Homemade Halloween costumes for your viewing pleasure...

Everyone loves looking at Halloween costumes right? Time to do a throwback of some of my favorite home made Halloween costumes from the last few years. Ready?

My grandma actually wore the dress I am wearing at one time!

Drew was hard core and ate his snacks out of a real turtle shell. And please tell me you know who Pippi Longstocking is!

My personal favorite couples costume idea! We had so much fun with this one!

One of my all time favorite Halloweens was with some of my girlfriends in college. We dressed up as the Sesame Street characters for a party and crafted our costumes ourselves. Can you find me?

This year the Mr. and I don't have plans to dress up, but when Halloween evening comes knocking we might just have a surprise in store. We shall see... (insert crazy, witch cackle here) Happy Halloween!

Kitchen updates...I have counter space!

A few weeks ago our very handy dandy friend Alex decided it was time to knock the wall out between our kitchen and dining room and I am forever thankful! Our house was built in the 60's when an open  layout and hardwood floors were just not in style. Our now hardwood floors were covered by shag carpet for too long and the layout of the house was very closed off. Whenever we had a large group of people over we would all end up spread out in different rooms or crammed in the kitchen by all the food...those days are over!

Before:

During: Thumbs up for that wall being gone. It makes our little house seem 10 times bigger!

We also took down that old school fan hanging behind us and added 4 can lights to upgrade the lighting

After: We took out our small kitchen table that we never used and upgraded to a nice sitting area.

Cabinets: Home Depot
Counter top: Custom made
Bar stools: Overstock.com

We still need to add handles to the cabinets and pendant lights above our new eating space, but I'd say this was a huge improvement! Now I just need some kitchen storage tips...what goes where? Any of you read any good articles or have any tips?? Send them my way!

Don't be a grumpster!

Drew and I are both teachers so on Friday nights we lay pretty low since we are both exhaaaausted. We usually order in, watch our current favorite show on Netflix and cuddle with the cats. Well last night we decided to be adventurous and go to Lowe's...that's right I told you it was adventurous. We went out to get some final things for our kitchen renovation and that was probably a mistake because shopping for hardware for your kitchen is not something you should do when you are both tired.

So 10 minutes and 2 aisles into Lowe's later, we started arguing because I wanted to ask a helpful Lowe's employee for advice and get the heck out of there and Drew wanted to take his time and figure it out himself. A typical male/female debate right? We were both frustrated until we realized it was pointless to be annoyed with each other over something so stupid so we made it funny. I said something like "wow we are both grumpsters tonight" and Drew said "well I'd rather be a grumpster with you than be a grumpster by myself."

 

grump·ster [gruhmp-stir] Adjective. Sullen or irritable over tiny, stupid things like picking out lights or hardware for your kitchen. Synonym: Oscar (the grouch)

Then we laughed, hugged and left Lowe's hand in hand. It is always hard to be patient when you are tired and grumpy, but sometimes you just have to get over yourself and choose to laugh about it and move on. Because being a grumpster by yourself is just not fun. And that is my Saturday morning wisdom.

Friday's Letters and a giveaway!

Dear Friday, I haven't needed one of you this badly in a while now. Between report cards and some crazy parents I am ready for a break! Dear Fall, I love everything about you. That's all. Dear Kitchen renovations, You are almost finished and I can't wait to show you off. Dear Alex (handy man friend), We are thankful you learned all your handy tricks so you could re-do our outdated kitchen. We paid you in chipotle, beer and skittles...I wish we could pay everyone that way. Dear new bar stools, I'm so glad I found you and ordered you. You look exactly like the ones from Sundance catalogue I fell in love with except that the price for 4 of you on Overstock.com was cheaper than one from Sundance. Score! Dear sweet as honey husband, I love you even though you got me hooked on the Walking Dead. How did you convince me to watch it anyway? I hate zombies and anything gory and now you have me waiting impatiently for the next episode (probably just so I can see if Glen stays alive for another episode or not.) What have you done to me??? Dear Blog friends, I'm so behind, but I can't wait to catch up with you this weekend. Emily over at Hope Squared is featuring this banner from my shop along with other very cool and very free things on her blog today. Enter below to win...that should cheer up your Friday right?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The time Andy Grammer walked right in front of me...

