and just cut some leaves off of it to use around the house.
Looking into the living room.
I love this pumpkin! I got it at Home Goods last month. Also, the books under it are wrapped with scrapbook paper. I didn't have any Fall-looking books around the house, so I decided to just make my own. I didn't even have to use tape; just wrapped the paper and tucked it in. Brought me back to my old high school days of when we used to cover our books in brown paper bags! Ha!
I think these are so cute. I had the candle holders, so I took the candles out, placed a leaf on each one, then plopped a pine cone on top. Easy and cheap!
Wrapped another book to make this "Dream" sign stand out more.
This is my favorite little corner in the living room!
$2.00 basket filled with pine cones and leaves.
This whole framed picture cost me less than $5.00! I'll do a separate post on how I made it.
Changed out the candles in the wall sconces with red candles that I had stored away.
Looking into our kitchen.
This is my favorite decoration. I also got this pumpkin at Home Goods, and I got a cheap candle to put in it. I placed the leaves under it so it'd stand out from the black counter top.
I wrapped some more of these fake berry things around the chandelier.
Changed out the bow on my sign :)
I cleaned up these glass candle holders that I've had forever and put my red candles in them and wrapped the last of the dried berry things around them. I love the way they turned out!
Filled these glass containers with leaves and the dried berry things.

And that's a tour of our house decked out for the Fall! Kevin keeps saying how nice it looks and how cozy it feels - which is unusual for him because he usually doesn't notice these type of things. Ha!

And BLESS YOU if you've read all the way through this!

Did you know...

I've had my adenoids and tonsils removed?

I've had three sets of tubes put in my ears?

I had knee surgery at the age of 15?

My Grandpa Al received the Purple Heart because he was a P.O.W? My family has it and I love looking at it and remembering him. The story of his survival as a POW can be for a whole separate post. It's quite an amazing story.

I get scared when a sketchy person sits by me on the train? Mostly because of the close quarters and there's really no place for me to run should they get crazy.

I would have had a second sibling? My mom was pregnant between having me and my brother. When she was four months along she got up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom (because nature tends to call multiple times while pregnant). I was still a baby and my crib was in their room. It was dark and she was halfway asleep and she ran into my crib (which sat low) and it hit her belly. The next morning she woke up and lost the baby. :(

I have a lot of friends, but I have a select few of very close friends?

I enjoy corn on the cob, but I don't like corn when the kernels are off the cob? Something about the texture just doesn't sit right with me.

I'm still very good friends with my high school sweetheart? He's actually invited to our wedding!

When I find a new blog that I like, I go back to the very beginning of when they started said blog so I can get a sense of what they're all about? Needless to say, I've had a lot of time on my hands at work. Ha!

I refuse to talk about politics with co-workers? I don't think it's the time or the place.

My dream job would be to have my own day care out of my home? I told Kevin he needs to start making more money so I can achieve this [fantasy] dream job of mine. ;)

I despise Halloween? I enjoy decorating for Fall (which I still have yet to do), but the whole notion of dressing up for Halloween causes me major anxiety. Let me explain:
In Kindergarten I wanted to be a witch for Halloween. That morning my mom dressed me up, painted my face green, put a big ugly nose on me and some moles, then sent me off to school. I walked into the classroom and not. one. kid. was. dressed. up! Apparently, no one dresses up until after lunch-time, when the parents come to the school and dress their kids up for the Halloween Parade. Well, my mom worked full-time and couldn't do this. So once I entered that classroom and experienced the worst embarrassment of my life, I headed straight to the bathroom, washed my face and refused to participate in the Parade that day. To this day I have this intense fear of being the only one dressed up on Halloween. Irrational? Yes. But I just can't shake it!

We're still on the lookout for a wedding venue? The winery fell through, but we have a handful of other really good options that we're checking out this weekend. Excited (but stressed)!

That I really want to have a baby? Pretty sure I've mentioned this no less than 10 times on this blog, to date. Ha! ;)

My parents will have been married for 29 years on Sunday!? Together for 34. Kevin and I really look up to them.

