Celebrate Shelter Pets Day

Did you know today was Celebrate Shelter Pets Day on Facebook? I sure did! And since I already made my Facebook post asking folks to adopt a shelter pet of their own, I thought I'd take a second to show off my shelter pet here, too.

He's orange. He's snuggly. He makes biscuits like it's his job. He can be a little terd. And he makes every one of my days so happy.

If you're thinking of adopting a pet soon, go to a shelter. There are lots of cuddle bugs hoping for good homes and good owners like YOU!

Number 16

Number 16 can be crossed off the list. I loaded up the fam on Saturday for a little field trip to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum where we walked around oohing and aahing over huge mammoths and saber-tooth cats and learned lots of juicy facts about what Los Angeles was like during the last Ice Age.

It was educational and entertaining (and there was a photo booth at the exit - which made it all that much better).

The photo above is me with a whole lot of wolf skulls. Creepy.

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2010 has come and gone, leaving us tired and full and tired and full. It was great having my parents here and getting to show them around the city a bit. They even helped me scratch something off the list (more on that tomorrow). It was also fun to host our very first guests in our very first guest bedroom - so "married-like" of us. But now that it's all over, boy are we tired. You now that whole "I need a vacation from my vacation" thing? That's totally me right now. Totally.

When all of the cooking was done, the turkey turned out fantastic, the sweet potatoes were extra sweet, the rolls were buttery and my flourless chocolate cake was sooo wonderfully chocolatey. The best part of it all? The leftovers, of course! (Which I'm happy that we still have plenty of because I can't wait to curl up with some sweet pototoes and bread pudding while I watch this tonight and this tomorrow.)

Photos above from my Thanksgiving day tablescape (and a few of Mason and I - what's a holiday without fun hats??)

Thankfuls

Since this will most likely be my last post until after Thanksgiving, I thought I'd dedicate it to all of my thankfuls.

This year, I'm thankful for (in no particular order):

1. My cute husband (and the super fun wedding/reception we were able to have)
2. My sister and best friend (who sends me funny cat videos that make me cry)
3. Snocones (and snocone trucks)
4. Family (really big, crazy ones)
5. Starbucks coffee in red cups (always a festive addition to the day)
6. Cajun (my number one furry side kick)
7. Krispy Kreme donuts (and sprinkles for every occasion!)
8. Wheat fields (and lakes and boat rides and all of it)

And if I can add a few more that aren't pictured:

9. Blog writers (for keeping me entertained and inspired - you rock)
10. Blog readers (for reading - you warm my heart)

With that said, I'm off to do a whole lot of baking, slicing, boiling, roasting, sweeping, and mopping.

I hope you have the happiest of Thanksgivings, and I'll see you back here next week!

Christmas Card Outtakes

Let me start out by saying two things:

#1 - I really do love my wonderful husband who goes along with all of my silly ideas (which sometimes include Santa hats and photo shoots.)
#2 - Taking photos with a cat who is not happy to be wearing a Santa hat is not the easiest thing in the world.

I'm very excited to report that I ordered our Christmas cards yesterday (a few outtakes from our photo shoot above). I ended up going with a photo card from Tiny Prints, and they've been fantastic to work with. The designer working on my order actually called me on the phone with a few questions, and he even offered to lighten up the gold tones in the photos if I'd like. (What a nice, nice guy - and yes, I would like that very much.)

I can't wait to get them in the mail and see how they turned out. I'll post a photo just as soon as they've been signed, sealed and delivered!

Thanksgiving Placeholders

As of yesterday, Thanksgiving preparations are in full swing around my place. Cleaning, washing, organizing, decorating - you name it, we've got it going on. I put together the table placeholders last night (pictured above). I used little mini pumpkins, left over leaves I had from the fall leaf garland, and some green paper to make the name leaves. I think they turned out super cute, and I can't wait to put the whole table together on Thursday.

And speaking of decorating, with a little inspiration (in the form of my parents coming to visit from Texas in 3 short days), I finished putting the guest bedroom together this weekend (photos coming soon!). I'm so, so happy that it's done, and I love the way it turned out. Multiple times this weekend, Mason found me leaning in the doorway just enjoying the way it all looks (now that's when you know you've done it right).

Brown On The Brain

I'm still letting the hair dye idea roll around in my head, and these pics of Katie Holmes' super cute (and super shiny) bob are inching me closer to the brunette side of life. The color just looks so healthy, and my split ends sure could use a good dose of healthy right about now. Maybe I'll take the plunge this weekend...

Which reminds me - I'm so happy it's Friday! I've got Christmas shopping on the agenda this weekend, which makes me SO EXCITED. I've also got shopping-for-myself-for-no-reason on the agenda, which is always a good time.

But before I go, a couple things:

1. Chubby baby legs make me happy.
2. Decorative panel molding (like in this living room) makes me drool.

Ok, that's all. Happy weekend to you!

Holiday Card Garland & Bayou Fun

Given my love for any sort of banner/bunting/garland, it's really no surprise that I adore this idea for stringing holiday cards (photo above from the latest Urban Outfitters catalog). Mason actually saw it and suggested we copy - I wholeheartedly agreed. (By the way, did you know that "wholeheartedly" was all one word? Because I didn't until I typed it and used my trusty spell checker. English lesson for the day!)

