Technically It's Still Fall Ya'll

So technically it is still Fall!!

Technically December 22 is when Winter officially starts.......technically........but we all know we've been in the Christmas/Holiday mood since the day after Halloween! So I still have some time to post this.....which makes me feel a bit better!

It's just a recap of our Fall weekend I wanted to share before I start to forget what life is like before (that scary four letter word) SNOW......and of course before I start posting about all my Christmas decor and the 11 inch snow storm that is bound to happen sooner than we can say......WTF (I live in Wisconsin......trust me it will happen.......and continue to happen well into March)!!

Lets just hope I can get around to posting Christmas stuff.......well before Christmas (not promising anything!).

Every Fall we usually plan a day where we go to the apple orchard!

Whats Fall without the smell of crisp caramel apples and pumpkin spice yumminess??  

The spot where we get this delicious Autumny fix is Ski-Hi!! 

The apples are not necessarily what makes this trip worthwhile.......although there apple fritters are really really good......it's actually the cherry jam that is to die for here (I shmear a little on my toast in the morning and I'm one happy girl)!!

This year was extra fun!!

We had family drive up from Illinois to hang out for the weekend!!  

You could probably guess why this place is called Ski-Hi (Ski pronounced "sky")! The view is just that amazing......although I wish we would have gone when the leaves were all sorts of different beautiful colors!!  You could just imagine what that would have looked like.

We walked away with some goodies in hand and then headed off to our next Fall destination........

(this is our little cousin Madison......she's super cool and fun......AND growing up way too fast!!)

.....................the Pumpkin Patch!!

They had soooooo many......

..............in all sorts of different colors!!

 The most pumpkins I've ever seen at a patch!! If we cant see colorful leaves.......we must see colorful pumpkins!!

Which was a good thing because we were on a mission........a mission to find a pretty white pumpkin!!

They also had a fun-house type play area for the kiddos.  You can see it from the road when you drive by.  Every time we do I always turn to 2hotty and tell him we need to go there one year (actually its more like slapping him across the shoulder as I stare and point yelling "HUNNY stop the car........I want to go in.....NOW")

So this was the year where I thought I would finally have a chance to go in!! 

Ya not really......just one problem......you had to pay.  Which isn't exactly a real problem but I didn't want to fork over the money just to go in and snap one lousy picture!!   I don't remember the exact amount but I remember thinking it was kinda pricey and a waste of money!!

You see that pumpkin house way in the back.......ya it looks way "awesomer" from the side of the road......and I've always wanted a picture in front of it!!

I was kinda bummed......Oh well!!

So while Madison and her mom went in.......we roamed around and stuffed our faces with apple cider doughnuts!!

The gift shop had a bee hive that just gave me the heebeejeeBEE's (PUN).......all I could picture in my head is this thing shattering on the floor......

........allowing all these bees to do what they are meant to do.....STING!!  Knowing me I probably wouldn't run but rather stand there like an idiot snapping pictures!! 

Can you spot Mrs. Queen Bee???

With the ticket that you purchase to get into the play area you also get a ticket to go on the hayride!!

To my surprise Madison picked me to go with.......well it was me or 2hotty and after "inny minny monny moing" it I was the chosen one (haha 2hotty....I'm just way cooler than you'll ever be)!!

I kinda have an obsession with these creatures...............they're Beautiful!!  When and if we ever have a little boy some day, his nursery will be horse themed!!

I now know partly why it is that she picked me to go with........

......it was the perfect opportunity to ask me about a certain (ahem...Barbie computer game...ahem) we played last year and was too shy to say anything in front of everyone!!  She wanted to play it again this year!

and partly because I was the one with a big black camera in my face.......can we say "perfect photo-op". (which reminds me that I have to send her parents these pictures!!)

 I could not believe all of the kins they had growing........

........ they all seemed so perfectly round, succulent, and bright orange!!!

However its the white ones that we were looking for!!

On our way back there was that darn pumpkin house again!!



Wanna know why we were looking for white pumpkins..........

 .......because Hello Kitty is white and I don't think she would have appreciated an orange (or blue.....or orange and white....or green.....or etc...) pumpkin for a head!!

 Speaking of not appreciating things.......little Max did not appreciate having this on his head:

He pawed it off.......

........and proceeded to chew it!!

Doesn't he make the cutest Witch........I mean Wizard?!?!?

Awww......he makes me melt into a puddle every time!!

That was our wonderful Fall weekend! Better late then never......right?!?!? 

I feel like our Fall this year was complete and cant (but will) wait to do it all over again next year!!  It's the small things like crisp Fall days, the smell of apple cider, fun (but not free) pumpkin houses, friends and family, and giggling over witch-hat wearing pets that are the BIG memories I cherish and hold on to and keep me going year after year!! I'm so thankful for this little blog of my for allowing me to document these beautiful memories!!  Now I officially cannot wait for Christmas!!

p.s. We had our first official party with our friends and family over the weekend and it was super fun!!  I can't wait to share it with you soon!

xo Joanna D.

Switcharoo!!

