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Week 41

The Scoop is my version of a weekly link roundup, where I share what is currently capturing my interest around the web. Hope you'll enjoy, and feel free to share what you're reading in the comments. I would love to hear from you!

Because it doesn't look like Fall in my area.....I enjoy my sisters Fall pictures like the one above.

Want some really Happy News?...click over here.  It is way happy for us. =)

fall bucket list  planning to do a couple of these.

Bathrooms- I just love bathrooms....especially when they are "different" 

When you dream about your "Dream Home"  what comes to mind and how do you collect all your thoughts?  Here's what I think   love pinterest...but I still keep a 3 ring binder full of ideas (old fashion that way...still need something to touch.=)

 

Have a wonderful day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Fall- Choose Happy

Creating a Magnolia & Olive Thanksgiving Table-

This Thanksgiving I am going in a little bit different direction than in years past.... I have two beautiful Magnolia trees on our property in Catheys Valley....and I usually use the leaves at Thanksgiving...but usually as a background piece....this year they will be the star.

I'm planning  a Fall Magnolia/olive theme Thanksgiving

I decided to make napkins using this magnolia print that I found here. 

So super easy- 

Iron your napkins- in my case I have tons of white napkins laying around so, I used them.

Print the Magnolia PDF onto iron transfer paper

Trim your print and iron to napkin....following transfer paper instructions.

Peel off transfer paper-

Wash and dry your transfer according to the fabric's normal wash instructions.

This project was so super easy....I plan on doing this again...it may be addicting...just think of the possibilities....

• monograms
• children's art (you can color on the transfer paper...I know...awesome right}
• personalized wedding gift
• numbers
• quotes
• pictures

Like I said addicting! Especially because it is so easy!

One more project finished for my Thanksgiving table....

I plan to run magnolia and olive branches down the center of the table! 

Happy Day!

Related articles

SMP at Home: DIY Magnolia Napkins

Falls last Stand-

Falls last Stand-

On the ground-

Down the path-

In the trees-

In the garden

By the house-

I think Fall is fading fast....and this may be the last week of it's glory.  It seems it came slow and is going quickly this year...usually at Thanksgiving we are still enjoying all the fall colors on the fruit trees in the garden....and the big maples are stilling hanging on to their leaves....but not this year.

But it was here.

Happy Day

 

A True Autumn Day-

I worked in the Garden all day- and would stop from time to time....because of the stillness, so quiet.  I wondered if all the birds were out flying about the earth seeking all things Autumn...

because....this tree still held tight all it's red berries.  ( usually the birds eat them gone the day they turn red...wondering why this year they are still there}

Some of the roses were pushing forth their last hooray.

The trees- here and there a yellow leaf shows itself... and a touch of red beside the resting hydrangea 

The garden beds are now empty...taking a little break....quiet.

 

A true Autumn Day...so Still.

Love Fall- Favorite Things Party-

Last year  my Daughter Shannon had a Favorite things party.. after seeing her party I planned to do one of my own...it's taken me a whole year to finally do it.  A lot of my party ideas came from her party...click here for all the details-

My Friend Sandi and I got together and planned the Party

here it is....in a nutshell.

Setup-

 

 

 Just a simple little welcome at the door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Each guest received a brown bag- we took their picture...to be pinned to their brown bag.
• Fresh Apple juice with birch log straws
• Hanging lanterns, chocolate fountain and  fresh fruit.

Pumpkins from the pumpkin patch as part of the party favors.

Party Favors- burlap bag with a spool of twine, birch straw and mini pumpkin. 

1. Me... what I wore
2. Jessica, Sandi and Bree
3. Jessica, Me and Bree- Jessica and Bree came early and helped with some of the last minute details....thanks girls.

Can I just say...I really have a hard time having my picture taken...but this is for the record...I was there.  =)

I tried to get a picture of all 15  in the living room...but came out so blurry!  Sad =(

I need some serious "night picture taking help" with my camera!

The house felt like Christmas day-

How it works-

Each guest came with 4 gifts ( something that they LOVE (under $6).   

 

1. At the party they wrote their name 4 different times on 4 different pieces of paper...put in large bowl. 
2. when the gift exchange begins- we would draw names and everyone will go home with four new favorite things.
3. Let the fun begin.  We also playedDownload Favorite-things-game....Everyone fills out the entire questionnaire.  Then we go around and reveal our answers, one question at a time . . . .  If someone else has the same answer, you cross it out.  (It's important that you don't leak this game play info before you start!)  Gave out two prizes for this game.  Lowest and Highest.

 

 

It was great fun to see all the different things the women came with....I wish I had kept a record....some I can remember-   candles, rush massage bar, LED snowmen, measuring spoons, a soap that keeps your towels smelling awesome, fresh flowers, tea towels, books, nail polish, garden gloves, a pie pastry form, makeup, beautiful scarfs, chocolate...and so much more.

 

See what I mean so blurry....and yes, we had one little guy at the party. 

Fun!

I may need to do this again sometime.

Oh, as the night ended a little bird decided to fly into the house....added a little bit of crazy excitement....Danny was in the bedroom and thought we sounded like a bunch of 12 year old girls screaming.... It reminded me of a scene from a movie.   All is well, the bird made it out safe.

