Happiness is Homemade Link Party #409

Messy Messy Fail - Better late than never, folks!

Tidy Victory - Christmas is down? *shrugs shoulders*

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #408

Messy Messy Fail - I'm the worst.  See publish date.  Very late.

Tidy Victory - None.  Absolutely none.  I am THE WORST!  See above.  But you can still see all the latest posts our bloggers submitted!

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #407

Messy Messy Fail - Don't you hate it when you hide presents so well that even you can't find them?  At least my husband didn't care after presenting him with a few after lunch that I realized I forgot to put out.

Tidy Victory - Christmas was a great success - lots of food, laughter and Christmas spirit for sure!  

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #406

Messy Messy Fail - I've got some hubbard squash that I grew in the pumpkin patch to make into soup.  It was originally outside on the side porch along with the other pumpkins for decor.  I always forget to being it in before it freezes and gets ruined!

Tidy Victory - Presents are gettin?g wrapped tomorrow, cookies on Tuesday and Wednesday - come at me Christmas!

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #405

Messy Messy Fail - Where does one hide all of their WRAPPED Christmas presents?  In the past my husband and I have waited until Christmas Eve to wrap but we want to enjoy the night before Christmas instead. :). Plain cardboard shipping boxes can practically be hidden in plain sight, but not after they are wrapped.  Must come up with a plan...

Tidy Victory - Christmas cards are addressed, stamped and sealed!  I am notoriously sending Christmas cards out at the last minute so I'm very happy to have this project done.  

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #404

Messy Messy Fail - I have forgotten what day of the week it is 5 times this week.  Since Sunday.  It is now Thursday.  And I never got this link party up.

Tidy Victory - Christmas shopping is DONE!  With the exception of some little stocking items, I am all set.  This is the absolute earliest I've ever completed this task, as I'm the one usually doing the shopping with advice from my husband.  But it feels good to not be rushing around.  Now it's time to concentrate on cookie making!

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #403

Messy Messy Fail - I still have daffodils and garlic to put into the ground and it won't stop snowing!!!!  We had a relatively mild fall and I was really hoping that would continue into the end of November/beginning of December so I could just put these last few bulbs into the ground.  Crossing my fingers for a brief warmup in a few days!

Tidy Victory - Remember those gingerbread houses that kept falling apart?  I ended up looking up a couple gingerbread house "glue" frosting recipes on Pinterest, tried a couple and they worked WONDERS!  I even had gel orange and black food coloring left to color the frosting just like the kit had originally done.  I was able to successfully get the houses back together with lots left over for decorating.  I'll never use the kit frosting again!

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #402

Messy Messy Fail - I've been continuing to "button up" the gardens - bringing in my garden decor, clipping back peonies and hostas, etc.  I have a beautiful mandevilla that always goes out for the summer but comes in for the winter.  I got it all clipped down and ready to bring in - left it outside for a day to dry out a bit.  I forgot I left it outside, and it snowed the next day :/. I think it will be okay but only spring will tell!

Tidy Victory - I planted some dahlia tubers from Walmart for the first time and they were STUNNING!  Dahlias are a flower that must be dug up and brought inside for the winter - did that today and MAN did they reproduce over the summer!  The tubers probably quadrupled in size, which means I'll have a ton more flowers next summer!

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #401

Messy Messy Fail - I purchased Halloween gingerbread houses for the boys last year when they were on sale to do this year.  Broke them out a week ahead of time to put together - they REFUSED to stay together!  I "reglued" them 2x each and they still fell apart.  I'm done.  

Tidy Victory - I bought a fresh Minion gingerbread house and I'll be decorating that one MYSELF for Christmas. :D

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #400

Messy Messy Fail - There were several plants out in the garden I either wanted to A) transplant or 2. move to a different spot.  I knew if I waited past Halloween it would be too late.  It's past Halloween.  Next year.
Tidy Victory - I AM doing a better job of getting certain plants cut back before the snow flies.  I am currently working on getting all the peonies and hostas cleaned up - they make such a mess if you leave them until spring!  About 1/4 of the way done and we will be having some nice weather next week!

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party #399

Messy Messy Fail - When you thought you had the next jean size up for your growing boys.  Watching Old Navy for some deals 

Tidy Victory - Our pumpkins turned out great for Halloween!  We ended up using the Connecticut Field variety to carve - they grew the biggest for us!  Check out my Instagram to see!

Happiness is Homemade Link Party #398

Messy Messy Fail - I had so many great looking tomatoes ready to be picked in my sad little garden this year.  But alas, I went into earlier labor and all hell broke loose.  I didn't check the garden for at least three weeks and the wildlife had an absolute feast.  Hope they enjoyed my romas.

Tidy Victory - I think I have perfected the art of getting ANY stain out.  My go to?  Dawn dish detergent - I mean I knew they used it to clean off animals stuck in oil spills but it seriously gets everything out!