{Sweet Valentine's Day Mantle}

I don't typically decorate for Valentine's Day, but honestly with a child, every holiday is exciting! I am so excited for it this year.  I am so excited for St. Patricks Day too! This baby has an outfit for every holiday :)  Anyway, I didn't go overboard for a Valentine's Day mantle because I didn't want it to be too sweet, I am living with 3 boys, remember? I made all the pom poms with my Pom Pom maker from JoAnn, I love it! So simple and it's almost therapeutic for me {weird, I know}.  I used some pink and white twisted twine to string through the middle of the pompoms. I think it turned out super-cute!

I did the chalkboard from a print that I saw on Pinterest that I thought was sweet.  I think it was actually supposed to be a card, but I translated it to my trusty chalkboard :)

This was my babe while I was taking pictures.

The {faux} flowers I have had since college.  The little vase they are in is a Kate Spade vase that I have had for a couple of years.  I LOVE this vase! And the candleholder was a Goodwill steal that I spray painted silver last year before Christmas, or maybe 2 years ago.  The wreath is from Christmas, but hey it ties in pretty well with the feathers for V-Day too, I may even use it for my St. Patty's Day mantle too, so what?!

Hope you all have a...

I hope you enjoyed and if you have a minute pray for our pup Calvin, he hurt his leg and can't walk on it.  We are taking him to the vet tomorrow, my guess is he will have to have surgery :( Poor baby. 

{cute cheap gift wrap}

So I  bought this huge roll of this thin cardboard paper {don't remember the name of it} at Home Depot before last Christmas.  I still have more than 3/4 left after wrapping presents last year, painting the kitchen cabinets {post on that soon} and wrapping presents THIS year! It has lasted forever.

I think it's by the paint stuff at Home Depot for like $10.  WAAAY cheaper than that fancy wrapping paper junk :). Not as pretty of course though.  Until you add my little touches.  I thought I would do a post on this primarily because I haven't been blogging lately.  Two months to be precise.... And of course we have completely redone our dated kitchen which if you follow me on Instagram, you already know.  Also I would like to add if anyone wants the accessories from our old kitchen they're cute & headed to Goodwill soon!

I had been wanting our cabinets lighter and brighter for a while was the main reason we redid our kitchen.  Our living room is pretty dark and cozy and the kitchen had the potential to brighten things up a bit.  Mama made it happen.  Then of course one thing leads to another.  Enter new pulls, hinges, dishwasher being delivered after Christmas, new rugs that have yet to be picked out, a new window treatment and a new sink and faucet. I don't think I'm going to do a post about it until it is totally complete, but of course if you would like to see the progress I am always posting on Instagram {slightly obsessed} Here's a sneak peek of the new window treatment {cough*tablecloths*cough} Stay tuned for the full post on that...

Anyway here are my cutely wrapped presents just waiting to be opened by loved ones in a few short days.  Enjoy:

I used this Pom Pom Maker I found at JoAnn - it makes pom pom making fun and super easy.  I did it while Landon sat in my lap and talked to me :)

In progress

I didn't use the greatest yarn for the gray - I found I like the white yarn better for the pom poms

In progress

This is how it comes out! All you do is wrap the yarn & cut around the outside, tie a little tie & bam! Too cute!

For the dots - I had to improvise...I put a little thing you put under furniture with a sticky thing on the back, stuck on the top of a marker, and used the ink from our address stamps from the Christmas cards we just sent out to do this by hand.  A little hand-made Christmas.

This is not even 1/2 of all the presents I need to wrap but this is all I could get out tonight! Wrapping is hard work!

Pretty - it makes me want to curl up and snuggle with my family.  Oh wait, we do that!

I'm thinking about making a pom pom garland, maybe for Valentine's Day with pink & red.  I'm not too big on that holiday, but that would be just enough sweetness for me. 

This was a pic I posted on Facebook a while back.  I'm loving the decorations this year!

And of course, as you know, a post is not a post without my sweet boy to close it out!

Talk talk talk....

