happy halloween!

Sadly, instead of trick-or-treating or going to some amazing costume party... I will be enjoying a tiny package of peanuts and sitting way-too-uncomfortably-close to a perfect stranger. (photo found here)

That's right, it's off to the ATL for me... a few days of in-office time to make sure my co-workers haven't forgotten me... oh, and to close the books for month-end.

So... here's how halloween will look for me this year...

A festive mani/pedi with this nail polish...

One more handful of candy corn...

And a Harry Potter movie on my laptop in my hotel room...

Here's to a spooktacular Halloween!

the versatile blogger...

Ooooo, a blog award for me?!? So exciting!

Thanks to Kari at The Busy Busbys and Kit at A Step into My Life for considering Black Tag Diaries worthy of the Versatile Blogger Award. Be sure to check both of their blogs out... you won't be disappointed.

To accept the Versatile Blogger Award the rules are:

1) Thank and link back to the blogger that gave you the award.

2) Share 7 things about yourself.

3) Pass the award on to 7 blogs you've recently discovered and enjoy.

4) Leave your recipients a note, telling them about the award.

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So, here we go... 7 things about me...

1) I was a cheerleader in middle school, but could barely do a cart-wheel.

2) I always drink tomato juice on airplane flights.

3) I took only 2 classes during my last semester of college: a photography class... and ballet. (best semester ever)

4) I hate to cook, but love to bake.

5) I could live off of macaroni & cheese alone.

6) I played 4 years of collegiate volleyball.

7) I have a strange obsession with stationary and paper goods.

~~~

Now I'm passing this award on to 7 other award-worthy blogs...

1) Courtney @ Mostly Dazed & Often Confused

2) Stacie @ The Tales from the Fairy Dust

3) Melissa @ Lady of the Flowers

4) Molly @ The Rigoloso's

5) Jessamie @ Jason, Jessamie & Georgia Bean

6) Star @ Star's Pink World

7) Lindsey @ Random Acts of Brackett

hudson :: what a hoot! {louisville children's photographer}

Last weekend I had the privilege of photographing this little man. Isn't he a doll?!? He has the most beautiful blonde hair and some seriously amazing baby blues. We went to Locust Grove for the shoot and I followed little Hudson all over the place... we played in the leaves, strolled around in the wagon, and went up and down the stairs, you name it we did it... this was his photo shoot after all:)

thankful thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for:

1) Blue Kool-Aid. Specifically the Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade flavor. I love this stuff. It takes me straight back to the college days... my roommates and I would make pitchers of it all the time. I thought Kool-Aid had discontinued this flavor or something because I haven't seen it in years... but not so my friends... The grocery stores in Louisville fully support (and stock) Blue Kool-Aid.

2) Local artwork. There is something so great about being able to buy art directly from the artist. This is my recent purchase. I got this great piece a couple of weekends ago at our church's fall festival. They hosted an "affordable art show" at the festival and I scored this beauty for only $30 bucks. Planning on framing it and hanging it on the blank wall in our living room very soon.

3) My mom. It just happens to be her birthday today!! I cannot say enough how thankful I am for my mother. She is my best friend. I talk to her practically everyday. She encourages me. She makes me laugh. She gives me advice. She is my best cheerleader. She listens to me. She really is the best mom ever... hands down. Happy birthday mama! I love you!

pumpkin, and spice, and everything nice...

Okay... I have been wanting to try this pumpkin spice cake recipe for a while now. I first heard about the Pumpkin-Spice-Secret from my co-worker and good friend over at Tales From the Fairy Dust... she heard about the Pumpkin-Spice-Secret from her good friend over at Chicago Cuisine... who originally discovered the Pumpkin-Spice-Secret over at PB Fingers.

So what is this brilliant Pumpkin-Spice-Secret, you ask?? It is only the most amazing fall dessert ever... not to mention the easiest dessert ever...

All you need are these 3 ingredients: {1 box of Spice Cake mix :: 1 can of Pure Pumpkin (not to be confused with pumpkin pie filling) :: 1 container of Cream Cheese icing}

Combine the Spice Cake mix with the can of Pure Pumpkin...

Put some elbow grease in it and you should eventually get something that looks like this...

Plop out some big spoonfulls onto a couple of cookie sheets. {I decided to make cookies, but Tales From the Fairy Dust and Chicago Cuisine both did theirs cake-style... whatever suits your fancy.}

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 12-15 minutes. {They should feel slightly firm to the touch.}

Let these bad boys cool down for a while, then slather them up in Cream Cheese icing.

If your feeling a little adventurous, go ahead and give them a little cinnamon shake-down.

Then, find a comfy spot at the table (or counter top) and enjoy your not-so-hard labor.

Go ahead... have another. I won't tell.

i want to take your family photos...

Next Saturday, November 6th, I will be offering 20 minute photo sessions with you and your family in the Louisville area. For $40, you will receive 20 minutes of uninterrupted camera time, allowing me to capture you and your family at your best. I take real photographs... seeking to capture real people in real moments. I try to photograph the details... the little things... the moments that make you and your family unique.

If you know anyone in the beautiful "Kentuckiana" area that might be interested, spread the word...

~~~

Also booking for....

