Steele kiddo bash Pumpkin Coloring....

I will say this over and over again.... "Carving Pumpkins Sucks".... So what do you do with tons of kids at a kiddo bash? Give them a handful of crayons and mini pumpkins... yes, a mess, goop, stink free way to decorate those little orange "Punkies" as nora jane calls them... 

It was a hit the kids enjoyed themselves I enjoyed the clean up... *PRO TIP: Count out crayons when you give them out and count them when you get them back so none magically appear on your walls in two days*

*There is Weston by the way in a sea of little girls....*

PS. HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2nd annual Steele Kiddo Halloween Bash....

 So I would call our 2nd Annual Kiddo Bash a success.... we had a new baby join us this year (Tucker the adorable Tiger) and all the girls and Weston have grown so much since last year! Its crazy.... but here are a few pictures of the kids in costume... (I will do a separate post with Nora and another party post)

*Pizza party*

*Tucker the adorable Tiger*

Remi as Elsa and Brett as Rapunzel each with awesome hair done by their incredibly talented mother aka my BFF :) Love you Jess you did so great on their hair! 

we had so much fun! I'm glad everyone got to come and have fun ***We did miss my niece Josie she stayed at her new house with her new pet goat***

Minky Flannel blankets...

I  am in love with minky and flannel fabrics... Most use these as blankets for new babies, I however make blankets for everyone with these materials....

I made my grandma one last year for christmas and she LOVES it! 

The first one pictured below (2 Pictures) I made for Nora for Christmas this year.... She has just started watching Strawberry shortcake and I seen this on sale a long time ago so I already had the flannel... I  just did a yard of flannel and a yard of minky but minky stretches differently so a yard goes a little longer. anyway I am horrible when I sew, I never pin anything I just go with it.... For whatever reason I love a seam ripper lol.... but these blankets I just go where the fabric takes me so it takes about 20 min. on a 1 yard blanket and for the 2 yard blankets a little over 30 minutes.... only because my table is so small and the fabric has no place to go... 

I found this bright reindeer flannel last christmas and never did anything with it so I made myself a christmas present for this year! I'm super excited about it! it snuggles perfectly... I will be giving myself this gift in the next couple days when the highs will be in the 50s! 

NOTE: When you make these sew them inside out leaving "hole" about 6 inches so you can pull it through then sew the rest up.... the seams are a lot nicer this way!

What is Mother Nature telling you?

Just take a moment and look at this beautiful sunset... NO FILTERS, NO EDITS, just a breath taking sunset....

I am so very blessed to see beautiful things like this pretty often in my life and I know how I got so lucky...

I had two very special and amazing grandparents (Mama and papa Crabtree) they were and still are very important to me and when they passed (2007 & 2008) I had a very hard time and still to this day I have some really bad days. Some days I look up to the sky and pray that they can see what is going on or if I am thinking of them and really need them I talk to God about it and I'm not kidding something beautiful comes into my life like a big warm hug sent from them to only me... I am so lucky I get my "hugs" from them pretty regular... Some people may think I'm crazy and some people may say they see the same beautiful sunset but honestly I think that it is more! 

It happens all the time... A week before this sunset I was having some issues with a family member and I was really struggling with forgiveness and I thought of my grandparents and two clouds moved and the sun peaked out from behind and I literally seen the sun's rays beaming down telling me its ok and no matter what I am loved from above! 

So just take time from your busy life to pray a little and think of someone that has passed away and if you pray about it you will receive your hug too! 

Headed Home....

Our trip was so much fun!  I hated to leave but we will be back again soon!!! 

If any of you have traveled recently with a child under 2 you will understand how a 4.5 hour drive took over 7 hours! 

We had to stop a few times to let our princess walk/run for a while which was fine... I enjoy a great truck stop just the same as the next person! HOWEVER shortly after we crossed into Kentucky I started seeing signs for "FLEA LAND Kentucky's Largest Indoor Flea market" and if you know anything about me and where I come from you know that there is a gene I have that makes it physically impossible to keep driving past a new to me flea market... I come from a long line of flea market junkies, in fact my papa crabtree had a booth set up back home in West Virginia and as a kid I spent a lot of time there! I am also addicted to auctions but that is a whole different story!  

Anyway, seen the Flea Land sign my eyes lit up with pure joy and Nora was starting to get cranky so we trucked the 22 miles to this joyful little land of wheelin' and dealin' and let our little darling "Valk" for a little while... 

