Oh, Hello Fall

It's no secret tat I like to decorate.  I didn't want to spend any money right now, so I went with what I had. It was fun to work with!

We've done a bit more to the entry so let's start there shall we?

 I really love the colors in here, and all the texture. Since you last saw the entry, we have added numbers to the front of the chest. I put the boys' things that I find around the house in there. An easy way to keep things picked up.

 I added fall flowers and a candle. I found that huge vase in the back at a garage sale for $1 this summer.

Since you last saw the kitchen I have added a print in a gorgeous frame that I found for $2 (this summer), some pears in fall colors on the counter, and pumpkin, and a fall wreath on the door.

 On the coffee table I have a simple center piece I got 50% off at Hobby Lobby a few years ago.

 The mantle has a grapevine basket ($1 at a garage sale), pumpkins (Target a few years ago), an owl from TJ Maxx a few years ago,  candle sticks (Hobby Lobby last year), pot from my grandma, scarecrow
(Walmart last year), and a simple Fall banner made from burlap and ribbon. I simply took a sharpie and wrote Fall.

That's it. I love this season, it's so cozy. I just got done making a grocery list for next week that is fall inspired. Once I get all of the links together, I'll post it. It's full of comfort food haha!

Working on the Boys' Rooms

I've been slowly working on the getting the boys' rooms in order. I had fun plans and then pretty much threw them out the window for a few reasons.

1) it's just not necessary
2) we were given some furniture, so I worked with it
3) because they started hanging up their drawings and stickers on the wall..and well, they love it.

I only have a before picture of Brighton's room. This was with the stuff from his old bedroom which they all shared, and curtains left here from...maybe the 80's?



We were blessed to get and old chest of drawers that my grandparents bought when they married. My dad and uncle tore down an old ICE sign from their gas station when they were little to make the shelves on top. My grandma then painted it green.

I love the history of this piece, and am so proud to have it in our home!



Here is the back (the old ice sign)



The shelf happens to match the little green desk I bought years ago at a yard sale.



I happened to stop in (ha) IKEA while we were in Austin a few weeks ago and picked 1 package of curtains (and cut them in half) and the $10 duvet cover for his bed. It all turned out so nice!



I never showed a picture of Tristin's room, only because it had absolutely no storage whatsoever. It was a mess. I moved the old white shelf from Brighton's room to  Tristin's room and added a desk I picked up for $40 at IKEA. His favorite color is orange..if you couldn't guess.



We used an old bunting we had and the old vintage chair I picked up for their old room from another yard sale. I love those things ;)
This boy loves to draw, so the desk is a wonderful feature for his room!




I did add some orange and teal Chinese lanterns over his bed that I picked up for .50 at Michaels. I'll have to share a picture when I take one.

We are working in Jaiden's room next, so hopefully I'll have that post up this week! It's all coming along!


Between Naps on the Porch

What's Going On and What's Coming Up

How's that for a title? We have been picking out carpet, painting walls, furniture, and doors, picking out fabric, AND planning for the new school year!! Curriculum is here, school room will be done soon, and I have some posts coming up.

Upcoming posts starting hopefully by next week:
*Boys' room remodel...includes painted furniture, curtains, and more!
*School room update
*Curriculum for the year
*How our days work (our schedule)
*Also coming soon: how I budget clothes for 3 little boys. Goal...getting their clothes for the YEAR for around $100?! 3 boys. One year. $100.
* update: doors on a budget

Can't wait to post pictures!

Updates

OK here we go... I have been BUSY. The post about AUTISM and our very hard day...well that day pretty much lasted all week long. It was a long week. On top of that, my friend's grandpa had a stroke and they moved him to hospice, so I kept their two boys (with our 3) on Friday, Sunday, Monday, Tues. Friday morning and again Monday. 5 boys (one with special needs and the rest under 5) was CRAZY! I really am glad I could help, but it was a lot of work! =]

Now, onto my challenges. NO spending month is ending this weekend and it didn't kill us! I do admit we spent a little. After last week my hubby took us to eat at Chilis for a nice afternoon lunch (which was a nice treat, I wasn't willing to argue with) As the end of the month nears, I am so thrilled at how much we have realized we don't need, and how much we waste. We have saved a REALLY good amount of money this month. Now.....hmmm...what can I go spend it on? HA, JUST kidding.

The Bible reading challenge: I am behind :(. BUT, I am still loving it and still going right along (on my own pace) but I will FINISH! Thats all that matters. I will say, when I tried in the past to read the bible in a year by reading 10 minutes worth a day, I had always given up by now. This time I'm enjoying it so very much and feel so blessed (even if I don't finish the challenge on time). FINISHING is my ultimate goal. So I will let you know in April, June, August WHEN I'm finished.

Totally unrelated to anything really. It is sunny and 55 degrees out right now. Really very nice. This evening - in the 20's, winter stom coming, & 8 inches of snow. They say it will snow all day tomorrow. I am NOT a fan of snow, but I really don't have to go anywhere tomorrow, so we will stay cozied up in the casa and LET IT SNOW!

Updates on my 2 challenges

OK, first of all, we are settling in to our new routines and schedules for homeschooling and J-man's therapeutic learning center. It is feeling WONDERFUL and going well. Now today is the start of my husband's new schedule, its really the same schedule, it's just flipping the days now. THEN, hopefully, everything will stay this way for a bit. Now on to the 90 day Bible challenge. A few of you have joined, so feel free to let us know how its going. I am a few days behind and am planning to catch up by Wednesday. I have to say, this is the BEST way for me to read the Bible. I have tried the 10 minutes a day for a year reading plans, and it just doesn't work for me. Sitting down and relaxing in the word for an hour has been such a blessing I can't even describe! It helps me to stay focused and get so much more out of what I'm reading! I love it. Alright, now on to the no spending challenge. We have continued to stay right on track, except 2 little things. We bought some $5.00 pizzas for the big game on Saturday and took them to a friend's house. I also gathered up all the change from my car and went to happy hour at Sonic on Friday after we finished school. So, we've spent about $15 so far this month, other than our regular groceries (which I cut down) and bills. Still saving a lot more money than normal and still feeling good! Hopefully I stay feeling good and the month ends soon haha.

Our no spending month challenge for my family.

Well, last Friday we started a no spending month. I read about a NO Spending Challenge over at Small Notebook (fantastic blog) It was so inspiring and with us very close to being out of debt (besides the house) it was something I was really eager to try. We decided January would be the time. Really, we JUST had Christmas, a month full of spending and new stuff, doing this in January was a wonderful break from spending. Plus we really need to get a hold of where our money is going and how much we carelessly spend on little things, soda runs, and grabbing something to eat. SO, that being said, we have paid our bills and bought some groceries (which I cut the budget on that $200) and nothing else. NOTHING. I will tell you 6 days in, it feels AMAZING! Now, I can't lie. I have wanted to go and grab a coke when the kids asked, and I have also wanted to go grab breakfast with a friend, but instead told her we could in Feb. and we'll just chat this month. OH, and I also thought it would be nice to go to the 50% off all clearance items sale that my friend texted me about on the first day of the month! (a test maybe?) As much fun as all that would've of been, I am realizing how wonderful it is to WANT to go pick something up to eat, but to come to my senses, go home and cook something healthy for my family. Instead of feeling broke, I know what it feels like to feel in control (with God's help) and actually have money while I'm at it! I will continue updates at least weekly, to let you know how everything is going.