Fall Prints

Here are some fun Halloween and Thanksgiving prints! Just download, print, frame and tada! Art :) 

Itch to Craft

There is just way too much cuteness out in the world, for this blossoming Susie Homemaker to handle. I have been having visions of candy corn wreaths, flowery pins, thanksgiving garland, button bouquets, felt pumpkins and halloween luminaries dancing in my head for days now. Here are some cuties with links that provide tutorials! Happy Crafting!

1. Candy Corn Wreath
2. Button Bouquet
3. Pumpkin Felt Statue
4. Halloween Luminaries
5. Burlap & Fabric Wreath
6. Fabric Flower Pin
7. Thanksgiving Garland
8. Candy Corn Nail Polish

My Heaven

My heaven is made of pumpkins, gourds, squash, hay bales, alpacas, autumn leaves, campfires, hay rides, weenie roasts and pumpkin fudge. God would be there of course, but I'll take all the above instead of streets of gold and mansions.


I got a glimpse of my heaven when I went to the pumpkin patch with the fam two weeks ago. We went to the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, IL, and it was fa-boo-lous! My dear mother got a suburban van so we could all ride together because we can't spend a second a part (and hey, it was her bday so she gets to do what she wants). Hubs came along and he was a good, no GREAT sport. I think he liked it a lot actually.



When we got there, I was overwhelmed with all the pumpkins, gourds, mums, daisies, and smells of pumpkin deliciousness. Bluegrass music was playing over speakers and I thought I was going to die right there. Then, I walked over to a sea of orange pumpkins. "Is this real life?" I thought to myself. This pumpkin patch was no ordinary pumpkin patch. It was a Martha Stewart dreamland. Even my nephew was overwhelmed with delight. We couldn't focus, there was just so much autumnal joy to be had, and we wanted to dive in and soak it all up.

The Hubs and my niece were more go with the flow types, and were not as amused by all that was Autumn like me and Buddy. But I was in heaven, and I can honestly say Best. October. EVER!

The Hubs is not so excited about being the Pumpkin King :)

"Look Hubs! A Hubba Bubba pumpkin!"

Not only did the pumpkin patch make my month, but Mizzou beat Oklahoma for the first time in 30 years! And me, the Hubs and his family were there to experience it.

Just 3 more days of October! Can't wait to see what Halloween brings!

13 Days of Halloween Calendar

Ooh If only I had known about this sooner! I love this cute little 13 day Halloween Calendar created by Kristen from Domestifluff. Totally doing this next year. Get excited for some crafting, Hubs :)

To a T

Oh dear, this describes me and the Hubs to a T! TO A T! Except I would have big, curly hair. Wouldn't change a thing about the Hub though. He's all kinds of clumsy and doofy. It's part of his charm.

Oatmeal Kisses and Chats with God

Early, early morning for me and the Hubs today! Hubs is on morning rotation this week and is waking up at 4:50 a.m., which of course means I wake up at 4:50 a.m. I fall back asleep for about 40 minutes and then I am greeted by the smell of maple syrup. No, the Hubs didn't make me breakfast in bed. I got a maple brown sugar oatmeal kiss good morning. My favorite!

After the Hubs was out the door, I decided to get my post-bride flabby booty up and at 'em for an early run...5:40 a.m. to be exact.

I put on my comfy sweat pants, mint green under armor turtleneck and shoes, and head out the door. Goooooood grief its cold! My feet kick up in hopes to warm myself up. No such luck. Guess I'll turn my thoughts elsewhere. Why Hello God!

God and I always have some good morning convos. It's like chatting it up with your best friend over a cup of coffee and a pumpkin cream cheese muffin...mmm pumpkin cream cheese muffin. Today's thoughts though were a bit heavy. I've been having a little bit of anxiety lately over the government, politics, terrorism, etc. Debates between my father and the Hubs, political commercials and morning shows like Good Morning America, CNN and the Colbert Report have been a little terrifying lately using words such as corrupt, down fall, deficit, terrorism, etc. really are not the kinds of scary stories I want to be hearing near Halloween, but that seems to be all I hear lately.

As I was running and took a big healthy gulp of prayer, I asked God to calm my fears and help me to trust in Him. My anxiety and worry will not bring world peace so lets just give it all to the Big Guy who's in control up there. As I ran harder in prayer, my thoughts turned to praises about my niece and nephew. Thanks for the distraction, God, and what better distractions than two adorable and delicious Chimichangas. Gosh, they melt my heart.

