Life Lately: Extra Late Edition

     Three months...I would say that's probably a new record for me...but I really don't think it is. Oooohhhh well. I'm back (for now). We've lived a lot of life lately. We've had our fair share of couch time too, but I digress. I've got so many different things to write about, and I'm not sure if I want to just toss it all out at once or be a good blogger and divide it into individual posts. Decisions. I'll go with my typical m.o. and just start typing and see where we end up. 

     A few weeks ago we went to our town's International Food and Art Festival and had the best time! I didn't even know this was a thing until one of Keith's work friends mentioned it. There was a parade with each participating country in traditional clothes and tents set up with crafts and food. We had food from Japan, Honduras, the Philippines, and Brazil.
     Davis was mostly really sweet, and we only had to make a mad dash across downtown for the port-a-potty twice...#pottytraining #mamasknow.

     I feel like a have a handle on a lot of mom things, but going to big events makes me feel so scattered! I left absolutely exhausted...but so happy for a day with my boys!

 

     Before we left, we scooted down a side street to grab a few pictures. I've been living here my entire life, and I had no idea there was such cute building art!   

     If that wasn't busy enough, we had a Sunday School fellowship that night at the pumpkin patch. I didn't get a ton of pictures, but I did snap a few cute ones of Davis. He loved the pumpkins and had plenty of opinions about which ones we should bring home.

 

Last year and this year.

 

He stayed in this wagon for a hot second before he wanted to climb out and pull it himself. Busy.

     This time of year we stay.so.busy., but I am so thankful to carve out times and memories like this! Davis still talks about the pumpkin patch (or "pumpkin patty") and asked about the parade just the other day. He really is starting to remember the fun things we do, and that makes it even more special. Thankfully we have plenty more to do this fall/winter, and I cannot wait. What have you been up to lately? Any fun fall activities I should be doing?

Happy Fall, Y’all…and a Crafty

     Happy first day of fall!  In honor of one of my favorite seasons, I’ve got my house all decorated for our first fall holiday – Halloween!  I’ve already introduced you to my first, fun purchase:

   She’s sitting proudly on the counter (glowing like a creep in the dark).  Anyway…so I’m browsing Twitter this morning when I see this link and fall in absolute love.  Y’all know how I feel about a bargain…and holiday decorations (hello…just take a look at my Pinterest), so first thing after church, I hightailed it to the Dollar Tree and gathered up a few Christmas village pieces and some creepy cloth.

     They look so sweet…for now.  After stopping for this little photo-op (you’re welcome), I put these on the cardboard and introduced them to their fate (or just a can of black spray paint).  To make sure they were all coated, I turned them upside down and hit them with the paint again…especially on the edges and the trees.  While the glue is still wet it would be so cute to fancy them up with black glitter!

The finished product nestled among some creepy cloth.

     This was such a fun little project and definitely has me excited to keep decorating my little space!  I also love that this is so versatile.  You could do as much as you want and make it as fancy as you want.  I may keep adding to this throughout the season (or even within the next few years…as long as Dollar Tree keeps stocking the village)! 
     I’m still looking for a fall or Halloween pretty to go on my burlap wreath, but for now, I am pretty satisfied with my décor!  Here’s what else is going on…

     Coordinating tea towels for the oven handle…every holiday should have them (the one with the words all over it is hanging there now…I’ve got to find a cute place to put the striped one).  The plate is just a little cutie I found at Hobby Lobby years ago.  It’s just been waiting for me to have a house to decorate. 
     I hope you’ve all been decorating up a storm today!  My plan is to keep the Halloween stuff up during October, switch to fall/Thanksgiving the first of November, and then make the big jump to CHRISTMAS (possibly taking advantage of the Dollar Tree village again using this fun post) the day after Thanksgiving…if I can wait that long.  I do have some other fall cuties scattered around so they’ll get their fair share of use too.  Happy fall, y’all! (Let’s keep our fingers crossed for cooler temps!)

This is the Final Countdown

     I’m back from a weekend with Keith…with no pictures yet again.  I have got to do better.  Oh well.  You’ll just have to take it on faith that we had a wonderful weekend.  I can now say that I’ve been to a duck blind drawing (which I think makes me pretty good hunting-wife material). 
     In other news, it’s beach countdown week!  I am off work all week, and I will be doing non-stop beach preparations.  Eeeeeee! I am so excited.
     To totally switch gears, I’m linking up with Neely and Ashley for Sunday Social.  I’ve never done this link up before, but this week’s questions were all about fall.  How could I resist?  I know I’ve been talking typing y’all’s ears off about the beach, but I love love love fall!

 

     Let me be clear.  I am NOT wishing away my vacation, but watching all my daycare kids start school has really made me start thinking about fall and everything I’ve got coming up.  So…here we go.

What is your favorite fall activity?

Where to begin?  School (I know…), Halloween, leaves, Thanksgiving, cute clothes, delicious cool weather food, not sweating constantly because of the oppressive heat, decorating for all of the end of the year holidays, GRADUATING, fall crafting (I have some big plans), using quilts, our city’s gigantic thrift sale, etc.

Do you follow a football team?  If so, which one and why?

I would never dream of supporting any other teams but the UT Vols and the Titans.  I’m not going to lie and say I watch every single game, but there is something so nostalgic about watching the team run through the big T.  I am just dying for Keith to take me to a Vols game.  Also, I saw the cutest UT scarf at the store the other day.  It wasn’t overdone and tacky…I may have to go back and snatch it up!

What is something fun about fall in your area?

The Service League in my town holds a huge thrift sale every year.  My mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt all wake up early, and go wait in line to be there.  Last year I found a pair of practically brand new Under Armour tennis shoes for $2!  It was definitely the find of the year.

Fave fall outfit staples?

Blue jeans, blue jeans, blue jeans!  Also…I have like eight sweatshirts (and pairs of sweatpants) – obviously I love those too.

Thing you are most looking forward to about this coming fall season?

I already said the thrift sale, but if you notice in my first answer…I’m graduating DECEMBER 15 (technically still fall)!  I am so ready.

Favorite fall holiday? Traditions?

I loooooove Thanksgiving!  The day after (instead of Black Friday nonsensing), my mother, sister, and I decorate our whole house for Christmas…which is a pretty big ordeal.

Technically this was taken in the summer (on vacation two years ago), but we’re at the Christmas Place in Gatlinburg – so it’s applicable.  Vacation. Summer. Looking forward to fall/decorations.  Check, check, and check.

Have a great week!