The room in the house that we plan to focus on first is the family room!! 

Right now it looks a bit like this:

Yes I know.......it looks more awkward than Lindsey Lohans little sister's new face job (what was she thinking?!!?!)!  I guess she wanted to look more European?!?!


Right now we have a WAY over sized couch sectional in there (which is getting the boot to the basement after we buy a much smaller new couch), we are using the end table as a make-shift TV stand, the two light fixtures (that look like giant hanging boobs on the ceiling) belong in a dining room or something to that extent (just not mine....mmkay).......

.........and the 1970's called and they want their wood paneling back!!!! Its totally needing a MAJOR overhaul (apparently Ali thought the same thing about her face!!) and we need to tend to its every needs!! 

Insert Mr. PiggyBank here!!

New couch
New tv console
New window treatments
New flooring
NEW EVERYTHING!!!

But before I start spending my 2hottys OUR pennies on demo projects and large pieces of furniture I need a vision!!

Don't want to end up with an awkward looking living room.....you know unlike...ahem...Ali...ahem!!

That is exactly when I logged into my Olioboard account.  I love this website......I find so many cool things (usually things I'll only be able to afford in my dreams.......I guess I like to dream allot!!)!!  Since I don't have photoshop........I rely on this website to show me what exactly it is that I'm envisioning just to make sure that everything flows and nothing is too matchy matchy or vice versa.

This is what I quickly came up with:  New hard wood flooring, two layered rugs for texture and warmth, tv stand with matching bookshelves for added storage, bamboo roman shades, a neutral couch, a armchair in a fun but neutral design, end table, and added accessories to personalize the room!! PHEW.....we have a long ways to go!!



The walls are already painted a blueish color with white crown molding..........

..........and the end table (can barely see in picture way above.....sorry) will remain in there as well. BTW I scored it at Goodwill for 30 bucks.......Its LANE.......Ya google lane furniture end tables and check out the $$$$!! Winner winner chicken dinner is what I was singing all the way home!!

We've already picked out a couch from Ashley Furniture:
It's neutral.....microswede.....and in our price range!! Nothing fancy for this room.......just need something to comfort the tush as 2hotty plays his video games and I spend endless of hours on this dang computer!!



I find that this color scheme could work all year round too!! Every changing season is covered by just simply doing a quick switcharoo with items such as pillows, throws, rugs, etc.!!

Fall: Navy and Orange LOVE!


Winter: Bright Green and Red LOVE!



Summer: Navy and yellow LOVE!

Click HERE if you would like to see where the items come from.  It will direct you to my Olioboard page!  The items are NOT really in my budget but rather just act as stand-ins to bring the whole room into perspective (and inspiration to me to later find cheaper knock offs at stores such as Tarjey and Goodwill!!)

So whatdya guys think about........Ali's plastic surgery, the family room setup, the colorsheme, boob lighting (I hate them!)!  I hope it will all work (crossing my fingers and toes!)!
xoxo Joanna D.

Here's Your Sign!!

After moving in to our new digs I wanted to make/buy something special for my darling 2hotty......you know kinda like a housewarming gift for your spouse (I'm still waiting for mine BTW).  So like I always do.....I scoured the Internet for some ideas to get those brain juices of mine aflowing!!

The one space (besides the deck) in the house that 2hotty lurves is our basement!!  I know he's itching (not there....you sicko) to reclaim that space and make it into his man cave!! Although we both know that he won't be making any decorating decisions (atleast not on his own)!!  Yes I am SO that wife!!
Don't worry I'll still make room for the fifty-five inch, every piece of media equipment, his booze bottle collection, and all the sports memorabilia..............but it'll just look less like a frat house!!

So I found a cute.....I mean a MANLY....sign on Pinterest that I was itching (again not where your thinking...eew) to make!

It's actually a combination of two ideas I had pinned onto my "DIY" board.

I somewhat used this technique:

SOURCE

to create a sign some what like this:

SOURCE

First I collected all of my materials.

All you need is a canvas (sometimes you can find one at the thrift store for real cheap and just spray paint over the image or cover it with some fabric).........I had an extra one from the TRAVELING MAP I made over the summer.

I however don't own a Cricut (an awesome tool I think every crafter needs......but it is kinda spendy!!) so I dug around the house and whipped out every "letter" sticker I owned!  It was tough but I made it work!!

I then just taped off a border with painters tape and free handed all the wording onto the canvas!!

I really don't like to measure if I don't have to!!!
I sometimes like things to look imperfect (I guess it's just a good excuse if something comes out looking like complete crap. HA!)



I found that the stickers didn't do a good job well "sticking" onto the canvas, so I bought a spray-on adhesive and just followed the directions for non-permanent sticking!
Let me tell you this stuff worked like a charm (because If it didn't work there would be no sign and therefore no post of how to make said sign)!



Next I took it outside and sprayed it with a few coats of spraypaint (quite liberally)!  I chose navy........2hotty loves the color blue and it'll go with our color scheme!! Like I said I am pretty much making all of the decorating decisions in his (i just let him think its his)  mancave...... oh the nerve!!

