I ate, i saw, i won stuff

Well hello there.  Did you all enjoy your Thanksgivings?  And by Thanksgivings, i'm referring to anything from Wednesday afternoon, when my office closed early, straight through to your return to work on this Monday morning.  Because it feels like we had a lengthy holiday break, and it was particularly wonderful and exciting and downright gluttonous.  I dare say this may have been the best Thanksgiving weekend ever.

I.........

Ate: "Did You Say Bacon? Sundae"
 

Saw: Comedian Paula Poundstone


Ate: Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Pancakes


Saw: War Horse


Won:  Filtrete Water Purifying System from I Love Rehabs

Won: Lighting Gift Certificate from We Don't Have It All


We also started building the bar in the basement, bathed the cats (which was so hilarious it added to my wonderfulness weekend) had 2 family dinners, got 4 free pumpkins for seeds, and created a tablescape i'll be sharing later in the week.  I hope your weekend and holidays were just as wonderful!  

Anybody brave Black Friday?  How bout Cyber Monday?  Saw some good camera deals...Santa...Chanukah Harry...Fairy Godmother??

Being a pessimist costs me money

Seriously.  I'm so afraid of something selling out, that i buy way more than i need (ahem, a certain amount of green spraypaints, anyone).  So when i saw Kate's fabulous mantle with the gold marbled paper, i feared every blogger and their mother and their mother's dog would buy up all the marbled papers for themselves. So i bought 2 that might work in my dining room...plus one more that might work in my hall bathroom.  Did i need to spend another 25 bucks on something?  No, not really.  But could only 25 bucks make a fun bold patterny statement in sort of plain areas?  Yes.  Did i have an exact space in mind for such large (24x36) pieces?  Not exactly. 

image from Hollanders

Last night i stood in my dining room and contemplated where these large sheets of marbled paper could go....and it would involve rearranging what i already have.  Now that might not seem like a big deal, but i've got a mini gallery wall on both sides of the window and a boyfriend who detests change, especially change that would result in revealing holes in the walls or making any more holes.  I didn't realize i was expected to never evolve or change my wall decor.  Yeesh!


please ignore the exercise ball i got for free...it sort of blends into the background, right?

I also think not every wall needs to be covered, they need a bit of breathing room...so i'm really at a loss here.

Do i take down the sconces (which were free and were put up in the very beginning of our homeowning for something to have in here) and move the gallery wall on either side of the mirror?   This side needs something, and the gallery wall would create movement as opposed to another big frame.  And speaking of frames, do you think i have to keep with the black? Or do silver? Maybe when i redo the gallery wall i can have silver or white frames mixed in?


So that frees up the space around the window, and i could put the marbled papers there. 

Oooooorrrrr....do i put the marble paper on the only open walls, therefore sucking out the breathing room from this space? 

What's your latest "i have to get it or i'll be out of luck" buy?  Was it planned (spraypaint) or impulse (paper)?  Online or in store?  (The words "limited quantity" get my heart a-pounding!)

Find me here: debbie doos, krafty kat, mod mix monday, Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, my romantic home, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together

Happy Halloween and Annual Pumpkin Carve

OMG, it's Halloween.  Sort of doesn't feel like Halloween since i had to put away all my outdoor decorations so Sandy didn't destroy them.  There's also a sense of "is Halloween still on?" that everyone's feeling.  Down the shore, where we vacation every summer and have family with property, it's clearly cancelled.  And it's extremely sad and disheartening, the damage shown, but luckily we all fared ok.  Thank goodness.

Before the storm hit, we were able to enjoy our favorite of Halloween traditions, the Great Pumpkin Carve in Chadds Ford.  This year we had a new plan of attack and that plan was geared to avoid car traffic and people traffic.  Granted, the ambiance was lacking a little bit since it was just 5pm and not yet dark, but my nerves were much less frazzled, and S's nerves were much less annoyed by my usual repetitive mutterings about waiting in line when there shouldn't be a line.  (How can there be a line to look at pumpkins?  How can you say how long i need to stand in front of the same one?  I should be able to walk past the ones i'm not enthralled with, and go up and inspect the ones i am!  You don't attend a health fair or a craft show and stand in line!  You approach the tables you're interested in!  This is the same thing!)  Ahem.  I just had to get that off my chest, b/c i get super riled up thinking about it.

