Topiary Project...

I was lurking around Miss Kitty's blog and found a simple but cute topiary that she made with items she already had. Since I'm on a holiday accessory diet, I thought I could tackle this project without spending a dime AND add some Fall to my outdoor eating area. (we have to add Fall colors here in the desert, they don't come naturally)

So I grabbed a pot from my pot stash and added a saucer.

I wrapped this old swag around the saucer.

And added a fall wreath/swag (whatever you call these things).

I didn't have a pumpkin...which is what I really wanted.
But I did have this iron pumpkin and candle.

And viola! A little more Fall to the Fall-less scenery.

A little more Halloweeny....

Halloween Decor in the Front Entryway...

I just noticed the kids shoes in the floor. :(

Remember Matilda from last year? Her mother is mysteriously missing this year.

I won this candle holder at bunco. I use those battery operated tea lights. I don't have to worry about forgetting to blow out the candle. I just turn it on and go.

Can you believe this cute little pumpkin is now 10 years old? Where does the time go?

A shoeless picture. :-)

Say hello to my little friend Bruce! Don't get too close though.

My youngest placed these huge spiders in the front window.
Do you think they'll keep solicitors away?

And of course the wickedest witch of them all is hanging out in the bathroom.

Oh she's not that bad. ;-)

You're probably sick and tired of seeing my dining room table.

However I can't help but show off two new items that I found at Ross.

This cute little...

well I'm not sure what the heck it is.
It's too small for a pitcher.
So I thought I could use it for gravy.

These cute little jars are for cream and sugar...I couldn't resist.

The temps are finally lower which means fuzzy blankets and hot cocoa every evening.

Oh, and one more thing...to the person that keeps buying all the candy cane cocoa at Sam's Club...watch your back girly...I will find you! ;-)

It's Fall Ya'll....

Updated to join Rhoda's blog party at Southern Hospitality.


Well, technically it's not Fall here in the desert. In fact it was 104 degrees yesterday. But that wouldn't stop me from decorating for Fall...no not at all.

Here is Fall in the kitchen.

Although that big ol' jar of candy corn no longer exists, it sure made a nice picture.

Here are my dollar store pumpkins from last year.

Fall in the Family room...

This cute little box is from Darlene of Darlene's Days.

I changed out my pictures to my favorite Fall/Halloween pic's.













This cute little kitty box is from Cherry at Cherry's Jubilee.

And here is the only Fall you'll see outside.

My witches and spiders are out but that's for another time.

I can hardly wait for cooler weather. Bring on the fuzzy blankets and hot cocoa!!

Fall Table, A Few Scarecrows and School....

I'm slowly but surely getting my Fall Decorations out.

I bought these cute leaf plates at Walmart. An idea I got from Ceekay's blog. She has such great table scape ideas. In fact, it's completely her fault that I'm even decorating my table. ;-)

I bought this little tea light holder from the dollar store last year.

The S&P shakers are from Walmart.
(Maybe Walmart should start paying me for advertising?)

You probably remember my scarecrow bird house from last year.
He is sitting on a small fall wreath.

This little guy is also sitting on a fall wreath.

Well that's hardly it. I have lots more Fall and Halloween decorations to get out but it's going to take time with my school schedule.

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School...

I had a terrible week at school. Two tests and a quiz. My philosophy class was seriously kicking my butt. It's probably the hardest class I've ever taken.
(this being my second degree...I've taken a lot of classes)

Over the weekend I was studying for the test. I've always believed that if you didn't understand something you study more until you understand.

Well I finally laid my head in my hands and cried.

I'm NOT grasping the concepts. After reading the chapters over and over, it still wasn't clicking. It's part of philosophy called Logic. Maybe I'm just not logical, maybe I think with only my right brain. How in the heck do I get my right brain to expand its horizons?

I decided to go through with the test but if my grade was bad I would have to withdraw. The idea of throwing $300 bucks out the door doesn't appeal to me but neither does the stress. And for pete's sake, I can't cry over a test in front of my kids.

I would have to admit defeat and move on.

So I returned to class to get my test. The teacher lists on the board how many students got A's, B's, etc. It look like this:

A=9
B=15
C=11
D=1
F=0


There is one D. Could that be me? Could I be the only looser in the class?

This could be a huge hit to my self esteem.

Low and behold the teacher handed me my test....an A. What, is this my test? Talk about complete and total shock. I almost cried again. The young lady next to me was looking at me like I had lost my marbles. I had won this war, I had conquered this test, I fought the test and I won. Okay, so maybe it's not that big. But is sure felt BIG.

So I'm going to hang in there. It may take me extra study time, more crying and more stress but I'm determined to kicks its butt.

Fall and Halloween Inspiration...

While I'm still arranging (and rearranging) my Fall/Halloween decorations...I thought I would share some inspiration pic's I took last year at a local store.

If these pictures don't get you in the mood for Fall...nothin' will.

I should have picture's of my Fall decor soon...but seeing that I have a this need to arrange and rearrange my decoration many times,
it just may be awhile. :-)