This place was AWESOME! very clean and tons of different booths! I didn't plan on buying anything and I actually didn't buy now one thing!  JAMES however seen a rocking horse and he had to have it for Nora so he bought it! It is the prettiest rocking horse i've seen and its very special when a daddy picks a special present out for his daughter! (Picture below) It warmed my heart! So all in all this stop really made the trip home magical! 

Moral of the story: Only magical things comes from stopping at a flea markets, so ALWAYS stop when you see a sign for a flea market you've never been to! :) Mom if you're reading this just go with the flow and stop the next time dad asks you to!  you never know what you may find!!

Opryland USA

Opryland USA

As we were headed out of town I told James I had to see this hotel. I am so glad I did! I know that the next time we go back that way we will be spending an entire day really exploring all this place has to offer... I had a short window of time to enjoy and explore this grand hotel with all it has to offer. It has little shops, restaurants and a Jazz club along with tons of beautiful plants and flowers and can you take note of the river with boat ride below! this was all just on the "delta" side!!!! there were so many other areas that I didn't even see... 

I really want to go back when it is decorated for Christmas because everyone says how beautiful it is and if you know me at all you know I'm basically Mrs. Claus because of my love of all things Christmas! 

Take some time to look at these pictures and next time you're in Nashville stop by!  I wouldn't recommend staying here because of the price... you can find a cheaper room and just pop over to explore this place! 

Reason  5546548987 I LOVE Nashville!

Steele's Take Nashville pt 1....

So we headed to Nashville, well Murfreesboro but Nashville was right there :) 

I'm like a kid in a candy store when you get me near some country music... It's in my blood. I have a very talented cousin who has performed with some of the greats... (Bobby Maynard anyone) 

Either way I was way to excited when my sister in law said she and her family were moving to the Nashville area... They haven't been there two weeks and I came rushing down... I'm sure she will regret the decision to move less than 5 hours from me....

Here are a few pictures I took just riding through the city... James was driving *I do not use the phone while driving its a "no-no"! 

So please enjoy, the next couple posts will be about our trip and how much I enjoyed being there... 

Halloween is around the corner...

Halloween Crafts....

So I love doing Halloween crafts, mainly because I know Thanksgiving, Nora's Birthday and Christmas are coming next! 

First I made myself a new Halloween tote bag... I'm pretty proud of it and it has held up great so far! 

Nice and spooky! Love it!!! 

Then because I'm obsessed with wreaths and tulle I decided on a cute tulle halloween wreath for the door.... I spent a couple hours with tulle up to my knees but I  got it done and I'm in love!

Here are the rest of our Halloween/ Fall decorations...

I made a deco mesh wreath for fall and moved it to the wall in the dining area so I could put the halloween wreath out on the door... we also got some orange and purple lights to add to the look... 

I am getting so excited for Nora to trick or treat and have the 2nd annual Steele Kiddo Halloween bash! 

Keep looking back I have to post about our trip and upcoming projects are : Blankets, and possible Tote, and the Thanksgiving wreath... also more things for the halloween party

Wedding part 2

 Part 2: The Ceremony and a little before.....

Well let me just say first that it was less than 50 degrees during this wonderful Fall outdoor wedding!!!  We rocked it though.... you can't even tell it was freezing in these pictures be we all just smiled through the ice growing on our teeth.... 

This first picture is one of My youngest sister, Brianna and Me doing a "selfie" with our sister, Courtney, the bride in the back ground getting her picture taken by the photographer... we planned that one perfect by the way! 

We got all our pictures done that she wanted and everything was going to plan... of course with a wedding that has a 22 month old and a 28 month old as a flower girl and ring bearer you really can' t expect the world am I right.... well.... scroll down my friends...

Thats right people the cutest flower girl and the cutest ring bearer to ever walk the aisle.... They may not have had much sleep this weekend and they may have not cooperated for pictures but by golly they were holding hands and giggling down the aisle and if you ask me they stole the show... Sorry CoCo! Jk... the bride was beautiful of course!!! :)

and I decided to just add the Reception on this post as well since I  only have one picture so far from that night.... Let me first say that the DJ was an idiot and completely pissed me off.... First he asked what the bride and grooms names were when we told him he still say Ryan's name wrong.... then he didn't announce the speeches were about to begin so I of course was with Nora in the back of the room and didn't have a glass to toast with and then he didn't announce the cake and I completely missed that being done.... but besides that fool who I hope loses his job... The reception was beautiful!  The food was great and the people who came were amazing! I did dance to the songs that were played and if Nora had slept the night before we may have made it to the end but sadly we had to cut our night short (By the way Courtney, Nora fell asleep before we left the parking lot and slept til 9am the next day)

Here is the picture that I do have from that evening.... it just melts my heart.... 

