Let me have this...

Two words: Day. Yamn.

Invites

They're done! They're finally done! This year's spooky Halloween Party invites...I was talking to my sister last Spring about our Party themes (because we each throw a party and start planning them months in advance - you knew this, don't act surprised) and I thought that an 'Alice in Wonderland' theme could be so cool. The theme doesn't dictate how everyone needs to dress up, but rather helps me in decorating my house and the like. I'm SO excited, BC fans. This party is going to be so rad! There is much to do, the party is in just two weeks (wha?) so I have my work cut out for me. But with an invite like that? Who wouldn't want to come?

Each invite is a large playing card...

The famous riddle...

I hand-delivered the invitations this year, so everyone got their glittery initial on the front.

Something I'm a wee late in posting about? The invitations I made for the Lake Powell trip my parents take with their friends each year. This was the 10th Summer they've made the trip, so the theme was a collegiate "10 Year Reunion" for Lake Powell University.

Each couple got a folder with a Reunion Packet. Inside was a letter from the Student Body President and a trip itinerary. I wrote a fight song for them and the lyrics were on the back.

The DVD! A slideshow filled with 10 years of pictures...

Activity cards are a must. These were SO fun to do! I found a website for an old HS that had pictures of students from the 60's. Remarkably, most of the photos looked just like the couples going on the trip! How great is that? I heard that everyone is still storing these in their wallets.

Trip T's

The packets in all their glory! Every couple received a packet, t-shirts, a DVD, a football, a megaphone, pom-pom and pennant flag. There was a small label on the outside of each packet with each couples name to help with deliveries, like "Patch - Home Room".

These were quite the fete - it took me longer than I thought to get these done, but didn't they turn out great? They're always so much fun to do, I love it. Because of my love of invitations, I'm thinking about starting a business for it. Not every occasion calls for something this elaborate, but even a small personalized invite can be the perfect touch. Have an event coming up? Lets chat...

Pretty Fall

Last weekend Cody and I took a drive with the boys up Hobble Creek canyon ('the left hand fork', says Cody). Ahh, how I LOVE to drive up the canyon in the Fall...so pretty. I easily took 200 pictures and kept telling Cody to stop the car so I could snap the colorful foliage. See? This is why I love Fall!

We parked by a wee stream and had some snacks. The boys were more interested in throwing rocks into the water and watching skeeters skate on the top.

There was a small trail that we walked up. Cole found a walking stick, he was quite the adventurer.

The weather was so very balmy and the sky was bright blue - looked great against the leaves.

I want to go back up and see if more of the leaves have changed. The day after we took this drive it got SO cold and rainy! It's been storming all week. Today is the first day that it's been a sunny and clear! Hopefully we can make it up there this week, love me some Fall.

The Home that Patience Built

The other day I sat down and wrote out a list of things I want for this house. Bad idea. I don't recommend this. While I had hoped it would give me a small feeling of organization and direction, it did nothing but give me a feeling of anxiousness and disappointment.

Just so we're clear, I LOVE this house. It has so much potential I can hardly see straight. I have mentioned before the things that Cody and I plan to do to it - remodeling the kitchen, staining the floors black, widening the doorway in the living room, etc. I'm so eager to see it all put together. The past few nights I have walked through this house in my mind...everything is done and it's beautiful. I imagine where I would put all my Christmas decorations and where I would hang our pictures. I imagine dusting an entry way table, napping on our living room sofa, hosting parties under new light fixtures. None of these items currently exist, you see. No new kitchen, no entry way table, no living room sofa.

They will all come in time, of course, and that's ok. I keep reminding myself that it's up to me to make this a rad home no matter what state it's in. It's up to me to make sure that my home is warm and welcoming. That friends like to be here and feel comfortable here. Until we can remodel the upstairs bathrooms, I will probably always wince at the wooden toilet seats (who thought that was ok??). And until our kitchen is done, I will always shake my head at our sky blue countertops (again, who's idea was this?).