Also, for those of you who aren't from the Southeast Texas area (that wonderful place where I was born and raised) and want to learn a little about it's swampy goodness, check this out. The Daytripper is a fun little TV show all about day trips, produced and hosted by my fellow PNG High School class of '99 alumn, Chet Garner. I particularly like the part about the gators and the crawfish. That's how we get down on the bayou, sha.

Snoozing Cajun

Do I think my cat is the cutest cat in the world? Oh yes, I most certainly do - although I will admit Maru is a super close second. (Photos above from yesterday morning when Mason tucked Cajun into his spot in the bed after he got up. Cajun loved every minute of it.)

In other, non-cat-related news, I'm thinking of dying my hair dark for the fall. Maybe a brown. Or a red. Blonde works best with a tan, and that is something I certainly do not have these non-beach-going days. Wish me luck!

Hair Envy

I love Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland so much. I love her music, her style - and her hair, oh her hair. In fact, if I could switch bodies and become Jennifer Nettles, I would do it - no questions asked - but, since body-switching isn't really an option these days, I suppose I'll have to settle for copying her new short 'do. I recently chopped mine a little shorter than usual and I'm not completely loving it, but if I could perfect Jennifer's waves, I would be one happy lady.

P.S. - If you're in the mood for a little reading, check this out. Great storytelling and serious romance - just what we all need on a Tuesday afternoon.

#25

#25 can be crossed off the list! I'm particularly excited about this one, since I've been waiting forever and ever and ever to get my hands on something (anything!) Jonathan Adler. I went with the diamond pattern, and it makes me so happy every time I look at it. (I may even make special trips to my bedroom just so I can touch it... But you didn't hear that from me.)




May this be the first of many, many Jonathan Adler pillows I can call my own - and may your weekend be fantastic!

Give Thanks

Our entryway got a little Thanksgiving make-over this past weekend. I took the black and orange painted pumpkins out, hung a fall wreath and added a "Give Thanks" banner. Now it makes me smile every time I walk in and reminds me of all the sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce waiting for me in three short weeks.

The banner was super easy to make. I used one of the giant paper pads from JoAnn's (I so love those things) and cut squares and triangles out. I used colored construction paper to draw and cut out the letters, then glued them onto the squares. Next, I punched holes in the corners of all the squares and triangles and strung them together with jute.

Voila! Instant Thanksgiving-ness.

Cajun Ball

How cute is this photo? I like to call it "Cajun Ball." This is pretty much what he did all weekend, while I ate ice cream, watched movies and completed quite a few little craft projects. All in all, very relaxing and productive.

Now that it's Monday, the change in time has got me down. This getting dark at 5:00 pm is for the birds, but I am going to try and utilize the extra hour of light in the morning to get some exercise in. We'll see how that goes. (If you know how much I like to sleep in, you're probably guessing it - or should I say I - won't be going anywhere - and you'd probably be right, but a girl can hope.)

I've got craft updates and things to scratch off the birthday list this week so check back tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Prints

You know I love a good Keep Calm print and these are free, which makes me like them even more. Download and print your own Thanksgiving Keep Calm prints from Craftily Ever After here, here and here.

And some other fun Friday things:

1. I so wish my hair was long enough to do this.

2. Getting in the gift-giving mood yet? Check this out for lots of ideas.

3. More cute holiday cards here - How will I ever decide??

May your weekend (and mine) be long and leisurely!

Jonathan Adler Style

Remember that Jonathan Adler gift card my amazing sister got me for my wedding shower? Well, I've finally decided what I'd like to spend it on - a classic Jonathan Adler needlepoint throw pillow!

Jonathan Adler throw pillows are to die for - seriously - and after much contemplation, I've narrowed it down to one of the two above....I think. Our bedroom is going to look fantastic with a great big pop of color and a great big splash of JA style.

I'm so looking forward to my walk down Montana St. this weekend with my very first Jonathan Adler purchase in hand (complete with goofy grin and skip in step).

(And for those of you who don't get my obsession with all things Jonathan Adler, read this. How can you not love this guy?)

Holiday Greetings

Since it's now November, a post about holiday cards is completely acceptable, right? That's what I thought. Being that this will be my first holiday season as a married woman, I've been excited about sending holiday cards to friends and family (doesn't it just seem like something married people do?).

I'd like to send one with a photo (I have a little idea that possibly involves Cajun in his Santa suit), and I'm loving the designs above - all from Minted. Now if only I can train Cajun to smile through his velcro beard...

Pier Gazing

We spent Halloween weekend in Redondo Beach, and our hotel was right across from the pier. We walked down to grab a bite to eat and watch some football before getting into our costumes, and I coudn't resist taking a little photo walk. It was warm and sunny and the water was glistening in the pretty way that water does and I even saw a seal swimming by making lots of funny seal noises (which I thought was incredibly neat).

Halloweekend

Another Halloween has come and gone, and I can't believe it's already November! Our Halloweekend was a fun one. We celebrated on Saturday night and our soldier costumes were a hit, complete with fake tattoos and camouflage weapons (check us out above). We were fierce. We spent the night with a couple of cops, an 80's rocker, a lifeguard, a bumble bee, Snooki and Pauly D, and it was fun, fun, fun.

Last night, we thought we'd cap things off with a scary movie (even though we really don't like scary movies). We went with The Lovely Bones, which may not be scary to some, but totally creeped us out. Halloween mission accomplished.

(And by the way, if you're ever faced with the challenge of removing a sizeable amount of fake tattoos, the secret is baby oil....lots and lots of baby oil.)