Chalkboard Project

A while ago I decided I wanted a small chalkboard to hang in my kitchen. Unfortunately, I also decided that I didn't want to spend any money for one. :)

So I thought I'd make one out of an old window. I found one along the side of the road for free...

I painted the trim white and sprayed chalkboard paint onto the glass. I also added some hooks on the bottom to hang an apron or two. Here's what it looks like...

Magazine Ideas

I am in need of subscribing to some magazines (most of mine have expired), so I'm wondering...

What magazines do you subscribe to that you love??

I need ideas! Thanks!

Fall Fashion Show

So I was browsing for some fall looks that I'm liking right now...care to join me?

I really like this sweater coat from Target - looks very cozy and warm. Not bad for $29.99...

And this cable knit hoodie from J. Crew looks cuddly too (although on sale for $79.50 - sadly above my price range)...


I also am liking this sweater from Old Navy. I really like shawl collars right now...

I really enjoy Ann Taylor Loft and here's one of the reasons why - so pulled together and sophisticated...

One of my favorite things to wear when I'm dressing up is a crisp white shirt - I love this wrap detailing. I think wraps are so slimming. This is from New York & Co...


Ok, so we can't leave out the handbags, can we? Here's a cool one by Brighton (ie. expensive!) from Zappos. Got $285 to spare???
Now here's a purse more on my level. Only $14.99 from our favorite store - Target!
And who doesn't love a cute pair of red shoes? These cuties are $19.99 from Payless.
Hope you enjoyed going on this little tour with me! Enjoy the fall!

Fun Quiz

Here's a fun little quiz to find out what your accent is. It was pretty much spot on for me.

Here are my results...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The South
The Northeast
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

My red door

I've been working on several projects during the past week, and here's one of them - our front entry.

Here's what it looked like before...

And here's what it looked like after I was finished. I repainted the trim white and made the door red.
It didn't make a huge difference, but I think it brightened up the front a bit.

A little update on me

I don't normally put much personal stuff on here, but I thought I'd let you know how I was doing. Thanks so much for all your encouragements and kind words. We are so blessed with a wonderful group of family and friends who are taking such good care of us.

I'm doing well physically. I'm battling severe headaches (which I rarely get), but other than that, I'm feeling almost back to normal.

Emotionally is a different story! I went through a miscarriage a few years ago (before Avery) but in that situation, I was only 6 weeks along and it wasn't nearly as painful. I would have never guessed that it would be so hard. But I know that every day will get easier.

The hardest parts are just the random things that remind me that our lives have changed. Like seeing my maternity clothes all cleaned and ready to go. And seeing Avery's "Big Sister" t-shirt in her drawer (that's how we told my parents that we were expecting). And not having my baby bump anymore (this was one of the first signs that something was wrong - my bump was gone).

Today, for the first time, Avery tried to tell me "I love you". What more could I ask for?

I am blessed.

Not-So-Good News

Unfortunately, after 13 weeks into my pregnancy, I'm experiencing a miscarriage. Things seem very upside down and topsy-turvy right now, but we know we will survive, and God is still our provider, strength, and peace.

Please keep us in your thoughts & prayers. Thank you!!

The case of the missing tissues

Oh, there they are.
Note to self: Put tissue box above baby girl's reach. Another lesson learned.

Purple Stained Fingers

Today I was in grape heaven! I made grapejuice for the first time ever and my kitchen smells delicious!

I used a recipe that my Aunt Susie, who lives in Berlin, Ohio, gave me. I hope it tastes as good as it looks!

It's actually a very simple recipe. I bought 15 lbs. of Concord grapes for 45 cents/lb., which I thought was quite a bargain! The canning part takes the most amount of time and calls for lots of patience!



Aunt Susie's Grapejuice Recipe:
-2 cups grapes
-1/2 cup white sugar
-boiling water
Fill quart jar with grapes, sugar and boiling water. Mix to dissolve sugar. Put lid on jar. Place in canning pot and boil for 10 minutes.


The results...

Colors of Fall

I had some extra energy this week and worked on decorating for fall. I love this time of year!


Our little front porch...

Pretty blooms...

Topics

Some random thoughts by me...

FOOD NETWORK

I must say, I am addicted. I go through phases and right now, I'm enjoying FN. Favorites shows include Barefoot Contessa (would love to visit Ina at her yummy house in the Hamptons. She makes me feel warm & fuzzy inside.), Everyday Italian (wish I were a cool friend of Giada's), Paula Deen (just to listen to her accent) and semi-boring shows like Unwrapped and Iron Chef.

I mostly just like drooling at the great-looking food on the shows. It hasn't really helped me cook any better though...

WEIGHT GAIN
Oh, boy, I never expected to be showing so much at only 3 months! What IS the deal? I guess it's because it's my second baby and my body knows what to do! Oy. Oh, and it probably doesn't help that I eat a meal every 2 hours, with some snacks in between. You think I'm kidding? If only...Although, I must say, I think I'm starting to get over the nauseous stage, which is wonderful!

Have a great week everyone!

My house is a construction zone

And I'm trying not to be too annoyed! We are getting a new furnace installed this week, which means there are lots of guys stomping around the house in their dirty work boots, being noisy and dragging lots of dirt around. I'm doing my best to ignore it, although I know there's going to be a huge cleaning project waiting for me when they're finished. I've mostly been retreating to my mom's house to avoid the mess!

Would you like to see a scary basement? My husband is in the process of renovating our basement into a family room/play room, but he's just in the beginning stages and it looks REALLY BAD right now. Fasten your seat belts...

Doesn't it look so cozy? :) I told you it was bad!! Hopefully it will be done by springtime. I'll keep you updated on the progress! (Hubs loves doing stuff like this)

Flower Girls

Is it wrong to have more pictures of the flower girls than of the bride & groom?? Well, I just can't help myself!
Avery and her cousin Anna were the little flower girls and, although it was a very long day for them, they did a great job and were so cute!

Here's Anna...Ok, so getting Avery up the aisle was so funny to watch!! And it went exactly like I pictured it. Anna practically had to drag her up the aisle, because Avery stopped by every person seated at the end of the row and waved her hands and said "Hi!!" (She's going through a stage right now where she has to talk to everyone she sees.) They finally made it up to the front!

More wedding pics

Here are a few more pics from my brother's wedding. It was a perfect day for an outdoor wedding! The wedding was very laid-back and casual, just like the bride & groom.

Lots of out-of-town family to catch up with, new people to meet, and good food to eat! (I'm all about food right now)

I was so happy to help them coordinate the wedding - and it all went so smoothly! I felt really good (not too nauseous) and things just went the way they were supposed to go. Although by the end of the day, my feet were killing me. Why, oh why, do I wear uncomfortable shoes just to look good?? Oh, my.

Kyle & Heather

Yesterday was the most perfect day for a wedding! And I'm so happy for my little brother and his new wife!

She was so beautiful, he was so happy, and I can't believe the day is over already. It was perfection!

(more pics to come)

Office Talk

So what did you think about the season premier? I thought it was pretty good. The Meredith accident story-line was a little odd, but I guess that whole show is pretty odd as a whole and that's what makes it great!

Of course I loved that Jim & Pam are dating and thought it was clever how they "came out". Although I assumed that the writers would drag out that relationship, I'm glad they didn't! Yay!

Looking forward to more Office this Thursday! Check out Office Tally for more Office info.