Fall Swap

I think I have mentioned {several times} before that I absolutely love getting mail.  It's one of those simple things that really makes my day.  So when I saw that Mia at The Chronicles of Chaos was hosting a Fall Swap I knew that I was definitely in.  

We were to choose our fave thing about Fall and it was a no brainer that my favorite thing is Fall traditions.  It turns out that Victoria over at One Crafty Momma also loves Fall traditions so we were paired up!  I am so glad that I was paired with Victoria because I love reading her blog.  She is so darn creative!!!

The highlight of my week was getting a package in the mail from Victoria for the swap.  She was so generous and I can't imagine getting a package more fabulous.  She sent me a handmade scarf she made herself for crying out loud!  AMAZING!

In my package I found two packages of notecards {a perfect gift for me as I love sending mail as much as I love receiving it}, nail polish, candle melts, a notebook that I intend to use to plan blog posts, an amazing handmade headband, a handmade scarf, and a colorful pair of socks!

I forgot to mention that the wax melts are Paula Deen!  I LOVE Paula Deen!  I think Victoria might be psychic!

Is this headband perfect for Fall or what?!  I'm going to wear it everyday possible for the rest of the season.

The first thing I did when I opened my package was paint my nails with this Fall color.

And check out the scarf!  LOVE!   

I wore this exact outfit to work today and got so many compliments!

Oh, and don't forget the fun socks {ignore my ginormous feet}!  

Thank you so much Victoria!  I absolutely love everything!!!

If you haven't checked out her blog yet, head on over to One Crafty Momma and be sure to follow her.  You won't regret it!

Oh, How Pinteresting

So I went through most of the day today thinking that it was Tuesday.  I was very happy, but surprised when I found out that it was really Wednesday.  I've been absent this week and I'm not quite sure why, but I have been in a little of a blogging rut.

But then I came home and found my package for the Fall Swap from Victoria over at One Crafty Momma and all was well with the world!  It was just the pick-me up that I needed.  I LOVE getting mail!  The only problem is that you are going to have to wait until tomorrow to see what I got ;).  The suspense!

Today I'm linking up with Michelle at The Vintage Apple for:

Having just moved to the South I am super excited to try out this recipe for "The Perfect Sweet Tea!"

Craving Comfort via Jodi on Pinterest

I can't wait to use my Cricut to cut out the word "Welcome" for our front door!  Its definitely on my to do list for next week.

Ginger Snaps via Jodi on Pinterest

I stole a pallet from the construction site where my mom and her fiance are building their new home.  I have big big plans for that pallet.  Most likely I will paint it white and put it in my sunroom.

Dump a Day via Jodi on Pinterest

Only three pins today.  I'm setting the goal to actually complete/try out all of the pins that I feature on my blog on Wednesdays.  Wishful thinking?  Maybe, but I'm starting to feel ambitious!

Be sure to stop by tomorrow to check out all the amazing goodies from Victoria.  Oh, and stop by her blog and say "hello"!  She's so creative!

Covered Bridge. And Fried Oreos. And Ashlee.

Sooooo excited!  This weekend I am going to The Covered Bridge Festival with this girl!

Photo circa Covered Bridge yard sale 2011.

For those of you who are not educated in things that are Covered Bridge {in Indiana}...

Basically it is a huuuuge flea market where you find things such as 

this:

 and this:

 or real treasures like this:

Oh, don't worry.  I took that baby home.  It hung in our bathroom for months.  It started out as a joke between me and the hubby, but never got taken down.

In all seriousness, there are some real treasures to be found.  And fried oreos to be found.  Mostly I can't wait to spend time with my friend Ashlee!

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Hello!

Just a quick "Hello."  Taking a few moments to take care of myself tonight.  Blogging and an Octoberfest.  Aaaah... perfect after work activity.

Happy Thursday!

Me, Myself, and I

Okay, I think this is a blogging record for me... I have posted the last three days in a row!  Aaaaand this is actually my second post today which is a total accident...  I had prepared this post for tomorrow forgetting that Me, Myself, and I is on Tuesday.  But anyway...

Woohooo!  It's time for the Me, Myself, and I linky party!  This is seriously my favorite link up.  I love to think about and answer these questions... I love going through and reading other blogger's responses because it is so much fun!

So here it goes...

What is your favorite season? Explain.

We are right, smack dab, in the middle of it!  I LOOOOVE Fall!  I love the colors, the decorations, and the traditions that some along with the season.  I love snuggling up with a warm blanket, lighting a pumpkin scented candle, and drinking a hot mug of cider.  Plus the pretty leaves don't hurt.  Perfection.

Talk about a moment that changed your life?

