Front Entry Halloween Decor

I have this long entry table by my front door that I just love to decorate during all seasons/holiday's. I do this table more then I do my fireplace mantle. I think I do that cause I have more people in my front room then I do come all the way into my living room.
I think I need to entertain more?!
I got a bit more creative this year due to the fact that I got a few things on clearance after Halloween last year.
Here's my Decor:

                                              Table runner and ghost at Target

                                                  Wine bottle printable: Joann's

                                           Skull & bird: Dollar store, candle and tree: Target

                                     Orange Candles: Dollar Tree Pumpkin: Target  Bucket: Popcorn Factory

Feel Free to take any Ideas, just give credit where credit is do! Feel free to link up.
Happy Halloween!

xoxo
-N

Picture Frame Re-do

I bought several frames at TJMaxx for no more then $4 a piece, some were $2. Once I got them all I didn't know what to do with them until I start blog hopping of course. The popular thing to do is do a picture frame collage on one wall.
Remember back when I was the Winner of 18 cans of Krylon paint...That's what I'm gonna use!

I have 2 gold frames to start with

                                                                   I turned 1 black

                                                                    and 1 orange

I freakin' love this color! I am so super happy how this turned out! Thank goodness I'm not using the glass they came with because it broke! I have 2 more frames to work with. Pictures of those and the final wall to come soon.

Do any of you have a picture frame collage at home? I'd love to see what you did, post a link in your comments.

xoxo
-N

Have you ever?

{via}

                                                                  
Ever been drunk and tell someone off? They always say, "you say what you mean, when your drunk". Now there is an actual sign about it, up in blog land....it really must be true.

I've had this happen to me, and it sucks! This is a big part of what's happening in my life right now and it seems to be on my mind a lot. I pray about what to do or say to this person very frequently. It just sucks when the person doesn't even feel bad for what they said.
Would if they don't remember even what they said? Doesn't that make it worse? Should you remind them of how horrible they were to you?

If you can't keep your mouth shut when your drunk....don't hang out with someone you have bad thoughts about while drinking! It's simple math people!

Someone always gets hurt.

Thought for the day....Thanks!

xoxo
-N

6 Week Challenge Complete!

I went into the 6 week fitness challenge thinking it just wasn't enough time, to get fit or lose weight. That I need to exercises twice a day several times a week. I was so wrong!

3 weeks into the challenge I still didn't notice much of a difference, no weight loss, Tae Bo sucked. I only have 3 weeks left. That made me sad. I did meet some friends and they are nice.

2 weeks left in the challenge, Tae Bo still not my favorite but man burning 700+ calories was fantastic and I was getting so much better and stronger! Taking only 1 day off a week. I fell in love with anything TRX, Vert or Fitmaxx classes. I knew who were the best instructors to be relaxed, kick butt or ride your ass!

1 week left, so sad it's ending. Tae Bo ripped is one of my favorite classes along with Fitmaxx (boxing), wishing I could do more boxing in the ring, I'm stronger, I'm going to miss all the people I've met, the staff is wonderful.

Last day....So bittersweet. I walked into Tae Bo tired. I haven't had a day off in over a week and I was very sick of waking up at 7am on Fall break! I didn't eat well this week either due to book club, seeing old friends and catching up, so much wine and snacks... so many regrets. Tae Bo was a little rough but I felt good enough afterwards to do a boxing class. I kicked butt in that one!

So all in all my measurements were OK.

            9/20           10/22
Arms:    11                11
Chest:    34                32
Bust       ?                 Loss of 2 inches
Waist     ?                 Loss of 2 inches
Hips       ?                Loss of 2 inches
lower abs ?               Loss of 3 inches
Thighs    ?                 Loss of 2 inches each leg

Total inches lost 13.5" and weight loss of 1 lbs. (had 5lbs at wk 3 but of course didn't eat healthy). The owner made it really hard to see the progress sheet. The line was very long, so asking for a copy would of pissed her off.  That's why I just remember total lost. I also know I didn't win the challenge because my neighbor reported losing 27 inches!

