Speaking of Spontaneity

Sometimes you just need to quit talking about it and actually buy a plane ticket already! Chris and I figured out the PERFECT Christmas gifts for each other. We have everything we really need and want together in Ohio, so we are getting each other trips to see our friends! I've mentioned before how bummed we've been to be away from the people who know us best and we figure it is just ridiculous for us not to do anything about it.

We dated long distance for five years. We looked forward to being under the same roof for so long, now that we’ve got our wish we do our best not to take it for granted. There is nothing I love more than spending time with my husband. Though we love our time together, we both appreciate our time apart. It may seem funny, but spending time apart now is exciting because it reminds us of the fun we had while dating. We know that the time we spend apart only brings us closer together. Phone calls, texts, and of course a reunion at the end! Nothing is better than coming home to the person you love. I am super excited about taking advantage of my Christmas gift this week and super excited about coming home too!

Treasure Find Tuesday/Halloween Wrap-Up

This post is picture heavy. I'll try to keep my chatter to a minimum, but i'll reply to comments =) Enjoy! Hope your Halloween was Spooktacular!

Wonder what we did with our pumpkin pickings? Chris' Jack was def best on the block.

Our goose-like gourds greeted people at the door.

Here is the lovely mummy I told you about earlier.

She's also got a handsome male friend. They were super easy and fun to make!

Trick or treaters had to reach into the jug for candy. The chair was thrifted for $3 so I can recover it =) . Note though that it is NOT a good idea to put food coloring directly on your hands unless you want to hear lots of "caught you red handed" jokes.

Our little pirate stood in for the statue of liberty in our mini NYC.

We had some unexpected guests pop up in our bathroom mirror!

Mom sent me these lovely spiders and some more of grandmas never ending doily collection. End result? DOILY SPIDERWEBS!

Saturday we mixed up some corn syrup, food coloring, and chocolate sauce for some bloody fun in our Dexter theme garage. We served all the drinks in here for our party which I didn't get photos of due to all the fog from the fog machine.

The pumpkin was carved out and filled with ice to chill the white wine.

Last but not least your hosts. Chris dressed up as Dexter and ... I had a little fun. I thrifted the hilarious leopard shorts and transformed myself into your crazy aunt agnes just back from her trip to Mexico. I had so much fun explaining my costume. The moment someone would ask who I was I would put on an accent and go on a tirade about how sad it is they don't recognize their own family and it's all because they don't call often enough. I am sure I freaked a few people out, but it was all in good Halloween fun.

Pumpkins

This past weekend we took a trip to the pumpkin patch with our neighbors with Laura and Phillip.

A lot of the pumpkins were picked over, but we had a great time searching for the right ones.

We also picked up a few goose-like gourds along the way.

Zombie Juice, Rat Tarts, or Goblin Vomit

I've got to figure out what finger foods and desserts to serve at our Halloween party this Saturday. Any easy creative ideas? I'm already thinking of the berry wonderful tiramisu. I've also got little smokeys wrapped in bacon to serve as gnarly toes on my list.

Halloween 2009

Treasure Find Tuesday

This weeks treasure find post will be extended all week show off the thrift/crafty treasures I've gotten for Halloween. I'm still putting things together for our party on Saturday. Be prepared to get spooked and inspired! Here is the first peek:

This skull came into the base thrift shop. It was love at first fright. The arm belongs to a mummy you will meet later.

There is a monster in the window looking at you wether you are inside or out! Maybe he lives in the wall... This creature is simply a piece of cardboard I saved from our move. I cut out a trace of my hand, painted it electric green, and hung it in the window. The eyes are clear contact paper that I drew pupils on with a sharpie. Perhaps we should give the creeper a name, any ideas?

Valentine

Recycle Joy

Hope everyone had a happy happy holiday.

This is a simple brown paper bag I stamped on to use as a gift bag for my brother. Always remember to think before you throw something away - you never know how creative you can be until you try.

Happy New Year

Our First Christmas

Chris and I decided to celebrate our Christmas in Ohio a week early so that when we return from visiting family we will already have things cleaned up. Also, we really wanted to be able to share the spirit of Christmas just the two of us.

We chose Saturday morning to be our mini Christmas because it snowed ALL Friday night! Not only did we get to wake up to a white Christmas we also fell asleep between a roaring fire and beautiful tree. Bliss. Bliss. Bliss.

Winter Poem:

Ev-er-y winter we scamper about, gather wood, wrap presents, sing carols out loud

We open up boxes, bring in a tree

decorate cookies, drink coco, snuggle clo-se-ly

Pine in the air filling our lungs, fire in the place toasting our buns

Throughout all the world there is no place to be, that is as quite as special as near stocking and tree

-rm

A Paper Plane in a Pine Tree

We have been very lucky this holiday season. between generous family donations, my thrift shopping, and a little creativity, we have been able to deck the halls and make this apartment our home.

Chris and I drove five minutes (yes you read me right only FIVE minutes) down the road to a tree farm to saw down our tree. We figured our first christmas needed a fresh tree. Plus it is the perfect time because there are no pets or small beings to mess with it ... the only downside was the family of jumping spiders I discovered while decorating ...

When it comes to ornaments on your tree, it is well known that your first year can be a bit skimpy. When my brother got married my sister and I were still young, so his beautiful wife invited us over to make ornaments with popsicle sticks, glue, and lots of love. I believe some of our masterpieces still hang on their tree today.

For our first tree, I had picked up some shining glass balls at the base thrift shop and we were pleasantly surprised with the Christmas cheer passed onto us in ornament form by our families over Thanksgiving break. I look forward to the day when we get to pull out the ornaments and tell each of their stories. Right now I will share one of them with you. Two of our favorite handmade ornaments make our hearts soar with pleasant memories each time we look at them.

These paper airplane F-16s were lovingly thrown at us as we left our wedding reception rather than rice or birdseed. Somehow I stumbled across a how-to paper airplane F-16 video in the wedding planning process and proceeded to cut, fold, tape, and stamp until I had a few hundred prepared. I am so happy that we have found further use for them! (and thanks to those who helped me fold!)

Thanks also to my ADORABLE nephew who picked up each airplane after it was thrown, we still have dozens of them ... any ideas for other uses?

You will be visited by three ghosts ...

This haunting image is actually a shot from my bridal portraits. Normally I don't associate our wedding with spooky stories, but in the eighth grade I played the ghost of Christmas past in our middle school's annual production of A Christmas Carol and I love how this image reminds me of it. I also love the image because to me it is spiritual. It reminds me that although I find myself physically out of the theatre from time to time, it is where a part of my soul lives. It was taken at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas by our wedding photographer Joe Cogliandro of J. Cogliandro Photography whose focus is artistic storytelling.