SEASONAL CHANGES

Today brought rain, wind and girlie-girl coming home early from school sick. I predict H1N1 has come to visit.
Since we were unexpectantly stuck home for the afternoon I got to work on some of the things on my forever growing TO DO LIST.
Here is a picture of my beloved Ektorp couch from IKEA. We've had it for about 5 months now and I love it. We bought it with the canvas slipcovers and I also got red slip covers which were on sale. I planned on putting them on during the winter months.



It seems winter has arrived!! Here's what the couch now looks like. I love how cozy it makes the room feel. You can't tell from the picture but the fabric is a corduroy, really nice. It was so easy to switch over and just when I get bored with this it will be time to switch back.

Lots more projects to do and if my prediction is right looks like alot of them will get done in the next few days.

Happy Weekend!

THE BEAUTY OF FALL

The best part of raking leaves is the playing in them. Girlie girl and I were out yesterday having some fun. I did the raking and she did the jumping.

We have a huge tree in our front yard. Gives us great shade in the summer and provides us with lots of leaf raking in the fall. I think last year we had at least 13 leaf bags when we were finished. Looks like we will be starting that chore in a few days!

I saw a version of this on the cover of Midwest Living. I loved it so attempted to copy it. Just used a Sharpy marker for the wording. Turned out pretty good. Looks like my pansy's could use a drink.

I DID IT!

I did it. I painted the wall with chalkboard paint. Hubby was in a good mood one night last week so I sprung it on him. Honey, sweety can I paint this wall? He quickly said yes. I was like who are you and what have you done with my husband? Not that he is difficult all the time but we sometimes don't see eye to eye with my decorating ideas. So I took the plunge and I love it. It's fun and whimsical. I'm sure we will have alot of fun with it.

COUNTDOWN CALENDAR

I've heard that Halloween is becoming the next biggest decorating holiday next to Christmas. I believe it, from what I've seen in the stores and on all the wonderful blogs Halloween has gotten big! They even have a halloween version of the advent calendar. I got this at The Christmas Tree Shop. I love it - so cute and Girlie girl loves updating it every morning. I'm sure you could make one of your own but for $6.99 who can beat it! 12 days and a wake up to Dress up day!

Have a great Monday.

NOT BRAVE ENOUGH YET

I love all the blogs I see that have been brave enough to paint a wall or large section with Chalkboard paint. I feel I have the perfect spot but I lack the courage ( and possibly the ability to convice hubby) to go for it. I recently bought Peel and Stick chalkboard from Lillian Vernon. It came with 4 9"x12" panels. The packaging says you can remove and reposition. I was going to use them in the family room for girlie girl but found something else for there so I've had these in my bin to use eventually. Today I thought I would stick them in that perfect place and see how they look. Of course they don't take up near the amount of space but it's still a good for a test run for painting the whole wall. I like it (sorry my picture taking is so poor. We'll see what hubby says when he gets home and maybe I will add chalkboard paint to my list of TO DO's.

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO

Today marks 2 momentous occasions. Girlie-girl started kindergarten and I celebrate a birthday. A few tears were shed as I waved her good-bye at the bus stop. Nothing to worry about, she loved her first day. She's getting so big. On the other hand I am still trying to love the idea that I am a year older. It's growing on me. Of course the presents, cake and cards helped.

ONE LUCKY GIRL

I am lucky enough to have grown up having a family shore house at the Jersey shore. I've spent almost every summer weekend there since I was a kid. My grandparents bought the house about 40 years ago. It was a great house but it got old so about 7 years ago we (as in my Mom and Dad) knocked it down and built new. We now can use it year round. We've had holidays, family reunions here and it is great.

We have water on both sides of us, a canal on one side with a boat and the inlet on the other. We are all still amazed when we look out and see what our view is. This weekend Hubby took Girlie girl on the waverunner for the first time. My heart was in my throat while I watched them leave the dock. I was waiting on the other side of the house to see them go fast. She loved it. I heard her yell FASTER!! She is definitely her father's daughter.

Here's a few pictures above. I was hoping while my computer cousin was visiting us over the wknd he would help me figure out a easier way to post pictures. He mentioned something about another program but we ran out of time so for now I'll just have to deal with it taking me forever to post and today they are just all over the place. Someday I will be a computer savvy. Either way I am one lucky girl!!