Fall's Almost Up {and Leaf Banner}

I didn't get as much done this weekend as I had planned, but I decided not to sweat it.
I still have time!

I did, however, visit the husband's garage for a supply shop.
Seriously... there is a ton of useful stuff to reuse or repurpose. I love it. He hates it. He claims I don't ever put anything back. Hmph.

I found some wire... for the purpose of this post, I am going to call it landscaping wire.
The landscapers brought it over when they were going to stake my trees. It's the wire that is used to attach the stakes. It's easily bendable. I thought it would make a great banner.

It was an ugly silver color... okay, not exactly ugly, but just not the look I was going for. So I wrapped it in a cream colored yarn. Then I attached some leaves I found at Hobby Lobby. They are made of crepe paper; I love the colors. Their stems are made of wire, too... So it was super easy to attach them and then adjust everything.

The wire, we had on hand. The yarn we had on hand. The leaves cost $4.99 at Hobby Lobby. Cheap, but cute. ;) Gotta love those kind of projects.

Here is a glimpse of Fall at our house:

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Craft O Maniac

Um, where is November going?

Looking at the calendar today, we have a week and a half until Thanksgiving?!
What?!
I need more time.

I am about to show you the start of a lot.
But I am no where near done.

First up, though... A Thanksgiving theme plaque. I got the wooden plaque from Wal-Mart ($2.97) and the printables from Today's Fabulous Finds.

Here are some additional snapshots, providing proof that I am working my crafty tail off, trying to get ready to host only our second ever Thanksgiving in our house.  Our theme for this year is Owls & Acorns.
I found so much stuff. Now if only I had access to all of the acorns I had to pick up for punishment as a kid. Man, I'd love to have a bag of them for crafts.

The "mantel" nor the house are by any means completed, as far as decorating goes. Hopefully during the next few days I will be able to share a finished product.  For now, i do want to point out the two picture frames (above, left)... I took fabric from a cloth napkin (owls) and some sample material from my new pillow cases (they came in a fabric case), and created "pictures."  I added a new lampshade (different from the one I used for Halloween) - I love it! It's actually going to go in my room, with it's sister, once I find a new pair of lamps to repurpose.

Until then, it will give us T-Day joy!

Hope you are having a great day!

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Say it ain't so, pardnar!

I am finding it VERY difficult to believe that my little man will be 5 in just a few short weeks.
Not only because I hate to see him grow up so fast, but also because that means there are another hundred things added to my To Do list; his birthday party deets being a few of them.

To help get me in the spirit, I went ahead and created Nic's invite.

He wanted a very commercial party, like Buzz. Groooaaan.
So, my cousin suggested a Woody and Jessie party. Which has since turned into a vintage Cowboy theme.

I love how the invite turned out...  Can't wait for the party!

Here are last year's invite. And last year's Pirate party.

Mini Photo Shoot {Getting Ready for Christmas Cards}

I got the kids up on Friday, even though there wasn't any school.
To try and capture the early light during a mini-photo shoot.
Let's just say, they weren't thrilled.

But they obliged.
Because I threatened.

I love how some of these pics turned out.

I can't say for sure I've taken the pics we will be including in our family Christmas cards yet, but I do believe we are a step closer.

As you can probably tell, some of these were actually outtakes! lol... But they are all cute, so I decided to share them anyway!

Fab Find

Don't you love when you accidentally find something you love?

I was out grocery shopping last week. For the normal things.
But then I came across some soup bowls. That will never, ever have an ounce of liquid in them.

They are porcelain, but are made to look like the old, tin camping bowls.
The middle one is not that orange in real life. The below picture is more accurate:

Especially the warning part of it.
I swear, if I find one finger print on those bowls - they will pay. Dearly.

I love how the colors work with what I am doing in the kitchen.
Seeing the bowls make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Kind of like the effects of a good bowl of soup.

Insane.

Feeling Grateful {photo dump}

It's the month to be grateful & thankful.

Well, one should always be, no?

But I thought I would pause for a few moments and tell you about some of the things I am grateful for.

Big Brothers & Little Brothers

Great Grandpa's & Great Grandma's

 Father & Sons

Mother & Daughter

A few minutes of actually getting along...

Kids who grow up right before your eyes....

My best friend. 

In the WHOLE WIDE WORLD.

Uniqueness

A place to call Home.

The best parents.

Ever.

My Niece Abby

Oh... and the snoring dog that's lying under my feet right now.

I am grateful for her, too!

This is totally getting me in the mood...

Kimberly from Simply Living recently posted her Christmas Wreath... 

You need to go visit her to see her tutorial.
Did you know that Hobby Lobby sold burlap in different colors?
I didn't even know they sold burlap. Must visit soon.

Now doesn't that just put YOU in the mood, too?!