Fall Pretties and a Menu

I'm a little late to the game, but here's the menu for the week:

MONDAY: Chicken burgers with green beans and mashed potatoes
TUESDAY: tacos
WEDNESDAY: Shrimp Chicken Skillet served over a bed of rice
THURSDAY: Beef Stroganoff - this recipe looks delicious!
FRIDAY: Pizza or leftovers - it's date night

Last week, I made the Fiesta Chicken and by far, my hubby said that was the best thing I have made in a while. It was a hit! If your family likes Mexican food this is a great dish to prepare - really yummy!

Here are some more fall pics from around my home. These are in my dining room. Enjoy!

Thrown together from my fall stash, but I like how it turned out.

I love this table centerpiece and make it every year. I use a favorite item of mine to hold all of the leaves, pumpkins, gourds, pine cones and corn - my long, rectangular copper tray. It's definitely fall around here!

Another shot of the white pumpkin on the little antique table - simple, but pretty.

A little bit of Faith...

Happy Monday Ya'll!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I drove down to my old stomping grounds in Dallas to visit one of my sweet friends, Faith. This gal is one of my treasured friends - such a blessing to me! After a season of heartache and pain, God brought a wonderful man into her life and they are going to get married next month. She has such an incredible story of strength and hope in the Lord and all that He has been so faithful to bring her through. Her girlfriends gave her a lingerie shower - complete with a full authentic Italian meal and lots of beautiful gifts and laughter! We all had a great time.

Isn't she gorgeous?

These have got to be the cutest little dessert cakes I have ever seen! They are little fancy bras. One cup is vanilla and one cup is chocolate. They were absolutely delicious, too!

The 3 amigos. These are the hostesses with Faith - Deb and Tessie. All three of these women are some of the most talented ladies I have ever met. Faith is a professional make-up artist, and Tessie and Deb are interior designers. D and T cooked all day to prepare for this shower and everyone raved over the food!

I just had to show ya'll a pic of Deb's entry way ceiling and light. Deb's house really shows her talent. I couldn't get a good angle on the light fixture, but it's gorgeous! Peeking out of the top of the light, are some bronze bunnies...you can just see the tops of their ears. This is a designer fixture and was really expensive, but Deb got a steal on it. Did you notice the fauxed ceiling?

I'll be back tomorrow with a few more picks and my menu plan for the week...I've got a lot of catching up to do!

I've Been Tagged!

My sweet friend at Shell in Your Pocket tagged me..how fun!

1. I was named by my sweet grandmother (whom I never really got the opportunity to know as she died when I was 3) who suggested naming me after my dad. His name is Jerry - so Jerri Lynn wasn't that much of a stretch!

2. I have a certain affinity for the smell of gasoline - weird, I know!

3. I have severe stage fright/performance anxiety. I grew up playing the piano and while I enjoyed it (still do) I could really never get past my fears about performing in front of others - be it one person or a hundred. It ended up costing me a great piano teacher, too!

4. I've been hot air ballooning in Albuquerque. I don't know if there are adequate words to describe how wonderful that was! Just breathtaking!

5. I have a chair obsession. I would buy just about any cute chair I came across, if I had a place to put it!

6. I had a car accident in high school - all by myself (thank God no one else was involved). Yes, a certain insect - if I remember correctly, a bee - got inside my car and had me so scared that I took my hands off the wheel and started frantically swatting at it, trying to get it out the window. I drove all over the road, up onto a high curb over a bridge, scraping the side of my Corolla on the cement portion of the bridge, and ruined a tire in the process. Needless to say, I cried and my dad was extremely unhappy. Over a bee, ya'll!

7. I love looking at houses - on the outside, yes, but more so on the inside. It gives me inspiration and a ton of great ideas. However, I think my neighbors thought I was very "different" when I asked them if I could see inside their home sometime...not 2 seconds after we first met. Their house is one of the reasons I love my own home so much - cause I can look out and see such a pretty view! Shh...here it is! (do you think they'll catch me?)

Ok, ladies...it's your turn. I will randomly tag these people:

Canyon Wren Cottage
The Moore Family's Shenanigans
A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
Keeping Up with the Joneses
Vintage Lily
Life at Home
Glitter and Bliss

I am working on some posts showing before and afters of my home - look for those next week. Have a nice weekend everybody!

Birdie Photos

Last night, I tried to get some pics of my brood. I need a cute picture for a craft we are making at my MOPS group today. I have a long ways to go with my photography skills, ya'll. I really admire those of you that take great pics! After what seemed like a million clicks of the camera, they had had enough and I had too! K didn't really want to join in on the party and we all laughed at how much she tried so hard not to participate! Why is it so difficult to get 3 kids together to take a picture?

