I Need An Interior Decorator

I do not have the decorating gene.

I admit it.

There are things that I see that I like, but I don't really know how to put things together to make them look fantabulous, just ok.  Passable.

Looking at homes that are decorated to the nines, I drool and wish that I knew how to do similar things.

But I don't.

I don't have the decorating gene.

We pulled out all of our decorations a few days ago.  The earliest we've ever done so.  Normally we definitely wait till AFTER Thanksgiving but this year we got started a couple of days before.

However, I'm still sitting in a mess of decorations.

Pinterest has been my friend as far as getting inspiration, but while I see things that I love and would love to make, I haven't yet.  I need to go to the store to get some supplies for things to make and put together.  I want to do these things:

                                                                    Source: thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

                                                                     Source: goodhousekeeping.com via Megan on Pinterest

                                                                      Source: fancyhouseroad.com via Megan on Pinterest

                                                          Source: adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com via Megan on Pinterest

                                                                            Source: centsationalgirl.com via Megan on Pinterest

                                                                              Source: bhg.com via Megan on Pinterest

                                                                  Source: cleverlyinspired.blogspot.com via Danika on Pinterest

So I may or may not do all or just a couple of those things.

Yesterday I told my Mother-in-Law that I want this and asked her if she could make it for me.  I can't draw to save my life and she's awesome.  She said it's possible so I don't know if / when I'll get it from her.  I offered to help but I'm guessing that she'll just do it because she's awesome like that.

                                                                       Source: bowerpowerblog.com via Megan on Pinterest

As for the rest of my house...

Will someone please come and decorate for me?

Or, if you've just got some ideas that you could share with me, I'd SOOOO appreciate it!  I don't know what to do here.  Until yesterday we had a monster of a tv sitting up there but hub finally took the dead tv down and we put this one up there.  It's been sitting on a tv tray for months but it had to move since it was sitting where the tree will go once we get it.  So now I've got space that needs to be filled up but I have NO IDEA what to do!

And I've basically got this "decorated" but don't really know if there is something else I should / could do.

And this is the tree art that Kyle and I got this summer.  He likes it here but I don't.  I don't know what to do with this area either.  It's just got random stuff sitting there for the moment.  *sigh*

I don't know if those ornaments hanging from the light looks dumb or not.  I'm conflicted.  Also, do you think there's anything I should / could do with the windows?  Hang something over them?  Just don't know.

And as you can see, I've just got a big mess going on right now.

As you can see, I need some serious help!  Ideas?  Suggestions?  Any creative peeps out there willing to offer me some decorating advice since I'm obviously challenged in this area?

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all have had the best day filled with many blessings!

Today we spent some time with my dad and his side of the family then we headed to my inlaws.  My MIL was fantabulous and made the turkey without the stuffing cooked in it this year so I could eat the turkey.  First time she's ever made it like that.  My mom was going to join us this year but got sick so didn't afterall.

Right now we're watching Elf.  I forgot how much I love this movie.  Great ending to the day.

Posting from my phone so I'll have to fix things later but the first pic is Chewy being a good boy sitting on the couch while we eat and the second pic is a horrible attempt at a self portrait with my mountain man. ;-)

This is what you get when you use the flash and have a sleepy hubby.
Not good.  Not good at all.  But I'm shameless and don't mind posting crappy pics of us. LOL

I'm Ready For The Weekend

This picture doesn't want to cooperate.  I want it centered and it wants to go to the left. Argh!

Today I went to work with the new family I've started with.  The boy is 5 and autistc.  He doesn't speak.  He says words but I don't know how much he really understands what he's saying so it's quite interesting.  His mom wanted me to take him to the park so we walked there.  Anyway she told me she wanted us to be gone three hours!  It's been so freakin cold out!  Definitely was not looking forward to that!  We played on the playground for about an hour and played tag (well, I played tag.  He just ran from me. :-P ).

The playground.
I think it would've been a lot more fun with more than one kid and one adult playing there. ;0)

After that I had us walk through the woods and I just followed him around...for two stinkin hours!  I don't even know how many times we walked around in circles.

To keep myself entertained while walking around the woods freezing cold, I took lots of pics with my "retro" camera.
So fun!

