The most pleasant Halloween weather...EVER!

Honestly, we could not have asked for a better Halloween day!! It was sunny, mild, not a cloud in the sky, 60 something degrees... the makings for a beautiful day! The parade was a lot of fun, the High school did a terrific job marching and the trick~or~treaters this evening were adorable, as always! We had visits from the cutest Elmo ever, a masquerade ball maiden, an escaped insane mad scientist, a butterfly... with her Grandma dressed as a butterfly catcher walking behind her (too bad I never came up with THAT idea when my babies were little) and countless others! These were just a few of my favorites! Everyone had a great, safe time!
This Halloween was a bittersweet one for me. My daughter is old enough now, that she did not want to trick or treat and my son has lived away from home now for a couple of years. This was kinda hard for me... I was actually home to hand out candy with my husband. This was the first year that Beth didn't want to hang out with mom and dad. Fun, of course, but I wasn't walking my own kiddos around the neighborhood. Kinda sad how fast time flies!
We all had a wonderful evening and have the chance to wind down now. Guess what? Now that Halloween is all wrapped up, the holidays are upon us. I want to get into the spirit early this year just because I'm extra busy these days~ pumpkins will be put away tomorrow and slowly, I'll begin to incorporate Christmas throughout our home. I'm excited!!!
Hope everyone had a boo~tiful night!
OH! Real quick, we made the front page of the paper... Cory was interviewed about our "haunted house".... interesting and spooky facts about experiences that we've had here since buying our home. Maybe I'll post the article later!
Christina!

November First Monday! Here's what we'll be up to...

Awww, right!! Class time is approaching... to our local friends: please join us at Cottage of the Seasons, downtown Atchison on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 pm. We will be enjoying another evening of creativity, munchies and fun! We have a really great time together.... bring a pair of gardening gloves.... we'll be bending lots of wire! :)
Hugs,
Christina!

This is such a great storybook.... BOO!

Trick or Treat!!! Can you believe that Halloween is this weekend? Where did the month of October go, anyway? We just need to get a few more spooky days out of the way~ and then I'll really be thinking of Christmas! The Holiday season is definitely upon us...
I hope that everyone is doing just great and had a very nice weekend, we were pretty busy on this end!
Let's see...big ideas, big projects and lots of sparkle... visions of sugar plums already dancing in my head!! My gears are beginning to turn... I can't wait to share with you all!
Happy Halloween week,
Christina

Thank you Jann you are very special!!!

Ahem... drumroll please!!!!!!!

Thank you all so very much for participating in my first giveaway ever... I must say, I love doing this, which means, there will definitely be many more to come in the near future! Each and every one of you are so sweet and special to me... I can't thank you enough for being such wonderful friends. My beautiful daughter was in charge of drawing the winner.... we made sure to mix up the names really, really good...enough of the small talk, though. I am very excited to announce the winner of this giveaway....

Will Jann please stand up????!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to my dear blogger friend~ Jann from Forever Jann and.... Thirteen Thorny Roses!!!!!!! I am so happy for you! Please be sure to send me an email with your address... can't wait to get this sent off to you~~here's to hoping that you enjoy it all!
Hugs, and thank you all again for entering.... keep those eyes open for more!

Rosemary, Rosemary...

...How sweet! Thank you for making me feel like a QUEEN! A bewitched queen, that is! :)
Hugs!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!! (it's only fair~~and about time!)

I have been so very lucky lately and have met SO many wonderful, creative friends that I think it's high~time I give something back to you now! This giveaway is for........ really no reason at all. I'm past a few of my blogging milestones already, SO....... this one's just for fun! The winner will receive one of my "baby~cakes", one of my bottlecap pins, and a pretty rose bouquet. How's about I just do this.....
I'll draw a name out of a basket on Friday, October 23.
You know the drill, just leave me a comment..... I only hope that you enjoy the treats that I've chosen!
Good luck.... I'm actually really excited about this!!!
Hugs,
Christina

I am such a lucky girl!!!!

Kelly and LuLu..... I just love you guys! I am so grateful to you both! Check out my newest goodies........ a vintage stationary assortment and an oh~so~yummy Halloween cake! This stack of greeting cards with old wrapping papers was picked just for me, and aw.... boy, did Kelly do a fantastic job!!!!!!!!!! No, I can't actually eat this new cake of mine...... it's strictly decorative and oh, just so gorgeous, but getta load of that faux icing!!!!!!!!!!! I am blessed to have met so many wonderful friends in this big, beautiful blogland that I have become quite addicted to! I also think that I am pretty spoiled rotten now, huh? *swoon*............ I love all of my treats! Beth Perry also sent me a wonderful "recipe" box. Recipes full of scrapping ideas!!!! How cool! I still need to take pics of it, Beth.......... that'll come next!
Okay, I'm not very good at this, but I feel as though it's MY turn to host a giveaway. What would you think about that? I need to gather some goodies and just go for it. Stay posted and I'll hopefully come up with something in the next few days!!!! How does that sound???? I'm actually really excited to do it. I'm well past the 100th post and I don't think it's a blogiversary, so this will be just for the heck of it.........
OH, and DONNA..... I still have those acorns! Yikes! I'll get them out to you soon~~~ I haven't forgotten about you, I promise! :)
Hugs,
Christina!

What a gorgeous day today!

I couldn't decide whether or not I needed my sweater today. It was so wonderfully sunny, not a cloud in the sky and quite comfortable outside, but while in the shade, it did get a bit chilly. We spent most of the day outdoors walking around the neighborhood. What a great day~ the Autumn chill is in the air and I love the cozy nights!
I missed our Oktoberfest downtown yesterday and from the few folks I've spoken to, they mostly said that it was pretty nice. I really wanted to go and see my blogging buddy Jane this year, but I had to work on Saturday. Jane makes such sweet things, I'm very sorry that I did not make it. Next year? Or before...... if you come to my place for coffee?!?!?! :) The door is always open, just let me know when you are back in town......
I want to get lost upstairs in the studio, I've got big ideas tonight. BUT, I also love the bright, natural daylight and it's later in the evening by this time. I may be up late....... what have you been working on? Inspire me!
Christina
OXOXoX

Happy Saturday!

Here are a few things that I picked up last week at the Fall church sale. This wonderful black and white is a 5x7 golden framed pic~ love it, it's a very striking piece! No really exciting pictures yet... I'm still working on those. Wait 'til you see the baby book scored and the linens and such...I did want to show off the paper clips, they are some of the smallest I've seen! Tiny copper and matte black looking, these will be great for my journals. Ok, more later... I've gotta get to cleaning. Oscar arrives today and I've got bunches to do before work.
Hugs,
Christina