October Days

 This Fall, With J's travel schedule (He's only been home 8 days this month), we're saying "NO" to lots of extra things on the weekends  to just stay home and play and enjoy the simple things fall brings. These days are going to be gone all too soon (Snow is already flying North of here and the ski mountains are opening!)

 Like family Art Saturday mornings (this non-sewer made a Halloween Pillow!)  and making leaf piles. Forts and all kinds of games are going up and being played in the woods near the stream.

 The last of our Weekly CSA share.  Oh the squash and brussel sprouts and lettuce.  Portatoes and Carots, and Leeks.  My fridge is full of Farm goodness

Stuff I'm loving right now....Fall edition

New Halloween lights from Target on my Mantle.


This detangler smells just heavenly.  I use it on my girl's long hair and my thick curls.



Using this in the shower.  Makes my shower time like spa time and my skin is so soft!

Lotion Bars and Bath Fizzy Balls from LUSH.  I like that they are completely all natural and smell heavenly.  The kids love them too.  I'm all into things that smell good right now.



Burts Bees Soy wax melts.  I picked some up in Lemon, GRapefruit, Almond and Vanilla Honey.  The scents are not too strong and the wax is soft and melts so easily.



Aveda Dry remedy shampoo and Hair oil.  All Natural, Plant based and I love the natural smell.


My pottery Barn sweater Fleece throw.  Cozy up on the Couch and watch a favorite Show. 

Speaking of Favorite Shows, I haven't watched TV in a Month, but Favorite series right now are Blacklist and Homeland.

FAvorite Pandora Station right now......Relaxing Spa radio.  It helps to have a little Zen flowing into the living room in the evenings.

Speaking of Zen, We started doing a nightly 10 minute meditation with the kids on the Calm App (iPhone).  It's 10 minutes long and it helps with sleep and it's just the right language for where the kids are right now.  Plus, they look forward to spending those "present moments" together every night.  We also started writing our "Three good things" down every night in a small notebook we keep by our beds (studies show mindfulness exercises are better than Prozac at helping achieve happines).  The kids are better at remembering than I am.

Speaking of Apps....My Favorites besides Calm:
Instagram (of course)
Errands (to do lists and reminders)
Dashlane (password keeper, cause in Pharmacy and at home I have a million ever changing ones)
Powerschool (keeping track of middle school grades).



Project Life every day edition, design A page protectors and My Canon Selphy 910 (print 4x6 photos at home)



Ali Edwards December Daily album kits....

I don't get to do this creative work as much as I used to, maybe once a month at the most, and I'll be perpetually behind, but Photos and stories matter people.......


Our Farm Shares: Veggie shares from Broadturn FArm (last week is next week :(  ) and Meat Shares from Wolf Pine Farm. 

Our Pellet Stove for these cold October nights and Dark Mornings!

The leaves on our street....

Hope this post left you feeling all warm and smelling good and fall like :)  Have a wonderful weekend!

Hello October

 Ok, so it's already halfway through October.  Right now......School is in full swing and with it some added stress in managing a boat load of homework and schedules and meltdowns and IEP's and J's constant work travel. Oye.  That.time.of.year.(keepin' it real).  On a happier note, I'm making time for exercise, We're meditating together at night and planning out all our holiday activities! 

 My 41st birthday was a gratefully quiet one.  Spent the day with my favorite people working around the house and then out to my favorite Flatbread dinner.  Some day, I may change it up for a wild party with all my family and friends just so I feel loved.......for now, this is all I need.

 School open houses with one excited to show us everything in his new school 3rd grader.  He's just rocking it this year. 

 The traditional family birthday Pic.

 And what birthday weekend would be complete without a visit to the Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. This time with COUSINS!  Oh. so.fun.  and the homemade kettle corn?  To.Die.For.

And that's all she wrote......be back soon with some fall favorites....

Eleven.

 This Girl celebrated her ELEVENTH birthday, with a dance party with all her Friends. 

she's so talented.

 When she was born, I'm wasn't sure she would have "friends" or birthday parties. 

 What a kind, and TALENTED bunch of girls. 

What I know now is that this girl is going to reach the stars through her Dance.  The great thing about Down Syndrome is the "not good enough" doesn't hold kids back from expressing their creative selves (like it does for all of us).  What a gift.