This occurs daily... 

Halloween

Meeting Santa Claus

Watching mama put on her makeup - Those EYES!

That boy is changing every day looks-wise, and I get people all the time that say.  He's so pretty he could be a girl....is that a compliment? He's also learning so much all the time.  It's so funny to watch his little mind work.  The other day I walked in and he was lying face down in his crib.  My first thought was to move his head to the side!! Obviously!! And when I walked over it's like he knew I was there and was trying to play a joke on me, because he started laughing hysterically. It made me laugh so hard.  We love him!

That's all for now :)

{my spooky halloween mantle}

Here are some pictures of my Halloween mantle.  I am just in love with it! So awesome.  I don't typically do a Halloween mantle just a fall one, but my aunt inspired me this year to do one!

Here is the final product:

The birds were $1 each at the dollar tree, as well as the gray fabric....

These 2 pumpkins were $1 each at Dollar Tree. I spray painted one black one chevron (silver first, tape off, then black)

OH SO FESTIVE!  Bring on Halloween!!

{DIY Tray Table}

So, I'm not sure how great of an idea this was with little kiddos running around our house in a short year or two, but I love the look!!! My inspiration was this tray table from World Market.  I fell in complete and utter LOVE with it, my husband said, "Really? $100? Surely you can make something like that for a lot cheaper...." I walked away pouting and dragging my feet calmly, brainstorming how I could make something like this on the CHEAP! Challenge accepted, husband!

Here is the before (from a garage sale $3 for 3 tray tables - I only used one...) It was really gross and had dust and spider webs all over it...YIKES!:

Here's my version:

not too shabby - my husband said he likes it!

THE PERFECT GOLD!

Tray from JoAnn.  About to be spray painted black and also a piece of silver scrapbook paper for the top of the tray!

Of course here are some pics of my fall-lovin' baby!

 Happy Fall! Until next time!!

{Welcome Fall}

Friends, I LOVE fall.  After the hottest summer on record {and pregnant during it, no less}, I am ready for it!! Of course it means I'm back at work but I am just so ready for what I think is the "coziest" season of all {Winter is a close 2nd for me}!

We celebrated by doing absolutely nothing at the lake & enjoying the rain {which oddly enough I love at the lake}. 

Here are a few things I'm looking forward to over the next 3 months {in no particular order}:

Dressing the babe for fall.  Our first fall together.  Seriously, what is cuter than a babe all bundled up for the fall? Nothing.  I purchased a few cuties from BabyGap the other day.  Can't wait to see my munchkin in them and snuggle, snuggle, snuggle, these super soft sweaters {well, my babe...in these sweaters} ;)

 And my brother - expert crocheter Johnny - is going to make him this Pixie hat in gray! I already am dying over it all!

& I just spent $24 at Von Maur on this hat for him.  I normally wouldn't spend that much on an accessory that he will quickly outgrow but I figured he will wear it at least 24 times this winter {& future babies can wear it too........ ;)!  I fell in love with the cuteness & to even it out I got some cute overalls for next spring for $8! What a steal!

Chiefs parties at our house......

and along with those come crockpot meals with some Pinterest recipes {already made some yummy beef stew this past week}......

Pumpkin patch & apple orchard visits

Our Annual Fall Family Christmas Photos

2010

2011 - Addition = Calvin

2012 - Addition = Landon - :)

Sweaters and Boots

Starbucks Caramel Apple Spice Cider

I know most people freak over the Pumpkin Spice Latte.  Which I love to treat myself to as well, but, the Caramel Apple Cider is scrumdiddlyumptious!!

I sure hope my post makes you as excited for my favorite season as I already am! Obviously.

Oh and before I sign off, I MUST share this text between my husband and the photo that I found on our computer when I was posting Landon's 2 month picture on Facebook today {2 months OLD! Can you believe it!!?}- the picture made me literally laugh out loud!  Mike always jokes that {because Landon is such a mover and a shaker} he does the Y-M-C-A all day long.  Well I sent him this picture and this was his response.  Exactly!