{DIY} Christmas Decor on a budget...

I've been hard at work all week making my own Christmas decorations this year. I have definitely been inspired by this side of the country. It's history and character etc. This is my first time doing the color scheme throughout the whole house. It's small enough that I can and it all works. First I wanted to make a banner for the fireplace mantle. I saw a few on pinterest and decided on this idea. I just searched printable letters and settled on this old typewriter font from Martha Stewart

cut out slightly larger circles from my own scrapbook party. I strung with curling ribbon that I already had too. Simple and cute and didn't cost anything.

 

 I had to take advantage of having this gorgeous fireplace mantle to work with this year. It's great to be living in middle of the woods practically. I just went outside grabbed a few twigs got some cheap white spray paint and put them in vases with fake snow I already had.
If you are planning on making any of your decor. I strongly suggest thrift stores like the Salvation Army or dollar stores. I got so much great stuff at the dollar tree. This wreath that I just wrapped with beaded garland that I already had. As well as these really cute stocking hooks, glass candlestick holders, fake flowers. I also just sprayed painted an old perrier bottle a friend left at my house.

 

Next I'm always doing some kind of creative centerpiece for the table. It's such a huge focal point during the holidays that I wanted something classic and elegant. As you can see I picked black, silver and white since I already had the ornaments and Miss Riley picked the purple.

During the week I went to the Salvation Army and found sooo much great stuff. I had to do my best to control myself and not buy the whole store! So much vintage glassware. I got these matching bowls as well as these silver trays. I just used ornaments and items from the Dollar Tree. I asked around my neighborhood for leftover wine bottles. I was going to paint them white but decided the green was pretty by itself. Oh the table runner was from the dollar tree too!

This gorgeous bowl I'm going to use for Christmas candy! Yum!

{Fashion Friday}

In one weeks time I will be getting on a plane for some much needed family vacation time! The husband probably needs it more than I do...but I am happy to go along for the ride. We definitely need some family time and a small break from this cold weather. Relaxation, pool time, mini adventures, etc. I can't wait!

Blazer: Stylesforless, Blouse: Stylesforless, Leggings: Older, Boots: Forever21

Of course the nightmares have started already though. I don't know why I get such anxiety over traveling. It's mainly anxiety of being unprepared and late for a flight. Such weirdness goes on in my brain I swear! I just laugh at myself sometimes.


So I've been brainstorming on a cool, fun fashion challenge to do. I've heard of 30 for 30 from Thedaybookblog.com. I think I might want to tweak it in some way to make it a bit different. It's all about remixing clothes in your closet. People don't really have the money to shop these days. That will be coming soon then.

{Thanksgiving ..post}

We had a pretty low key Thanksgiving went to my cousins house. Coincidentally my cousin decided to move out here around the same time that we did. We are only about an hour away from each other. She made all the food from scratch! Turkey {of course}, twice baked potato casserole, macaroni & cheese, stuffing, cranberries, corn and rolls. I'm bummed I didn't get more pictures. As you can see I settled on floral this year. I'm wearing a black maxi skirt, layered necklaces, floral tube top, and denim jacket. {Next time I will dress warmer, because my cousin loves to keep her house cold! hhaha}We later played ""Pass the Popcorn" a movie trivia game. Evan and I get so competitive, it gets really loud and crazy. Hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving as well.

{ Fashion Friday} ....Black Friday

I don't about you but I don't like Black Friday in the least bit. People lining up a week or more to get a good sale. Even waking up at ungodly hours to go shopping! Count me out! I do not like waking up early period. I would rather do my shopping at normal hours and less crowds, or even online. Besides each year people get crazier and crazier. Getting into physical fights over TVs, movies, toys? Really? Right after a day where we are supposed to be thankful for what we have. We like to just stay home all snuggled up. The husband watching his oh so cherished Nebraska game, eating his leftovers. I just like a day where we can be lazy and hang around. This year I was cleaning up stuff getting the house ready to decorate for Christmas.

If you are on Lookbook or Chictopia you can find me at these links

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{ Happy Thanksgiving }

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Hope you are all filling those bellies with some yummy food! As I am busy making my pies (one chocolate, one pumpkin of course) I decided I would still give you a bit of awkward and awesome to enjoy with your meal!


A little Celebrity version of "awkward and awesome"  did anyone catch the American music awards on Sunday? Did anyone catch that awkward moment of Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj
grinding during "Beauty and the Beat".....He may be 18 now but he still has a little kids body and that was just way to awkward.

