:: Halloween Around the Cottage

I am a little late this year, but here are a few photos of the Halloween decorations. Not a lot changed from last year, just a few new things here and there. Oh, how I love my spooky decor.

Halloween weekend was the same as OSU Homecoming (one of the reasons I am behind). So, unfortunately we didn't go all out like we have in previous years. The bf did still dress up and scare the kids and we did do some of the graveyard, but hopefully next year we will really have the time to deck out the cottage. I really wanted to have a costume party too, but maybe we will have  a Christmas party instead and save the costume festivities for next Halloween.

 

 

Hoping you had a frightfully fun Halloween!

xx
A

:: Bits of Fall

I can't believe that it is already November 1st. How does the time fly by so quickly? It seems like just yesterday it was 112 degrees here in Oklahoma and I was longing for the mild days of October, and now it is over.

The leaves are just beginning to fall and the temps are starting to consistently be cooler, and although it still feels like fall now, I know soon enough the cold, winter winds will move in and a snow will be upon us. So not ready for that.

So, for today I thought I would hold on to October a bit and share some photos with you that I didn't quite have time to post this past month. Just a few lovelies of the pumpkin patch, some gorgeous fall displays I happened upon at a little church across from The Crescent in Eureka Springs, and then the absolutely amazing scenic drive through Pea Ridge National Military park.

I hope you enjoy and I will be back tomorrow with some more belated October pics of my spooky Halloween decor. I just wasn't on my game this year folks - but better late then never. :)

 

xx

A

:: Eureka Springs Getaway

Last weekend the bf took me on a fall vacation that I have been wanting to go on for the last couple of years and I was beyond excited y'all! We left early Friday morning for Eureka Springs, AR to stay at the gorgeous and perfectly Halloween appropriate Crescent Hotel and to waste away our days enjoying the fall foliage and walking the quaint streets.

Below is a spooky image of the hotel many moons ago. It just has this sort of eeriely beautiful quality that I loved.

 

 The Crescent and Eureka Springs in general are pretty popular come October. The hotel is famous for its many ghosts and was actually named one of the America's five most haunted hotels. It was also featured on season II of Ghost Hunters.

 

The hotel sits up on a hill overlooking the beautiful ozark landscape and the town of Eureka Springs. The grounds themselves are great for taking pictures and exploring.

 

 

We loved that the chimneys of the hotel still retained some of their purple paint, which was done by the one-time owner of the building, Norman Baker, who used it as his cancer hospital. His favorite color was purple and at the time of his occupancy, apparently most of the interior of the hotel was also painted purple.

 

  

 

 

 

From the minute you walk into the lobby of the hotel, you feel like you have stepped back in time. No fancy swipe keys for the door to your room - only the real deal.

 

We stayed in room 215, situated just across from one of the most haunted rooms in the hotel, room 218.

 

One of the most popular draws to the hotel in October are the ghost tours. I captured the above image during our tour. Do you see the white floating circles in the photo? Ghost hunters call these orbs and some believe they are spirits manifested as balls of light or energy. These could technically be specks of dust that were in front of my lens when I took the photo, but I take many, many pictures and have only had a couple other photos have these kind of white balls in them. Kind of spooky and kind of fascinating at the same time.

It was a great trip, perfect for a fall getaway before Halloween. So, if you haven't been, I definitely recommend it! And the drive through all the beautiful ozark fall foliage makes it even more worth while.

I have more photos to share from Eureka Springs iteself and a fun little stop that we made on the way back home, so I'll share those with you tomorrow!

xx

A

:: Something Wicked Printable

The Halloween decorating has begun and although I don't have many changes to the decor this year, I am still excited to show you the progress. But first- I thought I would share some Halloween fun with you today.

I love all things Halloween (as you probably can tell by now), including Halloween movies and one of my favorites is Disney's Something Wicked This Way Comes, based off the Ray Bradbury novel. The title Something Wicked This Way Comes, is actually a line taken from Shakespeare's Macbeth and after watching the Something Wicked movie again recently, I thought the title would make a great art piece for a Halloween display.

So, I put together this artwork, using a graphic I found online (because I was honestly too lazy to make my own) and some fun, spooky type. I pinned mine to my wine cork board for a little vignette on my kitchen buffet, but it would also look great in a black frame, displayed anywhere in the house.

