Fall in OH-IO

In the beginning, God created the heaven & the earth... and nailed it!  How gorgeous is Ohio this time of year?!

Fall is my favorite season, fresh brisk air, leaves of every color, candles, & warm blankets to cozy up in.  Of course, fall isn't fall without pumpkins.  Check out some pumpkins & decorations the Swaneys are showing off this year :)

My 2-year old niece wanted to be Mike Wyzowski for Halloween and my sister got the idea of making a Mike Wyzowski tutu from Etsy.  So she came to me and asked if I could come up with a costume. I have to say, it turned out pretty cute!

I also don't hate the fact that this sweet boy (my nephew) just joined the world on October 9.

I went with a few friends & checked out the Circleville Pumpkin Show which was dangerous for those who love pumpkin flavored food & drinks.  I had a pumpkin spice cappuccino, pumpkin chili, and a pumpkin donut to top it off. I couldn't find it in me to try the deep fried pumpkin pie...

And of course, you can't forget about Ohio State football games!

$10 DIY Shelves

Since we moved into our house in January, we have slowly worked on projects that have turned our house into a home.  These shelves were the perfect addition to the great room and can be easily customized to match your style!

The best part?  You will only need to purchase 3 supplies for a total of $20 ($10 per shelf!)

Supplies needed:

• 2 brackets per shelf - you can find these at a JoAnn's, Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Lowes, or Home Depot (mine were from Hobby Lobby) 
• 1 piece of wood per shelf - Mine was 3/4" tall and is about 7" deep and 48" long 
• Wood stain or paint - Color of your choice 
• Wood screws (smaller than the height of your wood)
• Drywall screws (count depends on your brackets)
• Drill

Directions:

1. Completely stain or paint your wood, let dry
2. Paint nail heads to match your stain or paint color
3. Once dry, measure and mark bracket placement on wood.  Make sure you measure the same distance in from the outside of the shelves
4. Drill screws into wood as tightly as you can
5. Next, you want to use the drywall screws to secure your shelves onto the wall.

*You can never be too careful making sure your shelves are aligned evenly.  I measured from the ground and made a small marking on the wall where I would be drilling.

Congratulations on your beautiful new shelves!  Share your success story/picture!

A Nautical Baby Shower

ahoy!

Angie is having a boy!

Let's celebrate the calm before the storm

Favors: "She's about to pop!" goody bags filled with bubble-gum, blow-pops, ring pops, and popcorn

Guestbook: A funny alternative!  Some favorites - "Take cover!", "Daddy does brown"

Gift/Drinks table

I was able to reuse so many items left over from our wedding and previous crafts. These picture frames were also used as our table numbers for our wedding. 

My attempt at a diaper boat ;)
Sail is a washcloth, bottom striped area is a receiving blanket

Prizes for the games!
Games played: Measuring Mommy, What's that smell?, & The Price is Right
I forgot to add an "Atta boy!" tag to these... but still cute

My favorite game!  I melted 5 different candy bars and had the guests smell the diapers to identify the candy!  Only one person got all 5 right... but a couple girls taste tested!

Amazing cupcakes & mini apple pies made by Danielle Davis - Sweet Dee's Delightful Treats

4 Generations of awesomeness ;)

$10 DIY Throw Ladder

What have I found to be the best part of being a home-owner?  Knowing that there is no rush to get projects done, because no matter how hard we work, there will always be another project waiting for us when we finish.  
Being a new homeowner, I've had SO many craft ideas running through my mind.  Unfortunately, other projects kept taking precedence and I was denying myself my therapy -- errr... craft time.  For 4 months, I had a laundry basket sitting in the corner of the room to store blankets and to "fill up space".  I was inspired by Pottery Barn decor (link here) to create a ladder to hold throw blankets. But was definitely not inspired by the pricetag of $179.
So how can you make one yourself for 5% of the cost?  You'll need the following supplies:

• 2 - 2x2s ($2 each)
• 2 - 1" dowel rods ($2 each)
• Saw
• Drill
• Screws
• Paint of your choice (I used a sample-sized wood stain for $3)

Step 1: Measure your dowel rods (mine was 48") and mark the rod at both 1/3 and 2/3 of the total length.

Step 2: Saw through dowel rods at marked areas.

Step 3: Paint dowel rods,  2x2s, and top of screws with paint of your choice.

Step 4: Measure total length of your 2x2s and divide by the amount of rungs you would like to use +1 

e.g. 78" in length/(5 rungs+1)=13"

Step 5: Line up your dowel rod perpendicular to the 2x2 the appropriate distance from the end of the 2x2 (e.g. 13").

Step 6: Using a drill-bit, drill through the 2x2 into the dowel rod (from the outside in).  Next, use the drill to place screws into the 2x2, holding the dowel in place.

Step 7: Repeat on all dowel rods, and again on the other 2x2, connecting all pieces of the ladder.

Step 8: Find a cute location and enjoy!