We both felt there were less pumpkins than in previous years, but it was still fun, the entrance fee goes to a good cause, and some of the creations were truly unique.  See for yourself!

Let's kick it off with the year so we can document it. This was a littler pumpkin lining the walkway, not one of the ones entered in the contest.  It's hard to tell i guess, but the other pumpkins are those huge ones, and are all locally grown.

Here's how they're all set up, so you can see how big they are, and you can see what i mean about standing in line (grr).

Haven't seen Despicable Me, but i was impressed with the shading and cut outs.

This shell won for Best Use of Pumpkin, and was truly an original idea.

This octopus was actually both of our favorites, and if we had been there on audience voting night, it would have gotten both our tickets.

Isn't this teapot cute?  Never seen that before.

An honorable mention, nevermore.

This felt very Twilight to me, the werewolfy one.

Most original?  Not so sure about that...what to do you think?

The details on the knuckles are crazy good.

Liked the use of pumpkin in this creepy cat.

Loved that the spider is carved out of leftover pumpkin, and S noticed there's a little bee in the web.  (Good. That's where all bees should be.)

Just thought this one was cute.  We all go gaga over pumpkin flavored drinks, and wish they came in a mug that size.

This won Carvers Choice, which is voted by the other carvers....

 

....as opposed to Best Carving which is chosen by the judges.  I don't even know what this is.  I see a Cowboy, but then i see a cowboy boot with spurs...wait, is it a witch?  Is it a witch wearing mittens? I also see Louisiana...or is there secret flame lettering?  Maybe you can't go by me.







Did you have a favorite? Check out the carvings from Octobers past.  And once again, Happy Halloween!

Find me here: before and after party @ thrifty decor chick, you're gonna love it @ kathe with an e, diy showoff, debbie doos, krafty kat, Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple,  Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed life, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, my romantic home, , frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, shaken together.

The Quotable Kitchen

My sweet coworker friend told me she'd bake me anything i want for my birthday.  Girl loves to cook, and girl's got mad baking skills.  Girl also writes a cooking blog called The Quotable Kitchen, where she taunts me with things i can't make and i get extremely jealous over her boyfriend's blog design genius.  Whatever.  At least this template can support bigger pictures without cutting them off.  I can live with this.

So for my birthday treat, since it's fall, and i looooove the fall, i think i'll need to indulge in something pumpkin.  After checking my pinterest board, it seems there's an inordinate amount of bacon, cheese, and bacon and cheese baked in bread...so i had to look a little harder for something pumpkin.  But i'm taking this mission very seriously.

This was the first choice-it's the salted caramel-ness that screams "make me" but she just made some delicious pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting, and this might be too similar.  Next year, salted caramel, next year.

Source: hitherecupcake.blogspot.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

Pumpkin. Spice. Macaroons. 

Source: bhg.com via Debbie on Pinterest

or, you know....these salted caramel ones won't be turned away.

Source: alimentageuse.com via Jessica on Pinterest

How 'bout this?  It's isn't pumpkin, but it's definitely fall.

Source: thegreatcakecompany.blogspot.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

Yep, caramel apple and cheesecake?  Cheese for the win!

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Rebecca on Pinterest

Do you have a fave fall dessert?  Which would you pick for your birthday treat?  Go say hi to Chef Kel, and see which one she chose to make!

Wrapped around my fingers

Just saw this on yahoo, and thought it was too interesting not to share.  The artist known as Il Dito, or Dito Von Tease (not to be confused with retro goth gal Dita Von Teese) creates these finger portraits with a little digital assistance.  Here are some of my favorites, but check out the whole article here.



i pity the fool who don't like my finger!



i wanna finger paint all ni-igh-ight!