And because I thought you might possibly enjoy adding a little Halloween fun to your space, I have included a link to download the pdf. Just click the image below to download and print at home!

 

If you end up using the print as part of your Halloween decorations this year, I would love to see, just shoot me an email or leave a comment!

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xx

A

:: Fair Fun

It always feels like fall is officially here when the fair rolls into town, and while I have never been a loyal fair-goer, in recent years I have decided this may now be one of my favorite fall treats. It is even better that the fair is within walking distance from the house, so we can usually hear the concerts from the front yard and it sorta smells like funnel cake 24/7. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. :)

This year we went for a concert and the food. Last year it was the rides and exhibits. Maybe next year it will be a little more of both. Either way, we always end up having a great time.

Do you love going to your local fair? How about trying all those crazy food concoctions they come up with? Krispy Kreme hamburgers or fried Twinkies? I would love to hear about your favorite fair treats!

xx

A

:: Paula Deen at Michaels

I found some cute Paula Deen goodies at Micheals the other day and had to share.

I originally went in looking for Halloween goodies and left with this cute little shaker. I like to use mine for my cinnamon and sugar combo, which I keep on hand for cinnamon toast, biscuits or oatmeal. It would also be great for any kind of homemade seasoning, which makes me think I might need to go back and get a couple extra.

I especially like the colors and vintage look.

I found the shaker (which comes in different colors/patterns) in the section of Michaels with all the bins of little goodies, like notepads and magnets. There were also other Paula Deen items like recipe cards and coupon organizers. I love these kinds of things because they make easy gifts and super cute stocking stuffers come Christmastime.

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend and are having beautiful weather like we are here in OK (finally)! I'm off to get pumpkins with the bf soon and to finish my fall/Halloween decorating. Absolutely love this time of the year!

xx

A

:: Time Off

Well here I am again, apologizing for my absence. I'm not the most dedicated blogger, I must admit, but I do still enjoy catching up with you all and updating you on things at the cottage.

Lately though, things have been a mixture of ups and downs, which is a good portion of why I have not felt much desire to blog. In the last few months, I was actually considering do this...

Which is even hard to say, because I love my little cottage so much. It is afterall, my very first home. Truth be told, I wasn't even thinking about moving any time soon. I love the cottage and I have done so much work to make it mine, it's kind of hard to think about starting all over. Although, she is a little cottage and slowly I have felt that we are beginning to outgrow her.

And then it happened. I just happened to stumble upon a house for sale in the bf and I's favorite neighborhood, it was the diamond in the rough project I had always longed for. It had been sitting on the market for six months, needed a TON of work, but had so much potential and was in the perfect location. This new place had long-term home written all over it. So we discussed and discussed. We went for many visits, met with a contractor and agonized over how-tos and what-ifs. It was a big risk. It could have been a dream home or it could have been a money pit. We decided it was worth it though, mostly because it was in such a desirable location. The biggest decision then became whether or not to go for it and make an offer and have two mortgages or wait and try to sell the cottage before doing anything else (the sellers refused a contingency). Either way it was another risk. We could possibly be paying two house payments for who knows how long (in this sad market) or we could sell the house and not get the other.

So, we decided to try and sell. Either way we knew it. We knew it might not work out - and it didn't. The day we went to put a sign in the yard, we got news the other place had accepted an offer. Sad day. Everyone always says "don't get attached". It is so true. Disappointment is a bitch - but reality.

Now I'm just trying to believe in the whole "everything happens for a reason" and "if it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be" mumbo jumbo. It's probably true, I'm just not feeling that positive yet. Mostly because I got dang attached.

But through all of it, I have learned what I really want. What would really make me move, because I don't see myself moving for just anything. I love this little house too much. I'm kind of like Goldilocks - I want it to be jjuuussssttt right. Which means I'm happy where I am and next time if "it is meant to be, than it is meant to be"...right?? :)

Soooo with that - I am looking forward to fall being here, are you?? It is my absolute favorite time of the year. I just can't help but be excited for cool, crisp days and for things like sweaters and boots. Even just pulling out my pumpkin spice candles gets me giddy. It's the little things, right? Plus, fall also means Halloween is just right around the corner and that also makes me super happy. I am actually counting down the weeks until I can spookify the house.

Have a great weekend all! Be back soon (for real this time)! :)