Welcome back to another edition of our “Out of the Kitchen” series, where we pull back the curtain on our everyday lives, sharing the moments, projects, and adventures that filled our month. September was a whirlwind of creativity, celebration, and cozy moments, and we’re thrilled to share all the details with you!

Transforming Our Bedroom: The Navy Feature Wall Saga

Our ongoing bedroom renovation project saw a major milestone this month: the completion of our striking feature wall! This was no small feat, taking us through no less than four different shades of navy paint before we finally found “the one.” It’s incredible how subtle variations in tone can completely change the mood of a room. We were aiming for a deep, sophisticated navy that would create a sense of calm and luxury, and after much deliberation (and several test patches!), we achieved just that. This wall now serves as the perfect backdrop for the rest of our bedroom vision, and we can’t wait to unveil the full transformation. Stay tuned, as there’s another peek at our progress later in this post!

Beyond the paint, this bedroom project has been a journey of design discovery. We’re meticulously curating every element, from the bedding to the artwork, to ensure it reflects our personal style and creates a truly serene sanctuary. It’s a testament to the idea that patience truly pays off in home decor, especially when you’re aiming for perfection. We believe a bedroom should be a retreat, and every choice we make contributes to that ultimate goal.

Baking for a Cause: The Annual Back-to-School Bash

September also brought a wonderful opportunity to give back to our community. Our church hosted its annual back-to-school bash, and I enthusiastically volunteered my baking skills for the bake sale. It was such a joy to spend time in the kitchen creating a mountain of goodies for a great cause!

My baking spree included a diverse array of treats to cater to every taste bud. I whipped up classic peanut butter rice krispies, decadent Oreo rice krispies, and even a special batch of gluten-free rice krispies to ensure everyone could enjoy a sweet bite. For cookie lovers, I baked both regular and gluten-free monster cookies, packed with oats, chocolate chips, and M&M’s. The energy at the bash was infectious, and seeing families come together to celebrate the start of a new school year, all while supporting important church initiatives, was incredibly rewarding. It’s moments like these that truly highlight the warmth and strength of community bonds, and I was proud to contribute my small part through the universal language of delicious treats.

A Journey to Wisconsin: Celebrating Love and Friendship

Mid-September, we embarked on a delightful road trip to Wisconsin to celebrate the wedding of a dear friend – one of Ryan’s college roommates! It’s always a special occasion to reunite with college friends, and this wedding was no exception. There’s a unique comfort and joy in catching up with people who shared such formative years with you, reminiscing about old times, and celebrating new chapters.

The wedding itself was absolutely breathtaking, held on a sprawling, picturesque property that even had horses gracefully roaming in the fields – a truly idyllic setting! The dinner reception took place in a gorgeously decorated barn, which exuded rustic charm and elegance. Every detail, from the ambient lighting to the floral arrangements, contributed to an unforgettable evening. Witnessing our friend tie the knot in such a beautiful environment, surrounded by loved ones, was a highlight of our month. It served as a wonderful reminder of the enduring power of friendship and love.

Salsa’s Charms: A Peek into Our Furry Friend’s World

Of course, no monthly recap would be complete without a moment dedicated to our charming four-legged family member, Salsa! Her antics and affectionate nature continuously bring so much joy and laughter into our home. Whether she’s cuddling up for a nap or enthusiastically greeting us at the door, Salsa is truly an integral part of our daily lives, and we love sharing glimpses of her sweet personality with you all. She truly knows how to steal the spotlight, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Embarking on New Creative Endeavors: DIY Home Projects

September was a month for rolling up our sleeves and diving into new personal projects, proving that creativity doesn’t stop. I embarked on crafting a substantial wooden sign, destined to become a statement piece above our bed. This project involves careful planning, woodworking, and artistic design to create something truly unique and personalized for our bedroom space. There’s something incredibly satisfying about designing and building custom decor that perfectly fits our aesthetic and adds a personal touch to our home.

Meanwhile, Ryan has been busy in the garage, channeling his energy into a significant upgrade for his workspace. He’s constructing a larger work station and a dedicated miter station, which will undoubtedly enhance his efficiency and capabilities for future woodworking and DIY endeavors. A well-organized and functional garage workshop is a dream for any DIY enthusiast, and Ryan’s dedication to creating such a space is truly inspiring. These projects not only keep us engaged but also continuously improve our living environment.

Salsa’s Travel Ritual: A Cozy Companion

Speaking of travel, we have a little ritual with Salsa that always brings a smile to our faces. This particular travel bag only comes down from the closet when we’re preparing for a trip, but every single time, without fail, Salsa immediately recognizes its purpose and loves to cozy up inside. It’s as if she’s saying, “I’m ready for an adventure too!” Her eagerness to be a part of everything we do, even just by occupying the travel bag, is incredibly endearing and a humorous reminder of her loving personality. It’s a small but significant moment that highlights how our pets truly become woven into the fabric of our lives and routines.

