Happy Halloween!

I had a busy, busy Halloween! I moved... AGAIN and threw a party at my work for our tenants. We're now watching "Ghost Adventures Live" on the Travel Channel and we're in for the night. I didn't dress the dogs up this year, because there just wasn't time, but I'll leave you with these photos from Halloweens past and soon, I'll update you on the move...









Hope you enjoy your holiday! Will you be decorating for Christmas tomorrow?

P.S. The move I made today is leading me to think I may need to change the name of my blog, because I no longer live in an apartment, and with my penchant for moving, who knows where I'll be in six months...

FarmFest 2009

My parents anniversary usually happens the same weekend that FarmFest takes place in Springfield, MO. As you can guess, FarmFest is all things farming... vendors, cattle, tractors, tractors, and more tractors. My parents have only missed one year out of the 26 years they've been married, and in my 24 years (25 now) I've only missed two (FarmFest is 30 years old). We eat a massive breakfast and then walk it off. This year, in addition to my parents and me, my sis and her boyfriend plus his parents joined us.


This was the smaller of two driftwood horses in front of a tractor vendor. They were amazing... I can only imagine what it would look like if I tried something like this...


My sister and her boyfriend are way in to four wheelers, camping, hunting and general woodsy-things. My sister's boyfriend saw this four wheeler and said, "Look at the sweet ass wheels on this one, babe!"

Just to annoy my sister, I took lots of pictures of her.





On our way home, we stopped at an orchard set up by one of the colleges to pick up apples for my grandma to make apple butter.


I couldn't resist the piles and piles of different pumpkins.



Orange and white pumpkins.


Lunch lady gourds... best gourd name ever.


Cinderella pumpkins.



I just swooned all over these fairy tale pumpkins. I just want piles and piles of these... everywhere.

Without a proper front porch, I purchased some smaller white pumpkins for a small project and small regular orange pumpkins for a few projects with my godsons. The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful day, enjoying farm and fall and celebrating my parents anniversary.

Looking Back

Sometimes, I like to look back at design choices I've made before and lived with. I think it helps to see what you liked, what you didn't like, and what you're missing. I was going through pictures on my laptop and found these of the old house. Our real estate agent commented that she appreciated the touches of red I carried throughout the house. I think my red is what I'm missing now.

Before Living Room


After Living Room

This is the view from the front door hall. We painted to warm the space up and I love the red curtains. These curtains were also in the dining room and kitchen valance. Please excuse the cover on the back of the couch... Daisy like to chew when she was a puppy.

Before Kitchen


After Kitchen

My kitchen table was a birthday gift from my parents. I mismatched the chairs from cheap-os given to me by a friend to family hand-me-downs. I spent a lot of time at that stove... and my dogs spent a lot of time begging there.

Before Back Deck


After Back Deck


I can't take credit for this, I only provided some free labor to my boyfriend. This yard was a nightmare when we moved in. And by nightmare, I am SERIOUS. Check it:



You know what that is? Yeah.... we didn't either. It was a koi pond. Complete with buried extension cord to the back deck. And those are thorn bushes creating a protective barrier over the pond. And rhubarb. Because who doesn't grow their thorn bushes next to their rhubarb?

Fun trip down memory lane. I had a red bathroom in this house and a chocolate brown bedroom. I can't paint now, because I'm renting, but I definitely need those colors back in my life. Stat.

Happy Birthday to ME!

It's my birthday today! I've always loved my birthdays... I celebrated birthday weeks. This year, I've had what I like to call a Quarter Life Crisis. In high school and right after, I thought, "Surely by 25 I'll have something in my life figured out." Turns out, I'm more confused now than I was before. But that doesn't change the fact that I love my birthday. I just may tell people I'm 24 again instead.

For my birthday, I've got a dream wish list. Here are some of the things I'd like, just in case you've got the money and really, really like me.


I'm dying to try Bare Escentuals.


I'm not an expensive purse kind of girl, because I WRECK purses. But if I'm dreaming, I'm going to dream big, with this patent leather Coach bag.


