boo!

to you & yours...

 Cory, Sarah, Bella & Lulu

a nice little saturday...

Bella, Oliver & Lulu are worthless around here today...but Cory & I have been fairly productive!  I had an easy morning of work, then we grabbed some lunch & ran some errands.  Some super fun & for right now secret errands...!!!  We're watching Shaun of the Dead, enjoying our new Autumn Leaves candle and I'm going to work on some craft projects.  And the weather is absolutely perfect...there are just so many reasons that I love this time of year! 

tidbits...

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Isn't this old photograph totally creepy?  I think we're going to have a low-key Halloween weekend.  I have to work tomorrow until noon and then I want to get some pumpkins & mums, make caramel apples, cook up a big batch of chili & watch scary movies!  On Sunday I am going to spend some time with my sister on her "baby eve" - we plan on getting pedicures & I want to take some photos of her belly.  And I found out my niece is dressing up as a cheeseburger for Halloween - too cute!

weekend dreaming...

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I absolutely LOVE these owl cupcakes!  I just love owls & for some reason, owls just seem like autumn to me.  I think I may have to make some carrot cupcakes this weekend..wonder if I can make some as cute as those? 

family....

 My niece Addie is going to seem so grown-up when her little sister Avry arrives in a few days.  Every time I see her I am amazed at how she is growing & changing...her hair is getting so long!  She loves to play with cell phones...she says "hi" and then she babbles, and ends with a "bye-bye."  It's pretty much the cutest. I got to hang out with my family on Sunday...we watched the Bears game & helped my parents put a new rug down in their living room.  We talked about the plan to help my parents with their leaves (they have a really overwhelming amount of leaves...maybe I'll take pictures this year, it's a battle).  And my mom pulled out some of the super small baby supplies (the things that Addie has already grown out of using).  I still can't believe there will be another member of the family here so soon!  I seriously can't wait....♥

my poor dogs...

So we had a little test run with the girls' Halloween costumes tonight...I think this will work!  And they seriously don't seem to mind at all.  They just know they get lots & lots of attention and treats when I put costumes on them.  We will definitely be taking a long walk on Sunday to spread some of this overwhelming cute around the neighborhood. ♥

still in bed...

  

We woke up to a thunderstorm today & have both come down with some sort of stomach bug.  I am still in my pajamas & in bed (watching the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus with Cory).  And while this is not what we had planned for today, it is kind of nice to enjoy a visually interesting & rainy movie while listening to the rain outside.  I keep hearing what I only assume to be a very tiny kitten crying outside & have twice now gone out and looked for it.  But it must hear me coming & get scared because as soon as I am out scouting the crying stops! 

deadlines, countdowns & what-not...

an iced chocolate sugar cookie i made last fall

Countdown:

I can barely contain my excitement that my new niece Avry will be here in less than 2 weeks!!!!  I know my sister is counting down the days and I am doing the same.  I have a quilt to finish for her ASAP (hopefully this weekend).  I am also very curious to see how Addie is going to react to her new baby sister.  She can say "baby" & gives kisses to her mama's belly, but little does she know that her own lifetime BFF is coming soon..... ♡
Deadlines:
It has been a dream of mine for quite a while now to open my own etsy shop and I have decided that the best thing to do is to set myself a deadline & just get cracking on it.  I am ready to turn some of this dreaming into doing!  As a loyal supporter of independent business & handmade crafts, I feel I am ready to be brave & put myself out there.  I will share details here on my blog as soon as I can....so please stay tuned!
What-Not/Confessions:
I have yet to buy a pumpkin this year (despite a trip to a pumpkin patch).
I want to start baking regularly because I really love it.  
I am super proud of my brother right now & it is such a great feeling!
I am excited to see my parents when they return home from the west coast this weekend!

weekend recap

We had a very fun but hot day yesterday at Tanner's Orchard with my sister & her family.  It was in the high 80's and super crowded there.  But we did have the best apple fritters & came home with some other treats as well.  My niece is getting so big!  And she is a quick one, too.  She was everywhere & hadn't napped so there were a few meltdowns...but mostly she is just crazy adorable & very entertaining.  We got a few things done around the house today but I still have a long to-do list I'd like to work down...

• buy pumpkins
• make an autumn yarn & felt wreath
• sew a quilt for Avry
• start my autumn mini-book
• finish cleaning the garage
• bake angel food cake with an apple cider glaze
• make a terrarium
• start a painting

happy anniversary to us!

I came home from work to find our house entirely cleaned & this beautiful flower waiting for me!  He knows me so well....a clean house to me = priceless.  We had dinner at one of our favorite places, Kobe - a Japanese steak house & sushi bar.  Then we came home, dragged our mattress into the living room for some "camping" and watched The Ring (one of my favorite spooky movies).  It was a perfect evening!
P.S. My summer mini has been done for a while but I finally posted photos. Check!

cowboy cookout

Today was the 1st annual cowboy cookout.  We brought a party pack of mustaches, some cowboy hats & handkerchiefs along.  Then we took some photos.  It was so much fun!  We decided today that this will be a family tradition and are already plotting for next year (we're talking bringing in some indian gear & more props).  My dad grilled steaks over the wood fire and mom made calico beans, corn, and biscuits with homemade apple butter (I'll have to get my mom's recipe cause it was ah-mazing).  For dessert we had apple crisp baked in a cast iron pan. So good.  I still have to get together with my sister for a maternity photo session....and the dogs need costumes! I have so much to do....I love this time of year! ♥

cinema love

The weather was finally chilly today;  I am so ready for it to start feeling like fall.  I just want to watch spooky movies cuddled on the couch!  I have quite a strategic netflix queue lined up right now...tonight we're watching Pan's Labyrinth, dark yet beautiful.  I have also been daydreaming about more cooking & baking.  It's always nice to warm the kitchen by making a homemade meal.  I'll try to share some of our favorite standby recipes.  Our goal is to knock off our eating out habit, so we will be doing all our cooking at home.  I'll be sure to share any new recipes we try that turn out successful!