Bits 'n Pieces: Life is Swell

1. The mice are back with a vengeance. Their scurrying around freaks me out at night, and I hate finding their crap all over! Killing them with traps is making me nauseated...I wish we could just fumigate.

2. On Wednesday, I had a RS Christmas Kickoff party! So fun! When I got home, Dan had prepared a delicious meal of enchiladas and spanish rice. He's so wonderful!

3. I have almost all of my Christmas shopping done! Which is a pretty big miracle, considering there are no shopping malls within an hour and a half of here. Amazon is the best!

4. Last night, I had a "Taken" related dream. (It wasn't scary or anything, I was helping Liam Neeson find her.) But I woke up really wanting to watch that movie. I now have a renewed sense of gratitude for my dad, who I know would kill 1000 Albanian pimp lords to save me. Love you, Dad!

5. It's been about a week since it last snowed, and now it is sooooo nice and warm! I'm still mourning the death of our snowman, though.

6. Daniel and I have embarked on a top secret project! It'll probably be a long time in the making, but I absolutely love that we have something to dream up and laugh about together. It's so much fun and we're letting our creative energy flow. I have the best Partner in Crime!

7. Happiness is...a fully checked off chore list.

8. My latest reads: "Book of a Thousand Days" by Shannon Hale, and "The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan. I read both in one day each this week--not in a row though. Hahaha! I just couldn't put them down! Shannon Hale always amazes me with he captivating stories. And I can't wait to continue the Heroes of Olympus series (kind of a continuation of the Percy Jackson books). Reading is my fave. When they say that the activities you enjoyed as a ten year old are things you'll still love...they were absolutely right!

9. Tomorrow, I'm singing in the ward choir in Sacrament meeting; it's the special Thanksgiving musical number. I'm so thankful to be a part of a choir at the moment, and can't wait for the opportunity to participate in a chorus in college! I've missed it so much!

10. It's exactly 28 days until the move. Wow! Please someone kick me in the behind so I start packing!

DIY: Thankful Turkeys

What do you do when you want to add some Thanksgiving spirit to your house, but all you have is construction paper, googly eyes, and two empty Pringles cans?

You make turkeys.

I got the idea from my cousin, who made paper turkeys with her kids. On each tail feather, they wrote something that they're grateful for. I was totally going to do that until I realized that the empty inside of the Pringles cans can't go to waste. 

This month, Daniel and I are filling up each other's turkey with things that we're grateful for about one another. I imagine that on Thanksgiving, we'll read everything inside our turkeys. I'm super excited! If this works out well, it might become a Coley family tradition! 

What are your family's Thanksgiving traditions?

Sterling Lately

It's been snowing all day. All day! When I woke up, it was just beginning to stick, and now I'm trying to find an emergency shut off button! It hasn't blockaded me inside the house...yet, but I feel like it will by tomorrow morning. Every time I look outside, I'm in awe of the beauty and also scared that I'll become a "Saracicle" if I go out. It's a super complicated feeling.
Also, what's up with snow sticking to the bottom of my shoes? It's like it's TRYING to make me slip and bang my head every single time I step inside the house... This snow will be the death of me. My conflicting emotions aren't letting me fully commit that I miss good 'ole AZ, but check back at the end of the week, k?

Daylight Saving Time

This is the worst invention ever. Like seriously. What good is an hour more of sleep when you feel like curling up and hibernating at 7pm??
Chopper's schedule is all out of wack now. And so is mine. I look at the clock and it feels like it should be about 10am by now, but nope. It's only 8. At least the sun is safely tucked behind the clouds today, so as to not prematurely blind me through the windows. Although, that may just leave me very depressed by the end of the day. I despise artificial lighting when the pure, natural light should suffice.

The clouds are so thick, it's like the sun hasn't come up at all. Maybe it'll snow today? I kind of hope not, because the cold scares me. Because it's so windy, I have to keep the puppy inside, and he's not too happy about that. He probably won't let me get much cleaning done today.... Neither will this post, if I don't wrap it up soon..hahaha! I wish a warm and productive Monday to you all!

Bits and Pieces: Ups and Downs and Ups

1. Yesterday's Girl Day was so much fun! Katherin brought over some homemade soup and pumpkin dip, which were incredible! We snacked and bawled our eyes out, while we watched "My Sister's Keeper". I'm so blessed to have such a great friend! It's fun to keep each other company while our husbands are on the road.

2. Raspberry Pop-Tart in hand: my life is complete.

3. Dan and I found the public library last week, so I went back this morning to get my library card and the rest of the Fablehaven series. So stoked!! I also filled out a volunteer application :)

4. I'm really sad that I can't take Tony Chopper to AZ with me next month. If he weren't so lanky...

5. Daniel and I started watching "The Walking Dead" last night. As he was leaving for work this morning, he says, "Don't watch any episodes without me, k?" ...Watch a show full of zombies all by myself, without my husband to protect me in case a few wander up the driveway?? No thank you!

