Fall Decor

I love to bring a little of whatever season it is outdoors to the inside of my house. With Fall it is a fun and slow process. The kids and I have been taking acorn walks for the past few weeks. I scouted out some trees that produce the huge pretty acorns and we have been scooping them up by the bucketful. Child labor really is wonderful and better than doing it alone. I also like to think people that see us think "Oh, what a fun mom out on a nature walk with her kids!" rather than "What is that crazy lady doing outside in my yard with her bucket picking up acorns?". Anyway, here are some pictures of our touches of Fall. I can't wait for the leaves to start turning. I am also counting down to payday so I can load my car full of pansies, mums, and pumpkins!

On the Porch or at the Park

Today we finally woke up to Fall and I am so very grateful. Saturday was beautiful but still a little too close to warm for my tastes. Not today. Today is that perfect sunny but cool mix that I live for. So, here is my notice. Fall is short in Oklahoma. If you need me I will either be on the front porch or down at Mesta Park watching my kids soak in the gorgeous days while they last. Come on by!

Surfing

I really love sampling other people's blogs. It is a fun way to get inspired, laugh, and sometimes come away with a better understanding of a good friend. I wanted to share today's laugh on my own blog. Those of you who know me are probably aware of my extreme magazine addiction. This blog is right up my alley. They make such fun of those perfect magazine layout pictures of homes. Check out Catalog Living for a good laugh.

The Anti-Fair*

*The title for this post is completely stolen from Dillon Curran, without permission.

Last night was the Leffel family's second annual trip down the street to the Overholser mansion's Concert on the Lawn. This laid back neighborhood party was one of our first nights out in our new neighborhood last year and we had a blast. I was excited to do it again this year. Basically we put some blankets in the wagon and rolled on over for fantastic music by Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road and food from some of the best restraunts in the city.


It was such a fun, relaxed night. As we sat on the blankets with our friends Dillon and Amy, Dillon remarked that this is pretty much the anti-fair (the Oklahoma State Fair is going on right now). I have personally never been to the fair. I am sure it can be a fun time, but I am somewhat adverse to crowds and the thought of dragging my kids around the State Fair gives me the heebie jeebies. Give me this kind of fun any day...

In fact, this weekend is a two-for of neighborhood fun. My friend Amy has organized an awesome event for Sunday afternoon at Harn Park. If you are looking for a fun family friendly event on Sunday come on over! The Leffel family will be back for more anti-fair fun.

Bicycle Breakdowns

I have been working with my sweet son on riding his bike without training wheels since last spring. We had an initial burst of glory and then a spectacular crash after which he refused to ride for the rest of the summer. My daughter is about as bad. She got a big girl princess bike with training wheels for her birthday back in March and never felt comfortable riding it. We live in the best area for family bike rides and I refuse to give up on making my kids into bike riders!

I started in with Zella once school started. She is on a half day schedule this year and so we have our afternoons together. Four hours every day to fill up with mommy daughter fun. I broke out the bike and we have been working on riding it around the block. She has actually gotten fairly good although she is fearful of going too fast- a problem with all the hills around here.

For Zander I decided to borrow a different bike from some friends. The one he has had for a few years is really heavy with a front shock that looks rockin' cool but makes it heavy and hard to balance on. Now we have a much smaller, lighter spiderman bike and he has taken off on it. Hallelujah! Yesterday he was doing so well on the back driveway that he asked if we could work on riding down the front sidewalks. I said yes and he ran his bike around and started riding. Then he crashed out and gave himself a huge goose egg on his eye. Dumb mommy had not made him put his helmet on. Seriously? Who is going to call me in to DHS?

Not wanting the injury to put us out of riding for another 3 months I suggested we do a ride after school today and both kids were game. We hopped on bikes and slooooooowly made our way around a couple blocks. Then Zander tired out. Then Zella flamed out. So, if you happened to drive down Walker at about 4:00 this afternoon, yes- that was me with the screaming child walking her bike because her horribly mean mommy would not carry it all the way home.

Needless to say my brilliant idea of riding to our neighborhood concert/party tonight has been put on the shelf. Lance... where are you with my beer?????

Skinny Jeans, Jeggins, UGH!

If you are a man just click on away. This post is not for you.

Ok friends. Those of you that know me know I am not exactly trendy in my dress. I generally admire the latest fashions on others and in magazines and give in a couple years later when they are still hanging around. Some I am glad I bothered to embrace. Uggs anyone? Totally worth it. Others I just pray never go mainstream. But here we are in Fall 2010 and the Skinny Jean/Jegging thing is just not going away.

I was out and about today looking for one of those trendy wide belts that have not gone away thinking it might spice up an outfit I am wearing to a charity thing tonight. I went to Target where I knew it would be really cheap. I bought the thing and was feeling really sassy when I also found some cheap fun tall boots for the fall. Score. Look at me! Trendy!




All that feel good cheap shopping juice was really flowing now and I crossed the line ladies. I decided to try on some skinny jeans. UGH!

I definitely knew better but I went in anyway. What is it about the skinny jean? Wanting to highlight thighs of all things? I took one look in the mirror, stripped those bad boys off and left the dressing room at a running pace. Not only did they look awful, they felt terrible on. I had sort of joined the legging club last year. As a tall girl I recognized the advantage of having somethings really soft and comfy to layer under all the dresses and skirts that are normal on others and mini on me. But the skinny jean I fear must remain a don't for me.

If you love the skinny... I want to hear why! (By the way, girl code mandates you not rub it in if I eventually give in to this trend)

Composting

I have been interested in composting for several years now but apart from a very unsuccessful attempt about a year and a half ago I have not really gotten going on it. My neighbors Mark and Ellen inherited a composting bin from their family and started composting this summer. I was envious. So, Monday in a seize the day fit of productivity I set up my very own open air compost area.
First, I acknowledged the fact that I was not going to fit a cool bin system into the budget anytime soon. Then I decided just to get a pile going in the back corner of the yard. I used some old fence panels and some wire caging and went to town. Here is the result...






I have had to concentrate really hard when preparing food not to throw away stuff that can go in the pile! I have really loved all the gardening I have done the past year and I am excited to take this next step both in reducing our family garbage can output and making some really great soil supplement for my garden. Fingers crossed that this does not end in disaster.

One Month In

We are nearly a month into the school routine here and I am finally settling down a little. I had no idea how starved I had been for free time all summer. Here are a few things I am loving right now.
1. Walking or running almost every morning after I drop the kids at school.
2. Working in the yard/garden- I actually transplanted a hydrangea today!
3. Transitioning my house to fall, changing out my beachy mantle and pillows to bring in a hint of fall. No pumpkins yet, but I am dying for it to be that time.
4. Planning the church Fall Festival, my friend's baby shower, working on PTA- having some projects to sink my time into.
5. Savoring my afternoons with Zella. This is her last year of half day school. What will I do when she is all day too?
6. Reading. Everything. I. Can. I really missed reading time this summer. Have any of you read the Hunger Games trilogy? I am obsessed. OBSESSED.

If I could will Fall weather to get here I would. I am so worn out by this hot, humid weather. Hurry up cool air. I am suffocating here! This is only made worse by all those I love who live in states with real fall- I am happy for you guys, really. But hearing about how great it is there only makes it feel worse every time I step foot outside!

I have not felt inspired to blog at all lately. I am hoping now that things are smoothing out I will make some time to not just read what everyone else is saying, but to add a little to the mix myself.