Turkey Month Transition

So, last Friday, November the 1st, I was serious when I asked Ty if it was acceptable for me to decorate for Christmas that weekend...

{This might be a close comparison to how some Turkey Day lovers

feel about hauling out the holly a little too soon}...

Looking at the next few weekends in November, I only have one or two options as to when I can 100%, totally, whole-heartedly commit to a few hours of Christmas season kick-off. Last year, the Saturday that I decorated for the holidays was seriously the most cozy and wonderful day of the whole year {other than Christmas day itself, of course}. After only six months of marriage and home ownership, I had already collected a decent amount of stuff to decorate with for our first Christmas in our house; unpacking each item was like a little mini-Christmas all on its own!

I began a tradition. I first put on my holiday jams {favorite Christmas playlist post coming soon!} and/or find whatever Harry Potter film is currently on ABC family, make some cider, and Christmas-i-fy-the-you-know-what {heck... what were you thinking?!} out of our house. I can't wait to do it again this year!!

So, since Ty and I agreed the day after Halloween was a bit too early, I found a couple of Thanksgiving/ish things to satisfy my inner Martha Stewart.

^^ Current goal/project for Ty? Get our fireplace working. Pronto!

^^ Found this cute printable online. I also started liking pumpkin-flavored things this year, so it works. ;)

^^ Got this adorbs feather wreath and my Thomas T. Turkey for around $5.00 last year after Christmas at Tuesday Morning. Score.

I can't wait until my next decoration post!! Why? Because it will be featuring all of the new items I got on sale last year after Christmas. Christmas being, of course, "The most wonderful time of the year....." YippEEEEE!!!*

*NOTE: No excitement has been feigned in this post. Holiday excitement is 100% genuine. Just ask my better half.

A Weird Custom

Imagine being from another planet. {Perhaps one much more sane than our own? I'm sure there are some out there...} You descend to earth and see a house with piles of mis-matched junk laying on tables out in front with a small colored sticker containing a number on each item. You begin to think these people are a bit strange but you want more information...

You approach them and ask them why they are laying their belongings out on display for everyone to pass by and see. They begin to explain that they have been working for days, perhaps even weeks, preparing for this two-day event. They have gone through their home, rummaging through their things to find the items that they decide they can live without and love the least of all of their earthly possessions.

While you are there, you see people come and go. Some even drive by, peering out their windows at the items, but never exiting the vehicle. {Jerks.} Some bring items up to purchase but want to know if they'll take "$.10 instead of $.25." {"What's the difference," you ask yourself.} Time passes and the items begin to disappear. Slowly, the belongings that were once purchased for 10 times the amount that they're being sold for today begin to find new homes and families. Families that in 5 years, will turn around and sell these things again in front of their own house.

After deciding it's time to return home, a place where people don't buy other people's used and useless junk, you pass by a sign that reads: Yard Sale.

^^ My view for 9 hours on a beautiful October Saturday.

Yes, we had a yard sale a few weeks ago. "We" being my mom and me. And yes, it was way more work than it was worth! Why do I not remember this before I agree to take part in another one?

But there was one freaky thing that happened. Like, really freaky.

On Saturday morning, we were totaling up the previous day's sales. We're talking almost two full pages for each of us with teeny, tiny amounts {$.20, $.50, $1.50 stuff}. Lots and lots of items.

As I total mine up, I am pleased with my amount I earned. Not too shabby, especially considering the fact that my mom worked the sale the entire day on Friday while I was at school.

Then, as I'm tallying her totals up, I start to notice we're getting close to the same amount. However, I didn't expect that it would be the exact. same. amount. to the CENT. 

That is freaky, people!!

$148.40. We both think it's a weird omen of some kind. 

{So long, friends, it's been nice knowing you! I knew we shouldn't have had this sale...}

Garage sales. Love to hate them, hate to love them.

Foodie Friday: "Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies!"

A couple of weeks ago we had some friends over for dinner and I was really craving a batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. This is not normal for me, as I tent to be more of a regular-chocolate-chip cookie kind of girl with the occasional iced sugar cookie {generally around Christmas time, as icing sugar cookies for Santa is a family tradition}.

