Let it Fake Snow

This year I saw a fun photo on Pinterest with fake snow and knew that we had to do something like that for our Christmas cards this year.  It is SO hard to take photos with Evan around the holidays because he is usually doing fly out shows and isn't done with work until closer to Christmas.  We had a window of opportunity before Thanksgiving to take the pictures, so I bought the fake snow and had our best friends take the pictures.  Kyle threw the snow on us while Lyndi snapped away.  It was hilarious.   We are so lucky to have those two in our lives.     

Friends that climb on their cars to throw fake snow on you are keepers.   I am so excited to wrap up school next week.  I only have one semester left!  Hope you all are staying warm.  Ironically we are in the middle of a huge snowstorm while I talk about fake snow.  I have a mechanical engineering final on Saturday and there is a rumor that if it gets cancelled we don't have to make it up. Crossing my fingers for more!

We break for pie

This Saturday we had our 3rd annual pie social ( Previous years here and here )  and I am still full. But if we are being honest here, I would eat all of these pies over and over again.  Like sneak to my fridge at midnight and eat them out of the pie dish with a fork.  That's how good they all were.  And I wouldn't recover before mentioned pie with foil after the midnight binge, I know Evan would want me to mention that.  Anyways...

 We had three guys join in and make a pie, and we were all really impressed.  So impressed that I dedicate this year to the boys! Good job!  We love you!  Dusty's pie has convinced me that sweet potato pie is better than pumpkin. Try his pie and you will agree!  Sorry ladies, he is taken by the sweetest girl on the planet.

I have really grown to adore this party.  I love how our home fills with sweet friends, laughter, and unlimited pie.  After everyone has left for the evening I just can't help but be so incredibly grateful.  

**Thank you to the sweet friends who brought pie! As tradition follows, here's a list of "What's the pie, Who is it by?" (In order of top pictures) Sweet Potato Shepard's pie brought by Blake, Oatmeal Cream Icebox brought by Kyle, Peach brought by Lyndi (she also brought her much requested Chicken Pot Pie), Pecan brought by Morganne, Sweet Potato brought by Dusty and Jasmine, Brown Butter Pear Pie brought by Kate and accompanied by honey Matt and Brandy, and Apple brought by Sarah!**  I made Caramel Pecan Pie, and dang. I am making it again because it was delicious!

Textured Vase DIY

Lately I've been wanting something a little bit more on trend in the vase world.  But I have 608 normal vases and Evan would make me sleep on the sofa if I bought another.  And it's cold there. So...  Enter the easiest vase redo of all time! 

You need: Sculpey bake clay, an old vase (or candle, that's what mine is) , spray paint, hot glue and liquid gilding.  You could do the regular gold leaf version, but I have been digging the liquid gilding lately.  It's less of a hassle. 

Work your clay into the shape you want.  Keep in mind that you want it to be flush with the glass.  I found that it was easier to stick the shapes on the glass when the clay was soft causing it to have a flat side.  That also makes it easier for gluing. 

Bake your shapes until the clay is hard.  Let the clay cool for around 20 minutes.  Then glue the clay shapes to the vase in a fun design or pattern.  There are so many things you can do! Or keep it fun and random.  After everything is dry, clear all the excess hot glue off and spray paint the vase.  Afterwards paint the shapes with the liquid gilding.  This is one of those projects where imperfection looks awesome.  So tell your craft anxiety to get out of town. Then high five yourself for how reckless you are.  

These babies are kind of addicting to make.  I love how textured they are.  And there are so many possibilities for their use!   They would be great for staging bookshelves, organizing makeup, or as a last minute gift.  

Freedom or Bust

I've been spending my days and nights at the studio buried under school projects.  The kind where you and your friends sing Britney Spears "Lucky" at 1 am because you are going crazy from stress and it's the only thing that feels right. On Wednesday I turned in my last project and ran out of that building.  We celebrated the next day with lunch at Caspers ( the quirkiest restaurant with the sweetest people) and then an old fashioned trim and shave for Evan.  We ended my day of freedom by taking Elton (who turned 4!) for a birthday walk around a really cool art installation in town.  It feels good to breathe in the fresh air! 

October Days

Evan left for work earlier this month only to fly back this week because the tour had been cancelled last minute.  October is my favorite month by far, so I was a little excited to find out he would be home for it.  I picked him up the day before my birthday and we haven't looked back.  We've got things to do.  Fall things.  And I'm sure he is so thrilled...  So far we have already been to a haunted corn maze, pumpkin patch and have decorated for Halloween.  We still have pumpkins to carve and apples to pick. Oh and scary movies to watch.  Here's to unexpected extra time and making the most of it! Happy Monday guys!

Weekending

This weekend was spent mostly outside soaking up the last bits of summer.  And dang these last bits of summer in Missouri are hot and swampy! Saturday was spent watching a very dear friend get married in his backyard.  That night we stayed away from the heat and watched Silence of the Lambs.  I had never seen any of those movies before so of course we are watching them all.  Evan has taken to calling me Casereese now, so there's that.

On Sunday we drove to the country to visit both of our families.  My parent's live on a small farm complete with a pond and and a little orchard.  It is a true getaway.  If you ever get out that way stop by and I am sure my mom will give you a tour in her pink golf cart.  She has a lead foot though.  Just a disclaimer.

Evan's parents only live 10 minutes away from mine.  It's so crazy to think we grew up so close to each other and never bumped into one another.  Evan's dad made sopapillas and now that's all I can think about...So good.

It was one of those weekends that you don't want to end.  And where you wish you had unlimited sopapillas to get through Monday!

Labor Day

Today has been lazy in the best way.  Waking up late, scooter rides with no destination, and gas station slurpies.  If we are being honest here though I am ready to kick summer out the door.  It's time for fall, according to everyone on Pinterest.  Guys, I agree.  I agreeeee. 

Also, something has been in the works for a while.  I've got a little blog makeover coming which is why I haven't been posting as much lately.  Things will be shifting and changing over here, so bear with me!

I hope everyone had an easygoing weekend with no labor.  If you did work, go treat yourself to a slurpee because you deserve it!