Trick or Treat

These little bags are so ridiculously cute...Learn how to make them here...

Check it out...

Check out this amazing idea for hanging artwork! I especially love it because it is easy to change out. Keep your guests guessing what fabulous art you will have up this week!

Halloween

This year the boys are going to be Jason from Friday the 13th and a Jester.

Looking forward to being scared!

Last year Jeremy was a Zombie baseball player, and Jake was Darth Maul.

Homemade Mayo

I don't particularly like mayo, however I heard that homemade mayo is much tastier - meaning it has a flavor other than grease flavor. You can find the basic mayo recipe and some delicious variations like curry, chipotle, and wasabi mayo here...yum!

Kids Table

Since I am hosting Thanksgiving this year I am excited to have found this amazing table!

This year our "kids" age ranges are from 4.5 months to 13! That is why this table is so amazing! It is whimsical - but won't embarrass the older kids! You can find the templates here!

Instant Gratification

I love this instant camera! It is perfect for the upcoming holidays, birthday parties and any other time you want to see your pictures instantly - or send your guests home with keepsake pictures.

The pictures are about the size of a credit card perfect for place settings! You can see how this couple used it in there wedding. So cute!

Say Cheese!

Back In The Swing of Things

An Obsession

I am obsessed with Gray and Slate colors!! Add yellows and whites and I am in Heaven! I don't know what it is, maybe I am tired of all these neutral browns - I want color and alternative neutrals!!


This setting would be perfect with the yellows and oranges of fall! Since I am hosting Thanksgiving this year, I may be tempted...

Breakfast for Dinner

We love our french toast, and I love BLTs! This is a super simple recipe and you can even use that rustic crusty bread from last nights dinner. This would also be good with country potatoes on the side! Thanks Martha!

Enjoy...

Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives, plus more for serving
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 slices crusty bread, cut 1 inch thick
• 4 lettuce leaves (romaine, Boston, or Bibb)
• 8 slices tomato

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place bacon on a rimmed baking sheet; cook until golden and crisp, about 15 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Drain on paper towels.
2. Meanwhile, in a large shallow dish, whisk together eggs, cream, and chives; season with salt and pepper. Lay bread in a single layer in egg mixture and soak 3 minutes on each side. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium. When butter sizzles, add bread and cook until golden and crisp around edges, about 3 minutes per side, flipping once.
3. To serve, layer lettuce, tomato, and bacon on each slice of French toast and sprinkle with chives.

Full House...Full Weekend

We definitely had a full weekend! Karina and Meile came down for Karina's birthday. Friday night we had drinks and pizza then played just dance on the wii! Saturday my brother and his family came to visit! Kaley is so cute and smiles ALL the time she hardly ever cried or whined and is almost crawling! So exciting! To top our Saturday night off we had a huge BBQ and the Giants WON - We are going to the world series! Sunday morning we got to have a lazy day and just hung out in jammies - said good buy to Karina and Meile who went to visit Nana before heading home to Reno. Then it was time to say goodbye to my brother, Leah and little Kaley. Sunday afternoon we went to a spooky birthday celebration for Janae's birthday. It was raining and there were a bunch of screaming girls, they had a jumper that got all wet and the kids were so excited at the thought that the jumper just might explode! I loved my weekend! Now its time to rev up for the week...

Wednesday

Wednesday night we went over for Missy Moo's Birthday Dinner and Bedroom Reveal! She was clearly excited and the boys were super jealous - Looks like they will be wanting a room makeover soon too.

Jacobs School Picture

Here is how I got Jacob's school picture back...His hair went flat and he spilled on his shirt so he wore his undershirt instead. Hmmm...

He still looks cute - I am just amazed at how so much can change from when they walk out the door to lunch time.

When he brought them home last week he opened the envelope and exclaimed "My Head Is HUGE!" lol tooo funny!

Jeremy's pictures did not come with a disk option so I will have to scan and upload at a later date.

Pumpkin Night

Tonight we are painting our pumpkins! I cant wait to see what the boys come up with - scary or silly? These pumpkins and candles would make a great center piece. So easy to make it is scary! Just use popcorn kernels, beans, lintels, rice...the list can go on and on! Just have fun with it! Can't wait to share the pictures!

Gray

Gray is the new "IT" color. I love gray it is a clean and sophisticated. It is a fresh way to get away from the neutral browns and still be "safe" with any other color you want to incorporate. It is as clean as white but warmer or cooler depending on your design choice.


Are you still freaked out about trying gray in your home - check here for expert tips.

Jacob's Discovery Class Tie Die

Today Jacob's class along with the other discovery classes did a tie dye project. The shirts are to create community and discovery pride!

We love the discovery program! It has proved to be a little more of a challenge than a normal 4th grade class but I think that the challenge will serve to be a good thing!

Jacob tie dyed his shirt black and orange - go Giants!!

Made By Girl

I follow a lot of blogs and sometimes I come across something too cute not to share - this is one of those times!


A DIY Coffee Filter Pendant Light. As you can see it is beautiful and charming all the same and it is made from COFFEE FILTERS! So crazy!


Thanks Made By Girl for sharing such and awesome DIY!

1 Year Ago Today...

One year ago today my dad passed away. It will forever be a day of mixed emotions for me. Happy that he is no longer suffering and sad that he is not here in the first person to spend time with us.