The list of things to do to the outside of the house is long, too. Ripping trees out, putting trees in, new gray/purple shake shingles and a red door....sigh, I must be patient. It will come in time, right? Right. Although a cool computer desk would be so great right now. Adding it to the list...

Happy October!

Oh, yes. It's here. Officially. Halloween month has arrived, people. I am filled to the brim with spooky frivolity! Unfortunately, I'm still not done decorating, but just having the boxes of decor around make my stomach flip.

Do you see this? This is how my husband labeled one of my festive storage boxes. Of course, I guess I can't blame him...I am acquiring quite the collection of Halloween splendor.

That's not even all of it. And I'm pretty sure I'm not done adding to it - there are still some stores I have to check out!

My sister and I were on the phone this afternoon helping each other with our Halloween invitations. I'm finishing up mine tonight and will be mailing them out in the next few days. I have an art table full of projects that need to be put together, costumes that must be sewn, so many things need to be decorated...and I'm loving every minute of it!

Autumn

It's Fall! My excitement can't be contained any longer! Not that it's a secret that Fall is my favorite season, but there's always a distinct feel in the air when Fall arrives. It's been so warm the past few days and it's been divine, but last night a storm blew it and it's right chilly this morning. I woke up around 4:00 to thunder...awesome. The storm kept me up for a few hours before I was able to fall back asleep. The boys and I are sporting jeans and sweaters and I feel like I should clean my wood-burning stove to get her ready for the season. Hot chocolate for breakfast? Dark cloudy days? Sign me up, I'm ready for Fall.

This also means that many projects are on the horizon. Namely, my art room. We are just now going through the plethora of boxes that have accumulated in here. Some are craft and sewing things, others were just stashed in here because we weren't sure where to store them. Howeva! Yesterday I acquired this little gem to store my sewing goods...

This was my Grandma's sewing table. My Grandpa built it so it's ridiculously solid. It has ample storage (ALL my fabric fit in there with room to spare!) and lots of counter space...regardless of how it appears in this picture. It needs a wee bit of updating, I may even paint it (is that bad?). Stay tuned for 'after' pics!

I have to finish our Halloween Party invites by the weekend and finish decorating my house in spooktacular splendor. It's different this year - new house, new places to put things...pretty sure not all of my Halloween decor will make it out this year. But does that get me down? Not when I have a cup of hot cocoa and a dark afternoon looming!

Friday Finds

LOOK at what I have found! A cherry red chandelier...

Yes, it probably belongs in a brothel (no thanks to the pink wash of the photo), but I fell in love with it instantly. I was Halloween shopping with my Mom and when I spotted it there may have been a gasp and clasped hands...I don't remember. Anyway, it's going to look so great in my Art Room! Until then it will hang above my dining room table because it's the perfect touch for my Halloween party! You'll see...

Another great find we came across whilst shopping were these black glittery sprays.
That curl at the end? Are you kidding me?? I bought 5 and I'm pretty sure I'll be going back to get more. Both items were found at Tai Pan, friends - that's where the magic is.

This dress I love so very much...with teal t-strap heels? Snap. I also love the satin cuffs. www.modcloth.com.

And finally, I have been looking for these forever. Seriously. Red and white striped soda pop straws! Bah!!

There I was, casually flipping through my Halloween issue of 'Country Living' when all of a sudden there they were, calling my name. $6.00 for 20 straws. A bit pricy perhaps, but so worth it! I can't think of any party I will throw that won't showcase these. The site listed for the straws is www.jackandlulu.com. I couldn't find them online (they only had stationary...), so I emailed them and received a quick response explaining how I can purchase them. I can't wait for them to come in the mail! I think I'll celebrate with a chocolate malt.

**UPDATE! Liz just informed me of a better striped straw source. www.kikkerlandshop.com. These are cheaper - $3 for 50 - and they come in other colors!! This might be the best day ever. Thanks, Liz!