Wordless Wednesday - Take Time to Notice the Small Things

Creative Letters

I am a huge fan of letters. I love giving them just as much as I love getting them. There is something so exciting about opening up your mailbox and seeing a card, postcard or letter waiting there for you. This week I came across a few "cards" that take creativity to a whole new level.

(Photos courtesy of Fred Flare)

The Capsule Letters at Fred Flare are perfect for those of you who dreamed of becoming a secret agent when you grew up. Each capsule contains a scroll of paper on which you can scribble a secret message or simply tell a friend hello.

Jordan, from Oh Happy Day, shared her super creative invitations to a dinner party which are nearly identical to these capsule letters. Her cards are made with vintage glass capsules found at a flea market. These invitations definitely do a good job of setting the tone for the event. Now that is a party I would want to be invited to!

(Photo courtesy of Oh Happy Day)

(Photo courtesy of A+R)

The Carve Your Own Postcard from A+R is a grown up version of carving your sweetie's initials into a tree trunk or in a picnic table. This postcard is made of soft wood that you can carve with a key. You could get really creative and carve a more intricate design with a craft drill.

Pumpkin Wishes and Candy Dreams

Every year my family makes a trip to the local pumpkin patch and spends the afternoon selecting the perfect pumpkin. It's just not officially fall without a pumpkin sitting on my front porch. If carving pumpkins isn't your thing, you can still use pumpkins to decorate in many unique ways.

The top picture shows smaller pie pumpkins covered in a layer of glue and then covered in orange glitter. The sparkle adds a touch of glam to your tabletop. Setting them atop cake pedestals adds height and depth.

Wouldn't you love to have this display of painted pumpkins on your porch? The stacked benches piled with various sizes of painted pumpkins create a stunning display.

There are endless possibilities for decorating with mini pumpkins. Here they have carved a hole just big enough for a votive candle, and have placed a simple hurricane on top. You could also carve a smaller hole that fits a tea light candle.

(Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart, Jackaroo Love and Good Housekeeping)

Ok, so now for the Candy Dreams...

For the recipes, check out the following:

I Scream Ice Cream

Pecan Carmel Spiders

Scream Cookies

Glass Containers + Fallish Items = Instant Decor

In my family room I have three glass containers that sit atop my bookcase. Each season I fill them with various items that reflect the time of year. This fall I filled two containers with plasticized leaves from Pottery Barn, beaded mini pumpkins and pine cones collected from the cabin. I poured shimmery black sand into the third containers and stuck a single orange taper candle in the center.

This is an easy decor project that anyone can use in their own home. All you need is an odd number of clear glass containers and a little imagination. Possible filler items for this season might include:

-a mix of gourds, squash and mini pumpkins

-pine cones and moss collected from your backyard

-leaves found either in a store or from a nature walk with your kids

-candy corn rather than sand at the base of a candle.

Whatever you do, have fun with it. Decorating your home sets the tone for the season and should be fun and not a chore.

National Boss' Day

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

Tomorrow is National Boss' Day, and if you have a great boss then this is a perfect day to say thank you. According to Wikipedia, "National Boss's Day is usually celebrated by presenting one's boss with a small gift or greeting card. It is also customary to treat one's boss with extreme kindness, very similar to a birthday." You could always get the "World's Best Boss" mug like the one that Michael on the Office holds near and dear to his heart. Or you could do something as simple as a card or extra smiles. I spend my day job in an office full of sugar lovers, so I'm saying thank with a plate full of my famous oatmeal cookies.

If you're self-employed and your own boss, take some time to thank and appreciate yourself. Go for a walk, add whipped cream on your latte or get a manicure.

Whatever you choose to do, know that you'll be making that person's day just a little brighter. Everyone wants to be appreciated.

New England Memories

As promised here are pictures of our trip to New England. Some of my favorite memories include:

-Seeing the sites of Boston on the Freedom Trail

-Sneaking into Fenway and walking on the Green Monster

-Hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire

-Touring the coast of Maine

-Visiting Sleepy Hallow Cemetery and Walden Pond in Concord, MA

-Sitting on the deck at the cottage in Maine, drinking coffee with my hubby as the sun came up over the lake

All in all, it was a trip that I will never forget and I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to go.

Seashore, Autumn Glory and History

I'm back! We had such a wonderfully relaxing and very eventful trip. I am full of stories to share and my camera is full of pictures to show you (356 to be exact, but don't worry I'll only show you the highlights). Until I'm able to download all of those pictures I thought I would give you a sneak peek tonight. Enjoy!