October Pumpkins

Going pumpkin pickin' in October - one of life's small pleasures.

It's like going shopping for a pair of high heels. With so many colors and choices...

...it's, like, hard to pick just one...so why not get, like, a few, just so you know you're covered.

Happy Fall! 

Always,
Kimberly

Granny Squares and Parties

I love going to the yarn store, shopping the rows of rainbow skeins, and picking out the ones that just "grab" me, the ones that say "helllooo there," the ones that practically jump into my shopping basket, excited for the task of being wrapped around my fingers until they are stitched and looped and formed into something just lovely. Last trip, it was the Carrot in my husband's "Fall" scarf. This week, it was the Grey Heather that grabbed my attention; I paired it with Cornmeal Yellow and Burgundy, a wonderfully masculine color combination that works well with the otherwise traditionally feminine crochet pattern.

For any of you who crochet or knit, how do you put your color choices together?

Along with my latest crochet project, in the course of one week I have suddenly found myself hosting and decorating a few upcoming events! First, I am helping our cousin host my sister-in-law's bachelorette/lingerie shower in late October. I've got some work to do to pick a location, buy decorations, and bake the evening's dessert (I already have a super fun idea that I am excited to try to pull off - more details about that later). Also, my GM at work has asked me to decorate the hotel for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; he's given me a budget and full license to choose what I think the guests would enjoy for the holidays in both the lobby area and in the dining room during breakfast. And finally, I am hosting a table at our church's annual Ladies Christmas Tea! There will be dinner, dessert, a speaker, and lots of Christmas decorations to go around. This is my first table to decorate since our wedding in 2012, and I can hardly wait to put it together (I see a woodland Christmas in my future). It has been some time since I've been involved in party planning, and I am looking forward to getting the creative juices flowing to create a fun time of fellowship for our family and friends.

Always,
Kimberly

Fall

The change of the seasons is upon us! The leaves have started falling, there's a cool breeze blowing, and the hot, humid Tennessee summer is slowly giving way to Fall. And with it comes changes - sleeveless dresses give way to jackets, flip flops to boots, bikinis to long johns, short shorts to ankle warmers. Crisp summer salads will soon be blended into warm, delicately spiced soups, popcicles will melt before a hot oven full of cookies and gingerbread. Fall. Soon the house will be full of cheerful decorations - little straw men with happy faces wearing patched, orange overalls, pumpkins carved with toothy grins, and, as October approaches, dancing skeletons. Yes, I will miss summer, summer with its lime greens, hot pinks, and bright yellows, but oh summer will come again - now is the time for woody browns, gourd oranges, and school bus yellows.

And what makes the change really special? I get to ring in the coming of Fall with my husband's birthday. The crochet hook is out, and the true mark of Fall - a new scarf - is here, just waiting to be unwrapped (I hope he likes it!).

Always,
Kimberly

Happy Birthday Kimby!

26 is going to be a rocking good year!! There are many wonderful things to look forward to, including marrying the love of my life. The Lord's blessings are so great. =)

My birthday started right at midnight when I answered my phone to my momma singing "Happy Birthday To You" in her deepest, grandest, vibrato-est voice! For years she has done this, and it always makes me smile. Some traditions are just wonderful.

James then surprised me in the morning with a fruit pie (one of my favorites!) and this festive fall bouquet of crimson daisies, orange-red roses, accented with multicolored chili peppers all inside a pumpkin vase. Isn't it gorgeous?

And keeping up with tradition, for the past three years in Los Angeles we have gone out together for a grand Korean feast, and this year was no different! We hit up Genwa Korean BBQ on Wilshire and it was, quite simply, DELICIOUS.  30+ banchans (or side dishes) with fresh bulgogi and galbi fire cooked on the grill right in the center of the table. Pure yum! The servers were so nice, and they even gave me a couple of fancy lollipops, special for my birthday. It was a truly wonderful time.