I've talked about this India Rose shower curtain before. But just to remind you... I'd like this. A lot. (In white.)


Hello, lover. The KitchenAid 90th Anniversary Stand Mixer. In Red. Thank you.


Pottery Barn gift cards are available up to $250. I'll need a couple.


The 2010 Chevy Camaro. No one said this was a practical list.

Please e-mail me for my shipping address. And remember... I'm 24 again, not a day older.

(Photos courtesy Sephora, Coach, India Rose, Apartment Therapy, Pottery Barn and Chevy.)

Worky Work Busy Bee

To say it's been quiet here on the blog front is an understatement. I've been out of town for work, watched my youngest godson for a night, went to a wedding, celebrated my parents anniversary, dreaded my own birthday, and have been planning a baby shower. AND I have been working. AND going to school. Ughhhhhhh... I always sit down with the plan to write blog posts and then get caught up in the shiny pretty-ness of everyone else's blogs.

Did you know that Layla and Kevin at The Lettered Cottage are going to be featured in an issue of The Nest magazine? Yep, that's right. They're awesome. And I'm jealous.

Dusty of All Things G & D is in her 25th week of pregnancy and she's blogging like a champ. She's also run 400 miles this year to date. While pregnant. See? She's a champ.

Deb at Smitten Kitchen just had a baby and is still cooking and baking. She. Had. A. Baby. And is still blogging AND baking and cooking.

Sweet Lord, I am a slacker.

But hey... I did do something!

I moved my dresser from my bedroom to the living room so I could have my coffee table back! Yay me!

Oh, who am I kidding. Small potatoes.

I did take this picture.

This is at the work conference I went out of town for. The maintenance uniforms were ready and our guy got two hats... which we decided to wear. It was during a break, so this madness (there are more pics) did not happen mid-speech. There may have been drawn-on finger mustaches as well. But I'm not telling.

Hopefully the slacking stops. Soon. Because I don't like the slacking. It makes me feel inadequate.

Shoulda Put a Ring On It

I rotate jewelery obsessions. In high school, I loved fun earrings. Right after high school into college I became an avid necklace buyer. Here lately, with all the pretty options out, I've been a loon over rings. Big, fat, chunky, sparkly... You name it!




I love the detail on this black ring's band.


These came from Pier 1, can you believe it? You have to watch out for the petals on the flower ring... they can stab ya.


This ring came from my fave store, New York & Company. I love the shapes that make up the band.


I bought this ring especially for a wedding I attended last weekend. My friend Kyle asked if I was planning to hurt someone with it... I told him that since brass knuckles are outlawed, I needed to protect myself somehow and still look nice doing it!

What is your accessory obsession? Rings, purses, scarves?

House of the Week

This Craftsmas style home is a three bedroom, two bath with split floor plan. I love the Great Room/Kitchen/Breakfast Nook combo. The bonus room upstairs would be great as anything - work out room, play room, study space, media room, etc.





Courtesy Dream Home Source, Plan DHSW62461

New John Mayer

I wanted to share what I'm listening to on repeat this weekend. John Mayer's newest album "Battle Studies" comes out November 7th and this is the first single. Don't be fooled by the first verse, this song is not about drug use.



I've got a wedding to attend tonight and Farm Fest 2009 tomorrow with my family. I'll be back with pictures of it all. I hope you all are enjoying the start of October and getting those fall decorations out.

Happy Saturday!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Today my wonderful, amazing, loving, and PATIENT parents celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary. The 26th anniversary is traditionally celebrated with gifts of jade and original photographs. Here's my bloggy gift giving:


His and Her Jade Fu Dogs! (I have no idea... it's Feng Shui related.)


My sis and me at our cousin's wedding... what parents wouldn't want a beautiful pic of their amazing daughters? Even though it's not "original" because it's already sitting in their house... Details people, details.

Really, my parents have worked for every bit of their 26 years together, and they've provided a great example for my sister and I. I honestly can say I do not know where I would be without the two of them. For that, Mom and Dad, I thank you... Here's to 26 more! I love you!

P.S. Don't worry Mom, I haven't scanned any old wedding pics.... yet!