Thursday night was the Q102 Bosom ball, a concert to raise money for breast cancer. My friend Bekah and I have gone several times and always have a great time. All the artists who come to the event do not get paid and are there to support breast cancer awareness, which is amazing.We have seen some amazing artists at this event in the past. Colbie Caillat, Parachute, Kris Allen and The Script to name a few and this year was no exception!

Tristan Prettyman came on first...my oh my was she good.

Then American Idol winner Phillip Phillips. He showed his gangster side and sang a few rap songs.

And Andy Grammer...my favorite of the night. He told us he lost his mom to breast cancer and sang a song that he wrote about lessons his mom taught him about how to treat women. It was very touching and made me want to buy every song he's ever written. He was absolutely amazing in concert! He got the crowd excited and involved and even came out into the crowd for one of his songs. He just happened to walk right in front of us singing...it was fantastic!

What a great event and all for twenty five bucks! We are already excited for next year.

One year ago today...

I am so very thankful to God today. It was a year ago to the day that we found out my father in law had bone cancer. That afternoon I got a strange text from my mother in law during school and I called her on my drive home (big mistake). I called her and from the tone she answered in I knew something was terribly wrong. She told me what we thought was just bursitis (severe pain in the hip) turned out to be cancer. I was completely in shock. I don't remember driving home that day.  She went on to tell me that she couldn't get a hold of Drew. He didn't know yet. My heart felt like it had been ripped apart. I had plans to go to a concert (to support cancer of all things) that night which I obviously did not end up going to so I went home to sit and wait for my sweet husband to come home to share this devestating news. Our world was about to be changed forever.

Drew came home and we both were in shock. We cried, we questioned, we prayed and then we needed to go see Drew's dad. The moment we walked in the door Drew and his parents embraced in a tearful embrace that I will never forget witnessing. It makes me tear up just thinking about it. The cancer journey is not an easy one and the outcome is not always what you think it should be, but throughout the whole ordeal I knew God had Terry in his hands. I felt so helpless, but I knew my prayers and encouragement could go a long way so I prayed and prayed and claimed that he was going to be completely healed and as of right now, he is.

Terry is a light in our family. He welcomed me in to his family the day I met him and I know he considers me a daughter and not just an "in-law." He fixes our cars when they break down, he takes care of his family, he makes us laugh and he is the friendliest man I have ever met. He does not know a stranger. I am so thankful to have him in our lives for however long that may be. All of our days are numbered so this is just your friendly reminder to live life to the fullest and to always choose joy...even if the healing doesn't come.

"Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are

Even if the healing doesn't come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn't come"

My new craft table!!!

Ever since I started my Etsy shop I've been drooling over crafting spaces. Like this one and this one. As I got busier and busier with orders the hassle of setting up my stuff on the dining room table and then taking it down again got old reeeeeaaaaaal fast. A few weeks ago I decided I had made enough money to treat myself to a real crafting space. My Aunt is an amazing carpenter so I called her up with a few ideas for a craft table and being the wonderful aunt that she is, she got started right away.  We used two cube shelves from Lowe's for the ends, my Aunt crafted the piece underneath and she polyurethaned the top wood piece so any paint or Mod podge spills can be wiped off easily.

My crafting room is a work in progress, but what a difference already! I am so excited to spruce up my space and then live work in it.

You can check out my Pinterest board for some of my other craft room ideas! I'm going to go sit at my craft table now just because I can.

Fall-itis

I have a case of fall-itis...it's this disease I have where I just can't get enough of fall food and activities! The other night my husband caught me carving pumpkins in my sleep (that's a lie, but it could happen.) The only cure to fall-itis is to give in and do as many fall activities as possible, so last week I had some girls over for a fall food tasting. We fancied up store bought apple cider with some spices, snacked on pumpkin muffins, cookies and pie and had a fall-tastic time.

I've also been busy decorating pumpkins...this is another sure fire fall-itis cure. Hop on over to Ashley's blog...I'm over there today sharing some pumpkin decorating tips! I love you Fall!

