I (((heart))) chalkboard art!

 I have fallen in love with this whole chalkboard art thing!

I'm not the greatest artist...so I'm so thankful for all of the printables available out there!

All I have to do is scan Pinterest and it points me to so many wonderful blogs full of printables!

There are many ways to "transfer" the pattern onto your chalkboard...just Google it and you'll find a variety of methods.  But for me...I am lucky!  Being a baker, I happen to own a KopyKake projector!  So all I have to do is lay my chalkboard under my projector and trace the image!  And presto!  Woot!  I am still looking for a better chalk.  Typical packaged chalk is so..."clunky".  I have used a pencil sharpener to get a "finer" point.  I have also heard there are chalk "pens" out there.  That is what I need to get.  I just need to locate them!  Will probably hit up Hobby Lobby or Michaels this weekend.  I'm sure they have them.  If you have any suggestions or tips on chalkboard art, please leave them in the comments section!  I'd love to hear from you!

It's really happening...

 It's happening.

My son got his first acceptance letter from a college in the mail today.

He was accepted into Grand Valley State University.

He's not sure if he's going to start out there...or at Grand Rapids Community College first.

I suppose a lot will depend on finances and financial aid, etc.

But it's a good feeling.

He did it.

He did well (honors) all four years of high school.

He did great on his ACT.

It's happening.

It doesn't really feel like it's been seventeen years since I gave birth to my sweet boy.

It doesn't feel like he's been in school for thirteen years (well, maybe some days it does).

But...in just a few short months, he'll graduate.

Whaaaaa!

Can't we stop this somehow? 

At least I have the comfort in knowing he's chosen to go to college locally.

He's not leaving me just yet.

Whew.

Can I just keep him forever?

 

October/November Catch-Up...

 We did our annual pumpkin carving a few days before Halloween.

My husband always asks when we're going to quit carving pumpkins, dying eggs, etc.

I said, "NEVER!  It's a tradition!"

 I don't think you're ever too old or "grown-up" to do anything.

If you enjoy it...do it!

 Nate did a spooky "Welcome" dracula bat.

Evan did "Assassin's Creed". 

 ...and Nate had a second pumpkin that he brought home from art club that he turned into a silly cat!  We had a fun Halloween as always.

 Lately I have been getting into the art of chalkboard art.

My mom made me a nice chalkboard to hang up.

I'm having fun trying out and creating new quotes and pictures! 

And in other news...

I was working on some Christmas crafts last weekend and was using my EXTREMELY sharp fabric scissors.  I was curling some "curly ribbon" and I went to curl one up and BAM!  Caught the tip of my thumb and sliced the tip!  Ugh.  I got it pretty bad.  Had the worst time getting it to stop bleeding.  I've had it bandaged for two days and been putting Neosporin on it but it seems to be taking FOREVER to start the healing process.  Complete klutz, I tell you.

We got some snow this week and they say more is on the way.

I'm happy we're staying put for Thanksgiving.

I always hate traveling in bad weather.

Tomorrow I'm going to do a little cleaning and then...

It's...

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!

Yay!

I can't wait any longer.

When do you put your Christmas decorations up?
Do you already have them up?

I can't wait!

 

Girl Time...Shopping, Dinner, Coffee...(what could be better?)

 (Ok, first off...I have to apologize for the quality of my pictures lately.  I've been taking a lot of snapshots on my iPod...and the quality is NOT good.  So sorry!)

With that out of the way...

Last Friday, my sister messaged me on Facebook last minute, out of the blue, and asked if I wanted to meet her at the mall for a night of shopping, dinner, and coffee!

Are you kidding me?
YES!

We started off in the food court with some loaded cheese, bacon, ranch fries...YUM-O.

That gave us just enough energy to start our shopping excursion.

We browsed through many stores...window shopping and admiring all the things we wanted, but didn't want to pay full price on, LOL!

