the big "D"

oh, the monogram.  who doesn't love to decorate with it, wear it on jewelry, put it on your car, your mugs, your tote bags...towels, dishes, pillows,  vases...you.name.it.  we all love it...to a certain degree.  Those things make super easy teacher gifts, wedding gifts, girlie gifts, etc.  Like you've seen here, and here I use a "D" on the wreaths I put on Josh's door.  I'm not sure why I always use it, I guess I feel like it brings it together.  who knows.  maybe it's a phase.

Anyway...as you know I'm working on making over the mantle.  To add to the fall decor I got a "D" from Michael's to embellish and put it up there.  (Maybe I feel like Josh will go along more with the decorating if it has part of his name in it? I don't know.)

I mod podged some orange paper...

Then mod podged this fun brown cut out paper I found...

and here ya go, the fall-est "D" there ever was...

the perfect pumpkin

To me, it was the perfect fall activity and would be something fun to do together and give me a chance to take some fun pictures.  To him, it was a project...his new mission - we would get the perfect pumpkin.

Josh and I went out to Gentry's Farm on Saturday to buy "the perfect pumpkin"...aka a pretty large pumpkin great for carving, and see what other fun things we could find. 

very proud he found his perfect pumpkin!

cream cheese brownies

The weather has been so nice lately!  Perfect for grilling!  While Josh was manning the grill on Saturday night cooking up these:

(2 ears of corn, squash, zucchini, and an onion all from the farmer's market for a total of $2.61)

I decided to try a new recipe!

Paula Deen. She does it right!  I had gotten one of her cookbooks from my grandmother so I thought I'd try something new.  Cream Cheese Brownies!

In “The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook” Copyright 1997, 1998 by Paula Deen Pages 149-150


For Lady Brownies:
2 C. Sugar
1C Veggie Oil
4 Eggs
6 Tbsp. Cocoa
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 C Self-rising flour
1 C chopped walnuts or pecans
Preheat oven to 325 degree’s. Blend together sugar, oil, eggs, cocoa, and vanilla. Add Flour; mix. Add nuts; spread into greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 minute’s.
For Cream Cheese Brownies: Use lady Brownies recipe above. Poor half the batter into a greased pan. Layer with this cream cheese mixture, then top with remaining batter, swirling it with a knife.
8 Tbsp. (1 stick) Butter, softened
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 C sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. All-Purpose Flour
1 C chopped walnuts or pecans
Cream together butter and cream cheese. add remaining ingredients; blend well. Swirl into brownie batter with knife edge.

my two cents...

- I didn't put the cream cheese layer in the middle.  I just added it on top and swirled it up a good bit.

- it probably took closer to 45 minutes, than 30 like the book said.

- I did not put nuts in the cream cheese mixture.

- they were absolutely delicious.  We took some over to the new neighbors that moved in and they seemed to like them.  Paula...she knows her stuff!

"I'll be your dentist"

10 points to whoever can name where that song comes from.

oh the dentist.  some people love going...others hate it.  I probably fall somewhere closer to the "hate it" side.  My guess would be that since my dentist was my orthodontist and I had to go see him once a month for 8 years I feel like I've put in my time...plus all of yours.  yep...I was awesome with metal in my mouth my. entire. childhood.

So mom and I decided to hit up some antique stores in nolensville last weekend.  I'd heard my friend Sara Beth talk about how much she loved Three French Hens so we thought we would try it out.  JACK POT!  such fun things!  They also own The Roost right next door.  I was looking for two things: a tall dresser, and a hallway cabinet that could fit in this little nook right in front of the bathroom at Josh's house.  I found several shelves that would work for the cabinet and had a hard time making a decision.  In the end, I decided I wanted something with character, a story, something that made it unique.  I certainly found that!

It was an old dentist cabinet.  The holes on the top were made so they could set their tools in them.  I loved it...just the character, story, and something unique I was looking for.

So now...maybe I don't hate the dentist so much.  They make cool cabinets that add something fun to my hallway!  The shelves are adjustable which is helpful...and I've already filled it with some books.

I'm not sure if I'll ever use the holes for anything.  Maybe just to tell the story.  Who knows.  You got any suggestions?

front porch fall decor

Josh went camping last weekend so I went over to his house to decorate!  That's how that works right? He does boy things, I do girlie things!

on Friday night I brought Bauer over with me so he and Dylan could "play" while I worked on other things.  They ingnored each other for a bit, then they "played", and now they are friends...

dylan seemed to be really happy about it...

Moving on...the crafts.  I found this white basket that I figured I could paint for various occasions.  Maybe fall on one side, spring on the other? I could totally paint the whole thing another color, stand it up, turn it over...the possibilites were endless for my $14 purchase.

I decided to paint it a little for fall...tie some raffia, and here is what we got:

It's not perfect, so I may paint over it, but it was a fun beginning. 

Saturday, Caitlin and I went to the farmer's market to get some decorations for the front porch (and it turns out some things for dinner too!).  And here is what I ended up with:

2 pumpkins and a gord for $15, and two mums for $20. I was super excited.

I know what you are thinking...you just covered up what you painted on the basket.  Well, I've since moved the pumpkins to the other side of the steps.  I'm not sure which I like better.  Either way...it's cool outside, I have pumpkins and mums on my porch, it's fall and I'm a happy girl!

6 month check list

alright folks...we are right at 6 months from the wedding today.  It seems kind of far away, but when I look at my planner I have no doubt it will go by quickly.  I feel pretty good about where we are in the whole planning process. A lot of big picture stuff is done and just waiting to tackle some details.

Here are some things I've been able to cross off my list:

Venue. - ceremony and reception - check.
Band. check.  This gang is fantastic!  I've been to 3 weddings they have done and several times I heard them play in park.  super excited!
Dress. check.
Bridesmaid dresses. check. I think :)
groomsmen attire. check.
caterer. check.
invitation design. check.
honeymoon.check.
centerpieces. check.
and last...but certianly, by all means, not least. the photographer. check!  Mary and Adam are good friends of mine and I'm so very blessed she was available and willing to shoot our wedding.

mantle makeover

It's not that I don't like the way Josh has decorated his house...I just want to make it our house.  Don't get me wrong, it's a huge blessing that Josh already owns a nice house - but if we were getting a new place together, I think it would seem a little less like "I don't like your stuff" and more like "let's make it OUR home."

I actually may have started doing this before we were engaged...women, so typical!...anyway.  He has this great old brick mantle in the middle of living room that just calls to be awesome.

When I met him...it had an abstract canvas painting of this...

not really the "awesome" I felt the mantle deserved.  A play room? yes! Man room? yes! Mantle in the living room...not so much.  I knew what I wanted to replace it.  A window frame from my grandmother's house as a child.  She still has one, my mom has one, and I have one.  It's followed me to all the places I've lived...

2006-2007

2007-2009

When it came time to decorate for Christmas I found myself living at my mom's with no house to decorate.  Josh was generous enough to let me take over his home.  I asked if I could take the painting down just for Christmas.  He hesitated...but agreed.

9 months later, the window frame remains and has even made a permanent home.  You can see slight touches of fall as I slowly begin to makeover the mantle.  Piece by piece.  Here is stage 1:

stage 2 involves bringing over my lovely bird vase!  I'd been eyeing it at hallmark for about 3 months.  I was ready to finally buy it and someone beat me to it.  Luckily I've got an in there and they ordered me another one.  Happy Birthday Emily! Love, mom!

Stage 3 will hopefully involve some pretty candlesticks...stay tuned.