Friday Favorites #9

 I am loving the colors in this Day of the Dead silk scarf from Kteis.

 This kitty bowl from KoideStudio is irresistible!

 I have always been fascinated by Egyptian art so I immediately fell in love when I saw these etched copper earrings from archaicdesign.

 This vintage birdcage from buffalowinter is so classic and romantic.

 How adorable are these magnets from redtilestudio?

I love the soft blue and lace detail on this clutch from betsywynn.

Happy Friday!  I hope you are loving these favorites as much as I am.  What is on your agenda for the weekend?  Mike and I will be picking out paint colors and might even start working on this house a bit.  I'm so excited to finally start adding our own touches.  Think citrus colors for the downstairs!  I promise I will share before and after pictures, and probably some during the process.

Remember when I put purple in my hair?  Well I chickened out back then, was too afraid to bleach all of my hair to get a nice vibrant color but now I'm going to just DO IT!  My hair is a bit dark underneath so I knew it would take a few bleachings to get it as bright as I need it.  Last night I started the process and will be doing more on Monday.  Once I get rid of my morning puffy eyes I'll snap some shots.  It's a bit orange right now but we'll get there!

I hope you all have an awesome weekend!

Dancing in the Flames - Photography

Like I told you yesterday, Mike and I had a bonfire Tuesday night.  We didn't stay outside long but I still managed to snap a million pictures.  Fire is one of my favorite subjects.  There is something so mysterious and magical about it.  It's exhilarating and dangerous.  Untouchable and powerful.  These are a few of my favorite shots.  I think they really capture the silence and raw power of the flame.  And the last one reminds me of a little fire spirit, it's my number one. 

Autumn Bonfires

Yesterday the Weather Channel had me convinced rain was coming.  I moped around a bit and planned on spaghetti for dinner and a quiet night indoors.  But lucky for us the weather changed it's mind and Mike and I got to spend some time outside!  We (like usual) started a fire and enjoyed the light breeze and comfortable temperature.  

I am loving this weather more and more every day and I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.  I know winter will be here before we all know it and I've promised myself this year I wouldn't complain (much).  I'm from Ohio, you'd think I would be used to cold winters... but I'm telling you, Wisconsin is so different.  There is just more of everything.  More cold, more slush, and WAY more snow.  And it seems to last a whole lot longer.  But this year I'm going to try to savor it and take advantage of it..... hopefully.  Until then, I am soaking up this fall weather and savoring every second.

So Mike and I sat outside and cooked hotdogs and baked beans for supper.  I snapped a shot of my sparkly toes before I re-do them and touched up my freshly painting black nails.  You would think I'd paint all the digits at once, huh?  No.... I always forget about the toes for some reason.  Woops!  Perhaps I will do them later today.  I'm thinking something on the lighter side.

How is your week going?  We're half way to the weekend and I've got some baking plans I can't wait to share with you soon.  What do you think.... peanut butter or cinnamon sugar?  Maybe both!  More on that later...

Have a great Wednesday.  :)

P.S. --  I have reached 100 followers!!!!  You all are amazing and I appreciate you guys more and more everyday.... I love all the comment and I especially love getting to know some of you.  It's been a blast these past three months and I'm looking forward to more and more!  Thank you all for supporting me! xoxo

Pinterest Last 5 -- Vol. 4

 So surreal and magical.  I can imagine a princess up in one of the towers curled up with a book and daydreaming.... 

 Pumpkin butter thumbprint cookies!!  These look so delicious and of course great for fall.

 Love the colors of this picture, the blue against the yellow and orange is perfect!  And it makes me want to go on a picnic.

 Those EARS!!!

Beautiful and mystical.

It's been so long since I've shared any of my Pinterest finds!  I'm still on there almost every day though, I love looking through while I drink my morning tea... it's so relaxing.  If you are on Pinterest be sure to let me know in the comments so I can follow your boards!  You can also find all of mine here.