Northeast Georgia :: Saturday Nov. 27th and Sunday Nov. 28th

Houston :: Tuesday Dec. 21st and Wednesday Dec. 22nd (this one might be a little too late for Christmas card photos, but would be a great Christmas gift!)

top 2 tuesday

This week's Top 2 Tuesday is your 2 favorite Halloween or Fall craft ideas. I'm all over this one...

1) How cute are these modern pink pumpkin lanterns?!?! I love that the inside is painted hot pink! So cute. I am definitely trying these out next year. But if you wanted to try them out this year, you can see more over at Making it Lovely.

2) Then, how about these beautiful handmade bittersweet wreaths? I must be on a wreath kick lately... because I would absolutely love to have one of these up for the remainder of fall... or at least until I replace it with my vintage book wreath for Christmas. Go to Jody's blog over at Everyday Beautiful to learn how to make your own bittersweet wreath.

~~~

Head on over to Taylor's blog at the Undomestic Momma so you can link up to Top 2 Tuesday and show us your own favorite fall crafting ideas!

tag... you're it.

So, here's how it works... my new blog-friend, Kari over at The Busy Busbys, tagged me with 8 fun little questions... And now I get to tag 8 of my blog-friends and ask them my own set of 8 questions...

~~~

Here are the 8 questions I answered from Kari...

1) If you could be in any tv show when you were a kid what would it be?

The Wonder Years... no doubt. I always thought Winnie Cooper was the coolest.

2) What has been your favorite Christmas gift as a child?

Probably my Barbie mansion. You know the one. Three stories with that awesome pull-string elevator.

3) What actress would you want to play you if your life was a movie?

I'm going to go with Sandra Bullock. She is beautiful and I always love the characters she portrays.

4) What decade fad do you wish would come back?

The 70's, for sure. Bellbottoms, peasant shirts, and shoes... optional.

5) What song describes your life?

Amazing Grace. A classic description of God's love for us.

6) What was your favorite subject in school?

Math. I know... shocking answer for an accountant.

7) If you could have a dream job for a day what would it be?

Is there such a thing as a professional arts & craftser?

8) If you could be any animal what would you be and why?

A cat. I could definitely handle eating and sleeping all day.

~~~

And here are the 8 questions I came up with for you... Feel free to play along... consider yourself tagged:)

1) What's your favorite room in your house?

2) If you had to spend the rest of your life in one season (fall, winter, spring, summer), which would it be?

3) Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip?

4) What are you most looking forward to?

5) What was your favorite vacation as a child?

6) Books or movies?

7) How do you drink your coffee? Do you even drink coffee?

8) What was your favorite childhood Christmas memory?

hudson :: sneak peek

books, nooks & babysitter clubs

Today I visited an adorable little book store not far from my house... A Reader's Corner. Rows and rows of both used and new books. I stopped in thinking I would grab a quick book for my wreath project, and an hour later I was still perusing the aisles of literature.

I couldn't help it... there is just something about a good bookstore... it gets me every time. I am a horribly inconsistent reader, as seen in my very sporadic book review posts, but I love books.

I spent the majority of my visit at the bookstore in the classic literature section, and came home with this...

...a beautifully loved copy of Chalres Dickens' A Christmas Carol & The Cricket on the Hearth. I love how the corners are frayed and the book cover is yellowed with age and probably about to disintegrate... the signs of a truly cherished novel.

Then, just as I was about to leave... I stumbled upon this row of books in the youth section...

...yep, that's right. The Baby-Sitters Club. I used to love these books! I think I had practically the entire collection. My generation grew up with these girls... Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, Dawn. Oh, and don't forget the Sweet Valley High twins... Jessica & Elizabeth Wakefield. Now that was some good reading!

crafting + christmas = {pure bliss}

I tried my very best to wait at least until Halloween was over before I started blogging about Christmas crafts... but it's simply not possible. I adore everything about the season and prefer to extend it as long as humanly possible.

I'm hoping to get some crafting in this weekend... among other things (ie, lots of photo editing). Lance snagged some tickets to the UGA v. Kentucky game this Saturday and will be taking some guys from seminary with him... which means that I will have the house all to myself Saturday night... perfect for crafting:) Here are a few projects that I have my eye on this season...

Vintage Book Wreath. Isn't this beautiful? And it seems pretty simple. I would love to whip 3 of these up for the blank wall in our living room. I love how classic they look. These could totally stay up through January. {instructions found on Living with Lindsay from last year}

Paisley Glass Ornaments. I made a ton of these last year for some different shows and absolutely loved how they turned out. This year, I'm hoping to make an assortment for our home. I'm not entirely sure if we will be able to get a tree this year (due to small living spaces and lots of traveling), so I'm thinking these ornaments might suffice hung at varying heights in certain corners of the house. They are super simple to make... all you need is: a box of glass ornaments, rub-on adhesive designs or letters, and a little bit of patience. Maybe I'll do a full how-to later?

December Daily Album. I briefly talked about this a few weeks ago. Ali Edwards has made this project famous... but rightly so... it's a brilliant idea. Basically, you commit to documenting the days leading up to Christmas. You would think this would be a painfully stressful process, but not so. For me, it's actually the reverse. I feel like it forces me to slow down and treasure the little moments. You can see some other December Daily albums here.

And of course, anyone that's ever worked in the "sweatshop" over on Little Creek Trail knows that Elf is absolutely mandatory when Christmas crafting.

And some peanut butter M&M's never hurt anyone.