Once I got home and turned on the tube, inevitably, more negative talk was on TV. "Just keep praying," I thought. Then later on, as I read my Bible study book over lunch break, I read the words, "Let God be God, and remember that we are only man and we're not in charge of the universe. When we learn this, the stress of life will not undo us, overwhelm or overpower us. We'll live in the practical knowledge that God is in control, and in His grace and strength we can control our responses to every disappointment and stress." Then, this verse popped in my head: "The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in His unfailing love." ~ Psalm 147:11. So I thought that was a pretty clear sign that I need to stop my worrying and just keep praying. And that is exactly what I'm gonna do.

p.s. Did you know they make Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses? AND Candy Corn Hershey Kisses! I need to find these asap!

The Great Pumpkin, Hubs!

Oh yes, I have managed to get the Hubs to come home to the "Shire" with me to spend some good ol' quality time with the family at an Amish Pumpkin Farm. I'm especially excited to spend some time with these cutie-pa-tooties! And if thats not exciting enough, the whole fam is riding in a suburban van to go to the Patch. Should be...{gulp}...interesting.

Window Shop till I drop

I have gotten really good at window shopping. I love visiting websites and stores, and just daydreaming about how good I'd look in such and such. Since I'm broke and not laughing about it, I thought I'd share some of my window shopping faves. If only I had a million dollars...{Sigh}

1. Lulus
2. Anthropologie
3. Macys
4. Modcloth
5. Forever21
6. Old Navy
7. Gap
8. Old Navy
9. Forever21
10. Forever21
11. Target
12. Forever21
13. Gap

Ugly to Cute

No I'm not talking about my transformation that took place after I graduated high school (Yes, mom. No matter how much you try to convince yourself that I was cute from the age of 8 to a senior in high school with glasses, braces, bushy eye brows and frizzy hair, it's just not true. Thanks for thinking so, though).

What I'm talking about is cheap, ugly candle jars from the Dollar Store!

My mom bought me three candles that had an ugly sticker on the front of each jar. I realized the ugly sticker was preventing me from displaying the lovely scented candles, so I decided to decorate them, and voila! Artsy candle :)

Supplies needed:
Ugly candle jar
Scrapbook paper
Ribbon
Stickers
Tape (I used a hot glue gun)
Scissors

As promised...

Here are some photos of my recent projects :)

Pumpkin Topiary

Decorated Front Porch (please notice my "Halloween Fern")

Fall Blooms

Indian Summer

This weekend was GORGEOUS! The leaves started changing this weekend, and I'm proud to say I wasn't too far off from my prediction! A week off isn't bad! I was telling the Hubs how this was a beautiful Indian Summer weekend, and he had no clue what I was talking about. For you other non-country folk who don't know what I'm talking about, click here and get the deets.

Anyways, it was a beautiful fall weekend, and what better way to celebrate than with baking lots and lots of pumpkin deliciousness. I held true to my word and made pumpkin butter, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, and pumpkin crepes...I kinda sound like Bubba Gump Shrimp, or should I say Bubba Pump-Kin...laying on the cheese thick this Monday afternoon :)

Pumpkin Butter

Pumpkin Crepes topped with Pumpkin Butter

A bit much

Ok, I like tights and stockings as much as the next person. In fact, I'm rockin' a pair of gold tights right now. And ya know I LOVE pumpkins. But tights and pumpkins together?? I just don't know about that...

For the love of Pumpkin!

“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.” ~ Jim Davis

Man, oh man, I love pumpkins. Like in an unhealthy sort of way. The Hubs will concur. Our front porch, which I must take a pic of and post, is decked out in at least 15 pumpkins, my fern has orange Christmas lights strung around it, and fake cobwebs and glittery spiders adorn our door. Once you enter into the house, I've got hurricanes filled with candy corn and a candle in the center, pumpkin scented candles, and then...there's my creepy pumpkin statues...

I LOVE CREEPY PUMPKIN STATUES! It's true. If I had money, I'd buy this one from etsy.

And this one...