No plans yet for today.  Mike's work schedule was changed around a bit so he gets to be home today and tomorrow which is pretty exciting.  Normally he works 48 hours at a time, no coming home at all during that period but this coming week he gets to come home in the evenings!!  Very awesome.

A bit of a sour note.... we have to push back our Chicago trip.  We planned to go Oct. 7 -- Oct. 13 but some things came up and we're going to have to reschedule.  I'm really hoping we can still go in October before it gets too cold.  We'll see!  I've gotta get to the zoooo!!

I hope you all are having a nice week so far and enjoying this new fall change.  My street is becoming more and more beautiful with all the leaves changing.  Maybe later today I'll go take some pictures, assuming the rain can hold out!

Channeling a Sparkly Autumn -- Nails!

Polish:

NYC Long Wearing - Tangerine Cream 112

Pure Ice - Beware

Loving my nails right now!  I really wanted them orange since fall is finally here but knew I wouldn't be able to leave them alone.  I grabbed some glitter and tried out a slight ombre effect.  If only I had gold sparkles, I think they would have looked much better but I'm still pretty happy with the results.  Though like I've told you before, knowing me.... now that I've taken pictures and shown them to you I will most likely change them very soon.  I'm so impulsive and impatient when it comes to nail color.  And look at that sky!  I noticed that awesome cloud while I was out taking the photos.  So gorgeous!

How was the weekend?  Mine was all right, full of bonfires and relaxation.  I have some family stuff going on and I feel like I'm coming down with a cold so I tried to take it easy as much as possible.  Today will be filled with cleaning up as much as I can and trying to get some rest as well.  Not the best mix, huh?  Oh well, some stuff just has to get done.  :)

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

Sale Announcement and Giveaway Winner

Congratulations Jenny in Ohio!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered.  I'm already excited to have another one in a few months!

And also.... Sea Marie Creations is having a sale!  I'm clearing out as much as I can to make room for new stock so come check it out.

Use code:  BLOG15  -- 15% off

Thanks again.  :)  You all are the best.

Haluski - My Favorite Dish Ever

First off.... you guys are awesome.  So glad some of you said you like cooked cabbage because for some reason it makes me feel like a bit of a nerd.  It brings me back to elementary school when I pulled my tuna fish sandwich out of my pack and all of my friends were grossed out and didn't want to to sit with me.  Traumatizing, I know.  :P  But seriously.... this dish is amazing.  Who doesn't love butter and noodles and bacon?  Uh.....

Haluski

1 head of green cabbage

1 pound bacon

1 pack egg noodles

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 onion

salt and pepper

Cook your bacon, saving the grease

While the bacon is cooking, chop cabbage in roughtly 1" x 3" strips

Dice onion

Toss cabbage and onion in a large pot with butter and about 1/4 of bacon grease.  Cover and cook on medium until wilted, about 15 minutes

Bring water to boil and toss in your noodles, cooking according to package

Remove cover on cabbage and continue cooking until just browned, add bacon

Drain noodles and mix in with cabbage and bacon

Eat it and love it

Hopefully this recipe is easy to understand.  This isn't exactly traditional Haluski (usually it's made with a sort of flour/potato dumpling) but this way is so easy and so so delicious.  I think it's even better in the morning for breakfast.  And last night it was even better because I got to pair it with my first glass of cider this season.  I'm so addicted to cider, I should be watched carefully when around it for fear of stomach aches.

Today I am headed to the laundromat to wash my giant winter comforter and to ship off a few packages.  And then I might head over to look at fabrics for my Halloween costume!  I'm dressing as an owl and making the entire outfit myself (keep in mind I have zero idea how to sew or make a pattern) so this should be pretty exciting and interesting.  I promise to show you guys pictures once I get it started.

Tonight I will be drawing the winner for my SOAP GIVEAWAY at 10:00 PM!  Watch out for the winner tomorrow morning.

