Favorite Fall Things....

Just want to take a minute and do a fun little "FAVORITE FALL THINGS" countdown...

before we dive right on into Christmas... 

We need a little FALL celebrating don't you think ???

Because...

I LOVE FALL!

and... before you know it ... 

it will FALL away!  :)  so sad...

I really wish for it to linger... a little longer this year! 

I so.... so.... so.... enjoy fall! 

My top 10 Favorite Fall things! 

10-Sweaters....

I just love a warm, chunky, comfy sweater! 

 9-SOCKS.... 

I get to wear SOCKS again!!! I LOVE SOCKS!!!! (I don't wear shoes, so my feet LOVE and welcome a new pair of socks... on that first CRISP FALL DAY!!!) 

 

and... SLIPPERS..... 

awh.... don't you just want to slide your feet inside of these babies.... awe... HEAVENLY! 

8-BOOKS!!! 

 I love that FALL allows me "down" time... to pick up and drown myself in some good books! 

7-PUMPKINS!!! 

  I just LOVE pumpkins... of all kinds!!!!  

PUMPKIN anything..... pies... cookies.... rolls.....pancakes.....candles....MMMMM love pumpkin!

6-BAKING....COOKING..... SOUPS!!!! 

Yes - SOUPS!! that is FALL for sure!!! 

5-Wassail.... 

I just LOVE the smell - I could have it going all day long.. every day.... fall is here! 

4-Crisp Air...

love the feel... love the smell.... fall is in the air! 

(Can't you just feel the "CRISPY" air from this picture.... amazing!) 

3-LEAVES!!! 

 I love love LOVE leaves!  They just make me feel warm... cozy....safe....yet happy too! 

2-DECORATING.....

I haven't ALWAYS enjoyed decorating.... In fact, there was a time in my life when I did anything and EVERYTHING I could to avoid pulling out the boxes of decorations... the only problem.... my kids would not LET IT GO!  Because I had done it for so many years and my oldest 3 unfortunately REMEMBERED... They wouldn't stop bugging me... I managed for a few years to put up less and less...  and then one year -I found myself over stressed... financially we were struggling... and my world seemed to be caving around me... I had just had my 5th baby.... my husband was layed off... my oldest that was a senior in high school and was on home and hospital... and I just couldn't find the "UMPH" in me to do it.... I didn't even want to get the boxes out ... it took TOO much energy just thinking about it....I didn't want the mess... it was just going to add to my STRESS! For a couple years I managed to get by with very little to NONE in the holiday decoration department - AND I didn't even put up the Christmas tree until 3 days before Christmas... and it came down the day after Christmas... YEP! I was a BAH-HUM-BUG mom! It was just more than I could take on. But I noticed... when my house was not decorated... it just didn't "FEEL" right.... (Shortly after the holidays, we discovered that I was dealing with postpartum baby blues... who knew it could hit 10 months after giving birth! OH SO GLAD we were able to get it under control!)   

Shortly after discovering my issue, it was General Conference - and I ALWAYS look forward to Conference weekend and being able to receive council and guidance from our church leaders. I remember very well one of the talks that conference - it hit me like a ton of bricks!  I know - just know that Elder L. Tom Perry, was speaking to me ... basically telling me to GET IT TOGETHER! ... but in his NICE way.... he said ...

"In a world of turmoil and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities. Families lie at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan."  We need to make our homes a place of refuge from the storm, which is increasing in intensity all about us. Even if the smallest openings are left unattended, negative influences can penetrate the very walls of our homes."  

 Well... that did it!  Finally, that following fall season... when I just wasn't sure I had anything left in me.. somehow, this talk filtered to the top of my head and I had the "UMPH" to make our home a heaven on earth! That fall, I transformed our main living area from blah to warm.... comfy, cozy, inviting and I've loved it ever since!... and guess what I did??? I decorated in fall colors, a fall theme.... leaves and branches, twigs and such... they were my inspiration.  We were very poor (still are) but really poor - so I did what I could within our means, but I was determined to make our house a home... a safe, warm, inviting, comfortable place to be.  I wanted my children and their friends to feel safe here.  To feel loved.  To feel inspired.  As I was driving around, I was looking for anything in nature that I could use to decorate our house in... branches became my curtain rods - (I had never had curtains in our home... it's amazing what a window treatment will do!)  I found a great deal on some iron "leaf" knobs that became the curtain rod holders and picture holders on our walls.  I found some sconces at a yard sale, spray painted them and then filled them with weeds from the road side - LOVE THEM!  

