Good Morning Texas

Good Morning to you from Texas!

If you want to check me out this morning live on TV whipping up quick and simple breakfast recipes, make sure you tune into Good Morning Texas at 9:00 CST.  If you can't watch live, you can always watch online today too.

For some more yummy food, check out my BBQ Chicken Sliders on my foodie blog today...

Such a simple and delicious supper!

Have a great Wednesday!  See you tomorrow!

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Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Decorating for Fall!

Today's Fifty Two Shades of Shay is a peek inside our rent house!  We have decorated for fall over here!

Let me start by saying this...in December when Andrew suggested we sell our house and move into a rental for a year while the new house was being built (and put half of our things in storage), my very first statement was this, "as long as I can still decorate the house for each season and you will shuttle all of my decorations to me from storage".  He agreed...and therefore, I agreed.  I don't mind living in temporary housing...but I want it to feel like home. 

 Here is my philosophy about decorating for holidays...you should do it whenever it makes YOU happy.  I know I tend to decorate early.  I decorated my house for fall on August 28 and will most likely decorate my house for Christmas mid-November.  If it makes you happy to do it early, then do it.  If it makes you happy to wait a while, then that's great too.  In my opinion, it's a lot of work, so I want to enjoy it as long as I possibly can...so, I do it early.  To each her own.

Here are my other thoughts on decorating for fall...

1. I try and put out mostly fall decorations and not Halloween.  I feel like this way, I'm getting to celebrate the entire season instead of just one holiday.  That being said, you will see some Halloween specific decorations in my house...but I really try and get mostly fall things.

2. I leave everything up past October 31.  If I'm going to decorate for Christmas mid-November, then I don't want to take down everything on November 1 and wait a few weeks until I put my Christmas stuff out.  Jack-o-lanterns make us happy in November too, so I don't mind leaving them out.

3. I don't host Thanksgiving at my house, so it doesn't matter to me that on Thanksgiving Day, I have Christmas decor up and not Thanksgiving decor (no one is coming over to see it).  That being said, I am very thankful on Thanksgiving for my Christmas stuff being up and my house twinkling, so I think it's perfectly acceptable to have a tree up on Turkey Day...again, to each her own...this is just how I roll.

4. I have collected fall decorations for 10 years now...I know some of you are going to ask, but I do not remember where I purchased every specific item.  If I mention where it was purchased below, then it's a recent enough purchase where you could run out and get one too.  If I don't mention it below, then I probably got it at Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, a little boutique, Pier One or some place like that.

Welcome to our one and only fall at the rent house...

I love my front porch at this house because it's nice and wide.  Our last house had a narrow porch.  The stone pumpkins look so neat at night lit up with candles.  I found them in Joplin at Sandstone Gardens.

I incorporate a lot of candy into my house each time I decorate for a season.  Since it's fall, candy corn flows from every little container I can find.  My kids don't touch it...probably because there is some kind of candy out all the time.  Since it's always out, it doesn't appeal to them.  

This is on my dining room table.  At Christmas, I'll put out red and green M&Ms and at Valentine's Day, conversation hearts, for Easter, jelly beans, etc.  It's a bright and colorful way to add a little season into everyday objects.

A peek into our family room.

The light was too bright to really show you my garland.  I put up garland on the mantle for fall along with some pumpkins.

My kids' favorite part of fall decorating is when I put out the spook house!  It's a Department 56 Spook House and can play haunting sounds and the little lights flash inside.  

I change out my kitchen table place mats, cookbook and candle...and top it off with a big pumpkin.

I love my subway art :).  I had a friend of mine make this for me last year.  You can find several people on Etsy that can make the same kind of subway art for you too.  Just take your favorite printable and have them turn it into a sign.

My kitchen rug makes me happy :).  It came from Hobby Lobby.

I found these pumpkin plates at TJ Maxx Home Goods this month!  They're really cute and come in several sizes.  I also have out my Gooseberry Patch fall cookbooks (I must admit...I have 9 of them!).  I love these little cookbooks!

