Laughter and Quiet

Need moments of both, don't we?
{Beautiful visual stories via blue pool road}

Apple Picking

I had hoped to have some fun pictures to share of Elliot at his first trip to the apple orchard, though it's not for lack of trying.  We came oh-so-close and then met a road block which had all our plans out the window. The big boys will still have their opportunity for apple picking next week and I hope to make caramel apples soon! I did manage to find some lovely pictures to enjoy in the meantime.

{Anna Wolf via Coco+Kelley}

We still had some very tender moments at home this afternoon. Here the boys are taking a moment to soak in a gorgeous day before everyone gets ready for a nap.

And after naps, a little toy time.

Spotted!

Remember when I gushed about these sparkly pants at J. Crew last month? Well, they were a whopping $850 and believe or not, actually sold out. (Though I see proud owners donning their newest fancy lovelies all the time, it still amazes me that clothing can sell at such an exorbitant cost). Well ... I came across this similar pair at Lulus and they are just perfect. And for a mere $40, I'd be crazy not to get them. Don't you think?

A Retro Fashion Moment

I finally had the opportunity to wear my vintage cotton candy pink linen dress. It requires the perfect weather and accessories and yesterday I finally felt inspired to give it a try. I spotted this dress at our antique mall last winter, hanging quietly amongst the bejeweled 80's gowns and floor length 70's bursts of color. This vendor sells the most astonishingly beautiful pieces. I wish I had reason to purchase 4 semi formal frocks, other than simply to look dreamily at them each time the closet doors open. And there's this python clutch that's been dying to come home with me for months now, but with a $98 price tag, it remains upon it's high shelf.

{dress - Somewhere in Time, bracelets - Limited and vintage, belt - Target, shoes - Dillards}

I took a few detailed photos of the lovely peter pan collar, my favorite part. There weren't many decent photos to share of this outfit because I managed to pull an excruciating amount of ridiculous faces during this little shoot. I really have to work on posing in my spare time! Can you imagine? The boys will love that, I'm sure.

Elliot and I made a stop at Goodwill yesterday, hoping to find a little something for our ever changing art wall (cheap is best as it will likely be replaced at season's end with a snowy landscape). These are the items that came home with us. A grand total of $3.50!

I recently discovered this vendor at Etsy and was completely taken with his clever creations. And then I found this amazing piece for $1.50 and was beyond excited to take on the challenge.

Sweet little embroidered lady all the way from Russia.

This print is well suited to the color and mood of our autumn wall.

Parker painstakingly lined up our polka dots and photographed them. They went the length of our living room and back again!

He also took a few of me as I began my 11th hour of cutting felt (just kidding). Whew ... glad to be done though. Therapeutic and painful at the very same time. Much like stretching. Haha.

A Crafty Weekend

Good morning to you! Hope you had a relaxing weekend. I spent much of my time crafting for this upcoming weekend's festivities and I had a blast doing it! I started work on the party hats, the mustache sticks, a polka dot garland (155 circles later...), and a wreath for the front door. I snapped a few pictures of the process and much of these goodies will continue to be fluffed and fringed over the course of this week. And after making a pot of delicious apple cider, the huz and I worked on our new art wall, inspired by this fantastic site. Those much loved blik stickers came down after 3 long years and my dusty art collected from here, there and everywhere (as far back as 15 years) went up, bursting it's frames with pride. The fall is winding it's way into our home... starting with this giant canvas found at a garage sale over the summer. It reminds us of a piece that might be found on a wall above the fireplace in Phil's grand parent's log cabin (completely hypothetical situation and place but I'm sure you would all agree with this assessment - any grand parent's cabin would work). However I just love it's tacky awesomeness. Just do. What's happening to me?

Let's start with crafties...

Party hats -

I started off with cheap party hats as my base and embellished from there. I used these fabulous directions found at cakewalk, but added the hat base and eventually a little pom at the tippy top. 

Mustache on a stick - 

I know the whole stache phenomenon is in full swing and I've seen the funny photos all over the place to prove it. But I thought it may not have been done in Green Bay (and my family and friends won't be tired of it yet) and I'd love to be the first to give it a go. You'll find them at Elliot's party in the little man photo booth. I just cut these free hand (off of a picture at etsy) out of felt and hot glued them to popsicle sticks. Unbelievably simple!

Polka dot garland -

I saw this sweet garland at Purl Bee and it seemed easy enough, so I thought I'd try it. I've been working quite a bit with felt as of late and I think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread! All those wonderful colors and the most brilliant felty projects to try (flowers - check, pillows, tooth fairy pouches). This is just the beginning...

I had a base for my wreath from a previous Christmas and I purchased a leafy berry garland over the weekend for $6.50. Just grabbed some fishing line and around and around I went! Now I just need a wreath hook. 

Art wall before-

The stickers are coming down and the art is strewn about. 

