Entryway Decor

Well, it seems like the only time I get blogging done these days, is when I am sick! This sickness just keeps hanging in there, but I finally realized its because I am not resting for long enough. So I was talked into taking time off to rest. I am feeling better, but this cough is still hanging in there!

Our home is slowly coming together. Little by little, I am figuring out where to hang and place things. It's still a mess, but each week it's a little bit less of a mess. 

I was very excited to finally get to hang up this cute welcome sign on our front door. It was a wedding gift from a dear college friend and roommate.

I finally got some things hung in the entry way.

The "Everett" picture was a wedding present from my cousin and his wife. The mirrored cabinet was a gift from my mom. I spray painted the E, it used to be about the same color as the walls, but metallic, so I decided we needed more contrast. The "grateful heart" sign I actually discovered on instagram. There is a local business called "The Missing Piece Rustic Decor", and it is a husband and wife team who make a variety of delightful wooden signs. I saw this one on instagram and found out they were selling at the Fussy Duck in Salem, and I was able to snag it!

I'm hoping to eventually get a console table to put under the E. It would be nice to be able to hide some extra shoes and keys and purses, and fill up that blank space!

I love this sign. It's something that I will keep up all year long, but it's especially appropriate to hang for the Thanksgiving season. I'm definitely grateful for all the blessings in my life! 

Happy Wednesday!

Fall Decor

I don't have many fall decorations, but I have made a point to hold off on decorating for Christmas and acknowledge the Fall season.

Here is my fall mantle.

I am hoping to, eventually, get a larger mirror to go above the fireplace, and take off the weird drywall bump out and get a custom fireplace mantle done.

Maybe a mirror like this one

And a fireplace mantle like this...

Or probably more realistically like this one...

I decorated our bar cart for Thanksgiving.

And I tried my hand at an idea I found on Pinterest...

My version didn't turn out quite as nice. I had some technical difficulties with the spray paint and the sharpie I used...just don't look at the writing too closely ;) 

While I am loving my fall decorations, there may or may not be a Christmas tree up in my bedroom right now...

Also, I may or may not be watching the Holiday Inn right now and getting ready to hang some ornaments on the tree...
Happy Friday!

Fall Celebration

 Happy Fall everyone!

I'm home sick today so I thought I would update my blog!

Jumping back to last month when Joel and went to an annual "Fall Celebration" hosted by his brother and sister-in-law.

 As you know, I wear workout clothing everyday, and I'm not about to cake my face to teach elementary PE, so when I get a chance to dress normal, I relish it. It's nice to get to wear lipstick!

 I finally purchased a plaid flannel for fall and have discovered a way to wear sequins in a casual way :) 

 What I Wore: Plaid: Target // Sequin Tank: Old Navy // Leggings (Old) // Boots: Hopes

 I got Joel to snap some picture of me, and usually he is reluctant to, but on this day he turned and snapped a selfie of us all on his own. I love this picture in our matching plaids haha :) 

This was the table setting our the fall celebration. My sister-in-law is so resourceful. 

This elegant table setting was mostly pulled together from things she already had. You can see prettier pictures of the setting on her blog, The Everett Seven.

It was such a delightful occasion. Lovely parisian music was floating through the background, cozy lighting and smells of scented candles and delicious food. 

She even slaved away to make delicious french inspired beef bourguignon.

I love kicking off the fall season with Fall Celebration...it's almost like Christmas in October :)

I hope you are all staying healthy!

Happy Thursday :)

Halloween: DIY Mermaid Costume & More

This Halloween, I got to dress up on three different occasions.

 Every year at the dance studio I teach at, students & staff are supposed to wear a costume to class the week of Halloween. I took this opportunity to wear something different than my costume and pulled together a hippie outfit. PS one of my 9 year old students didn't know what a hippie was. This picture was with 2 of my middle school students. They are pretty amusing.

 I attend an aerobic dance class called "Diva Dance". They had a costume dress up night as well. So I had to wear a costume that matched the tone of the class. I ran into Walmart at the last minute to try to get cat ears, and they just so happened to have leopard ears & bow tie, which matched the top I was planning on wearing. I also ran into some other members getting last minute costumes as well ;)

We're missing a few people from the picture, because more came later. Pretty fun night!

 These leggings were the inspiration for my actual Halloween costume!

I am a makeup amateur, but I sure had fun creating a mermaid look! Finally getting to use some of those crazy colors in my eye shadow palettes! I think this is also the first time I have worn false eyelashes since the last time I actually dressed up for Halloween, like 6 years ago haha.

Finished product! I had to get a wig, because mermaids do not have short hair.

 Me & my pirate :)

 We were invited to a party hosted by a family that Joel coaches with, and they just so happen to live within walking distance from our new house! Of course, it was raining cats and dogs so, like the true princess I am, I made Joel drive ;)

End of the night with some of the party attendees.

I hope you had a Happy Halloween!

Now we can start listening to Christmas music!!!

 

Halloween Bar Cart

Today I am sharing my Halloween decorated bar cart!

 I have been envying all of the beautiful bar carts that have been trending in home decor right now. I even have a pinterest board dedicated to them. I found this one for only $80 at Ross Dress for Less last fall!! I was soo excited because all of the mirrored bar carts like this that I had seen were hundreds of dollars. We didn't have room for it when we were renting so my mom has been storing it for me. So, even though we have still not finished unpacking totally, of course I had to set up my bar cart :) 

Details: mason jar glasses (gift from my cousin) Plates (Pier 1 on clearance now) Glass Skeleton Candy Dish (Pier 1 on clearance now) Napkins (Target) Tissue Paper Garland (made with craft tissue from Target & Martha Stewart Fringe cutter) Pumpkin (old) Straws (old...maybe groupdeelz?)

 It's so pretty. I love it! I can't wait to decorate it for each season.

Excited for Halloween coming up! Joel and I are going to a party! I am going to be a mermaid and he is going to be a pirate :)

Happy Tuesday!

Goodbye Rental: We are Home Owners!!!

It finally happened...

We closed on our house and moved in!!

We are very excited to be in our own place and there are definitely things that we will NOT miss,

however, there are a few things that I will miss:

1. It was our first home together 2. It was cozy 3. The beautiful trees in the courtyar

4. Being close enough to walk toe everything

I keep thinking of the Trace Adkins song "You're Gonna Miss This"

We are at that stage of life where everything is new, and we are constantly onto bigger and better things.

Even though I won't miss the ugly green, stained carped, and the weird sounds and smells coming from our various neighbors, not having a backyard, and the lovely onsite laundry room that cost us so many quarters...

I will always cherish the memories we made together there.

Our little home at Christmas...

Empty!!

And here is our new home!!

We are so grateful for all of the help we had from our family and friends in moving! 

It was a lot of work, and Joel and I were not very prepared. 

We've known we were going to be moving for over a month and we didn't pack anything ahead of time.

Our helpers are saints for not getting frustrated with us!

Our home was very move in ready so there are not any changes that we need to make, just a few that we would like to make. I took pictures of the inside before we moved everything in, so eventually I will share inside pictures once we have everything organized! (That might be a while!)

The view from our backyard!!

Joel's parents stayed the night with us while we were moving to help us get everything finished.

They were so helpful! This is a picture of our first meal in our new house :)

Homeowners!!!

Let the memory making commence!

Happiest of Mondays :)