{scentsy party + giveaway}

Happy October! This is one of my MOST favorite months of the year! So...how about a par-tay?!!? I would love to invite you all over for a brunch at my home, complete with a mimosa bar and yummy eats....BUT since we're all over the nation, that's sadly not a reality! SO, I want to invite you to an online party, in the comfort of your own home! So grab a sip, put on your pj's and shop away with one of my most favorites...Scentsy! Isn't this the most favorite time of year with scents galore?! Also, it's never too early to start your Christmas shopping, you heard me correctly....Christmas shopping!!! {Yes, I have already started mine for those of you wondering}! ;) 
 
 
Who: Anyone and Everyone!
What: Online Scentsy Party with Down with the Dearmores
When: October 1-11, 2013
Where: In your very own casa!
Website: https://jyork.scentsy.us {if you have any questions about the website, feel free to ask me}!
 
The steps should be very easy! Once you are on the website, feel free to browse around! There are many new items that were added to the Fall/Winter Catalog. If you decide to purchase anything, click the blue arrow to pick a party {which will be Down with the Dearmores}.
 

 
I wanted to share with you a few of my very favorites from Scentsy!
 
1. Top left: My car scent - White Sands
2. Top right: My MOST favorite of all of the scents - Pumpkin Roll {I could burn this all year round}!
3. Bottom right: Favorite Christmas scent - Christmas Cottage {I feel like I'm in a Christmas store with this scent burning}!
4. Bottom right: Favorite warmer - Isn't he the cutest?
 
And last, but not least, no party is complete without a party favor!!!! One lucky gal will be the winner of my very favorite scentsy bars: Pumpkin Roll & Christmas Cottage!
 
A WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 14TH!
 
And that's all my friends! I'm so excited about my first Scentsy online party and hope it'll be something you find easy and enjoyable as well! Happy Shopping!!!

{fall house tour 2013}

Our home is officially ready for Fall! I normally would have it decorated way before now, but I wanted to wait until Ella's birthday decor was down. I've added some new things this year, as well as kept some of my good and faithfuls through the years. So come on in...hope you enjoy!
 
{Front Door}
I'm currently in the process of making a new Fall/Halloween wreath, so stay tuned for another "Fall front door" picture! Until then, I bought this wreath 3-4 years ago at Pier 1. It's held up nicely {even through a move}.
 
{Entry Way}
The Boo banner is a printable {a free one at that} that I found from The Chirping Moms blog. The Trick or Treat banner was also a free printable from Second Chance to Dream blog. I'm loving these printables and how they turned out! 
 
{Fall Mantle}
I'm so excited about one of my newest Fall editions this year....my tissue tassel garland made by yours truly! Let me just tell you, this sucker was not the easiest thing to make! The two that I've done previously were made out of plastic tablecloths, but this was I did using tissue paper. Every slight move you make, it would tear the whole thing. It was a good 2 day process to get it all measured, cut, strung and hung up. I'm SO happy with the way it turned out! I will most definitely be packed away at the end of the season with lots of TLC! :)

 
{Details}
These are some of my most favorite pumpkins that I own! I bought these 4 years ago, while Josh and I were visiting our cousins, at a small home store in Midland, TX. They make me smile each year when I bring them out!
You can find this printable here.
 And we welcomed this new little guy hoot into our home this year! I found him at a local home store. Isn't he cute?!?
I found these napkins at Homegoods during the summer and knew they would be perfect for our kitchen table!
 This is the back wall in our dining area. I actually kept these wreaths up all year long {mostly because I couldn't find a pair I just loved}, but they add so much warmth in the area hanging on the iron pieces.
 
And there you have it! I just love this time of year....the colors, the scents, and a good excuse to "re-decorate"! Happy Fall, Y'all!


{five on friday} 15th edition

HAPPY FRIDAY, Y'ALL! It's been a great a pretty uneventful week, considering the past few have been super busy! And that is totally okay with me! Happy to be linking up again for Five on Friday! You know the drill......
 
{one}
Ella's party was a success! It turned out beautifully and the girl had oh so much fun! I plan to do a whole post on her party, and it will be featured on the Tiny Prints Blog, so stay tuned!!! In the meantime, I wanted to give you a sneak peak!
 
