Fall Porch

DONE! I'm very happy with how my white pumpkins turned out - both the 2 big fakies and the small real one. And I think I'm liking how my little porch turned out. So come take a tour!
This year I added a few of my antique doll cradles among other things, and I like how they look. I put all the Halloween decor out front and kept the porch "Fall" so it can remain up through November. It looks just a tad sparse (?)... perhaps I need to add a trade blanket or a quilt... or perhaps I need to leave well enough alone :) Truth be told, I would love to do the whole porch in white & black pumpkins with big white candles - wouldn't that be spectacular!!!
Okay, back to reality - LOL :) I approached drawing on each white pumpkin a little differently. The large stars came from a stencil I had made for some terra cotta pots. I used a thin black Sharpie to outline the design onto the pumpkin (making sure it was straight!), and then used a larger black Sharpie to fill in the stars.
This little wreath is really nothing special, but it had lots of color and interest from all kinds of different cones, pods, berries, leaves, etc, and it was very cheerful.
I actually taped off and spray painted a few small orange pumpkins with white spray paint! See the "W" pumpkin? Well, it was lots of fun but you will definitely not be seeing any close-ups! LOL!
As shown in my sneak peek, the other large pumpkin was done by free-handing large numbers in pencil, then I filled the numbers in with different sizes of black Sharpies. That fakie pumpkin material, by the way, was very easy & fun to work with - FYI.
The small pumpkin with all the dots I just drew free-handed with the Sharpies - no pencil required!
Thanks for taking the tour! Hope you liked it! Happy Friday, Happy Halloween, Happy Weekend, and Happy Fall!

sneak peek!

So this year I decided to decorate my front porch with something a just little different than the norm for Halloween and fall decor. I really like white pumpkins but I've never used them before. They're such a blank canvas - I don't know why I've never had some fun with them!
Well I'm sure having some fun now! I bought one real pumpkin - the cute, little one - and two fakies on clearance, figuring it will be fun to use them again next year. I had some ideas of what I could do to embellish them, so without further ado, here is your little sneak peek:
Tee hee! That's all you get to see right now... but the whole porch should be done tomorrow and you'll be the first to see how everything turned out! I'm very excited to put it all together. So don't touch that dial - c'mon back! Same bat time - same bat channel!

I know, I know... I couldn't resist my white Luna posing with the white pumpkins :)

Halloween Dreams

An adorable stop-motion Halloween video from talented Collin Mapp. I watched Collin grow up from the time he was a little boy - he is now 30 and living in New York. Time flies! Enjoy his darling video! *credit and thanks to my friend Lisa for posting this on Facebook :)

*Decorated WHITE PUMPKINS are coming soon! Stay tuned!*

Abracadabra Soap Co.

This is going to be the * SQUEakiEst * CleaNESt * blog post I've ever had the pleasure to write! My creative and talented friend Dana recently started Abracadabra Soap Company, featuring her very own gorgeous, chunky, yummalicious, handmade soap! Oh, the lather... oh, the softness... oh, the aromatherapy every single time you use her soap! Divine!

Take the lovely, swirly example above ~ Persephone ~ "a paradoxical blend of juicy pomegranates, creamy coconut, Mysore sandalwood, with green notes of Eucalyptus, Thyme, Ginger, and Peppermint". Are you even kidding me!?!

My own education in All Things Dana's Soap started with one bar each of Kolohe (bananas! coconuts! mangoes!), and 2 of her Limited Halloween Editions - Bubble Bubble Toil & Trouble (tobacco, pepper, vanilla, pears, sandalwood!), and Black Cat (star anise oil, cherry, almonds!). LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Hook, line, and sinker. I am now patiently waiting for more Dandelion Crown and Vanilla Bean......... did you hear that Dana!?!?!

But wait - there's more! Below is just a small sampling of Abracadabra's offerings:

~ Strawberry EUREKA! ~

"A whirlwind splash of strawberries, mandarins, limes, lemon pie, raspberries, grapes, and ooey gooey sticky caramel. This is just a wisp of Lily of the Valley and a dry woodsy essence"

~ Blue Betty ~

"Blueberry Biscotti drenched in blueberry syrup with hints of vanilla, custard, and cream cheese frosting. Underneath the sweetness is a base of earthy pumpkin, closes and cinnamon"

This is Dana! Isn't she beautiful? I adore this girl :)

CUTEST. FAMILY. EVER.

Just a little bit more about Dana and Abracadabra Soap Company. First of all, Dana puts her heart and soul into everything she does. Knowing handmade soap was the best of the best, she decided to make it herself so her family and others could enjoy quality products at reasonable prices. Being the creative force she is, she enjoys coming up with new blends of scents and textures. Dana uses only the finest ingredients and they are all listed right on her site. Her substantial bars weigh 5-6oz and cost a mere $6. Luxury that lasts and lasts for $6! Amazing.