I'm so happy I did the challenge. I feel so much better. I realized a few things about myself as well that I can work on. I do plan on continuing doing Vert and TRX classes at another local gym.
Now onto the next challenge....a race next weekend. I haven't run in 5 weeks!

xoxo
-N

Love to Read?

Do you love to read? I do! Want book for FREE to read? I do and I am!
Are you willing to read books for free and then blog about them when you finish?
Well I have the perfect opportunity for you.

Click the link below to get started or learn more about Blogging for Books.

http://www.BloggingForBooks.org

I have been doing blogging for books for a few months and I love it. I order my book online and it's shipped to my door within a week! I then simply read the book I selected, then write a few small blog posts about the book.
I hope to see you join!

xoxo
-N

Football Cupcakes

I was in charge of the 9:30 am snacks for the last football game of the season. So what comes naturally when you get a trophy but Cupcakes!
I'm the baker who has to make things a theme...So you get football cupcakes on the last day of football.
These will also make a great Superbowl dessert too!

To Make:
Bake cupcakes from cake mix as per the box. I wish I would of made chocolate but I had yellow cake mix on hand.
Vanilla frosting, add green food coloring to your liking
Put icing into pastry bag using icing tip #16 from Wilton
Dot icing n a row until cupcake is full and looks like grass
pipe on yard lines/football laces

These were so good!

xoxo
-N

First Flag Football Season

TC gave up his several season run of soccer to start flag football. We were a bit sad, once TC gets really good at something he gets over it. I do hope he finds something and sticks with it soon and for years. I would love to see my boy get a scholarship to the best college. One close by of course! Yes, I know that's several years away but they grow up way to fast. Plus I'm a planner.

TC started out the season not so good, he stood around watching the other players, he ran slow. You could really tell he didn't know what to do most of the time. He played really well when he was QB or running back though, he stayed focused. He really started to pay attention and get confident mid season and ended the season very well.
Here's his journey. TC is #6..

I didn't always remember to bring my long lens so the pictures are from far sidelines. TC of course loves his trophy. He now has 7! I over heard him say to my mom the other day he was going back to soccer. We will see what happens. We are thinking of taking Fall off of sports. I want to get them into art or writing more brain work..we will see how that goes over!

xoxo
-N

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

 Once fall hits I can't stop thinking of  everything Pumpkin. So naturally pumpkin + favorite cookie = Pumpkin Snickerdoodles!
I was expecting these to be a little orange and a little less spice but they of course were moist and super delicious! I may have to make these more often.
So go gather your usual suspects..Plus pumpkin puree and start baking!

                                                                        LOVE!

                                                                 After a day in the fridge

                                    I had the boys roll the dough then I added a bit more sprinkle!

                    I barely pressed mine down, so I ended up with balls instead of regular flat cookies. I'm ok with that though cause they are still wonderful!

This is a must try cookies, my kids even liked them. You can print cookie recipe now from here.

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
Yield: about 3-4 dozen cookies

Cookie Ingredients:
3 ¾ Cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ tsp. Baking powder
½ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted, room temp butter
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
¾ cup (I used 1 cup) pumpkin puree
1 Large Egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the coating:
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
dash of allspice

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk to blend and set aside. In mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. 2-3 minutes. Blend in the pumpkin puree. Beat in the egg and vanilla until incorporated. With the mixer on low speed add in all the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour.

Preheat Oven to 350 F. Line or spray your baking sheets. Combine the sugar and spices for the coating in a small bowl and mix to blend. Scoop the dough (about 2 ½ tbs) and roll into a ball. Place ball in coating mix and and coat dough. Repeat with the remaining dough to fill up baking sheets, spacing dough 2 inches apart. Dip the bottom of a flat, heavy bottomed glass in water, then in the sugar-spice mixture, use the bottom of the glass to flatten the dough balls slightly. Re-coat and repeat!

Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes or until baked through. Let cool.
 
xoxo
-N




Cookies originally found here

Halloween Printables

 Subway art at The Crafty Sparrow

             Mantle ideas here

To add a little scary features to your Halloween mantle or shelves, print up a few scary animals. Either Bats, spiders or skulls.
Once you print your scary picture on paper, dip the paper in cold coffee to give it the worn look, or you can burn the edges a little. Then put the picture in a nice black frame. Place on mantle next to a skull or black crow.
The bat cut outs are great for taping them flying on the walls near by your mantle. I plan on making bats and putting them on a picture frame like picture above.
I also took a red and white wine and put scary labels on them and put them next to my skull.
I have lots of inspiration and ideas...but no money to buy new stuff. Trying really hard to use what I have.

xoxo
-N

Peach Marmalade

With all those Peaches I had I stepped it up with a Peach Marmalade, jelly, jam whatever you want to call it. I looks so good and now that I know how much sugar goes into jelly...It's officially off my list of eating items. Yeah, that list is getting pretty big these days.
Here is how to can Peaches and make peach jelly:

                                                                   Get your peaches

                                    boil them for about 30 seconds, longer if not fully ripened yet

                                                      immediately put them in cold water

                                                   The skin should peel right off!

                                                       cut, pit and chop up the peaches,

                                boil your peaches with lemon juice and pectin, then add 7 cups of sugar
                                                   bring to another boil for 10 minutes.

                                                               Fill your sterile jars!

                                                        Seal properly, cool and store!

I had a few peaches saved just to preserve for us to eat later. I skinned them, cut them in half, pitted them and made a sugar preserve. Filled up the jar and sealed those too!

I will truly try my work soon, so I know if I need to work on my skill or if I'm actually good at something the first time I try it ;)

xoxo
-N

Challenge Progress

Well I'm 5 weeks into my 6 week challenge! I'm sad it's almost over, I had a great time trying new things, challenging my body, mind and spirit to do this. I really enjoyed learning new things from all the wonderful instructors. I have met a wonderful new friend in the process too. She actually lives in the neighborhood down the street and tans at my salon, so I'm super excited to be able to keep in touch with her.
 I wish I could even afford to keep working out at the gym forever but they charge way to much. I may just have to keep doing these 6 week challenges every Spring or Fall.
My favorite class would have to be anything TRX, FitMax, Tae Bo Ripped and Vert. I like them so much it almost makes me think of becoming an instructor. But that's something I have to run by the big man upstairs!

As for my body, today I can barely walk! I love it. It's bittersweet, it's painful and it sucks but at the same time I know that I challenged my body and the exercise worked.
Let me explain a little of how I got to this point. Yesterday I went to attend my normal Tuesday morning Body Pump class and they decided to switch it to TRX Cardio Blast. We did a million squats, lunges, and so on for an hour! Then today I attended my normal Wed. afternoon Tae Bo class. For some reason Nicole decided to do the entire class holding 2 lb weights. Now, don't get me wrong 2 lbs you say yes, super light. But they feel like 40 lbs after holding them up after 10 minutes. Try holding them in the air for almost an hour! We then of course had to do a million squats, lunges, Tae Bo kicks the full length of the classroom.
I'm glad I got an ass kickin' class today. I feel good about it and won't feel bad tonight when I eat pasta.
For the weight loss, there hasn't been much in this challenge. Muscle weighs more then fat and I feel that I have gotten some arm muscles and maybe a little more toned thighs. So I may overall lose inches in my arms and chest. I'm happy with that. I may have lost like 3 pounds but I truly didn't watch my diet. What's important is I feel stronger and have way more endurance.
I did take some 3 week pictures and I will also take final pictures and post them when the challenge is complete.
I have a few races coming up in the next couple weeks and I'm anxious to know if I run any faster. I first just need to get rid of all my sicknesses!
Say some prayers for my health...it's been on the rocks this month.

