Anja loves...

going on coffee dates..

with her bestest...

and especially loves it when her date surprises her and picks out her coffee for her...

best date ever...

~
"To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each others hearts... We live outside the the touch of time."
Clara Ortega

October

October gave a party, the leaves by hundreds came-the chestnuts, oaks, maples- there costumes all aflame. The sunshine spread a carpet, and everything was grand. Miss Weather led the dancing, Professor Wind the band, the guests were all aflutter and danced off hand in hand.
Afton D. Cooper

Mom's annual Fall arrangement which she makes each year to grace our door.

Happy Friday

pureed-butternut-squash-soup in a mug topped with a little sour cream and toasted pumpkin seeds....MmmHmmm
( f.y.i. this soup is very healthy as well as being vegetarian, gluten free, dairy free, if you don't add the sour cream on top and very delicious )

Summers loss seems little, dear, on days like these.
Ernest Dowsen

My Buddy

At the Pumpkin Patch

Wednesday, a couple of young mothers and there adorable children made a day trip to our local pumpkin patch. We brought a few 'punkins' of our own.

Madison and me pretending we're sheep

Natalie with her pumpkin

A cute group shot with Natty, Kitty and Lilly

Alyssa and me in the corn maze

There was a cute little train that all the kids had a turn on, as you can see they loved it

What We Wore Wednesday

How to wear cowboy boots without lookin' hick.


Browsing around the Thrift Store the other day my eye caught these boots....
And this poem written by Anja tells it all

so they sat on the shelf
calling your attention
just waiting for you to look there way..

you took a look ...
and you were hooked
you tried them on
they where your size..

you said to them come with me
and i promise you this
we will be the best of friends
for ever and ever...

and without even
waiting for a response
you took them and ran...

For several months I've been searching for a pair of cowboy boots....I've found that the going rate for real leather (which of course I wanted duh ;) was over a hundred dollars! With Anja's little voice being my conscious I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money... But the timeless quote "All good things come to those who wait" ... sometimes pays off ;)
I spent 14.99 on my boots....Real leather...Barely used...I am a fan!!
I googled them and found them on Ebay selling USED for a hundred dollars...

Today

There are many things you do because they feel right
and make no sense
and make no money
and it may be the real reason we are here.
So today try
following your heart.

What is the best way to celebrate your 60th Birthday?

You could start by inviting your best friend and his wife over for dinner...

begin the evening with some light hors d'oeuvres...
( brie with crackers and a mushroom-tart . I must say I did make a few corrections to the recipe when I made it 1. one should never roll out store- bought puff pastry as it ruins the buttery layers, so when making the tart make it the size of 1 sheet of puff pastry do not roll it any bigger. 2. It says to add 1 tsp of salt to the onions as they caramelize, but when you add salt it makes them sweat which will prevent them from caramelizing, so add the salt after. 3. Also, be sure when you are sauteing the mushrooms to saute it in batches. Put only enough to cover the bottom of your pan, if you add them all at once like it says the mushrooms will only sweat and prevent them from caramelizing properly. When you have sauteed them all you may then add them all back into the pan with the spinach. 4. I used Lively run goat cheese for the top. It is very mild goat cheese which can be found at Wegmans )

have your daughter cook you some of your favorite foods...
( chicken picata, baked potatoes and cesear salad)

~ Its not age that matters its attitude ~

and be sure to not forget about dessert...
( Raspberry pie and Tiramisu)

Happy Birthday Dad

Please welcome...

Pinky ( because she's pink )

Guinevere ( she was the first doll I made and got to be my guinea pig)

and Sebastian... the three newest members of our family. My friend Alyssa taught me how to make these dolls over the Summer...aren't they just the cutest!!! :)

What we wore on Wednesday

So if you're anything like me you're just not ready to put away your favorite cotton dress which you have been wearing all summer....

Here is what we have done to keep that dress around for just a little bit longer.

By layering with a little, knit sweater, adding leggings, boots and, of course, a scarf we turned our summer dresses into the perfect look for Fall.

And we all know that
its all about the details...

(I really am quite jealous of Olivia's
new red boot, aren't you?!)

I must say I am a huge fan of my latest additions to my jewelry collection.
I found the green beads at our local thrift store. They are glass and deliciously heavy around my neck. The longer pendant is also a thrift store
find. And lastly, the third necklace is my recent purchase from silpada ,yes
I splurged and am not having one moment of regret about it :). I am a huge
silpada fan their jewelry is amazing!
Olivia's outfit:

dress: thrift store
sweater: thrift store
leggings: thrift store
boots: thrift store
scarf: garage sale
bracelets: thrift store


Anja's outfit:

dress: thrift store
sweater: kohls
leggings: childrensplace
boots: kohls
beaded necklace: thrift store
long silver pendent: thrift store
silver pendent and chain: silpada
silver bangles: thrift store

"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way"

because I know you love it

"just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower"

Hans Christian Andersen