Decorating for the seasons has once again returned to a tradition in our household, it’s something that my  children always looked forward to. (well, most of them!)  I have found that even when I didn’t feel like it, once I got started and began changing things around, sprucing up this and that....my crazy ideas will get going wild! It’s such a great feeling to stand back and see the transformation that just a few touches can make. Simple touches....

AND... my most FAVORITE thing about fall..... 

My family!

Oh, don't get me wrong....  I LOVE them all year long... But for me, FALL means.... I usually see them MUCH MORE OFTEN!  Which is always a treat!  I have a large family - and it is continually growing! I love that we are all so different - yet so much alike... I love that we have so many personalities... so many talents.... and still..... so many quirks! Just like fall leaves, we are each a different color, shape, size, and texture,  but that makes us all the more beautiful!

This is one of my favorite quotes (and I don't know where it even came from... but I just love it)

"Plant happy moments and harvest a lifetime of happy memories"....

Counting down.... 10! (weeks that is!)

Remember back in January... we started our LISTS??? 

Well, it is time to pull them out... blow off the dust and LET'S GO!

With just 10 weeks to go - it's time we get down to business... Now, if you are already there - GOOD FOR YOU!!!! WAY TO GO!!!! You are just AWESOME!!!!!! well... heck - if you aren't even there - you're still amazing and awesome!  I mean... who else is worried about Christmas with 10 weeks left???? I promise we are a few steps ahead of the majority of others around us!

Just for fun - I post countdowns every now and again on my face book page ... and honestly, I ruffle a few feathers! I've been called a few... shall we say... not so pleasant names... and I've been told a time or two to SHUT UP!  ...I mean,  be quiet .... but it is all OK! FINE AND DANDY! Because ... when they are all running around like wild chickens missing their heads and frustrated because they can't find what they want... stressed to the gills.... pay WAY more then they should for those "special gifts"... IF they can even find them.... fighting for parking spaces in a major snow blizzard....freezing their little TOOSHIES off..... and WISHING the season to "get over with".... I'll be sitting in my warm house.... watching it snow from the comfort of my soft couch..... sipping on some hot chocolate.... singing Christmas carols with my children... or reading stories... or watching movies..... having the TIME OF MY LIFE..... They will be wishing that they heeded the "countdown warnings...."  so, go ahead - if you have fallen a little behind (such as I) it's ok - we're still gonna make it count - every single minute!  I promise!!!! 

Are you ready????   BRING ON WEEK 10!

During this week, it is just a matter of gathering everything up and getting it all organized and in one location.... I've been purchasing Christmas gifts all year long - and they are ALL over the place!  I just discovered cute little VALENTINE outfits I purchased for the grandbabies... I completely forgot about them!  OOPS! I can tell it is time to get organized in every direction for me! ... but back to Christmas!

Things to do this week:

Be sure to pull out your cute little CHRISTMAS NOTEBOOK!!! 

You'll be so glad you did! 

