What I've Been Up To Lately

I know I've been pretty absent and kind of sporadic here on the blog as of late, there hasn't been too awfully much to blog about.  If you follow along on the Facebook page then you know some of what I've been up to lately, but I figured I'd do an update post for those of you who don't follow along over there.

(And just a little side note for those of you who are FB fans, the way Facebook is set up not everyone receives every one of the updates.  Some people will see a few updates, and others will see a few of the other updates, but most likely not everyone is seeing all the updates.  Especially if you don't interact with the page, then they think you're no longer interested and will begin to filter them out of your newsfeed.  That's why it's important to "like" something or leave a comment occasionally so they know you still want to see the content in your news feed.  The best way to keep up to date with all the goings on and not miss anything is to actually click over to the page and scroll through the happenings, and don't rely solely on your news feed.)

I've had a few fun thrifty finds over the past months.  I found the metal measuring cups and scoops at a little local thrift store for 75 cents.  A few weeks later I found the set of metal measuring spoons at a yard sale for 25 cents.  Then I rescued a handmade vintage quilt from a thrift store for only $5!

I also posted about finding these cute little wire baskets in the Walmart craft section for $2.47.  I turned mine into a fall candle holder.  (I plan to share a fall post soon.)

Just last week I found this great old carpenter's toolbox, folding ruler, and huge wire basket all for $10 at a yard sale.

In August my daughter turned 6 and we had a Barbie princess party.

In September my son turned 3.  He wanted a Lightning McQueen cake...with a monster truck on it....and Mater on it.  So we ordered the cake, it came with McQueen on it, then I let him add one of his monster trucks and his little toy Mater.  Notice how Mater doesn't quite fit, and he's sort of hanging off the edge?  : )  It wasn't a perfect looking cake by most people's standards, but it was perfect in his eyes and he loved it.  

We visited a local restaurant called Hobo's that has adorable and "junky" decor!  Notice that rusted tin ceiling?  

(These are just cell phone pictures, so not that great, I apologize.)

Some of the booths had chippy reclaimed wood planks.

Other booths had faux rusted barn lighting and warm chunky wood beams.  I could barely concentrate on my food because my head was on a swivel.  : )

Apples went on a great sale and I tried out canning for the first time!   I made applesauce and then used the liquid I had cooked them in to can apple juice.  I used the scraps, cores, and peels and made Apple Scrap Jelly.  I used another batch of apples and made Crockpot Apple Butter, and used the scraps from that to start fermenting a big jar of homemade apple vinegar.  I'm finding that canning is pretty fun and quite addicting!

The kids and I made these cute little Pinterest inspired acorns.  They were so simple with just a Hershey's kiss, mini Nutter Butter cookie, and a chocolate chip.  (Held together with a little melted chocolate.)

Somewhere in that mix we also visited family and spent an evening walking on the beach and collecting shells.  I captured this shot of my two kids with my cell phone as well.  They looked so sweet.  : )

By this time it was Halloween.  Instead of carving pumpkins, our tradition each year is to paint them.  The kids always look forward to it and it's always a lot of fun. That's my version of Mike Wyzowski there on top.  : ) 

Oh yeah, and one last thing that we've been up to lately......

*

*

*

No big deal really.....

*

*

*

Nothing too exciting....

*

*

*

Only that.....we're buying a house!!!!!!  

It's a 3/2 on almost 5 acres and we are VERY excited!  Closing date is set for November 20th.

Here's a sneak peak of my soon-to-be kitchen!

Can't wait to get my hands on it!  :D