So now that Breaking Dawn part 2 is now out and Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart are supposedly back together. I thought I would comment on the awkwardness of Kristen Stewart, Ruper Sanders and his wife Liberty Ross. They look almost like twins in these blue dresses. Right? Did Rupert really have a fling with a woman that looks exactly like his wife?

 Then there is this awkward photo from the premiere of Snow white and the huntsman. Why are they dressed in exactly the same outfit? Just bizarre this whole situation.

For the awesome here are {10} things I am thankful for!

1} I am thankful for my amazing husband. He makes me laugh, he makes me smile. He's an amazing father. He's my support system, my best friend. He's literally my everything and I am so thankful he came into my life!

{2} I am thankful for my baby girl Riley. After losing my first child I was scared to have another baby. I wondered if I would be able to love her the same. If I was capable of being a good mother to her while I still grieved. I was amazed at how my heart grew as soon as I held her in my arms and has gotten bigger through every single day with her. She is so precious to me and I cherish her and every moment I have with her. I am thankful that God saw fit to bless me with such an amazing, sweet, beautiful child.

{3} I am thankful for my parents! Over the years they have become more like friends to me. That I can talk to, confide in, and have fun with. I do not know what I would do without them in my life.

{4} I am thankful for my son Elijah! Even though we didn't have much time together he taught me more about myself than anyone. I am thankful for the sweet moments I had with him, just us. As he grew in my belly. When I would sing to him, when he would move (or dance according to me) when I drank chocolate milk. His precious little face! He's with me every single second of the day and I am thankful for those memories.

{5} I am thankful that My husband has a steady job that pays for everything we need and more. That a house is provided. That we can afford food, clothes, gas, to be able to pay all our bills. That we don't have to worry about medical, or dental bills. Which allows me to be able to stay home with Riley and pursue my dreams.

{6} I am thankful for my friends and family. The close ones that have stood by me through everything. That know me for me and love and appreciate me for me.  I don't know what I would do without them.

{7} I am thankful to be {3} years cancer free now! I am thankful that God brought me out of that unscathed. Another chance at life. A life with my family and loved ones, and to be a better person.

{8} I am thankful to be able to travel the world without much cost to us. The opportunity to see amazing things and to meet amazing people. As well as experience new adventures with my family next to me.

{9} I am thankful for music. It is is my lifeline, my outlet, my therapy, my absolute everything. I know I've been blessed with talents and I am so thankful and appreciative of them.

{10} Last but not least. I am so thankful that I know Jesus as my own personal savior. That he came and died on the cross for not just everyone but for ME, little ol' me! That he knows every single hair on my head. That he knows my heart and my true desires in life. That he is there to comfort me and give me strength through this life that can so often feel like Hell! Nothing is impossible if I have him on my side!

{Pumpkin Crazy}

We've been going pumpkin crazy lately in this house. Thanks to Pinterest I can find as many fun, tasty recipes that I can get my hands on. I made these tasty little treats and the husband literally ate 95% of them by himself. They are more like cake bars and taste much better with the chocolate chips. I didn't have enough sugar so I used extra vanilla. YUM!

Pumpkin Chocolate chip bars

These tasty limited editions pumpkin spice bagels from Thomas are sooo good with hot chocolate in the morning. I've been snatching them up left and right before they are gone!

I experimented with this bread and used it for some French Toast! Then we added a little bit of this country crock pumpkin spice spread and it is to die for! We just started putting the pumpkin spice on everything. Waffles, pancakes the husband put it on his toast. He didn't like it too much in his plain oatmeal but he could just be weird. I just don't think this pumpkin spice could do any wrong.

   

Recipes that are on my list to try before the season of pumpkin is over

 Pumpkin cream cheese swirl bars

Pumpkin fudge

I am not making pumpkin pie with a graham cracker crust! That's how we like it and it is so yummy that way!

{Holiday Style}

Every year I'm always trying to plan my holiday outfits ahead of time. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years! The last couple of years I've always been doing the cream and brown a bit. I don't know why Thanksgiving just feels like a brown and cream kind of a holiday. 2010 was this lace cream top with brown boots. Last year was A cream sparkly dolman sweater with shorts and drown diamond print tights.
This year I really want to throw in some color. Maybe some red or a wine color, like oxblood.  Sparkles maybe? Gold... Sequins? Here are a few of things I've been eyeing for the holiday season. Maybe even some floral.

Windsorstore.co

Urbanog.com

Urbanog.com

Windsorstore.com