Halloween just isnt the same....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!

Do you know, when someone asks me what my favorite Holiday is, I always say Halloween.
I know the majority of people choose Christmas - or even Thanksgiving (Blah)... but Halloween & Easter are my top two picks.  Which sounds kinda opposite of holidays.... & that says a lot about me.  Give me a day to celebrate Jesus resurrections & a day where I can dress like Belle & get no judgement & I'm a happy girl.

I can remember growing up waiting so anxiously to get home from school to go trick or treating.  None of this Trunk or Treat stuff back in the 70's.  You worked hard for your candy by trekking up & down the street, even go a few blocks & if you're really dedicated, you went home, unloaded your pillow case of candy (also no fluffy candy buckets or bags for us old schoolers) & you'd go out again & venture into the world of FREE CANDY.  All this while suffering the hard edges of plastic that smothered your face & made you sweat like you were in a sauna....

This pic is on Pinterest - dont know where it came from - but man, I remember these masks! Especially the Lone Ranger cowboy, the Princess & Woody the Woodpecker. WOW - memories!

We were some tough kids back then is all I gotta say.

My parents usually went the way of home made costumes, which I always loved. I mean, who ever gets tired of being a HOBO for Halloween. Just pull out dad's old over alls & draw on some dirt on your face & BAM! - costume ready.

Growing up, I never outgrew the love of Halloween & always loved giving out candy just as much as receiving it. I mean, you have a bowl of candy in your hands that you can snack on waiting for the next kid to come up - what's not to love?

I would do it UP!!!!! I had strobe lights going on our home... I would dress like a creepy witch... I would perfect my cackle (I have a great cackle) & I would walk hunched over with my broom up & down my drive way.  If you've never met me, I can tell you I am fully, 10000% dedicated to a role.... & Halloween night, I was dedicated.

I always loved when moms wanted to take pictures of me with their kids documenting their own Halloween... & always feel a little bad when a child was too scared to come up to me because I was a little too dedicated.  & I guess I would break my role for a few minutes to tell them its all OK - I wouldnt eat them, I promise.  (Maybe just break my role a little bit?)

A toned down witch... without my make up
This was when we moved & I went with my nieces to trick or treat

Look at how little the twins are!!!!

Then we made the move away from the city....

& Halloween came & I loaded up on candy & wondered how it would work on these country roads where there's no side walks & houses are scattered & fields are dotted along the road...

& I found out, Halloween doesnt exist where I live.

WHAT?
No trick or treaters.
No kids dressed in the lastest Marvel or Disney costume.
No decorations or strobe lights or witches mask needed to be pulled out.

Let me tell you - it was an adjustment.  I think I may have cried that first Halloween.

We've been in our home now for 15 years & its still a rough pill to swallow....

But it just gives me a good reason to put on my Belle dress, because if I'm going to dress up for Halloween, I might as well dress up in something that makes me happy & turn on my own Halloween & enjoy my own bag of Reese's cups

.... & maybe break out my good ole cackle to Ricky if he tries to steal one.

Happy Halloween everyone...

Do you get trick or treaters?

Do you like to dress up?

What's your favorite Halloween candy?

The weekend that was basically a week....

Look whose back!!!

Did you miss me?

I felt  a little lost without my blog this week but really wanted to just turn off a lot of computer distractions while I was on vacation the past week.

Did we do anything?

Nope... hard to leave to go anywhere when you have a blind dog that needs to be watched & led nearly every minute of the day...

& I basically ended up working most of my vacation editing the wedding pictures.

So much for vacation, huh?

But I did manage to just enjoy time off with the hubs.

We got to go out & enjoy some dinners.
We went to the movies.
I found a Beauty & the Beast dress marked down 80%!!!!!
I got some crafty things done.

I totally binged on Stranger Things 2. (2 episodes to go!!!!)
I got some knitting done.
I had some offers come my way that was unexpected.
I had a photo session.
I finished editing the wedding in under 2 weeks - YES!!!!
We even celebrated 22 years of marriage while we were off.

All in all - it was a great week off.

But heck, any time off work is basically a great week, amiright?

I cant even begin to sum it up...so I'll just leave it at that....

& now I guess its time to get back at it.  Real life.
With I'm sure a desk piled high of work... & early morning alarms... & schedules & routines.

Sigh.

This may very well be the worst Monday ever.