• Make the promise! Spend 15 minutes each day this week to get organized for Christmas.
• Get comfortable for holiday planning--create a Christmas project center in your home. A place that is allocated for just CHRISTMAS!  In the next few weeks, we'll be doing some "PURCHASING" of necessities so you will want to have a "safe" place for such items - that way when it is time to WRAP IT ALL UP - you know just where it all is!  Oh this is going to be fun!
• Set up your Christmas Planner  (this is an amazing website- browse around and print the pages that best fit your needs - be sure to place them in a notebook or three-ring binder.Keep them ORGANIZED!
• Begin (if you haven't already) your Christmas card list. Locate addresses,purchase stamps (or at least one fifth of what you will need), decide on the "type" of card you are going to do, make list of what needs to be done to make your card complete. (photo sessions, homemade card supplies etc.)
• Make an appointment for family photo sessions for holiday giving or photo Christmas cards.
• Schedule carpet cleaning now! As the holidays approach, business picks up. Call now for your choice of appointment times. (This seems to be the LAST thing on my list EVERY year, and I STRESS all month about not having CLEAN carpets... so that is why it is on my week 10 list!  It's going to happen this year!)
• Review your CHRISTMAS gift list - check off things that have changed, are already taken care of etc. Reprint your list (if your like me - I get tooooo confused when there are toooo many scribbles ... I prefer a clean slate!... and you KNOW you're going to have some scribbles...) 
• Plan your menu for the month of December, be sure to include those special treats and extra functions, parties, gatherings etc... 
• Make a grocery list for December, and keep it close, so that during the upcoming weeks, you can watch the ads and get the best deal for the items that you need.  I like to put the items that I purchase in a large tote bin marked DECEMBER MEALS and another one marked DECEMBER BAKING - and I keep my master list in my purse, so when I'm out and about if I should find a "DEAL" I can cross it off and immediately put it in the tote when I get home... before some little meeces'  gobble them up! (If I put it in the pantry, they think it is fair game... but in my tote - they know HANDS OFF!) :) 
• Hopefully, you made your "decorations" list as you put away Christmas last year... but if not... it is that time when the holiday decorations are being brought out - and perhaps now, (as you are looking for your Halloween items) you can do a quick inventory on your Christmas decorations as well.... Update your list... or make a new one.
• Review your NEIGHBOR GIFTS list, teachers, kids friends, co-workers etc. list....  Make any adjustments needed and then prepare the list for items needed to complete those items. (Yes, I have another tote marked "Neighbor/Friend Gifts".... because, remember.... I purchased my neighbor gifts the day after Christmas last year... and HEAVEN knows... If I didn't have them in a tote, I SURELY would not know where they are!  It comes in quite handy to have the totes all made up - now, I just need to find a "storage" place for them that looks NEAT! So I LOOK organized! awh... wouldn't that be nice! 
• Make your cleaning schedule.... I know, I know... really!?!? BUT... this is ALWAYS something that REALLY stresses me out - and this year I have made it VERY VERY clear with my family - that they WILL be helping with the FALL deep cleaning! There are no IFS or BUTS about it!  It is MANDATORY! Especially, if they want a JOLLY HAPPY MOM this holiday season! :) 

Well... I think that should give us PLENTY to do this next 7 days!  Don't you think!?!?!  If I missed something... please PLEASE let me know!  My brain is feeling a little over-loaded.... 

but OH SO EXCITED 

at the same time!

Christmas is coming!!!! 

Can't you just hear those bells....

JING-JING-JINGLING!!!! 

Let the WORK begin!

Have you ever thought ....

"OH I HAVE PLENTY OF TIME???"  

"There is no need to RUSH...."  

"It will ALL work out!".... 

Come on... have you? 

Probably not, it's just me.... 

QUEEN OF SLACKING!  

I found this little quote the other day, and .... well..... can we just say..... it hit HOME a little tooooo close.... OK! It HIT HARD! 

"IF YOU DON'T WORK.... NOTHING WILL"

So, thus began my REALITY hit.... "If I want CHRISTMAS to work... I just HAVE to work!"  AGH!  Don't you just hate those WAKE UP calls????

Well, now that I have REVIVED myself, and come back to REALITY.... I'm finding the PANIC attack is beginning to take over my life! Who has time for this?!?! NOT I! I refuse.... REFUSE to let the Jolly Little Fella take charge of my life again.... instead.... I'm determined to let my SAVIOR lead me and guide me through the holidays and enjoy every minute of  LOVE and  SERVICE, bring the true REASON for the SEASON to every day of December... and the only way that will happen is if I WORK!  Starting NOW!....  

Did you notice the JOLLY LITTLE FELLA over on the right...  

2 months.... 1 week..... and 2 days....

(which really breaks down to... 10 weeks exactly from TODAY!!!!)  

until CHRISTMAS REALLY counts! 

OH BOY!  It is time to FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS! 

So.... are you ready to FOCUS!?!?!? To really get on track!?!?!  There really is absolutely NO time to THINK about it - we just gotta DO IT!  So.... pull up your britches and LET'S get things rolling in the right direction! 