By my sink, I always have another cookbook, a Circle E Candle and my favorite Williams-Sonoma soap.

I first bought Spiced Chestnut soap when we lived in Michigan 9 years ago.  Every time we use it, we think of the Village of Rochester Hills.  That was one of my very favorite places to shop and eat.  I love Michigan in the fall :).

My coffee bar...the most important spot in my house!

On one side of my stove...

...and then, the other side of my stove...and my most treasured possession...

...two years ago, Sheaffer had someone come into her home and help us make these plates with our kiddos' hand and foot prints.  I have one for fall and one for Christmas.  I love these so much!!

I usually have the kids open little gifts on the morning of the first day of school that contain Halloween jammies, Halloween undies and something else special (this year, Pottery Barn Halloween plates), but this year, we let them open their gifts before dinner the day we decorated for fall.  It was more fun doing it this way because for one, we weren't scrambling to get out the door for school and two, they could immediately put their pjs on (which they love to do!).

Waiting to be opened

And then we ended our night in our new Gymboree skeleton jammies which glow in the dark :).

I'm not the only one blogging about fall decorations today... Erika is too!  

Erika is showing you inside her new home and her fall inspirations on her blog today!  You won't want to miss this...it's like Fifty Two Shades of Erika as well :).

Step inside Erika's house for fall!

And if you're still looking for some more fall inspiration, don't forget to check out my fall board on Pinterest.  I have more fall there than you would know what to do with!

I also have a delicious assortment of fall recipes on my foodie blog!   

And one last thing...tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, I'll be cooking in the kitchen at Good Morning Texas!  We're cooking up quick and easy breakfast solutions for busy families!

Speaking of breakfast, this morning on the foodie blog...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes!

Have a great Tuesday!

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Our Scarf Exchange plus BIG news!

Before we get to our Scarf Exchange, I have two really big things to tell you this Monday!  First...

...is coming Friday!  You ladies have been telling me that my blog is often like a pj party for us grown-up gals, so beginning this Friday, I will host a monthly pajama party!  Each month, I'll have a special guest co-host and we'll dish about topics us ladies would chat about at a grown-up slumber party.  My co-host is FABULOUS this month, you won't want to miss it!

And second...

...on Wednesday morning, I will be cooking live on Good Morning Texas!  That's right, yours truly will be cooking up breakfast live on a food segment for GMT.  If you're local, tune in to watch, if not, I will post the link on Wednesday so you can watch the playback.

And now for the Scarf Exchange...

Scarf Exchange 2013

Scarf Exchange 2012

On Labor Day night, we had our second annual Scarf Exchange!

Last year, we decided to get together on Labor Day night and properly kick-off fall with a scarf exchange.  Pretty much, we all love Starbucks and we all love scarves, so we created a way to unite the two.  It was such a success that we decided to do it again this year.  And after I posted this pic on Instagram, you people went nuts over our little party!  Here's what we do...

1. We each purchase one scarf and bring it to the party (we do it at Starbucks) wrapped in a bag.

2. We don't really set a limit on how much to spend, but you totally could.  I think we all just kind of know what to spend, what others would like, etc.  But if you feel like a limit would help your group, then by all means, set one.

3. After we get to Starbucks and chat a few minutes, we each draw a number off of little strips of folded up paper (so you don't know which number you're drawing).  There were 9 on us ladies on this night, so we each picked a number randomly (I drew the number 4).

4. The #1 girl goes first and selects a bag.  Then the #2 girl can either "steal" the scarf off of the #1 girl (in which case, #1 girl selects another bag) or select a bag of her own.  Once a scarf has been stolen twice, it can no longer be stolen.

5. After the last girl (in our case #9) selects her bag, then the #1 girl gets to go one more time and is allowed to keep the original scarf she drew or swap with one other person.  And then it's over and everyone keeps the scarf they have.

At Christmas, some people call this White Elephant and swap Christmas ornaments or other gifts...we just do it with scarves.

And since we're talking scarves, I thought I'd show you some of my current faves...

I am flipping over this leopard and navy scarf!  It comes in several other colors too (orange, red, mustard and green).  How cute and chic is this?!?!