However, I've recently been an oatmeal-a-holic. Here are two instagram posts for proof:

^^ Whhyyy am I obsessing over all-things-oats right now?! Weird.

So, as I was perusing ye ole pinterest for oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipes, I found a different recipe that caught my eye. Pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. I love all of those words. So, I figured I'd give them a try!

YUM. These things turned out deeee-lish. Even my mom & husband, non-pumpkin-lovers, were obsessing over these yummy treats. Fortunately, they were pretty easy to make. I have a feeling that they are going to become a fall dessert staple in the DeCrib from here on out {DeCrib = DeClue House... sorry if you didn't follow. It's my location name for the house on instagram}.

Here's what you'll need:

3 cups rolled oats
2 cups all-purpose flour {or 1 cup white/1 cup wheat if you prefer to go a bit healthier}
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips {or more to your liking}

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer {or a crazy hand/futuristic-looking mixer stick like the one someone gave us as a wedding gift and I'm scared to death to use}, combine softened butter and sugars and cream together until light and fluffy. I was quite nervous about this step. I am not super comfortable with this strange hand mixer and I didn't exactly know what "cream" meant or what "light and fluffy" should look like. But whatever I did, it worked. Because as I said, deliciousness was the end result.

4. Add your egg followed by vanilla and pumpkin. This is what my "light and fluffy" looked like. Then I just stirred the other 3 things in by hand.

5. Add the flour mixture a bit at a time until well-combined. Then add chocolate chips.

6. Spoon onto an ungreased baking sheet. Here's a trick that I use {Jackie, my slightly perfectionistic friend, if you're reading this you'll want to ignore the next part}: I like to have mine a little lumpy. Like, crispy on the edges and soft in the middle, a.k.a. not perfectly round... So, I spoon them onto the baking sheet this way. If you like them like that too, don't round them off with your spoon! If you think I'm weird {Jackie, you can tune back in now}, then do it how you'd like.

7. Bake for 10-12 minutes {less is best} and cool for 2 minutes on the cookie sheet. Then, transfer to a wire rack. And voila!!!

{P.S. for another amazing fall recipe, check out the Foodie Friday I did back in August: "Fall-Inspired Chocolate Chip Banana Bread!" A recipe from my good friend and old college roommate Abby, who happened to be there to try these cookies the night they were created.}

Happy Baking!

Our New Wreath {Go Hogs!}

Since about March I have been greeted by this wreath on our front door. {You would think I wouldn't use the front door very often as we have a garage... But let me remind you of my husband's "hobby/somewhat profession": woodworking. Our garage is a sawdust factory and it is generally easier to avoid the sawdust/nails/wood/tools and just enter through the front. :) Rant over.}

I like this spring-y wreath, but it was just time for a change for Fall!

I had an idea in my head of what I wanted to do for a new wreath. I bought the ribbon and letters at Hobby Lobby last weekend when we were in Springfield. I then bought the wire wreath and burlap when I was at Walmart the next day and set out on my first wreath-making adventure!!

Supplies:

1. Wire Wreath

2. Cute ribbon

3. Lace (if desired)

4. Floral Wire

5. Lettering or other decorations

Not knowing if my first step - attaching the burlap - was even going to be a success or not, {I was basically experimenting at first!} I didn't take any pictures of that step. However, look below at the 4-panel picture of the chevron ribbon and you'll see how I bunched the burlap in little bundles and then attached with the floral wire!

It's really simple; make one complete bow and then make another bow so you have four loops. Last, twist the wire around the middle and use the extra wire to attach to the wire wreath form.

I then attached the letters and football using hot glue {my secret weapon! duh!} and THIS is how she turned out....

Better than I had even imagined!

Fast forward to Monday, after I had completed by Razorback Wreath on Sunday afternoon, and I was back in "hog mode." This time was for our first spirit day of the week at school - Mascot Monday! As a teacher, I have learned to appreciate any and all excuses to wear something comfortable. So spirit day apparel is a given! Plus, in addition to dressing down a bit, I got to rep my Hogs. I was definitely out-numbered by the many Mizzou fans {and even LSU fans - there was one girl in my first hour class with an LSU t-shirt - what the heck? In Buffalo?} that were showing their team pride as well.

Stay tuned for more spirit week pictures to come!