For the next month, we've got a lot to do - and HOPEFULLY you have not been waiting for QUEEN SLACKER to get it together....(well, I'm sure you haven't, because you are much WISER than I and you have remained FOCUSED throughout the year.... and I'm not so certain that I have many followers....I mean... who follows a slacker????)  But if you are there (or here)  HOPEFULLY you have been really good and you have made the entire year count towards your goal!  BUT.... if not... join me and let's make this Christmas REALLY count! 

So, here it goes!

I'll make a LIST of the categories I'll be working on during the next 10 weeks!  

(YIKES! That sounds SCARY!).... 

ok...focus...focus....focus....... and BREATHE!....

Here we go! 

10 week count down! 

10-LISTS! LISTS!LISTS!

9-GIFTS! GIFTS! GIFTS! 

8-GATHER! GATHER! GATHER! 

7- BUDGET! BUDGET! BUDGET!

6-PURCHASE! PURCHASE! PURCHASE! 

5-PREPARE! PREPARE! PREPARE!

4-FINISH IT UP! FINISH IT UP! FINISH IT UP! 

3-INVENTORY! INVENTORY! INVENTORY!

2-REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

1-WRAP! IT! UP!

OK! There ya go!  Now.... Let's FOCUS! FOCUS! FOCUS!!!!  

Count Down from TEN is posting tonight! 

So get ready! 

GET set! 

 

And LET'S remember the reason... for the SEASON!

Time is TICKING away! OH MY!

My summer has just been PACKED!!! 

I surely haven't accomplished much in the "CHRISTMAS" department.... and yet - for some reason I don't feel that I've accomplished much at all.... how is that possible?  I feel that I never have a "spare" moment... and yet... nothing accomplished.... (sigh) ... at least not in the way of making CHRISTMAS COUNT!  

(I know... I know... I've got to get on the right wagon.. I mean SLEIGH! and SOON!) 

In addition to a few family matters that were not "scheduled" in my "non-spontaneous" life-style... we had a few other interruptions.... 

Like this....

(sorry it is long story... and hopefully will be wrapped up nice and neatly with a fair tale ending)

Once upon a time....

There was a very excited family! 

For the first time in several years, 10 to be exact!

This family of 7 was FINALLY going to see "GREEN" 

in their yard and not the yucky, mucky, brown muddy stuff any longer!

It was so super exciting! 

After many years of bringing in dirt...

Leveling dirt....

Hauling away dirt....

Moving dirt...

This family started to see a YARD take shape!

They were beaming from ear to ear! 

FINALLY!  A yard! 

and grass!!! 

NO MORE MUD! DIRT! YUCK!

And then a couple years later.... 

Things started looking a little "slanted".... 

The rains came down....

And the dirt started washing away....

And before you knew it,

The walls started falling in...

And eventually....

The walls came tumbling down.... 

and this is where my "non-spontaneous life style" became "SPONTANEOUS!" 

What comes down... must go up... and that was including my spirits!

(I was really down in the dumps when we discovered there was no other choice but to start all over again!  We have lived here for 14 years now... and we're starting over... agh!) 

After working so hard on getting our yard in and then to find that what we paid good money for to be done by "professionals" was not not RIGHT at all!  In fact... the walls that my son and I put up - are still standing... yes - they took a LOT of time and a LOT of blisters and LOTS of achey-breaky backs and sweat... but they are still standing.... and this wall that we let the "PROS:" do... tumbled... to the ground.... 

Yes, I did confront the contractor... His reply "Not my problem, you should have done it right.  I'll be happy to come back and fix it - but it will cost you some money - It is NOT my problem..."   Well, as you can imagine - he got a good ole' swift kick in the BOOTAY on his way out the door..... and PLEASE DO NOT COME BACK MISTER!

And so the fun began.... 

Building a wall..... all over again....

 

This is the back wall that came "tumbling forward"... 

We decided to push it back and add a radius curve to it - this way - if IF it ever starts to shift - the rocks will push into each other and "LOCK"...

NO MORE tumbling down!!!! 

 Even though this wall was NOT falling down... we took a portion down and added the curve...

I'm REALLY liking it! 

