Christmas in September

CHRISTMAS CARD PICTURES!

Today, we meet up with one of the coastie wives and she look our christmas card photo's. Since Conner will be leaving soon, I needed to get pictures before he left since I will be sending out photos for christmas before he returns. But anyway, we went to this arboretum (which we will never ever go back because they are so rude!) and we took pictures with fake snow, a mistletoe, a christmas sign and even christmas lights! This is a sneak peek/ a preview for us and we won't be getting the rest for a few weeks. I hope its before Conner goes out at sea so he can look at them! I totally got our inspiration of photos from this couple, I just adore these photos! CAN'T WAIT TO SEND OUT CHRISTMAS CARDS AS OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS OF BEING MR.&MRS. WALTON!!!

DIY: COOKIES

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!

So, today my friend came over and we decided after a long time and a trip to the grocery store that we want to make these pumpkin cookies. One, we don't like raisin or nuts so we didn't add them instead we added chocolate chips! These are amazing cookies! And they don't take that long to make! It is a perfect cookie for a fall day even if it is still 85 degrees outside!

Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Needed: 

2 c flour       1 1/2 c oats        2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp baking soda          1/2 tsp salt          1 c (2sticks) butter-softened

1 c brown sugar            1 c granulated sugar             1 c 100% Pure Pumpkin

1 large egg           1 tsp vanilla extract           1/2-1 c chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350degrees. Lightly Grease baking sheets.

Combine flour, oats, pie spice, baking soda, & salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, & granulated sugar in large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Then add pumpkin, egg and vanilla extract and mix well. Add flour mixture & mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and then drop rounded tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 14-16 minutes depending on size of cookie and color or cookie pans. 

Later, I added powder sugar which just made them even more delicious. Can't wait to make them for Thanksgiving! :)

And speaking of pumpkins, one of my favorite blogs is doing a giveaway of a pumpkin mask! i want to win! http://eastonwife.blogspot.com go follow her! 

Hubby's Birthday Weekend!

This weekend we went back home to celebrate Conner's birthday with our families. First we went to my parents house, who live in PA. My mom made Conner a cookie "cake" and I invited my best friend Jess and her boyfriend along with my parents and brothers to celebrate. I really miss being home, it's so different being so far away from your family. It was nice going back and celebrating Conner's birthday with my family. And also seeing my cat Sherly! (pictures above from Friday @ my parents house.)

 Next, we went to Conner's parents house and on Saturday morning we went to a pumpkin patch! It was so weird wearing boots and a sweater and being freezing cold! So used to the warm weather! But through the weather and all the pumpkin patch was really fun, we took pictures in the face cut outs, on the big chair and even went through the puny little haunted house that Conner's little brother did not want to go in! Then we took a hay ride up to the pumpkin patch and got to pick out our pumpkins for our apartment, which we still need to decorate! Conner's mom also bought us the best cinnamon apple donuts, AMAZING! And apple cider and my blueberry jam, which is also amazing. 

 Later we went back to Conner's grandma's house and had Thanksgiving dinner, since Conner and I won't be celebrating it with them. We ate turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce! It was nice having a Thanksgiving dinner with Walton's and the Mitchell's while we were home. Then after dinner we sang happy birthday for the second time and let the night settle down by seeing a few of Conner's friends and waiting til midnight to say Happy Birthday<3

After that, we ventured our way back home. Stopping at my parents house for a few hours and visiting one last time till November. It was a great weekend and wish we could do it again soon. But most likely won't with Conner going away. Til next time! :)

Fall Decor!

 Today I decorated our house, yes its about a month in advance but I already had fall decor on the inside of the house! But I still have more to do! I put spider webs on our bushes and caution tape and ghost in our window. I also have orange light around the door and the small pumpkin has a "W" on it. I also have a welcome sign that wont stay up that's a pumpkin. We're getting pumpkins this weekend when we go home so were going to decorate them! 

This is me getting ready for the lights and the caution tape!

And this is the little decor I have on the inside of our house! a Pumpkin candle that I picked up from Michael's and the set of three pumpkins from Kirkland's, the two dish towels (and now I have a pot holder that's fall) from Wal*Mart, and then in the shelf the pumpkins around the sailboat lights are from my friend Jill and the little pumpkin is from Garden Ridge!

Trying to get into the spirit before my hubby goes underway. That way he can experience the "fall" with me and then come back and experience the rest/beginning of Christmas Time with me! <3

Happy Birthday Baby!

