Fall Nesting Party

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This is the only fall decorating I've done so far. This is in my Morning Room. I took down the spring/summer flowers and tried to mix in some nice fall textures.



I used some pinecones in the cheese server--kinda fun! And I liked how the pitcher and plate went together.

I forget sometimes that books can be used to add height--I need to aquire more neat books!!



I "shopped the house" for the orange candle and the reed infuser. It's like having new stuff! I left the bird stuff out because here, birds LOVE autumn!!



And now...

Here are my own 20 Little Things to Love About Autumn list:

1. Temperatures in the 80s. Yes, that's "fall weather" in Phoenix!
2. Our annual trip to the local farm for a train ride, corn maze and to pick a pumpkin.
2. November is "birthday month" (including mine, my mom's and my oldest son's) so the whole month is like one big party!
3. The smell of cinnamon simmering on the stove.
4. Crumb top apple pie.



5. My favorite colors to wear and decorate with: green, orange and red! This year, I plan to add some rich turquoise to the mix.
6. The church Fall Festival.
7. Putting my baby is an orange striped sleeper with a pumpkin hat!
8. Adding my cozy leaf-print throw to my favorite chair for cool mornings.



9. Picnics.
10. Trips to the park during daylight hours.
11. Football!!! Go, Gators!!
12. TEA! Yummy new flavors with cloves and cinnamon. This is the "tea station" I just set up in my dining area.



13. Going to the high country to see the leaves. We don't have leaves in the valley.
14. Thanksgiving. That's when I met my husband 8 years ago and every year, it's fun to see how our family has grown!
15. Decorating with pinecones and acorns.
16. Actually using a comforter or blanket on the bed!
17. Longer nights for reading and sleeping.
18. New plaid socks.
19. Chili in the crock pot.
20. Gathering ideas for holiday gifts.

Gobble gobble!! and a love story

I loooooove Thanksgiving!!

My hubby and I met--gosh, actually 7 years ago TODAY! His younger sister and I were college buddies and fellow RAs and she said, "You should come to Thanksgiving with me and meet my brother. I think you'd hit it off."

Indeed.

Even that first night we talked and laughed--instant connection. We even had a DTR (Defining The Relationship) talk before the weekend was over, because we knew sparks were flying!! After both of us said, "I'm not in a place to commit to anything," we went our separate ways. But before we did, and unbeknownst to the other, we left each other notes the night before we departed, saying how grateful we were to have met. Then Sunday came and he called. I thought, "Hmm, maybe this wasn't just a weekend thing." A few days later, I blew out my birthday candles and said a prayer that "something" would happen between us.

A lot of IMing, e-mails and late-night phone calls ensued, much to the chagrin of my roommate! It was a few weeks before we saw each other again and--PHEW! Still sparks! We became a couple that night (Dec. 13) and were engaged on Feb. 23rd, three months to the day that we met. He made a special trip from Albuquerque to Phoenix to surprise me and propose that day.

We had a long-distance relationship for 6 of the 7.5 months we were engaged so our first year of marriage was definitely a get-to-know-you period! It was fun to show back up to Thanksgiving the next year as newlyweds!! Boy, was his family surprised because they, too, thought it was just a temporary infatuation.

And we've been married for over 6 years now with a 3-year-old and a baby due in May!

Every year, we've gone back to the very kitchen where we met, except the year that I was several days over-due with our son and couldn't stomach the idea of two two-hour car-rides or rushing back into town if I went into labor!

This year, we'll be back again. Our time there is always fun-filled and relaxing and this year, the kids should have more fun than ever, which means the adults get more time to visit and catch up!

Our Black Friday tradition is that all the ladies in the family (my two SILs, my "Other Mother," my Aunt-In-Law and my mom) leave the kids with the men and hit the local shops and antique stores in search of bargains and treasures. It is always a blast and yields a lot of lovely finds!

This year is extra-special because we're staying in a local B&B Thursday night (it's actually a manor, see the post here), then Friday my mom is taking our son home with her so my hubby and I can have Friday night and next morning (which is my birthday)together...aloooone. For the first time!!! Oh, I can't wait!!

In other news, my dad is "loaning me" his fabulous camera, because he got a new one, so you can bet I'll be taking some fabulous pictures of our lil' trip to share!!

I hope your Thanksgiving reminds you of all the blessings in your life--my cup runneth over!!

I'll let you know how my birthday goes, too! It's the 29th! :)

And I leave you with pictures of Thanksgivings past...

2005, five days over-due! We didn't make it out of town this year. I swear, eating all that good food helped put me into labor two days later! :)



2006, when our booga-boo was just 1 year old...



and fine-tuning his walking skills!



I love the scenery there!!



Us



2007 when he was two.



Playing in the fountain again.



Some chaos always ensues when it's meal time.



Me and my SIL with some of our antique store finds.

Saturday craftin'

I'm workin' away on a few Crafternoon invitations to give out tomorrow. YES, it's a week away--but I figure, people are busy or they aren't and they want to come or they don't...and you tell them too far ahead and they forget!

