Martha Stewart Holidays

My current subscription to Martha Stewart Living expired in October and I chose not to renew it for a few reasons. I miss the monthly issues, but I still have the special editions that I can pick up at the grocery store or bookstore {which weren't included in the subscription to begin with} and I think they're probably the cream of the crop issues.

This Winter edition is no exception. Look at the beautiful cover!


I love having the recipes online and readily accessible, but to me there's just something so savory about having the recipes and gorgeous pictures alongside each other in one place. So I buy the issues and I keep them forever.

I've gone as far as to take them to Kinko's {when it was still Kinko's} to have a cover and binding put on extra special issues to keep them in better condition. I stopped doing that, of course, but that doesn't mean I'm not still tempted!

Not So Super Saturday

No offense to anyone, but I'm going to whine.

Our in-town wards are having a Super Saturday activity this weekend. {For those who don't know, it's a mega-crafting/skill-enhancing event for the women in our church. Everything is organized on a local level, i.e. nothing is 'official'} I didn't realize how spoiled I was when my aunt let me tag along to hers when I lived in UT. I learned how to sew rag quilts from her awesome friend, Lorraine {who incidentally has THE best cornbread recipe ever}, and make dried lavender flower arrangements in a galvanized bucket that smelled ever-so-great, among others.

So what's up with the Super Saturday here? Ugh...don't get me started. At the risk of offending anyone personally, I won't show you the frumpiness that is offered. But seriously! They're quite dowdy.

But we're in the University Ward and rarely, if ever, are we included in the planning stages. We're more of an afterthought.

What's even more sad is that I KNOW there are girls in my ward that would be happy to do projects that are modern and chic and inexpensive.

Like this:
or this:

Don't like the squirrel? What about this cute one?or this!?

And I love this. You wouldn't have to make it Christmas-themed, but you could do anything for your home and it would be fun and pretty and inexpensive.

And who wouldn't love an adorable apron?
I'm just saying. With all the tutorials available on the internet, through extremely generous blogs, and general womanly craftiness, why why why?!

Okay, here are a few more tutorials for you guys to love.

One-hour softie:

Fabric Travel High Chair:

Pintuck Pillows:

Black Apple Dolls:

Finally, someone should have looked at this cute blog before making the decisions...

I'm just sayin'...

Emma 2009

As many know, I'm a lover of most things British. Our first girl's name is most likely going to be Jemma {although I'm really loving Elliot lately} and if it had been possible for Ryan to do his doctorate in England, there we'd be.

This may or may not have started with my adolescent reading of Pride & Prejudice. I was so smitten with that singular novel, that I've devoured any scrap of film that depicts any of Jane Austen's novels. Tonight is Emma, released in the UK {you lucky blokes!} last month. It was available on the BBC website, but of course, since we're not in the British Isles, I can't stream it. For shame.

I was given a tidbit of information that it's on youtube! So currently, I'm watching Emma in ten minute segments that are simply {sigh} simply delightful. Sure, the costume and manners aren't entirely accurate to the period, but really, was Kiera Knightly's 2005 adaptation of Elizabeth Bennett accurate? Hells, no.

What I'm especially in love with in episode one {because that is as far as I've gotten thusly} are the dresses! BEAUTIFUL gowns, not dowdy in the slightest. And the hairstyles are a close second. They're more 2009 than 18th century, but they just work.

Forgive the grainy quality of the pictures. I had to settle for a screenshot from youtube.

I can totally see the top of this orange frock on one of my super-stylish friends {that would be Ashley, of course} and worked with a cute pencil skirt or even a dark rinse jean. If only I still had the figure!

I can't wait until this is available for purchase here. CAN'T WAIT!

No Halloween Candy this Year!

A spookified entrance

meant cobwebs and pumpkins

and as you clearly see, we had bumpy lumpy pumpkins, round, red, orange, and green

you were greeted by mice scurrying along the table and amongst the hedge apples

and spiders creepy-crawling up up the topiaries while bats lined the belfry mantle

That is all on that subject, tardy as it may be.

Mouthwatering

Caramel apples were handed out as game prizes this year.

I was making sure this one wasn't poisonous.

If only there were a magic button

I need to update this blog. But I lack the motivation.

coming soon.

Why is a Raven like a Writing Desk?

That's what will be the final touch on my ultra-chic All Hallow's Eve wreath.

I haven't figured out placement yet, therefore, it's absent from the pictures below.

But the look so far? Love it. This was my second attempt.

My first one was felt-based and consisted of 50 or so hand-cut felt feathers. Are you picturing it yet? Yeah, it's hideous.

I broke down and purchased a feather boa from Hobby Lobby for $4 on sale from $8.

I found the squatty little bird from JoAnn's for 60% off, which made it just under $2 {if I'm remembering correctly}. Ribbons are both from JoAnn's as well. I used the widest black taffeta and the widest black satin they sold by the roll.

The nest is one I found when collecting hedge apples two weeks ago.

Pretty great for under $10, right?