Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns

 So, it's the week of Halloween...which means it's time to carve those pumpkins! I wait to carve mine the week of Halloween...any sooner and they usually start to rot. You can use any number of templates that are provided with your pumpkin carving kit...I just drew mine free hand and had fun coming up with my own faces.

I let the kiddos scoop out all the goop and then I add some tea lights...and voila...jack-o-lanterns to adorn the front steps, all ready for those trick-or-treaters! Have fun creating your own pumpkin carvings!

My "Mom Cave"....kind of....but I'll take what I can get for now....

 Today I am linking in to Centsational Girl's "Mom Cave." I am very new to blogging and have just started this journey recently, so bear with me. My kitchen is not quite your average "mom cave" I guess, but it is for me. This is the heart of the our home. I love to cook and bake and even if I'm not doing either, I am still in here all day it seems. I love to entertain and of course, what happens when you're entertaining? No matter how many rooms your home has, and mine has many...guests always want to be part of what's happening in the kitchen.

 Although I have a home office with a desk that I can use to blog or check email and pay bills..etc...I really feel myself when I am right here in my kitchen....with my husband and my three munchkins trailing behind me. But with that said, a Home Goods gift card would be much appreciated. I love that store!

Inspired by the Foliage

I was driving this morning and caught a glimpse of the lake that's on my street. I drive by it everyday, but today it stuck out even more because the fall foliage has most definitely peaked in this area of New England.  I had to stop and capture a few photos.

This time of year really inspires me to create something natural and unique...so that's what I did..I went no further than my own back yard. I collected pine cones, acorns and branches and brought everything inside onto the craft table and got to work...this is what I came up with.....

 This is just cardboard ring that I cut out from a large box. I then did a combination of cut branches and bent branches and hot glued them to the ring until I completely covered it. (Tip: I used fresh birch branches that were pliable and easy to bend and manipulate to get the look that I wanted) Next, I added the pine cones and the acorns and tied a brown satin ribbon on it. Lastly, I personalized it with a silver "D" that stands for my family's last name, ta da! A creative and free fall wreath that will adorn my door through Thanksgiving.

 This is merely a large glass vase filled with pine cones and birch branches from my backyard. I love that it brings the outdoors in.

Saying "Good Bye" to Summer....for now.

Today my husband and I pulled in all of our outdoor furniture. Don't get me wrong...I'm from New England. I like this time of year.....cool crisp days and nights....cuddling on the couch with a warm blanket watching football.....and getting ready for the upcoming holidays. However, I am little sad to say "good bye" to the dog days of summer at least until next year when we get to do it all over again!