My hubby suggested that we change "venues". We went from the living room to K's bedroom. We ended up getting some precious photos there.

They are such little monkeys! It almost looks as though they are doing the whole "hear no evil, see no evil" thing...

20 Little Things to Treasure in Autumn

Fall is here, fall is here...it's the best time of the year!

Over at The Inspired Room, Melissa is challenging us to create a list of 20 things that inspire us this time of year.

Here are a few of the things that delight my heart in Autumn:

1. the colors of fall

2. the crisp breezes in the air

3. pumpkins

4. sitting outdoors by our chiminea smelling the burning pinion wood

5. snuggling with my kiddos under a soft throw

6. autumn baking - especially the spice and pumpkin breads

7. Thanksgiving and all that this special holiday represents - gratefulness, thankfulness and recognition of all the blessings God has bestowed upon us

8. fall decorations in my home and homes I visit

9. pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks

10. taking my kids to pick out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch

11. sweaters and boots

12. candles

13. fall festivals

14. neighborhood garage sales

15. opening all the windows and enjoying the smells and sounds of the outdoors

16. soups, spicy chili, cornbread and pinto beans

17. corn dogs at the fair

18. hayrides

19. mums

20. high school football games (Longhorns, too!)

Happy Monday!

Hello~ Happy Monday Ya'll!

I have to apologize right off the bat - I am soo behind with all my visits to each of you. The past several days have been busy with hubby having the "man procedure" and a ton of one-on-one time with the kids. I needed to spend as much time with my family as I possibly could. I have met such wonderful ladies through my blog, and you are all so dear to me - I will get by to see you soon, I promise!

So, what's on the menu for this week, ya'll? Here's mine!

Monday: leftovers from Sunday - finally made the pizza casserole. There was some good eatin going on here, people! It was a delicious, but heavy meal. If you have high cholesterol or are watching your food choices, you should avoid this like the plague! It is chock-full of cheese, ham, sausage and pepperoni. What good southern girl doesn't like those ingredients? I don't think I am going to make this again for a while....maybe in a couple of months. We don't need any extra around our middles, ya'll. It was really tasty, though. The lady that posted this dish on recipezaar said that she "created" the recipe. I wonder how long it takes a cook to get to the point where he/she just makes up recipes? I would love to be that confident in the kitchen - maybe one day!

Tuesday: tacos - again, hard and soft with homemade guacamole and salsa...we really don't mind having this every week
Wednesday: Fiesta Chicken - on last weeks menu, but I didn't make it
Thursday: Grilled salmon, rice and steamed greens
Friday: leaving for Dallas - yea!

Here's a little find from this weekend. It's such a pretty tray and and quite large. I think it fits perfect on my kitchen counter! Can you guess how much I paid for it? (just one dollar!) I'm telling ya'll, getting up at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning can sometimes be well worth it!

Sunday Rest

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Oh My!

Have you guys seen the latest fashion trend for baby girls? High heels, ya'll!

"Founded in 2007 by childhood friends Britta Bacon and Hayden Porter, Heelarious was born out of an idea that both women thought would be hilarious – a shoe for baby girls that mirrored mommy’s favorite heels. With safety and comfort as their main concern, Britta and Hayden were successful in creating a soft, fully-functional, fashionable crib shoe designed to look like high heels." (press release from Hilarious.com)

I know they are meant to be funny and yep, they are pretty cute, too. However, I am hanging on to my precious girl - I want her to be little, sweet and innocent as long as she can! What do you all think? Would you put these on your daughter?

It's Gonna Be Awhile...

Last night I started the candy corn garland. If you think you want to tackle this project, proceed with caution cause it will take you several hours, at least. And my poor fingers sure do hurt! It is hard to slowly push that tiny needle through all of the sugary candies and at least 90% of them break in half and must be discarded. I know it's going to be worth it in the end, though, so I am determined to remain positive! Susie Harris is my hero!

I sat down in my chair, got out my needle and thread and went to work. I gave it a little over an hour and this is what I got done. I need at least 3 strands, so I'm going to work on this every night till it's finished.

The casualties. It doesn't look like a lot, but this is more than I actually have strung. My kids are loving all the discards - a sweet treat!

Here's another picture of a fall display in my home. It just so happens, that 3 of the items you see here are thrifty finds. The only thing I bought new is the bittersweet. The big white pumpkin, sterling tray and even the 100 year old library table (that I adore) all came from tag sales. Gotta love it!

Where Life Happens...