{two}
I still can't believe I have a TWO year old! Time flies, my friends! Here is a little about our sweet girl at 2!
 
{three}
I've had my eye on Gap's Halloween pj's for awhile now {thanks to a lot of your blogs} and finally ordered some this week! So excited to see these in person! The good news...if you wait like me, you can get them on sale! ;)
 
 
{four}
My lil' chef and I baked one of my favorites last night....chocolate chip pumpkin muffins! They are THE most simple recipe I've done yet {thank you Pinterest}! Three ingredients...1 can of pumpkin, dark chocolate chips {I typically use about 1/2 to 3/4 of the bag}, and 1 box of Spice Cake mix {I use Betty Crocker}. Mix together with a blender. Put in oven at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes and voila!!! Literally, easy as 1,2,3!
Here they are straight out of the oven!
 Is she not the cutest little chef you ever did see?!!? ;))
 
{five}
Now that E's birthday decor is down, our house is beginning to look a lot like Fall/Halloween! I absolutely love this time of year! Bring it, Fall {and I would love for you to show up too, Fall weather}!!!!
 
And that concludes this weeks edition of {five on friday}! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you'll continue to follow Down with the Dearmore's! Happy Weekend!!!


{ella's room tour}

So as I was browsing through old blog posts, I realized I've never really shared pictures of Ella's room {or at least a formal room tour}! Yes, I'm only 2 years behind!!!! :) Oh well, I guess it's never too late! I'm no professional by any means, but I absolutely love to decorate! I started dreaming up Ella's room the second I knew I was pregnant. We moved into our home when I was 7 months pregnant, so I had a limited time to decorate to before I was too big to move...hehe! ;)) It came together beautifully {at least in my eyes}! So, without further adieu....
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 



Side Table, Lamp, "Ella" Chair, Some Accessories: Pottery Barn Kids
Window Seat Cushion and Pillows: Custom made by a friend of our family
Bird Prints {above chair}: Hallmark
Picture Frames, Bird Cages {I spray painted them}: HomeGoods
You are my Sunshine Print: Sweet T


{scarf swap 2013}

This was my first year to join Meredith's annual scarf swap! I was so excited {for obvious reasons}, but to also meet a fun new blog friend as well as go scarf shopping! I was partnered up with Britt from The Fisk Files. She has an awesome blog about anything from photography, fashion, family and recipes! She sent me a beautiful scarf in my school colors, RED and BLACK {Wreck 'em Tech}! She already knows me well!!! ;)
 
 
The detailing is absolutely gorgeous!
 

Please excuse my horrible iPhone selfy pic! ;) It was a long day at work, but still wanted to show it off!
 
   
Thank you again, Britt for my fabulous new scarf! Such a fun new piece to add to my Fall/Winter wardrobe! 

{five on friday} 14th edition

Happy Friday!!! I've missed the past two Five on Friday's, so I was anxious to get back! I'm linking up with Darci from The Good Life Blog. You should join in if you haven't yet! It's been such a fun way to find new blogs to follow as well as make new "bloggy" friends! Ok...let's get started...
 
{one}
IT'S HERE.....AND JUST LIKE THAT, SHE'S TWO! My sweet "baby" girl turns 2 years old tomorrow! My oh my, how time flies! Yes, I do realize she's not a baby anymore, but she'll always be MY baby! ;)) She continues to amaze me each day! She has truly brightened our lives. It's hard to even remember life before Ella. I'm so thankful God chose Josh and I to be her parents! We have a fun little birthday party planned for tomorrow! We can't wait to celebrate with our family and friends! Ella's one request for the party {that she repeats over and over and over}....PINK cake! I think we can manage! ;) Stay tuned for birthday pics!


{two}
I am loving Gap's new cord's for this fall! I snatched up a pair before our trip to Cali. I think I need to make a trip back to Gap to pick up several more pairs in diff colors!
 

