Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope y'all had a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  

& a Happy Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

I swear.. I was NOT meant to spend money this Cyber Monday. I wanted to buy Robby and I stockings from Pottery Barn but they were all out of the ones I wanted. I wanted to buy a Christmas tree skirt but the one I wanted was no longer available. I wanted to buy more of those pumpkin ramekins from World Market and save them for next year (they are on sale for $2.49) but it wouldn't let me add to cart! Grr. So I gave up! 

I was so blessed to have been able to spend time with my sweet family members on Thanksgiving, have delicious food on the table and to have been able to spend the day with my best friend. Next year I may not be able to see him on Thanksgiving or Christmas due to his work schedule =(

I would have to say my favorite part of the night was going around the table and hearing each of us say what we are thankful for. I got teary eyed & I even made Robby tear up a little because I mentioned my miscarriages (I wasn't even planning on mentioning that). I am thankful for trials in life. Well, don't get me wrong, I don't like them at the time but I am thankful for them once my heart heals a little because I grow so much from experiences like that.

I also enjoyed reading our thank you cards Thanksgiving night from our traditional Thankful Box. My brother picked a card out that I forgot I even wrote. He read: "I am thankful dad and I were safe when he ran the red light hehe! ;)" Sorry dad for throwing ya under the bus! Ha!

Some cute ones from some little visitors that spent the night one night:

Meg: "I'm thankful to be in a country where I can go to school. Some kids hate school. School is a privilege." (Wow! She's 9 folks!)

Madi: I am thankful for spending time with my family and spending the night with them." (And then she drew a picture of all of us.. including the dog)

Eric: I am thankful for being with my family.

Those just melt my heart!

 Here are some pictures of the dishes I made for turkey day.

I made the turkey veggie platter with ranch dip & jalapeno ranch dip per husbands request.

 

I wasn't going to make a cheese ball (or in this case a cheese turkey) because I was going to make those pilgrim hats with the reese's peanut butter cups and the Keebler fudge stripe cookies that are all over Pinterest, but when I found out my cousin's wife already bought all the stuff to make the pilgrim hats I had to decide quickly on another festive dish. 

Not the most appealing turkey but people got what it was.. or so I think..?!

The pie to the left is my pumpkin layered cheesecake I have been making every year since we've been married. Robby and I LOVE it and our Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without it. EXCEPT.. this year I messed up on the 'layered' part so it was just a pumpkin cheesecake. Ha! Still taste the same though.

My southern man also requested a homemade pecan pie.. so here is my very FIRST pecan pie! & It was pretty darn good if I say so myself.

  Next year I WILL make my own crust because the ones I bought from the store were not-so-good.

The ONLY picture of us on Thanksgiving. 

I took a mirror picture of my curled hair because.... I hardly ever curl my hair.

  
And here is a painting I added to my shop of a deer head silhouette..

 I've really been into adding black & white to my decor lately.
 I think he would look so hip in a modern nursery or I can even make a red one for Christmas decor or a Christmas themed nursery.

Now it's time to pop either the grinch or the holiday.. in the DVD player and cuddle with the hubby since I only have ONE day left with him before he has to go to work.

4 more days till December!!!

Chalkboard Banner

I had this brilliant idea to make a chalkboard banner when I was making my Halloween Advent Calendar and guess where I saw my idea at about a week ago? 

Yea, you guessed it..

 Pinterest!

(insert sad face)

I guess some people got tired of making a banner for each holiday/season like I did ;)

So I just went ahead and made a banner anyways because I still love my the idea. 

I mean how easy would it be to write and than erase?

I'm still trying to see if these wood sheets are durable for erasing a number of times. I'm probably going to paint the back of each card for more support and because it looks a lot nicer.. 

What you'll need

Wood Balsa Sheets

(I got mine at Michaels but you may find them somewhere else cheaper. I used a coupon of course)

Scissors

Chalkboard Paint 

(I got mine awhile back at Home Depot)

Small Paint Roller or Paint Brush

Hole puncher

Rope, Ribbon, String

 

Cut Wood Sheets  

(read my lesson learned down below)

Lesson Learned: If you look at the picture below.. I cut the sheets into rectangles, painted them with chalkboard paint and then I cut the banner to the shape I wanted. I suggest cutting the shape you want and then painting them because when you cut after you paint..some chips of wood may break & then you have to touch up with paint again.

So, cut into this shape below or into a triangle & then paint them.

