Happy Halloween

A few crummy pictures of my little house in all her Halloween semi-glory. I really did try, but I waited until it was to dark out so everything just kinda looks orange, thanks to the orange twinkle lights.
I'm going to take a few more tonight, when the actual trick-or-treaters are around, but then Halloween will be over, oh well. Better luck next year, hu?

Martha Stewart Yarn

You guys I am way to excited about Lion Brand's new collaboration with Martha. I actually saw some a few weeks ago while at the craft store, but didn't really have a chance to check it out, so when I got my weekly email from Lion Brand I made a point of poking around their website. Is this the greatest yarn I've ever seen? No. Are they the best colors out there? Well not the best ever, but the color is what has my excited, with the exception of going to my local yarn shop (and spending way to much on the most lovely wool), it is really hard to find wool yarn in "good colors". Just ask cousin Lydia (my partner in yarn buying crime!), all the yarn that you find in your regular craft/fabric store is going to be either baby or granny (not that I'm not a fan of the granny, I think you have to be a little bit of a granny fan to be a crocheter, but I'm not really into the colors that they think grannies want to work with). And say what you will about Ms. Stewart, lady knows color. And say what you will about me, but I know an impulse yarn buy and this is the kinda stuff those are made of. Check out the whole collection right here, and please tell me someone is going to make those super cute sheep!

I'll take on that challenge

There are a few lovely bloggers who have put together a little Pinterest challenge. This is actually the second challenge they have done, but I found myself a little to busy to join in last time, this time however I am ready and already have my inspiration all picked out.
I have been lovingly gazing at this paint treatment for a while now. I'm not going to be painting a cross stitch roses on my walls, but I am going to be using this idea as a starting point for my project. Check back next week for the finished product.

If you love the pinning as much as me and want to join in on the fun, you can find all the deets over on Young House Love.

Wrap it Up

Now that the temps have started to drop for good my thoughts have turned to cozy wear for cold days. That mean coats and jackets, tights and sweaters, and gloves and scarves. Now I was not a scarf wearer until college (much like my feelings about turtlenecks, I couldn't get over the feeling that I wasn't able to breath), maybe it is because of that fact that I don't really know how to wear scarfs. Sure I can wrap one around my neck or slip the ends through the folded over middle, but really nothing great and believe me I have some lovely scarves that I am not doing right by. So I was thrilled to run across this video over on Pinterest, it has been kicking around the internet for a while, but I still think it is worth sharing with you here today. Enjoy!

Blog Vacation

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This week I'm taking an unplanned blog vacation. I've been spending all my "free" time working on projects around the house so look for some house-y posts to start popping up!

Totally awesome girl alert!

You guys I'm way to happy about this news: Mindy Kaling (aka Kelly from The Office) has started blogging again. Many moons ago Mindy was writing the funny and fun: "Things I've Bought That I Love" while that blog is still debunked she is back with: "The Concerns of Mindy Kaling". Oh and bonus share Mindy has also written a book, so look for that too!

P.S. I seem to have messed up auto posting this week, so lunch time post today and no post yesterday. I think I'll save yesterday's for a day next week.

Eat 'em up Tigers!

I was way to busy watching the Tigers play last night to write a real post. Here's to a win at home tonight!

Nephews and Nieces are Fun Fun Fun

Well I didn't really get as much done this weekend as I had hoped, but I think spending time with these folks was worth the dirty dishes! Are his cheeks squishy or what?!
Oh and this little gal, so cute! Bonus she is wearing a sweater made by Aunt Libby! I'm so happy that they are here for another week. Love it!

This week - I'm in love

Image from Craft Cabin that has nothing to do with this post!