Tons of fun.

Happy Day.

My super simple almost "free" Fall Mantel

I decided it was time to add a little bit more "Fall" to the house...because really all I had in the home was this wreath...click on over and check it out.

All you need is....

• paper from an old book.
• felt...a few felt balls and about 2 inches of flat felt.
• jute

Truly is doesn't get any easier.  If you can cut and thread a needle...you are on your way.

add in a few pumpkins....

Happy Fall

Related articles

Simple Cabin Craft- and down the hall

Thanksgiving Day-

Thanksgiving decor-

• Table decorations- pumpkins, magnolia branches, zine mini pots {as a gift for the girls} flowers from my garden.
• "Give Thanks" banner- from Sandi

Crafting-

•  Craft table
• Game- Turkey Roll-  build your own turkey
• Turkey place cards made from a raisin box.

1. Helping in the Kitchen
2. Home made root-beer in Grandpa Blain's honor
3. naps
4. more cooking in the kitchen

More crafting- making Christmas word banners.

We always have a family competition on Thanksgiving- This year it was....

"A Minute to Win it."

 

 

•  Marshmallow toss
• stacking cups
• donuts hanging from the trees
• couple cookies on forehead eat without touching it with your hands....minute to win it.

Sam and Heidi...great style...eating their cookie. (Heidi and Sam are expecting a baby boy in Feb.  Happy Day}

Denver's game face when he thought he won but didn't. (Denver made an awesome cheese and artichoke dip and Bree's rolls were amazing!}

Sam and Heidi's dessert table!   Holy Cow...so yummy.

 We came, we ate, we crafted, we played.....What a wonderful day.

Thanks to everyone for doing their part.   Happy Day.

The next morning bright and early we drove to Shannon's home- for a very special occasion.....More on that later.....find out a little something about our day here.....until I have time to post about it.

Happy Day!

 

 

Thanksgiving Centerpiece- and it's so quiet

It's easy to forget how quiet it is- up in the hills away from town.   So quiet.... 

Taking advantage of the time alone.....I walked the property;  and I found a dead skunk and a baby snake....sweet wild life.

The centerpiece for Thanksgiving-  from my garden.

 

Now, I better get back to baking ginger cookies.

Happy Thanksgiving- 

 

 

Dinner under the Stars-

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner under the Stars- {it actually ended up being more like "dinner under the Moon"...  there was a full beautiful moon that night}

The Invitations 

Attire- Bow ties for the gentlemen

and long skirts for the ladies.

 

 

 

 

Set up-

1. Vintage chair with pumpkin
2. Photo shoot area
3. vintage enamel bowl
4. Dessert for the evening- written in chocolate Hers, His.  A dessert to share

When Ellen and I decided to have a fall dinner a couple months back, little did we know how pretty and  yet warm the evening was going to be.    We were thinking it may be a little chilly so we bought pretty little "Pashmina" shawl for each of the women along with a matching scarf.  {later on in the evening they did came in handy.}

"Couples" pictures were taken during the evening- {Thank you Heidi, taking pictures with my camera in bad lighting is not easy....you did an awesome job.}

The men looked so Dapper in their Bow ties.

 Music under the Stars-

Jenni Samuelson 

Acclaimed by the press as “a gifted and imaginative soprano”, Jenni Samuelson is an award-winning singer with repertoire that includes opera, oratorio and art song as well as musical theater, jazz and contemporary popular forms. 

and she was in my backyard {smile} Happy Day.

and guitarist John Albano

They Made the evening fabulous....Oh, sweet music filled our property, songs like S'wonderful {Gershwin} What a wonderful World and Our Love is here to stay...to name a few.

Fabulous! 

 
Check out Jenni's web site....listen to her music....she is awesome!

This is no way we could of have such a nice evening without the help of these two couples!  Sam, Heidi- Chad and Christy!   Oh my, thank you!  

They grilled, plated dinner, did dishes etc. etc.   I owe them big time {If you two couples get together and plan a dinner I will serve for you =)

We especially like the dinner narrative given to us at the table by Sam.  I wish I could remember the "perfect words"....pork  tenderloin resting comfortably on a bed of apple sauce.....or something like that.   cute!

Favors and setting up.

1.  vintage inspired baskets- as favors
2. lots of dishes
3. Items to fill the baskets - I gave Ellen the baskets and scarfs then she worked her magic and  filled them with a candle, mini pumpkin loafs and granola.  Happy Day
4. more dishes....it takes a lot of dishes to feed 18 people properly 

Beautiful night, beautiful music....So Awesome!  It was pure joy working with Ellen on this evening....Thanks so much Ellen. 

The evenings menu-

Appetizer- cheese, crackers, figs and blackberries

Orange almond Drink

Butternut Squash soup

Spinach Fig Salad- served with Blood Orange Balsamic

Pork Tenderloin

Baked carrots

Hers and His Blueberry crisp

The center piece for the table- almost 100  clear jars and vases  with candles in them.

 

PS.  Happy Birthday Anna- you are my sunshine =)