CandyCorn Sunshine

I whipped up (quite literally because I beat the frosting on super high speed...)
some cAnDYcoRn CuPCakEs.
I saw this idea last year (BHG I believe??) and I've wanted to make them ever since! I've even seen these pop up a little bit on the www this year. They're super fun!

I had this little display set up for my kids to enjoy when they came home from school!

We don't celebrate Halloween in the traditional sense. Though we don't participate, I do SO delight in the adorable children all dressed up with cuddly costumes and painted on button noses that patter around on this celebrated day! And candied apples on a stick are such a treat!

BUT...we do overly obsess over other holidays instead.

I enjoy seeking out the light in life: warm, bright, and happy things. I'm not a fan of the black darkness, tombstones, or grossness (is that a word?!) that Halloween brings. I know it's all in fun but I still haven't seen an attractive skeleton...and monsters freak me out! And I just can't get excited about filling my house with spiderwebs and big black spiders. I have enough of that without intentionally adding more. ;)

I prefer comfort over fright.
Color over dark.
Hope over despair.
Beauty over ugliness.
Fresh life over death.
Smiles with rosy cheeks over blood stains and painted on frowns.

However, if YOU my friends are celebrating, I will gladly share your enthusiasm over your creatively made costumes, or perfectly carved pumpkins as you unwrap another sweet treat to eat!

One. More. Thing.
I have always so adored this poem
and wanted to share it with you all as we close the month.

October Gave a Party!
the leaves by hundreds came
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And the leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
-George Cooper

(above photo courtesy of google image search)

"I want to be in the light as You are in the light,
I want to shine like the stars in the heavens..."
-DC Talk

This post is linked to:
The Beautiful Life at the Inspired Room

Secret Agent Party INVITES

The Name Is Bond,
James Bond.

It's a TOP SECRET,
Secret Agent,
Spy Party
for our oldest son, Skyler.



Here are the invites:

Click on photo to see detail

Secret Cipher Cards:

Next week I will share the party details!

Family Rules: Dance in the Rain

Dance in the Rain is such a beautiful phrase and what an excellent life application! We all pass through seasons of difficulty. BUT if we can figuratively dance through the rain, it's a lot smoother journey. Attitude is key to happiness....especially during the storms in our life.

As I was thinking about all of this one day, I realized that there were a few more life lessons that I wanted my family to know about....I just needed a way to express it as a daily reminder!

Then I came across the most beautiful canvas of FAMILY RULES on Lindsey's blog. I knew I could take that concept and use some rules mixed in with helpful phrases to create MY OWN canvas! I mentioned in my giveaway post that I was doing a project from Lindsey's lovely blog and this is it, finally!

Here's the how to:

-Paint your blank canvas. I painted the whole thing but really you just need to cover the edges and sides. I used a 24x36 inch wrapped canvas. The original canvas on Lindsey's blog was made with one much bigger though.


-Select your paper (this is the fun part!)


-Cut your paper using varied widths and fun edges. I have scissors and rulers that do some fun cuts as you see in these photo below:
I left some edges straight as you can see here:

I also used traced the edges of bowls to cut some scalloped edges, see photo below:


-Use mod podge to adhere your paper to your canvas. This stuff was a little beast for me! It wouldn't cooperate, leaving my project with tons of flaws!! BUT, I tried my best and that's good enough {wink}. I also used the gloss finish mod podge to give my canvas a finished look. I did 2 coats on the top of the paper. Let this dry overnight.

For fonts I read ideas to either use scrapbook vinyl stickers or print out fonts from online. You can also just "go with it" and write using your own style. I wrote free hand and just went with it to give it a more personal look. I used Painter's Paint Pens and they ROCK!! I adore these pens now! I used dark brown with a medium point. Here are some up close shots of some of my varied writings:

And this last font I waited until the paint was almost dry then I dabbed and rubbed a Q Tip on it repeatedly to give it a worn look.
-To finish the project off, I added ribbon to either side of the canvas. The ribbons are two completely different sizes, patterns, and colors because my intentions with this canvas were to have the whole thing be mixed and varied.

- I also added a couple paper frames to cover my mistakes embellish it.

This square frame was originally a bright white and it looked terrible! So I soaked it in a cup of tea to give it a more antiqued look so it would match my color theme.

And that's a wrap!

MOORE FAMILY RULES
1) Show respect at all times
2) Celebrate together
3) Cuddle when you're sad
4) Keep your promises
5) Dance in the rain
6) Never give up
7) Use gentle words
8) Be on each others team
9) Work cheerfully
10) Be honest always
11) Listen with your heart
12) Forgive easily

This post is linked to:

Meet Little Scarecrow, AND...

...my cousin Jessica! She JUST recently started a blog and she has lots of treasures tucked away in her head! For example, look at these incredible cupcakes that she created!

How cute is this?

They look like they're from a magazine not her kitchen!

You can visit her new blog HERE. But today, I wanted to share a Fall Project that she recently did. This isn't MY project...I don't sew! But I thought it was so adorable that I immediately asked her if I could share it here.