Then we got to Old Navy.  Neither of us are big Old Navy fans.  I like the low prices on their sale/clearance racks...however, I have issues with some of their quality.  Many of the things I've bought there come unstitched and the necklines run notoriously large and gap.  Most of their clothing runs small too.  So I made a vow...no more paying full price at Old Navy.  If I come across a REALLY good bargain on the clearance rack, that's the only way I'm spending money there.  Well, as luck would have it, I found these two cute tops...leftover spring/summer merchandise.  I got one in aqua and one in coral.  They are loose, billowy, and longer...so they cover your fanny.  Great to layer with a long sleeve shirt and pair with leggings and boots in the fall or with sandals and flats in the spring/summer!

 I wore the coral one on Saturday and really liked it!

Oh!  I forgot to mention the best part!  These two awesome shirts rang up at $3.12 and $2.78 respectively!  Ha!

 I also found these two cute cotton sleeveless dresses.  Totally long and flowy.  They don't cling to the midsection at all...which is my biggest concern.  I'm thinking I may wear the red one for Christmas with a black long sleeve shirt underneath, black leggings, and either a long necklace or scarf...and of course my black riding boots.

 I was playing with this plum colored one once I got home and put a black shirt under it and a multi-colored satin scarf that I knitted with it.  I haven't worn it yet, but I think with black tights or leggings and boots it will be a great look!

And the best part about these two dresses...the cost!

Can you say $4.00???

 Next we went to Target down the street.

Boy did we score some bargains there!

They were obviously clearing summer/spring items as well.

I got this cute little dress for $7.00!

I'm thinking I may be able to wear it even now (before spring) if I pair it with my little black button down sweater and some black tights and boots!

 Same with this one...$7.00!!!

Pairing it the same...with the black sweater and tights/boots.

 These sheer little tops must be popular or something because I'm seeing them everywhere.

I got my first one this past summer at a garage sale and I would have totally never bought it if my sister hadn't talked me into it.  I'm so glad I did, because I LOVE IT.
So when I saw more of them at Target, I grabbed one in each print!

I got these for $4.00 each!

This blue one has a floral print.  Great to wear with leggings or skinny jeans and boots, with a long sleeve shirt underneath.

 This one was $4.00 also.

And don't laugh...the print on this one...it's purple...ANTELOPES, LOL!

I asked my fashion conscious sister if that was tacky and she said no.  You can barely tell what they are anyway.  I was surprised when I went home that I had the PERFECT matching long sleeved shirt to wear underneath and I'm wearing it today!

And my last $4.00 number!

This one is a charcoal gray and has a floral/bird print.

I'm so excited about my bargains!

It always feels good to restock your wardrobe...especially when they're bargains!

Woot!

Growing out the pixie...Month 4...

Well, it's strange.

Some days I really see the growth in my hair.

Other days it still seems really short.

Don't worry, I'm not giving up!

In fact...

I'm being even more proactive.

They say Biotin is good for hair growth, so I'm headed out to Walgreens tonight to pick some up.  It's on sale Buy 1, Get 1 Free!

Then my hubby (bless his heart) found me some salon products online (shampoo, conditioner, oil, and leave in spray treatment) that is supposed to support hair growth and healthy hair.  So I'm going order some of that as well.

I'm doing all I can.

And I'm not giving up!

Stay tuned for next month's update!

For The Love Of Thrift Stores...

 Ok...I'll admit it.

I used to have this...thing.  A quirk, if you will.

I wouldn't shop at thrift stores or garage sales.

The thing that "weirded" me out...was not knowing the home the item came from.

"You can wash it," my mom and sister would always tell me!

My mom always bought all kinds of amazing gadgets and household items from thrift stores.

My sister (whose fashion sense I admire immensely) always shopped thrift stores.

I did pop in a couple times, but never found anything.

"You have to go all the time because you never know what you'll find or what they have," my sister told me.  Well, I finally "kind of" got over my quirk...and allowed myself to buy household items.  I found a brand new tin of mini cookie cutters (retail $7.99) for 50 cents!

That kind of got me started.  I also went to a few garage sales this past spring with my mom and sister...and bought some shirts and leggings!  Yes...I got past my "quirk".

I am now a garage sale/thrift store lovin' momma!