Here they are in "real life"! :))


{three}
I wanted to share a picture of the tassel garland I made a few weeks back! It was so easy {a little time consuming}! I love the way it turned out!! I used plastic table cloths from Party City for $1.99. You can get them from Wal-Mart for $.97! Can't beat that! I pulled up a video tutorial on YouTube and followed step-by-step! And here you go....
 

{four}
Speaking of crafting.....I bought the most amazing little "toy" yesterday!! I got a 2 in. circle craft punch. If you're not familiar with...do not have...or would like to have....it is a must! I cannot tell you how much time this would have saved me on so many projects! I'm making some garland for E's party, so I thought it was about time I invested in one! I found a very similar one on Amazon {I purchased mine at Hobby Lobby}.


Here is a sneak peak of my project....more pics {and possibly a tutorial} to come after her party!! :))


{five}
I'm getting ready for a Halloween wreath making party....and my oh my, I cannot for the life of me decide on just ONE! Then, I come across this on Pinterest....heavens help me!!! So many cute, fun, different and unique ideas out there!!
 

Wishing you a very very happy weekend!!! I'm off to finish crafting, cleaning, and getting ready to celebrate our TWO year old tomorrow!!!




{we're baaaack} san francisco & napa recap

Hello, my long lost bloggy friends!! I think I've repeated myself the past couple of times by saying we have been super busy around here.....and so it continues!! All very fun things though! My hubby and I returned from our amazing vacay to San Francisco and Napa Valley on Sunday evening. We celebrated our 5 year anniversay {a few months ahead of time}! This has been a trip we've talked about since we first met. We had THE.MOST.FABULOUS.TIME!!!
 
I wanted to share a few {iPad pictures} with you today, but have many, many more for a post to come {as well as many more details about the trip}! This was my first time to the beautiful state of California, and let me tell you, it didn't disappoint! The scenery is breath taking, the weather could not have been more perfect, the food was delish, the people we met were all so friendly, and on and on! One of my most favorite trips to date!
 
:::Day 1::: We landed around 10:30am, so by the time we got our luggage, our rental car, and got to the hotel, we were starving! Our first stop was at Lou's Fish Shack in Fisherman's Warf. We tried to sit outside as much as we could to enjoy the gorgeous weather! After enjoying some Fish & Chips and a cup of Crab Bisque, we were on our way to see some of the city via the ever-most-famous trolley cars.
 
 
:::Day 2::: We woke up early that morning to eat a hearty breakfast before heading to Sonoma and Napa for the day. We got to drive over the Golden Gate bridge for the very first time. We experienced the San Fran fog that morning, but it quickly burned off by 11am. Our first was in Sonoma at Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. It was a beautiful place that felt very warm and welcoming! We enjoyed wine and olive oil tastings. Next, we made our way into Napa to our 2nd stop of the day at Artesa. They had some of the most gorgeous views as it is located up high with panoramic views of Napa Valley. After that, we headed to lunch at a place called Brix {thank you Natasha from Schue Love for this recommendation}!!! I highly recommend this place as well! Excellent food with breathtaking views! We then made our final winery stop for the day at Rombauer Vineyards. A must if you're ever in the area! The best tastings by far with beautiful views, and fun artistic flares throughout the outside grounds. The inside is quite small {and very crowded}, so I suggest sitting outside {but that would have been my first choice anyways}! We ended the day by going back through Sonoma and going to Sonoma Square {a shopping area through the middle of the town}.
 
 
:::Day 3::: We began the day by venturing around Fisherman's Warf. We wanted to see the Sea Lions that have taken over Pier 39. So funny! I'm talking at least 300 of these things all barking at once! We spent a little time shopping and walking around before heading out for the day. We then made our way up the mountain to look out over Mier Beach. Breathtaking views!! You can't help but thank our wonderful Creator when you take it all in! Next we headed for our first experience at In-N-Out Burger. Yummy!!! Please come to Houston, soon!!! Next we drove around the city, taking it all in before our last night out to dinner. Josh couldn't wait to eat a dungeness crab, so seafood it was!
 
 
And there you have it {at least a mini version}! We were so anxious to get back home to hug and kiss our sweet girl, but at the same time, a little sad it was over!!! A dream of a trip in our books! :))