Friday Favorites #8

 I am loving the romantic rocker feel of this leather headband from leatherblossoms.

 Isn't the guy adorable?!  He is a "Big Ol' WereSomething" from minconspiracy.  Want!

These leather feather earrings by lilianschmoo are perfect for fall.

 A spooky and yet magical print from Raceytay.

 I am really loving the colors of this Moroccan candlestick set from CheekyDesignCo.

Loving the rocker/Dia de los Muertos feel to these skull earrings from TheNikiProject

Happy Friday everyone!  It's a beautiful morning so far and I'm hoping it stays this way.  Mike finally comes home from Kentucky (late tonight!) and I'm super excited.  Though it's only been a few days it feels like foreverrrrr. *Cue sappy music and whining*

Ok, enough of that. :)  Let me know what you think of these favorites!  And do you have any big weekend plans?  I have no idea what I'm doing, will just have to wait to see if the hubs has any ideas.  I do know however that I am making my favorite dish in the whole wide world: haluski.  It's cabbage and onions and noodles and bacon and very Eastern European.  I'll be sure to take some pictures and share with you guys, though you've gotta be open minded to cooked cabbage!!! I know that freaks some people out, but it's nomnomnom delicious.

And don't forget about the SOAP Giveaway if you haven't entered yet or if you're feeling sweet and want to tell your friends.  I will be drawing the winner tomorrow night at 10:00PM and will announce who won on Sunday.  I also have a little surprise for those who don't win so watch out!

CLICK HERE FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

Stay With Me in this Dream.....

I have obviously had way too much fun editing photos this morning.....

 5:45 AM -- I'm wide awake and freezing.  My window is open room and though I don't know what the temperature is outside it is definitely cold.  It feels like it might be in the 50's ... maybe even high 40's.  Way too cold for sleeping.  I close my window and turn off my fan and jump back in to bed but it's too late.  I'm awake now.

The sun is barely up and I'd love to get my blog post written but of course I have no pictures.  I put up some spider webs yesterday for Halloween and (of course) didn't take any pictures afterwards.  Though there was zero light outside I went out and took a few anyway.  I also tried to capture that early morning eeriness before the sun is fully up and it's still a bit dark.

That failed.... horribly.  My pictures were grainy and icky, not even creepy to go with the webs.  I knew I could wait until later in the day to get some better ones but ehhhh... this is the perfect excuse to play!  These pictures remind me of a dream... some sort of amplified fantasy world where I play the lead role of the alien princess.  Uh... or something like that.  I'm not bragging or anything but I'm pretty sure green is my color.  ;)

Don't forget to enter my first SOAP giveaway!

Pretty Nails and Morning Surprises

Today is such a beautiful morning!  I can definitely tell Fall is two days away.  It is 57(F) out right now with a high of 62(F) for the day.  Could it be more perfect?  They are calling for some rain in the evening but I really don't mind.

I woke up this morning and knew I had to show you my nails.  I painted them like this two days ago and surprisingly hadn't taken any pictures until today.  Mainly because I have a tendency to want to change them as soon as I show them to you all!  I need to get in the habit of keeping them longer, mainly for the sake of my nails and all the polish I go through.  :)

While taking my nail photos I let Yama in the yard to do his morning business.  I came inside and made a pot of tea and started to go through my morning internet routine.  Twenty minutes later I go out to bring Yama inside and .................. more holes.  Ugh!  He's been digging a little here and there but Mike and I haven't been too worried about it.  We plan to replant a lot of the grass next year anyway because it desperately needs it.  But GOODNESS, Yama!  These were crazy holes.... it looks like he went on a digging frenzy.

On the plus side, the leaves are changing!  Aren't they gorgeous?!  I can't wait until all the leaves on my street are full of color.  This is the only one right now.

Hope you guys have a lovely Wednesday!  xoxo

Don't forget to enter my first ever SOAP giveaway!!