 And this wall was not coming down either 

(Funny how the walls that Josch & I built were still standing ... but the wall we hired out came tumbling down.... now that is FRUSTRATING!!! We paid good money for that wall to fall....)
Guess it just goes to say...
You want something done right...
DO IT YOURSELF!
(WhATeVEr!)

But we decided to make it curve as well ~ so it would match the other wall that we rounded out.... '

Yep! It is a project - but it will look OH SO NICE when it is done... and done the RIGHT way .... 

I'm so excited!!!! 

and FOUR days later.... this is what you get....

 You can see where the "patio" ends, we have added about 3-4 feet - we may put the fire pit down here... or we may not... it just gives us so many FUN options!!!!

 STAIRS!!!! We will soon have STAIRS!!!!! 

No more MUD SLIDES for us!!!!

 

 I just LOVE all the "CURVES" now...

Well... I am kinda partial to "CURVES"

I'm full of them... just wish they looked as good on me as they do on this wall!!! 

The old "FIRE-PIT" rock spot ...

is now BIGGER and will be cement!

 at least a portion of it will be... 

the far west side of the new "BREAKFAST patio"

(don't you LOVE it - I will have a BREAKFAST patio!!!) 

will be a flower/tree bed - this way, we can add some SHADE to the deck... 

in the future of course!

  

OH SO EXCITED!!!!  

Just can't wait to be able to "WALK" out the back door... instead of FALL out the back door! and... even have a BBQ party or two.... or three... or TEN!!!

EVERYDAY will be a party!!! It's officially stated! hee hee hee!!!! 

AND THEN..... 

Who knew! 

Just 6 days later....

 we would be doing this....

or this..... 

 and this.....

Can you believe it??? I can't....

 OR...

We would see these..

STAIRS!!!!

I never thought I'd live to see this day! 

EVER!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

Do you know just how LONG we have been waiting for ... 

longing for ....

hoping for ....

wishing for .....

and DREAMING ABOUT these

BEAUTIFUL SLABS of CEMENT!?!?!?! 

A very VERY VERY long time!!! 

9 1/2 years to be exact!!!! 

Someone pinch me....

I just can't believe it is true!!!! .

I just can't wait to see what day 7 holds! 

I'm feeling rather giddy right about now!!!!

HOLY COW!!!
I think I'm walking on..... 

a BEAUTIFUL REDWOOD DECK!!!! 

OH MY!!!! Isn't gorgeous?!?!

I just can't believe it... 

It seems so ..... 

S... t....r....a....n...g.....e.....

I was washing dishes today to be startled by a HEAD bobbing in my kitchen window! 

SO FREAKY!!! 

 

This is what it looked like just first thing this morning ... 

  

 and then tonight.... 

WOW!!!!!  AMAZING!

Don't you just LOVE the "western" angles added to the bottom?

It is so "cozy" in the bottom patio... 

and COOL too! 

I know where you will be finding me!!!! :)

There are even stairs!!!! 

And they are absolutely divine!

I surely hope I can get use to this! 

We haven't walked out this back door in YEARS!!! 

I MEAN YEARS!!!! 

I hope I can sleep tonight! 

I just can't wait to see what the railing looks like!!!

Let alone... the COMPLETED project! 

oh!! AND look!!!  Stairs from our HOLE!!!! 

No more MUD SLIDES!

I feel like I have a whole extension to the house now!!!! 

I just can't wait to decorate it!!!! 

Bry can't either... she's already designing her "dance" studio! :) 

Isn't this just so exciting??? 

Ok... maybe not for you... but for me!!! 

OH MY GOSH!!!!  I just hope this doesn't mean we are moving....

That is how it ALWAYS happens..... 

I finally get to where the house is just what I envisioned before we moved in...

and then.... we move!

Please let me enjoy it for at least a SEASON!
at least....

PLEASE!!!!!!

OH I FEEL SO VERY BLESSED!!!! 

And...MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!!!

Can't wait for day 8..... 

and then... I can add my "junk to treasure" findings.... 

OH SO EXCITED!!!!! 

BUT I PROMISE!!
Christmas will be on my brain... 

for the remainder of the time... 

starting August 22!  I PROMISE!!!! 

