Impromptu Road Trip

Do I go backwards and work forwards or start where I'm at and work backwards?
So many trips and things that have happened within the past few weeks. So many things that I need to write about.
But instead of over thinking it I'm going to jump in by getting started with Saturday.

Hubs gets a new company car ever so many miles and they called and said his new one was in.  The cool gadgets_ programming the radio stations_ and getting the settings all worked out. Well it seemed like a good excuse to get it out on the road. You know, to get that all figured out.

So we drove up and down hills with all the changing of colors and leaves just a swirling as we went. The countryside and pureness of beauty all around for an impromptu trip to the Smoky Mountains.

We played in the leaves and jumped off logs.

We stopped by streams....and took in the water rushing over the rocks. 

That's always one of my favorite things to see.

These logs were some of the greatest. They actually looked camo colored.

The bark on each one was so different and unique.

We stopped to listen to some pickin'.

Until oldest_ youngest_ and myself decided to go through Ripley's Believe It or Not.

We learned about the tallest man.

And got to touch & move a marble ball that is suspended and held up only by water.

Played some in the crazy mirror. Or maybe I played some in the crazy mirror.

Meanwhile, Jode and middle were enjoying a ride up the mountain on the SkyLift together. Their were only 2 allowed to a seat which meant if we all would've rode somebody had to sit alone. So we opted out while they went ahead. Middle was beaming from ear to ear. She was so happy and so proud to get to do it.

Then we ended the day treating the kids to a meal for their first time at the Hard Rock Cafe.

We actually ate in the chapel area. To which we were told it is the only chapel in the world in a Hard Rock Cafe. It was a circle and had white curtains hung around that opened & closed. People actually get married there and it's also where they set the bands up to play.

The kids just wanted to know where all the Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber stuff was. 

These impromptu trips always seem to work out really well for us. There's not a lot of time 

to think about what we should wear or what we're going to do when we get there? We just go. And we go with the flow. And for us it always just seems to work.

Kinda like it did this weekend. My heart is full....

Fall Door Decor

I just love this time of year. So much expectancy and the crispness in the air makes me want to freshen things up_ clean_ organize_ bake_ craft_ go apple pickin’… I just love all of it!

This week I finally got my Fall wreath hung and my door decorated. I’m still needing some pretty colored mums and a few smaller pumpkins for the space. But it kinda wasn’t in the budget for this week. So maybe later....

Thank you to all of you who asked about my decorations. You guys’ are toooo kind.

My wreath started out at the Blue Ridge Craft weekend. But I wasn’t feeling a total vision for it overall. So what I did do was wrap the whole thing there in a blue fabric. Hot gluing as I went.

Then after I got home I picked out the colors I knew I wanted to go with. In fabric and in yarn. I used 3 yarn colors. A white. A coral color. And a thicker gold/mustardy color. I wanted it to have texture and by adding in the heavier yarn and varying fabrics I feel that’s the look I got.

You can’t really mess this up. So don’t be afraid of that. I say just get started.  I started with one piece of fabric about 2 inches wide. Wrapping it_ hot gluing to the back_ and moving on to the next piece. Just continuing around adding on your fabric and then covering some of the meeting places of fabric with the yarn by wrapping a section. However, big you choose to wrap the yarn section is again up to you. Mine were varied in size.

After the wreath was all covered I got started on the felt flowers. If you’re not sure how to make these just google it and you’ll find there are a ton of tutorials.

Lastly, I wrapped a piece of burlap around the top and then tied a bow with a black & white polka dot ribbon.

Day view....

Night time view....

Other items I used included:

Vine lights: 3 strands from Target. Got mine like 2 years ago.

Made a little pendant with paper and ribbon.

Found the glitter ghost garland at Target in the $1 bin

That about sums everything up. I only wish I had pictures of the different stages to show. 

Didn't even think about it at the time.

Happy Wednesday and happy Fall decorating ya’ll.

Around here....

These days I am….

Feeling…. excited about leaving for a trip to New York next week. I’ve never been before, only driven through the state.

Looking forward…. to taking this adventure with my sister in law. We get to drive_ talk_ sing_ and drink salted caramel mocha’s together and I can’t wait.

