because Emily asked me to

So, this is me 32 weeks pregnant. Everyone tells me I'm not big enough to be so close to having a baby. I think they're wrong, because I feel huge. And pale. At least that second part will change when I start going to the pool after my last day of work {tomorrow!!}.

indulge me

The purpose of this picture is three-fold.

1. Look at our pretty new chandelier and chair rail that Roger helped install while he was here! This room still needs a bit of touch-up painting and a few things on the wall, but it is otherwise done!
2. Look at our kitchen table! It's exactly what I wanted and is sturdy enough that it should last for a long time.
3. Look at the flower arrangements I did! I didn't take a better picture, but I sure was proud of them. I bought one large bouquet at Costco and arranged them in three coordinating vases with jute wrapped around each one.

October Love: Spooky Food

My SIL, Kristin, requested spooky appetizers for a swanky Halloween party she's attending this weekend. That reminded me of my love of regular food turned spooky. Admittedly, that mostly extends to sweets -- Spooky Froot Loops, orange Snowballs, Halloween oreos and orange-dyed brownie bites -- but I had fun looking for suggestions for Kristin. Here are some of my favorites:

{recipes, clockwise from top left: spider's nest dip, beastly beans with mango salsa, steak bites with bloody mary sauce, petrified cheese log}

{more great ideas at Food Network}