SCARY

WHEW - what a week. So I talked about how I'm now working full time and going to school now, right? This might be normal for some of those amazing-robot-types I've mentioned before, that seem to get everything done all the time and can handle a lot more than me. But for moi…nope. I likes my "balance". I like having time to watch trashy tv, and most of all, talk to You Guys on this blog. I am losing my mind a bit, and my keys, and my ipod (all in one week - I swear, I never lose things!). So, what're you gonna do? Well I'm just gonna put my head down till December 15th when school is done.

We did manage to pull together some costumes for our friend's annual Halloween party on Saturday.

This was our "be Serious" face...we are terrible at it.

Keene was a "modern vampire", complete with sparkles. You can't see them in these pics but believe me, he was SPARKLY. Bonne Bell all over his face.

I did his hair. I thought it looked very Edwardian.

My costume was of course based on The Black Swan. That chick was crazy looking at the end of that movie! It was great.

I tried to imitate the make-up with black liquid eyeliner and some purple shadows.

I turned out pretty good. In darker light I think I actually looked pretty scary, it was fun :)

Sweet Toof

I don't know what's up with me lately but baked goods just look so AMAZING! Maybe it's the holidays coming?

Check out these awesome-looking goodies I want to bake:

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake

{via MyRecipes}

Colorful Spiral Cookies

{via SprinkleBakes}

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

{via TheGirlWhoAteEverything}

Sour Cream Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

{via SavorySweetLife}

Chocolate Oreo Cream Cake

{via RealMomKitchen}

Grasshopper Brownie Bars

{via LoveAndOliveOil}

Candy Cane Cake

{via MyRecipes}

Huh-Whaaa?

You Guys I have some fun news: so....I got a J-O-B. A real one. Like, not a contract or temp-to-hire or anything but a foreals job where they pay you to be on their staff and everything.

{dude, this movie was awesomely 80's}

WHAT?! I know it was crazy out of the blue. A few fantastic people I've known for a long time thought of me at the right place, right time. I am: so. friggin'. grateful. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE AND I'M TAKING YOU OUT FOR DRINKS!

I had given up the traditional job hunt over a year ago in favor of growing my freelance business and going to school. The job market is just very very very small right now, and although I have more experience and am more employable, there are a finite number of jobs in Seattle that would be a good fit. I left it up to the job Gods to wink at me if something was right. And it seems like this might be. It's what I'm good at: a print production and graphic design position all rolled into one. It all kindof just fell in to place, and I'm still in a bit of shock about all of that!

I'm still going to finish out my school quarter, and I'll be able to since I take evening classes. It's going to be A LOT for a while. Well, a lot compared to what I've been used to. But I'm ready!

Can I get a WHOO-YEAH?!

Another Wedding Post

The latest dress inspiration: I still have no idea which silhouettes will flatter best, but I'm loving these "flowy" skirt options - they're a bit Cinderella without being too princess-ey...

I know this is cray-cray, but it's fun...

love these sleeves...

love the bustle...

Hi Again

Wow so I guess I needed a little blog break! Hiatus = sometimes necessary. Lots of moving parts and pieces around our life lately, and I just really needed to step away from the internet and focus last week. A few things got accomplished that were on my to-do list forever!

1. Save-the-Dates are printed, and almost 100% addressed.
2. DJ has been booked.
3. Laundry, finally got done.
4. Scored some majorly overdue wardrobe staples just in time to get Macy's sale prices.
5. We found and bought some early Christmas gifts! (my goal is to be done by Thanksgiving - lofty, I know, it just makes December so much more enjoyable when that's done ahead of time).

Don't know about You Guys, but I'm really loving this time of year. I'm finding it hard not to get excited for Christmas too. Don't worry, I'll be over it by December and lusting for Summer by then. I'm just so good at living in the moment! (subtle sarcasm.) Anyway, how about some more fun Fall things?

