My Halloween Mantel

Hello everyone!  I can't thank you enough for all your wonderful comments on my Haunted House!  I love doing it and am so excited that I inspired so many people!  I just wanted to show you  my Halloween mantel.  It is just a collection of the things that I love.  The trick or treat plate was from my favorite little accessory store in Michigan.  The spooky houses were purchased at Kroger!!  I love how the windows glow with the candles in them!  The little ghost with the Boo sign was from HomeGoods this year.  The black candle holders on the ends were cream and green ivy candle holders that we got as a wedding gift!  I couldn't let them go so I did what any good blogger does... I spray painted them!  I love how they turned out and they were perfect for my fall mantel!

My Haunted House

Happy Halloween everyone!  I love this time of year when the air gets crisp and the leaves begin to change to glorious colors and drift gracefully down to the ground.  Sadly, it doesn't happen like that here, but I can pretend and make my house as "fall-ish" as I can!  It is still in the high 80's!!!  Oh well, I love it all anyway and I especially love my haunted house!  Last year,  I wanted to be clever and do something different.  I had seen some on RMS do something like it and I thought I could do it.  Here is what I came up with!

It all started with Jemma wanting a witch!  She told me she wanted a witch flying on a broom so I sketched one out just to see if I could!  I was quite proud of myself!  I went to the local teacher store and bought a big roll of fadeless black paper.  I cut it to fit each window I was doing and then sketched the picture on the back, cut it out, and hung it up!  Here are some closeups!

This is Jemma's witch.  I love her pointy nose and chin!  Jemma's room is painted green and I love how it has the green glow!

Our bathroom is the cat and bats!  I am going to add some hanging bats to the closet window that is above the peak of the house.  

Downstairs a ghost has taken over the dining room.  I am not to sure about him.  I think he needs some tweaking.  People have a hard time seeing the ghost!  I may add another one to the left corner!  

Dracula has been hanging out in our office!  Hanging out... get it!  Ha!  I love him and how he fits in the bay!

I am adding pumpkins and mums to the porch so I will be doing an update soon, but I just wanted to share my very own haunted house!

I think it is pretty "spook-tacular" if I do say so myself!!!

Thanks so much for all your kind words!  I am linking up with
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Stories of A2Z for Halloween Mantel Party
and
Inspiration Friday Party at Southern in my Heart
I just linked up to Between Naps on the Porch for her Halloween/Fall Metamorphosis Monday!

Thanks for hosting ladies!

Fair Time!

I know this post is late in coming, but I just had to share it!  My hometown fair is a big deal.  It was always one of my favorite times of year!  I still get giddy when I think about rounding the curve in the old highway and seeing the double ferris wheel for the first time!  Giddy, I tell you!!!  Since we moved to Germany in 2000, I have not been to our fair.  It has always begun on Labor Day weekend with the rides opening on that Monday night.  It was also the night of the pageants!!  I have always wanted to take Jemma, but schools in Michigan started on Tuesday after Labor Day so there was no way to go and do it.  This was our year though and we took off to the fair!

The fair is totally new and ran by another company.  The actual pictures of the fair rides and booths were taken by a very talented photographer named Denise Wherley from my hometown.  Since someone forgot to take the camera that night... (how do I even call myself a blogger when I forget the camera at the house?!?)  she generously shared her pictures with me!   There was no ferris wheel to greet me as we rounded the curve, but I did see some lights.  I hate to say it, but I needed that double ferris wheel!!!  We actually had to wear jackets!  It was nice and crisp outside so perfect fair weather.  We sat down at one of the local booths for  a burger and ran into a dear friend that I cheered with in high school who had her two little ones with her.  Her son is 6 and daughter is 4 so we buddied up and had the best time!  There wasn't a lot of people there so we bought the kids the "all you want to ride" bracelet and ride they did!  They would get off one ride and just walk around and get on it again.  The little girls hit it off and it was perfect!!!

Jennifer and me at our 20 year reunion

Our girls one year later!  Jemma is only two months older than Ellie!  I think Jem is going to get her height from her dad!

