Pumpkins with Papa

Zoo Boo Tatoo (do I sound like Dr. Suess yet?)

Zoo Boo was impressive... so spooky that no one would pose in front of these realistic Pirates...

The iphone, Papa and tic-tac-toe with the kids... they kept cheating so they could win...:)

Brooklyn designed this and I carved it...

We were lucky enough to have Papa in town last weekend to carve a pumpkin with us!!! We did Discovery Green Park, and Zoo Boo too.

Fabric Flowers

These are my newest obsession!!! I love them on jackets, purses and especially in my girls' hair! They're so fun, you can make them to match anything or everything and they're just funky enough. This is one of the fun little things I taught the girls this summer during my sewing camp, along with the head band, which is reversible. It's totally crazy how much money I had spent on these prior to sewing them, at GAP they're about $7 each. I have a feeling this is the beginning of a long love affair with fabric flowers!

Ps. they're much cuter on, and the picture doesn't do it justice. I would've used one of my models, but thankfully, they're asleep.

Countdown to Halloween begins...

This is what happens when you are laid up in bed for a day with no responsiblities... well, I did start this 4 years ago, so it was due time! It's been so long, I had thrown away many of the pieces and had to recreate them, but it's nice to finally be able to hang it up and use it. The kids were completely thrilled when they got home from school and saw it.

I began this when Pottery Barn had one very similar, now they have one that is shaped like a house. It's an advent calendar for Halloween, each day in the pocket will be a tiny suprise for the kids. Today was spider rings... you can never have too many of those :) It isn't perfect, so don't bother to click on it and look closely... it's just for the kids and I know they don't care if all the rows line up perfectly... It'll just be a fun little way for them to get excited about Halloween. (not that they needed help, come on, what kids has to be prodded to be excited about dressing up and getting candy! :) Usually I start about now making my October dinners (the spooky food ones), we'll see when I get better what we can come up with this year. happy counting!

Extreme (well, maybe not quite) Makeover

I know what you're thinking about this. Yes, I have "done" Brooklyn's room too many times. Never to my satisfation though. There was always something a little off... or something missing. So, I finally painted and finished it up... (except for the white curtains I'll be getting from IKEA, which I will get as soon as I am fully recovered and don't have a drainage tube in my back...) I also put a pink rug in that is not on these pictures, so imagine the rug and curtains. The rest of the stuff that didn't go in her room anymore just got transfered to Lily's. Everyone is happy!

I had intentions of painting the whole room pink, but we got VOC paint, which is environmetally safe. (no smell or anything) It was unexpectedly difficult to work with and took more paint to cover up... so I only did the one wall. Which, I actually like better. It provides a nice, subtle contrast to the kakhi. I was pleased with the end result, especially the sihlouette I made. It looks just like her!!! The beautiful desk was the one Jeff pulled out of a dumpster for me, it was cream and had horrible hardware, so a few pulls and black spray paint gave the thing new life! I also mod podged over the magnetic board I made last year with a pretty black and cream pattern that is very classy. I made the black pillow too, which you can't really see from the picture, but it has six rosettes on the front it, making it very feminine. Fun and easy make over!

O M F

This most exquisite creation was so close to me, I desperately wanted to get Lily in the shot, but it was camera shy and bolted. I was especially excited because Brooklyn is going to be a peacock for Halloween, and I'm making the costume, so I got excited about the vibrant colors.

Lily liked the bird's "mohawk..."

the "perfect" pumpkin

Lily told me this was one of her favorite parts "with her friends on both sides of her." ~how sweet.

We were front and center with the exhaust piping right in front of us... I learned, the next ride we took the back seats!

rope swing and hay, like a typical princess, she wanted to be helped on and off, no jumping in the hay!

Lily and her sweet friend Crystal. and the deer.

Lily and I took a fun little day trip (can you still call it that if it only takes 15 minutes to get there?) to Old MacDonald's Farm.

We tagged along with some friends and enjoyed the beginnings of Fall weather. The weather was spectacular and the animals were tame and happy to eat as usual. For $1, you get a bag of animal feed that most of the birds and animals on the farm will eat out of your hand, including the deer. So, we embraced (me, reluctantly with a lifetime sized supply of hand sanitizer in my purse) the petting zoo.

We had a really fun time and will probably go back with the rest of the kids... or maybe the Oil Ranch... I love that place!