This IS NOT easy!!

I have a confession - I thought this blog thing would be A LOT easier than it is! I don't even want to look at the date of my last post. In all fairness, my computer spent a few days at work where I accidentally left it. .....Let's see....what other excuses can I pull out?.... Anyways, we are having the most amazing fall weather here. It's windy, it's cold, and there are leaves everywhere! I love it! We have some very good friends coming into town to visit. They're coming from Northern CA where I think they have been experiencing some very cold weather and were looking forward to some warm San Diego weather! Oh well - crisp fall weather it is! I really wish I had something like this in the front yard to greet them tomorrow...

Or these guys!

And in my perfect "Martha" world, I would have this mantle all set up, with candles lit when they came in the front door

And these perched on my perfectly, pumpkin sized, shelves....that I just happen to have

Ok, now on a serious note: I have done this one below. You take a small pumpkin (not the mini's) carve simple holes in them, sprinkle cinnimmon on the "lid" and light your pumpkin! The whole house smells like pumpkin pie!

This wouldn't last 1 hour in my house....did I mention I live with two boys?

Happy Fall everyone! I promise to get better at this blog thing! I'll tell you, it's a lot easier to blog-stalk than actually blog - who knew?

Photobook DIY

Most of my blog followers (all 5 of you!!...hi mom, hi David! : ) already know the news, but just for the day when this blog has hundreds of followers (a girl can dream) I'll make the announcement. I'm engaged!! I will admit, I have been planning for this day for a while now (I've only had 9 1/2 years to think about it!) and I really wanted a fun way to ask my bridesfriends (I hate the word maid) to be a part of the big day! I went to Paper Crack, oh whoops, I mean Paper Source to brainstorm, spent way to much $ and ended up with some pretty cute photo books...if I do say so myself! : )

The books came as a little DIY pack. It includes 2 cardboard covers, and an accordion filler. You pick whatever paper you want to cover the front and back, choose a cute ribbon to tie it all together with, and top it off with any embellishments of your choice!

Close-up of the inside...I know you love that bathing suit pose!

For the last page, I figured it was a photo book so why not ask with a photo!

*Also inspired by some good friends of ours who sent us the cutest congratulations via facebook with the same idea!

They're finally done and ready to be sent off! I wish I could give them all in person but unfortunately half of them live in Northern CA, and will have to be sent. : (

I'm off to meet up with my sister who flew in from Boston yesterday...so excited!!

Cheap Fabric and Cute Pillows

My mom and I took a little field trip to Calico Corners last week. Word on the street was they were having a killer sale! In my opinion, you have to ready and prepared to DIG whilst shopping a sale. After a bit-o-digging, we found some FABULOUS blue and white fabric for........are you ready for it......$5.50 for 5 YARDS!!! Awesome fabric + a mom who sews = rad pillows!

Thanks Mom!

Hand-me-Downs

I have always LOVED hand-me-downs. Being the youngest in my family, I was always the lucky recipient of all of the hand-me-downs. I remember telling my sister that certain things were really looking like they were getting too small for her and that it may just be time to kick it on down to me! : ) Upon moving into our house - I became the recipient of even more hand-me-downs.....FURNITURE! My grandparents have very eclectic taste in furniture. They have a strong appreciation for both mid-century modern and antiques. Our house (and my taste) are more along the lines of traditional so I was THRILLED to take in the antiques. Some of them have been stored in our garage for the last couple of months until I could figure out what to do with them. The other day I decided to bring this guy out of hiding!

I added a nautical painting, a white lantern, my mom brought over some festive gourds and VOILA! Entry done!
I also convinced my mom to make me a white linen mini runner with a small burlap runner over the top. Here's a close up (sorry for the blurry-ness. I'm still trying to figure out my camera!)

Windsors

I have been living in our house for just about a year and a half now. You would think that I would have the house pretty much set up and "designed" the way I would want it. However, being that I am a "recent" (can I still use that excuse if it's been 2 years??) college grad, I'm still working with my hand-me-downs. Don't get me wrong - I have some VERY cool hand-me-downs...I'll post them later. Lately, however, I have been really itching to get our house put together a bit more (hence the blog - hopefully it will be FULL of re-do's) One of the first things I was desperately wanting to replace was our IKEA (yes I said the "I" word) kitchen chairs. That's where these beauties come in:

They come from my favorite Encinitas gem! It also happens to be the very place I get to call work - Rustic Rooster! These chairs have been calling my name ever since they came through the store's doors. Yesterday - I became their proud owner!! Here they are around my dining table....

Someday that table will be an old pine farm table and those club chairs will be wing backs slip covered in white linen and they'll all sit on a 9' x 12' sea grass rug!!