Happy Weekend

OK, halloween sort of creeps me out as I'm not really into the vampires, or monsters, or creepy costumes.. but, I think it's fun to get together and visit your neighbors and have a reason to eat candy.  This, is also awesome. 

Speaking of sort of creepy, we went to a costume party for work and Brian was an old man.  'Twas pretty entertaining. 

Ideas - DIY

Would you like to see the ideas simmering in my head today (only occasionally at night and during lunchtime, of course ;)

Creating a chandelier (something like this. Maybe in turquoise?):

Etsy

 IKEA Hacking (this may actually come to fruition as we've already bought the pulls):

hack 1 and hack 2

Table Skirting:

pink wallpaper

And a whole lotta Jesus loving :-)

A moment of nostalgia

I'm missing riding horses rather badly lately.  It was my life as a kid (other than hanging out with friends and the typical high school things).  I started riding pretty young after my sis and I went to our neighbor's house to ask him if we could ride his ponies.  He graciously obliged (this guy is the nicest man, seriously) and we rode his horses for a few years.  Then our parents let us take lessons, the lessons turned into leasing horses, then buying horses, then building a huge barn to house lots of horses (it was a boarding facility), showing horses, showing other people's horses, giving riding lessons, and the list goes on.  It was time consuming, it was financially burdening, I'm sure, to my parents.  But, they knew how much my sister and I loved it and they continued to help us in our quest. 

We showed horses (locally and for the AQHA) every weekend of the summer, I really loved it. Then the boys came, and the friends consumed more time, and oh that thing called college.  I gradually transitioned away from the 'horse world' until I could no longer claim to be a part of it.  My sister still rides, and I have a few friends that have really stuck with it.. Sometimes I miss it though. 

This month is the annual All American Quarter Horse Congress (in Columbus, Ohio of all places!) and as I watched someone show my dad's horse (online, they even now have online viewing, whew) it made me so nostalgic.  Maybe someday I will ride again.  Maybe our future kids will ride someday.  Maybe.....

Below are a few photos we took last winter at the family barn:

        

Charlie playing in the snow.  Dear goodness, I love this dog..

Word World Rainbow Cake

Our friend's son had his fourth birthday a few weekends ago.. I offered to make a cake because, well I honestly just really wanted to. When she told me the 'word world' theme, and her idea, I knew it was going to be magical.  :-)

The outside of the cake:

The inside..

You likey?  Give it a try:

• Cake Recipe found here
• Buttercream Recipe found here
• Gel food coloring used found at Michaels
• Candles found here

J&M

Where have I been?! Whew, it's been crazy lately.  Also, I've been working on this one post, and I think it's keeping me from posting other things..I have to learn to let one thing hangout for a while and do other things.

Anyways, we had a wedding last weekend.  It was beautiful, truly awesome.  The couple is one of our close friends and it has been absolutely incredible to watch them grow in their faith, and as individuals and a couple.  It's seriously awesome and such a testament to His goodness.  A ton of their friends and family came together to help the wedding go off without a hitch (no pun intended, but now that I recognize it - intended), which I love.  Serving your friends and family is such a blessing - to the server and the served.  Anyways, how about some pictures for this lovely (dreary in Ohio) Thursday?!

Now for some outtakes that some of you may not have seen yet...

Spidey.

 Hope this girl's mom never sees this because I really don't want to take it down - I have like 3 shots of this, the pick, the pull down and the unwedge.  It's awesome. 

Fat little buddy (he's not really fat.. long story..)

Just say Yes.

Do we need a little inspiration this Friday? Yes, I agree. 

      

       
         

Photos via Pinterest, quote via Making Things Happen

Hotel Hunting: Le Parker Palm Springs

It seems like it was half a year ago when Brian and I went on vacation (reality: it was just over a month) and I am already yearning to travel again.  Since I stay at a hotel the majority of my week,  I have accumulated a few points / rewards, one of which is a few nights in one of SPG's resorts.  The catch? It expires December 20th.  As the year winds down, I realize it is highly unlikely that we will be able to take advantage of this reward for a number of reasons (money, time to be the main ones).  But, a girl can still dream, right? 

Want to know where I'd really like to go?  The Parker in Palm Springs, California.  It just seems so charming, right?  Ah, no need to click the link sweet friends (unless you want to see a video of a guy wearing a zebra mask), let me show you:

Images via The Parker