Weekend Collection

Another trip home.  Another 10 hours there.  But before we could even leave, Karl had to work.  I packed his suitcase, checked my luggage, and was sucked into watching "Once Upon Time: Wonderland."  Before I knew it, he was back home at 8:00 pm, and we were on the road.

Armed with snacks and drinks, we set off on the highway.  Lucky for us, the trip really isn't awful.  In fact, it's a pretty straight shot.  Like the beast that I am, I drove from 1 am to 4 am.  Karl really doesn't expect too much of me in the driving way.  Normally I'm a napper.

We pulled into the driveway early Friday morning and slept a few hours.  Karl had errands to run and people to visit from work.  The poor kid was still working, even on his "vacation."  I just chilled at home, and later that evening we enjoyed a very fine meal with his family.

The next morning was spent sleeping in, catching up on the sleep that we had missed in the car ride.  Eventually, we repacked our things and headed to my mother's house where we would spend the night before church.  That evening, we watched the television series "Psych," which I have missed, and enjoyed a blazing fire, which I have also missed.

On Sunday we attended our home church where it was fun to catch up with some friends who we miss greatly.  We feasted on local fare that we cannot get in Alabama, and a restful Sunday turned into football Sunday.  Thus, for a few hours, I crept away with my friend to enjoy fantastic wings and fried zucchini planks (very fattening. very good.) and of course, catch up on all the local news that I have missed while being away.

Monday was Karl's dentist appointment (always the reason we need to return home), but then we were off to visit the grandparents.  On our way around the city, I noticed all the things that I missed.  The leaves have not yet turned in Alabama, and if I do say so myself, Pennsylvania is especially beautiful in gorgeous fall weather.

Again, we made another late night trip back to Alabama.  I had thought we were going to stop halfway and rest for the night, but Karl made other plans.  We were going straight through.  This time, he drove all the way.  And even though I did not drive at all, nor did I sleep at all, because Karl turned the car into the Arctic circle so that he could stay awake.  My job?  Give him synopsizes of books and movies.  He received an extremely elaborate plot summary of "The Flowers of War," with Christian Bale, the Divergent book series in comparison to The Hunger Games, among some others.  However, I was not allowed to divulge  information about "The Fault in Our Stars" and "The Book Thief" because he was afraid I would start crying.  Typical. On a side note, the author of TFiOS raved about "The Book Thief" film (which he was able to see at a film festival), and for me, that is extremely promising.

Eventually we made it back.  And I've never been happier to slip under the covers.  We fell asleep almost immediately.  Unfortunately, Karl had to work today.  Hopefully he will be able to stay awake.

On another side note, I am pleased to introduce you to our Compassion child.  Her name is Besty.  She is from Peru.  And she has the most darling little smile.

Wish List

Colette Trench

Colette Trench | Anthropologie

As soon as I saw it, I swooned.  And then I reached out to touch it.  And it was just as soft in real life as it was in my imagination.

I think that I get my obsession with coats from my mother.  She has always had an eye for outerwear, and while sometimes I wish I would wear one for warmth, this one is just too beautiful for that.  I imagine it would keep me "warm enough." And it is a wool blend.  But still- I know that it is being generous to assume this would keep me toasty warm.

I just can't help but see (over and over again) the beautiful, light lavender peplum in the front and the back.  It perfectly contrasted with the cream wool, and I was (am) in love.

Unfortunately, the cost prohibits me from an actual buy.  As well as some alarming reviews online.  I will have to settle for trying the coat on again and again when I enter Anthropologie.


* Neither "Wish List" posts nor "Wish List" photographs have been endorsed by any company. I do not own this item, and all views expressed are entirely my own. 

In My Own Little Corner

There's plenty of room in this apartment.  For an apartment for two, in fact, it is quite spacious.  Of course, Karl, being the man he is, had little to add.  Only the basics.  A bed, a dresser, some clothes.  I immediately sought to fill those spaces; however, I needed a spot for me.  I was not going to try to claim the entire guest room.  That's a bit much.  Besides, we needed a place for the guest bed and the home computer.

No, I decided, the perfect place was going to be in the corner of the master bedroom.  We had set out our furniture, let it rest for a few weeks, rearranged, bought more furniture, and rearranged again.  Finally, my desk made it happily into the corner by the window.  And I was sitting on a pink ottoman from college with a plush polka dot blanket to prop me to higher proportions.  That would not do.

