Weekending - October 28, 2016

Happy Halloween!!  I left a little surprise on some of my work friend's desks this morning.  Love the free printable (found HERE)!  Print, cut and mount on some fun orange print cardstock and you are set to go.

Behind the cute sign is a shot bottle of Captain Morgan Jack-O-Blast.  Perfect for this little adult Halloween goody!

We experienced summer like weather in St. Louis this weekend and it felt great!  As far as I'm concerned, the longer we can put off cold temps, the better.

Friday night we did nothing -- and it was so refreshing!  We opened a bottle of wine and emptied our DVR.  I did snap a few pictures of our Halloween decorations.  Since today is Halloween, I thought I'd share them with you.

Saturday night we enjoyed having dinner with Kayla and Ian.  A couple months ago we joined Cooper Hawk Winery's wine club.  With the membership comes two free wine tastings each month.  Love them!  You get to sample eight different wines each month with the tasting and, I have to admit, I love the crackers they give you with the tasting as much as I love trying the wine!  We jumped ahead a few days and sampled the November menu.

On Sunday after church, me, Eric and Tracy headed to the polls for some early voting.  You never really know how long the lines will be on election day and by voting early you don't have to worry about it.  Do they offer early voting where you live?  I opted to wear my "I Voted" sticker and Tracy is saving hers until the actual election day.  Either way, it feels great to be an American and have the privilege of voting.  Hope you're planning to exercise your right as an American and vote!

Sunday night Eric and I joined some of my work friends for the Bret Michaels concert at River City Casino.  We ate at The Beerhouse before heading to the concert venue.  Even though I've seen Bret in concert 183743874 a lot, I never tire of seeing him.  He's full of energy and plays all my favorite songs.  Great way to end the weekend!

 Tonight I'm being a Halloween scrooge and having dinner with Ian instead of handing out candy.  I felt guilty about it for a nano second, but Eric is working late and jumping up and down to open the door all night just really didn't sound fun to me.  I know, that's bad.  Does anyone else feel this way?!?

Whatever you're doing this Halloween eve, hope you have a great time!

Check out what others were up to this weekend.

Champagne and Suburbs

B Loved Boston

More Pieces of Me

The Quinntessential Mommy
How To Get Organized At Home
Over the Moon

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Five on Friday - October 28, 2016

It's the weekend!!  Oh my goodness -- I'm so excited for the end-of-day bell to ring today and it officially be the weekend!  I'm actually going to sleep tomorrow until my eyes open on their own.  No alarm clocks.  No jumping in the shower immediate after waking up.  No looking at the clock every five minutes to make sure I'm not running late.  It's going to be glorious!!  But before any of that, I want to share my five for today with you ~

1.  SipCaddy

Are you a person that loves a long, leisurely bath?  This accessory might be just what you need to make that bath even better!  The SipCaddy suction-cups to your wall and will hold a glass, bottle or can.  How cool is that?!?  I'm thinking of several people who might love a SipCaddy for a birthday or Christmas gift.  Got any of those on your list?  They are available to purchase HERE.  

2.  Lady Liberty
One hundred and thirty years ago today the Statue of Liberty was dedicated.   President Grover Cleveland presided over the event, which was really cool considering he was the former New York governor.  I remember the first time I saw her, standing so proud on an island across the way.  It literally brought tears to my eyes.  I can't even imagine how the countless number of people felt that saw her from the other side as they were coming to the United States with so much enthusiasm and promise in their hearts to be on our soil.  Our country is something many Americans take for granted ~ and sometimes I think I do too.  On this day, let's all stop and be thankful for what we have here.  It may not be perfect, but it's pretty darn close!

3.  Inferno
Tom Hanks is back in Inferno!  It seems like forever ago since I read the book, so I'm sure I won't remember most of the story.  Ha!  But I am looking forward to this movie.  Tom Hanks plays Robert Langdon who wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia.  He then teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican.  Even if the movie is bad, I'm looking forward to seeing the scenery.

4.  Cooking for Jeffrey:  A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

I have a thing for cookbooks -- I love them ALL!!  The new Barefoot Contessa cookbook hit the stands this week and it's going on my Christmas list.  Good 'ole Ina loves to cook for her Jeffrey so I'm sure the concoctions in this book are to die for.  Want one?  You can purchase your very own copy HERE.

                        

5.  Some days....

Enjoy the weekend!  We are having dinner with Kayla and Ian on Saturday.  Then on Sunday we're going to see Bret Michaels!!  I love him and can't wait to sign loud and off key at the concert.  What's on your agenda?  Hope it's amazing whatever it is!  

Linking up with:

Rebecca at XOXO Rebecca

Jennie at The Diary of a Real Housewife

Amy at The Farmer's Wife

Amanda at Meet At The Barre

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

5 on Friday 
The Triplet Farm
Why Girls Are Weird

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Friday Favorites - October 28, 2016

Welcome to Friday Favorites Linky Party!  I'm excited to try the White Bean and Sausage Chili that I picked as my favorite from last week.  Can't wait to see what you link up today!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and Savvy - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade - Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - October 27, 2016

Welcome to Thinking Out Loud Thursday! Thanks for popping in to join me and Vanessa from X-tremely V for our little linkup party.

Is anyone else shocked that today is Thursday already?!?  After my whirlwind week last week preparing for the wedding on Friday, this week has been total catch up.  But I can't quite stop thinking about the wedding and all the stuff that went along with it.

I'm a little lot disappointed in myself for my lack of thinking like a blogger last week.  I didn't do a good job AT ALL documenting my activities in photographs.  There was no remorse at the time, but now I'm feeling a little sad about it.  All the little details I spent hours working on for the wedding is just a memory in my head right now.  Hopefully pictures will start surfacing of some of the little extras like the placecards on the head table, the Mr. and Mrs. signs on the bride and groom's chairs at the reception, etc., etc. 

But besides the actual wedding stuff, I'm also thinking about the week in general.  On Monday night I called my friend Tracy in a mild panic because we were having family pictures taken on Saturday and I could not find a necklace to wear with my dress.  Every other night my calendar was full and Monday was the only day I had to shop for the needed jewelry.  After scouring five stores - nothing.  I called Tracy on my way out of the mall, explained my situation hoping she would be able to pull something out of her closet for me to borrow.  She calmly told me to get home and start working on wedding stuff and she would take care of my jewelry issue.  Take care of it she did!  A few hours later she was standing in my kitchen with multiple options that were perfect.  We chose what we thought was the best thing and she returned the rest.  Now that's a true friend!  It's not the first time she saved my bacon and, knowing me, I'm sure it won't be the last.  Love you Tracy!  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.


Me and my friend Tracy

Speaking of not having enough time to shop ~ week before last I started thinking that I might not have time to get a dress for the wedding so I tossed caution to the wind and bought a dress off Amazon using our Prime account.  Hadn't done that before and it paid off BIG!  I seriously don't know what I would do without Prime.  Click below if you want to give it a try.

Two days after I found this dress on Amazon, it was in my possession and I was trying it on in my bedroom.  Maybe I just got lucky this time, but I'll take it!  Loved the dress!  The quality is great and it fit wonderfully.  Saved me a ton of time and money (it was only $31.50).  Yes, I'll be doing that again.  Have you ever bought clothes off of Amazon?

I don't look as good as the model, but here's the dress on me ~

That's enough of what I'm thinking about this week.  Now it's your turn!  Link up and share what's happening with you.

Enjoy more Thoughts for Thursday at:

Home of Malones

East Coast Chic

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

The Deliberate Mom

This is How We Roll

Bows and Clothes

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Weekending - October 21, 2016

Happy Tuesday!  I have been absent in the blogging world for a week because life became too large to take time to get anything down for the blog.  It was a super busy week at work and I was helping with a wedding.  Put those two things together and I got a total of 12-1/2 hours of sleep from Monday to Friday.  Thank goodness I'm the type of person that can survive on not a lot of shut eye.

The wedding was Friday -- and it was beautiful!  The bride and groom, Jeremy and Julie, were so fun to work with and it was an honor to help deliver their dream wedding.  They had chosen Noboleis Vineyards in Augusta, Missouri for their ceremony and reception site.  Beautiful location!

My friend Carol was the florist and she and her team added so many wonderful details.  I promise a full post on the wedding, but for now I'll share just a few snapshots.

Carol is great at not only designing the table centerpieces, boutonnieres, and bouquets, but also adds so many wonderful touches that it catapults the wedding into the next level.

We were also so lucky to secure the fabulous Erica Turner of Turner Creative as the photographer.  I've worked with Erica before and LOVE working with her.  Need a wedding photographer?  Call her!!

Erica posted a few sneak peek photos and I have to share a few with you ~

I promise more later ~ just couldn't pass up showing you some of these photos ahead of the full post.

Saturday we got our family pictures taken.  Erica was still in town and was able to work us in her schedule.  I feel so lucky to have her capture our family on film.  Can't wait to see the proofs!  

After posing for the pictures, Eric and I had dinner with Kayla and Ian.  We picked Moonshine Grill. Their moonshine margaritas are to die for and I was ready to treat myself to one in honor of all the hard work I had done all week.  This blackberry version did not disappoint!

  

I paired the margarita with their ribs for a winner dinner!

                      

We closed out the weekend by going to church on Sunday and then I relaxed the rest of the day while Eric headed to work.  

Can't wait to show you more wedding details!  Wish I would have gotten more pictures, but I was busy getting things in place before the wedding started and that was definitely more important.