10 More Months...

Until we get hitched! Here's an update on how the wedding planning is going:

• We still have to finalize the location and date of the wedding. The Library Galleria that I was thinking of having the reception at isn't going to work out after all. BUT, we'll hopefully, most likely, have both the ceremony and reception at this location. Beautiful isn't it? We actually attended a wedding here last year and loved it. So fingers [and toes] crossed!
• We've had a couple issues with the whole wedding ring thing, but it looks like things are going to be a-okay and I should have it by next week! I can't wait. It's going to be beautiful!
• I wish I could show you the wedding dresses I've found that I love. But I'm not. I kinda want that to be a surprise :)
• These are the wedding favors we're thinking of giving the guests. Goes with the damask theme, plus it's something small, simple and affordable. I usually end up forgetting to take home the wedding favor by the end of the night when I attend a wedding, but I'd still like to have guests take home something. And if they forget? More for us! Haha! Just kidding...kind of ;)

• I can't wait to let my girls know that they're going to be in the wedding. I'm waiting until we finalize the date. I'll let you know how I'm asking them to be in our wedding once they've been informed. :)
• I've found the invitations I like but I'm not able to get a picture of them. But they're cute and perfect!
• I still can't decide between a cake or cupcakes. I go back and forth each day. Hmmm...
• We've decided that all we're going to do for the month of October is finalize the venue. In November we'll deal with the caterer, and then no more wedding stuff until January. We would kind of like to enjoy our engagement for a bit, and plus, the holidays are pretty busy with making time to see both sides of the family.

So that's it for now. All of these ideas are only in my head. Nothing has been purchased and I change my mind all the time, so none of this is set in stone. But, I have been imagining my wedding for about five years now, so it's fun to see it actually happening :)

Also, both of my good friends

Maygan,

and Alison (this picture was taken a loooong time ago. We both look so young here!),

both have weddings next year too! So it's fun to bounce ideas off each other and share in the joy (and sometimes stresses) of wedding planning!

A Bunch of Croc

Crocs shoes, that is! You all know these shoes right?

Not the most attractive looking items for your feet, but I've always heard they were super comfortable. A lot of people who had to be on their feet all day (nurses, doctors, those working in a restaurant in the kitchen, etc.) loved wearing them because of their comfort. Then they started coming out with mini Crocs for babies and children and they are ah-dorable!!!



Funny story: I know the guy who helped invent Crocs! About seven years ago when they first started coming out, he told me I could tell him whatever colors I wanted and he'd get them for me for free. Sweet! Too bad I never took him up on that offer, or continued to keep in touch with him because now they have these adorable new styles!!!

Ularoo

Marnie

Crocband Flat Plaid

Frilita

My favorite are the Ularoo's. However, they're a little pricey, and I can't decide if I like them in black, grey or purple, so I think I'd want all three colors. Maybe I'll ask for two colors: black for Christmas and grey for my birthday (which is 12/28). And I'll just get the purple on my own when I feel like dropping that kind of cash.

Do you or have you worn a pair of Crocs you like? If so, let me know because I'm really feeling them right now! :)

Recipe: Deadly Brownies

My bestie, Maygan, makes these sometimes and they are to. die. for! I don't really know what the official name of this recipe is, but I've started calling them Deadly Brownies because they are pretty much deadly if you're on any type of diet or healthy kick. Proceed with caution! ;)

Ingredients

1 box of brownie mix
1 container of marshmallow creme
1 container of chocolate frosting

Steps

1) Prepare brownie mix and bake according to instructions on the box.


2) After they are done baking, let them cool for only about 30 to 45 minutes. Next, plop dollops (I love that word) of the good 'ol marshmallow creme on the baked brownies. Don't spread the creme yet. You'll need to wait about another 15 minutes so the creme has a chance to get warm and melt on top of the brownies. This will make it easier to spread over the top of them.


3) Once the creme has melted a little, spread all over the brownies. Allow the creme to set until it's pretty firm.


4) Once creme is fairly firm, spread the chocolate frosting on top of the creme, and you're done!


They are very rich, but they're super easy to make and people will love you for their tastiness, but hate you for for all the fat and calories! Ha! ;)

Enjoy!