That's right over at Restyled Home Linda is having a $25.00 giveaway to Ki Nassuer's new website Junk Revolution!
Many of you know Ki Nassauer, founder of Junk Market, and her newest venture, Junk Revolution (for those who don't know Ki, or who want to know about her new business, go here) Plus For those still wishing to enter a "junked up" pumpkin for 
consideration, go here! The dollar values for the gift certificates are: first prize:$100, second prize: $50, third prize: $25
consideration, go here! The dollar values for the gift certificates are: first prize:$100, second prize: $50, third prize: $25The photo above is a pumpkin Ki designed back in 2006 for Country Home Magazine
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Thank you to Holly over at Holly's Haven for awarding me the Kreativ Blogger award! You made my day! If any of you haven't been over to Holly's blog you should stop by for a visit. Holly is very creative herself! Sewing adorable costumes for her darling kids, decorating her home with very cute and unique ideas and making purses...you name it she is doing it.
Now I need to name 6 things that I love and award others.
Things I love
1. My amazing husband who is willing to help me out with all my crazy entertaining ideas. (The spider web)
2. My daughters. Madeline and Emily they just bring joy to my life everyday!
3. My entire extended family!
4. Being creative!
5. Cooking up something that is worth repeating again and again and again.....
6. Laughing with my friends
Now to award others......
My incredibly talented sister Tiffany who can make something out of nothing and it turns out amazing!!! (the pumpkins made out of paper bags)
Modern Country because her blog just says ahhh.....so beautiful and white..I love it.
Restyled Home because her blog is always filled with amazing eye candy...I stalk her blog almost everyday!! :)
My daughter Madeline because she can create anything! Photographer, Cook, Entertainer, Artist, Seamstress! (She hasn't been able to update her blog because she has no wireless internet in her new apartment but soon she will)
Last night we had a Halloween/Birthday party for our daughter's 18th birthday and it was a great success! Check out some of our decorations for the ghoulish evening!
Click on any of the photos to enlarge them to see the details better. We decorated our dining room 
by attaching white bulb lights (from outside) across the ceiling of the dining room. 
Then I hung strips of black tulle every few feet. Then I had some white paper lanterns left over from my older daughters wedding and I spray painted some of them black and some of them orange and hung them from the lights too. 
For the food table I used a piece of black fabric 
that I had laying around and draped it over the table. I had a funky candelabra from Halloween's past and other odds and ends that I picked up over the years from thrift stores to hold candles and placed them on the table. I also had from over the years...a skull, a fake hand that we put into a grinder machine, 
small little skull candle holders, a cool Halloween sign hung from a wrought iron stand, and of course spider webbing.
that I had laying around and draped it over the table. I had a funky candelabra from Halloween's past and other odds and ends that I picked up over the years from thrift stores to hold candles and placed them on the table. I also had from over the years...a skull, a fake hand that we put into a grinder machine, small little skull candle holders, a cool Halloween sign hung from a wrought iron stand, and of course spider webbing. My cute husband made the gigantic spider web 
and we found the giant spider at Walmart for $7.00! 
We also attached a bunch of smaller spiders to the door frame as you entered the house.
and we found the giant spider at Walmart for $7.00! We also attached a bunch of smaller spiders to the door frame as you entered the house.We had the kids play fear factor 
with all kinds of creepy food from our local chinese market. Things like stinky tofu, dried squid and pickled bamboo shoots just to name a few. 
We had the kids each taste each item and the one who won had to eat everything and swallow it. It was hysterical and gross at the same time.
with all kinds of creepy food from our local chinese market. Things like stinky tofu, dried squid and pickled bamboo shoots just to name a few. We had the kids each taste each item and the one who won had to eat everything and swallow it. It was hysterical and gross at the same time. Then for the movie....we hung up a large sheet and through my husbands computer and projector watched the classic movie ARACNAPHOBIA!! The kids had never seen it before and everyone was screaming as spiders jumped on their prey! IT was awesome!
All of our inspiration came from Martha Stewart and Mary Engelbriet magazines!
I decided it was time to create a nice autumn dinner for my family. I got out some of my fun dinnerware and set a nice table. I used my cute ivory french Eiffel tower dinner plates, dark brown woven textured placemats, beaded napkin ring holders and golden amber goblets for our water.
Click the picture below to enlarge.
Our dinner consisted of a Roasted Pork Loin. I rubbed it with olive oil, sprinkled it with kosher salt, cracked pepper and fresh rosemary from my garden. I roasted it for about 45 min and then added some carrots that were also lightly coated in olive oil and salt and pepper and continued to roast everything for another 45 minutes.I also roasted some acorn squash and then added a little bit of butter and brown sugar and a hint of cinnamon. I made some fresh green beans by blanching them in boiling water for 7 minutes and then placing them in an ice water bath to keep their gorgeous green color.
In another pan I sauted bacon and onions and then added the green beans to saute them until heated through.