 Last spring when I went shopping with my sister, I got some amazing deals and clothes at Plato's Closet.  LOVE that store!  This weekend, I thought I'd try my hand at Goodwill.

Boy was I ever glad!  I got these cute little sweater dress/tunics!  The one above was $2.99 and the one below was $4.99.

 I'm thinking legging with both will be adorable!

 This is a light-weight knit top...not quite a sweater, but heavier than a shirt.  Perfect for fall.  It's a black/white speckled blend and I love it.  I have the perfect scarf to pair with it!

 This button-down cardigan is a Liz Claiborn and I scored it for $3.99!

Skinny jeans and boots, maybe?

 I'm wearing this seafoam green sweater today with gray jeans (love colored denim) and my peacock necklace and ring.  It's so warm and cozy!  Another $3.99 steal!

 LOVE this one.  Can you say COLUMBIA?  Yes I got this Columbia sweater for the ridiculous price of $3.99!  I have some brown jeans that I plan to wear with it.  I think it's going to be a great combo!

 I can't wait to play with this sweater.  It's another Liz Claiborn.  It's...different.  A little eccentric.  But I'm thinking it would be really cute with black skinnies or leggings and boots?  Some quirky jewelry?

 Oh, here's that seafoam sweater I showed you above, and the peaock necklace I'm wearing with it.  Sorry, my eyes are tired and it's a "glasses kind of day".  I hate wearing my glasses...much prefer my contacts, but I stay up so late and get up so early, my eyes are always tired.  My hair is really growing.  It's surprising even me!  My hair grows slower than...EVERYONE ELSE IN THE FREE WORLD.  Yes really.  But, I am actually encouraged by its progress this time around!

 On top of all my thrift store finds this weekend...Payless had their BOGO 1/2 off sale going on.

I really needed some fall shoes.

The sales gal says, "Can I help you find something?"

"Um...I need something brown...and maybe black...flats...and maybe heels..."
She laughs.

I'm so indecisive.

 I ended up purchasing these brown heels...

...and these black flats.  I think both will be great this fall.

Do you enjoy garage saling or thrifting?

If so, where are your favorite places?

 

The ups and downs of middle school...

Middle school has been full of ups and downs for my youngest son.

More ups than downs, thankfully.

Nate is a big kid.  Probably the tallest in the middle school.  Actually he's taller than most of the high schoolers on his bus as well!  But he's very quiet and reserved at school.

I like to refer to him as my "gentle giant".  He's a friend to everyone, doesn't like conflict, he's my "mellow-fellow".

So the day he came home from school and said to me, "Mom, I stood up to a bully today"...I was intrigued.  He proceeded to share this story with me:

"I was eating lunch with O and this big kid came by and smashed O's chips!"

I asked what he did.

He said, "I stood up to this kid and firmly said, KNOCK IF OFF DUDE!"

I asked what happened next.

"The kid took off running and the lunchroom monitor gave me a thumb's up sign!"

I was pretty proud of him.

In other news...

He recently decided he'd like to try out for the basketball team. 

I have to say...like I mentioned earlier, my youngest is VERY tall for his age.

I'm talking "off the doctor's charts" tall for his age.

Thus, he's always been a little...awkward.

So when he said he wanted to try out for basketball, I really had to give him credit.

He's never really been the "athletic" type, but he's always one to try new things.

I admire that about him.  He is so brave.

He doesn't care if other people are better or what people say.

When he makes up his mind to do something, he's going to do it.

He practiced all month.

He'd come home from school and go out and shoot hoops.

Needless to say, he didn't make the team.

He was crushed for the afternoon.

But it was nothing a little "I'm so proud of you for trying anyway" treat couldn't fix, LOL!

My husband always has a soft heart...and thought our little buddy needed a little encouragement/reward for trying so hard anyway.

We had a special dinner out and ice cream.

I have to give him credit...he's WAY more brave than I ever was.

I'm so proud that he's always willing to try new things no matter what!

Way to go buddy!

First Trim...(Growing Out The Pixie)

Well, I finally got my first "trim" since deciding to grow out my pixie.

