Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

We're having a... BOY!!!

Inspired

After spending Labor Day weekend decorating my house with the few fall decorations I own, I felt like our house was still too blah. Jake and I have been talking about finally painting, but we haven't decided on any colors yet (ugh it's so hard to choose!). I felt like our walls and rooms needed some extra oomph so I enlisted my good friend Stacie, whose house is gorgeous, to take me to all of her favorite bargain places for some new home decor (Marshalls, Kirkland, JoAnns).

How had I not known about these places before? It was a blast!!! And I only spent around $250 (this includes some of those Fall decorations you just saw).

Here are some of my new pieces. LOVE!

Here's our front door on the inside. I actually haven't figured out where to put this piece. I didn't buy it with Stacie, but it's taken me 2 years to nail up!

This is our living room before (boring walls!)

Pow! This is it after with a couple of great red flower pictures! Now I'm inspired to buy some red knick-knacks, candles, throw pillows, or a throw blanket.

We got this vase for the ground. I need to get some long reeds/twigs to put in it (maybe red or white colored).

Picked out this rod iron number for above the TV. Didn't love it. But it goes great over our kitchen window. Yes, I know I need curtains desperately. I'm so curtain challenged.

Couple of sconces for the stairway. I only had 1 candle, so it's back to the store I go!

We got all brand new bedroom furniture. And no bedding yet that we love. But I LOVED this "Family Tree" piece. Wish those windows weren't there.

Half bathroom downstairs needed something. My next shopping excursion I'm buying matching towels for this.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Fall!!! It's my favorite season and rarely experienced here in Arizona. :( But... I refuse to let it pass me by even in this triple digit miserable heat. I decorate! I love pumpkins and orange and red leaves. I love scents of cinnamon and apple pie. I love that it's the only time of the year (Sept-Dec) where my job actually slows down and I can relax and enjoy my surroundings. It's simply the best. Here are some of my latest Fall decorations I just put out!

I had to start with some magazines for inspiration!

Crock Pot Success

I'm always looking for quick and easy ways to make a home cooked meal since Jake and I are constantly on the run. Luckily I stumbled across the "Crock Pot Girls" page on Facebook and found all kinds of ladies sharing their tips and recipes. This one I soundy yummy so I thought I'd try. Turns out... It was delicious!

Chicken Marsala
3 frozen chicken breasts
2 cans of Campbell's Golden Mushroom soup (no water added)
1 package of fresh chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup Marsala cooking wine

Place all contents into the crock pot.
Mix sauces and mushrooms together.
Cook on Low for 6 hours.
Remove chicken after.
Take gravy left in the pot and put into a sauce pan.
Thicken gravy on the stove by heating up and adding cold water and flour.

Serve with angel hair pasta. Viola!

True Beauty

Ralph Quote of the Week:
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
— Ralph Waldo Emerson