Happy Halloween!!!!

From the Free family!

Carl is a banana.

Harriet is a hot dog.

Mr. Free is a Greaser.

And I'm behind the camera and in sweats because its frickin' freezing.

Happy Halloween!!!

P.S. Tomorrow I will have a great frugal DIY project to share!!!

Pumpkin Crazy!

We currently have 15 live pumpkins in our home.

And I love it.

I snatched a bunch up dirt cheap for our Pumpkin Carving Party and have left them up for Harvest decor.

I usually keep all things pumpkin around 'til Thanksgiving. As long as they aren't jack-o-lanterns.

Can you spy all the pumpkins?

I love all the crunchy leaves!!!!

I'm a big fan of decorating your bedroom for the holidays. It makes me so happy to wake up and see the orange pumpkins.

Last year I bought a tiny tree top Christmas tree for our bedroom.

It reminds me of living in a Pottery Barn catalog!

Anybody else pumpkin crazy?

Just me?

Stacked Books

I've mentioned previously how much I love books, especially old books with character, and how much I love to decorate with them.

Now I want to stack them.

I've long loved the Spine Bookcase.

I hope one day one will just magically appear on my doorstep.

I just think the look of stacked books vertically is so interesting visually.

Until that magical day that a Spine Bookcase appears, I think I'm simply going to start a big stack of books in our office similar to this gorgeous picture below.

Doesn't all those books make that person who owns them appear so cultured?

That's what I want...

To appear cultured.

Don't judge a book by its cover : )

What do you think? Like the look or hate it?

Are you a book stacker or do they need to go horizontally to suit your tastes.

Do tell!

Pumpkin Carving Party!

Time for the recap.

Here was the food.

S'More cupcakes.

Candy corn and peanuts.

Frugal tip: I bought those plates last year at Target after Halloween for 75% off and stored them away. I got matching napkins and cups too. Think ahead a year and it'll save a ton of $$$!

We had chili and potato soup.

Homemade Caramel Apples.

Not pictured:

Mummy Pigs in a Blanket

Seasoned Popcorn

Spiced Cider

Some decor

Mini pumpkins mixed with gold glitter pine cones.

The mercury glass bowl and pine cones were 75% off last year at Target after the holidays.

I normally use these pieces for our New Years Eve Party.

However, I thought the glittered pine cones with the pumpkins were a fun spin on the infamous Martha Stewart Glitter Pumpkins.

Mason jars from around the house with a tealight.

A few glitter pine cones to make it sparkle.

So easy and it made for a pretty glow!

*Sigh*

I love my houndstooth rug!

Now the pumpkins!

I really shouldn't be friends with so many artists...

It makes my pumpkin look crummy. : (

That's mine.

I really don't know what I was going for with this.

Some Indie Bohemian design.

It instead looks like a flower exploding.

Mr. Free's.

A pumpkin carved on a pumpkin.

Carved are the words 'It's conceptual'.

Gosh I love that man.

Aren't they fantastic?!!!

The party was a blast and I think will be an annual tradition now.

Now...I'm planning my next party.

I'm thinking a Christmas Cookie Swap!

I love to entertain!

Design Challenge

We recently got this bedding for our bedroom

And currently still have our black and white rug underneath....which clashes.

Mr. Free doesn't mind though....

I'm hoping to use some Christmas/Birhday money and get a new rug for our bedroom.

Here's some contendors

My favorite....but way too $$$

west elm
walmart
west elm


west elm

If I lived near an IKEA the most affordable option would be to get 4 of these delish doormats and stitch them together to make one large rug.

Considering most would be hidden under the bed, I don't think it'd be a bad option...

I'd like it to have a little texture without competing with the bedding.
Which one would you choose?
Most are probably out of my budget, but I hope to use these as inspiration for a more affordable option!

Anyone live near an IKEA???

Plan B

Well, they are now calling for a 40% chance of thunderstorms Saturday.

Perfect.

I'm still praying that things will work and we will be able to enjoy the outdoors.

