More Promised Pictures

Here are a few more fall pics that I had promised. I wish I could have gotten a pic of the radio flyer sooner, rather than now when those big, beautiful mums are one their way out. I noticed my neighbor's mums, which had appeared to be dead weeks ago, are making a comeback. So my ugly brown guys aren't going anywhere anytime soon. I'm hoping that they'll take a turn for the better just in time for Turkey Day. I always feel like such a bad "plant mommy" when I hear people say "mums are soo hardy - you can't really kill them" because mine die every year (and NO there hasn't been any frost). So any of you plant lovers who can shed some light or rain or whatever those stinkin mums need, please feel free to comment with some tips!!!


Warning: DO NOT click on the pic. above. You may be subjected to zombie flowers, overgrown irrational bushes and/or deep rooted weeds .

Truthfully, I just prefer you avoid viewing all the weeds and dead flowers in that flower bed!!!

A couple of years ago I picked up this old column/post at REHOUSE, a local houseparts/salvage shop (right around the corner). I love this place and I love this post. Josh secoured in the ground with concrete and attached the rustic planter to the top. I try to change out the flowers/decor with the seasons. So here is the super simple fall arrangement. A pumpkin on a bed of leaves. I'm positive Martha would be disgusted with my lack of creativity on this one. This post planter creates a lot of problems for me, though. For one, all my friends give me grief because I've put my boyfriend's last name on the homemade house number sign we made (friends can be very protective - but I figure after five years...!!). In addition, the post is hollow in the middle. Water gets down inside of there and becomes a problem, especially in the winter. I'm afraid someday it will rot into pieces from moisture:( And ice has already formed inside of it creating a crack down the side which I plan to caulk and paint eventually. So my post is definately in need of some TLC, which I am promising to give it...in the spring!


Then there are these coleus (sp.?) lining the back of our house and I forget the name of the flowers, although I know it, and am a loyal buyer of them. I'll think of it~! Astilbe, right??? I took these pictures on October 31st. It is now November 2nd and they still look the exact same way. Uhhhh - helllloooo!!! I live in Western New York. Flowers.....alive and well.....in my yard.....in November-------UNHEARD OF!!!!!!!! I want them to last forever, because it is the last little bit of summer I have to cling to and although I love fall - I hate the cold. It just makes me feel blah! So reminders of summer sun and heat are very uplifting!!

Gifts For Me...Gifts For You!! Well...Some Of You Anyway!

Please go down three posts to Pay It Forward and sign up to make someone smile - Please!!


So...here are my creations. I had just enough frosting to do a cupcake for each student in my class. I came up to get on the computer at 9:00 and heard Josh in the kitchen. AGGGHHHHH, STOP...but, just as I suspected, it was too late. I was suddenly short just one.single.cupcake:( So then there's the big ultimatum, do I hope somebody is too awful to get one tomorrow? NOOO - that's twisted - uh hello, I want them to be good remember. So off we went (yes, I made him come along) to get more frosting. But this little trip was in his best interest because now I have enough frosting to do the leftover cupcakes - just for him. One happy man and one bribed to goodness group of 6th graders. Oh, and one tank of gas that will not need to be filled in the A.M. I 'd say I made out ok myself!
Oh yeah, I also made these YUMMY IN YOUR TUMMY caramel apples for my brother and his girlfriend and some friends from work. And, of course, Josh who can't seem to keep up with my numerous homemade treats these days. However, I haven't heard too many complaints!

I also wanted to share these fun packages I mentioned before. The satchel and that beautiful card arrived last week (I think) and pictures do it no justice. It has a beautiful deep red color in it that I just love. Thank you soo much Stephanie for sharing your talents and the satchel. Love them both!!

Then I got this monogrammed hand towel from Vicki after I commented on how lucky she was to have scored the white hand towels with an S on them at an estate sale (both my first and last names begin with S). She was so sweet to email me after that and say that she'd like to share one. Then she surprised me with a sampling of some gorgeous gift tags she had made herself, the most adorable EVER buttons in the sweetest colors, some fabric cutouts and some tiny words and phrases. I can't wait to begin creating with these little goodies. Thank you Vicki for being so generous!

And yesterday I sent off, well actually Josh sent off (Thanks Honey!) this package to my friend Kristina. Now this isn't actually a gift, but it is one of her purchases from my ETSY store. Thanks Kristina! Hope you enjoy your new corkboard and gift tags...

Then there were these VERY IMPORTANT gifts that went out to some VERY IMPORTANT family members, whom I won't mention since they may not have received them yet - and to which are LONG overdue. So sorry for the long wait. Hope you find the perfect place for them!

So if you stuck around long enough to get to this part, I'll see you tomorrow with some more Halloween decor and maybe some ETSY stuff. I must remember to blog about HO and Steve, and being rich!!

Look Out...I've Got A Camera and I'm Not Afraid To Use It!!

