{ my fall hiatus }

I hope this finds you well and warm!  It's a sunny day here in Indiana, but there is about five inches of snow on the ground outside my window here! I love the snow, but my fellow Hoosiers have been whining and griping.  I love snowmen, snow dusted on the trees and holiday lights, and especially a white Christmas!

I have been on a running hiatus for a while, had some technical difficulties, and fall was very busy.  Not much has happened with the house besides holiday decorating, but here's a quick recap of the last two months for you:

Ran the Bourban Chase with a team sponsored by ZirMed with 11 strangers...

We started in Louisville, Kentucky, and ran to several Bourbon Distilleries.  We finished the race in Lexington before our expected time!

 Ran a 2nd race for charity, the Cysitc Fibrosis Foundation.  Here I am with my friends from left to right: me the Dead Runner, Max the Brazillian Runner, Erin Devilish Runner, Jeff Wells from Fleet Feet as Pooh, and Chris the Buddha!

We celebrated halloween for the first time in our new house.  We had 200+ trick-or-treators, and tons of stories to tell that surround that night...

This has been a solemn time for my family and I, we lost a dear family member, my Uncle Brian.  Here he is singing "...and I just can't stop falling in love with you..." (Elvis) at my wedding.

My entire family spent a day at a Colt's game in Indianpolis together.

And, now I'm getting our home ready for Christmas...

Natalie

{ a running project }

One of my many projects is literally running.  I’ve always been a decent endurance athlete, especially when it comes to swimming, I’m a fish.  But running… oh it’s a project to say the least! 

I started running in 2003, and ever since, it’s always been a challenge for me.  I had a lot of friends and support.  However, at my very first high school cross country meet, I never made it to the finish line.  I woke up in an ambulance.  After running in 100+ degree weather, I had suffered a heat stroke.  Just like everything my mom’s ever taught me, I “got back on the horse.”  I finished the season running 10-12 minute miles (ie: not that good.) But, I was awarded the Most Improved Runner!  I was thrilled!

Since then,  I’ve competed in a few sprint distance triathlons, several 5ks, and 2 mini marathons.  Here’s a photo of my talking running buddy, Krissy, and me at the 2010 Derby Festival Mini Marathon in Louisville, KY. 

This weekend, I’ll be running with ZirMed’s Team in a 200-mile relay on the Bourbon Trail in scenic Kentucky, the 2010 Bourbon Chase.  

Next weekend, I’ll be running for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Run Like Hell!  My mom was able to score some toe tags from the morgue, so I’m working on a sweet costume!  Will post photos later!

So needless to say… it’s me or the house.  Out Running… I’ll be on a house-hiatus for while.  Wish me luck! 

Always,

Natalie

{ a fall mantel and birthday }

Happy Fall!

“It’s the Little Things that Make a House a Home” had the cutest, wallet friendly fall decorating idea… You can read more about Karla’s Candy Corn decorating and other ideas here!

Our lonely ghost needed some company on the mantel.  So, I followed Karla’s instructions, and here’s how it turned out!

It happened to be my wonderful husband’s birthday this week, so we had a birthday party/fall themed mantel all week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Natalie

{ kitchen & dining room }

This one is for my Grandmother by special request… :)  You may remember photos of our empty kitchen and dining room from when we moved in here and here. 

Here’s what’s happened so far:

The dining room had these hanging blinds that I hated.  They looked old and did not add any light to the room at all.  I decided to hang curtains.  I cannot find a photo of the DR before… Oops!

Working hard:

Dining Room Now:

 

Kitchen Before:

 

 Kitchen After:

  We added appliance and furniture so far.  We’d like to update the hardware, faux brick, cabinets, countertop, and colors.  I will always dream of a new kitchen though.  :)

There’s a full bath between the kitchen and breakfast nook: 

Thanks for stopping by!

