New Watch!!

I have a recent obsession with ivory and all things gold...could it be a "fall" thing??

Graduation Day

New beauty in old places

Do you ever catch yourself driving the same pattern every day without ever fully taking in your surroundings? Why do we so easily fail to look at surroundings in our daily paths the same way we would on a road trip to an exciting new place! After moving to another side of town, and travelling a new route that I had previously only seen every once in a while, I have been exposed to some local surroundings that have really surprised me in their beauty! I encourage you to open your eyes and see the beauty we have right here in Des Moines the next time you're out and about.

Welcome to: The upstairs living room!

We have a lot of plans for this space. We are still in desparate needs of window treatments (Wedding Registry!?), a TV, and some wall decor. The TV stand in the corner has really just become more of a "table", and since moving in, we've decided not to put the TV there in the first place! Chelle found a really ornate, white oak mantle several months back, and our plans are to attach the mantle to the wall across from the couch, making a "faux fireplace", and in the fireplace insert, attach a shelf and make that space a bookshelf. Then we can hang a TV above the mantle and free up that floorspace in the corner!

We're currently in the market for a TV for upstairs, and hopefully Cyber Monday will reap some benefits in that area. :) Once we have the TV, there is NO excuse for not starting this project the first of the year!



Entry-way



Reason 960 Chelle loves Pinterest

.... Great nail ideas!

{Sheer polish, Gold tips, via Pinterest)

.....And great hair ideas!

{Sock Bun, via Pinterest}

Trip to the wine store

I think we're covered for a while between the new buys on the counter and what was already in the wine wheel!

First Turkey ever!

Wish us luck! Thanksgiving at our house for 17!

Fall colors

Our tree has, for some reason, become one of the last trees on the cul de sac to change colors and/lose its leaves. It's been slowly transforming over the past week and this morning, as the sun rose, it was gorgeous!

Bottle Vase

Since we have a slew of wine bottles in the spare bedroom waiting to be made into wedding centerpieces, this project seemed to be perfect! After scoring some 2.00 clearance yarn at Michaels, and heating up the hot glue gun for a solid hour of "wrapping", this was our finished product. We'll post another shot when they get filled with their branches!

Graduation "eve"

Digital scrapbooking

Chelle made this for our favorite "little face", Jaxen, for his first fall.

There is an 8X10 photo frame calling its name!

Recipe cards

With all the recipes floating around this time of year, how cute would it be to create your own deck of personalized recipe cards?!

Say no more!

If you'd like your own bundle of 25 personalized recipe cards like these for $15.00, email chellejo@gmail.com
We will be using these as stocking stuffers for the Mamma's!

Caps & Gowns

It's that time. The cap & gown is coming out! Chelle's graduation from college is this weekend. Second to last milestone on the educational to do list can finally be checked off!

Toffee Pumpkin Fluff

Toffee should be incorporated into all things. At least thats how we feel. So when Chelle found (and ultimately had to tinker with) this recipe from Pinterest, it was only appropriate that toffee chips were involved.

This dip is pretty common and easy to find online, so we'll just post our version (which we're sure is the best) here! :)

Pumpkin Fluff

Ingredients

1 8oz container of French Vanilla flavored cool-whip

1 8oz container of Cinnamon flavored cool-whip

1 15oz can pumpkin

1 box French vanilla pudding powder

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions

Mix all ingredients together and chill in the fridge for 1 hour. Then, top with Toffee chips and serve in a hollowed out pumpkin with graham cracker sticks and ginger snaps.



Fun with our Herk

Have we mentioned lately how much of a character our dog is?

Stellas: last call!

Remember this post about our FAVORITE farmer's market florist???

Well, at the last farmer's market of the season, Chelle snagged up the best "Stella's bouquet" yet. Some of the "fuzzy ball plants" were spray-painted red and gold!! This provided the inspiration to create our own dried bouquet of "fuzzy ball plants", hydrangea's, and other fall greenery for the entryway table! More to come on that!

...and after the yellow flowers bloomed:

White Pumpkin Madness

This fall, Chelle is really LOVING miniature white pumpkins! Hopefully we can find some plastic ones for next year on clearance once fall is over!

These ones, however, are real, purchased at the last farmers market of the season, and they've taken over our house!!! :) By the time thanksgiving rolls around, these and the gourds will be put into hurricane vases for centerpieces but for now, we're letting it all hang out!

WELCOME!

Remember this post?

Well, It's time for the ugly blue vase to go. We found an inside rug that matches our tastes perfectly, and a small side-table for 6.99 at Goodwill that Chelle is in the process of sanding with our new electric palm-sander! During that same Goodwill visit, Chelle found a unique Ikea vase for 2.00 and will be re-creating it with some inspiration found on pinterest! Check back for the finished products on both the side-table and the vase re-do!

Happy Halloween!

Usually Halloween is one of the greatest times of year! Halloween day is Chelle's favorite holiday, Herky's birthday, the day Kevin proposed...but this year, with 6 months until the wedding and planning in full swing, we just didnt get around to doing the "dress-up" thing. Next year...

However, this was our first year of "trick-or-treat'ers" and it was SO much fun! Every time there was a knock at the door (which was pretty frequently), we would take turns handing out candy. Towards the end of the night, we had a special visitor that earned our "favorite trick-or-treater of the night" award:

If you dont recognize that cute little dragon, its our nephew, Jaxen!! His mommy brought him over for a special visit and we're so glad we got to share his first "trick-or-treat" with him!

Even Herky joined in by wearing a new "mummy-fied" t-shirt that said "I love my Mummy". RIDICULOUS!!! :)

Chelle also had a chance to dress up after all for her 2nd job that Monday:

**apologies for the grainy picture, it was DARK in there!

A metaphor for continued growth

When I started my new work journey at my new building, my team-mates and I were given a small african violet plant as a "welcome home" gift. In 4 short months, it has more than doubled its size in the little pot it was given in. Thanks to a co-worker who just happened to have the SAME pot as we purchased for our first houseplant-only in a smaller size and different color-it now has a new home!

Now if I could just remember to bring it back to work! I love that what it symbolizes. Growth.

More Thrifting finds!

Found the perfect "rustic" wall accent while thrifting a few weekends ago. We initially planned to repaint part of it, but after hanging it, we've decided it's perfect just the way it is! We found the perfect wall, too! In a heavily traffic'ed area of our home, what better reminder than this of the one thing we're most thankful for this November (and all year 'round!): Our faith and relationship with God!