Dana's following is starting to show by how quickly her bars sell out! But not to worry - she is always making more of her more popular soaps, and is constantly creating fun new ones as well. Check out her "Waiting in the Wings" section, where future soaps are on the curing racks and new ideas are launched. And she encourages plenty of feedback so she knows your faves (and your wishes). You can also follow her blog and join her Facebook Group as well! She's got you covered!

~ Spook! ~ (limited Halloween edition - 1 bar left!)

"a spoooooky concoction of Rhubarb, Block Pepper, and a majestic mix of Frankincense and Myyrrh"

~ Mermaid Melody ~

"a harmonious combination of tart limes, dainty verbena, and yummy coconut. There is a dab of vanilla to soften the tartness while some mermaid bubbles give it a lovely effervescence"

~ Desert Spirit ~

"captures earthiness in every way - it contains notes of Madagascar vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, black pepper, and chili. It is rounded out with warm amber, earthy patchouli and cedarwood"

I love this photo of Dana - such a sassy, hip girl!

So listen peeps! Skidaddle on over to Abracadabra Soap Company and check out all the scentiferous creations waiting for you over there! Order a bunch of bars for yourselves and some to give as gifts for the upcoming holidays! You will be oh so happy you did!

Remember: Cleanliness is next to Godliness!!! LOL

sadness

I would be remiss if I did not post the sadness in my heart today, over the loss of my cousin Rick, the gentle giant of the Campbell family. He passed away early Sunday morning after fighting a sudden combination of critical health conditions that his body could no longer battle... leaving his family shocked and heartbroken. He is pictured here with his beautiful wife Becky, and their 6th grandbaby Kaitlin. My heart is aching for Becky, all their children, and their grandchildren. I feel an awful sadness for my aunt and uncle, who are absolutely devastated. I feel sorrow for my cousins - which includes my precious Shell - who just lost their oldest brother.

Rick, you will always be in our hearts ❤

I don't know why these things happen when they do. I do know that we will have the answers someday. It seems to take a lot of faith - and a lot of heartache - in the meantime. I pray with all my heart, that the Campbell family will be comforted at this time of loss and sorrow.

um... awkward

Okay, okay, okay - I just can't stand it anymore. You all know how much I love the People of Wal-Mart website. It never ceases to astound me. It makes me gasp out loud. Frequently, it makes me want to move to Europe. Permanently. Well I have found yet another website that is just as much fun! Awkward Family Photos is a must-see! It will captivate you! It will entertain you! It will make you waste more time than you can imagine! Seriously funny, peeps - seriously funny :)

Happiest Place on Earth???

This vacation dad has "itinerary" written all over him

WE SAID MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope Grandma doesn't whack me with her beehive

nothing like a loving family packing their arsenal

take a nice long look at this sweet, innocent family...

hmmm... someone missing?

Check out Awkward Family Photos and have a great time!

*photo credits property of awkwardfamilyphotos.com

gangs in suburbia

The NERVE of this intimidating gang - infiltrating this quiet neighborhood in Helena, Montana! In broad daylight! My friend Wendy sent these to me - her son and his family live in Helena - and it made me smile. I just had to post them because it reminded me so much of when we lived on top of a mountain in Sandpoint, Idaho. We encountered moose and other wildlife all the time. I looked up once just in time to see a moose running lickety-split right through our back yard. So funny :) But the pics of this suburban neighborhood just cracked. me. up.

"Hey you guys - do I look like one of those plastic deer?"

apologies in advance

sorry - I just couldn't help myself.

I saw those teeth and that expression and totally lost it :)

Have a very casual day!

*photo credits to: I have no idea but your dog is awesome

Zombie Night

So Saturday night was Zombie Night in our town. Zombie Night consisted of a Zombie Walk through town (450 groaning zombies) and a Zombie Prom held back at the comic book store with food (I guess even zombies get hungry?) and entertainment. Davy's band, Cost of the Recall, was one of the bands performing. Two of it's members returned home from college for this event, as this would be the band's final performance - a bittersweet but very fun evening.

Here are Matthew and his friends Jeffery and David all bloodied up and looking very zombie-like.

Nice job guys!

And not 5 minutes later, Davy and Liam pull up looking extremely dead and sunken-eyed and creepy.
Liam was very pasty and scary and already playing the part. He was totally ready for the Zombie Prom. I was impressed.
I especially liked the scabs and blood coming out of his nose. Extra points for that.

stumbling along on the Zombie Walk

two heads are better than one

Ah, here we are at the comic book store, and it's time for Cost of the Recall's farewell performance! Davy looks deep in zombie concentration. Perhaps he has lost too much blood. Perhaps he is dizzy from the platform shoes he and Liam made. Perhaps he is regretting this blog post.
Seriously, it was an electric evening in every way. Every band member was at their best. They sounded awesome. They had the most amazing time ever. The crowd sang along to their songs. They were their usual personality-filled selves :)

If we could only get Davy to keep his clothes on while he performs...

gotta love it :)

*special thanks to Liam Moore for the majority of these pics!