xoxo
-N

Tooth Fairy Pillow

My oldest T is losing his baby teeth..finally!! He has my genetics on losing teeth, I had to have my last 2 baby teeth pulled while wearing braces in HIGH SCHOOL!! How embarrassing was that!
Not sure how much teeth are worth these days but I'm starting out low and working my way up. On Monday T lost his 1 front tooth and instead of continually hoping he doesn't push off the money we leave under his pillow at night I decided to make a tooth fairy pillow.
Since the pillow cost some dough for the material he only got $3 for the front tooth. Plus the other front tooth is due to come out soon too. Kids just look so weird missing their front teeth. Plus T's other tooth is totally crooked.
Here's how to make a Tooth Fairy Pillow:
Go to Joann's or another craft store and purchase some cloth material. (I also purchased leftover scraps so I got a few inches for like $3).
While at Joann's get pillow filler
White Felt
Black thread

Step 1: (not shown) Cut your White felt into a tooth shape, using black thread, thread to make eyes and a mouth. See bottom for finished pillow to see what I mean.
Step 2: Once you have your tooth made sew to one side of the pillow material.
Step 3: Sew the material into a pillow shape and leave the bottom open to stuff. See below

                                           sew the material into a square, leave bottom open

                                         Step 4: fill pillow with the filler until desired shape

 

                                              Step 5: You can hand sew closed or use a machine

                                                          Should look something like this

***Make sure when you sew the tooth on to leave the top of the tooth open so you can put the money into it.
This would make a great baby shower gift. You can do Blue for Boy, Pink for girl or if you don't know what they are having try a neutral yellow or light green would look cute too.
T loved his pillow. I have one for D when you loses his first tooth!

If you make this pillow make sure you post your link so we can all check it out!

xoxo
-N

TRESemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

This post brought to you by TRESemmé. All opinions are 100% mine.

Don't have time to wash your hair today? Don't want to wash your hair everyday but it's just to oily? Have a great curl going on you don't want to ruin it? There's finally a solution! I'm so excited about this.

 TRESemme has come up with a solution for your problems! It's Fresh Start Dry Shampoo!

This is how to use:

-First Shake vigorously before use and also between uses

-Pull hair in sections and spray at the roots

-Spray in short bursts 8 inches from your head but NOT like hair spray (all over and continuously)

-Leave in for 1 to 2 minutes, then comb through with brush or comb to distribute product evenly!

If clogging occurs remove the nozzle and run it under warm water, then reattach.

TRESemmé Fresh Start Dry Shampoo is the complete line of dry shampoos that revive your style between washes. TRESemme is formulated to absorb oils, odors and revitalize without a drop of water. They do this with a citrus extract into each dry shampoo to leave a clean fresh scent.

TRESemme has a full line of the following:

-Strengthening Dry Shampoo: The formula  B12 vitamins and Keratin helps strengthens hair and leave it full of healthy body.

-Volumizing Dry Shampoo: with mineral clay and citrus, removes oil while injecting hair with salon gorgeous hair!

-Smoothing Dry Shampoo: with Vitamin H and Silk Proteins, refreshes your straight style by removing excess oil, impurities and odor to ensure your smooth look lasts!

-Moisturizing Waterless Foam Shampoo: Witch Hazel, Aloe Vera, and Citrus refreshes your hair by removing excess oil, impurities and odors while moisturizing hair.

These all sound perfect for my long hair that I hate washing everyday! Bye Bye hats that hide my oily hair!

Celeb Julia Allison has also teamed up with TRESemme to show you all how this product works, so check out the you tube video

**She is giving away a $500 Gift Card to Target (who doesn't love Target)? to a very lucky viewer to please check out the video and enter to win! It could be you!!

Have you tried this? I want to hear what you think!