I could think of a million answers for this question.  There are a million and one different moments that have led me to be who I am today.  I think that the most life altering moment in my life thus far was losing a parent.  It is something that most people go through at some point, but for me it happened at a young age (23).  Its easy to take family {and life in general} for granted, and I think that this really provided me with a reality check and was when I truly became an adult.  You have to appreciate each and every moment.  I've really learned that life is fragile and much too short not to value the simple things.  And you can never say "I love you" too much.

If you could be any Crayola crayon color, what would you be & why?

Tough one.  My favorite color is gray, but I'm not sure that describes my personality.  People say I smile a lot so maybe yellow?  That seems like a happy color.

Source: Soda Head

Describe yourself as a superhero: Superpower? Name? Sidekick?

Haha!  So funny.  Ummm...

If you had all the money in the world and could only shop at 3 stores, where would you shop?

I wish this were true.  Wouldn't it be nice if someone offered you a shopping spree at your three favorite stores??  But I guess this is a little more tricky... only three for the rest of your life?  Like you have to get toilet paper and toothpaste at these stores too?  Maybe I'm thinking about this too much...

Just to cover my bases I am going to say Target.  Can't go wrong with Target right?  They have a little bit of everything.  

                                                                   So... 1. Target
                                                                           2. TJ Maxx
                                                                           3. J. Crew

Source: MBfashionweek

Seriously, does anyone else love J. Crew?  I love that all the clothes are classy and conservative, yet stylish.  I would love to have unlimited money to spend at this store.  Swoon.     

You all {or Y'all as they say here in the South!} should link up with Breanna over at My Beautiful Crazy Life.  So fun!

Adventures of a Social Worker: Part I

Caleb continuously asks me why I don't write more about my job as a social worker.  Mostly its because the world of blogging is my main escape from the stress of my job.  I love that I can come here and write about Pinterest and decorations and food without the reality that everyday at 8:00 AM I go to work and try to solve the world's problems.  Okay, okay... maybe it isn't that bad, but it is pretty stressful when you have people relying on you to help them get food or their medications or for help keeping their electric on.

All that being said, my job is part of who I am.  Its what stresses me out, how I spend the majority of my waking hours, and most days its my passion.  Sooooo I have decided that its time to talk about it.

Today I am going to start off pretty light.  I'm going to introduce you to my cubicle.  

Yes, my cubicle.  Notice that most of these pictures have a greenish yellow quality.  That would be because there are no windows, and in fact, no natural light where my cubicle is located.  I am just the lowly social worker.  No office.  No window.  Just my cubicle to call home.

I did sass it up with a picture of me and the hubby.  Believe me, I have thought many a times about how I could use various Pinterest projects to make this space real cute, but I haven't gotten the nerve.  Yet.

My only other piece of decor is this printout from my boss.  I recently had quite the run-in with a buggy situation so she thought this was funny.  Funny, but true.  Oh so true.

My day starts and ends in my cubicle.  My main source of life-support is coffee.  Before becoming a social worker I didn't drink caffeine.  That was back when I was young and stupid.  Caffeine is my friend, my lifeline, how I survive.  Okay... I'm being dramatic again...

But seriously, I have gotten quite creative at making custom office coffee blends.  This one consists of 1/2 packet of Swiss Miss mixed with a full cup of coffee.  Should I Pinterest that recipe?

This next picture I am quite proud of.  At this newest social work job I have my own tape dispenser.  Pish posh you might be saying.  In the land of social work resources are scarce.  I feel quite important that I have a tape dispenser AND a stapler {all my own} at this job.

So there you have it.  My cubicle.  Exciting right?

Spooky!

So I've been looking at Pinterest for months in excitement.  I came up with a million and one ways that I wanted to decorate the outside of our house for Halloween.  I had grand dreams of skeletons, spider webs, pumpkins that looked like they were eating a man's leg... you know.

So I went outside one Thursday evening with all my supplies and realized that it was harder than I thought.  Most of my ideas required a ladder.  I don't go on ladders.  Ever.  I did put out some spider web {which I will probably regret when I have to pull it out of the bushes}, a strand of orange lantern lights, and I planted some mums.

Yes, there is one random skeleton lounging in the bush.

 Please ignore the fact that I have a forest of weeds growing between my bushes... oh, and also apparently poison ivy as now I have a rip roaring case all down my legs.  Needless to say, I've given up on Halloween perfection and am quite happy with the result even though it isn't Martha Stewart picture perfect.

After all, this is just a practice run on outdoor decor.  The real deal comes at Christmastime right?

Do you do any decorating outside for Fall/Halloween?  

Linking up with: