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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Boo!

Happy Halloween! I made some really cute Halloween sugar cookies to take to work today. I forgot to take a picture until they were wrapped in Saran. It doesn't photograph well, so instead you are getting a photo of a cute Halloween card from Red Stamp. Check it out in the App Store - beat free app ever! Have a spooky day!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Watching and waiting

I am in awe of the photo below (from newyorktheater.me). I have lived my entire life in Ohio, but from a very young age I have been fascinated with NYC. I dreamed of moving there for college, living in a teeny apartment, and going out at all times of the night.

Needless to say, that never happened, and I am very happy being just a small town girl, this is where my heart is. But that fascination has left me glued to my television watching the coverage o Sandy, along with the rest of the nation. I am so struck, by this photo of Times Square, completely empty. It's like a scene from a movie.

So for now I will continue to watch and wait to see what the aftermath of he storm will bring, and while I will continue to pray for the safety of those affected, I will also be enjoying the break from all of the campaign news!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Brrrrrr!

I may be in Ohio, but we too are feeling the effects from the craziness that is Hurricane Sandy - at the moment it is ridiculously windy. Actually it's been crazy windy all day, which means cool temps feel downright frigid.

I am not a fan of being cold, so I've been piling on the layers. My favorite winter accessories are scarves. I love them, I may have a scarf problem. I have nearly 30 of them, and I would love to add a few more to my collection! My latest challenge has been finding ways to wear a necklace and a scarf at the same time. Here's what I did today:

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Obsession

Ever since my very first experience with a vanilla bean frappucino I have loved Starbucks, and since then I have tried many different flavors, experimenting at home to see if it was possible to recreate my favorites. Nothing has ever been as good as what I can get at Starbucks. And yes, I fully recognize that i have become a Starbucks snob - it must be a true, stand alone Starbucks, not an in-store kiosk because those are just not the same. I have drink orders that cannot be repeated, or understood by anyone who does not frequent my favorite coffee shop on a regular basis. But despite the fact that we are currently nearing the end if my favorite time if year - pumpkin spice latte season, I have found myself ignoring my Starbucks gold card, preferring the convenience of my new toy. Why did I not buy this Keurig sooner?! I could've saved so much money, and I'm not just talking the cost of a latte, but gas to get to the nearest Starbucks and back to work is almost 20 minutes out of my way. You live you learn right? And I am learning that I love this machine, and all of the wonderful goodness that comes with it. Whoever created the variety pack is a genius. I love k-cups, and if that is all that I get for Christmas, I will be perfectly happy!

So, did I mention that I love this machine?

And now to the thing that I actually wanted to share with you today, and yes, it is somewhat related to my little rant above.

I have a fairly extensive collection of coffee mugs, this one is my favorite. Of all time. It's from Starbucks (I fully believe their travel mugs are far superior to any others, and I love the designs), circa 2006 - back in the day when I could use my meal plan at our campus Starbucks (and you could buy drink ware with your meal plan as long as it was purchased with a Starbucks beverage - leftover meal plan dollars bought MANY Christmas gifts when I was in college).

As you can see I have designed my entire kitchen decor around this wonderful piece of commercial arty, and I will be devastated if it ever breaks (like the gold Christmas version with the reindeer that I dropped on the cement:).

There you have it. Longest post ever about absolutely nothing!

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Neglected

My front porch has always been a bit neglected, but I've never had a problem with it. Our front porch is worthless, there isn't even a sidewalk leading to it, and if you felt the need to walk through the grass to the front to, you would also have to fight your way through and overgrown pine tree. The pine tree pretty much covers the front door and accompanying teeny tiny porch, so it can't even be seen from the road. Considering that no one saw our front porch, I felt absolutely no need to pay any attention to it myself. Until today, when for some unknown reason I felt compelled to place my newly carved pumpkin on the front porch, and take a picture, a very sad looking picture. I'm almost embarrassed to post it, but I will because that will serve as my motivation to do something about it! At least my monogrammed pumpkin is super cute!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Exciting Saturday evening plans

When I was little my mom used to make us really elaborate Halloween costumes. That woman can do anything with a sewing machine. She swears she is not creative in the least, but I beg to differ. Between my sister and I she had made a cow, a mouse, an ice cream cone - complete with cherry on top headpiece, a pumpkin, a clown, a witch, and a poodle skirt. I'm sure I'm forgetting something seriously cute, but they were amazing costumes. She'd start as soon as costume patterns went on sale, and there were near constant pinnings and fittings, I loved every minute, and I appreciate them so much more now than I ever did then!

This is why I am so excited about my plans for this evening. I get to help one if my very favorite co-workers make her son's Halloween costume. This is my gist chance to do what my mom did for me for all of those years. That said I do hope that she realized that her job is not done because all I'm doing tonight is making a superhero cape, that's easy peasy, she can make all of my children's costumes, because if my kids are anything like me they aren't going to want anything easy!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Loving layers!

The only way to describe today's weather is to take a cue from Winnie the Pooh - it's blustery! Cold, windy, spitting rain, and gray clouds as far as I can see, which is why I am so in love with the outfit I have on!

We've already talked about how this dress is probably my favorite thing in my whole closet, top it of with my favorite comfy sweater, and the boots that I would wear every day if I could, and you've got a winner. I added some of my newest pieces of jewelry for a little sparkle and I am totally comfy, yet looking very polished!

And I'm throwing in a picture if the dog, just because she's cute.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Target find of the season

You can always count on Target to carry a highly sought after exclusive product during the holiday season - last year's Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses are currently going for $26 a bag on amazon, and earlier this fall there was rumor of an elusive candy corn Oreo. Today I found something new; the Cadbury Scream Egg. I picked two up for my dad, he's a big fan of the original, and the Halloween version has a green center, who wouldn't love that?! Even the clerk at the checkout counter didn't know they were selling them, so who knows how long they'll last. I'm just hoping that mine won't melt in my car while I finish my work day!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Finally finished!

Last night I bit the bullet and bought a new area rug - actually I got a really great deal, it was meant to be. But this means that I can finally say that my living room makeover is officially finished! This has been a long time coming, and the rug is a huge symbol of how far I have come - my husband NEVER would've agreed to a cray fun rug like this even a year ago. Baby steps people!

Here are some photos of my lovely living room. Please excuse the lighting, it's the best I can do, the room has a wall of windows.

My new toy

I finally did it, I broke down and bought a Keurig. I swear I should've done this years ago, but I was apparently waiting for a great deal (thanks to a rebate and a gift card), and motivated by the fact that my old coffee maker was a piece of junk.

I am in love with the amazing little machine! You can fully expect me to be over-caffeinated for the rest of forever because I am going to be drinking coffee all the time!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Day trip!

My sister and I spent the day in Amish country, enjoying the scenery and purchasing a ridiculous quantity of baked goods! It was the perfect day to go, warm and sunny, and apparently we were the only one who thought so, because it was a zoo!

I am proud to say that I got some Christmas shopping done, because really who doesn't want to receive Amish made baking mixes for Christmas! Enjoy some of my photos while I finish putting away all of my Amish cheese!

Winter skin

Over a year and a half ago we honeymooned at a gorgeous resort in Fort Myers Beach Florida - the Pink Shell resort. I would go back in a heartbeat, it was absolutely wonderful, but that's not the point I this post...

While there I was introduced to the best lotion in the world. The hotel had samples of Tarroco Orange Lotion, it's like miracle cream, it even kept my skin from peeling after some serious sunburn. I swiped as many little travel bottles of that stuff as I could get my hands on, and I rationed it for nearly a year, using it only for special occasions and serious dry skin.

Now my skin is dry dry dry - thank you cold dry Ohio air, and I am pining for my orange lotion. Luckily I found it on amazon, and while I have a hard time justifying spending that much on lotion, it will be going on my Christmas list, along with the travel set - because the shampoo and conditioner is also divine, and it's fun to have special stuff to use when you travel! They also have lip balm!

More new stuff!

I posted more new fabric jewelry in the Etsy shop tonight! I am in love with these braided fabric bangles! I love the buttons, the unfinished edges, and the color combos. Each listing is a set of two bracelets. These are awesome stocking stuffers too!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Sunday Funday

I had NOTHING that I needed to do today, so I got to spend the day doing things that I really wanted to do!

Today I tackled two very time-consuming projects that I rarely get to enjoy; I made bread from scratch, and I baked an apple pie. Needless to day, dinner was soooo good! I am looking forward to leftovers all week. Do you think it's ok to eat pie for breakfast ?!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Brrrrrr

I had to break out the gloves this morning, there was frost in the ground and I could see my breath, how depressing!

But what I really want to know is what in the world happened to all of my gloves from last year! I am positive I had 2 pair of gray gloves, do you think I could find them? Of course not. No, I found the pink ones, two pairs of blue gloves, and two pairs of brown gloves , all of which go just wonderfully with my new black coat.

It looks like the pink ones will have to do until payday Friday!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Etsy Update

 
It has been a looooooong time coming, but I have finally added some new stuff to my Etsy store.  I have also made a ton of changes, so I thought a little background story was in order, to update all of my wonderful followers and inform anyone who might be just finding my blog or my shop.

I started my Etsy shop in 2009.  At this point in my life I had graduated from college, but hadn't been able to find a job.  I needed a little extra money, so I started selling calendars and planners that I had made for myself to keep me organized through college.  I also developed a Wedding Planning Notebook, with the help of a good friend who was in the event-planning industry.  I was absolutely loving the success of my Etsy shop - Obsessively Organized, and then I landed my dream job.

I got a job as a Preschool Teacher at a Community College Lab School.  I get to work with little ones and college students every day, and I am blessed to be able to take advantage of some incredible professional development opportunities.  I love my day job! Around the time that I started working full time, I was inundated with custom orders for Wedding books, which were incredibly time consuming to put together.  I had to take a break from my Etsy store to keep my sanity, and to fully devote myself to my job.

I tried to do both for a bit, but then I got engaged, and being the do-it-yourself-er that I am, I threw everything that I had into creating as much as I possibly could for my wedding.  I've had my hand in a few different things since then, but I have always said that I would get my shop going again.

This weekend I sat down to work on a Christmas gift for a friend, a super cute necklace made almost entirely out of fabric.  It went together so quickly that I made 4 more, and that was that.  I have always loved accessories, especially jewelry, but to mix my love of jewelry with my passion for fabric just seemed natural.

I've made a few changes to my shop to go along with the new content.  The shop's title is now Fabric Scraps by Obsessively Organized - I wanted to keep it linked to my username and to my blog.  Currently I have a few new necklaces available, along with some leftover wedding decorations.  You will probably see planners make an appearance again at some point, along with a lot of other items, I really don't want to tie myself to one thing. 

I will definitely continue posting to my blog, I love love love blogging, even if no one reads it.
Thanks for sticking with me through all of the changes, hopefully they will all be positive!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

The view from my lunch break

It is a beautiful day! I had to take advantage of what may be the last 70+ degree day, so I walked the dog on my lunch break!

We hung out outside for a bit and chased a bunch of grasshoppers (ok the dog chased grasshoppers). Back to work now, hoping the afternoon goes as quickly as the morning did!

What I do last night

I've seen this idea all over pinterest, it's one of those head smack kind of ideas - why didn't I think of this!

I spent the evening mixing up cookie dough, tonight I did molasses cookies and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. After I mixed up the dough I put the cookies on a cookie sheet, just like I was going to bake them, but instead of putting them in the oven I put the whole cookie sheet in the freezer. Once the cookies were firm I took them off of the cookie sheet and put them on a ziplock freezer bag. Now I don't have to mix up cookie dough the next time I make cookies.

My favorite thing about these is that they make a super easy last minute gift. Take a few out of the freezer, put them in a cute container, and add a card with baking instructions! Love it!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

It might be fall, but...

Don't put your turquoise away yet! I wear mine all year long, looks how cute it is with his sweater and moccasins!

Bittersweet

I LOVE FALL. Everything about it. I love picking apples, carving pumpkins, baking for holidays, wearing cozy sweaters, all of it.

There is one thing about summer however, that I am beginning to mourn the loss of - all of our local ice cream stores have begun to close for the season. This is devastating. I had to make one last trip on my lunch break today.

Enjoy the picture I my peanut butter cup Sunday - after I took the first bite :)

Monday, October 1, 2012

Comfy Sunday

Yes, I know it's Monday, but just go with it, I'm feeling slow today.

Sundays are usually my comfy clothes days - yoga pants, sweatshirts, I have no where to go and no one to impress. This is one reason why I love fall so much, my comfy clothes are also ridiculously cute (If I may say so myself), and I did myself dreaming up random errands to run so I can go out in my cute, cozy outfits.

Here is my new favorite:

Saturday shopping

Friday was pay day, and that almost certainly means one thing; I will make a trip to Sam's club over the weekend. We only got our membership last year, and there are still things that I'm just not sold on - I refuse to buy three bottles of ketchup just because they're cheap, there are only two of us, and we go through two bottles of ketchup in a whole year. Other things, however, I am super happy to buy in bulk - pasta and diet pop are basically my entire diet, so I go through a Ron of those!

There are also a few things that I've found that I can't get anywhere else, here are two of my favorites! I know... Not the most exciting Saturday shopping trip, but it doesn't take much to make my day!