Halloween Recap & A Simple Fall Centerpiece

This is the first Halloween that both girls were super excited to go Trick or Treating and have been talking about it for weeks!  We purchased their costumes back in September from Costco and they have been dying to wear them everyday.  Anabella picked Snow White and Olivia picked Merida, from Brave.  My dad decided to buy the girls a wig for each of their costumes and they just get me every time they put them on!!  They didn't wear them during trick or treating, but we did manage to get a few pictures before they revolted!  For Emma's pumpkin costume, I actually found it on Halloween day at a consignment store for a $1.75...SCORE!!!    

Each year we have gone to my aunt's neighborhood and walk to one end of the street and then back up the other side...it is a really LONG street!!  The girls had a blast going to each house and proudly announcing "Trick or Treat" when the door was opened and then shyly saying "Thank you" and running to show me their candy.  They would even show Emma and would get a kick out of when she gave them a big smile.

They are still playing dress up almost everyday and so excited to have new dresses in the mix, but enough of their cuteness!

I have been seeing all over Pinterest such beautifully set tables for Fall and Thanksgiving, and don't get me wrong they are absolutely gorgeous, but just not something I can do right now.  We don't have a long dining table anymore and our kitchen table, where we eat all of our meals, usually just has a bowl of fake apples on it...yeah I am that lady! Three meals a day, plus snacks are eaten at this table so a simple centerpiece that doesn't take up too much space is right up my alley.

I did purchase a thick wood slice at Michael's, with a 40% coupon it definitely made it something I couldn't pass up. Then I searched my fall decorations bin to find things in varying heights to put on the wood slice.  I had a vine with little pumpkins on it, so I clipped each pumpkin off and placed them in a vase.  Then I had a Fall-ish floral arrangement so I searched for a tall vase to place it in.  I found the perfect one and it was the perfect height, but I felt it was too plain.

I thought maybe I could dip the rim in some gold paint or maybe spray paint the vase similar to what I did to a mason jar last year.  I landed on something in between and taped off a simple design and then got to spray painting!!

I felt it needed something else and because I had it available, I added the fake corn :)

So, how do you guys decorate your table for the Fall??  I would love to see pictures!!  And don't forget to check back on Friday to see some of my favorite things from around the blog world this week!!

With much love,

Kristin

Free Printable: Thankful For

One more day before Thanksgiving…seriously what happened to November!!!  I am hosting Thanksgiving this year and I am super excited to spend the holiday with my family!!  I wanted to add a little something extra this year and since I am totally crushing on chalkboard printables, I decided to make little chalkboard cards.  I thought we could each write down what we are thankful and then share around the table or maybe make it into a guessing game!!  

You can download this printable here and I recommend printing on white card stock if you have it available.

I am going to take a short break until after Thanksgiving weekend and spend the time with family and friends!!  I hope to get started on some Christmas decorating this weekend, so hopefully that means a Christmas post coming soon!!  I pray you all have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving!!

With much love,

Kristin

Free Thanksgiving Printables

Hello There!!!  Today's post is short and sweet.  I am in birthday mode for my sweet little Olivia, but I wanted to give you guys some love too!!  While I was working on some printables for her party I decided to make some more chalkboard printables for YOU!!  All you have to do is download the image to your computer and then you can print at home (it is sized as an 8x10).  I recommend printing on white card stock :)

For Mac users make sure when you right click on the image, select "download linked file."  For PC users, I am sorry I am not certain what steps to take, except to make sure you are saving the file and not the image.  This step is important so your image is the right print quality.  

I hope you all enjoy the printables and I would love to see how you used them in your home!!  Happy Wednesday y'all!

With much love, 

Kristin 

DIY Chalkboard Frame & Free Printable

Happy Monday y'all and a very Happy Veteran's Day and a big thank you to all our men and women who serve and have served our beautiful country!!!!

I totally woke up this morning thinking I would get my post up before the girls woke up....then they woke up and we have been coloring and playing outside soaking up this beautiful weather!!! Better late than never....right???  :)

I did a little crafting this weekend getting more in the spirit for Thanksgiving.  I even made a free printable for you to enjoy, but first let's get to the little craft.  It all started with a picture frame I found at Home Goods, and then decided to make it a chalkboard sign.  It will serve many purposes for us, one it can be used around the house writing different inspirational quotes on it and second it can be used for a prop for my husband's photography!!!  Woo hoo...I love getting multiple uses out of things!

I absolutely love the distress look of this frame and you can't beat the price for $9.99 for an 11x14 picture frame!  To turn it into a chalkboard, I very easily painted three coats of Valspar Chalkboard paint directly onto the glass.  Once it was completed, I had an instant chalkboard.  I really do love how simple and easy it was to transform this frame to a chalkboard.  As an alternative to the glass, you could use a masonite board in its place, which is a good alternative if the kiddos are using this.  We did something similar here, but mounted the frame on the wall.

Now to decide what to write on it - I went simple and decided on "Give Thanks."  Deciding where to put the frame was a little trickier...here are three options.

I really like it with the silverish pumpkin, which was a day after Halloween steal from Michaels for $3.99, but I also really, really love it with the fall foliage I have.  Decisions, decisions!!!!  :)

Well, while I move that around the house for the next couple of days you can print this FREE chalkboard printable that is sized for an 8x10 frame.

I decided to frame mine in a white 8x10 frame that was purchased from Ikea and then place a few pumpkins around it.

So what are you guys doing to get in the Thanksgiving spirit??

With much love,

Kristin