it is october

It's finally October which means that Halloween celebrations can commence.  I have always love Halloween but I have a feeling it is going to be a million times more fun with kids.  I have already had the time of my life making their costumes.  On a completely unrelated note, can I just say how much I love Texas?  My neighbor just came outside in his usual shorts, no shirt and suspenders and a machete in his hand.  Yes, a machete.  Most people use pruners to prune their tree, not this Texan.  Anyway, back to the subject at hand, Halloween.

I plan on using the witch and the skull and crossbones from this Martha printable for a Halloween freezer stencil project for my babies.  

 I made a similar wreath for the Fourth of July, I love it so much I want a Halloween and Valentines version.

If I had a mantle I would certainly be making these candlestick holders.  Amazing.

via martha stewart, pretty ditty, ms pinterest

pinterest: tried and true

You know how every Pinterest post says that it is the most amazing recipe ever?  Some are good, some not so much.  Here is one that is true.  Chicken Enchiladas with Avocado Cream Sauce.

These were delicious, probably somewhat nutritious and as an added bonus they weren't terribly difficult.  It made enough for one 11x7 baking dish and one 9x9 which I froze and saved for later.  Try them, you won't regret it.

emmy styles

There were a lot of unflattering dresses at the Emmy's this year.  Here are my favorites from the Emmy's.  Who was your favorite?

 Jessica Pare

 Kelly Osbourne

Hayden Panettiere

 Julie Bowen

 Cat Deeley

 Ginnifer Goodwin

 Emily VanCamp

 Allison Williams

 Kate Mara

Sarah Paulson

needing navy

 I have been thinking about painting my TV console navy for a while.  When I saw this buffet makeover on Pencil Shavings I was sold.  Maybe this weekend my TV console will get the makeover it needs.

Beautiful, right?  And while we are on the subject of Pencil Shavings, lets talk about their new fall line of iPhone cases (which are apparently being picked up by Nordstroms).

This beauty has already made its way onto my Christmas/birthday wish list.

all photos via Pencil Shavings Studio

Happy 4th of July!

Happy birthday America! We are celebrating tonight by going downtown to listen to the symphony play the 1812 overture and then fireworks over the lake. I had an outfit all ready for Edith but I wanted something for Whitman. I found some printables created by Amanda Jane Jones, printed one out and created a freezer stencil. I love the end result and I think it will be perfect as Olympic wear too!

re-surfacing, maybe.

Life with twins has allowed very little time for internet browsing and/or blog posting.  What little time I have spent online has resulted in finding this skirt, which I am lusting after.  Now if it will only go on sale and if my stomach will only shrink some more...

easy meals

Apparently blogger has changed the posting format since the last time I posted, hopefully this all goes as planned.  I am almost done with pregnancy (hallelujah) and as I have gotten further along and lazier the crock pot and sandwiches have become dinner regulars.  Here are some of my recently discovered pinterest favorites.

 Prosciutto, mozzarella and tomato sandwich.  This one was just a picture so I used it as inspiration.  A baguette, prosciutto slices, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  

 Hawaiian haystacks, the crock pot version.  I'll be honest this was a little more work than I generally like to put into crock pot meals, but it was good and I swear it still took less time then my other haystack recipe.

Hawaiian meatballs.  This was very good as well, with the exception of using frozen meatballs.  Next time I do this I will either buy better frozen meatballs or make my own.

I am noticing a strong Hawaiian theme...

dria

I saw the DRIA nursing cover on pinterest the other day. I am very intrigued by it. I know many people prefer the covers with the boning in front but I wonder if having two children to nurse having the added coverage will be preferable?

nursery

I am now in the last few weeks of pregnancy. I am still trying to figure out where to hang things on the wall and need to organize bookshelves and closets. Other than that the nursery is done, hallelujah!

favorites from the AMC's

Jennifer Nettles

and Cherill Green (the one in the purple dress)

Orange vinegar- a test

I saw a tutorial of sorts on pinterest on orange infused vinegar for cleaning. I was intrigued enough to give it a try.

I started out using a large Mason jar but shortly after transferred everything to a gallon jug. You put orange peels in with the vinegar for 1-2 weeks before straining out the orange. You then put 1/2 vinegar with 1/2 water in a spray bottle for cleaning. You can use the cleaning solution in the kitchen, bathrooms, etc.

Apparently the orange peels have an oil in them that aids in cleaning and helps with the strong smell of vinegar, if you want more orange scent you can add a couple drops of orange essential oil.

This is the first time I have tried using "greener" methods for cleaning and I have been quite impressed. The vinegar solution worked much better than windex on the hard water spots on the shower door and equally as well on mirrors. In the kitchen I have had equal success. The only difference I have really seen is when I tried to clean grease off my oven, it worked ok.

