DIY Fall Swag

  Tis the season to bring some nature inside.  I  haven't been privileged the fall colors yet so I chose to work with artificial leaves.  I picked up the leaves and the raffia from the dollar store.

  For this project I used:

 Raffia and artificial leaves.

Pinecone

Pick a pinecone that is open all the way.  That way you can stagger your leaves.

I poked holes in the leaves tied a knot and hot glued the raffia to each leave to keep them secure.  I cut the raffia in various lengths to give the look more depth.

After I had all the individual leaves glued to the raffia I glued it to the pinecone in different areas.

Your quantity of leaves is your personal preference.

I tied another piece of raffia around the top, glued it and that's how I have hung mine.

For $2 and some nature it's not a bad display.  I could have made two and put one on each side of the curtain for decoration too.

Have you started decorating for fall?  Do you make some decorations with nature?

Turkey Day

A turkey day from nature.

Grab a pinecone, leaves in different shapes and colors, and glue!

I drizzled glue into the crevices of the pinecone and then inserted the leaves.  Stack the leaves in largest to smallest from the back working your way forward.  See how I added my bigger leaves in the back and even added the colored ones in the front.

I cut out the head, beak and wattle and glued them together; then added the eyes.  Again you can add a drizzle of glue in the pinecone or just wedge it in.

I obviously skipped the feet part but I did use the caps of a milk container to prop them up or even angle them and it worked out perfect! 

Great project for kids and the uniqueness  of  their turkeys will shine through.

Gobble, gobble

#Nablopomo

Playing with Leaves

  We had some downtime this week and through in some different leave art.  I enjoy using nature in art projects and the kids are amazed that it's even possible.

  We collected leaves and continue to collect them randomly for projects.

  I started with introducing my daughter to shading the leaf.

  She thought this activity was neat.  We had went outside and collected three different leaves.  Different sizes and shapes are the best!  I then showed her how to hold the crayon and shade over the leaf in order to get the best result.  After that it got better when we used several colors to shade one leaf versus one color.

  Next we taped a leaf to the window and she traced it.  This opened up new opportunities to her because she understands we are using the light from the other side to allow us to trace.  She is ready to trace everything now.

  Lastly I saw this activity on Pinterest.  Using coffee filters we drew leaves and cut them out.  Then dropped paint on the leaves allowing the colors to blend then dry and that's it.  We used food coloring which gave it the same effect I believe just a little messier.  Because of the filter the paints blend nicely and it looks so close to a real leaf.

  

The kids enjoyed their leaf play day.  I can't wait to do it again and am patiently waiting for some leave changes!

Date 1

  No date ever has to be the same.  We will explore the many options of dating.  To include who you can take on a date, what you can do and where you can go.  You don't always need to go to dinner and a show.  Start something more creative with your date night.  Don't restrict yourself to specific places, times or the same activities.  Explore your community, your neighborhood, your city or state.  Watch a sunrise or sunset.  Getting out of your routine of when and where dates are will help your dates become a little more fun.  No expectations!

  Who you choose to spend your time with and what you plan to do with your dates will make the event more exciting too.  Thinking outside the box is what will change this month for you.  Each week I have planned a new "date" activity for you.  You may choose whomever you want to explore the date with but have set it up with a specific person in mind for each week.

Week 1: Your choice
Week 2: Spouse or person you are dating
Week 3: Friend ( I had your friend in mind be it girl or boy)
Week 4: Your kids
Week 5: Your choice

Todays date is appreciating fall:  You may choose to go with anyone you like or by yourself.  (nothing wrong with that)

  Take a walk or a drive.  15 minutes or half an hour. Talk, silently observe or daydream!  Bring back some mementos of your date.  Leaves, pinecones, acorns and make a centerpiece for your patio table or bring them in (cook the pinecones and acorns to be rid of the bugs) and make some natural fall decorations.  Fill a vase with pinecones! A leaf garland for the entryway!  Acorns in a bowl on your side table!  Small free souvenirs of your first stress-free, money free (except for gas if you drove) date.  Take some pictures of the different leaf colors (to make a 30 day date book) and post one for me to see. Tag me on instagram (@meanroel) or post your photo below!

  Each day I will post a new activity for your date.  You have three choices try my date suggestion, skip my suggestion and wait for another suggestion, or make your own date!

  Either way I would love to see a pictures if you decide to follow through or even if you do something on your own. 

Let's get out there and have some fun!

Reflections

  Fall is not over and winter is not close yet.  Hmm, is that like the glass is half full?  I want to take full advantage of the season and live everyday to the fullest.

 

 What my senses love about the fall!

Hearing:  I love to hear the crunch of leaves under my feet!  There is an odd silence in the fall maybe not so odd maybe all the bird I listen are gone!  I like the silence though!

Smell: So many smells in the fall.  I like the air in general I don't know if it's fresh air or dead leaves but there's something about it.  I also love the smell of fireplaces burning.  I don't personally have a fireplace but I enjoy the smell in the air when I'm walking around outside.

Taste:  Of course all things pumpkin and apples are not to bad either.  It's funny to say because I use canned pumpkin so what's the big deal; I could eat that anytime of year but it's not the same.

Sight:  All the leaves are a classic.  It never gets old.  I am not privileged to see the colors changing in VA (my part) as much as I have seen them in upstate NY but if I drive a few hours I catch sight of them.

Touch:  This one is a hard one.  What

touch is different than any other time of year.  I will choose cozy.  I like to be warm.  I love summer because no extra clothes are necessary.  In the fall however I have to regulate my body temperature more.  More sweaters, turtlenecks and sweatshirts.

  I do enjoy fall like any other season.  It is not my favorite but I make do and appreciate some points it brings to me and my environment.

Fall bucketlist

  We have already done alot this month and it's only just begun.  I have assembled items I would like to accomplish for fall.  This will be easier than breaking things down monthly.  I look at various sites for daily,weekly and monthly activities and events so those will get added at the bottom. My list is comprised of things for me to do as well as my kids or as a family.

Fall Bucket list
1. Apple picking -DONE
2. Cider and donut eating (we already did at the orchard but that was one donut and a small bit of cider)
3. Check out some changing leaves (leaves do not change here as pretty as there are when I drive away from the area)
4. Carve pumpkins
5. Attend the lighthousechallenge in NJ (next weekend fingers crossed I haven't made overnight accommodations)
6. Leaf crafts with my kids
7. Sewing project (beanie)
8. Shopping (score thrift store deals) Let's shoot for 2! Hoping I can reuse as gifts or repurpose.
9. Which brings me to be on the look out for Christmas presents.
10.  Finish my pumpkin challenge 30 days (not all homemade but let's focus on eating the pumpkin, lol)
11. New face! I have been wearing makeup, watching tutorials of different styles, techniques and products and hope to break into that area as well.  So far I have applied daily and am up to day 6! Pictures are on  my instagram.
12. I would like my daughter to know her money and time
13. Take a nature walk and scavenger hunt with my little ones.
14. A nice toasty night out with a fireplace would be nice ( might not happen as I like heat and my husband doesn't)
15. 1 new recipe a week (let's make it more complicated I have been doing this pumpkin challenge and all those recipes are new to me but how about 7 new vegetarian meals.  That will get me through Nov.)

Ok, I feel more fulfilled having wrote down some ideas.  Now to remember them and take the time to complete them.

Follow along as I will post updates when I have completed them and share with you how I am coming along.