My Big Guy loves sunflowers which is why several years ago, I made this Sunflower Rope Wreath {HERE}, but it was starting to fall apart after 7 years so it was time to create a new wreath. While searching for floral inspiration for my sister's reception, I came across a Summer Floral Wreath {HERE} on Michaels.com and knew that this was the wreath design I wanted for my new sunflower wreath.

Instead of the summer flowers they used, I picked up a bunch of sunflowers, cosmos, and greenery. Sorry, I don't know what the two bunches of greenery I got were called, but I liked how all the bunches looked together, so that's what I went with. It's a very scientific method. Oh, I didn't add the bird the original instructions had, mostly because I didn't find one that I loved, but there was an owl that I did almost buy for this wreath.
So then I just followed the directions for the summer floral wreath and VOILA! I have a  new late summer/early fall wreath that I love.

I love that it's asymmetrical and happy. I could have probably added more of those white spikey flowers, but I'm not that fussed about it.
Hopefully, this wreath will last me as long, if not longer than my last wreath. My Big Guy also likes it.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I'm back! With another post even! What?! That's like 2 in a week. Well more like 2.5, because Dana wrote most of the PSL post from Wednesday, and I only added my $.02 worth. Still!

So this post has been in the works since March. March, people! I technically finished the sewing of this dress back in March, and then it sat on my dress form until last week, when I finally got around to finishing it. It needed buttons and buttonholes. That's it. I got 98% done, and then it sat. For 6 months! I know I'm not the only one who does that. I mean, I can't be, right?!

With fall weather arriving, it was the perfect time to finish this dress, because the yellow and black buffalo plaid is also a lightweight flannel, and who doesn't love flannel?  I do also need  to apologize for the lack of good pictures, apparently I've forgotten how I set up my phone to take full pictures of myself.

So the pattern was simple and straightforward, as most shirt dresses are, but this one has the nice added touch of having a tailored shirttail hem, but it was also on the short side. Always. So I cut out my dress in the longest length, and then simply shifted the pattern down to cut out the shaped shirttail hem. Easy peasy. I like my skirt hems to be 24" from my waist, but this one is 23" which is totally ok.

I also needed to alter the pattern between the bust and hips, because I'm not a one size fits all girl. So after adjusting the side seams to accommodate my many sizes, I had a dress that was ready to be put together.

Sewing it up was easy and straightforward with no surprises. I mean, it's a shirtdress, how many different ways are there to make one?  And after the 6-month hiatus, putting in the buttonholes and attaching the buttons was easy, although I didn't realize that I had very dark blue thread in my machine instead of black, so now I have very dark blue button holes. Oh well. C'est la vie.

I would say this pattern would be good for the adventurous beginner. It's not a difficult pattern, by any stretch, but it could seem a little daunting to a sewer who just unpacked their first sewing machine.

So last week, we had some wonderful fall-like weather, and so it was the perfect time to test out my new dress, and step out of my very safe fashion box. You see, I'm not very good at pairing ankle boots with anything. I'm just not certain of just how to wear them, but the model on the envelope is wearing them. Therefore, so can I. Pairing the dress and boots with a blanket scarf was also new, I know we've talked about my adventures in scarf wearing, but I've never attempted a blanket scarf. So much newness going on! I was brave though, and put my best booted foot forward and went on my way.

Its funny how doing something small, like stepping out of your fashion box, can give you such confidence. I am very pleased with how the whole look came together, and am so excited for more fall weather so that I can don this outfit again. As it is, I'm currently wearing my Key West Circle Top and shorts, because summer is making a last stand.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Dana here.  Yes, folks, it's that time of year again!  Pumpkin spice everything!!!  Pancakes, chai, cookies, pork loin, and of course coffee.  I sometimes wonder if the hysteria is self-sustaining.  Like, because everyone else in the world seems to love pumpkin spice, more people latch onto the trend.  Or is it truly a perfect storm of the best season (IMHO), delicious spices, and the jolliest of the gourd family?  Aww, look at those guys.  They're so excited for autumn!
Hey guys! Heather popping in here to add my $.02. I made the recipe exactly as written, and yes, there was too much cinnamon for me. IMO the recipe as written is like a pumpkin chai, which is delightful, a smidge of cardamom and it'd be a proper pumpkin chai. It's still a delightful melange of spices, just a bit heavy on the cinnamon for me and what I like in a PSL. 

