My 2015 Halloween tree reveal!

With the next few weekends packed with Emma's marching band competitions and cross country invitationals, I decided to make the most of a nearly empty weekend and start unpacking a few of my orange Halloween storage tubs. 

I spent most of the weekend decorating my Halloween tree.

Handmade ornaments mixed with lots of vintage Halloween picks and special treasures, fill the branches.

For those of you who have followed me as long as I've been blogging, you know that our family {loves} Halloween!

 NOT the icky, scary, gross-kind of Halloween, but the fun, vintage, Orange and Black Halloween!

This year, marks our 24th annual Halloween party.

 As you can see, my Halloween tree is extra full this year.

Boy, I love it so!!  Happy "early" Halloween!

Tiny things...my Halloween dollhouse

As you know, once mid-September hits, Halloween takes center stage.

It's definitely come on with speed and determination this year.

With the gift of a pie safe this summer, I now have another spot for displaying my precious Halloween treasures.   

As you can see, I decided to unpack my Halloween dollhouse this year.

 Having it on top of the pie safe, keeps it out of the way of  furry paws.

 I've had people ask, just how many dollhouses do you own?

This Halloween-themed one makes number 9.

I hope you find some time to play this weekend!  

XOXO
   

Halloween crafting

Inspired by My Paper Crane and Viv (Instagram accounts), I took up the paint brush and decorated a few polyfoam gourds.

Both Dollar Tree and Dollar General are selling them right now.  I've even seen polyfoam gourds at our local Meijer's Grocery Stores.  

If you are curious, the wooden end of the paint brush works well for making their little teeth.  I used crafting holly berries for their noses and faux candy corn from Hobby Lobby.

 Don't you just love their personalities?  Happy crafting!
 

It's starting...

I can't help myself.

A few Halloween  treasures needed to come out.  

XOXO

Off to the races...literally!

Everyone is back to school...FINALLY! 

 It was a rainy start for the girls first day, but everyone came home fairly happy.

 Emma decided to join cross country her senior year.

Gotta give her credit for trying a new sport which also happens to have competitions the same day as marching band invitationals.

 Every weekend is going to be a juggling act. But, she's so darn organized that I know she'll pull it off.

It's going to be a busy senior year.  I can't believe I'm even typing that. Happy September, everyone!   

Congratulations to Chris!

On Monday afternoon, I received a phone call at work from one of my husband's principals telling me that Chris was going to be honored with a teaching excellence award at their district wide school kick-off Tuesday morning.  As you can imagine, it was so hard to keep it secret.  

Because of my own crazy new semester start-up, I was unable to attend the ceremony, but my parents surprised him at school.

Congratulations, honey!  

We're so happy for you!