  

The next day, I got to reunite with three of my dearest friends.  Chris, who I ran the 5k with, and I have always known each other.  Our grandmothers were best friends.  Dreama was our other best friend in high school and I hadn't seen her in 7 or 8 years.  I can't even tell you all the scraps we got ourselves into!  Love them!!!

Me, Dreama and Chris

Then came Julie!!!  Julie and I lived behind each other growing up in Nashville.  All that separated our yards was a creek.  We went to the same private school, but didn't really get to be friends until 6th grade.  Then we were inseparable.  It was funny because we ran with different groups at our school, but after school we were always together!  She came to Tennessee Tech for a semester and we roomed together.  I must add that was one of the best semesters EVER!!!!   We  got ourselves into so much trouble had so much fun!!  I haven't seen Julie in 10 years and she came up with her 10 year old daughter  and 8 year old son.

Julie's sweet babies!

We all ate met up and the kids were going to ride rides, but Jemma was just tired and hot.  She was going to ride the bumper cars with Sydney, but the man wouldn't let her on without an adult.  I couldn't see any of this and the next thing I know there is a squalling child by me.  She was beside herself.  I think she completely got her feelings hurt and she was done.  We went to a picnic table under some shade and she fell asleep while I called Daddy for backup.

We then ate at a booth, saw my Fairest of the Fair picture in a big display case, and rode rides!  I was so happy to have all these dear people with me and couldn't have asked for more!

Here I am in all my Fair queen glory!!  The BHW always starts humming "Glory Days" by Bruce Springsteen when my pageant or cheering days come up!!! 

This is too funny!  I was only 14 in this picture!  This is actually my Fairest Princess picture in the Queen display case.  My parents thought this was the right one and sent it in.  I am now searching for the Queen picture so it can be displayed!!!
Just imagine bigger hair and same color dress covered in sequins!!!  

See the fish I won for Jemma?  Oh yeah, I can still shoot a squirt gun!!!

It was the perfect weekend!  If I never go to my hometown fair again, I am okay because it couldn't have been a better time!

The Versatile Blogger!

The sweet and wonderful Jane at Janie's Porch  passed on The Versatile Blogger award to me!  I am so honored as I truly enjoy blogging and meeting new friends!    I just want to thank you, Jane, for thinking about me.  If you have never visited her blog, please stop by.  She is an incredible woman who in the last few months has just taken charge of her life and has been so inspirational for me!  

A "Versatile Blogger" brings everything to the table - a little of this and a little of that."

Now, here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:

• Thank & link back to the person who gave you the award  (Thank you, Jane!)
• Share 7 things about yourself  
• Pass the award on to (up to) 15 other bloggers who you have recently discovered and think are fabulous  
• Contact the bloggers you chose and let them know about the award.

And away we go...

1.  In high school, I was in beauty pageants.  I was Fairest Junior Miss, Fairest of the Fair, and Miss Merry Christmas.  I have the crowns and sash to prove it!!  It is funny because I have never thought of myself as pretty  especially in junior high and high school.  I just never understood how I won!  What I am proudest of though in my pageant heyday is that I won Miss Congeniality in 3 out of the 5 pageants I was in.  It was an honor since I was chosen by the girls because they liked me and thought I was nice.  Looks may fade, but nice is always in!

2.  I have no athletic ability.  I am serious.  I played softball for a year and won Most Improved.  I think it was a guilt thing as I went from horrifically bad to just pretty darn bad.  I tried out for other sports and never made it.  I was a cheerleader in high school but that was way before cheerleaders had to have a gymnastics background.  I suck at golf, but LOVE to play.  Nobody will hardly play with me because I cuss like a sailor on the course when I get frustrated (which is a lot!).  I don' t normally swear, but when I am on a golf course, I might as well have an anchor tattoo.  I just don't understand why I can't hit a little white ball?!? I embarrass my husband!

3.  I love to read.  I read every single night before bed and have for as long as I can remember.  I love mysteries, scary, suspense, gushy romance and all in between!  I love to read some books over and over.  As a child I loved the Trixie Belden mysteries, Nancy Drew and the Heavens to Betsy series.  As an adult, I love to read just about anything!  I can't go to bed at night without reading.  It is weird to me to get in bed and just turn out the light.  Can't do it.  Must read!