My not-so-happy huz attempts to hang a very heavy framed canvas. We've had some issues in the past with hanging things and have several *large holes in the walls to prove it (*not human sized holes but rather screw sized ... thankfully :). Needless to say, this is one of his least favorite things to do. So thank you my love.

While we worked, little E played.

So all in all, lots of fun. Many more "after" pics to come. 

Runway Fashion - Alberta Ferretti

The Spring 2011 collection from Alberta Ferretti is just breath taking. It may be a preview into the next season's most romantic look (while we begin to grab our light jackets and scarves) but those woodland greens and rusts fit right into my warmer fall wardrobe. Layering can make just about anything possible! A chiffon floor sweeping skirt just needs a cozy pair of tights to keep the legs warm and a leather jacket with a light scarf will take care of the rest. Spring pieces transitioning into fall staples (who wouldn't want to wear any one of these dresses year round?). Ah ... perfection. 

I believe this is my favorite (above) though the one below is a close second. 

Happy Friday!

{$2.50 spot at Target}

The Halloweeny decor has made an appearance at our home this week. I kinda love the holidays cause they give me an excuse to spread glitter all over my testosterone filled home (and for 4 more months!). The pumpkins will grace our doorstep next weekend (just in time for a party!), but in the mean time I'll take you on a tiny tour of our newly spruced up home. Note - a work in progress.

We'll start at the front door. Welcome.

 The pumpkin lady hangs her broom here when she comes over for a cup of licorice tea.

Such a sweetness about her, don't you think? And so fashionable in her couture gown. Let's take a closer look, shall we.

Velvet, polka dots, hot pink tie dye jeggings, fringe, feathers. Hot off the runway! Wish you could see her shoes...

And as afore mentioned, I dined with my lovely Ellen a few nights ago. Gourmet mac and cheese, chicken piccata and vanilla and chocolate Kahlua creme brulee. Delish! (I couldn't decide on a flavor preference for the creme brulee, so the chef prepared a little dish of both.)

And here we are ... Her hair is incredible, isn't it? Too gorgeous!

Roly Poly Baby

A little more wonderful chubs; I just couldn't resist. Makes me very, very happy. 

Good night!

Fab DIY Tutorials

I'm always filing away DIY craft ideas and tutorials that look fun or just plain beautiful, in the hopes of taking some time to work the same magic. These 2 tutorials are among my favorites and share a glimmery shimmer, sure to make your eyes dance!

The first is from  The Glamourai and though this first stunner is a true (reworked) antique from her own collection of lovelies, the rest of her post shares a Forever 21 rhinestone necklace which she "antiques" herself with a couple of permanent markers. It's fascinating and definitely something I'd love to try soon. 

Check it out!

This next tutorial is found at A Fanciful Twist. Vanessa includes many detailed pictures of her lovely spider web craft, which is surprisingly simple. The webs start out white (which looks great too if you become distracted enough to have to end it there) and finish with a generous sprinkle of glitter or shiny sprays of paint. They're really a delightfully spooky (but not enough to cause night terrors!) October decoration when suspended and turning in the breeze. Take a look! 

Soon to come - pictures from my "first day of Autumn" celebratory dinner with a friend plus our pumpkin lady comes out to play. 

Oh, and Glee? Did you see it? Those kids make me love songs I've not loved before (great for Glee; not so great for Lady Gaga - sorry 'bout that). Amazing. 

The Simple Things

The madness of my week begins to slow down when I reach Wednesday, allowing me a relieved sigh and a good sink into the couch. I'm so grateful for that fact; all work can be accomplished promptly at the start of a week and then left in the dust as a take off to better things (such as hours of catching up on TV shows I've had to miss - Gossip Girl is off the charts this season, isn't it? Those clothes are remarkable!)

While their mamma flurries about the kitchen preparing lunches and sweeping old food out of the way of eat-anything crawlers, the boys keep themselves occupied with a leftover-lackluster balloon from the weekend's frivolities and security trinkets that remain a constant obsession even 2 weeks later. Ugh! 

Fresh out of bed, someone managed to find a favorite toy that had been missing for quite some time. Woo hoo! No more tears about it. 

The rings, out of a vending machine at Perkins of all places, is his be all and end all right now. They go everywhere! School  - have to remain in his pocket as they're not technically allowed at school, which prompts the very funny "My hand is tired" game, causing the hand to remain in said pocket for most of the school morning. Bed - which is driving me completely nuts because my "great" sleeper is now waking me up a couple of times in the wee hours of the morn to help him find his rings. Seriously? I'm going to have to break out a jewelry box and create a wonderful new place where rings can sleep at night, tucked into their own blankets and pillows, but laying beside him instead of on or under him. Who would have thought that his deepest devotion could go further than his duppy (duppy is now a nasty old thing but I have a new adoration for it's stringy, mangy grossness). 

Aw. I love you balloon. My strawberry blond boy seems to become more strawberry as the months pass. What a wonderful surprise that is. There was no hint of it when he was born and I thought the good colors always tend to fade, not brighten!

Have a spectacular day!