He was the glue that kept our family together. He was funny, rough around the edges and a giver of great advice! Today he is missed dearly and I think of him everyday. When I reach for the phone to say hi, to vent, to share news and days like this when I don't know what to do with myself is when he is missed the most.


It is hard to say where he would be today. But I am blessed knowing that he is watching over me daily. We are lucky to have such an amazing guardian angel with us always!

Inspired!

After our AMAZING dinner with Sammie and Clay, I have been inspired to cook more Asian dishes. They are healthy and yummy! I found a ton of yummy Asian Inspired dishes at For the Love of Cooking - which I think is one of my new fave blog haunts!

I so LOVE this dinner party! With its amazing view and well designed table - who wouldn't want to spend the evening here?

My Computer is Sickie!

I dropped off my computer today to get wiped and the system to be re-installed! I am sooo bummed. At least she will run a lot smoother when I get her back.

In other news our photography class was awesome! We learned about taking panaramics. Yea! Pics to come (once I get my computer back)

Pumpkin Patch Fun

We went to G&M Farms in Livermore last night and visited the pumpkin patch and corn maze! We had fun picking our pumpkins! The corn maze was fun, but the boys are not into doing the daylight maze anymore. Its just not fun if you are not scared! After we went to Chevy's, I have to say their mango margaritas are super yummy! Stay tuned for our painted pumpkin project!

I love this outside seating arrangement! The way things are going it may just be warm enough to set this up for our Thanksgiving! Picture it with brown candles and burnt orange ribbons yellow covers and leafed throw pillows.

If not there is always Easter Dinner, this set up would be perfect with the pastels!

Inspiration like this always puts a smile on my face!

PUMKINS!

I cant wait! This week we are heading out to the pumpkin patch! I found these gorgeous pumpkins here - I think...(it has been a few weeks since I found this).

I love all the creative ideas on decorating the pumpkins without carving them! Carving is so messy and to be honest we really don't eat the seeds or the pulp.

I am sure your pumpkin creations will rival theses! Happy (almost) Halloween!

Oh Crazy Weekend!

It has been a crazy week! Friday night I had a 23 page test to complete and was up until 11:30pm getting it done for today's class because we had such a crazy weekend ahead!

Saturday morning we took a drive so I could snap come pics - I am still working on the lighting and shutter speeds so as you can see some of the pictures came out a little grainier than I had hoped. Maybe some Cs5 will help with my mistakes? Or not?

Saturday night we got together with friends and had a wii bowling party! Then the guy moved to DJ hero (shocker)! One of the guys broke our couch so me and Sammie are going shopping for a new one today! I am just looking for now but we shall see!

Sunday we had our family dinner. It has been a while since we have been so busy, but I really have to get us together more often!

Kids Halloween Yummys!

Friendly pumpkin-shaped quesadillas served alongside "bloody" soup and "bug-filled" salad will put the whole family in a festive, Halloween spirit.

Check out this super yummy Halloween Queso dish!! MY kids probably wont eat this but I will try. Maybe the Halloween Spirit will get them in the mood to eat! LOL

Picture Gift Guide

I take a ton of pictures of my kids! This is a great gift idea, we all need notebooks, we all make lists, take notes, jot dates down and doodle while on the phone! This is perfect for Family Christmas gifts! They have tons of design options to fit any style!

A Thought For the Day...

TODAY

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry, two days which should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One of these days is Yesterday with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed; we cannot erase a single word we said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise, either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds...but it will rise. Until it does, we have no stake in Tomorrow, for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day...Today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when you and I add the burdens of those two awful eternities...Yesterday and Tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of Today that drives people mad...it is remores or bitterness for something which happened Yesterday and the dread of what Tomorrow may bring.

- Anonymous

**Thanks Natalie for Sharing!

Ghostly Pumpkin Pudding

These ghostly after dinner minis look sooooo good! I think I may serve them at our family dinner night!

You can find the recipe Here!

Where Did The Time Go?

I have so much on my plate right now that this book was necessary! I often wonder "where did the time go"! I am certainly curious on how long these "everyday" tasks are taking me. It will certainly be interesting finding out where all those hours are going! Where are your 168 Hours going - interested? Find it here!

I am also reading Party Confidential (which as a hostess and an event planner) I love it! So much confirming information and new information for event planners and hostesses!

Meanwhile, I am missing my littlest guy already. The house is so quiet without him! Ayden is here today (he is napping) and we have dinner plans with Sammie and Clay tonight...Hmmm now I have to figure out what to make!

Jakes First Over Night Trip

Jake left for his 4Th grade sleepover trip today. He will be back on Wednesday and I miss him already! We had to get up at 5:30am this morning to be at school at 6:30am! The bus left at 7:15am he was very apprehensive but as soon as he saw his friends he was ready to go!

I cant wait until he gets back so he can let us know if his fun adventures! We had to write a letter for him in "old time" verbiage...I will share that with you all later. We also packed two disposable cameras and journal. I cant wait to see what he comes up with!

Dance Dance Dance...

Tonight is Jeremy's first Jr. High dance, he looks so grown up! Like a typical mom I wanted to take a ton of pictures but of course I had to keep is reputation in tact so I just took a couple of pictures before he went!

SO En-TICING!

I Love Love Love AMY ATLAS! In her newsletter (and blog give away) she introduces Halloween Edibles! So fun, So Easy! Perfect for you've been boo'd treats, or a fun family night for after dinner!

Find out more about these en-TICING edibles here or purchase them here! While you are there be sure to check out all the other designs they have!