Fall Decorating-Disney Style

Main Street

California Adventure





Growing up in Southern California has allowed me to be a frequent visitor to the "Happiest place on Earth". My favorite time to come to Disneyland and California Adventure is Halloween Time! The fall has beautiful weather and less people. I just love of of the decorations!

Pink Saturday

Today, I venture into my daughter's room. She is 7 years old and I decorated her room when she was 3 in Shabby Chic. Now that she has an "opinion", she wants dark purple and bright pink with feather boas. Break my heart!
So here are a few pink things before I break down and re-do her room. I love her name in curly letters with pink gingham bows. I just LOVE gingham!

This is a Tracy Porter chandelier with hanging pink crystals and little crystals in the flower centers. I covered the shades with fabric and green bead trim. I also made the pink gingham cord cover.
I love this sign that hangs in her room. I think I will put it in her playhouse when we redecorate her room.

Have a Happy Pink Saturday and don't forget to visit all of the other pinkies out there in blog land listed here.

Lost in Austen

I know a few of you may find this hard to believe, but I have become obsessed with the new ITV Mini Series Lost in Austen. It is only available in the UK and YouTube pulls the videos quickly. What I have been able to find is in 2 minute snippets. I went on the ITV website and it will only play in the UK! So frustrating!
Tonight , I found out that the DVD is being released in the UK on Monday. Well, Region 2 DVDs do not play on US DVD players UNLESS you have a region-free DVD player. After a lot of research, I found out that I already own a region-free DVD player!!!!! It's the one we use for our outdoor movies. So....I bought the DVD!!!!!!!!! It should be here next week. I can't wait to have a showing of it!!!

Finally!

Last month, Heather Bullard from Present Past Collection, had a Fall decor tutorial, with a mason jar wrapped in chicken wire. I have been collecting things for my own project and this morning I finally made it! Well, I actually made 2 because I have double front doors. What do you think?

Birth Announcement

14 years ago today, I gave birth to my first child. After watching the premiere of a new sit-com, "Friends", I went to bed, got up to go to the bathroom at midnight and my water broke! 14 hours of labor and no epideral, I was rewarded with a 9 lb. 1 oz baby boy who was born at 2:38pm.

Sunday, we celebrated by taking Matthew and a few friends to an indoor Go-Kart racing center -MB2. That's Patrick-he won the second race

We strapped on our helmets and flew around the track 12 times in our first race. Took a break for fuel (pizza) and then another 10 laps. Even my 10 and 7 year old got to drive their own karts in a junior race. Chasen won his second race!

The birthday boy, Matthew, is in the green shirt, holding down his brother!

For the goody bags, I bought the boys MB2 t-shirts and a custom bag of candy. I put tire tracks on the bags with toy trucks. The boys liked the flags in the cup cakes. I was happy they didn't use them as weapons! (you know, like the 3 year olds!) Happy Birthday Matthew! I love you! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Sound of Music Sing-A-Long

On Friday night, It was my 7th time at the Hollywood Bowl Sound of Music Sing-a-long. They play the movie on a giant screen while 10,000 of your closest friends and you sing with Maria and the children. The ushers pass out "goody bags" filled with props that you use during the movie. Melissa Peterman from the "Reba" show hosts along with "Liesl"-Charmaine Carr.
There is a costume contest and the parade is over an hour long. People come up with the craziest costumes! (see above) I believe he is the alps with the von Trapp familly climbing over him. The winner gets a Mexican Riviera cruise for 2.
My friends and I get dinner at the Bowl Market and eat in our seats. We ususally get a box but ended up on the benches this year. This event sells out even before tickets are available to the general public!
We love to sing at the top of our lungs (let's just say it's a good thing I don't have audio of it) and during Eidelweiss, everyone in the Bowl turns on their cell phones so they are lit up and sway them to the Captain's song.

This is the winner of the costume contest. The mom made cardboard notes representing Do, Ra, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do. This woman is going on a cruise WITHOUT the notes! I will be back again next year!

Pink Saturday

I've had my dining room set for years and it was originally yellow pine. A few years ago I painted them a pale pink and recovered the green plaid seats with this great french toile. I also added the applique to the seat backs. I just love this picture of me and my kids at Zuma beach. It was taken by Valerie Tabor-Smith. I got the tea cup and saucer from the local dollar store for 1.50.
This pink pleated shade is from the Rose Bowl Swap Meet. Anyone want to join me on Oct 12 for a field trip to the Rose Bowl? Have a great Pink Saturday!

Autumn Tea

I've been having tea with the same group of ladies for about the last 3 years. We trade off hosting a tea at each others home or someone will find a new place to have tea and make reservations. Today, Marina and Debbie hosted an Autumn Tea. We were supposed to have it last Friday, but Marina's youngest son has had pneumonia. It was a potluck and the girls brough an Onion Tart, Maple Sausage Egg cassarole, I bought cucumber sandwiches, and we also had Chocolate Angel Food cake with fruit compote.

Marina bought some yummy Pumpkin Spice tea AND PUMPKIN SCONES from our favorite tea shop in town.

Hostess Gifts
Angel Food Cake

Poor Suzie (on the right) was on pain killers for her back)

Next month, it's time for me to host my Witches Tea!!!