Just because it's fall!!!

We decorated for fall this weekend.

It was sooo much fun!!!

Fall always puts me in the mood for warm candles, chili, football, and fancy coffee drinks :)

Because I love you all, I am giving away a $15 Starbucks gift card to one lucky winner!

Entering is easy, winning is awesome!!!

Happy Fall Ya'll!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Painting Time!

A friend of mine asked me if I would paint a picture for her soon to be here baby boy's nursery.

Her husband is a helicopter pilot and she gave me the idea for this painting and I loved it!

Here is my final product:

It was a very fun piece to paint.

I'm thankful for friends who give me such important tasks!

I Went Dress Shopping

I have a big Rodan+Fields event to go to tomorrow evening.

I haven't had any need for cute work clothes since 2008, so I have been very excited to get back into the swing of things a little bit.

I decided to go dress shopping...two kids in tow of course.

Here were my try on's.

Is it just me or are dresses getting shorter???

OR maybe I am just getting taller.  

I'm sure that's it.

This one was my favorite, but it was wayyy too short to wear by itself, and I really wanted a dress to wear.

 This one made me laugh out loud.  It looked so classy on the hanger.

Somehow, between the hanger and putting it on myself, it turned into a hooker costume.

It was so tight I could hardly breathe and so short I could hardly move!

This one was comfortable but had a funny fit.  And yes, that is my baby on the floor.  We had a little diaper changing session in the dressing room so I decided to lay the blanket in the floor and let her stretch out.  No worries, the blanket is being washed and no babies were hurt :)

I have a thing for animal print and this one was the longest of all the try-on's

The final choice was the animal print, with a fun belt.

I thought I would do red...

But then I tried a hot pink sash on with it and like it even more!

I was shopping at Burlington Coat Factory.

Our buyer here has a great eye because I can always find some cute pieces when I go in there.

The best part? Every dress I tried on was between $12.99-19.99!

I also got this fun necklace with matching earring for $8.99.

So, for $22 I got an entire outfit with accessories :-)

What have you been shopping for lately?

I really am excited to pull out my sweaters and boots soon!

We are decorating for fall this weekend and I am sooo ready!!!

Like these outfits?

Pin them for safe keeping!

Make Your Own Bread!

Over the years, I have found out many things to be true concerning thrift stores...one of them being, they always have at least one bread machine in stock! And if yours doesn't, then...well, I guess I'm wrong ;-)

I have always considered purchasing one, but never made the plunge. Until 2 weeks ago when I came across a great looking one. On the top it said, "It Works!". I trusted that sticker and I put that shiny bread machine in my cart. The price was $8 and I was willing to give it a whirl.

Let me just tell you, I'm mad at my own self for not trying sooner. Bread machine bread far beats the taste & price of any store bought bread. My mom used to make it all the time for us and I just can't believe I forgot how delish it is!

So, run to your nearest thrift, grab the prettiest looking bread machine you can find, give it a good scrub and then try this recipe!

Easy Bread Machine Bread
1 package bread machine yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tablespoon sugar
3 1/2 cups of bread machine flour
1/4 cup oil
Pinch of salt

Put yeast and water in the bread machine and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast dissolves and gets foamy.
Then, dump remaining ingredients in and set your machine for a regular loaf of bread...this would be the best time to prepare your taste buds to be amazed.
You'll also want to make sure you have lots of real butter to slather all over your slices.
I could eat it for a meal...so so so yummy!
Do you have a great bread machine recipe?
Share it with us!!!

Like this idea or recipe? Pin it for safe keeping!!!

Bats in the Air Giveaway

I am very excited to host this giveaway!

My friend, Martha Hamlett, lives in Virginia.  I have known her since I was a little girl and I used to babysit her two very sweet little boys, who have grown up into very handsome boys!

A few years ago, Martha wrote an adorable children's book entitled, "Bats in the Air, Bats in My Hair".

Bats in the Air, Bats in My Hair is a fun, energetic book about Sally's overnight adventure at her Grandmother's house.  She is awakened in the middle of the night by some very creative and comic BATS! In turn, she and her Grandmother have to be creative in getting the bats out of the house.

The book is written in rhyme, so it's a very fun read for children of all ages and perfect for beginner readers!

Take a look at Martha's website and if you aren't the lucky winner, you can purchase your own fun copy here :)

Here are all your options to be entered to win:

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I Went Antiquing

This.this.this mirror...I am still trying to talk Seth into! I LOVE!!!!!!!!

Finished my shopping trip with a large Mocha Almond Iced...yummmmmm

Make Your Own Faux Mercury Glass

This is something I have been wanting to do for literally A YEAR!!!

Actually, I remember finding this spray paint before we moved from Fort Benning last year, so it's been longer than a year.

This DIY craft I originally saw in a magazine and then lately it popped back up via Pinterest.

Yesterday, I had our sitter come to watch the kids for a couple hours just so I could breath!!!

This is only the second time I have been out of the house by myself since Lorelei was born in April.

I love my kids, but I really enjoyed my alone time yesterday...fo ril.

First things first, I stopped for a big cup of coffee, then I went to the antique shop, thrift store, health food store, and made a final *quick* run into Hobby Lobby (yes, that is possible when you don't have to take 2 kids in and out of car seats and buggies!) just to buy the Looking Glass spray paint because, I'd be daggone if I wasn't more than ready to FINALLY try it!!!

Here's how to do it.

Grab all your ugly, cheap glass vases (or really anything glass!)

Spray a layer or two of Krylon's Looking Glass spray paint on the inside and outside.

For smaller vases, just do the outside.

Next, spritz with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water.

Let it sit on the glass for about 2 minutes.

Then take a paper towel and blot the vinegar bubbles.

I let it dry a little longer and then I buffed off more of the spray paint.

Voila!

Instant "Mercury" glass and it was way too easy!

All the clear glass in my house better hide because it's about to be mercury-fied!!!