Add two holes at the top of each

  AND TADA!!
You got yourself a chalkboard banner.
 

Halloween Advent Calendar

I looked up Halloween advent calendars on Pinterest but didn't really like the ones I saw, so I decided to make my own. Can't wait to hang this 'spooky' advent calendar on our fireplace!

  What you'll need

Burlap Fabric

Fabric Paint & Paint brush or sponge
Number Stencil (I got mine from Joann's)

31 Clothespins 

Acrylic Paint to paint clothespins

Halloween charms

Twine or Yarn

Printable cards

Rope 
 

•  I found the ghost and spider table scatters at Target. You know the dollar bins in the front of the store? They were in that section for $2.50 each.
• I had burlap fabric and fabric paint already, but if you want to buy some you can get the fabric at Joann's or Wal-mart and the fabric paint you can buy at any craft store.

• I got the clothespins at the dollar store (36 of them in one package).

• I had the acrylic paint already to paint the clothespins black & white.

• I printed the cards from here.

• I bought the black & white twine from here.

Now.. for the cards!

I don't have any kids yet, but I made some cards keeping my future children in mind. Robby and I will do most of these activities together now (I'm a kid at heart and I LOVE all the holidays), BUT we can come up with something else to do if we don't feel like having a Halloween muffin tin lunch or coloring a Halloween picture! Ha! Who knows.. we can color a page and the best picture wins, getting a massage for the prize! =) 

Btw.. if you come up with a cuter way to make the cards please let me know. I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to digital stuff so that's as good as it's going to get.

Also, I know we all get busy and stuff comes up. 

So I thought about just adding the cards in the bags weekly or maybe even sticking a card in the bag daily that way I know for sure if that activity will work with everyone's schedule/weather/etc.

AND last but not least, 

if these activities are way too much for you to add to your already busy schedule, then you can alternate-- activity, treat, activity, treat.. & by treat I mean a piece of candy or a cheap little Halloween toy. 
That's what I love about these calendars.. we can make it our own!

On each card I added an activity and Halloween joke.

Here is my list in no particular order:

go to a corn maze

*why don't skeletons like parties?

{they have no 'body' to dance with}

make a creamy caramel apple dip

*what is a witch's favorite story?

{'ghoul deluxe' and the 'three scares'}

(NOTE: You can find that recipe on my Pinterest board called: autumn/fall)

go trunk-or-treating

*where do baby ghost go during the day?

{day'scare'}

 (NOTE: My church always has trunk or treating, so that's why I added that one} 

read halloween books

*what kind of mistakes do ghost make?

{'boo-boo's'}

pick apples & bake an apple pie with the apples we pick

*what is a witch's favorite subject in school?

{'spelling'}

watch charlie brown halloween special & read "it's a great pumpkin charlie brown"

*what do you call a fat jack-o-lantern?

{a 'plumpkin'}

make apple cider

*what do witches put in their hair? 

{'scare' spray}

have a photo shoot in the leaves

*what do ghost do when they get in the car?

{they 'boo-kle' their seatbelts}

go on a picnic

*why was no food left after the monster party?

{everyone was a 'goblin'}

make spider cupcakes

*what do birds sing on halloween?

{trick or 'tweet'}

go on a hay ride

*what is the favorite game at a ghost's party?

{hide & 'shriek'}

carve pumpkins

*why didn't the skeleton cross the road?

{didn't have the guts}

color a halloween picture

*what's a monster's favorite play?

{romeo & 'ghouliet'}

go trick-or-treating/pass out candy/make hot cocoa

*who won the skeleton beauty contest?

{no 'body'}
(NOTE: this card will always be in the day 31 bag & watching "Hocus Pocus" is MUST!!!)

paint mini pumpkins

*what kind of witch lives by the sea?

{sand-witch}

make ghost rice krispie treats

*what do you call two witches living together?

{broommates}

make a halloween craft

*who did frankenstien take to prom?

{his 'ghoul' friend}

visit the pumpkin patch

*what do skeletons say before eating?

{'bone' appetit!}

make halloween cookies

*why do witches fly on brooms?

{vacuum cleaner cords aren't long enough}  

make spider ice cubes & a spooky halloween drink

*what do you call a skeleton who won't work?

{lazy bones}

"boo" one of your neighbors with a halloween treat

*when is it bad luck to meet a black cat?