Using Pinterest as my guide, I had a grand idea to place pieces of square corkboard in an artful arrangement above my desk, either covered in material or washi tape.  But then I saw this picture at Walmart, of all places to find a framed artful piece.  And I knew it needed to go above my desk.  After conferring with The Husband, who does not care what I buy and where it goes as long as it is not ridiculously priced, the picture was bought and hung up on the wall.  The corkboard idea will have to wait.

And yet, I still was without a chair.  Having traveled to Home Goods about four times and looking a the same chair over and over again, Karl finally told me to "just get it," and here it sits.  It helped that we also found Karl a big, comfy, man office chair for his desk today as well.

La Cucaracha

Back in Pennsylvania, we are plagued with stink bugs at the change of every season. The sight of a stink bug sets me on edge, and my roommate became quite accustomed to my squeals and ultimate panic when I discovered them in my room.  She never failed to arrive with a Kleenex or other stink bug-extinguishing piece of equipment.

I worried about stink bugs in Alabama. It would seem that was for naught.  There are no stink bugs here thus far...only cockroaches. Ugly, fat, shelled cockroaches.  And I am the one who always seems to spot them! Luckily, Karl has been home every single time.  Poor thing hates cockroaches as well.  But he mans up and chases them and captures them for me so that he can take them away.  I try to help.  The last time, we chased a stink bug around the living room until nearly midnight.  Armed with a broom, a flashlight, a cardboard box and our own swift feet, we discovered the little bugger was hiding under my dry sink. As soon as he shot from underneath, I threw the box in the air and climbed onto the couch.  Karl, my hero, was finally able to capture him and duct tape him in a box.

Afterwards, I tried apologizing profusely for my lack of aid.  Karl only gently sighed, in a resigned sort of way, and told me it was all right.  I am just not able to look a cockroach in the face yet.  Or in the back.  Or from behind or on the side.  Perhaps some day I will be brave.

Weekend Collection

Karl worked this weekend, so we hung out when we had the time.  Friday night, we went out to eat at The Olive Garden (craving breadsticks), then off we went to the movie theater to see the  new release of "Rush."  We are both fairly critical of movies, and while we do not necessarily have the same taste, we both enjoyed the movie and the story behind the film.  We felt it was well done.  Definitely worth renting or seeing.

The next morning before he went to work, Karl told me we could go to Chipotle (which I had been begging for).  After he left, I was a little baffled.  I mean, Karl is always giving things up for me or trying to make me happy (God bless him), but to just agree to go to Chipotle was beyond me.  Then I figured it out.  Chipotle is beside Best Buy.  Karl always bribes me to go to Best Buy- usually it is with a trip to Barnes and Noble with
 the promise of a book or two.  Now he was trying to go through my stomach.  So I let him.  And while he went to Best Buy, I got out of it by going into Home Goods.  Where I bought things for my mantle.  It is  not finished yet, but at least it has "stuff" on it now.

I like to get the bowl because it isn't messy.  Not because I'm a wimp.

The  books, by the way, are "Jane Eyre," "Wuthering Heights," and "To Kill a Mockingbird."  I did not want a Halloween mantle, but these books do have the spooky aspect to them.

The rest of the weekend was spent in yoga pant and supporting Alabama with some new gifts.  It was a slow weekend, but a family visit this weekend will keep me busy during the week.

Snapshots

A few snapshots of my week:

These tea things...

...because these items are so handy.

This bed...

...because the guest room is finally coming together.

Karl working...

...because he can build a nightstand and watch TV at the same time.

This Panini...

...because the salami, tomato, ricotta, mozzarella, and pesto creation was out of BFCAT-withdrawal.

This Bible...

...because it is lovely in so many ways.

To Decorate

This is my first time where I've had my own space to decorate.  Of course, Kenz and I had decorated the house for Christmas.  She picked "the stuff" and we both happily put the spirit of Christmas all over.

This time, my husband has happily informed me that he pays for the apartment, and I decorate. That's a lot of  pressure.  There are blank slates all over, specifically the walls.  Thus, I've decided to start small.

The mantle.

Karl has finally removed all his Pittsburgh fan gear from the mantle in order to let me decorate for autumn and then eventually (*whispers*) Christmas.  I have been searching my main source of inspiration for multiple ideas.  I am certain that my mantle will eventually combine aspects of each of these mantles.

I love the books.  I already know which ones I will choose- Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and To Kill a Mockingbird.  I'm not trying to have a "Halloween" mantle, but these books are spooky enough.

I love the glass jars with pumpkins, stones, and gourds.  I also love the orange swag, pine cones, and fake leaves.

First off, there will be no creepy picture (no offense to them). I would like to incorporate a small candle rack in the middle or those tiered candle sticks.

Thoughts?  How do you decorate for the Fall season?