Halloween Elf Part 2

So, my friend Kim (who STILL doesn't have a blog!) sent me the most wonderful box of goodies!!!

I wish I was more patient because I would show you the wonderful way she packaged each and every treat.  And look at these handmade cards and tags!!!!

And she even included some fun creepy goodies for Noodlebug:

Getting unexpected treats in the mail is just one of the most wonderful things. Thank you, Kim, for bringing such happiness into my day and into my house!!!

Halloween Elf

Here is a sneak peek at Noodlebug's costume.  His little friend is hugging him in excitement as they look at a real live baby calf!  They have been buddies since they were little bitty and now Noodlebug is 17 months old and Girlfriend is almost 2. It's hard to get a photo of Noodlebug's costume since he is always on the go now!

Last night we carved a pumpkin and then went to see a great Halloween light display. Tonight, I am going to watch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" with Noodlebug and I can't wait!  (especially since he is going as Charlie Brown for Halloween) 

The best part of yesterday?  A Halloween Elf sent me a fantastic box of goodies!  I will take photos tonight and post more about it tomorrow.  I'm a lucky lady!

Thanksgiving Placemat Tutorial

Another great tutorial!!!  Wish I had time to sit down and make these. They remind me of all of the Thanksgiving hand turkeys I made over the years as a child.  Find this Raw Edge Applique Tutorial for making a set of special Thanksgiving placemats at Dark Horse Farm Designs.

(photo borrowed from and owned by Dark Horse Farm Designs)

Weekend Update

Friends---


It was a difficult weekend. My family stood in line for three hours to get the H1N1 shot on Saturday. We are all vaccinated now but it was a long and difficult morning. There is a lot of stress and strife in my family right now that we are trying to work through. I'm desperately fighting off depression and trying to focus on all the good things around me like the beautiful fall weather and the fact that we are entering the holiday season which I always look forward to.

I felt really low on Saturday so after Noodlebug went to bed, I went by myself to see WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. To be honest, I can't tell if you if I like it or not. It is definitely NOT a children's movie. It is much more a movie about what it is like to be a child.  Yesterday, I went into the garage and found the missing box of Halloween decorations. It was filled with lovely things from former swap partners as well as some Etsy finds. I smiled as I hung my CariKraft Halloween decorations and set out my CariKraft caged fairy on the piano.  And then there was my Jennifer Conway beeswax crow with the witch hat.  So many delightful things that lifted my spirits.

We are now moving into my favorite time of year and I want to be happy and make this time magical and fun for my little one. I'm trying to make this happen.  If I am sporadic in my posting over the next few days, please know that I am reading and will be posting reviews soon. And I'm reading all of your blogs and comments!!!!

Pumpkin Head Tutorial

I found this wonderful tutorial through the Joli Paquet blog.  This tutorial is by the Vintage Dresser and it is fantastic!  Aren't these pumpkin heads just adorable?!

Find it here.

(photo owned by and borrowed from the Vintage Dresser)

Great Tutorial from LITTLE BIT FUNKY

Just found this great tutorial from one of my very favorite blogs, Little Bit Funky. It is about how to make reverse appliques on shirts.  I'm thinking these could be quick and easy Christmas gifts.  This lady comes up with the cutest stuff! I just ordered some of her messy fabric flower pins to give my local girlfriends for Christmas. (hope they aren't looking at my blog!)

(photo borrowed from and owned by Little Bit Funky)

Weekend Update

Well, Noodlebug and I are fighting off illness again. Probably because we stuff our weekends as full as we can get them!  On Saturday, we took advantage of the lovely weather and hosted a garage sale. Didn't make a lot of money but we have fewer THINGS which is a good thing.  After that, Noodlebug and I took Grandma to a local pumpkin patch. Those pumpkins were expensive!!!  Our porch looks a lot more festive, though.  On Sunday, we went to church where we heard the New Life Band from Tanzania. So wonderful! Makes me wish we had African music EVERY Sunday! Then, it was Noodlebug's Jesus n' Me Playgroup.  Everytime the group applauds after a song, he is convinced they are applauding for him.  After that, I put him in his Charlie Brown Halloween costume for a local Mother's club festival.  At that point, he had had enough. During the costume contest, he lay down on the stage and kicked his feet. I picked up him and Snoopy and carried them off the stage. Not sure I got any good photos out of THAT fiasco. A good long nap was in order and I think that helped everyone. Now, it is a rainy day and I am fighting sleep at work. I have a few projects in the works to share with you so keep checking in!!!

Pumpkin Patch

I had four blissful days with Noodlebug this weekend. We went to one of our local pumpkin patches so he could pick out a pumpkin. He ended up with three mini-pumpkins and carried one around all day on Saturday. It is hard to believe that last year at this time he was just beginning to sit up.  At Thanksgiving last year, he began eating solid foods. Between Christmas and New Year's, he started crawling.  So many milestones over the last holiday season. And now he is so big!!!  He'll be 17 months old on the 18th. Sigh.

I'm still working on getting Halloween decorations up but I should have some photos to share with you soon. Right now, I'm off to work where I will sit in office with the rain beating against my window.

Just Because

I'm off with Mr. Big.

Feel free to check out my current post and book reviews in my personal blog until I get back.

Be back soon!!!

Etsy Find of the Day and the Weekend

My talented friend Ellen has added some new fun items to her Etsy shop. Although Ellen closed up her popular blog, THE REIGN OF ELLEN, awhile back, she continues to charm with her whimsical creations on Etsy.  I bought this sheep for Noodlebug's room. 

And this just really tickles my funny bone....

We had a nice weekend although it always seems so short! Every week, we get a box of produce from a local farm here in town called the Bounty Farm. This farm not only grows local, organic, sustainable fruits, vegetables and flowers but also provides these items at cost to low-income families in the area. Since my family doesn't need this program, we pay a higher fee for our produce in order to support the farm's charitable mission. Bounty Farm threw a party on Friday evening as a thank-you to the community. There was local food, a free produce stand, face painting, music by the wonderful Green String Farm Band and tractor rides. We had a terrific time! Truly a Fall evening full of fun.


I dearly love TOY STORY and I have been plotting to take Noodlebug to see it ever since I heard it was being re-released in 3D. I thought it would be the perfect first movie. I knew it was ambitious to try and take a 16-month-old to a 3D movie. Or any movie for that matter. I was fully prepared to have to leave after 15 minutes. Well, my sweet little Noodlebug sat in my lap for the entire film. Quiet as a mouse with those giant 3D glasses perched precariously on his little nose. I thought he might be asleep but he would occasionally point at something on the movie screen. I couldn't believe how good he was! It was fantastic!!! We didn't stay for the double-feature but we sure enjoyed TOY STORY. What a fun time!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...Halloween!!!

Well, I finally finished something! I bought one of Beth's corsage kits and here is the finished product:

I used to love seeing the ladies in my grandparents' church wear big gaudy corsages on special holidays. I'm going to see if I can bring back the tradition at my church!

And this is the fun little wand I bought at Halloween and Vine:

I am home from work today with my sick little Noodlebug but he is on the mend.  I have to say I'm not misisng work.  Noodlebug and I are getting lots of things done.  I fold laundry and then he jumps in the laundry basket and pitches everything out again. I love it.

Now, I will have to go to the garage and start pulling out all of our Halloween decorations. I can hardly wait!!!