You know those running memes where one runner tries to get you to run a race, because it's only *3* miles?

Yea, that's pretty much how the conversation between my friend and I started when she asked if I wanted to run Warrior Dash with her.

It's *only* a 5k, and I checked all the obstacles. None of them rely solely on upper body strength, and none of them will require people to lift you up over things.

Ok, I'm in!

She really had to twist my arm, didn't she?

So the morning started off fairly normal, as far as race mornings go. I wasn't worried at all. I mean it was a 5k with a few obstacles. What was there to worry about? It was gorgeous weather for the beginning of August, almost fall like. It was so nice. Go figure, the obstacle course, where I was going to get filthy has beautiful weather.....

Oh little did  I know that the course was the most hilly course I have ever encountered. By the time we hit a mile, we'd already ascended 20 stories. I'm getting ahead of myself though.

So the race started off fairly easily, we were running downhill and were going at a comfortable clip. We encountered the first of some very steep hills, and since we were with the pack, there was some walking that had to be done. The course wasn't that wide. Then maybe a 1/2 mile in, maybe more, the pack had thinned a bit, and there were 2 guys up ahead on the trail that were stopped and looking at something just off the edge of the path. They tell us there's a snake.

There's a what now?

A snake. I can hear him rustling the leaves just to the side of me off the path. Nope! I'm gone, down the hill, over the creek and back up the other side of the hill. I wait for my friend. I don't do snakes, and the rest of the time we're on this course, I'm chanting just keep looking in the center of the path. Just keep looking in the center of the path. It became my mantra.

So after that, we hit a mile, and then finally encounter our first obstacle. It was a bleacher type climbing thing. It was fine. I didn't have to climb or jump really, because long legs.

Then there was the trench, which was easy for my not so tall friend, because she easily shimmied down into the trench and then bear crawled the entire length. I did not have as easy a time getting into the trench, because long legs. It took me a bit and a try or two to actually get into the trench, but when I did finally, I was able to crawl through it.

The swinging pallets were next, and quite fun. They took a bit of balancing. Thank goodness for long arms. After the pallets, was a short drop down a dirt cliff, that we slid down.

Then there was this "Fisherman's Catch" tunnel thing, which I hated. Being tall was a definite con to this obstacle. It broke my bra!! Luckily, friend was able to fix it before we continued on, but man did we laugh about it. It was a real bra buster. That last pun was courtesy of Dana when I was telling her about the race. You can complain to her. :)

Then there were more hills. So many hills. I will say I was able to "cheat" on a lot of the obstacles, because of my height. I don't feel bad about this at all. Then there was a muddy pond we had to wade through before getting to one of the obstacles. That was fun.

Then more hills. Stupid hills. There was a water stop after the sloggy mud pond, which was amazing.

Then more small mountains. and then we were at the fire pit. It wasn't the fire trench I had envisioned. It was much, much smaller and oh so easy to jump over. I did not get a pic tho. I am slightly upset about this.

After the fire, was the wall climb. The obstacle I was the most afraid of, but I did it! I didn't die!

After the climb, it was a short jaunt over to the water slide, which was way higher than I thought it'd be. Did I mention, I'm afraid of heights? Like crippling so? My adrenaline was going full bore after the climb, because I was scared, but I also wasn't going to fail. Thankfully determination is stronger than my fear.

So we get to the top of the water slide, and I'm nervous, and then the stupid volunteer at the top says watch out for the snakes. What!?!?

He says the snakes in the water. I may have told him that I was climbing down then, I don't remember, but I do remember him recanting, and then pushing my fear of heights and snakes into the pit of my stomach, because my friend was waiting on me.


Then after the dunking, we got to wade through a mud pit, which was the best thing ever! I ended up with dirt in places that I didn't know existed, but it was so very fun!

I gotta say, one of the best parts about Warrior Dash is the free photos. It is kind of a pain to sort through all of them, because the search functionality is bollocks, but they're free!

This was hands down, one of the best races I've done. It was so fun, and I got to face some fears. I can climb a wall!


I would absolutely do this race again, and maybe next time I'll get the hubs and the boys involved. Baby Girl will have to wait a few years.

Cheers!