{when you're a mouse}

have a halloween muffin tin lunch

*what do ghost's say when something is really neat?

{'ghoul'!}

have a family halloween party

*what does a witch do on saturday night?

{'boo-gie'}

(NOTE: we may not have time to always have a halloween party, but we can veg out on the carpet with just the ones who live in our house with halloween music blasting-- I consider that a party too!)

decorate for halloween

*what do ghost serve for dessert?

{ice 'scream'!}
(NOTE: this card will always be in the day 1 bag)

make any halloween treat

*what is a vampire's favorite food?

{'neck'tarines}

watch a halloween movie

*what do you call a friendly, dead egyptian?

{chummy mummy}

make a halloween craft

*what do ghost drink when they are thirsty?

{'ghoul'-aid} 

 (NOTE: I know I already added this, but a person can't make enough crafts. Especially with all the cute ideas on Pinterest)

pumpkin bowling

*what kind of insurance does a ghost buy?

{home 'moaners' insurance}

watch hocus pocus

*how does a witch tell time?

{she looks at her 'witch' watch}

(NOTE: I'll probably watch this movie more than once. My favorite!) 

make s'mores

*why are mummies good employees?

{they get 'wrapped up' in their work}

(NOTE: they have halloween s'more ideas on pinterest with the ghost marshmallows)

make halloween cake pops

*what has webbed-feet, feathers, fangs and quacks?

{count duckula} 

Update:
 I added some more cards to my list..

watch "the witches"
what do ghosts eat for breakfast?
 {boo-berries}

go for a fall walk
where does count dracula usually eat his lunch?
{at the casketeria}

paint halloween rocks
what's it like to be kissed by a vampire?
{it's a pain in the neck}

make caramel apples
knock knock.
who's there?
ben.
ben who?
ben waiting for halloween all year!
Note: cheesy joke, i know! & i can't believe i forgot caramel apples in the first place.

make dirt in a cup/add gummy worms
why did dracula's mother give him cough medicine?
{because he was having a coffin fit} 

play halloween games
how can you tell the vampire likes baseball?
{every night he turns into a bat}

scavenger hunt
knock, knock.
who's there?
witch.
witch who?
witch one of you can fix my broomstick?

make pumpkin bread/give some to a neighbor
what song does dracula hate?
{"you are my sunshine"}

read fall books
knock, knock.
who's there?
boo.
boo who?
boo who, I didn't want to make you cry.

go over the history of halloween
what tops off a ghost's ice cream sundae?
{whipped scream}

make halloween popcorn
dracula decided he needed a dog, which breed did he choose?
{a bloodhound}

make leaf art
what do you call a goblin who gets too close to a bonfire?
{a toasty ghosty}

make snikerdoodle cookies with candy corn
what kind of tie does a ghost wear to a formal party?
{a boo-tie}

I added a couple more craft cards & movie cards since those are fun & FREE!

If you have any other ideas or ideas that don't cost a penny, please let me know so I can add your ideas to my list. 

   

**Time to make a Christmas one!**

  

 

Denver Zoo Date

Yesterday was Robby's last day home so we decided to spend some quality time with each other. We went to visit the Denver Temple, went home to change and then after we went to visit the zoo. 

 

I'm noticing a lot of leaves are starting to change colors. Yay!

We didn't see a lot of the animals because we went kind of late, but some animals were ready for dinner, so we got to see them eat which was awesome!

Wish they would clean their windows.. eh oh well!

Isn't this camelion just the cutest? I love his curled up tail.

 I want him! He reminds me of Pascal from Tangled.

And then there's the famous Dori and Marlin from "Finding Nemo." 

And just in case you were wondering..

NO! I didn't sing "Just keep Swimming."

Okay maybe I did.

My sweet husband carrying my camera bag. 

I love how he doesn't care what anyone thinks!

My handsome husband.

Elephant eating dinner.

We made our way to the Asian Exhibit. 

Beautiful Colorado clouds!

Robby asked me if I wanted to jump (and I was about to) but then I remembered I had surgery not too long ago so I decided to skip out on jumping.

He jumped as far as a Kangaroo Rat!

I was also getting a lot of these pictures like the one above.
You know.. 
as soon as you bust out your camera the animal turns around to show you it's booty! Just lovely haha.

Well, my husband is now at the airport waiting for his flight and I'm sitting here at home missing him like crazy already. Ohh, what I would do to be at the zoo again with him!

Love you honey.
See you soon!