Happy Halloween Weekend!

Hope you all have a fun, festive and frightening (but not too frightening) Halloween Weekend!

Last year the boy and I dressed up as Mary Poppins and Burt...I'm still not sure who or what will be this year, but I know it will be fun!   I will try to post pics next week.  Until then...

Happy Halloween!

Halloweenie

Howdy Halloweenies!  Here is a sampling of some of my favorite silly Halloween  TV shows and videos....Please don't judge too harshly!

Halloween in the Hills

Yesterday evening the boy and I took a stroll through the neighborhood to check out all the Halloween decorations and I have to say, the hills have done us proud!  There is some major Halloween spirit this year and I love it!

So. Much. Festive. Fun.  ; )

Feast and Friends

This past Saturday, my brother in law took us to my favorite restaurant-- The Saddle Peak Lodge!  It was incredible.  We all had the 8 course tasting menu which included the most delicious pumpkin soup, a delectable elk tenderloin and a cinnamon cake that I can only describe as life-changing.  It was so good!

Another fun aspect of the lodge is the overall atmosphere.  The whole place has a very rustic, log-cabin decor, with game heads and all...some of them were almost too big to believe.

 Look at those sad eyes!

We had a great time with Neil and Katie.  What a memorable meal!   I wish I could have taken home some of the cinnamon cake!

Black Apple Prints

Loving these circus prints from Black Apple.   Here is the description and just a few samples from this very cool collection~

A World of Sideshows & Sweetness 

"Lost on the Midway" is a series created in 2010 by Emily Winfield Martin (alias: The Black Apple), which depicts an imaginary carnival. Inspired by a line from a Tom Waits song, it is a world filled with oddities, eerie-green skies, and gentle loveliness.

Spa + Blogging = Spagging!

Today I decided I needed to have a "spa day."  And by that I mean a day of loafing around, painting my nails, maybe trying out a face mask mixture and soaking in a luxurious bubble bath.  I don't usually do things like that, but I felt I needed a day of winding down. 

Of course, whenever I have a day off from work I start planning all the crafting and cleaning I want to get accomplished and before I know it, the day is gone and perhaps I have been somewhat productive, but inevitably I feel exhausted and unready to start another work week.  Thus, the spa day must be implemented.  

I normally would make a Spa day techno-free as well.  But I really wanted to catch up with my blog and blog browsing too.  So I am allowing myself to blog and spa at the very same time.  Henceforth this shall be called Spagging! 

Have yourselves a glorious Sunday! 

Gidget

Birthday Wishes

Today is my mother's birthday!  Huzzah!

This is a picture of her when she is about my age; totally gorgeous huh?

Happy Friday everyone!  And Happy Birthday Mom!

In the Spirit

My mother and I always loved watching Martha Stewart's Halloween Special each year (back in the good ole days, before investment fraud and when her show didn't include a studio audience.  I still love to see what everyone at Martha Stewart comes up with each October and wanted to share some of my favorite inspirations with you!

Happy Haunting! 

Hidden Treasures

I like going through old photo albums from my parents and grandparents.  In a way, it helps me to put things in perspective and think about what I really want in life.  I am working on a new project involving some of the treasures I found in an old scrapbook, which I will show you later.  Here is just a sampling:

G'nite!

xoxox,

   Gidget

Spiced Apple Cider and Recipe Card Freebie

Ingredients

Makes about 16 cups

• 32 whole allspice berries
• 24 cinnamon sticks
• 24 cardamom pods
• 12 whole cloves
• 12 strips (2 inches wide) orange zest (from about 3 oranges)
• 1 gallon apple cider

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Cider can be kept warm over very low heat. Strain before serving, reserving cinnamon sticks for garnish if desired.  (From Martha Stewart).

Here's a free printable set of autumnal recipe cards for you to use and share!  Enjoy!

Download

Candles, Candy and Pumpkins...oh my!

Here are our picks from the pumpkin patch.  I like the way my display came out as well!

Christmas Warm Up

While it's wet and cold, we thought we'd break out some Christmas-ness.  We have been watching Christmas movies, singing Christmas carols, and cuddling with a certain cheer and goodwill that could only be described as Christmas-y!   I know, I know.  It's not Christmas yet, and it's too soon.  but consider this just a little Christmas "warm up" for things to come! Here's a little sampling of Christmas cheer!

 This gorgeous photo from Strawberry Skies

Pottery Barn's Christmas Decor

Super cute holiday cards from Old Wives Tale

Finally I wanted to share a new project I've started, and I hope you may start one as well.  It's my Christmas Art Journal!  In this journal,  I plan to write down my Christmas wishes, plan presents for people, pull together holiday inspirations and scrapbook pictures from Christmases past and present!  I will share my journal and the prompts I use in case any of you want to create one with me!  But I promise, I will lay off the Christmas cheer for a little while...at least through Halloween. Thanks for letting me indulge my Christmas spirit!

Lovely Letters

Hi All,

If any of you are taking part in Kellie's Project Pen Pal with me I must apologize for falling behind on my letter writing!  I was getting through the list swimmingly, and have recieved a bunch of lovely letters from many of you, but I am afraid I have gotten a bit caught up in the new job and haven't figured out quite how to manage my new schedule effectively.  Just wanted to let y'all know that I haven't forgotten about you.  I am going to try to tackle a whole mess of letters next week.

source

Britannia Awards

Next month, the boy and I are going to the Britannia Awards  and I get to wear a fancy dress.  This is option #1.  What do you all think? 

Pumpkins and Patches

This past weekend, the boy and I visited Lombardi Ranch Pumpkin Patch.  I have been going there since I was a toddler and it was so much fun to go back with the boy this year.  They have a terrific scarecrow display, petting zoo, cemetery, hayrides and pumpkins of course!  

Super fun festive times!

Charismatic Lunch

Today I'd like to have lunch with Emma Pillsbury from Glee.  We would have a lovely lunch of simple salads and toast from Jack & Jill's on Beverly Drive.  Emma would order her dressing on the side, then produce her own dressing from her purple purse to sprinkle on it.  Wed gab about her collection of vintage pins and colorful cardigans.  She'd give me tips on ways to volumize my hair and when I ask about how she really feels about Will Schuester she would just giggle and change the subject. 

Just Mark It

I thought ballet dancers were good at marking choreography with their hands!  This video is amazing...I kinda hope my tap teacher has seen it! 



P.S.  I love the wallpaper and pictures in the background.  How cute!

Happy Friday Everyone!

Thoughts

I think that things are looking up for me and the boy.

I think that I miss my long hair.

I think I have too much boring stuff that needs to get done.

I think I am inspired by the people around me.

I think I want to go to Coffee Bean for a Pumpkin Latte.

I think I love my Mac Book more than any girl should love a Mac book.

I think I like this rainy weather.

I think I need to get myself into ballet class pronto!

I think this blog continues to be something fun and good in my life and I think I have to thank all my followers and readers for their support.  ;)