 

Now its pretty straight forward from here on out.

Wait for the paint to dry (I let it dry over night) and then peel off the stickers! 

This was the fun part (much easier than the sticking on canvas part!!)!

You may see that the spraypaint leaked through the canvas........it gave it an airbrushed effect......which I kinda liked so I left it!!  Again it gives it that imperfect/rustic feel!

That being said......I don't like the way the bordered lines turned out with the blotchy paint........but it's nothing some white paint can't fix!!

I'll fix it some time before hanging it up on the wall (that is once we get the walls painted.........maybe this weekend......crossing my fingers!!)!

And here is the finished product:

and a side by side:

                       Inspiration:                                                                       Mine:

So here's your sign........(well not your sign......you'll have to make your own).  Atleast here is some more inspiration to make your own sign..........so "get the gettin" and go ahead and make one for that special man in your life.

It's a great holiday gift idea (just sayin).......and it's not that expensive to make (what with the economy the way it is these days)!

xo Joanna D.

Our Bloody Halloween!!

It was our first Halloween at our new house........so I was obligated to do something special to mark this moment (and besides it is one our favorite holidays)!!  I donno about you but there is just something about the crisp fresh air, the fun decorated spooky looking houses, the giddiness of dressing up as anything you want (and getting away with it), and most importantly digging through a big pile of candy.......it all just gets me very excited every year!!  I just love every bit of it (and apparently so does my midsection after i devour into snickers and twizzlers all evening!!)!!!

I wasn't sure if we would get any trick-or-treaters because we don't really live in a neighborhood per say but I didn't want to take any chances either so I made 2hotty buy some goodies for me the kiddos as I cooked up a yummy Halloween feast!!

I didn't want to be that house on the block pitch black with the lights turned all off pretending like nobody was home................or even WORSE the house with NO CANDY (and give away lame things like spare change or old muffins from a week ago.....eew!)!

Not these new kids on the block.......OH! NO!......we were prepared!!

  Prepared SO much that we didn't get one single person!!  No witches, no super heroes, not even any Jersey Shore cast members.......Notta!!......Yep just me and that big pile of candy (yes I can feel each and every Reese's cup jiggling on my thighs........its not cool when you keep hearing your body parts yell out "trick or treat" every minute until you give in and force a chocolate down your throat......NOT COOL!!)!!!

In our big tub of Halloween/Fall decor that we unpacked, 2hotty had found these awesome bloody candles we purchased on sale years ago!!

They set the perfect ambiance for our little Halloween feast!!

Bloody Hell!!
(we also watched Harry Potter that night...........sometimes I wish I lived in Hogwarts and that Harry, Ron, and Hermoine would adopt me as their fourth BFF.......sometimes!! HA!) Every year starting in October we watch all of the Harry Potter movies........its become a tradition!!
I love traditions!

I also found a recipe on Pinterest of this drink called the "Sinister Cider Cocktail" because A. we had some apple cider in the fridge that I didn't know what to do with besides drink it on its own and 2. I just needed a drink after a friggin long day at work (and NO I don't need to go to any AA meetings!)!!

The fancy version made by the professionals:

The redneck version made by two well......rednecks:

(I used purple sprinkles I found from an Easter kit unlike the schmancy black sugar above.......like I said.......redneck version!)

It was still good non the less!! I bet Lindsey Lohan wouldn't complain one bit ;-)

As for the main course I whipped up a cheesy gooey cheesy and cheesy macaroni and cheese casserole!!

Did I mention it was cheesy??? Yes loads and loads of cheese with bacon deliciousness on top!!

It was so darn GOOD!!

I found this cute pasta at World Market that I just had to have:

It's the one (and ONLY) time that I could really say I've eaten spiders and liked it:

2hotty had a second helping!!

I don't know where it all goes because if I dare had seconds I would have to change my name to Shamu!!

So that's that.......our first Halloween in the new house (even though Thanksgiving is like next week already and I'm just getting around to posting it now.......better late than never right??)

Hope you had a great Halloween and am so jealous of anyone who had The Situation or Snooki come over and trick-or-treat this year!!

xoxo Joanna D.

Our (NEW) House Tour!!

So here it is.....the unofficial house tour that I attempted to record with my camera and then edit sometime thereafter!! Did I mention I attempted???  Yes I will not be adding video editor (or videographer) to my resume any time soon!! I know it's been like over a month........but after watching the video you'll understand why I've been so busy!!! 

It's definitely long and over due but I'm back (baby) and I cannot wait to show you everything we've been doing around our little casa!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjO6S45C2Kg

(for some reason I'm having a hard time adding the youtube video to my page. click on the link and it will take you to the video :-) )

I told you it isn't very good.......but I gave it the ol' college try!! Sorry about the mess but I wanted to keep it real........we just moved in after all!! 2hotty gave me a hard time after seeing a random tissue just laying on the floor in the basement or the chair on the deck with its cushion folded over!!! Like I said it's keepin it real and it can only go up hill from here on out......right???  Let's just hope so!!

xo Joanna D.