Today at Designing For Life - Kari and Kijsa are asking everyone to post about their favorite spots in their homes and answer a few questions. My most favorite area would definitely have to be this little corner in my bedroom - it has my name written all over it. I love sitting here! It is truly my own space - my own to rest, my own to read, my own to pray, etc. This spot is incredibly special!

The girls asked us to share three things:

1. Where it is in your home: my bedroom
This is a corner that exudes tons of natural light - the windows go almost to the ceiling. I grab a nearby throw, put my feet up and read my Bible or any good book of my choosing. Most mornings I hear the birds singing and chirping outside, while a nice cool breeze lightly blows through the windows. The little Bombay table opens up - the front folds down and I can put all my books in there. It also has a small drawer that holds pens, notepads, and coasters for drinks. And yes, that is a faux plant..and quite dusty I might add!
2. Your favorite style: I'm definitely a traditional girl, with a little bit of french country, modern country and shabbiness thrown into the mix. I would love to have a beautiful home that looks just like it came out of a magazine spread, but unfortunately, my designing skills aren't quite there yet!
3. A favorite item in the room: my fireplace - it is across from my bed and so cozy on brisk mornings. I can turn that sucker on and enjoy its warmth and ambiance. We use it almost every day during the winter.

Where is a favorite area in your home?

Menu Plan Monday And A Sweet Project

HAPPY MONDAY!!

Wanted to showcase a great meal we had last week: the turkey meatloaf. It was delicious and easy to prepare! I could not stop myself from having several helpings. If you like meatloaf, this is one recipe to try. It calls for green peppers, and seeing as both my hubby and I really don't care for green peppers, I will delete those from the recipe when I make it again. And I think the next time I will add some mushrooms, which I love!

This weeks menu:

MONDAY: breakfast for dinner: sausage quiche
TUESDAY: tacos - hard and soft
WEDNESDAY: brisket with potato salad, baked beans
THURSDAY: Fiesta Chicken - another crockpot recipe (which I love!)
FRIDAY: we are going to finally try this: pizza casserole. I have had it on my week's menu before, and something always comes up and I haven't made it yet. It looks delish!

It may be hard to tell, but I have linked several of the above recipes. Some of you have asked for a certain recipe, and if you see it highlighted, then it is linked to that particular recipe - just click it and it should come up.

I have a little project I am going to be working on this week. It is the candy corn garland that Ms. Susie Harris features on one of my most favorite blogs, Bienvenue. My kiddos are so excited about helping me make this and I know it'll be so much fun to look at. I will post pictures of it after I'm done. What an inexpensive way to add a "sweet" touch of whimsy to the kitchen chandy!

Speaking of Susie Harris, if you visit her, please send her your sweet thoughts and prayers. She has had a lot to deal with after all of this Hurricane mess, and I know she could use a little encouragement from you right now. Thank you friends, I appreciate each and every one of you!

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

Friday Faves

Here are a few of my favorite fun finds ....Enjoy!

Ya'll know I am a TX girl - born and bred - and I just think these are the cutest cards, ever!  You can check them out here.

How about this set of Damask dinnerware?  It's a great pattern and could be dressed up or down.

Isn't this double timer cute?  It's practicality meets retro. So handy to have when just one timer won't do. I think every kitchen should have one.

 

I also love this appliqued Lotus Flower pillow from Target.  It has the most beautiful pattern and colors - so pretty!

Anyone that knows me, knows that I am fashion challenged.  I can't put a wardrobe together to say my life, ya'll. Accessories?  Forget it! I love to decorate my home - hate to try and find any sense of style in my closet.  Clothes shopping is the worst for me! I do however, have a few things that really caught my eye for fall....

Love this tote from Target. I think it's a designer knock-off.  It comes in houndstooth, too.  

The next two items are from Lands End.  I happen to heart Lands End.  Their customer service is second-to-none, and their items are very well made.

Love these black patent mocs!

A great looking toggle sweater for those fall football games or a casual night out. I want one in brown.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thankful Thursday

Where were you seven years ago, today? I remember so much about September 11, 2001. It was just a regular day of appointments, errands, cleaning house and carrying on with the normal pace of life. I was enjoying the early stages of my first pregnancy and basked in the glow of anticipation. Hubby caught the news story first, then I walked in and saw the twin towers burning on the screen. To say that I was worried, afraid, overwhelmed, sad, upset, confused, and incredibly angry is to put it mildly.

America as we knew it was changed in an instant.

But, there is one thing I know..that will NEVER change. God is in control! He cares about every single detail of our lives and we need not ever worry about tomorrow and what it brings. This is a truth that I rest in, each and every day. And for that, I am forever thankful.

"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence,
The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?"

^{Hebrews 13:5-6}