So, here's the terrible truth. I've been over-budget every month for some time now. I have determined to cut back luxury items, which unfortunately includes seasonal home decor.
However, after being at my friend Sara's apartment last night and discovering how ultra-cute her autumn-ness has made her apartment, I am depressed by my own plain jane decor. You see, I get a (somewhat disturbing) high from scented pumpkin candles, the orange-yellow-red fake leaves scattered strategically along the breakfast bar, and the subtle pumpkin used as a centerpiece on the dining table (I have no dining table, just a box of "desk stuff" in the so-called dining area--but that seems irrelevant to me).
I am asking for help in CHEAP fall decor ideas. (I will probably send a similar request for holiday decor soon.)
My own ideas?
1. Go around the neighborhood, gathering leaves from people's yards.
2. "Borrowing" the fall lawn ornaments and wreaths from neighbors, leaving anonymous notes with the promise to return any borrowed items at the end of the fall season.
3. Taking magic markers to HP printer paper and cutting out leaf shapes to tack on my wall.
You can see that I'm not so good with the free, creative stuff. However, I know some of my more crafty friends might have brilliant ideas that are just out of my brain's reach.
I appreciate any and all comments, because while I'm not smart enough to come up with these ideas on my own, I am smart enough to toss out the ideas that truly suck. So please, feel free to leave suggestions as you wish.
Can you guess what we are?
Complete with cane and sunglasses
Linda, the farmer's wife who chopped off their tails
Me & Abbie
Stacy was mad when she got stuck on the phone with a student while the rest of us were having fun!
Linda trying to chop off Abbie's tail
Yes, we have tails!
Rosy, our student worker, is a block of cheese
The whole group!
A couple of weekends ago, I visited my alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, for homecoming weekend. It was my first time to return since I graduated in 2001. A group of girls was headed up so I hopped in the car and went up to Arkansas. Here are a few of us at the bed & breakfast we stayed at.
Reunited! Jodi, me, Bethany, and Laura
The staircase at our bed & breakfast
The beautiful downstairs lobby of our bed & breakfast
Strolling onto campus for the first time...
This is the pimp mobile that shuttled us back to our car after the homecoming football game. It was-ahem-unique.
I got to see my good friend Rick for the first time in a few years! He made the drive from Little Rock for a little trip down memory lane.
The golden tiger (we are the Ouachita Tigers). Note the lack of a tail. It's this big "thing" on campus...where is the tail? Who stole the tail? Rumor has it the tail was taken by some rebels from the university across the street-Henderson State.
Another sweet reunion! Bill & Evelyn, my regional leaders from West Africa were there as well! It was a complete surprise to run into them! All of their grandchildren went to OBU as well, one of whom was a good friend of mine and someone who greatly influenced my initial interest in going to Africa.
Berry Chapel, in Berry Bible Building...the site of MANY of my classes as a Christian counseling major.
Part of the OBU Homecoming tradition is Tiger Tunes, a variety show which different clubs on campus participate. Basically, each club chooses a theme (soccer moms, Baptists, Egyptians, monsters, prisoners, etc.) and creates a story using songs with "modified" lyrics. It's my favorite part of Homecoming! I participated with Campus Ministries one year when I was a student, and we won second (totally should've been first).
Sifting through old memories, scrapbooks, letters, etc...
Lauren's precious baby girl, Addison, and I became fast friends...
Burger Barn in Arkadelphia
At the Art Festival in Austin
Texas State Capitol in Austin, TX -- Woot Woot!
Toe ring shopping for some...
Chrissy and Mels are enthusiastic about the toe rings
Not toe rings for others...but notice the huge foot above our heads.
Christine the Bachelorette and me
Mels made fondue! Yum!
Toilet paper brides - Vanessa, Christine, and me
Christine's lingerie shower...this is the only pic that's going blog-public!
Mels blew up this pic of Karl so he could watch over us all weekend
Me & Ames
A toast to Christine
We got a belly dance lesson at the Middle Eastern restaurant where we had dinner!
Chrissy & me
We went dancing at this amazing club where the dance floor was above a shark tank!
What a lovely weekend!
