Feeling Like Home

I am loving having a front porch to adorn with seasonal decor. My MIL made me this wreath. I love it!I realized that I have not posted any photos of the Master Bedroom before now.

Hoping to make draperies for the windows on my new sewing machine.

The Living Room is coming along slowly but surely. I finally feel comfortable spending time in this space.

The wall above the couch is screaming for some art. I think Ben and I have found the perfect piece at at Home in Homewood.

Still need a rug in here and I want a leather chair where the banana leaf chair is now.

Dining Room is a work in progress as well.

Again with the rug..also a buffet and maybe some wallpaper too.

Finally got around to hanging up some stuff in the Guest Room.

Guests can actually check their hair before they are forced to face their hosts in the morning.

Bethany's Baby Shower

Still can't find the cord to my camera...grrrrr.

Thanks to Rachel I am able to give you a sneak peak at Bethany's shower. It took place on September 17 and was my first attempt at hostessing something at my new digs. Everything turned out well, we had a great crowd and Bethany (and Madi) got some great stuff!

Baby photos of Ben, Madisyn and Bethany.

The cutest cake ever! From Sweet Life Cakes.

Hostesses: (from R to L) Amanda, Cortney, Martina, Me, Laura and Rachel.

I am still hoping to track down a photo of the wreath Bethany's CORE Group made for her. I'll post more pics as I am able to collect them.

In the meantime, check out these action shots I stole from Bethany's blog.

Bethany with my gift to her.

Martina and Heather.

Martha and Ashley (front row), Misty and Beth (back row) and Maghan (and Addison in the oven) coming through the door.

My Favorite Things

Due to my insanely long blogging hiatus, I decided to do an extended list this time. I have lots more to blog about but have lost the cord for my camera. Hopefully I will find it soon and can tell you all about my new office, Bethany's Baby Shower and new projects at my house!

1. Jalapeno Cheddar Potato Chips. They claim this flavor will only be around for a limited time, but I am hoping if we buy enough bags they will keep making them. So get out there people and BUY SOME!
2. Mitch Hedberg. He is a favorite of Ben and mine and I have been reminded as of late how smart and funny his one liners were and still are. If you don't know who he is, search for him on YouTube. Funny stuff.
3. Leaves scent from Bath & Body Works. This scent only comes out this time of year, so I try to stock up on it and burn it as much as I can. It is the epitome of fall for me.
4. The Office returns and Community begins. An old classic followed by a new one. Love them both.
5. Pop-up Post It Notes. I don't realize how much I depend on these until I am out of them.6. Pumpkin Creamer. (Thanks for finding it for me, Shannon.) Another reason I love fall.
7. Printed lamp shades. I recently bought some new lamps for our bedroom. The shades are paisley print and I love them. Makes me want to recover all the shades in my house.

8. Candy Corn & Peanuts. Can you tell I am excited about fall? I look forward to this little treat all year long...sweet and salty are quite my style.
9. New Space Heater. I got a new space heater for my new office. (This is my third since I started here. I guess they don't live as long when you use them all day, every day - including summer.) Anyway, this little guy has a thermostat, a remote and oscillates.
10. Fall. It's official! As of Tuesday, it is officially autumn. Now no one (Ben and Martina) can accuse me of getting ahead of myself. Halloween, here we come!

11. Harry Potter Theme Park at Universal Studios Orlando. Anyone who has read Harry Potter is excited about this. I can't wait! Ben and I are planning a trip to Disney and Universal for next year! For those of you that haven't heard about the park, go HERE. Prepare to be amazed.
12. Pledge Fabric Sweeper. Great for in between vacuuming.
13. Cetaphil Moisturizer. I have the worst skin ever. I break out AND I have scaly skin. In the winter nothing works. I am doomed to look like a snakeskin bag during the colder months. Until I found Cetaphil - the moisturizer is great! And doesn't clog pores!
14. Brothers & Sisters. Obsessed with this show in an unhealthy way. I want to move to California and live in a house like Nora's.

15. Desperate Housewives reruns. I quit watching it for awhile, but am catching up with reruns. Thanks, Lifetime.

Sew Much Fun

For my birthday Ben got me a sewing machine. I have always wanted to learn and with the new house there are a million places I could save money by possessing the sewing skill. I come from a long line of sewers but did not know the first thing about doing it. What's a bobbin? I thought when the sales lady told me the machine featured an automatic bobbin threader. Being me, I decide to wait until I moved away from my mother to learn how to do it. Meaning my free teacher is 9 hours away. Oh well...I am more of a hands on learner anyway, SEW I decided to just dive on in and teach myself as I went along.

I watched my beginner's DVD that came with my machine, practiced some stitches on a scrap piece of fabric and declared myself ready to sew.

Ben and I headed to Hancock Fabrics to look at drapery fabrics and buy some new scissors - the old ones weren't cutting it (pun intended). We found some fabric in the remnant stack that would look fabulous on some pillows in the Man Room. SEW, my first project was decided upon!

After my first failed attempt at threading the bobbin, I was on my way...

It took me less than an hour to make 2 pillows (in the houndstooth fabric below). The back side is an envelope closure (thanks for the great idea, Mom!). I just need to put the button on. But I am pretty pleased with my first project. Both my mom and Ben's would be proud! I just know my Grandma Jo was looking down and guiding me through the process.

God's Masterpiece