Friday Favorites

Favorite Tee


Animal rights 100%


Favorite Yarn Goodie

Ahhh - little candy corn coffee cozy
I

Favorite Sweats

Favorite Beauty & the Beast

These are all little hand bags.... arent they the CUTEST?!?!?!

Favorite Home Tip



I've gotta try this this weekend



Favorite Thought

Favorite Peencha

Favorite Funnies

... when you're just ignoring all the problems in your life

... me at least once during conversations with my middle school girls when they use the latest slang

.... me at 4:00pm

Happy Weekend Y'all!!!

Heads up - I'll be out all next week so I'll be sparse in Blog-land!  Have a great week!

Fake roses, hoarding coffee & the best wedding day {Thankful Thursday #147}

This week I am Thankful For:

{Numbers go with my One Thousand Gifts Journal - just ignore}

680 / New things to learn.
Someone commissioned this hat for their grandbaby & they wanted a flower on it. I know how to make a few flowers but wanted to try something new & found a way to crochet roses. I really like how they turned out. (The pic is kind of hard to see the detail of them) I'm ready to make more of these babies now.

681 / Longer lunch.
I love when Ricky gets a little extra time for lunch so we can venture to new places further from his work place.

682 / Holiday Coffee!!!
We love when the Starbucks Holiday coffee comes out. We typically hoard it too so we can have it a few months after the holidays are over.  So time to start stocking up!!!!!  Ricky called me when he saw it out for the first time (I was at Bible Study) & I made a special trip to pick some up at lunch the next day.  Thanks Sam's Club for offering it in bulk.

683 / Friday the 13th sale.
OHHHH man. I loaded up on some yarn when I saw Michael's was having a 20% off EVERYTHING sale - even sale items.  & I needed some more circular needles (WHERE have all my circular needles gone??!?!?!?) - so it was the perfect time to get in a big order.  I was actually really happy with my total at the end.

685 / Military coffee
Funny story - so I went into Starbucks before my wedding this past weekend & there were these 2 military people in front of me. I literally pulled up my app to see how much money I had on my card & if I needed to refill it so I could buy their order, when this lady came RUNNING to the register saying, "THIS IS ON ME"... she was adorable. She had to be in her 60's or 70's - a beautiful lady who was just sitting in the shop with a book & her drink... when she looked up & saw them, she literally did a mad dash to the counter.  She went on to hug them & tell them that her dad was in the Army & she grew up a military kid so she appreciated anyone in uniform... she was precious. & these two were so thankful. Everyone was patting these two on the back & shaking hands before they were able to get their drinks & leave. It was a great thing to see & be a part of.

686 / SUNNY WEDDING DAY!!!!
It had been raining like 4 days before the wedding & it was going to be miserable the day after ... so I was so excited to walk out my garage & see this beautiful & glorious sunshine on the perfect day!

687 / Photographer duties are an honor.
It really is an honor to have people entrust me with capturing their wedding day & keeping things on schedule & in line & getting the job done.  It's tough work... but so worth it to spend such beautiful & magical days with people I really care for.

688 / This lady that holds me all together
Honestly, she does it all.  She did the Bride's hair this time around, which worked out better for us so she could do it at the church instead of having me travel to a salon & then get to the church (Note to brides - the less travel that has to happen on a wedding day, the easier & smoother a day can go).... but Chasity did double duty by being the hair dresser & as soon as she was done, put down the curling iron & picked up the camera to assist me through the rest of the day. I guess I could say she's a triple threat too because she was taking babies & changing diapers too during the day.  Seriously. Believe me when I say the girl does it all.  Not to mention, keeping me sane & keeping track of all the things I forget (my keys, my tripod - she knows the routine questions to ask me) - its not a job many could tolerate.

689 / Seeing so many familiar faces.
It was so much fun for me at the wedding because I got to see so many friendly faces that I hadn't seen in awhile.  I got to catch up with a few during the reception & even just getting in quick hugs, it was just so fun & calming to me to be surrounded by people I know & miss.

691 / Upload complete.
Let me tell you - its a job in itself to get all the disks uploaded from a wedding day. 

& 3028 is the amount of pictures I'll now go through to edit down... originally, there's even more than that on the first upload

692 / Redeemed.
I can't believe we are in the last 2 weeks of our bible study - this 40 days of straight study & prayer. It's been so wonderful.  & our conversation was just so good & insightful this past weekend. I'm excited to see how this study all wraps up for us.

