Autumn days

Well, the fall weather seems to have finally arrived, and I must admit, I love it! I started decorating late September, and I am definitely enjoying how cozy our home feels. In addition to the fall decor, I have several of the "Pumpkin Spice"  wallfowers from Bath and Body Works, so it even smells like fall in here. mmhhmmm

I used some old, outdated urns and spray painted them black. I purchased some Cinderella pumpkins and little white gourds from Trader Joe's. I also added some fall leaves from the Dollar Tree around the urns. My chalkboard was a framed picture that I no longer needed. I spray painted the glass with chalkboard paint and used a white paint and black paint to give the frame a distressed look. On the chalkboard, I used several different colors of chalk to write out my favorite things about fall. Though I am not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, I do enjoy doodling, and this was a lot of fun to do.

 

In the entryway, I used a garland of fall leaves, as well as a banner I made last year that spells out "Harvest." I used pears that I purchased from Target a few years ago. The white lantern is also from Target, filled with pumpkin skewer things from Safeway and some fall flowers from the Dollar Tree.

My mantle is decorated with fall leaves and orange lights, as well as a cute little owl from the Target dollar section. The little blocks spell out Happy Harvest, and I think they are also from Target.

 

Lastly, I have some more lanterns on my piano from the Target dollar section with fall flowers again from the Dollar Tree. I used a white pumpkin on a candlestick I purchased years ago, probably also from Target that I spray painted black.

Well, in addition to decorating for fall, I apparently also enjoy shopping at Target, as almost all of my decorations appear to be from there. I guess that really shouldn't surprise me, after all, who doesn't like to shop at Target?

A Letter to my Youngest

To my Youngest Child,
 After attending two weddings now in the last year, you are completely obsessed with the idea of getting married. You constantly plan it similarly to how other children plan their birthday parties. When you taste something that you like, you declare it as the kind of food you want at your wedding. Recently at Walmart, you found some silk flowers that you also stated would be perfect for your wedding. Perhaps I should be taking note of all the preparations you are currently making. :) Or maybe your preferences will change a bit in the next 20 years or so.

Last Saturday at lunch, you were troubled because you didn't know who you were going to marry when you grew up. In order to put your mind at ease, I asked if you just wanted Mommy and Daddy to pick out your husband for you. To this, you readily agreed. Daddy said we needed to get this in writing. I am inclined to agree.

You recently heard your older brother singing, "Here comes the bride, all fat and wide. Here comes the groom as skinny as a broom. Here comes the usher, the old toilet flusher." You love this rendition of the wedding march and sing it often. You think it is hilarious- every. single. time.

Oh Baby, you are such a little drama queen, and we completely adore you! Please stay a four year old forever!

Love,
Mommy






This is you in the Halloween aisle at Target. I was looking for a Rapunzel costume, and you were in the next aisle. You called out, "Mo-om, look at me!" I may or may not have screamed when I saw you.

This is you being your sweet self, which you are most of the time. ;)

This is you last Christmas getting ready to go ice skating. After we waited for 30 minutes and paid about $70, we got in to go ice skating. After once around the rink, you had to go the bathroom, and then we weren't allowed back in. At least you looked cute! ;)

Thoughts on 30...

In just a few days, I will be leaving behind my youth- forever! While that may sound overly dramatic, that is exactly how I feel about turning 30. The other day while doing some very deep thinking on this subject, I made some decisions.  One of them being that I am going to make time to do things that I have been wanting to do. I always have projects floating around in my little mind, but I rarely get to them because I am too busy. However, I decided if I want to make bows for my little girls, instead of complaining about my lack of time to do it, I will find the time, even if it is at 5:00 in the morning.

bow making

I also realized during my introspection, that I enjoy writing. For some reason though, I have never done very well at keeping a journal or diary. Yet, many times I have been tempted to write a blog post. After my last blog post sometime last year, I felt kind of dumb that I had started a blog at all. After all, who would want to read what I write? But in my turning 30 self evaluation, I decided, "Who cares?". If I want to write a blog post about turning thirty, then by george, I will. Maybe one day my children will find it and be interested in reading it.

I remember my mom telling me once about a lady, who always brought a cake to work on her birthday. She chose to celebrate being given another year of life, instead of bemoaning the fact that she was getting older. As a young teenager, I remember liking her outlook, but as a thirty year old twenty-nine year old (well, I still am for a few more days) I appreciate it so much more. So, I have decided to embrace my thirties, and on my birthday, I am going to enjoy every bit of turning thirty. While I may be just a few short years away from tons of wrinkles and gray hair, I will still get to eat cake and get presents. I would even bet that my husband will get me a slurpee, and really what could be better than that?