Friends, I am totally falling in love with this Michigan fall! This happens to me every year about this time, October washes away all the ill will of cold snowy winters and hot sticky summers. I'm telling you I can not get enough time out side gazing at sun kissed trees and listening to the crunch of leafs. Loving it, loving it, loving it! Okay anyway onto this week's round up:

• Is it bad that I want an iPhone this week, not because of Apple's big announcement about whatever new things their phones are doing that I never knew I needed a phone to do, but because I really want to have a phone with a cross stitched case?
• What is your favorite animal? Clearly I love the elephants!
• You know that I'm a crocheter and I love it, but I'm not the best teacher so I was super happy to find that Craftyminx was running a Crochet School that I can point everyone who wants to learn to.
• Hey are you on Pinterest? No! Why not? This week I rounded up my fave pins!
• I've started a new book of the month. So far loving it!

So do you have big plans for the weekend? I'm planning on spending lots more time snuggling with a fat little friend. Yep the worlds chubbiest nephew has come to Ypsi for a little visit (oh and he brought his mom and sister along too!)!

Read Something Good: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I'm still waiting on my copy of this month's book, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children to arrive so I haven't gotten the head start that I usually have by the time I write these posts, but I'm really looking forward to this one. Here is what Amazon has to say (sounds good right!):

As a kid, Jacob formed a special bond with his grandfather over his bizarre tales and photos of levitating girls and invisible boys. Now at 16, he is reeling from the old man's unexpected death. Then Jacob is given a mysterious letter that propels him on a journey to the remote Welsh island where his grandfather grew up. There, he finds the children from the photographs--alive and well--despite the islanders’ assertion that all were killed decades ago. As Jacob begins to unravel more about his grandfather’s childhood, he suspects he is being trailed by a monster only he can see. A haunting and out-of-the-ordinary read, debut author Ransom Rigg’s first-person narration is convincing and absorbing, and every detail he draws our eye to is deftly woven into an unforgettable whole. Interspersed with photos throughout, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a truly atmospheric novel with plot twists, turns, and surprises that will delight readers of any age.

Pinterest Faves: Autumn

Pinterest just gets better and better as more and more people join so I thought it might be fun to add a new post series highlighting my current faves from the site. Today's faves are all about autumn and they are really making want to have a harvest themed party. What do you say? Wanna come over and sip hot apple cider and snack on pumpkin cake?!






You can find all the info about these pins right here on my Pinterest page and if you are a pinner, leave me a comment with a link to your page I'd love to follow your boards!

Mug for the Camera

Before Craft Cabin is just a wonderful memory in the distant past I wanted to share one last thing. My wonderful cousin Hannah had these super cute mugs made up for us crafters! Aren't they great?! I think she had them made up at cafepress. Isn't this just the best idea to leave us all with a lasting way to remember our fun weekend away? I think so!

My little animal family

The other day I was going from room to room in my house and noticing how big my elephant heard is getting. Here are just a few of my favorites!
Can you spot the elephant tea pot?
Sadly this little guy is fake jade, but he still looks cute along with my books!
Hummm he must be waiting on a few dinner guests.
And finally my all time faves this gathering of teeny tiny pachyderms.

So do you have any faux four legged (or more legged!) friends around your place? I always love finding out about other peoples collections.

Welcome October!

Ahhh yes my favorite time of year is here in full swing! It is time to start adding little autumnal details around the house. To change from floral scented candles to ones with a little more spice, to move from bright summer yellows to mellow fall golds, its times for mums, apples and pumpkins.
It is time for walks in the park under leaves that have been kissed with touches of red, yellow and orange. Time for Pumpkin Spice Lattes, apple ciders and cinnamon sugar doughnuts. For football games (if that's your thing - it isn't mine, but good for you) and play off baseball. The air fills with falling leaves and the smell of bonfires.
It's time to visit pumpkin patches and the apple orchard. We will eat pumpkin muffins, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie, maybe even a whole pumpkin or two. I already have a giant bag of candy stashed in my cupboard and plans to cut out paper bats.
It's time to make caramel apples and string orange twinkle lights (well that might just be in my neighborhood!). Time to pull on tights and pull out jackets. For adding extra blankets and wearing wool sweaters.