Overall, I am impressed. It is much cheaper and you don't get the nasty fumes. You do, however, have to eat a large amount of oranges in a short time, but who's complaining about that?

A preview

I made mobiles for the twins room this week, and I love them. I started trying the artsy way and that didn't last long, they looked awful. The easier option was fast and easy- and I love them. I will take a better picture when we get the cribs and hang the mobiles over them. Until then, a preview...

easy crusty bread

On Sunday afternoons/evenings we usually drive up to my brother's house for dinner. This week he made homemade gnocchi half with Gorgonzola sauce and half with a delicious tomato sauce. My assignment was crusty bread and salad. I searched pinterest for crusty bread recipes, specifically ones that did not require ownership of a Le Creuset pot, and found this recipe from King Arthur Flour (and although it calls for King Arthur flour I used normal flour and it turned out fine). No kneading required. I was low on time so I took the advice of the recipe sharer and skipped the first rise in favor of putting it in the fridge for 2-3 hours. It turned out very well and it really was easy. I think it is a keeper.

mobiles on my mind

I currently have a deep obsession with felted balls. I used them to make a spring garland (pictures later), I am purchasing a bunch to make mobiles and am considering buying some to use in lieu of dryer sheets. Not to mention the fact that last week I bought some roving wool to learn how to make them myself (it was easy but my hands killed the next day and I quickly determined it was worth it to buy them pre-made). They also make wonderful cat toys, at least my cats think so.

These are my mobile inspirations for the twins room. The second, from Sunshine Design, looks more realistic than the first for my homemade version. The first picture, from Puka Puka, is my favorite and unfortunately out of my price range, I keep trying to figure out how I could make my own. If you have any suggestions on how to make the first please leave them, I would love to try to make a similar mobile.

wool dryer balls

Have you ever heard of using wool felt balls in place of dryer sheets? I am intrigued by the concept. They say you can use the same one for years...

some nursery inspirations

I love these two nurseries/kids rooms. I particularly love the brightly painted dressers.

One thing I noticed (and was also pointed out to me in a conversation about colorful baby rooms) was the use/need for a lot of neutrals. Notice the white curtains and glider...

I bought a dresser for the babies room this week. I have been going back and forth on painting it, partially because it may be an actual antique. Regardless, I have a small cabinet that is going between the cribs that will be painted. Maybe red.

via shannanigans and apartment therapy

valentine project

With Valentine's only 7 days away I decided to get my act together and start decorating. First up is to sew together a heart garland a la Dana Made It.

inspiration pages

I love this version of a smallish kitchen. My sister has a smallish kitchen she wants to re-do someday. I think this a good inspiration photo...

via classical kit

a project

A small photo for a smallish project, appropriate don't you think? This Valentine's cross stitch is what my little sister and I will be working on this week. Cross stitch may seem like an outdated art but I love it. It is my newest hobby. I found the pattern on Modern Folk on Etsy.

Speaking of cross stitch here are some other things related to it I have loved recently. Organizing floss with clothes pins, I tried this one and it works incredibly well. And I love these customizable cross stitch patterns from Martha.

baby literature

A friend sent a link to these 'baby lit' books. Classics summarized into board books, I love it.

time out

This contraption from Wisteria is called a Time Out Timer Stool. I think it is completely awesome...

Find of the day

I found this painting at an antique mart today. It is painted on velvet the seller said she bought in Europe long ago. I am going to put it in the babies room, I think it has a fairy tale aura. Although I haven't decided which fairy tale it reminds me of. Hansel and Gretel perhaps?

for the new year

My sister pointed me in the direction of Clean Mama blog. Cleaning in not my forte, I hate it but this new approach as seen on Clean Mama may work for me. You have four chores you do everyday and you add one extra chore each day. You also choose one thing or area in your house to organize for the week. The everyday chores are sweep, one load of laundry (all the way through), wipe counters and clear clutter. Then the rotational chore changes everyday, for example today was wash the floors and yesterday was vacuum. I am a week in and it is going well so far, my sister has been doing it longer and swears by the clean a little every day method. My question is, can it last? I hope so, because my house has been way cleaner all week.

Nursery

Here is the current state of the nursery. We have barely done anything to it. I think the bookshelf will be moving to a different corner of the room. I am planning to put the cribs on either side of the small white dresser, which my husband will be sad to hear may or may not remain white.

This week we added the glider and moved the antique rocker to our bedroom.

These are the inspirations. A colorful dresser turned changing table (I am thinking red) and two white cribs coming out from the wall. I am going on the search for the dresser this week. Wish me luck.