Natalie

{ mister lonely }

There is only one month until, Halloween!  I put up my first Halloween decoration…

Isn’t he just so cute…

My poor little ghost just looks so sad by himself on the mantel… Although I’ve dreaded saying goodbye to summer, I’m excited to decorate for this season.  Hopefully he won’t be lonely for long! 

{ Man Cave Update }

We’ve been working hard on our basement project… The old ceiling tiles are down and the “new” ceiling has an entire coat of paint.    

We went with a Behr Ultra Grey for the walls.  They really compliment the Man Cave Army, IU, and Colts memorabilia better than the originally planned blueish-greyish.
Here’s a preview of the painted walls and some furniture in the basement!

   

{ Football Parties and Tailgate Wars }

A Bungalow Project LOVES the Indianapolis Colts!  We went to the “Manning Bowl” and had a blast!

I took my “famous” brownies.  The guys we tailgate with just tease me and say they are “famous” because that’s how we met.  I made these brownies, they ate one at our tailgate, and they’ve requested them every game since!  I also made cute Colts Football cupcakes this game. 

Here’s a quick glimpse of our tailgate…

  

We had a pizza, chips and salsa, and of course some drinks. But… my tailgate food definitely got shown up by the newbie tailgate guy. He brought a grill out and made bacon wrapped shrimp, kabobs, wings, blue drinks, and more…

Here’s a glimpse the tailgate guy grilling and of his awesome tailgate display:

  

So, I’m getting ready for the next tailgate.  Here are some football party and food ideas, and recipes that I came across:

A super cute idea from Suddenly Frugal...

Football season traditionally means tailgate time, play-off parties and a table of unhealthy dips loaded with calories–70 per tablespoon for spinach dip and a whopping 90 per tablespoon in buttermilk ranch. With Americans deriving an estimated 30 percent of their daily calories from outside traditional meals, the trend in party fare is to serve healthier options. At just 25 calories per tablespoon, adding pre-made, all-natural guacamole to the party line-up makes a game-time winner.

The Recipe:
Wholly Guacamole Gridiron Game Time Dip
Prep: 30 minutes 

Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp butter
- ½ cup red bell pepper
- ½ cup onion, chopped
- 2, 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed / drained
- 2 tsp fresh chopped jalapeno peppers
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 cup salsa
- 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
- 14 oz Wholly Guacamole
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 bag tortilla chips

Instructions:
1. Melt butter in skillet; add peppers and onion. Cook over medium heat until onion is softened. (4 minutes). Stir in beans, jalapenos and cumin. Cook until heated.

2. Transfer 1 cup of bean mixture to a food processor, process until smooth. Return blended mixture to remaining mixture and stir to combine. Spread onto an 11×8 baking dish. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

3. Just before serving, layer over the bean mixture: salsa, cheese and top with Wholly Guacamole.

4. Spoon sour cream into reseal-able plastic bag. Snip off small corner and pipe sour cream lines over the guacamole to resemble yard markers on a football field.

Another idea from tiny prints…

And probably my favorite Tailgate “Design Board” at The Party Dress!

And one more awesome design board from divine party concepts…

(I especially like the blue drink and football whoopie pies!!)

I think I’m ready to win the next tailgate wars!! :)

Living Room: {Before & Almost After}

Prior to owning this home, I had not an ounce of decorating sense (some of you may argue that I still don’t quite get it). But, we think we’ve got the basic pieces now and just have to chose paint colors and seasonal decorations. I’m so excited to show you all our living room with real furniture in it!!

 

The Living Room Before

 

Empty Living Room

 

Our Living Room Today

The Fireplace Mantle Craftsman Bookshelves with books, family photos, candles, Gracie Naranjo Pottery, and my Great-Grandmother’s flower vase. More books & photos… Fireplace with Craftsman bookshelves.Bookshelves full of books, photo albums & more! My Mema’s McCoy Vase era 1940s, Gracie Naranjo Pottery from my mother in law…  

Hope you enjoyed the changes!!

p.s. Thanks for Stopping By! ~N.E. & Riley!