Couldn't be more excited...

Fall is my absolute favorite and with the COLD weather we have (finally) had this week, I am sooooo in the mood for it! Needless to say, I cannot get enough pumpkin fluff, pumpkin bread, etc. (you get the idea)....anything pumpkin, I am all over it! Besides all of the delicious treats, I have decorated too!! Here are a few pics! ;)

Some glitter pumpkins and a witch from Salem...make the perfect pair! ;) Skulls and witches hats!

This banner was an experiment! I thought it came out pretty good if I do say so myself! =)

Magnolia Bakery...Oh how I heart you so much!

I have a very bad addiction right now that I think I need to control! I have been spoiled two weeks in a row now with the best cupcakes EVER! Luckily (or should I say "too bad") they have one in LA! You must try these special treats yourself! ;) P.S. Only 2 are left and let's just say Mike didn't eat one! Yep, it was me! Now, I must go run some more...

Project complete!!

So yesterday I posted the "before" picture of my "thrifty" find...as I said, I am sad that I was too quick to jump on redoing it that I forgot to snag a picture of the bottom piece. Believe me, I wanted to give up on the sanding, etc., but learned plenty (more than I wanted) about refinishing furniture. Since this was my first piece, I now know what to do and not do for next time!

One last before picture...

Note the fake wood piece in the back...ick! It was all over the hutch..it just had to go!

Keep going...

Ta Da!!!

I could not find the perfect light to take the picture, but here it is!!!!!!!!!!! What sold me on this piece was the detail (notice the sides and the top, etc.!).

The bottom piece "before" had the fake wood behind each door, plain white knobs, gold hinges and the icky blue color with a ton of scratches! We added black hinges, fun knobs, and bead board (which was also added to the back of the top piece as well) to the back of the doors to make it just how I imagined it!

The knobs are one of my favorite parts!!!!

Total cost:

• Hutch: $40.00 Thrift store find (talked the guy down from $50!)

• Bead board: $38.00 Home Depot (didn't use the whole big piece though)

Paint supplies and primer: $45.00 Home Depot

Knobs: $50.00 Anthropologie (had a gift card for $50!) =FREE!!!

Hinges: $6.00 Home Depot

Grand Total: $179.00!

Yes, I spent a little more than I thought, but it was worth the outcome!

Pictures coming soon after I decorate the inside! Can't wait to decorate it for the fall! =)

My project...

Since last month, I have been working little by little to finish ONE of my many summer projects...here is a little glimpse of what I am doing.... This is the TOP of my new hutch that I bought last month when I was strolling around our local thrift stores searching for vintage frames to spray paint and make pretty...instead, I came home with this beauty (so just kidding...it's hideous!). I somehow forgot to take a "before" photo of the bottom piece (trust me though, it was just as hideous!)...The color soooo does not fit my taste and the back piece of wood just had to go! It has taken me a while to do, but is very worth it!! I cannot wait to show you the final product!

p.s. I normally do not have an "eye" for such projects, but was very inspired this summer to test my skills! ;)

Will update soon.

These last few months have been super busy and I really haven't had the time to share our pictures on here...I will soooooon! I am in the process of redoing a piece of furniture so those pictures will be up soon too! Very exciting!

Makena's Dance Recital

I had a such a blast at Makena's dance recital! She is an absolute doll and is such a ham on stage...that's just one of the many reasons why we love her! =)

She was showered with flowers and a Barbie! =)
We ended the day at Red Robin! She was exhausted and was so over pictures by then! =(

Here is a video of this little one having a blast!

Beach Day

So lucky that the weather cleared up today and we could enjoy a great beach bbq with friends and family! Love these days! Julia and Makena

She loves sitting with her uncle Mike
Mike loves this game!

SDSU

Mike and I were down near State this weekend and decided that it would be fun to go explore our old stomping grounds of SDSU (and stop at the bookstore to buy some things too of course!)! That's where it all started...6 years later and are we married YET?! hahaha! =) One excited guy after he got a new ALUMNI coffee cup and some shirts!
It just wouldn't be a trip down memory lane had we not stopped by my old college apartment!

Gavin's 1st birthday!

Makena was so excited to go with her auntie to Gavin's birthday party! We had a great time! =)

Makena loved the water slide!
Splash!


Gavin and Janene went too!
Adorable family! =)

Everything was decorated so cute!
Loved his cake!

These pictures are always the best!

Happy WAY BELATED Father's Day!

This post is very long overdue! Anyway, for Father's Day since my parents were on their anniversary trip back east, we had to celebrate a week later after they got back. My sister and I took my dad to a great dinner at Rodrigos in Temecula! SO yummy! We had a great time spending time together. After dinner, we enjoyed some yummy ice cream too! We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful and supportive dad in our lives! We love him to pieces!! He truly is the best! =) Love you daddy!

4th of July Fun (not in the sun)

I wouldn't change one thing about living in Carlsbad, but when it's overcast on the 4th of July, it just sucks! We enjoyed a great day though with friends (trying to soak up the non existent sun...shivering with towels and later with sweatshirts and jeans...is it July or December?!) and watched the fireworks from Legoland! It was a great day all in all (a relaxing one too!).

Mike, Brian, and Bob....Notice the towels?! Ugh!

I was lucky to grab one quick shot of Mike and I before we left and...that is the extent of my 4th of July picture taking...ick!

P.S. Did I mention we ate the cake balls for dessert?! They were such a hit!

Y-U-M

I made these little balls of heaven yesterday so that we could take them to our 4th of July festivities....they were easier than I thought...My mom always makes them and they are one of Mike's favorite treats! I was going crazy that the chocolate wasn't setting up when I first started so......Mike eased my pain and decided he would help sprinkle! He secretly enjoyed it (missed the picture though!)! Haha!

I separated one cake box and dyed one red and the other blue...festive!