a special wish.

before the day runs out, i have to send a special wish to my twin sister lisa... happy birthday!!!  i love you so much... thank you for always being by my side no matter the distance that separates us. and thanks mom for giving birth to us forty years ago today!! (even though you thought you were having a big baby boy!) can you believe we are now forty??? 

hello monday.

how was your weekend? our weekend highlight was a friday night dinner we shared among friends. i made four different pizzas and an antipasta salad and served an apple cake for dessert. (i found the recipe here). the weather was cooler and it was the  perfect night to have the fireplace burning. i am loving this cooler weather and the way we seem to be surrounded by vibrant hues of red and gold everywhere we go. it seems to make the days a little bit brighter even when it's totally gray outside like today.  

hello monday.  hello wonderful brightness of fall.

friday + the weekend + some things.

 

happy friday. has your weekend officially begun yet? i am so happy it's friday. i'm looking forward to enjoying a cool fall weekend at home. i am hoping we'll enjoy smore's by the fire and i want to spend some time in the kitchen baking. i have a basket of apples that i need to use, so i am thinking an apple pie with a cheddar crust is in order.

whatever your plans, i hope you enjoy the weekend! here are some things you might enjoy too-

diy- festive fall fabric pumpkins 

love this thanksgiving pie topper

funny party idea

25 ways to wear a scarf- what a great tutorial

and, a simple and inexpensive hostess gift

happy friday. happy weekend!

{photo via martha stewart}

my little saint and some tears.

today, sia participated in the all saints day parade at her preschool. as i packed the costume in her school bag this morning, i couldn't help but become a little teary-eyed. this costume has been worn by all of my children. slade first wore it just after he turned three during his very first year of preschool. and, today sia wore it for the last time. next year she'll be off to kindergarten. i am definitely a mama who is sad about her babies growing up.
 

halloween.

hope your halloween was wonderfully fun as ours. we had such a great time with some of our closest friends and neighbors.  and, our subdivision seemed like it was filled with thousands of kids and adults walking the streets in merriment. it was such a great night to be out and about. needless to say, we had a puppy, ladybug and rock star that were quite happy with all of their treats at the end of the night too!

hope your halloween this year was a good one!