Downtown lofts...I want one

Downtown Cincinnati is undergoing some major renovations all from which I benefit. New parks are being put in, amazing restaurants are popping up, a new casino is opening and people are really investing in and taking pride of the city. My friend's parents just bought a "corporate condo" downtown and I met my friend Katie there after work the other night for some much needed girl time. Katie has been living in Columbia and was home for a quick visit so I'm so happy we squeezed in a date! A downtown loft was the perfect date spot.

Let's just say after living the high life for a night, I now want to own a loft downtown. The view was gorgeous and it would save me quite a bit of gas money since I could literally walk from work to the loft. (Are you convinced yet Drew? I only need to sell about 20,000 more banners to pay it off. Manageable right?)

We started out with drinks on the rooftop then walked across the street to a new restaurant called Bakersfield. Bakersfield has Mexican street food and I loved it because everything you order on their menu is a la carte. The food was delicious...I will definitely be a repeat offender.

Hopefully I will be back to blogging more consistently next week, but things have been crazy around here with report cards, a wedding, 30th birthday, a kitchen makeover and a new crafting space! All exciting things (minus the report cards), but I'm ready for a day of relaxation. Can't wait to catch up with you all soon! Happy weekend!            

Applefest and an apple recipe!

One of my favorite fall festivals here in Cincinnati is the AppleFest in Lebanon. Lebanon is an adorable little town full of antique stores and one of my favorite ice cream parlors. This ice cream parlor was actually where they filmed a scene from Milk Money (does anyone remember that movie???).

AppleFest is full of apple treats from local orchards as well as craft booths. My favorite apple treat has to be an apple fritter. They are to.die.for.

 So as I was chowing down on an apple fritter I was wondering how these delicious treats were made. I googled it and my favorite person pops up as having a recipe for Apple fritters. I will be trying these and thought you might want to too. Here's the link for Pioneer Woman's Apple Fritters!

Source: thepioneerwoman.com via Allison on Pinterest

When your best friend gets pregnant should you get pregnant too?

My best friend is pregnant and I couldn't be happier! We have gone through so many stages of life together (heck we were basically babies together) and now she is going to be a mom. I remember walking in parades together in elementary school, going to every one of each others birthday parties, ordering our first Nsync concert tickets in the jacuzzi while eating jello and jamming to the radio, laughing through entire middle school concerts because we looked at each other, playing middle school sports and then high school sports, graduating and visiting each other in college, being bridesmaids in each others weddings and now this.

Having gone through so many phases of life together it's kind of strange to not be pregnant with her and I'll admit when your best friend gets pregnant it kind of, sort of makes you want a baby just so your babies can be best friends, but I'm not quite there...yet. It did make my baby fever go up a few notches though.

The night she told us this summer...

And here she is now with her little "pumpkin"...coming February 2013! Isn't she adorable? I can't wait to spoil this little baby!

Happy Fall Ya'll...the link-up

Today I'm linking up with Meg to share how I'm celebrating fall with food and crafts.

Fall craft: My favorite fall craft so far is my candy corn banner. This is new to my shop this fall and I love it! I'm always up for anything candy corn.

Fall dinner: Bacon Wrapped Apple BBQ Chicken

Ingredients:

-5 small Gala Apples

(Chopped and Peeled)

-1/8 cup lemon juice

-1/4 cup brown sugar

-1 cup BBQ sauce  

-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

-8 slices bacon

Mix all bold ingredients in a small bowl and pour over chicken breasts wrapped in bacon. Put in crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.

Trust me this is amazing for so many reasons. 1. It has Bacon, 2. It is so easy, 3. Your crock pot does all the work for you!

Fall party snack: Caramel apple cheesecake dip

Fall dessert: Chocolate Pumpkin muffins

1 18 oz. box cake mix (I used chocolate, but a spice cake mix would be great for fall too)

15 oz. can of pumpkin

1 cup water

Mix ingredients in a mixer, cook for 20-25 minutes at 350.

Plus these muffins are not terrible for you. I actually got the recipe from a co-worker on weight watchers. If you are into that...these muffins are only 2 points each.

For those of you non weight-watcher bloggers add some mini chocolate chips to the batter before baking! Yum!

There's a little taste of fall for you!