However...I need to plan accordingly.

IF its storming, that will change the location.

Obviously will need to be indoors now.

IF it is storming, that will chance the menu.

No bonfire for hot dogs and s'mores.

Soooo....I'm planning that we can all carve at the dining table.

We can also dine on Chili and Potatoe Soup vs. the Hot dogs.

*sigh*

I know the most important aspect is gathering with friends.

But dangit...I want it to be perfect!

Here's some inspiration for some interior decorating for the party

Luckily I have Friday off of work to pull it all together!

Any tips or ideas to bring the 'outdoors in' and make this a beautiful Fall party...even if it's inside?!

Online Magazines

With many of us watching every penny, one thing I love is a good magazine.
One filled with lots of inspiration and eye candy.
With the death of many beloved decorating magazines, a birth of online magazines has emerged.

Here are 3 I am currently enjoying

Lonny

I have previously mentioned this great Domino-esque jewel, but just wanted to mention it again.

1 By Fryd

This Scandinavian e-magazine is chock full of pretty homes, food and DIY. All things I love!

Adore Home

This Australian newcomer is full of eclectic and modern inspiration.

And don't let the seasons fool you.... it is Spring over there right now!

I hope you can save a few pennies, throw on some sweats and curl up with your laptop as you enjoy these great online magazines!

Have a Blessed Monday!

Remembering Our Babies

Today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Rememberance Day.
It is customary to light a candle on this day to remember all of our lost, loved babies.

I had no idea that I would be honoring this day.

Our story is here, here

and here.

These last 2 months have been an absolute roller coaster of emotions for Mr. Free and I.

I have felt the utmost despair to hope and love.

All in the same day.

Every.single.day.

And that has turned into normal for me.

Not one day goes by that I don't think about the baby we lost.

I think about how I should be 17 weeks pregnant today.

We would've been able to know if we were having a little boy or little girl.

I should've been starting to feel little flutters in my belly.

Instead I am sad.

I want my baby back so bad.

I want to hold them.

It hurts my heart.

I feel like I am living in two different worlds at the same time.

I am going through the motions of my normal day, yet I am thinking about what could've been.

However, every day I get a little more hope for what's to come.

I know God is in control.

I know this is somehow part of His plan.

Even though I truly can't understand it at this point.

But even though losing our baby has been the hardest thing I've gone through, if it's part of God's plan for my life, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.

I have experienced the loss of my dad and grandparents.

I have experienced the sorrow of a chronic disease.

This is by the far the loneliest thing I have experienced.

Many people do not know the pain of losing your unborn child.

If they have, they often don't want to talk about it.

For some reason it's taboo.

I want to change that.

Mothers who have lost their babies need to be there to support one another.

These verses have really spoken to me through out this whole process

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comfortus us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any afflication, with the comfort with which we oursevles are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too."

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

I pray that God uses me as a tool to minister to other hurting mothers out there.

Please say a little prayer for all the hurting mothers out there. Pray that God will comfort them and give them an incredible peace. Pray that God will bless them with healthy children in His time. Pray for our contenment as we wait on His perfect timing.

As a rememberance, Mr. Free and I still have the video of us the day we found out we were pregnant. We were so excited and thrilled for our new bundle set to arrive March 25, 2011.

We also have the video Mr. Free took at our first ultrasound.

We got to see our then healthy, heart-beating little baby.

We were so incredibly happy.

We also have every congratulations card.

We now also have every sympathy card we have been given as well.

We don't want to forget this baby.

This was our first child.

Baby Free,

Mommy and Daddy miss you every single day.

We love you so much.

We will see you again in a little while.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

Pumpkin Carving Party: The Menu

Since we are on a tight budget for this shin-dig, I knew I needed to keep the menu simple.

We are planning to have a bonfire as well, so hot dogs and smores were a perfect fit.

I'm praying and hoping for beautiful fall weather that day.

Hot dogs and smores in the microwave just aren't the same....

Hope you all have a terrific Thursday!