Some chianti, fava beans, and f-f-f-fingers, Clarice.



Now, is that Steve Jobs, or Ashton Kutcher's finger playing Steve Jobs.

Aren't those amusing?  Check out the others, and let me know which one you like best. 

Holla' at the Dolla'-Fall Style

Last year i missed out on the super non dolla' store looking ceramic pumpkins, and this year i was determined to not let that happen.  Even if it meant buying the pumpkins while it was still 100 degrees out.  Because like i've been known to say, "It's always Fall and Halloween in my heart."  Seriously.  I say that.  Isn't that the corniest thing?  And i don't work for Hallmark.

Although wouldn't that be fun?

Restraint is not my strong suit, ok?  I bought a few pumpkins, figuring i'd just add them in around the house, on shelves, etc, but then these images inspired a new (to me, anyway) way of thinking.

Martha Stewart 

 

Country Living

Hey, i've got candlesticks from thrifting past, and now i've got a plethora of pumpkins.  Let's do this!

Can i just tell you how much i love this nubby one?  It's spot on for a real pumpkin, no?

Although i liked the table runner valances, this space needed more red. 

Originally i looked for patterned curtains, b/c this is the least patternish room in my house, but i had no luck finding them.  Then i looked for a red patterned table runner, again, no such luck. 

But i did find this set of fun placemats that i turned into a tablerunner.

And of course, this happened....

And then this...because clearly there's no where else to play except on the table, my mirror, and my new lighting for the guest room.

I just hope they don't look at the pumpkins balancing ever so precisely as another thing to play with!  Let's look at pretty again....

Now hopefully it stays that way!

Find me here: debbie doos, krafty kat, thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, mod mix monday, Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed life, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, my romantic home, Addicts Anonymous @ A2D, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, furniture fri @ miss mustard seed, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming.

The basement that shall not be named

So....this is happening.  Like, actually happening.  After years of me saying we're so super close to being done...we're actually so super close to being done. 

 

Why yes, that is a kegerator (and yes, i had to look up how to spell that), and the TV will be recessed into that space above the gas fireplace.

 

Tag teaming the baseboard, all made by S's brother in his shop.  The picture's a little blurry-i'm rolling with my right hand, and trying to take the picture with my left (the wrong hand) and S didn't get the memo to stop moving for a moment!

We're calling the look retro modern drive in inspired, and we are LOVING the reflection of the tiles in the cabinet doors.  However, the bar will be going in front of the doors  (see the hole for the sink hookup?) so we have to figure out a way to make the bar front reflective.  We're thinking painting it the same bold color as the fireplace, but then plexiglass or glass on top to reflect the tiles.  Those doors are Ikea--they were a "last chance" deal so when we finally installed them and saw their kick assery, it was too late to order more to build into the bar.  The cabinets were made by S and his brother in law, and will be topped with black granite like the bar top will be.

Just wanted to show you the skills that had to go into laying this tile, and the extra measures that we took to make them level. Those little yellow things are used to hold the tiles down where it's needed, b/c the flooring in the basement is super wonky.  After some black grout, it will look amazing!

Now i know "retro modern drive in inspired" is not everyone's look, and in fact, most people rip up this black and white flooring in favor of something else, but what can i say?  We can still appreciate the look of something even if it isn't exactly what we'd want for ourselves, right?    I don't like shabby chic/french inspired/country/tuscan for myself, but i appreciate the time someone spends perfecting their home to reflect their style.

And i promise (like i've been promising) to go waaaay back with the basement and where it started, but now that it's coming together, i'm just too excited to hold back. 

What's exciting you guys these days? 

 

here i am-before and after party, Met Monday,Craftomaniac, Anything Goes, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, lil luna, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, 52 mantels, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed life, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, Addicts Anonymous @ A2D, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, furniture fri @ miss mustard seed, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, powere of paint., remodelaholic,