Reaching out…. like never before. Because I have to. Because it’s imperative that i get out of my comfort zone.

Learning…. how much I really need those girlfriends and relationships that are real and raw and honest.

Practicing…. letting go whenever I'm hurt repeatedly by the same person. Forgiving_ letting go_ and moving forward so that I can move forward.

Appreciating…. so much my husband and the way he supports me in every way. He is my biggest fan and greatest support.

Noticing…. how we as a family, all of us, chose joy in the midst of a scary situation this week.

Believing…. Phil 1:6_ that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Loving…. my Fall wreath hanging out on my front door. It makes my door a little more happier. And happy front doors are the bomb.

Happy Friday.

WIWW with the hubs

I haven't done a WIWW post in forever. So i figured it was time to do so.

And here's the other deal. My first reason for blogging is that I think_ hope my kids will enjoy looking back on all the thoughts_ experiences that I typed out for them and so it hit me. 

 They will have to love seeing all the outfits we wore_ the outfits their mom wore, right.
Because you know how it is looking back on old photos of your parents' and seeing how they dressed. When i see my mom in her miniskirt or my dad in high water's I always think about what they must've been thinking when they put their outfit together. You know... was it thought out the night before. Or was it a quick throw on some clothes... 

anyway, I figure I may as well give them some good content to make fun of.

Top: Belk

Sweater: Target

Leggings: Wal-Mart

Boots: Kohl's

Pink Ring: My shop

Well and they may make fun of us for the way we dressed but hopefully they'll see that mom and dad crazy loved each other. Dad loved mom so crazily that he agreed to pose and take pictures while youngest had fun turning the camera sideways_ upside down and around to get their picture.

happy Wednesday!

Home Made Lovely

I am over the top excited to be over at heather's today for her Home Made Lovely Series.

It's one of my favorite things to watch for every Thursday.

To be able to see into other's home's and how they do things_ how they decorate is so interesting to me. 

So if you'd like to see our little abode then head on over there to read what creating a 

lovely home means to me!

Happy Thursday ya'll!

A Sweet Aroma: Blue Ridge Craft Weekend & a Giveaway

This weekend I had the incredible opportunity of going with 9 other ladies to the
Blue Ridge Mountains for a time of crafting_ hanging out_ shopping_ and sharing.
Can i just tell you how amazingly awesome it was.
I went not knowing really what to expect and a little nervous too. 

You know bc you never know how things like this will go.
You never know and i'm just being honest here, how 9 other ladies will wind up getting along.
But you know what there was.... a sweet aroma that hung in that mountain air.
I was left and took away the sweetest memories and some great new friendship. By each of them.
By the trip as a whole. From left to right here they are...

                    Lindsay, Alison, Autumn, Angie, Melissa, Me, Amy, Stephanie, Julie, Christa

Upon arrival we were each met by a basket of swag with our name on it.

Swag = a basket full of handmade goodness. I felt like i had gotten to go to the "Oprah's favorite things" show. I mean really. Each item was something to ooh & ahh over. Lots of the items had been handpicked for color or preference from our etsy favorites. The thoughtfulness, right?.

CREATE banner by Little Green Thread

8x10 art print by Pen & Paint

"love." wood block by Bubblewrappd

Set of "hello" note cards by Moon Beam Wishes

Natural Glycerin Soap by Sunbasil Garden

Fold-over clutch by Little Green Thread

Earrings by Happy Days

Paper Straws and Daisy Lids by Glitter and Gloss

Set of 16 "Handmade with Love" mini cards by Pen & Paint

20 yards of baker's twine by Milo & Molly

Ball Mason jar, wooden clothespins, wooden spools, scrapbook paper, 
2 rolls of washi tape, supplies for geometric, wooden bead necklace.

And a special thanks to Baby Boy Bakery who provided yummy goodies for each of our swag baskets!

Well not only did we get a basket full of swag but you have the opportunity to enter 
through Rafflecopter and win a basket, too. 
One winner will be chosen and announced on Saturday, Sept 22 to take away all of these lovely goods.

Just click on the link to enter the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway