Fall Styles

This year, I am breaking out of my comfort zone of "mom" jeans. I have a couple of pairs of "normal" jeans but they are getting a little loose around the waist and they were just a tad long so I have to wear them with a slight heel on my shoes. So I am on the lookout for some cute, comfy jeans that will look good with flats or loafers. I found a pair of loafers I love. If this makes me not so stylish, I'm not really bothered by it since I'm 56 years old. I've been scouting around the web for ideas. I found some 505 Levi's that have possibilities. These are cute and the waist line doesn't look too bad.

I also like the 525 Levi's. They look good and comfy especially with flats. 

I saw several other kinds but nothing hit my fancy. Several people have told me that Lee jeans is probably what I'm look for. I saw these on line and they seem to be perfect. My criteria is regular jean look, no faded sections, comfy fit, a normal waist not anything low rise and just a straight leg that would look good with flats. Yes, I think the Lee jean straight leg, relaxed fit will be my jean style of the year. 

Now onto shoes. I love the old fashioned loafer style flats. I don't care if they are in style or not, but they are in the stores so I am going to check out a few different styles. My dream shoe would be a new pair of loafers. I have seen several pairs I like. These are cute and I kind of like the buckle. I've never had any loafers with a buckle.

I also like these. You don't get to be my age without owning a least one pair of penny loafers over your life time. I had some like these when I was a young girl. 

Then I saw these and I really, really fell in love with them. The darker shade on the top versus the rest of the shoe just made me fall in love. But the type of style at the toes just doesn't look that wide and I'm worried they may be too tight through that area. 

But then I saw these. I went crazy over them. These are the shoe. This is what I want. They are Thom Mcan shoes and I'm wondering if Kmart will have them since they carry Thom Mcan. All I know is that this is the shoe style I want this year. 

Of course I will wear a lot of sweaters. I want a variety of colors and styles but I really am drawn to the longer ones with patterns.

I am also going to make a trip to our local Bass Pro Shop. I have a sweater from their and it is one of my favorite articles of fall clothing. I want to go see if they carry any Bob Timberlake Waffle Henleys. I'm in love with this style.

They have them on their website, I just don't know if they have them in our local store. But I love this one. (even though the pictures are a little blurry).

Well, while I am out today I may just have to take the grandkids and go to Bass Pro. Since my oldest grandson loves to hunt and fish, I'm pretty sure I can talk him into it. 

I'm glad it's Friday.

Last night, I went to Ebay...like I do a lot...and I always type in Pyrex bowls and just see what is out there. I never bid on any I'm just curious whats available. As I was scrolling down the list and saw a unique one I had never seen before and the price wasn't bad. I don't even know what I was thinking but I clicked Bid Now and entered a price .50 higher than the type price. Now if you ever use Ebay, you know that if there are 5 people bidding (which there were not counting me) somebody has their highest bid set higher and you almost always get immediately outbid. Well, I entered and it said I was ahead and there were 2 min and 48 seconds left. I had not even noticed that. I watched. I waited. The second ticked by. It got to be down to 1 min 13 and I thought "Seriously, nobody is outbidding me? It's PYREX. This never happens to me." It got down to 10-9- and then next thing I know it is over and I am the proud owner of a piece of Pyrex I never even heard of. Apparently no one knows the real name according to PyrexLove.com. It is just know as Salad Bowl, though some call it Fruit Salad bowl because of the fruit pattern and some call it Fetus bowl because the pears are shaped like little babies. No matter what you call it, it is now mine all mine. 

I posted about it in my Facebook Pyrex Passion group and have had 3 people want to buy it from me. I guess it will just depend when I get it how much I like it. Some say it is rare others say they see it all the time. But I have been shopping antique stores and thrift stores for 2 years now and never, ever seen it or heard about it. We'll see what I do with it when I get it. 

My grandson plays football this year. He is a freshman so he doesn't get to play at the varsity games. But they had a varsity game on TV last night and I watched it. It was really exciting seeing his team playing on TV. It was even more exciting that they won. They have a great team this year. I think they are 6 and 1, but not sure on that number. Anyway his mom took a picture of him on the sidelines so I at least got to see him at the game. Not sure where my cute little grandbaby boy went, but he is turning into a handsome young man. That's him with the yellow arrow pointing down.

Tomorrow is the Robert Tino Fall Festival. My hubby has to work almost a double because they supply the barbecue sandwiches and drinks for a food booth at the festival. It usually has a big turn out. Not sure if I will fight the crowd for it or not. I went three years ago, but haven't been able to make it back so I don't know about this year.

I'm joining From this Side of the Pond for the weekly Hodge Podge Questions.

1. What's one thing you learned in September?

How to relax. For the past 13 years, I have worked in an industry where I had to take my laptop and cell phone so customers could reach me wherever and whenever. Every vacation for the pat 13 years has included accepting customer calls, checking emails and doing a small amount of work on my vacation. But this year, I work for a gentleman who believes vacations are meant to be enjoyed. So hubby and I spend 7 glorious days at Myrtle Beach. I read. I crafted. I antique shopped. I spend the majority of my time though just setting on the beach with my nose buried in a book or laying back in my chair for a little nap. I actually read three entire books in one week. It was pure and total relaxation. It has been so long since I have done that. I really needed it. 

2. Acorn squash, butternut squash, spaghetti squash, yellow squash, zucchini squash, or blech! hold the squash... what's your favorite squash? What's your favorite way to prepare your favorite squash?

Not just BLECH! but YUCK as well. To me squash is something you play with a ball and a racket in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball.

3. The older I get the_______________________________.

The more accepting I get. I don't let people get to me like I used to. I accept others for what they are and try not to judge. I also find that I don't sweat the small stuff. The older you get, the more you realize what does and doesn't matter. I try to enjoy every day to the fullest. A speaker friend of mine told this and it has stuck with me "It's always a good day when you can wake up on this side of the dirt." Kinda puts it in perspective doesn't it?

4. What's your favorite television theme song ever?

Oh my it has to be Hawaii Five-0. The music just makes me want to dance. As a matter of fact, I usually do when it comes on. It is just the coolest theme song ever....even though there are no words. 

5. What do you wish you'd spent more time doing five years ago?

I can't really think of anything for this. Five years ago I started my own business and was really focused on building it. God has really blessed me so I don't try to second guess the should've could've would'ves. 

6. What item do you most need (or want) to add to your wardrobe this fall?

It's a want and it is a new pair of jeans that fit good that are "real" jeans and not Mom jeans. I also want a nice pair of brown loafers to wear with them. If it is not the style now, I don't really care. It's what I really want. Would love advice and opinions on a good brand of jeans. 

7. On October 2, 1950 the Peanuts cartoon was introduced to the world. What was your favorite cartoon when you were a kid?

Bugs Bunny. I still love it today. If I hear Looney Tunes come on I have to stop and watch it for a minute. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am officially "behind" on putting my Halloween decorations up. With September zipping by so fast, I haven't really enjoyed the fall decor yet. I leave it up through Thanksgiving, but usually around October 1st I start adding some of the Halloween in with it. I am going to do it this weekend. 

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

Today I'm chatting with Ms. Patrice at Everyday Ruralty.

When you pass the salt, do you automatically send the pepper with it?

No, it never enters my mind because I don't use pepper unless it is already cooked in the food. 

How many fingers do you usually type with?

Since I took Typing I on an old manual typewriter as well as Typing II and transcription in high school, I type what I call "the right way" so I use 8 fingers and my right thumb for the space bar. That's not to say I type fast...only about 66 words a minute...but I do love to type. For fun, take this typing test when you get a chance. http://www.typingtest.com/index1.html

Do you keep interesting coins when you run across them?

Yes, sometimes. But I always keep wheat back pennies. It was an interest me and my daddy shared. Every time I see one, it reminds me of him. 

Did you enjoy September, or did it fly by too quickly?

September? Where did it go? I really enjoyed it because we got to spend 7 glorious days at the beach. But the whole month just went by way too fast. 

If I could ___________ , I'd get more done each day.

Stay more focused. I usually have so much going on at any given time that I have a hard time staying focused on the job at hand. I'm always thinking ahead to the exciting things I like to do. 

I went to a Garden Party....

My post title sounds like a Ricky Nelson song, but it is actually what I did last night. Our church is doing bible studies in different homes with different teachers. The one I elected to attend is "party" themed. This week we had a garden party. The bible study was on the Garden of Eden through Gethsemane. We had an awesome meal with lots of fruit and veggie based foods. We even had little apples at our place for us to write our names on the tag. 

After the bible study, we did a craft an made flower ink pens. It was super simple and fun. I think I may have my pre-K Sunday School class make these with poinsettias for Christmas. 

Then we placed a couple of games that were fruit and veggie themed. I won one of the games and got this cute little parsley grow kit. Hubby was very excited about it since he uses a lot of parsley in his cooking. 

We decided that we would put a little hook at the kitchen window and plant it in a little hanging pot. 

As we were leaving, we each received our very own African violet in a cute little pot. I chose one in the watering can style pot. I just love it. Now I need to read up on how to care for African violets. Any tips?

 Next week, our theme is a country party. The remaining ones will be a tea party, an antique party, and a pot luck/recipe exchange party. This is going to be a great bible study. I can't wait to see what other bible versus they tie in for the bible study on each of those themes. 

A blessing from above

Sometimes in life God drops a little blessing into your life. That happened to us three years ago today when our fifth grandchild was born. 

He is such a bundle of joy. He is so full of energy and life. There is almost always a ball or some sports paraphernalia in his hands. 

He always has a smile on his face. 

I look back on some of the photos from the past three years and can't believe how much he is growing up. 

Happy birthday, Colby. Mamaw and Papaw love you. 

Weekend Wrap Up

I've started back on my plastic canvas projects. I did this little coaster one evening last week. They are so simple and just take about an hour. The good part is you can custom design your patterns so you don't have to follow a printed paper. 

When we were on vacation, we went to several antique stores and thrift shops and the only thing I found was this little cup at an antique store. It's Pyrex and was only .99 cents so I bought it for hot chocolate. 

I went in a costume jewelry store at the Coastal Grand Mall and they had tons of necklaces. This one was on clearance for $2.99 so I bought it since I love anything nautical. 

When I got back home, there is a lady who has been having a garage sale and I stopped to see what she had left. I'm glad I did. I got this Pyrex coffee mug for just .25 cents. 

Not sure who made this but it is vintage 1970's. I liked it and since it was just .25 cents I went ahead and got it as well. For somebody who doesn't drink coffee, I sure buy a lot of coffee cups. 

I have a card table I use at holidays and have been looking for tablecloths for it. I found this one for just $1.00. It looks like it was never used. 

Bought this cute little throw for just .50 cents. I'm going to put it in the kids room for when the girls stay all night. 

My bargain of the day were these almost brand new drapes. They are the heavy lined quality drapes and were only $2.00 for both pairs. They were exactly what I've been looking for to go on the window in my home office to help keep some of the sun out in the afternoons. 

I went to Hobby Lobby and several other places Saturday and got home about 3:30. Our Sunday School classes are changing next week so yesterday was the last day we had our 5 year olds. They graduated from Pre-K Sunday School to Kindergarten Sunday School class. So I made these little graduation caps for them to use for their graduation. 

Since we were sending them off with a party, I decide to make some graduation caps for dessert out of brownie bites, fudge grahams and M & M's. They turned out pretty cute and were a hit with the kiddos. 

I put some of the pictures of the past two years on a paper and made them little diplomas. 

We were going to have popcorn so I made some popcorn cones to put the popcorn in for them at the party. They were easy to make.

After all that, I finally fixed me some homemade pizza breads and ate supper. I was ready to crash. I couldn't believe how much I had crammed into one day.

But it was all worth it when I got to church Sunday morning and the kids enjoyed their graduation so much.