Just Another Halloween Mantel

I had an amazing weekend with my mom and dad visiting.
It was a whirlwind visit but we had so much fun.
This also ties in with my third thing.
Ella is doing great in kindergarten.
I almost don’t want to write about it for fear of jinxing it.
So I am not gonna talk about it much more but just wanted to let you know that she is doing great, not crying anymore and is basically adapting really well.
My parents felt sick about what was happening and came to visit to give us some much-needed love and support.
And really, we needed this visit more than ever before.

Thank you to everyone, my mom and dad, my friends and my readers.
I love you so much.
I. Love. You. So. Much.
I wish I could write something much more eloquent but I just can’t find the words.
Other than you have truly made me believe in the power of prayer.
I mean, I always believed in it but seriously, the extent of change vs. the ratio of those praying for us has made me want to get down on my knees and cry.
I may actually have gotten on my knees and cried.
I looked up to the sky last week and said out loud for everyone to hear, ” THANK YOU JESUS”.
I wish I could hug each one of you.

Aren’t you getting sick of these posts yet?
I mean, people have posted pictures of their Halloween mantels since August.
It’s a wonder you even want to click on the link to see this.
If you are here, thank you.
I appreciate you.
Be ready to be wowed!!
No.
Just kidding.
It’s just another Halloween mantel.
Enjoy.

 

What Halloween decorating looks like in my home. Boo.

I love decorating for the holidays.
Fall is my most favorite.
Mostly because I don’t have to put up a tree.
Or lights.
But especially because I love the colors and I love me some fall weather.
Although the day I put this up, it was 90 degrees here.
The end of September.

 

Seriously? Who took a bite of the fake apple?

For the first time in six years, I was able to decorate for fall without the help of children.
Not that I don’t love my girls, I do.
So very much.
But I have to say, it was heavenly.
Not to have to yell, “put that down!”, “no you cannot have a third helping of Goldfish!” and “stop biting the fake fruit!” at the top of my lungs while hanging up fake leaf garlands was pure bliss.
Last year, I had two kids with pink eye hanging on to my every move as I threw the fall all over the house.
The year before I did it at night to avoid hysteria only to have both, BOTH, girls wake up.
And want to help.

 

What it looks when you can decorate for a holiday without children, Pretty much looks the same as when you can decorate for a holiday with children,

 

It took me two hours to create my mantel.
My time is precious.
WHY DID IT TAKE ME TWO HOURS?
I have even downsized my fall/Halloween decor over the years.
It still took two hours.
Now in my defense, I was multitasking.
I was cleaning, doing laundry and talking on the phone to a friend.

 

This is my method of decorating: throw things on the floor and say really loud, “OK DO SOMETHING WITH YOURSELF YOU LAZY BUM.” It works.

 

So on a 90-degree day at the end of September while listening to John Denver, I created the following:

 

This is why I love my mantel: it is filled with all sorts of items I have amassed over the years.
The HALLOWEEN sign is my all-time favorite fall decor piece.
I got it at a flea market last summer.
I wish I could keep it up all year, I love it so much.
But then I would be that woman.
Who keeps Halloween up all year.
Not that there is anything wrong with that …..

 

That black crow, Dollar Tree two years ago -one buckaroo.
The FALL banner- my friend Melissa made for me a few years ago.
The foliage I have no idea. It’s been around since Clinton was president.

I even put a little pumpkin in my work area.
Because I can.

 

How does it look?
It looks stupid, doesn’t it?
Level with me.

 

I added a BEWARE sign I got at Dollar General for a buck.
I made it worse, didn’t I?
BE HONEST WITH ME!!!

 

Then I found this cool ribbon at Joann’s for like, a dollar.
So I used it to hang a hand me down wreath.

 

 

I bought these cute little owl salt and pepper shakers at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago while grocery shopping.
They were only $2.88!
But I don’t have the heart to put salt or pepper in them.

OMG, they are so cute.

I named them, of course.
Phil and Leslie.

 

 

 

 

Lots of changes in this room
Stay tuned…..