693 / Time to slow down.
When I got home on Monday, my garage door wouldnt open. I had gotten notifications on my phone that our security cameras were down too.... our electricity was out.  I couldnt do laundry, I couldnt start dinner, I couldnt work out with my videos, so I just took the opportunity that was handed to me to slow down for an hour or two.... I pulled out my Kindle & sat in the beautiful sunshine & just breathed... for the first time in awhile. It was wonderful. .... & the electricity came back on just as it was getting dusky & I couldnt read outside anymore. Thank you Lord for perfect timing.

694 / Outside for the blind guy.
Even the little blind guy sat outside with me. He's not a fan of sitting otuside since he's lost his vision. I dont know if the sounds are too overwhelming & he feels a little small in a big world out there not knowing his surroundings as much. Like inside, he likes to stay close to the walls, walks the perimeters of everything.... but he sat outside for a few hours with me. I loved watching him raise his face & literally soak in the sun. Oh my boy....

You can see his arms where the allergies & infection has taken his hair off - my poor guy has just had the hardest time lately

695 / Sweet girl.
So when we had our JOY group Sunday, Emerson was all about her Pappy & wondering where he was since I was there... & then she made sure to color something for me to take home to him.... here it is....

So Ricky said it has to go on the fridge... & I sent it to Chasity to show Emerson... to which she said Miss Emerson was blowing kisses to her Pappy....

This girl... I love how she loves so big - all her family.  She's just too much - in the best possible way. Makes us smile every time!

So what good things happened in your world this week?

Amazoning

What would my life would like without Amazon?

.... shudder...

I dont want to think about it.

I need to get caught up with these posts & all my purchases because I know the holidays are coming - Me & Amazon are going to be even closer in the next few months.

So here's some more purchases I've made in the past few months....

The Complete Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Beginners

I havent used this as much as I want to - but what I have made out of it so far, I've loved & it has some simple recipes - I'm not a fan of huge fan of recipes that have 20 ingredients in it.

Posting this makes me want to open this back up & use it this week.

That's It Super Sampler - Pack of 12

I actually got these when we tried one at Starbucks & just one cost like $2.99 ... & I got this whole box of 12 for under $20.00.... but this was also before all these pressed fruit bars were out everywhere. Now, you see those KIND Pressed fruit bars even at Target so I dont need to repurchase these.... but they are yummy. & I love things that have like 2 or 3 ingredents & THATS IT! ... such smart marketing with that name.

Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Sheer Tinted Eye Roller

This is a product I HAVE to have on stand by in my make up bag because I cant go a day without.  So when I feel like I'm getting low, I'll order & have one ready to cover up these dark circles.  & I can get this at Target or Walgreens or wherever - but sometimes, I just want things to come to me at my door.

DIGIANT 50 Inch Phone Tripod

I needed a tripod for my phone so I could do some videos that I was posting in my Bible Study group private FB page & this has just come in handy ever since for photos for Instagram or just hands free pics with me & the hubs.  It's flimsy & cheap - I mean, its only $10.99 - but it gets the job done & I really like it.

The Honest Company Calcium + Vitamin D3 Gummy

Still my favorite gummy for vitamins... 

they are so tasty & delicious ... I've reordered this for the 3rd time.

We go through these like candy.

Lemome Classic Notebook

If you are wanting a good notebook - GET THIS!  

I ADORE this one.  It's sturdy & THICK & the paper is really nice & thick - & I use some pretty mighty pens & it doesnt bleed through.

The cover is really nice & suede-like... the book lays flat when open... it has a little pocket in the back & something I really love about it, on the side, it has a pen loop that really does keep your pen with your journal.  I will completely order this again... & it would look great on a shelf stacked together as well.

Pet King Brands Zymos Pet Spray with Hydrocortisone

Always on the hunt for something to ease Bruno's itchy skin & this really does seem to be the best that we've tried.  I'm almost out & actually need to reorder.

Echo Dot

So... excited to get this.

Andddd.... embarassed that we still havent set it up. 

I have it sitting in its box on my counter.

I've got some time next week to take care of some loose ends.

This is going to be top on the list to get it hooked up & ready to go.

I jokingly say all the time, "Alexa..." & ask a random question - just to remind Ricky that we need to get it set up.  I'm at least practiced up on how to use it once its ready to go.

What's your best buy at Amazon lately?