4.  I am a former school teacher.  I taught for 5 years in Tennessee, tutored for a year in Germany, and taught for 5 years in Michigan.  I have taught Transition First, First, Second and Fourth grades.  I love to teach children, but I hate all the politics that go with it, the paper work, stupid parents, and I disagree with the education system right now in how much we are shoving down kids throats that they are not developmentally ready for in order to keep up with other countries.  Hellooooo people... not keeping up!  You don't even want to get me started on that!!!  

5.  I hate vegetables.  Yes, I am Southern and yes, I HATE vegetables!  I know.  It just isn't right, but it is true.  DO NOT give me a pea or bean of any shape or sort.  I hate the taste and the texture.  If you try to sneak them in something, I know it.  I sense it before it even hits my mouth.  Ugh... gag... With that said, I do love salad and if you fry okra or pickle it, I am good, but peas and beans... don't even think about it!

6.  I don't like cereal with milk in it.  I know that is kind of the point of cereal, but who wants to eat a bunch of soggy pieces of stuff?  Not me!  No sirree!  

7.  I love being a mom.  It is the absolute best thing that has ever happened to me.  It is looking like there won't be any more in my future and I think I am o.k. with that.  I feel guilty sometimes that I am not giving Jemma a sibling, but I just know that God blessed us with this miracle of her and I am grateful everyday!

There you have it!  7 things you didn't know about me!

Now to pass this on...  I know everyone is busy so if you aren't able to do this, I totally get it, but there are some sweet people out there that I sure do think a lot of!

Debbiedoos Loves Living in the Carolinas

Savvy Southern Style

La Bella Vie

Conversations from the Cul-de-Sac

Adventures in Decorating

Heart and Home

The Gazebo House

Far Above Rubies

Savvy Seasons by Liz

Sailing Simply

Creative Decorating on a Budget

Sullivan and Murphy

Fiona and Twig

Confessions of an Ugly Mom

Fabulous Fashions 4 Sensible Style

Oh Noooooooooooooooo!

I went to dust my pretty new black table and accidentally have dropped/slid a tray across the top and scratched it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am so sick right now.  I dabbed some black acrylic paint in the groove which made it not white, but you can still see the scratch.  Any suggestions?????????  :-(

Too match or not to match? That is the question!

So, I just bought a new black, distressed, chippy, round coffee table to go in my new lighter living room!  Now, should I buy a black, distressed, chippy, square end table to go between the new couch and the hubby's leather chair?  Let me have your thoughts ladies!

I am also looking at area rugs.  I really want seagrass, but have heard some say that it is rough on the feet.  I have very delicate tootsies!  Let me know if you have any experience!


By popular demand here are some (unfortunately) lousy pictures!!!  I was trying to not use a flash, but didn't use a tripod so the results are blurry.  I will post some more tomorrow with the sun coming in!

Isn't she pretty?  I think she fits much better here than the ginormous square one I had.

What is that you see?  Yes, I did get some new fall pillows!!!  I will show you these beauties up close when I am all fall-ed out!

They have a square and a round end table that matches that I would put where the big one is now.  

Let me have it and tell me what you think!!!

Back to School...sniff...sniff

My baby started 4K this week.  I am so excited for all the new adventures she will have, friends she will make, and learning that she will do, but I am so sad to not have my baby girl here with me.  All I ever wanted to be was a stay at home mom and now that I finally am, they want my baby 5 days a week!!!  What is up with that???????  I am so grateful to be home with her though at this age in her life.  We do so many wonderful and fun things together that she will remember.  It is also the hardest thing I have ever done and the most wonderful thing I have ever done.  I am so grateful to the BHW for working hard and giving me the opportunity to be with her. It is a dream come true.

Every four year old needs her Barbie cell phone with her!

She is growing into the backpack

Helping our neighbor, Carter, find his room

The BHW got to go with us!  Jemma was so excited!  She must be opposed to smiling at this stage in her life.  What is up with that?

Getting into the groove

Mommy not really wanting to leave...

Our traditional first day of school lunch at O'Charley's 

Here's off to the start of a new school year!  

I am linking up with Heidi for her Gratitude Wednesday at Heart and Home!