How amazing does this Pull-Apart Cinnamon Pumpkin Bread look? {from Sunny-Side Up in SD}

I'm thinking about making this Honeycrisp Apple Sangria for my next shindig. {from Nutmeg Nanny}

Must make this Pumpkin Roll! {from Sprinkle Bakes - she has some amazing baking stuff on here}

Love this Apple Rose Pie. Utterly time-consuming, I'm sure. But what if you took each rosette and made little mini-pies instead? How adorable would that be?

You Guys, I LOVE acorns! They're a bit harder to find in the NW than they were on the East Coast, but if you start looking you can find acorn hot-spots :)

Check out how pretty this effect is - probably a bit messy, but great results! {via myblessedlife}

Later Dudes!

Uuuuuugh.

I've had some kind of 48-hour stomach flu for the last few days. Ugh. It's still not quite gone. I can't even think about food yet which is so weird for me. Let me just say: it has not been pretty. I'm really trying to get back to the land of the living today but it's slow going. I had to miss class once this week so I must make it to class today. Wish me luck.

AOTD: Money Trees

These are amazing and so much classier that that disgusting gum wall!

"In several wooded areas around the UK, passersby have been stopping for decades (if not centuries), meticulously hammering small denomination coins intro trees. The practice might date back to the early 1700s in Scotland where ill people stuck florins into trees with the idea that the tree would take away their sickness." - more on the trees in this BBC article.

{via Colossal}

*Happy Weekend Y'All*

Uh-oh...

I'm sorry to say, I really need this "Am I Wearing Pants" Flowchart. But - in my defense - I work from home and am a "student"...but that is all probably canceled out by "am 30 years old"...

{via HuffStyle for a larger pic, y'know, if you need to print out and hang by your closet...(guilty)}

*Also I would argue that some men need a "self-check guide" as well, but for other things like "am I wearing socks with sandals?" or "are these dad jeans?"...just saying.

Ask MansionMogul: Sleepy?

Why so sleepy MansionMogul? It's 9:00am already! I am wearing yesterday's/no makeup and am a hot sleepy mess here but I just felt like talking to myself You Guys so I thought what the hey, let's do an Ask MM. Got some more fabulous questions from my friend Paula - she's really making y'all look bad! So thanks again P for the great questions, everybody keep 'em coming!



The Cord Solutions I Mentioned:

The Tailgate Ideas We Talked About:

Plaid makes everything classic and Fall-like.

Great presentation and easy to transport! {via loveandbutter}

KEBABZ! Love the French Toast ones - fab idea for an early morning tailgate. These antipasto skewers are classy or could be paired with a bloody mary tailgate theme...

Easy non-messy jalapeno poppers {from aisletoaloha}

Unrealistically adorable tailgate spread {via everydayoccasions}

Additionally:
List of The Essential Tailgating Recipes
and 9 Tailgating Menus

How 'bout some wedding stuff?

So I am a crazy person (seriously this is a major fault of mine) and I usually know exactly what I want. I'm visual and most likely have an idea in my head for things. It's hard to explain to other people (the fiance) so I just say "I have a vision" and leave it at that for a lot of stuff. But pictures help. I'm wondering how long I'll act crazy about this wedding before it gets down to it and I give up on some of the details. I will say, having a long engagement and time to think through all these decisions is great, but it kindof sets you up for perfectionist-syndrome disaster at the same time. Anyway, here are some of the latest ideas I've been collecting!

I've never considered myself a birdcage veil kind of girl, but this photo is making me think twice...isn't is so pretty? {via polkadotbride}

I have this "vision" for my bouquet and I made my mom dig out her wedding veil so that it could happen - I want to use the lace trim from hers to wrap my bouquet.

Have I already blogged this picture? OMG I'm dying over these French Dot linens! {via thisisglamorous}

This is it: I want cafe lights and light rose-gold colored swags hanging at the reception! {via poppytalk}

Want to work the soft candles flanking the aisle in there for sure... {via stylemepretty}

I have this whole elaborate craft in my head for making glitter hearts for something - we'll see if I can actually channel the power of Martha to do this one...{via greylikesweddings}