Here are some basics Jessica gave to
making your own little October Scarecrow:

JESSICA SAYS...

-Start by cutting fabric of your choice into a circle. (Make sure you cut this LARGER than your desired size of head because it will be sewed and stuffed!)

-Cut more fabric into a rectangle with a neck pattern for the body

-Sew your head piece and body/neck piece together leaving an opening in the head and one in the side of the body to stuff your scarecrow.

-Put a produce bag in the bottom of the body and fill it with 2 lbs of pinto beans for weight. Tie it off with a twisty tie.

-Then stuff the head and body and sew it up!

- Cut eyes, nose, and mouth out of felt and hot glue them to the face.

- Then, cut raffia for hair and hot glue in to the head in the shape desired.

- Attach a hat over the hair with thread and a needle.

- We dressed the scarecrow in 24 month old clothes that we found at goodwill.

- Then cut more raffia for the hands and feet. Take string and tie the raffia inside each limb with a bow.
- On the back of his head cut a small rectangle and and sew it for a broom handle to fit into. Then wedge the broom handle in the bale of hay sting and hang your little guy on the broom handle.



- He will fold up for easily storage too!

~A little idea~
Try using BURLAP for your fabric, you'll have one stylish little Fall Scarecrow.

What a perfect touch for your Autumn front porch!
You'll want to squeeze him every time you walk by.

If you have any questions, ask Jessica. And remember, I don't SEW, therefore asking me won't work. {wink}

For More Works for Me Wednesday Ideas, Click on the button below!







I am linking up to the FALL PARTY at DIY Showoff too!

Party On...Creative Party Place *Feature*

I'm sort of giddy right now {doesn't take much}!

The BLACK AND WHITE CHECKER party I did last Summer
for my Dad's 50th Birthday has been featured
on an amazing Party Idea website: Creative Party Place.

If you've never been to there, you're missing out! Creative Party Place features many unique and creative parties that
will fuel your imagination for the next party you host.


And if you click HERE, you can see my black and white checkered party on THEIR site. I'm re-posting some of the fun party shots and links on my blog today as well!

The original post on my blog for the featured party. CLICK HERE.

ALSO!! A week later,
this posh little 50th party bash
for my Mom was featured on
Creative Party Place as well!

this one was the Pink and Black: CLICK HERE.

PS I have three boys, as most of you know, and am ALWAYS looking for party ideas for the Boy theme...if you have any excellent ideas, please share. :)

Walls Wrapped in Charm

It's time for the big reveal that I discussed HERE!

I was patiently waiting for my window coverings to come in before I posted this BUT I've just been informed that they are on backorder until November 27th!! I am overly tired and bored with wood blinds so I was searching for an alternative! Needless to say, I'm not waiting...you'll just have to see it without the window coverings.


I have always wanted beadboard in my home sweet home. In fact, we had some put up in our first home that we bought shortly after we were married. I've wanted beadboard AGAIN ever since! When I came across an idea on the Lettered Cottage for a photo ledge {with beadboard} I was instantly consumed with the desire to transform my dining room! And if you know me, once I get "instantly consumed", I can't stop until it's accomplished.

I am sure many of you have had your jaws drop over the incredible changes at the Lettered Cottage. (Yes, it is one of my favorite web sites too!) Layla and her husband are exceptionally talented...Thank you both for this exciting inspiration!

I was still mesmerized by the photo ledge I saw on their website when my brother came over for dinner one night. I excitedly showed him the photos of it and he jumped out of his chair and suggested that we leave for Lowe's right that instant and get to work. It was past 8pm and I thought he was crazy! But that is one thing I love about him: he gets things done and helps everyone else get it done too. Indeed, we rolled up our sleeves and worked well into the night and beyond.



OKAY, onto the good stuff:

BEFORE: not bad, just boring

DURING: One, Two, Three, Four
Yes, I enlisted a total of 4 men to help me!

AFTER: dining room wrapped in charmI took the leaf out of the table
to give this room a more "everyday" look
This French postal bag is from the always amazing, Ballard Designs

The biggest difference that struck me was my dining room now has it's own identity. Before, all the rooms ran together and your eyes got lost. This change made it pop and set it apart, creating it's own little cuddly corner.

A tip for you to remember if your house has an open floor plan. If you customize a room, it may help set your rooms apart and avoid the maze of everything running together.

All the decor and details for you lovelies to see...
(and a poem!)

Overheard in an Orchard
by Elizabeth Chaney 1859

"Said the Robin to the Sparrow...

I should really like to know...

Why these Anxious human beings...

Rush about and worry so...

Said the Sparrow to the Robin...

Friend I think that it must be...That they have no Heavenly Father...

Such as cares for you and me."

One more time! {wink}
My oldest son just memorized this poem in school
and it is simple and beautiful.

Overheard In An Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow
"I would really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin
"Friend I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."

--Elizabeth Chaney - 1859