Hope your week is off to a great start.  I'll be back on Thursday for Thinking Out Loud Thursday linkup party.  Stop by and link your post from the week.  Until then, make it a good one!

Five on Friday - October 14, 2016

Woo Hoo -- it's the weekend my friends!!  It's hard for me to hide my excitement.  It's been a lllloooonnnngggg week and I am longing for a little bit of a break.  

Want to see my five for today?  Well, here they are~

1.  Bangle from Frou Frou & Frill

Last Saturday morning I had the luxury of laying in bed for a while and reading some blogs.  I ran across a blog that mentioned these bangles from Frou Frou and Frill.  It was love at first site.  Just look how adorable they are!  They have a tons of cool things, including more bracelets ~ but they also have a whole line of game day bangles.  How fun would it be to give a friend a bangle in the colors of her favorite team!?!  I personally am not necessarily a Texas A&M fan, but I do love, love, love this bracelet.

2. Chipotle Deal

Okay ~ I'm not usually one to share deals with you, but this one just touched my heart (well, my stomach really).  Chipotle is in the midst of this super cool deal.  Pop over HERE, play a little game and then Chipotle will text you a buy one, get one free entree item message.  You don't even have to win the game -- just play!  Limit one offer per person and per mobile number while supplies last.  Gotta love free Chipotle!  Grab all the cell phones in your house, play and win.  

3.  This Is Us

I'm so excited about this new show - This Is Us.  We hopped by bandwagon of This Is Us show lovers and haven't looked back.  Seriously, you really need to give this show a try if you haven't.  This Is Us airs on NBC Tuesdays at 9/8 central.  The season is three shows in and with each episode there are twists and turns that just keep you hooked.  This dramedy stars Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia and Sterling K. Brown.  Are you watching?  What do you think of it?

                            

4.  National Dessert Day

Guess what today is!?!  It's National Dessert Day!  Time to celebrate!  What's your favorite dessert?  I honestly don't know what my favorite is.  Check out my "Recipes" tab at the top of this page for some of the desserts I've made and shared with you.  Guess I need to try more to be able to pick one.  

5.  Notice to my friends...

Enjoy the weekend!  I'm helping with a wedding next weekend so this weekend is packed with all kinds of crafting.  I also have some decorations to make for a baby shower that's happening next Friday.  So many fun things to do!  Hope your weekend is full of things that are fun for you.

Linking up with:

Rebecca at XOXO Rebecca

Jennie at The Diary of a Real Housewife

Amy at The Farmer's Wife

Amanda at Meet At The Barre

Erika at Little Bit of Everything

Simply Sweet Home
High Five for Friday

5 on Friday 
The Triplet Farm
Why Girls Are Weird

This post contained affiliate links.  I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase.  Thanks!

Friday Favorites Linky Party - October 14, 2016

Happy Friday!  Boy, do we have some great features for you today.  This week I chose Scary Good Halloween Mantel Decor Ideas just in time for your Halloween decorating.  Enjoy!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and Savvy - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively Homemade - Twitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLime - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things - Pin

Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week's favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week's linky party!

Thinking Out Loud Thursday - October 13, 2016

WHAT -- it's Thursday already?!?  Thanks for stopping by Thinking Out Loud Thursday to joining me and Vanessa from X-tremely V. 

Sorry, guys -- I'm thinking about a lot today but honestly don't have time to put it in words.  Link up below because I'm anxious to see what's going on with you.  

Scarf Exchange Reveal

A few weeks ago, my friend Vanessa over at X-tremely V posted that she was hosting her annual scarf exchange again this year.  It took me about a nano second to sign up!  Exchanges like this are such a fun way to learn about someone new AND get a piece of happy mail in return.
Vanessa sent out the pairings and I learned that I would be sending a scarf to Katie over at The Mishaps and Mayhem of Solitary Life.  I've had so much fun reading her blog and getting to know her.  Pop over to her blog to see what I sent her.

My happy mail arrived soon after the pairing happened and oh my goodness did I get lucky with who got my name!  Sarah over at Foxy's Domestic Side sent me the perfect scarf!  Check it out ~

I'm loving the soft cream and gray scarf Sarah picked for me.  It is going to go with so many things in my fall/winter wardrobe.  It just happened that I had ran in Old Navy to pick up the dress I'm wearing in the pictures the same day I received the scarf in the mail.  PERFECT match!

Can you tell I'm not a fashion model!

Oh, and if you're interested in the dress, you can purchase it HERE. The color I'm wearing is carbon. I'm thinking very seriously about getting another one in a different color. The blue below looks adorable! Who else is loving Old Navy this season?!?

Thanks Vanessa for hosting this awesome exchange and Sarah for picking the perfect scarf for me to add to my wardrobe!!

Linking up to Seeking Sunshine and X-tremely V.