Falling for Fall...

It happens every year! the beach days start to dwindle, the stores start stocking Halloween decorations, and we are a week away from school starting, sports starting, etc. It's a grind that I know and love, and I am feeling ready for it.

 I was sitting in our home-library yesterday, and just before I flushed (hee hee), I spotted this page in InStyle Magazine:

ALERT! Boot season is here people!!! Normally I would be bugged by this page because in past years, I have been seriously unprepared for boot season. See, I am someone who usually buys things at the end of the season on sale. That way, I get a sweet deal, and I can use them the following year. Boots are tricky though, because the last thing I want to do on the brink of Summer is buy tall boots. It's just too hot and beachy during the Spring boot sales to even consider trying them on. So this year, I hit up the pre-fall sales and got me some boots that are definitely made for walkin'!

I definitely don't consider myself a fashionista, but I'm not totally embarrassing to be around either. I wanted to find a perfect pair of "everyday" flat boots that were comfortable and versatile as well as stylish. That magazine page above said that 37% of InStyle readers are going to buy "riding" style boots and I am definitely on board :)
(click on boot pic to zoom, I think they're super cute)

The ones I got are from Cathy Jean and they were 50% off. They are a taupe colored soft leather and they are super comfortable. I can't wait for the temp to drop a bit so I can rock these boots!!!
September, watch out! Here I come :)

LUCKY ME, etc.

First on my sharing agenda today is my AWESOME giveaway win! Woo hoo!! You know some times when you enter random blog giveaways, and you really don't care if you win or lose? This was definitely NOT the case with this giveaway!! Have you been to PB&J Stories!? Pamela has an amazing blog, wonderful style, and is an all around sweet person! You definitely need to stop by her blog and check it out. You'll be hooked like I am, I know it!!
Anyway, here is what I won and I AM IN LOOOVE WITH IT!!! Like, for real in love with it!!

It is probably the most well made home-made sign I have ever seen! It is solid in construction, and all of the details are perfect! Look at the back: no glue blobs or any clues that this thing was handmade. I've seen way worse construction on items sold at places like home goods etc. Seriously awesome!

LOVE this detail!

Here is where my new "love" ended up :)

I love how it looks next to my new shower curtain too!

THANK YOU Pamela!!

My next lucky moment struck when the "jane of All Crafts" and I did some bartering. I traded her some of my Suzy Ultman prints in exchange for some "bling" for my laptop (which is named Harriet btw). See.....

My monogram and a swan = PERFECT!!!

Harriet is happy now :) YAY! Thanks Andi, you rock!

I also want to share a pic of our biggest tomato haul yet! Mmmmmm!

I also spent some time yesterday reworking my "gallery" in my living room. It takes some time to arrange it in a way that is pleasing to my eye, but I think I got it :)

I added a little map from my thrift store atlas. I seriously love maps :)

And lastly, this is where my canvas ended up. I wasn't feeling it over the mantle, but I am loving it here!!!

Ok folks, that's all for today :)
Happy Tuesday People!

Batteries recharged!

Two words for you......VEGAS BABY!!!!
this past weekend, while many of you were battling with Irene, I was foot loose and fancy free in beautiful Sin City!!! My hubby and I, along with my sister, her hubby, and 2 of our best friends spent the weekend eating, swimming, gambling, drinking, napping, laughing, and having fun! It.was.awesome!!! The kiddos had a blast at home with Nana and Grandma, so we really could relax and have fun while we were away :)
Here are a few pics of our weekend! The first night we went to old downtown and had a fun "Fremont street experience." That's what the old downtown adventure is called :)

Cheers!

My sissy & I :)

Later that night, our friends Catherine and Jimmy came to meet us and we enjoyed some YUMMY desserts at "Serendipity 3" the third of the restaurants inspired by the movie "Serendipity."

The second day we headed to the pool! Back in the day, the pool was "where it was at" in Vegas. It definitely still is! Go-go dancers, LOUD music, cloudy pool water (ha ha, eeew), pure awesomeness! There was even bikini bull riding and a kayak race (neither of which we were a part of), classic!

