Christmas Inspiration: Outdoors

After doing some special Christmas images for our market, I got inspired to do something fun outdoors.  This is not the finished product, I am just not patient enough to wait to show you!!  Tanner built the mantle with some trees we had laying around the property, and I think he did a great job! 

Christmas is such a fun time of year, and usually I'm in no rush to see it come.  This year is SO different. I'm already envisioning roasted chestnuts, warm wool socks, lots of good Christmas music from Sufjan, and all the other fun things that come with making it such a special time of year. 

Enjoy!

Gifted:: A holiday Ezine to inspire

If you aren't familiar with Creature Comforts, please go visit!  An amazing blog full of wonderful photography, crafts, design & inspiration. 

Ez recently released a beautiful free holiday Ezine which you can visit here!

Perhaps the most exciting news out of this, was that my new friend (& photographer extraordinaire) Kelli has a feature!  Her winter wonderland photography is enthralling.  The styling was done by Vanessa with ButterflySPARKS & it is to die for! 

Enjoy!!

Cardio Workout Playlist

I need your help.  I have not worked out consistently since...oh.....high school sports.  Yeah, that long ago.  Working out and I usually don't get along very well. I tend to have bad things happen like knee injuries, intentionally NOT going because I have better things to do (like anything other than physical exercise), montlhy womanly things falling out onto the treadmill...no joke.  That happened during a basketball game in high school too...no one could figure out what was laying on the floor, or who it belonged to (THANK GOODNESS).  Poor janitor..... 

Anywho,  I've decided to jump in.  I started last night, and it was great to have Tanner there to motivate me.  We may be going to different gyms and I know that once we start that, I'm going to need some music to keep going.  I've started a playlist but would love ANY input from you guys.  Normally, I love music like I have on my blog playlist, but my workout music should be VERY upbeat.  I'll post what I have so far so you can get an idea.  I can't WAIT to hear your suggestions!

1.  Like a G6 - Far East Movement

2.  Sexy Chick - David Guetta Ft. Akon

3.  She Wolf - Shakira (I know, I know...but it's catchy!)

4.  Boom Boom Pow - Black Eyed Peas

(Note:  Do not play this twice at a cowboy bar in Montana.  You may be forceably removed.)

5.  Club Can't Handle Me - Flo Rida ft. David Guetta

6.  Summer Love - Justin Timberlake

7.  California Girls - Katy Perry

8.  Tik Tok - Ke$ha

(Here's to hoping this workout will help me wake up in the morning feel like P. Diddy...)

9.  Just Dance - Lady Gaga

10.  In My Arms (Bimbo Jones Radio Edit) - Plumb

11.  Call on Me - Eric Prydz

(It doesn't even matter that its the same three words the entire song.  The beat makes it amazing.)

12.  Superstition - Stevie Wonder

Writing's on the wall...

13.  Are you Gonna be my Girl - JET

14.  Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf

15.  Swing - Savage

(DISCLAIMER: naughty words alert in this one... haha)

Ok, thats all I have right now.  So start digging through those cds... looking through your Ipod list... and give me some suggestions!  I'm counting on you for motivation... ;)

Rust & Ruffles - a beautiful vintage market

Friday, we drove 8 hours to Monroe, WA where a very fun early shopping experience was held.  Come Junk With Us put on a wonderful event, and it was so good to see and meet so many bloggers. 

I didn't buy anything, but I had a great reason!  I found a pair of shoes at Nordstrom that I just had to have.....but they were preeeetty expensive.  Tanner and I struck a deal that if I didn't buy anything at the market, I could have the shoes.  I agreed.  They are magical.  You can sort of see them in the picture below...but I'll have to take a new one to give them justice.  They are magical.  Oh, I already said that?  Sorry.... But they are MAGICAL!

Here are a few pictures from the night:

So dapper...

There are the shoes....and my silly grin.  ugh. :)

Fall Craft Ideas: Halloween Countdown Calendar from LittleBeachDesigns

This project is SO. MUCH. FUN.  I love the paper she used and all the details!  Head over to her blog for the full scoop!

Halloween Party Idea: The Nest - Spooky Decor

Samantha is one of my favorite bloggers.  She's hilarious and has a ton of talent!  Here are some of her pictures from previous Halloween parties.  Enjoy!

{Love this one!}

Head over to her blog to see what else she did...as well as some ideas on fun Halloween party games!

Fall Inspiration: Little Prairie Baby - Honeyed Fields

Cheyenne of Little Prairie Baby sent the most beautifully worded post in.  She lives in Alberta, and loves the glow of the sun on the fields.  The pictures are beautiful!   Here is her post:   

" A tiny answered prayer, snuggled in purple pajamas with feet, is fast asleep in her cozy nest for the night. Echoes of an Irish Lullaby danced in the shadows of our home as I took steps around the creaks in the floor of the only room she's known....

 

"...Sitting down after The Little Poky Puppy and The Little Red Hen have been put to bed, my body starts to relax, my heart is full, and all is still. I close my eyes and can feel the dust of harvest on my skin and can see the fields of gold that surrounded us tonight. I wonder if it's what Heaven will look like. Does Jesus let the sunshine down on the honeyed fields to give us a little hope for Tomorrow? Tonight, little chubby cheeks full of applesauce sitting on her Daddy's lap for supper in the outdoors, gave me hope. Hope that whispered prayers don't fall on deaf ears...."

"...In the hush of that big ol' prairie sky, I'll crawl into my own nest, waiting for my husband to come in from the field, I'll say a prayer and drift off. I'm choosing to remember Hope. Those moments, even when they are day after day, and you feel like the skin on your hand is peeled right off from hanging onto that last knot on your rope, remember Hope. Hang onto that golden rope instead and remember there will be another day, take a breath in the knowledge of that fact."