This dinner was so delicious! The pork was so moist and tender, the green beans with all the good bacon onion flavor and the roasted carrots and acorn squash were amazing as well. Scrumptious!!
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Since we moved here to Texas we have noticed some strange traditions around here. At my daughters High School the kids either purchase or make each other Mums for Homecoming. You may ask yourself as we did what in the heck is a mum? Well I am here to tell you..... It started way back years ago to give the girl you go to homecoming with a mum...a flower to wear to the game or dance to wear on her dress or shirt. Well the mum has grown to gigantic proportions!! The mum now consists of large silk mums (that you can't even see) attached to a card board base where there is also sometimes added small stuffed animals like bears or your school mascot, then lots and lots of ribbons and sparkly trims, charms of all kinds, cow bells, whistles, ribbons with yours and your dates names on them embossed with glitter...even some of these mums have battery powered lights on them!! You may be also be asking yourself....do they wear these to the dance over their dresses? No...they don't wear them to the dance they only wear them to school and to the big game. Emily made hers this year and did a really amazing job. It was huge, sparkly and fluffy...all the things she loves. 
Let me tell you they are not cheap either!! Last year my daughters date paid almost $200.00 for hers!! I personally think it is the craziest tradition I have ever seen but all the kids sure love making them and wearing them to school....... Although I must say that this year my daughter came home with a neck and headache because hers weighed so much!
Now these are the senior pants that the girls make. Emily and her friends all got together and painted and cut out letters from fabric that had under wonder on it and ironed them onto their pants.
I don't know if you can see but there are some glitter and sparkles on these pants as well.
Emily's pants say on the back 2009 Kiss this class goodbye and on the front it says Senior Royalty.
Crazy but fun traditions and definitely school spirit!
It is true everything is bigger in Texas even traditions!
Posted with BlogsyFreaky Friday Blog-o-ween Party!
By The Style Sisters - Saturday, October 18, 2008
Fanciful Twist is having a party today so I am reposting our party from last Friday so you can look at all our ghoulish fun.
In honor of our beautiful mother...Yes that is a picture of our mother..She won the "ugly mug" contest in college back in 1957! and yes...she can still cross her eyes the same way to this day!! We are hosting our first Freaky Friday Blog-o-ween Party starting today! So make sure you leave a comment to link back to show off all your freaky, fun, cute Halloween decorations, food ideas, costume and party ideas. By the way this what our mom really looked like in college...Just beautiful...like a movie star! It is amazing that she could make herself look so scary in the above ugly mug picture.
Halloweens from the past
In honor of our beautiful mother...Yes that is a picture of our mother..She won the "ugly mug" contest in college back in 1957! and yes...she can still cross her eyes the same way to this day!! We are hosting our first Freaky Friday Blog-o-ween Party starting today! So make sure you leave a comment to link back to show off all your freaky, fun, cute Halloween decorations, food ideas, costume and party ideas. By the way this what our mom really looked like in college...Just beautiful...like a movie star! It is amazing that she could make herself look so scary in the above ugly mug picture.
Halloweens from the pastPicture of me and my brother...I was the lady from the Adams Family and my brother was Flip Wilson as Geraldine Jones (the comedian from the 70's) 
Goolish table decor..Brains and Crow under glass
Goolish table decor..Brains and Crow under glass
Enter your blog address here in our Mr. Linky so we can all visit one anothers blogs.
Tardevil over at Confessions of a 40-something Mama Queen just awarded me my first award! How sweet is she! You need to go and check out her blog. She is very funny and inspiring all at the same time. Now she has asked those of us that have been awarded to do this for six others as well as post 6 Things I Value & the 6 Things I Don't Value...so here goes.
Six things I value-
1. My Faith in God the eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ...having this knowledge of knowing I am a Child of God and that their love is eternal....is something I cannot imagine living without.
2. My amazing husband that I married almost 24 years ago for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles temple. Our life together has been more than I could have ever hoped for. He is truly a loving kind amazing man and I am so grateful he asked me to be his wife.
3. My children.....Madeline and Emily and my son-in-law Peter. They bring so much joy into my life everyday! They can make me laugh and cry, they amaze me with their talents and desires, they are strong and very capable and they too have a knowledge that they are each a child of God and are loved.
4. All of the rest of my family members on all sides. Truly my heart is so full of joy and gratitude knowing how much we all love and care for one another. Just knowing that we each would all drop what we are doing to go and help each other out in times of trouble is such a comfort and almost overwhelming. I realize that this is not common and I hope I never take it for granted.
5. Friends....Over the years I have been blessed to have many people come into my life that have lifted me, helped me and that have just been there to have fun with.
6. Outdoor beauty...there is just something about going outside and taking a walk and looking at all the beauty that surrounds us each and everyday. The colors of the sky at different times of day, the greens of the grass and leaves on the trees, the multiple colors of flowers that are abundant everywhere, water drops sparkling in the sunlight from a small brook or even the sprinklers.