(I just may move my sewing room out to the deck!!! :)) 

Someone's junk....

Became MY treasure! 

Last year.... ok nearly 16 months ago... I ventured out on my first ever GARAGE "TREASURE" HOPPING! sale.  A dear friend of mine ... (Miss TAMMYof PINK OWL DESIGNS) helped guide me along, barter and SCORE some great deals!  BUT.... as life would have it - I just didn't ever get the opportunity to "dive" into someone's junk to make my treasure.... until today..... 

I puchased 2 of the these BEAUTIES for $5.00!!! 

SCORE!!!!

 

Before..... 

After....

Sure it cost about $7.50 to paint and $6 for the cushion.... 

BUT they are cast iron

Heavy and they will work PERFECT on our patio! 

The next project 

(I almost forgot to get a BEFORE picture!) 

This was actually a DUMPSTER save! 

It's been sitting in my back yard for about 3 or 4 years.... 

 NOW!! She has earned a seat on the front porch.... don't you just love it!?!?! 

It's not quite done... I want to either turn it into a "planter box" 

(by cutting 2 large circles in the seat and putting potted flowers in.... 

Or.... just a couple pillow.... maybe a garland of some sort ...

I've got time to "ponder' on it...don't I???? 

Now this was not "junk to treasure" treasure...

it was a purchase! 

I have been admiring this for MONTHS I tell you! 

And today.... I found it on clearance and decided 

"HECK YEAH!!! I'm worth a "treat!"

For now it has earned a spot on the front court-yard patio....

but HOPEFULLY in the next month or so 

It will be in the back sitting on the cute little 

:BREAKFAST table....

(Have I mentioned just how excited I am to have access to our backyard!?!?!)

If I haven't....

I am

SUPER-DUPER 

EXCITED!

Then.... 

I found me some matching rockers! for just $5 bucks!!!

That from the looks of them, they have seen better days...

Sure... we have a little work to do... but you get the idea..

SO.... stay tuned for the ROCKER Unveiling! 

 I was just TOO pooped today to finish!

Christmas in July..... REALLY!?!?!?!?

Ya know... 

It's been a rough.... shall we say... several months.... (ok - year!).... I've tried to put on my happy face and make the best of it - and up until the past few months - I think I did ok - BUT the last few months... have not been oh so pretty..... So!  it is TIME to get back on track and pull up my britches and get down to business!

I found myself just today thinking... "I really need to get out of this rut!".... It has been a LONG - way LONG time since I've felt "HAPPY" about the future... and as I thought about CHRISTMAS... I became VERY happy.... I found myself "smiling" as I started reviewing the plans I started several months ago... It is TIME to get my groove back :)

Life just has a way sometimes of dragging us down... making us feel that we "just don't get it"..."just don't fit in"... "just have no purpose"... .. ok maybe not everyone... ok... maybe just me.  This is were I have been the past few months. ..I don't get it, I don't fit in, I have no purpose.... I'm in a rut!

I miss being busy.  I miss having "things" to do... ok let me rephrase that... "I MISS NOT DOING THINGS!" (I'm sure I have plenty to do...) I just have no "UMPH" to do them... because of the "I don't get it, I don't fit in, I have no purpose" feeling.... 

So, today - It's a new day! It's a good day! 

I've decided to clean out the decoration boxes... HOLY COW! WHY do I keep the things I do? I mean seriously!  It's not like I've ever "FIXED" them... and I'm pretty sure I'm not going to fix them! So WHY - why do I keep them?  I discovered that I have 2 completely FULL tote bins full of "CRAP!" Busted, broken, missing pieces, chipped, cracked... you name it - its in there... so! OUT THEY GO!  

And as I was sitting here trying to come up with "new" themes and "what" I may need to accomplish my new themes - I popped on over to read Natasha's post on "CLOCHES" ... I had NO IDEA what they were .... but I'm IN LOVE now!!!  I'm so excited!  I need to gather me a few several!  Such talented people!  Such amazing people!  I'm in love!  Thanks Natasha! 

Well, I've gotta run- but I'll be back because we've got a lot to discuss!  But I've gotta catch some shut-eye.... morning is going to come AWFULLY early!