What's Happening

Happy Monday!

It feels so good to start off a new week in these parts.

 

Last week we had a house full of sick people.

Little man and I were sick for days with a nasty stomach flu.

Poor little guy had a fever that reached 104.

He felt just terrible.

Then, the same day, I got it.

 

Loads of fun I tell ya!

Needless to say,

lots of homemade chicken soup was consumed!

 



He did manage to make it through "twin day" at school!

The kids were so excited to dress the same and show some longhorn love!

 



The hubs came home with the grocery store with pumpkin pie.

Luckily, by Friday night, 

we were feeling good enough to have some!

 



Saturday night we had family over.

The hubs made his famous chili.

After almost a week of eating nothing but toast,soup and crackers,

that chili was oh.so.good.

 



Our spooky little front porch decorated for Halloween.

 



I decided to make another batch of yummy caramel corn for us.

We may or may not have eaten two entire huge bowl fulls Saturday night!

Ahem,

{Thanks a lot, Melissa}

;)

 



These kittens love this little man.

They snuggle with him all the time!

 





We had yummy frito pies on Sunday,

made with the hubs chili.

So delicious!

 

I hope you all have a great week.

 

Our families thoughts and prayers are with those on the east coast today.

Stay safe friends!

 

XO

Today

I miss my Nana.

 

I can't stop thinking of her.

 

Dreaming of and about her.

 

I am reflecting on how truly short life is.

 

Gone, in the blink of an eye.

 

I wish she was here to talk about life with me.

 

Have over an hour long phone conversations.

 

I don't understand why she had to go.

 

I can't believe she has been gone for over a month now.

 

I am sad and truly just beginning to process she is no longer with us.

 

I want to hear her voice and her nervous laugh.

 

I want to hug her and smell her Nana perfume.

 

I want to see her year round Christmas tree, on her dining room table.

 

I want to hear her fuss at Princess for acting like a maniac,

and then giggle to myself.

 

I want to hear her ask about May and O,

and I want to tell her how proud I am of them.

 

I pray for the "right words" to tell them when they ask about her.

 

I now ask her to watch over them.

 

I want to tell her I am sorry for not stopping in for a visit more often.

 

Because, now, I wish I would have.

 

I want her to know that even though I didn't understand some of her choices,

I never ever blamed her for situations that surrounded both of us.

 

I want her to know I have millions of precious memories of her,

that I will never forget.

 

I pray that she knows she gave me a great gift,

the greatest gift of all,

 love.

 

I hope she knows how much she is missed,

and how blessed we were to have her in our lives.

 

I know she is in a better place.

 

I feel the warm breeze on my cheek,

 and I know she is with me.

 

I see one of her most favorite beautiful birds,

and I know she is near.

 

I catch a glimpse of her in my children's smiles,

and I see her smile.

 

I notice the cloud that covers the sun,

with the lovely silver lining.

 

I know she is telling me all will be okay,

and I am STILL with you.

 

I will always be with you.





I love you Nana.

 

Love,

Mandy

Bubble Statement Necklace Giveaway



Happy Sunday, my dears!

I am so excited to share a very special giveaway with you!

 

Here at Red Barn Candle Company,

I have decided to give one lucky reader a....

drum roll please....

 

Black Bubble Statement Necklace.

Shut.the.front.door.

 

This lovely necklace is sure to go with any outfit,

and is the perfect fall accessory!

 

So, you wanna win this lovely bad boy?

All you have to do is follow the Red Barn Candle Company blog.

{Yes, that would be the blog you are reading right now}

 

Ahem.

Okay, so moving on.

 

Just leave me a comment letting me know you follow along.

Also, feel free to share the giveaway love.

I will be forever thankful!

Facebook, twitter, pinterest, your blog, etc.

Should you choose to share,

be sure and leave a comment for everywhere you have shared.

Your name will go in for each time!

Yay!

 

Winner will be announced here on the blog.

 

Thank you lovelies.

Hope you have a wonderful night!

XOXO

Dr. Pepper Cake



Oh yes,

my friends,

you read that right.

 

Dr. Pepper Cake.

If you are a lover of Dr. Pepper,

you seriously must.make.this.now.

 

Trust me,

your family will thank you!

 



Alrighty,

so let's get started.

 

For your cake, you will need:

 

1 yellow cake mix

1 package of vanilla instant pudding

1/2 cup vegetable oil

10 ounces of Dr. Pepper

4 eggs

 

{Preheat oven to 350 while preparing your cake}

Locate a sweet little man with big blue eyes to help.

He seriously could not wait to try this cake!

 

Throw everything into a large mixing bowl.

Mix well until blended.

 

Grease your bunt pan.

Pop in the oven and bake for 50 minutes.

 

Ahhhh.

Now for your glaze.

 

Mix:

 

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon butter flavoring

4 tbs. Dr. Pepper

 

Pour over cake while warm.

 





Prepare to be amazed.

Seriously,

so amazingly delicious!

 

Sharing with these fabulous ladies this week!

