Halloween Craftiness

I could really title this, "Cheap Halloween Craftiness", but it's all the same. I have to admit, I sometimes have high hopes of being this awesome crafter (they kind worthy of an actual craft room), but I'm usually disappointed.  I lack the follow through to complete many projects and if something doesn't turn out just right, I'm likely to chuck the whole thing in the garbage.

That being said, I was inspired by Pinterest and Etsy into taking on a few projects. Being on a stricter budget is hard when you have a diehard nesting instinct induced by pregnancy, but I simply couldn't afford these lovelies.

 Just these three things would cost me about $60

So...I decided to make a few Halloween decorations of my own.

First were painted pumpkins which turned out quite nicely and only set me back $6 ($3 for black spray paint, $1 for the glitter puff paint, and $2 for the mini pumpkins).

Then I used a black 8x10 frame and simply inserted this free printable...no cost since I had the frame.

My last project was the most time consuming, but it was fun. I found these cute vintage-style Halloween stickers at Walmart (of all places) so I bought three $1 wood plaques, sprayed them with some gray spray paint I had, painted over them with green and orange,  gave them a rough sand to distress some spots, stuck on stickers and then Mod Podged the whole thing.   I think they turned out quite cute!

Cost: $10 for the three--$3 for the plaques, $1 for the two acrylic paints, $3 for the stickers, and $3 for the sanding block (I already had the spray paint and mod podge)

The kids also joined in and decorated their own pumpkins.

Hard at work

Pumpkin Masterpieces!

There's my Halloween Craftiness for $16 dollars!

Fall Family Fun

This past Saturday we had Monkey's last soccer game of the season...which was good because it is starting to get pretty chilly in the mornings.

Listening to Coach/Dad

Chasing the ball!

After the game, we grabbed some lunch and then headed to the Corn Maze at our local nursery. My mom and Nick's brother and his little boy also came too. It was so much fun! We got to walk the maze, sample fresh pressed apple cider, play in the corn pile, ride the pumpkin train, and pick out a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

Cousin Love!

A priceless smile

It's raining corn!

Riding the pumpkin train

They had a blast! I think this will definitely become a fall family tradition! 

Top Five Friday

Top Five things I will be doing this weekend:

1. Completing some Halloween crafts...some for me and some for the kiddos! There will be pumpkins, paint, glitter, and mod podge.

2. Enjoying Colson's last soccer game of the season...go Cyclones!

3. Drinking lots of coffee with Pumpkin Spice Creamer.

4. Watching more of The Tudors. I've become addicted since I've been staying home...it makes staying off my feet more bearable when I have something good to watch. Thank you Amazon Prime for supplying me with four free seasons!

5. Possibly (not sure yet) taking the kids to the Corn Maze at our local nursery. I think they'd love it!

Happy Friday Everyone!!

Fall At Home

Aside from Christmas, Fall is my favorite time to decorate at home. The season just lends itself to decorating as we're provided with pumpkins, mums, gourds, and candy corn (of course!). Here are a few snapshots of fall around our home.

Kitchen Cuties

I love apothecary jars! And yummy wine (that I can not drink).

Dining Room Centerpiece

Breakfast Table Decor

The Entryway

Baby bathroom Pumpkins...Also, Yankee Candle has some competition with the Walmart brand $1 cider candles!

The mantle (which clearly needs a bit more). 

Now we can enjoy this through Thanksgiving...then it's time to break out the seven Christmas trees! What does fall look like in your home?

Express Yourself

How did we ever express our thoughts with humor before someecards??? I'll never know.

 Yes, yes we do.

 Because I will always think of my suite mates as my Golden Girls (and I'll always be Blanche)! Love you Lyds, Ash, and Erin!!

 Housewife Problems. And I don't iron...ever. I can't do it because I'm left handed. Seriously.

 My true friends know this to be true. ;)

When else would it be??

These could go on all day! Do you have any favs?

Top Five Friday...Is It Fall Already?

Ok, I loved my summer, but now I'm back at work and I'm ready for someone to turn down the heat and bring on the fall weather. Here are the top five things I'm looking forward to this fall...

#1. Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. Nevermind that it's been 90 degrees, I've still had a few of these lovelies already, but I'd really like to enjoy one when it can "warm me up"!

#2. Boots. I'm ready to wear them...like yesterday. My riding boots, cowboy boots and Ugg boots are all ready to come out of retirement. Plus, I can't even reach my toes to paint them anymore so sandal season needs to be over.

#3. Fall scents. Oh, Apple Pumpkin! I smelled it in the store, but it just seemed wrong to buy it while it is still so hot. That was a mistake, so I'll be returning to bring it home very soon!

#4. Pumpkins on my doorstep. We planted some pumpkins this year, but we may have been a bit late getting them in the ground so I'm sure I'll have to buy some beforehand, but hopefully we'll have our own for late fall!

 Here's a picture of our little pumpkin family from last fall.

#5. Fall food. These are just a couple of my favorites from Our Best Bites:
Creamy Corn Chowder
Apple Dumplings
Caramel Apple Cider

What are you looking forward to this fall?