Nora  asked her daddy to dance with her the second we got into the reception room... her exact words were " Dada, song.... dance" while pulling his hand.... It was the sweetest thing... she was on that dance floor til she started passing out... she loved it!!! and Let me say she was the cutest little dancer out there! 

So all in all we had a great time and the wedding was beautiful! But I was beat! 

Next week: Look out Nashville, here come the Steele Family! 

Wedding Part 1

So My little sister got married! 

Congratulations Courtney & Ryan Ison!!! 

Ok so the festivities began Friday morning Oct 3... first October 3rd is my grandma's birthday and James' grandmother's birthday so here is a great big Happy Birthday shout out to the Grandmas we love you both! 

First all of us girls in the wedding, the bride and flower girl along with both the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the groom went to get our nails done... as seen below... now for those of you who know me nails are something i've done a few times in my life and normally I would have picked them off by now but I'm proud to say its been over 48 hours and they are still on my fingers as I am typing this... Yes I am having difficulties but it is ok and please forgive any errors!

Day 2: October 4th THE wedding day! We started the day off a little rough since my little Nora Jane aka the flower girl didn't sleep a lick in the hotel... I am talking maybe 4 hours on and off... I wouldn't call her first night in a hotel fun, ok.... but anyways, we had a great rehearsal Friday night and were ready to get going Saturday morning.... So we began by getting hair and make up done... another thing that doesn't happen very often in my life but I embraced the fancy look... See pictures below of hair and before and after make up... also our beautiful dresses all hung up! The color was not "teal" it is called "oasis"!!!

See my next blog post... maybe two posts for more wedding pictures and how the ceremony and reception went! 

And in a few weeks when the photographer gets the pictures posted I will share on here as well IF she won't mind... Carissa Simon Photography did a wonderful job and they were very professional so if you're in the south east Indiana area look her up!!! 

Matron Of Honor....

My little sister, Courtney Paige, is getting married I can't even believe it... I am so very excited for her and Ryan, they have been dating for about a decade now... High school sweethearts the whole nine... I remember when they were Freshman in high school, while I was a senior and the boys teased Ryan for liking Courtney before he had the courage to take her on a date. I remember Courtney getting so red in the face when anyone would ask her how things were going with ryan and if they held hands yet.... 

Alot has changed, but they seemed to grow closer together. Its hard to believe my little sister will be a married woman... She is still my shadow, a little girl in a messy dress with a stringy pony tail... A little girl with a barney poster above her bed.... A little girl who played mud pies with me in the yard... A friend to ride bikes with and to torment... A sister to fight with over who has the bathroom next and to give me a black eye by slamming a door in my face.... She is still the pitcher in the middle of a softball field and the cd maker for the 3 minute car ride to school... She is my secret keeper and my late night steak and shake ride or die... she is my late night long ride to an Erlanger movie... she is my chick flick buddy and shopping pal... She is my vacation partner, St. Augustine florida memory sharer... She is my vera loving, coach carrying, matchbox twenty listening best friend.... She is a woman and it all happened before my eyes.... 

Congratulations on your wedding day and always know you will always be my little sister and even if Ryan and I have our moments he will have no choice but to be my brother....  I love you more than words can say... I know there are special people who cannot be here but know they are watching... And if rain falls, know its them crying tears of joy for you as they watch you in your gown... 

I am always a phone call away and I can show up at the drop of a hat! Love you, my sister; my friend..... 




UPDATE: 

I got my hair done for this wedding and wanted to share... I went to my sister's new place of employment KND salon in Versailles, IN.... its a new salon very cute and as you're looking out the window you see corn fields... very indiana.... 

My Before & After:

Great job Brianna... love you

Project Life...

I am in love with project life scrapbooking... It is some much easier and neater than standard scrapbooking...  this is page one in my first book... I decided to start off with the day Nora was born... so I didn't feel too overwhelmed I only had to go back not quite 2 years...  I feel very good about stay up on taking pictures but i'm horrible at printing them off in a timely manner... 

I know this can be costly but I have found some great sites to print the journaling cards off for free... Here is One and another and just one More... 

If anyone else has any good ideas for this I am open to all! Since I'm just starting out I don't have all the secrets yet....  So please feel free to share! 

Happy Memory Saving everyone!