My feet and hands were so cold!  Both of us had pants that were soaked on the bottoms of the legs.  I really hope that we don't have to do this every week (since I'm only there on Fridays).  On the walk home he was walking with his eyes shut.  Pretty sure he was sleep walking! LOL

So I'm not sure what the plans are for the weekend but I'm definitely ready for it!

So many VERY large leaves laying on the ground.  I was just playing around.

Came across this weird tree.  It looked like it had a built-in fort.

Saw three of these laying on the ground.
Definitely not the ideal place for hanky-panky! LOL

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

Halloween Display

I really really REALLY wanted to show you the display in action, but by the time I was going to record it, after it had been raining and pouring and storming for days on end, Kyle told me that he had JUST, as in the day before, disconnected everything!  GAH!  And it would've taken him too long to connect it all up again, plus we had a busy few days.  I'm so sad!  It was really great and I wanted you to see it.  *sigh*  Oh well.  Next year, right?

Anywho, here is the Halloween display completed, in picture, not video, form.

Everything was synchronized to "Ghostbusters" and "This is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Everyone LOVED it!

And speaking of Halloween...

Halloween night was INSANE!!

We hand out glowstick necklaces.  But in order to do the "necklace" part, we have to do the "put the individual sticks together" part which includes three glowsticks and connectors.

We bought 1000 glowsticks so that equals 333 glowstick necklaces.  We had a few duds so overall we probably made about 300 necklaces.  It was a CONSTANT flow of kids!  If we had a couple minutes free to get some necklaces made, they were immediately gone as soon as the next large group of kids came.  Oh and we sit in the driveway making them.  We couldn't get them together fast enough!  At one point, we had about 50 kids waiting in line, in our driveway!  When I say it was insanity, it really was insanity!  300+ glowstick necklaces and two bags of candy gone in 2 hours!  Lots of fun though!

Oh and my index finger and thumb were numb for a week or two.  Actually I just realized yesterday, I think, that my finger was no longer numb.  It was the strangest feeling ever!

Now Kyle is in a mad frenzy to get the Christmas lights up!  He likes to turn them on the day after Thanksgiving.  He doesn't have much time left, especially since there's nothing done yet.  Eek!!

Random

Hey Peeps,

Sorry I've been absent this week.  Lots going on and no blogging mojo.

Plus my back had been really sore for some reason.  It's been so bad that I've been taking the muscle relaxers I got after my accident and my chiropractor is wondering how to best help me.  We were hoping it was just a fluke but it still is causing me lots of pain.

Can you believe that thanksgiving is just a few days away?  This year has just flown by and I'm just not ready for it to be holiday time!

The contract was up on my phone and I was eligible for my upgrade so hub and I went and got me a new phone Friday night.  I got the Samsung Galaxy II and I'm having so much fun figuring everything out!  In fact I'm blogging from it right now.  I'm in love!

Really hoping I get time this week to blog because I still have so much to write about.  Desperately want to finish those vacation posts!

Here's a couple of pics I took with my new awesome phone.

And here is a song that I'm really loving right now.




Hope you're all doing well on this fall day!

A Walking Miracle

{Source}

I know I've got lots to update you on including how awesome and amazing Women of Faith was last weekend, but I want to tell you about something else first.

I grew up with Amy, the wife of this couple.  We went to middle school together and over the years we've lost touch, but I read her blog almost daily.  I've never met her husband but I feel like I know him already.  About a year and a half ago, Amy's husband, Adam, was in a motor cross accident and suffered a severe brain injury.  They have been on quite the journey moving from hospital to hospital, facility to facility.  Adam has shown such improvement.  Improvement doctors never thought they would see.  But he's defying all the odds and doing so well!  Amy is so strong and honestly, I don't know how I would cope if I were in her position.

Yesterday Adam went missing, but was found five hours later safe and sound!  Praise the Lord!

Here is the first video, where they're reunited.




This second one is the news sharing their story.




And this last one is the whole interview that the news people did with Amy and Adam.  It's long, but so, so touching and inspirational if you take the time to watch it.




If you would like to read their story from the beginning, Amy has been writing on her blog since before the accident happened, but even more so since the accident.  It really is an incredible story and you can see just how far he has come in the past year and a half and how much they love each other.  From doctors thinking that he'd never walk, talk or understand again to now walking, talking and progressing every day...wow is all I can say.  He really is a walking, talking MIRACLE!!