I also love this plaid scarf (also in two other colors).  This baby just screams fall and winter :).

I know some of you love camo and some of you hate it.  If you're one that loves it, this camo scarf will rock your world...if you don't love it, move on to my next option :).

I received a houndstooth scarf last year as a gift and wore it all the time!  This one comes in multiple colors too...but the traditional black and white is my favorite.

And if you need something cheery and happy this fall, I love the pink polka dot scarf from Gap.  It's just happiness!

I'm so happy you loved our scarf party, and I hope when you have one, you send me a group pic :).  It's such a blessing to have sweet friends to share these simple moments with.

I have such a great group of girlfriends!  As you can tell, we all faithfully read Sheaffer's blog and wear what she suggests!  There were 5 of her denim jackets, 2 pair of camo pants and 3 pairs of nude flats there that night :).

Thanks to Sheaffer introducing me to the perfect pair of flats, I now own my very own pair.  I love, love, love them!

Look at Kensington and me on Thursday.  I'm wearing my new pair of leopard flats (the first time in my life that I've ever worn flats!), and Kensington is wearing her new pair too.

You guys also probably know Andrea (the one holding sweet Griffin!), she is our design guru.  She blogs at Never Say Never and also has her own design business.  She is responsible for all of my party invitations, party banners and decorations, baby announcements, shower invites, Christmas cards, blog design and blog graphics.  I mean...she basically works on stuff for me 24/7!  You should also check out her design blog called Slightly Askew Designs.

Last year at the scarf exchange, Andrea surprised us with this onesie in her scarf bag!  And now this year, we have Griffin :).

Erika is the cutie on the end wearing the first pair of camo pants :).  Her kiddos Ebby Lee, Nixon and Bowen are in at least half of my photos.  I feel like they're mine!  Erika likes to do a little bit of everything on her blog.   She's currently fixing up her new house with some really creative methods and projects.  I have DIY envy for sure!  You can find her family at the Slaughter Family Blog.

Erika is going to join me tomorrow as we celebrate decorating our homes for fall!

My other friends have blogged off and on over the years but right now, none of them are actively blogging.

I am so blessed to call each and every one of them a friend.  You should wear a scarf today...and think of us :).

Don't forget to check out my latest edition of Meal Planning Monday today!

And the winner of my You Knew Me When book giveaway is...

Tracy (with a dog named Skip!).  

I will be emailing you this morning to claim your prize.  Congratulations!

Have a great Monday!

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#shayeveryday2013 Week 35

I hope everyone had a great week!  Week 35 was our official end of summer/beginning of fall...

Day 239: On this day, I put out all of our fall decorations.  Tuesday's Fifty Two Shades of Shay will be a peek inside our house this fall (our one and only fall in the rent house!) along with my tips and suggestions for decorating your house during the fall.

Day 240: Kensington got her fall trim...we trimmed off the "swimmy" ends.  That's what I call the chlorinated ends of hair that look pretty rough after all of that swimming!

Day 241: My first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season.  Love. Love. Love.

Day 242: Our first full day in Missouri for Labor Day weekend included going to watch Andrew's high school play football.  We had so much fun!

Day 243: I love this guy.  He gets me.

Day 244: We left the farm and headed home.  Andrew's parents live on a gorgeous farm north of Joplin.  It's beautiful!

Day 245: Our 2nd Annual Scarf Exchange!  Calm down people!  I have received so many emails about our little tradition.  I will blog all about it on Monday!

I hope you had a fabulous week too!

Keep up with me every day on Instagram @mixandmatchmama or find me here too...

Find me on Twitter here.

Find me on Face Book here.

Find me on Pinterest here.

One more thing...do you know who Doxahlogy is????
You should click here and find out.

I bet you love them as much as I do!

And for your weekend...

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting.

You're welcome.

Don't forget, my You Knew Me When book giveaway ends Monday!

And if you're grocery shopping this weekend, don't forget to check out my Meal Planning Monday for your suggested weekly menu!

Happy Friday!

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