Here are just a few of the things I've been promising to share (you know, when I got a new camera). My co-favorite aunt...Stacy....lent me her camera for a few days. I was once lost, but now I'M FOUND!! Yippee - I have a camera and Kodak emailed me today to say that the new one shipped today. Things are lookin' up!
Before: black (well half black - sorry guys - I always forget the stinkin' before photos!) record stand from an estate sale last month for $3.00. Red seems to cheer it up a bit, especially against that DARK green that I desperately want to turn YELLOW.

After: record stand painted red, anxiously awaiting my next trip to Belfast, in order to stock it's shelves (or dividers if you will!)
Free prayer children, angel and doves from Craigslist (very thick particle board material)
Free divided box...c/o Grandma. Love you Gram!!! Maybe perfect for silverware and napkins. Any other ideas?
Free doll crib (from the same place as the prayer children) from Craigslist - LOOOOOVE:)IT!
Nope, it's not broken, it just needs to be put together and considering it's number 152 on the to-do list, that'll take a while!

Pedestal bowl from VVA = $3.00
Teapot flower arrangement added to centerpiece. The little orange and brown gourds are foam. I got a whole box of them for $2.50 at Michael's. I decided to put a few on skewers and add them to the arrangement for some contrast. Love it (do you sense a theme here or what?!)!
Bits and pieces of the buffet table in dining room - finally decorated!
My sister!!!!!! I picked her up for just $1.00 at the VVA - brand new!
The entire buffet table (moved from the corner of the room to being centered under the windows has done it wonders!), including my new sign from the Windmill tucked away up there behind the flower arrangement ($2!!!). My fav. part, beside my sister of course, is the twiggy tree that used to be painted white. The tree previously acted as a Xmas decoration, but had seen it's last jingle bell and needed a new life. I think it's perfect!!

I will be back tomorrow fulfilling more aged promises!!!

New ETSY Gift Tags

I added some new gift tags to ETSY today. Getting ready for the holidays!! Yeah right, I say that, but I'll still be buying gifts 'til January... Anyway, I know it's a bit delayed on the Halloween tags, but I figured I'd throw them in anyway. One of my favorite parts of the holidays is buying something after the holiday and packing it up with the decor., then when I open my rubbermaid bin next year it's a surprise package that I had forgotten allll about! Love it! There is one set of Thanksgiving tags that would be perfect for place settings at the dinner table (oops with a copyright in the corner, OF COURSE I GOT PERMISSION - better photoshop that though, that's serious business!). They are very sweet. There are several Christmas tags and one set already sold - so act fast!

I'm going to add my leftover banners at a discount later this week, as well as my necklaces. So be sure to check back.

Have a great week everyone and don't forget about Pay It Forward in the previous post (below)!!!!!

Pay It Forward!

This fun spreader of happiness comes to you via Dara at Sophie Rose Designs who can do wonders with a few feathers! Here's how it works......
I have agreed to make a little handmade item for three people who agree to do the same thing on their blog to "Pay it Forward". The first three comments to this post who agree to do this will continue the chain of giving....

1. You comment on this post
2. You receive a handmade gift from me!
3. You post this message on your blog and offer a handmade gift to the first three who comment.
4. Thus, the cycle continues and everyone has fun and beautiful crafts to display in their home!

Isn't that such a good idea? My first three visitors......just email me your addresses and then "Pay it Forward" on your blog!!!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Meet Robin...

otherwise known as the anonymous commentor (sp.?) on my last post and/or as my lil brother. Now I know I haven't been a good blogger lately and I know you've all heard enough about my camera and me feeling sorry for myself, but I'm not over it yet - so TOO BAD!!! My brother visits the blog every day (or at least he better be) and is obviously sick and tired of reading the same old post, as I'm sure many of you are!! So he's harassing me anonymously!!

That's him there in the Robin suit. He is currently for rent for any of you baby mamas who are having a birthday or Halloween party that you need entertainment for. In the spirit of making him happy, I will collect the proceeds from Robin's appearances and buy myself a new camera. So just let me know if you'll be needing him. He's fairly CHEAP, but a bit of a busted Robin (you see he can't FLY), so you'll need to put him on a plane if you're too far away!! Double your $ and I'll send Batman (my cousin Josh) along, too!!

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In Other News

When I get my new camera, I must remember to blog about:

• fall post decoration
• weight candle holder
• HI
• new windows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you, HONEY!
• free doll crib and other fun stuff

Until then...

I'm NOTTA Loser!

I WON! Stephanie from built to last made this gorgeous handbag and decided to give it away. All I had to do was leave a comment for a chance to win. Go visit her, she's very funny and so are her little ones! And don't you just love that logo?

And thanks to her wonderful, and hilarious (might I add), son James who picked my number - I am the lucky girl. It is in my staple autumn colors of brown and black. Stephanie calls this bag a satchel, which makes it even more appealing to me. I am the proud new owner of a handmade satchel. There is a song coming to mind, but I can't think of the name of it. Oh well! This is it for now, since my camera is in heaven:(

Thank you, Stephanie and thank you little James - I can't wait!!

P.S. Did you all notice that I added music? Hope you weren't at work when you figured that one out!! Now onto my new look - ahhh...someday!