When growing out a short 'do in the past...I always tended to avoid the hair stylist.

I think we all know too well, that feeling of not wanting to get ANY new growth cut, as it takes so long to get there.

But...we must.

It is crucial to get that nasty "mullet growth" off of our necks, get the bangs trimmed, and shape up the rest of the growth.

You'd be surprised what a tiny little trim can do!

I had NO CLUE just how much my hair had grown until I got it trimmed!

I thought the reverse would be true.  I thought it would feel really short all over again.

But nope!

I actually see a lot of new growth!

And...I got lucky!

My pixie is already growing in the direction I am headed and want it to be!

An angled bob.

Yes...my sides are already starting to angle and grow in that direction.

My stylist shaped it up a little more and we're headed on the right path.

I really liked it after she cut it.

However I still have good hair days and bad hair days.

It's all a part of the growing out stage I guess.

Continuing my obsession with headbands, clips, accessories, etc.

 

Moving Right Along...(hair growth)

Growing out the pixie...

July...

August...

September...

October...

Yes...I told you my hair grows slower than EVERYONE else in the world's.

But you didn't believe me, did you?

Can you seriously believe that this is ALL it's grown?

Well, honestly...I'm not too discouraged.

I have to tell you, I've only had a couple days that I've felt like giving up.

And they were both short-lived.

I hung in there.

Walked right past the mirrors.

And ignored my ugly hair.

Now mind you, I have had trims.

And some of those trims, PROBABLY took off more than they should have.

Next time I go in...she is getting STRICT instructions...

1. Only the bangs...

and

2. Only the neckline.

Once I see some real growth on the sides, I'll have her start shaping it into an angled bob again.

And while I know it still may look VERY short to the average person..."I" can actually see a lot of growth!  Yay!

And that is inspiring me not to give up.

The top is growing a LOT.

So...with the help of headbands, scarves, clips, and pins...we WILL get through these ugly stages!

WE SHALL OVERCOME!

Stay tuned for next month's picture!



What I'm Up To Right Now...Not Much...

 What's new with you?
Not a lot here.

The good news...tomorrow is October 1!

The bad news...it doesn't feel like fall at all.

It's supposed to be 77 degrees tomorrow and it's been in the 80s the last several days.

Yuck.

I'm over summer.

Actually I was never FOR summer.

I'm not a summer girl.

Give me fall all year long and I'd be a happy camper!

But, no matter what the weather...I'm excited to drag out the Halloween decor.

I have all of the fall stuff out...but tomorrow begins HALLOWEEN!

 I've been a bit of a sentimental sap lately.

We went to a college fair with Evan and it made me realize just how quickly this is all going to happen.  Even though he will "probably" go to school local for the first year or so...I'm just not ready for it.  But, I'm forcing myself to push forward and plan anyhow.  We're helping him with college apps.  He's retaking the ACT because he wants to try for an even higher score (even though he did great the first time).  Next will come the financial aid mess...oh joy.  But I'm looking forward to the fun stuff like party planning.  I've already started a board on Pinterest especially for his graduation open house!  Yay!

 In other news, I've shared that I'm growing my pixie out.

I can't wait for the day that it actually looks like an angled bob again.

I am now at the point where it looks like crap and I usually go whack it off again and give up.

I'm not going to give up.

I've pinned all kinds of styling ideas and accumulated all kinds of great headbands.

So there.

 As we speak, I'm sitting here with mayonnaise on my hair.

It's supposed to make your hair healthy and shiny.

We'll see.

My hair is so dull and dry.

Here's hoping we get some shiny results...and not just a flat greasy mess.

Tomorrow I start back on myfitnesspal.

I've gained FIFTEEN pounds over the last several months!

Yes!  You heard right!  15 pounds!

This is the most I've ever weighed in my life!

And although my doctor tells me I'm still not overweight, I feel sluggish, weak, lethargic, and sloppy.  Not to mention my pants won't button!  Ha!

So here we go!

Wish me luck!

I guess that's it for now.

I'm off to rinse mayo out of my hair!

TTFN!