6. I really need to fold up all of our clean laundry...but there are 4 books sitting right next to me, begging to be read....

7. There's an enormous pile of leaves on the side of the road near my house. Every time I drive past, I want to veer over and crunch through it! Would you guys judge me if I did??

8. I'm not sure I'm done with my ghosts, yet. They may just haunt our house for another...forever?

9. Totally in need of some epic, but simple Halloween costume ideas. We can't show up to the ward Truck-or-Treat in something boring! Help!

10. Spoiler Alert: We may be bumped out of Sterling by the end of the year. Keep us in your prayers? Thanks! Love you all!

Teeny Pumpkins

There's little better than some tiny pumpkins to bring fall into your home. And there's even less better than finding them right in your backyard! Such a pleasant surprise! With the help of some leaves from the backyard, I made a centerpiece for the dining room table. I woulda killed for some metallic gold ribbon, though! 

Is autumn taking over your house, too??

DIY: Tissue Paper Ghosts

So, I saw this idea on Pinterest a while ago, and I'm very happy to report the absence of a "Pinterest Fail" here! Woohoo! These are super easy and fun!

You'll need:

-tissue paper

-glue

-fishing wire

-small styrofoam balls

-googly eyes

-something with a small, sharp point

Step One: Cut a length of wire, and tie one end in a small loop. A square knot worked beautifully.

Step Two: Take some tissue (I used 2 pieces) and puncture the middle to make a very small hole. Keep it as small as you possibly can. I did this by taking a metal shish kabob skewer and twisting it, but a needle or pin would work a lot faster. I was just too lazy to find one...hahaha!

Step Three: Pull the straight end of your wire through the small hole until the loop end stops you.

Step Four: Take your styrofoam ball and glue. Put a big dot of glue on your ball, about the size of a penny or nickel. Cover the ball with tissue in such a way that the glue is right where your hole and loop are. You can put some glue around the sides, too, so the tissue clings to the ball a bit.

Step Five: Attach googly eyes, and tie the end of your fishing wire in a bigger loop, if you so desire.

Step Six: Make your home a little spookier.

I have five of these little dudes hanging around my house. Kids love them! ;) If you end up making some, tag me on your Instagram or Facebook, so I can see!!

Halloween is Taking Over

I've always adored decorating for each season. It's just impossible to truly get in the spirit when your house doesn't have at least some trace of festiveness. So I am very happy to report that Halloween has officially taken over my house! I made the "31" at our Coley Girl Craft Day last month, my mother-in-law gave me the adorable dishes and spooky pictures, and the spider web is courtesy of my mom from last year. I never had a chance to put it up and you can see why; I am so terrible at hanging webs. Hahaha!!

I have plans for a super cute craft in the works. More decor to come!! If you've decorated your space, post a link; I'd love to see!!

Family Fun

It's been a while since I've posted, because I was busy having a phenomenally fun time with my family last week! My mother-in-law, Clara, and Aunt Kim drove all the way up to deliver some of our things that we had had to leave behind in AZ. So sweet of them! Daniel was working quite a bit while they were here, so we had a Girls' Day on Friday! 

No Girls' Day is complete without a bunch of Halloween snacks! Candy corn carmel corn, Reese's pumpkins, fun-sized candy bars...the works.

Here's Kim, changing her life by trying a Halloween Oreo for the first time!

Clara taught me how to make carmel corn! 

Shout out to my sister-in-law, Crystal, for sending me two bags of my favorite peanut butter M&M's! You're the best!!

We played cards, ate junk food, and watched chick flicks all day! What a blast! Katherin came and joined the fun for a little while, and everyone just loved her. 

Daniel came home the next morning, so we all went out to breakfast before they had to leave. Dan and I drove out to Fort Collins for a few hours to shop--without much success--then caught the rest of General Conference. Oh, how I love Conference! Two days of spiritual edification. It was the perfect way to end this crazy awesome week!

DIY: Cheap, Fast Autumn Wreath

Autumn colors are my favorite! The leaves outside aren't even yellow yet, but I couldn't resist adding some to my home. And what better way than with a homemade wreath, right?? This whole project took me about 20 minutes and cost under $5. The hardest part was picking out the foliage at the dollar store! 

Step 1: Gather supplies.

Step 2: Cut stems from the base of the bouquet.

Step 3: Weave stems into the wreath base. 

Step 4: Gaze at your wreath's beauty and give yourself a high five.

Step 5: Hang it up for all to see. 

Was that quick, or what?? 

A couple tips:

1) Make sure all your stems are going the same direction, or it'll look kinda funky.

2) For a more secure wreath, I'd suggest using a hot glue gun. But, as you can see, you can still do just fine without it.

3) My wreath is about the size of an average pie pan. For the front door, I'd suggest a larger base, but this size works perfectly for inside the house.

What I would do differently:

I'd get some sparkly gold ribbon, weave it in, and tie a big bow!