NumberNineteen

Halloween Crafts & Photo Help!

I've been playing in my craft room over the past few weeks, making up a few Halloween themed crafts to add to my fall decor.  The plaque a the top is one of my favorite things that I've ever made.  I'm loving the layers of vintage-y images along with the little details & the *glittery* edges!  The idea for the little flags just popped into my head one night when I was arranging the silver pot & the candle on the white platter...I just knew that I needed a set of cute Halloween flags for the pot.  How often does inspiration strike so perfectly?  Not often for me!

I had so much fun making these.  I have very limited time to craft these days, so I'm so excited when things turn out just as I'd hoped. 

******

I'm hoping some of my oh-so-talented blog friends might be able to offer some help to me on something that has been driving me crazy.  My photos.  I have tried every setting, every angle, everything that I can think of & yet, my blog photos still look very amateur (at best). They are fuzzy, dark, and often have a yellow-ish tint. One problem is that my house has very little natural light.  But, I would think that I could compensate for that.  Maybe it's my camera?  I have a Canon Power Shot S5IS.  ANY help that you all could offer would be greatly appreciated.  I really want to make my blog a great place to visit, with great photos.  I feel like my photos aren't doing justice to my decor at this point...help! :)

Goodwill Goodies

While visiting my parents in State College, PA 2 weeks ago, I was sure to hit the Goodwill in town.  The Goodwill in State College is one of the few left that has really good prices.  I've noticed, as Tracey from Notes from a Cottage Industry observed in her post "How 'Bout We Put the Thrift Back in Thrift Shop", that many thrift shops have been pricing in anything BUT a thrifty manner.  When I see an item that I know is from Target, priced at the same price that Target had it priced, that is a problem. But, happily, I've discovered State College's Goodwill, which is still thrifty AND, often has 50% off weekends!  And, strangely, I always seem to be in town for those weekends (and, no, I don't plan it that way, though that is an idea....).

And, looky what I found! An adorable white creamer with a lattice design, perfect for my collection -- 35 cents.  A cute dish that will look great with my fall decor -- also 35 cents. A domed cheese plate that anyone but a blogger would pass by.  But, from blogging, I see it as a perfect cloche!  The base was originally plain wood, but I've already painted it black. 65 cents! Those items, along with 4 books for Hope -- a grand total of $2.35!

The funny thing was that I realized that I didn't have any cash, so had to borrow the $2.35 from my mother!!

Pretties from Rosemary

I have been admiring the creations of Rosemary of Rosespetitemasion for years & have finally indulged in buying one.  Isn't it gorgeous?? Look at the detail!  I just love the crepe accents & the perfect amount of glittery goodness.  It's such a perfect addition to my vintage Halloween collection.

When the package from Rosemary arrived, I couldn't get over it.  Not only did she wrap the cone in lovely tissue, but she also included several other small goodies.  My photos do not do it justice, but the tag pictured above is just adorable.  The crepe paper on the bottom is pleated & there are the tiniest accents of orange glitter on the vintage image. She also included a tiny little bottle with a vintage Halloween image, but I couldn't get a good picture of it.

If you are interested, Rosemary has an etsy shop, The Vintage Crown and she takes custom orders as well.

Thanks so much Rosemary, for such a lovely addition to my home!

Sunday Dinner

I was looking at our lonely dining room, thinking that we hardly ever visit it and it occurred to me that it would be great to have an old fashioned Sunday dinner.  Roast chicken, potatoes, vegie & dessert.  For some weird reason, I was sort of intimidated by the roast chicken (making it, that is, not the chicken itself), but it was actually really easy.  And, soooo yummy.

Before putting it in the oven, I rubbed it with loads of olive oil (but it's a good fat...), salt, pepper & thyme leaves. And, yeah, I know that the chicken should have been trussed (poor thing, with those legs hanging out), but I couldn't find any twine around the house.  About half an hour before the chicken was done, I put in the potatoes, which had been tossed with more olive oil, loads of garlic & salt.  It was so yum & everyone really liked it, even Hope, who is super picky.  It was also a chance to admire my newest Home Goods find:

Every time that I look at it, it reminds me of my sister's wedding, as she had a sheaf of wheat like this on a dessert table.

4 Years

It was just yesterday, right?

Or, maybe a few months ago.

Certainly, years couldn't have passed.

And yet, here you are....

4 Years Old Today!

Hopie G, you make every day sparkly for me, every day more fun & meaningful.   I hope that you have the BEST birthday, my sweetie.  I know that you can't read this now, but someday you will & you'll know how I felt.

For you Mommas out there who are sending kids off to kindergarten, high school, college, to be wed, to be moms & dads, I think that I might have an idea how you feel.  Where does the time go?