  So, my husband turns NINETEEN, yes he's that young, on Sunday. But since we are going home for the weekend I decided that I would give him his presents early so he has some time to play them! Well for starters I have been hiding this present for about a week and a half! And let me tell you I have been dying to give it to him! So the basket is 19 items since it will be his 19th birthday. Then as his big present I bought him a PS3 which he has been dying to get forever. And with that I gave him two video games; skyrim and borderlands 2. Also two shirts from hollister. Let's just say he is so beyond happy right now. He's playing the game and being distracted! He wants to get an extra controller for me to play with him. He's so cute! Can't believe he's going to be nineteen years old!! He's getting so old. Next year he'll no longer be a teenager! WOW! :) Can't wait till his 21st! :P

The basket from michael's with the stickers saying it's my party & candles includes:

1. The PlayStation Magazine
2. A Bluray Movie
3. Angry Birds Underwear
4. A movie theater gift card
5. Games of thrones book
6. Christmas Picture Frame
7. A package of socks
8. Jolly Rancher Gummies
9. Fruit Ninja Gummies
10. Sour Watermelon Gummies
11. Popcorn
12. Vitamin Water XXX
13. Vitamin Water Power-C
14. Butterfingers
15. Musketeer Bar
16. Nutella
17. Slim Jim's
18. Axe Body Spray
19. Snickers Bar

And then this weekend we are going home to see our family and going to have some birthday time with his and my family. Pictures to come! :)

D.I.Y: PROJECTS

So, as you guys know I didn't move down right after my husband and I got married. Since he was away and on patrol for most of the summer, I came across pinterest and found a few objects that I wanted to create, mostly for our apartment. 

1. This is a "W" wreath, it is made out of a wooden letter and twine. I found similar ones like this on pinterest,  the first one is for our apartment, with the american flag ribbon and red white and blue "flowers" made out of buttons.

2. The second one, I made for my mother-in-law for her house. She is really into lighthouses so we went with that theme. It has hanging shells from the bottom, to make like a wind chime. 

3. This is our ottoman, it is made out of a 2$ salvo coffee table. Along with cushioning, paint, and zebra fabric. With the help of my dad, we sanded and spray painted it black. Added cushion and matting, and then the fabric to bring it all together. 

4. This is a book of all of the bridal shower cards that my husband and I received. Since we didn't have a wedding, I did this with the bridal shower instead. It is VERY easy to make. Also found on pinterest, you gather two pieces of cardboard (one for the front and the other for the back), then you decide which scrapbook paper you would like, hole punch each card in the top corner and the cover and back, bringing it all together with a ribbon. 

5. This picture frame is another pinterest project. It is made from a long picture frame, maps of NY, PA and VA. Since, my husband is from NY and I from PA this works out perfectly. In the middle is were we are stationed, our first station of course Virginia. There is a red heart in place of all the towns. And it is finished off by the words, "Love knows NO distance."

APARTMENT ESSENTIALS!

So, recently I've been asked to post the things that have made my life so much easier having in our first apartment. There are a few things that have made life great and things that I think that one person can not live without in their apartment. 

 

First, if you are a newlywed and was not able to have that big huge wedding and was not able to have a bridal shower. Ask your mom or mother-in-law if it is possibly to have a tiny bridal shower with direct family. THIS WILL HELP YOU A BUNCH! 

1. Our couch set- Although it was not given to us completely. My god father gave a check which paid for more than half of the set. Having couches in an apartment is very important. It is the place were you sit and enjoy company and they are the beds if you do not have a spare room. We got our set from a store called "Big Lots." Costing us a grand total of $600 for the SET! Which is cheap.

2. Bathroom accessories- This is not an absolute essential and they do not need to be expensive. But since my mother and mother in law threw me a bridal shower, I was able to get my ENTIRE bathroom set, including towels, shower curtain, rugs, and pictures. My set was from Bed Bath & Beyond. Total- A LOT!

3. Pots and Pans-  Having these have made life absolutely so much easier. We have used these every single day. Must have. My set is easy to clean, non stick and Calphalon. Cost- $200

4. Washer & Dryer- BEST THINGS WE HAVE BOUGHT! We had been using our friends for a couple weeks, but finally bought our own. We bought matching top-loading washer and the dryer. We got ours from Lowes with our military discount costing us $1153.

5.Canisters- Holds sugar, flour, pasta, brown sugar, powder sugar, coffee beans, they are great space savers. This is one of the main things that we wanted from our registry. They leave all these items open to you, so you do not have to leave them in a closet, and can access them $20 at Bed Bath Beyond.

Another thing, at my bridal shower for our wishing well we were given cleaning supplies. The best decision that we did. We were given a vacuum, a swiffer wet-jet and TONS of cleaning supplies.