Culinary Explorations: Discovering New Flavors Together

Our kitchen also saw some exciting new developments this month as Ryan and I made a concerted effort to try out new recipes. Cooking together is not just about preparing a meal; it’s a fantastic way to bond, experiment with flavors, and unwind after a busy day. I’m incredibly lucky because Ryan is a fantastic cook, and his culinary contributions always make our shared cooking experiences even more enjoyable.

Among our new culinary triumphs were a delicious cauliflower rice stir-fry, a fantastic way to incorporate more vegetables into our diet while enjoying a flavorful and satisfying meal. We also perfected a loaded egg bake, a versatile dish that’s perfect for a weekend brunch or easy meal prep throughout the week. Exploring new recipes keeps our meal times exciting and prevents us from falling into a routine rut. We always enjoy the challenge of finding new favorites, and September certainly delivered on that front with these delicious additions to our repertoire.

Embracing the Holiday Spirit: Early Prep for Halloween and Christmas

While the calendar might have only just flipped to October, my kitchen has already been buzzing with festive energy! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve completed making and photographing all my Halloween recipes for this year. Get ready, because these spooky and sweet treats will be making their debut on the site over the next two weeks. It’s always a fun challenge to come up with creative and delicious ideas for the holiday season, and this year’s Halloween collection is particularly exciting.

But the holiday preparations didn’t stop there. In a surprising leap forward, I’ve even started working on Christmas recipes! To truly get into the holiday mood and infuse my baking with that special festive magic, I absolutely had to put on some classic Christmas music. There’s something undeniably uplifting about holiday tunes that instantly transports you to a joyful, winter wonderland state of mind. Preparing for the holidays early allows for a smoother content schedule and, more importantly, lets me savor the creative process without the usual last-minute rush. It’s a wonderful way to extend the joy of the season!

Moments of Beauty & Building Our Home: Sunrise and Nightstands

Life’s most beautiful moments often come unexpectedly. It’s not very often that I’m awake early enough to witness the sunrise, so perhaps this particular one wasn’t objectively “special,” but to me, it seemed extra vibrant and colorful. There’s a certain tranquility that comes with watching the world awaken, painting the sky with an array of stunning hues. These quiet moments of reflection are truly precious and serve as a gentle reminder to appreciate the simple beauty around us.

Later in the month, our “wild Friday night” involved a different kind of beauty: the satisfaction of building our home, piece by piece. We tackled assembling new nightstands for our bedroom, a task that often proves more challenging than anticipated! It’s funny how these things go – it took me a full two hours to assemble my nightstand, while Ryan, with his knack for DIY, managed to finish his in a mere thirty minutes. It was a humorous reminder of our differing strengths, but together, we successfully added another functional and stylish element to our evolving bedroom space. Every assembled piece brings us closer to our dream home.

Illuminating Our Sanctuary: Selecting Bedroom Wall Sconces

As part of our continuous bedroom upgrade, we’re excited to announce that we’ll be adding wall sconces! Lighting is such a crucial element in setting the mood and functionality of any room, and we believe sconces will add a touch of sophistication and ambient light to our sleep sanctuary. To find the perfect fit, I ordered three different styles from Amazon, knowing that sometimes you need to see them in person to truly decide. One of the options turned out to be quite awkward and unexpectedly large, so it didn’t even make it into the running or the photographs.

However, we were genuinely impressed with the other two options. Both designs offered unique aesthetics and potential, making our final decision quite a delightful challenge! We meticulously evaluated their size, finish, and the quality of light they would cast, envisioning how each would integrate with our feature wall and overall bedroom decor. The anticipation of seeing the chosen sconces installed and illuminated is building, and we can’t wait to reveal which one we ultimately selected to complete our bedroom’s refined look. You’ll have to wait and see which beautiful fixture brightens our space!

Embracing Autumn’s Charm: Pumpkin Spice & Halloween Decor

As September drew to a close and autumn truly began to assert itself, I knew it was the perfect time to surprise Ryan with some pumpkin spice goodies – his absolute favorite! He has an undeniable love for all things pumpkin spice, so treating him to these seasonal delights is always a surefire way to bring a huge smile to his face. It’s these small, thoughtful gestures that make everyday life so special, and celebrating his enjoyment of seasonal flavors is a tradition we both cherish.

Beyond the delicious treats, I also embraced the festive spirit of Halloween by decorating our home. I absolutely adore adding seasonal touches to our living space, and this year, I incorporated some wonderfully creepy spiders to our fireplace wall. They create a playful yet spooky atmosphere, perfectly setting the mood for the season. Decorating for holidays is such a creative outlet, transforming our home into a whimsical and inviting space, and the spiders were a fantastic new addition that brought a touch of ghoulish charm to our autumn decor.

Moments from Instagram: Our Monthly Letter Board Chronicles

Social media often serves as a wonderful platform to share snippets of daily life, thoughts, and humorous observations. Throughout September, I continued my tradition of sharing uplifting and witty letter board messages on my Instagram. These posts are a fun way to connect with our community, offering little insights into our mindset or a dose of lighthearted humor.

Here are the letter board posts I shared on my Instagram this month. Feel free to click on each picture to visit the original post and see what insights or laughs we were sharing!