What's Happening

Happy Saturday, my dears.

Hope you are having a great start to your weekend so far.

 

I suppose we have some catching up to do.

Eh?

 

So, where shall we start?

I can't believe Halloween is eleven days away.

My children have no idea WHAT they are going to be this year.

And, neither do we.

Gasp!

 

If you know anything about my family and Halloween,

this is SO not like us.

The kids typically "costume plan" for months in advance,

however, we have been so very busy, that simply hasn't happened this year.

 

Speaking of Halloween,

who's ready for Thanksgiving?

Seriously.

 

As November quickly approaches,

I find myself day dreaming about Granny's turkey and dressing.

Oh.My.Lawd.

Delicious!

 



We had homecoming at our new school last week.

It was very fun and exciting.

Little lady requested a mum this year,

which turned into a little mother daughter craft project.

Shew!

It was a lot of work,

but very fun making memories as well.

Totally worth the glue gun burns.

 



Go Eagles!

 



In other home improvement news,

we purchased a new kitchen faucet.

The hubs and I actually agreed on one we found at Home Depot.

So happy about that!

However,

we do not look like that cheesy happy couple in the photo.

They must not have children.

Just sayin'

 

 

 



My burlap monogram pumpkin tutorial was featured a 320 Sycamore this week.

She has an under $10, under an hour party that she hosts every fall.

It is full of super cute ideas.
Go check them out!

So exciting!

 



And now,

for some product endorsement.

{All opinions are my own}

Haha!

 



I came across these tiny marshmallows at the store today.

I knew they would be perfect for our hot chocolate.

 





Have you seen these tiny little coffee mate do lollies?

I found them in the hubs favorite flavor,

caramel macchiato.
So yummy and perfect for fall.

 



Now,

I know I am the candle lady and all.

Which is ALL the more reason I want our home to smell good.

Have you smelled this scent.

Oh my word, it is amazing.

 





Last, but not least,

thank goodness for sweet neighbors {friends}
Seriously,
we have THE best neighbors in the world!

I came home today to this sweet surprise in my fridge.

Thank you, Deanna.
You brought a smile to my face today.

Love you lady!

:)

Enjoy your weekend, my friends!

Hide Your Thermostat {Fall Edition}

Good Tuesday morning to ya!

Just popping in for a second today.

 

Do you remember this post?

You know,

the one where I told you how to hide that hideous plastic thermostat?

 



Well,

I am here today to share how to spruce up that little space for fall.

{Who in their right mind could leave up a green spring wreath year round}

Not this gal.

Gaw!

Just sayin'

 





Using an old window frame, wreath and artwork,

you can easily hide that tacky thermostat and keep your space looking stylish!

 

Wreath: 75% Target Halloween last year {$4.98}

Halloween sign: Hobby Lobby {$4}

Old window: Side of the road {Free}

 

Knock out the glass for easy access to your thermostat.

Simple as that!

 

Hop on over to Melissa's party today.

It will be full of fun and affordable projects!

 

DIY Burlap Monogram Pumpkin



 

I am back today with a special fall tutorial, my friends!

This is a super duper easy and affordable craft.

My kind of project folks!

 

You will need the following items:

 

Burlap

Needle and thread

Polyfil fiber

Letter stencil

Sharpie marker

Stick

 



Grab your burlap.

Cut out a rectangle.

Mine measured 11 x 18.

If you want it smaller, cut a smaller rectangle.

If you want it larger, cut a larger rectangle.

Rocket science, I know.

Fold your burlap rectangle in half.

Using your needle and thread,

hand stitch all the way up.

{Holding the two ends together}

 



You will end up with this.

A burlap looking sack.

 



Stand up your sack,

forming basically a cylinder.

Place your seam on the INSIDE.

{You don't want to see this on your finished pumpkin}

 



Grab your letter stencil.

Or, do what I did, should you not have one.

 

Pull up microsoft word on your computer.

Pick a font that you like.

Pick your letter.

Use a sheet of notebook paper and trace directly off of your computer screen.

 

Make your own stencil by cutting out the inside of the letter.

 



Use tape to hold it in place.

Grab your sharpie and color in your stencil.

 



Flip your sack upside down.

Thread your needle.

 



Stitch through the burlap,

basically around the entire circle,

pulling taught as you go.

Reinforce by stitching tightly in place.

{As seen in picture above}

 



 

Flip your sack right side up.

 

Stuff with your polyfil fiber until full.

 



Use the same method for the top as you did on the base of your sack.

But this time leave a tiny hole in the top.

This will be where you glue your stick.

 



Grab a stick or twig and your hot glue gun.

Put a big glob of glue on the base of your stick,

shove it in the top of your sack.

I also added a few pieces of jute for extra detail.

 

Congrats,

you now have a pumpkin!
{No longer a sack}
Haha!

 

I will be sharing with these ladies this week.

 

Along with a special party that I literally wait for ALL year!

 

Check all of them out for some lovely inspiration!
Thank you for stopping by.
Until next time!