6 things I don't value - (not in any particular order)
1. Fake people.
2. Those that put possessions above people
3. Movies, T.V, Literature, any kind of media that degrade women and the kid movies that have farting and burping in it!!
4. Dishonesty
5. The "Teen Age Attitude"...... you know when they are so put out when you ask them to do something and they look like they have palsy!
6. Mice! (Recently had a problem with them in our house...ooohhhh I hate mice)
Now to award six other people
Tiffany
Madeline
Apronlady
Southern Hospitality
Restyled Home
Just a Girl
Now all you have to do is save the award icon on your blog, leave a comment on my blog and write a post about the 6 things you value and the six things you don't value. Congratulations to the six of you...you are all very creative women!
This is a picture of Madeline my oldest daughter and myself when she was a brand new baby...that was almost 22 years ago and now she is pregnant with her first baby and my first grandchild. AND we just found out that she is having a girl!!
I am so excited to be a grandma!
I can't wait to hold that little bundle of joy in my arms.
Just looking at all these photos of her make it seem like it was just yesterday that I was a mom for the first time.
Where does the time go? I am so grateful that I was able to be a stay-at-home mom for my girls and enjoy daily life as a mother. There is nothing that can compare with the time you spend with your little ones.
Madeline and Peter you are going to make fabulous parents!
I WON!! I WON MATTHEW MEAD'S NEW BOOK. Thank you Linda at RESTYLED HOME for picking me as ONE OF THE winners of MATTHEW MEAD'S NEW BOOK.... ENTERTAINING SIMPLE AND THE $25.00 GIFT CARD TO HOME GOODS!! I AM JUST SO ECSTATIC!!!
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OVER TO LINDA'S BLOG YOU NEED TO GO TAKE A PEEK. IT IS ALWAYS FILLED WITH UNIQUE, CREATIVE IDEAS. LINDA JUST started a staging and home decorating business... Restyled Home...in May 2006 and SHE IS beginning to live HER creative dream. 
IF ANY OF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN OVER TO LINDA'S BLOG YOU NEED TO GO TAKE A PEEK. IT IS ALWAYS FILLED WITH UNIQUE, CREATIVE IDEAS. LINDA JUST started a staging and home decorating business... Restyled Home...in May 2006 and SHE IS beginning to live HER creative dream. YOU WILL LOVE HER KITCHEN IT IS PAINTED ROBIN'S EGG BLUE! IN FACT THERE ARE MANY PHOTOS OF ROOMS IN HER HOUSE THAT ARE TO DIE FOR! SO GO TAKE A PEEK. CLICK HERE
ENTERTAINING SIMPLE MATTHEW MEAD
By The Style Sisters - Wednesday, October 08, 2008
HOW DO I LOVE MATTHEW MEAD LET ME COUNT THE WAYS!!
1. NEW BOOK ENTERTAINING SIMPLE
2. NEW HALLOWEEN BOOK TRICKS AND TREATS (WHICH I JUST GOT)
4. HIS CHRISTMAS MAGAZINE HOLIDAY WITH MATTHEW MEAD FROM 2006
5. LOTS OF HIS WORK WITH COUNTRY HOME MAGAZINE
MATTHEW MEAD IS ONE AMAZING ENTERTAINING GURU AND HE HAS RECENTLY PUT OUT A NEW BOOK THAT HELPS ANY AND ALL ENTERTAIN SIMPLY. YOU CAN FIND THIS BOOK IN MANY BOOKSTORES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. HERE IS A LINK TO TAKE A SNEEK PEEK OF IT. http://www.entertainingsimple.com/index.php?option=com_flippingbook&book_id=2&Itemid=
HERE IS A SAMPLING OF SOME THE EYE CANDY THINGS IN THERE THAT WILL GET YOUR MOUTH WATERING FOR MORE!
I WANT TO HOST THIS CHRISTMAS PARTY!YUMMY!
SIMPLE AND YET CHIC
HELLO CHOCOLATE DESIRE!
LINDA OVER AT RESTYLED HOME IS HAVING A GIVEAWAY FOR THIS BOOK AND I REALLY WANT IT! I WANT IT I REALLY REALLY DO .
DO YOU LIKE MY POST LINDA? TELL MATTHEW TO COME CHECK IT OUT TOO! :)
OOOOH How about this! Apples on sticks with branches of fall leaves! (photo is from Country Home Oct. 2007) Simple but so beautiful! I am thinking of adapting this idea for Thanksgiving. Using the apples and leaves but making the centerpiece shorter so you can see over it. Or you could use this centerpiece on your sideboard in the dining room or how about on a table in your entry way to signal that fall has arrived. It is just scrumptious! I also love the mis-matched dining chairs, the golden hued glasses and goblets and of course it doesn't hurt that it is set outside under a a colorful fall tree. I want to be there right now!!!
For Liz at Mabels House
Love the gigantic glass jars filled with lights.
