Lately

When Christmas rolled around, Brad gifted me with hiking boots.  Mind you, in the two years we've been together, we've never been hiking.  We decided to remedy that this past weekend and found a 1.5 mile trail nearby.  We had fun traipsing around taking photos and videos (from many angles, so I had to be aware of which foot I led with) and trying to break in my new boots.  I'm hoping it becomes a regular weekend event for us and that we get to explore a lot of the surrounding parks.

Not sure what's going on here.  Brad looks like he smells something funny...

Part of the perks of my job include tons of catalogs of school supplies, intervention supplies, and books about disorders.  I usually pitch recycle them, but the latest came with a calendar of student artwork. Check out the first page...

Truth.

I'm also dealing with a little separation anxiety this week as I dropped off my wedding dress (finally) to be cleaned and preserved.  I know I'll miss touching it everyday since I had it hanging in my bedroom closet, but I do have hopes that someone down the line will want to wear it.  I know that if my mother had a wedding dress, that I probably would have worn it.  My mom and I are eerily similar and I would have loved to have even a piece of her dress sewn into mine as my something old.

Is it weird to have a wedding dress as a security blanket?

Finally, we come to the portion of the week that I've spent messing about in the living room.  I hung up a print and a mirror, but I hated the way the mirror looked.  I went to Target and picked up some round mirrors that I thought might look better.  Ed. Note--It is so very dangerous for my budget that Target is literally two miles from my house. I played around with placement and found one that I think works.  What do you think?

Construction paper models. 

Please ignore the horrible cell phone pictures.

Final product (including a peek of me in the mirror).

I am headed to Ikea this weekend to pick up some bedroom furniture, picture frames, and enjoy time with my sister and momma, so you will have some more exciting posts next week.  On the docket will be: updated (or progress shots) bedroom, living room (almost all settled), and maybe I'll delve into my love story with Brad.

How has your year been?  Sticking to your resolutions?

Instagram Weekend

Happy Halloween!!  Do you pass out candy?  Brad and I live in an apartment, so I'll be heading to my sister's tonight to pass out candy and see my nieces.  My mom heads over there, too, so it'll be nice to hang out with her.

Pictures from the weekend:

Technically, these were made for food day on Thursday,

but they're so cute that I had to share.

On Friday, Brad and I had date night! 

We went to eat yummy Mexican food and

checked out Art After Dark at the local art museum.

Total cost: $26  Bam!

This lovely little card arrived in the mail Friday,

notifying me that I am officially a Sorrell.  Eek!

I spent Saturday waiting for the cable guy and baking. 

Look at Pepper in action! 

That's right--my mixer's name is Pepper.

The great thing about baking?  You get to lick the spoon.

Also, Brad was off golfing, so I didn't have to share.

End result: tons* of yummy cookies! 

Chocolate chip and sugar cookie pumpkins.

*"Tons" before the cookies were enjoyed at a Halloween Party.

This pictures was clearly taken at the end of the evening. :)

My costume for the party was a Housewife.   

On Sunday, Brad and I went to church (as usual). 

I snuck in a mini photo sesh with our church sheep, Edmund and Edna. 

Rumor has it that they're going to start tweeting soon about happenings at church.

How was your weekend?

--Melanie

Instagram Weekend!

My niece cracks me up.  She was covered in chocolate and wanted a mirror,

so I pulled up the front-facing camera.  I got a bunch of cute shots

and she started smiling when she figured out what I was doing.

Pumpkin patches are so much fun, but these girls were worn out when we finished.

Corn maze, petting zoo, face painting, wagon ride, and pumpkins? 

Too much...fun.

At a friend's bridal shower, I got to take home

a cute new coffee mug,

a prize for my scrapbooking abilities,

and a mason jar of skittles.  Yum!

In addition to trying to eat healthier (hello, raisins), I also painted

my nails this weekend.  Essie's "Carry On" with a little dab of some

 Martha Stewart craft glitter. 

 I always feel more polished when my fingers and toes are.

What did you do this weekend?

--Melanie



Instagram Weekend

On Friday, my mom and I went to Woolfest, where we ate fair food, pet goats and cows, and investigated all the crafts.  There were a ton of craft booths and around half of them were even handmade crafts!

 Goats blink when you use flash.

Saturday found Brad and me preparing for a family birthday party.  My brother and I both had birthdays this past week and we enjoyed some delicious finger foods and cookie cake with ice cream.  After that was a game of Cranium, where I found out that Brad and I need to practice charades.  We came in last.  

I spent some quality time with my mixer this weekend.

Yummy cookie cake.

Amazing plates from Target.

Sunday was a birthday party for Brad's niece and a bonfire for my friend, Beth.  Beth has spent the past couple of years in Ghana with the Peace Corps and she goes back next week, so we had s'mores.  :)  No pictures from that on my phone, but Beth took a good one of us and I'll share that when I've got it.

Pretty Princess Piñata.

How was your weekend?