All the Small Things...

Happy New Year 2012!!!

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A Couple of Halloween Dresses...

I sewed this dress for Scarlet last year and was so sad that Halloween was over because she couldn't wear it anymore. Well, when I found out we were having Wednesday Jones, I KNEW another Halloween frock had to be made. This is what I came up with. I'm in love!

Halloween 2011

A Halloween Home...

 

So that is Halloween around the Greding home!  I left out the bathroom and the "littles' room" because I forgot to take pics of those places, so I'll have to remember next year!

The funny thing is, my FAVORITE decoration this year is Dan's drawing of Jack Skellington and the Haunted Mansion on our closet door.  How FANTASTIC is that?!?!?!?  He rocks!!!

 

Now onto my Thanksgiving decorating!!!

The 40 Year Old Blogger...

That's right, I turned 40--    and no one got hurt.

 

I have NEVER dreaded a birthday before, but for some reason this one was freaking me out. (OK, I admit it-- still is kind of freaking me out)

 

But I have to say, between Dan, my parents, my kiddos and all my lovely Facebook birthday wishes, it was an AWESOME day!!!

 

I started the day waking up to my favorite naked, crazy lady. 

 

Then shopped to my heart's content at one of my favorite places on earth!

 

Then had the most relaxing mani/pedi ever.  (me in the massage chair in heaven)

 

Then a trip to the Topanga Mall for some fall/winter clothes shopping.

 

Then the grand finale!

 

Dinner with Dan at Morton's.

 

H E A V E N

Oh, and let's not forget THE WORLD'S MOST DELICIOUS red velvet cake from Susie Cakes in Calabasas!!! Seriously, people who aren't even into red velvet DIE for this cake.  YOU MUST TRY IT!!!

 

So here I sit typing, 40 and happy.

40 and blessed.

40 and grateful.

40 and 

 

wondering if I should go with Botox or Restylane.

 

 

Black Cat Pixie Stick...

So I needed to come up with a craft that Scarlet could make as a gift for the opposing cheer squad, but I wanted it to be something she could totally do on her own and that wasn't expensive.  I then saw these masks at Michael's and KNEW just what I'd do!!!

 

Here’s what I came up with:

 

So here is what Miss Scarlet did and did so well!!!

 

 

1. You will need a giant Pixie Stick, a glue gun, some Halloween ribbon and a kitty mask from Michael’s.

 

2.  Take the paper off of the top of the Pixie Stick.

 

3.  Punch a hole in the mask.

 

4.  Thread the ribbon through the mask.

 

5.  Tie the ribbon in a knot.

 

6.  Using a glue gun, attach the mask to the Pixie Stick.

PS-- They were such a hit!!!

An Autumn Greding...

First Sign of Fall Around These Parts...

Autumn always begins around here with a wreath on the gate...

The Beat Up Chalkboard

So this is the PB chalkboard that sat in Scarlet's room for years and boy, did she trash it. I don't know exactly what she did to it to destroy it so, but it is not pretty.

So last year it was sitting in the garage "throw away" pile and I kinda felt sad about that so I took it and put it on my porch and it's now one of my favorite ways to welcome the kids home from school or ring in a holiday!

Oh, and the fact that I'm not even kind of an artist doesn't stop me from drawing away on it! Bad doodling= love anyway! ;)

Waiting For The Greding Kids...

I LOVE to surprise the kids with a yummy breakfast treat! Just a little something to ring in our favorite season...

 

A Glimpse of Me

I don't mind waiting for the carpool when I've got these by my side.

Let's Hear It For the Fans!

A VERY Fun Mail Day...

 

WWW... (What Wednesday's Wearing)

Romper... Koala

Bow... Boutique

Girl... by me.

Touches of September Around the House...

A Frame For All Seasons...

So I've been looking for a cheap circular or oval frame and I finally found one!

Only problem-- it had a print in it already.

Well, that didn't stop me.

I simply cut the print out and VOILA-- the frame I've always wanted! :)

My plans for this frame?

Why changing it up every holiday, of course!

 

Right now...

a schoolhouse flashcard.

(I thought you might want one too, so provided a PDF for you)

Download School House Flash Card - Sign

Next month...

I'm sure something macabre!  You know me!  ;)

 

A Cute Gift for a Teacher...

 

 

I thought Scarlet's teacher deserved a little treat, so I baked my favorite apple bread for her today and wrapped it up in a plastic lunch sack and added a paper topper and a paper pieced girlie.

Scarlet is SO excited to give it to her tomorrow!

 

Most Delicious Apple Bread EVER!!!

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups apples - peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup broken walnuts (optional)

In bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl, place oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla and apples. Stir into flour mixture. Add walnuts and mix. Divided mixture between two greased 8-in. x 4-in. bread pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 40-45 minutes or until bread test done. Cool for 10 minutes on wire rack before removing from pan.

 

School Days Shadow Box...

Oh how I LOVE a shadow box!

 

I have them all over my family room and I can't get enough of them apparently.

I think I love them so much because they take about 10 minutes to put together and the outcome is always FABULOUS!

 

I found these french postage fabric backed ones at HOME GOODS a few weeks ago and HAD to have them.  I bought 2 black ones and 1 brown one in different shapes.  The black ones are for a BACK TO SCHOOL one and a HALLOWEEN one.  The brown one is for a THANKSGIVING one.  

 

I printed out a photo of each child on the first day of their school (and WJones on a stack of books) and then added some chipboard numbers for the school year, a cute chipboard owl and a paperpieced apple on a tag.

 

SUPER easy and fast project.  

 

SO glad I made it!

Photos & Papers & Art-- Oh My!

So, I don't think I've introduced you to one of my FAVORITE finds from this summer.

 

I'm not sure if you can see it or not under all the stuff I've put on it, but it looks like the bottom of an old wire bed minus the springs and it has these great clips all over it to hang all my fun stuff from.

 

I have no idea what it's called or what it's supposed to be used for, but I'm LOVING using it as a memory/art board.

I pick a different theme each month (usually seasonal) and put up photographs, scrapbook supplies and odds and ends around that theme.  I hang the children's artwork that they bring home from school from it too-- as long as goes along with the theme!  ;)  Don't worry, I have another board in the house that I hang those from!  That's right-- I'm a school art snob!  lol

So this is my BACK TO SCHOOL display.

Can't wait to start on my Halloween one!!!

WWW... (What's Wednesday Wearing)

Bow... by me

Top and Pants... Mud Pie

Sock Shoes... Trumpette