In my last post, I mentioned that I'm cooking a lot of pumpkiny nom nom stuff. Tonight, I'm making pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins. Then on the weekend, I'm making a pumpkin latte, pumpkin butter, pumpkin crepes and miniature pumpkin pies! I know this seems like a WHOLE LOTTA pumpkin, but I blame it on my mother. She bought me like 8 cans of pumpkin and I have to do something with them, right!?

p.s. I also like Jack Handy quotes and there's nothing greater than pumpkins AND Jack Handy quotes - “If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them.”

Happy Heart

"Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls." ~ Mother Teresa

Craziness in the Calamity J household! I am working a full-time job and doing 2 Bible studies this fall - a women's study and a marriage study with the Hubs - and the Hubs has entered the Peds rotation in Med School = no life for the Hubs. I have been busy working during the day, making delicious dinners at night- this week I made Butternut Squash and Sage soup, Pork Carnitas, and White Bean and Turkey Chili, baking anything I can with pumpkin, decorating the house with candy corn and cobwebs, building new and old friendships, and finding time for the Hubs and I to enjoy the married life. Busy, busy, busy. But I wouldn't have it any other way! So much joy in life to be had right now, and I love it.

God's really been speaking to my heart lately. In my women's study, we are reading "As Silver Refined," which deals with trials and disappointments and how God uses those trials to develop us, mature us, and bring us out of the experience as a stronger, God-centered individual. It also deals with how to handle these trials spiritually rather than emotionally! And what woman couldn't use some help with that! I've been learning a lot about forgiveness, God's grace and His deep, unchanging love for us. This study and group of women have been good for me because I'm learning that God is really working in my heart right now, and that there is always hope!

In my marriage class, we've only attended 1 so far, but the teaching was sort of similar to my women's study. When we react emotionally rather than act spiritually, we tend to blame our emotions and reactions on external things, but the true issue is with the heart. You can't just change a negative behavior, but instead must ask God to change your heart. I struggle with selfishness, and have a deep desire to be more of a servant. It's been my heart's prayer for awhile now. In the past, I've just tried to change my behaviors, but I'm learning that those changes are only a quick fix, and a few weeks later I'm back to my old habits! I must ask God for a change in my heart, get closer to Him by reading the Bible, and keep praying.

As I get closer to God, seek Him, and learn to have the heart of a servant, I find more joy, more love, more peace in life. And I can joyfully say, "My cup runneth over."

Happy Wednesday!

Wine and Sunsets

There is nothing I love more than wine, family, Saturdays and sunsets.

Why God, Why!?

I've always thought that God gets a kick out of my life. The craziest sh*z has been happening to me for as long as I can remember - cats in mailboxes, getting stuck upside down on the playground rings for what seemed like hours, telling my teacher to pray for my cousin to overcome AIDS, to name a few. One of my "gifts" that He has given me is the gift of laughter. I love laughing. It's my favorite. I not only love to laugh, but I make others laugh at my own expense.

Last night, I decided it was time to come clean...figuratively AND literally. Its not like this is the first time this has happened. Ask the Hubs. He'll tell you the truth. Yes, I have the bladder of an 80-year-old woman. (Sorry Grandma). I've never peed the bed (THANK GOD...although I just might have given Him another idea to laugh at me), but whenever I go for a hike or am far from the bathroom, Dear Baby Jesus decides its time to activate my bladder and before you know it, I'm sweating, panicking, and peeing myself. Not alot of pee. People would probably never even know about it. But I know, and He knows. And I know He's laughing up there.

So last night, I went for walk with a bestie, and for some reason, I thought I should drink 4 glasses of Kool-Aid before our hour-long walk. Oh golly. I just got a visual of myself. I'm that little kid that drinks Kool-Aid with the Kool-Aid stache that wets herself. Not cool. Anyway, I was not even 5 minutes into the walk when it felt like an elephant was sitting on my bladder. Oh.Dear.Lord. I've got 55 more minutes of walking. Sorry, bestie. We need to walk fast. So we did. And I started walking with a twist. Then I started dancing a bit. And then, it happened. If you ask the Hubs. He would tell you that this was a daily event when we were in Ireland. seriously.

Anyway, why post this you ask? Because come on. It's ridiculous, and life is funny. But also, I'm hoping I'm not alone in the pants wetting department. And if I AM the only 26 (almost 27) year old that does this, well then, I'm not really surprised. Like I said. God likes to laugh at me. And I guess thats ok. As long as its just pee.