Baby bump :)

After a post-pool nap, we fancied ourselves up a bit and went to a yummy buffet! Following the buffet, we sung our brains out at the dueling piano bar, and lost our shirts at Roulette! Definitely fun whether you win or lose, but surely would have been more fun if we won!

4, 10, 12, 16, 17, 23, 24, 32....those are my main roulette numbers in case you were wondering :)

It was a great getaway before the grind of school, soccer, holidays etc get started. My batteries are recharged and I'm ready to rock :)

Happy Monday everyone!!!

Kiddos and Newbies

Happy Wednesday people!!
Hangin' at home with these two today.......smiles, yelling, crying, messy, quiet, loud, tiring, wonderful, ETC.

Working on a few new things for my Etsy shop :)
Here are 2 of my newbies. Look out for them in the shop (after nap time today).
click on pics to zoom.

More to come....just tryin' to get over the hump!  Happy day to you :)

Anniversaries and what-haves-you's ;)

Hello to all of Ali’s blog friends!  My name is Josh.  I’m Ali’s husband and author of this guest post.  Ali has asked me a few times before to do a guest post on her blog because, you know, it would be so fun!!!!  Clearly, our definitions of “fun” are as different as the warm, comfortable style of shabby chic and the geometric artistry of mid-century modern design.  Why is my mind filled with all of these terms that I really shouldn’t know about you ask?   Because Ali is always talking about the blogs she reads and about all of her amazingly talented blog friends.   So, in turn, I blame you all……thanks.

So, if you haven't guessed yet, I’m writing this post as a little surprise for her because 8 years ago (tomorrow), the hottest woman I have ever seen (she was way out of my league) walked down the aisle, stood by my side, and promised to be my wife forever.  

Eight years later, I still have no idea why she chose me when she could have had anyone she wanted.  Sometimes, I think she chose me because I’m just so damn sexy…

However, there may be an extremely slight chance that that’s not the real reason.  If it’s not, I hope it’s because she sees that I am so in love with her and that she has made me so incredibly happy since the day I found out I actually had a chance with her.  I hope it’s because she sees how hard I try to make her the happiest woman in the world.  But mostly, I hope it’s because she feels the same incredible love for me that I do for her.  She makes me so happy with even the slightest touch…

I would not be where I am today without the complete support and sacrifices she has given.  She never complains when I am gone (or too tired to do anything) because she knows it would just make things harder on me…

As a husband and father, I look at this picture and shake my head in disbelief.  I come home from work in the morning with the kids running toward me and screaming the same thing every time, “Daddy home!!!  Daddy home!!!”  Giant hugs all around and then a hug and kiss for the woman who gave me these beautiful, healthy, smart children.

                                                     

Ali, I love you so much!  You’re my best friend and you make my heart so full.  For the rest of my life I will continue to try to make you the happiest girl on earth.  I want to be married to you forever and be the only man who gets to see how amazing of a woman you truly are! 

  

Happy 8th Anniversary, my love, and many more to come!

         

XOXOX

-Your Joshy

P.S.   I would also like to say Happy 1^st Anniversary to Ali’s twin sis Lisa and her husband Josh (yes, also named Josh)!  Our anniversaries are just one day (and 8 years) apart.  Lisa knows me as well as Ali does and my love for her is very strong.  She knows how to make me happy and to put a smile on my face!  Lisa and Josh have their first baby on the way and my #1 wish is that she and Ali will go buy a bunch of baby furniture that they need my help refinishing ;)  Happy anniversary you two!

Happy Anniversary Sis!!!

Happy happy anniversary to my beautiful twin sister and her sweet hubby! Your wedding was one year ago, but it feels like only yesterday! Now you are nurturing my little neice or nephew in your cozy tummy and I can't wait to meet him or her in February! I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON sis!!!

(her wedding was at the Chart House in Dana Point, CA....SO pretty!)

oh yeah, can't forget this one (ha ha)

Happy Monday!

Smiling!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Oooooooooh, Ahhhhhhhhhh....

Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!