Around The House

Just a post of a few recent additions around the house....I spent last weekend re-arranging everything so that I could add my fall pretties & that meant finding a new home for the other pretties....I put all my white creamers & mini pitchers together...I like how they look all together....I'm going to a Goodwill today, so I'll be scouting for more of those....Just a re-placement of several items to the top of the secretary in the living room...The big blue H is a gift from my friend who knows that I collected Hs for Hope...she saw it on ebay at a great price & bought it for me...isn't that the nicest thing?  I like how it looks with Glenn's childhood banks that he has given to Hope.  Lastly, the guest room bed! You may remember that I bought the headboard over a year ago at a yard sale for $5.  Glenn was completely horrified by it, but, once it was painted, came around to my way of thinking.  I love how it looks in there, but, of course, now everything else in the room looks kind of dingy...isn't that the way?  An excuse to start foofing up the other pieces in there! I hope that you are having a good weekend!

Flea Market Finds

I finally got to the monthly Arlington Flea Market again this past Saturday.  Woohoo, I was back in my element! Not only did I find some goodies, but I also ran into Sue of Vintage Rescue.  Sue is awesome, the real deal. She is the vintage business woman that I want to be when I grow up.  I love to hear what she has found and about the sales that she has been to.  Check out her blog if you haven't already...her finds are drool worthy.

Now, let's talk about my finds, shall we?

Tole! Times two! Two 1940s primers & a vintage scale. 

I was so excited to take a picture of the scale that I didn't bother to dust it off.  Whoops.

I have no idea what this is supposed to be used for, but I've never seen anything like it.  And, I can't resist anything that has tole painting. 

 

I've really been into vintage children's books recently, especially primers & other school books.  I really love the illustrations.  What an ideal world, right? Sigh.

I had a blast at the market & the rest of the weekend, as well, changing over to fall decorations.  Photos to come.....

PS -- To those of you who asked, I only paid $2 for the scale!  I know, it was such a find.

Things that I *Heart*

A few of the things that make me super happy recently...

This scent smells like fall to me.  I have it burning in my family room from September to Thanksgiving.

Tootsie Pops! Remember these?  They have become my favorite mid day sweet.

I just tried Tarte cheek stain for the first time, after reading so many places how wonderful it is.  It lives up to the promises!  It goes on perfectly & never looks powdery or unnatural.

I just got this as a sample from Sephora & I'm really amazed at the difference it makes.  I read about it in the book How Not to Look Old (you laugh, but I used several suggestions in the book & have gotten many compliments) & I was doubtful about whether it was really necessary.  Especially at about $30 a pop.  But, after trying it, I'd pay that.  It works.

 

This beauty is my bible.  It's just a blank notebook (the prettiest blank notebook though, right??) , but I carry it everywhere.  My to-dos go in here, lists of books to read, Christmas & gift ideas for family, ideas on what to have for dinner. I scribble in it on the train & then leave it open at home to remind myself of what I need to do.

 

If you've heard Love Song then you know about her, but I just love, love, love the entire CD.  Her voice, lyrics -- love them.  Can't wait until she goes on tour again.  

 

I know, I posted about it before, but have to post it again.  My iPhone has changed my life.  No, really. I mean, not in a spiritual fashion or anything that will re-direct my existence, but it makes my life so.much.easier.  I can answer emails at any time.  I can look up information the moment that I need it.  I can listen to Sara B. whenever I want.  I don't think that I need to say more.

I would *LOVE* to hear what is making you happy right now, or the things that you've had your eye on in catalogs or stores!  It's so fun to see what other like-minded people are doing or wishing for. :)

Beach Weekend

We tied up the summer by spending the last weekend of August at the beach.  We rented a little condo in Ocean City MD for just 3 days since we have spent so much time traveling for family events earlier in the year.  Hope had never seen the ocean, so we thought that it was about time.

She loved it.  Loved the sand, loved the water.  She said that she wanted to go out into the water, to the end of it. She clearly doesn't understand the size of it!  I wish that I had pictures to show you of her on playing in the water, but I didn't want to take my camera to the beach & worry about leaving it alone or getting sand into it, etc. 

We went to the boardwalk on Saturday night for some ice cream & a stroll.

 

 

Hope clearly loved this part!

We really loved the chance to spend time in the water & relax on the beach, but I have to say that Ocean City is not a place that I'd return to.  It's just not my kind of place...it's really built up & kind of run down.  I'm sorry if there are readers who love it there and I do have friends that have been going there for years & think that its the greatest.  We are thinking of staying up the coast next year, in Bethany Beach, DE.  We drove through it & think that it looks absolutely adorable & just what we are looking for.  Has anyone ever stayed there?