I whipped these up and have plans for several more. Simple, pretty and fallish. If I got one of these (I often complain of never getting invited to anything. Doesn't anyone host anything cool anymore??), I'd take one look and say "I'll be there!"

But, alas, people are "busy" (I hate that word--who's not busy?? I just tell people it's not a priority!) and sometimes hesitate trying something new, so...we'll see who ends up coming! If it's my mom and I, so be it!



Later today, my SIL and I are headed to historic downtown Glendale for their Front Porch Festival. There should be lots of fall goodies to check out and tons of great shopping and giveaways--I'll keep you posted!

Fall CRAFTERNOON!

Have you heard of this?? A monthly get-together, just for CRAFTING!

The book is called "Crafternoon: A Guide to Getting Artsy and Crafty With Your Friends All Year Long" by Maura Madden. I've gotten a ton of great ideas from it and she's very funny!



Here's the

Amazon link to the book

Maura's web site is

Crafternoon.com

If you live in the Phoenix area, I'm hosting one of my own on Saturday, October 25th from noon to 5:00!

It's an open house format where people can bring their current craft project, or make the one I'm going to supply (yet to be determined). I'm picturing several ladies all camped out and working away while enjoying each other's company and yummy goodies, too!

This will be my "trial run" and if I get a good response, I'd love to make it a monthly event!

Leave a comment if you're planning to come and I'll send you directions!

Crafty family, friends and kids are welcome, too!

P.S. Any ideas for a fun and easy fall craft project???

Welcome to October!

Woo-hoo!! It's October already!

To me, October ushers in the "holiday season," starting with fall, my hubby's birthday on Oct. 11, Halloween...then all of our November birthdays, Thanksgiving...and before ya know it, CHRISTMAS!! Woo-hoo! Oh, I said that already.

If you don't already know, I ADORE fall. With my "all-day sickness" and severe lack of energy, I haven't done much crafting lately but I really, really want to! Nothing like new paper to inspire me to create...so I ordered some new yumminess from

Jane Says on Etsy

Check out her shop, it's a treasure trove of lovliness! And she's super-nice!! :)

"Urban Prairie" card stock, white on the back and perfect for easy cards...



Classic K Bailey (double-sided card stock--yeah!) for tags or other goodies...



...and this huge pile of fall paper to make invitations to my up-coming "Crafternoon."



October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is near and dear to my heart because my mom is a 12-year breast cancer survivor!

Check out these sites to donate or for support:

Susan G. Komen For the Cure

Ford Warriors in Pink

American Cancer Society

And there's a lot of companies that support the cause, too, by donating the proceeds of their products to the above-mentioned organizations.

Avon is a long-time supporter and has this $8 bear...



...and this pin (one of my favorites) for $3.



AVON bear

Pier 1 is on the bandwagon, too, with this reed diffuser and candle, each for $15, with 25% of the proceeds going to Susan G. Komen.





Pier 1

There are lots of cancer walks in the fall, too, so be on the lookout for ones in your community!

I'm thinking I need to whip up some pink cards for a giveaway...stay tuned! :)

P.S. This blog has reached 4,000 hits (since I started counting)!! Woo-hoo again!! And THANKS!

Fallification Check List

1. New candle in my favorite bird cage candle holder (and fall polka-dot ribbon--how fun is that??), CHECK



2. Fall table, complete with leaf place mats and orange plates, CHECK



3. Fabulous Gold Canyon fall scented candle (Mulled Cider), CHECK



4. Tea station, complete with mini Longaberger basket and leafy garland given to me by a dear teacher friend many years ago...CHECK



5. Fall chocolate for nibbling (I love M&Ms in fall colors!), CHECK



6. Falled-out entryway, CHECK. I still need a little potted somethin'-somethin' for inside the bird cage.



7. Leafy throw for my favorite chair, CHECK



8. New fall pillow covers, CHECK



9. Fall pedicure (we wear open-toe shoes year-round in AZ!), CHECK



10. "Trick or Treat" $5 shirt from Tar-jay for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch, CHECK



What are YOU doing to fallify?? If you post about it, let me know and I'll add a link to your blog!! :)

Fabulous Fall (and lil' giveaway)

I looooove fall. It's my favorite season! So let's celebrate fall, shall we?

My TEN Favorite things about Fall (it started out as 5 but I couldn't stop there!)

1. candy corn



2. changing leaves



3. taking my son to the pumpkin patch



4. apple cider



5. cute trick-or-treaters



Phooey!! Your comments reminded me of even more...

6. my son's birthday (3 this year!)



7. my birthday (31 this year!)



8. Thanksgiving with my hubby's family (and this pic personifies it well)



9. my annual fall tea party (to be a "Crafternoon" this year)



10. and getting out all my fall decor!!! My porch last year (it'll be better this year--stay tuned)



So I got up from a nap and had the energy to make this card. Cute lil' tree and owl.



The inside has this cute graph paper for your personal note.



And it comes with an off-white envelope.



Want it? Comment with your list of your FIVE fave things about fall and I'll pick a winner Friday morning!