Adios. Farewell. Goodbye.

And helllloooo Caribbean.

The hubs & I are currently in transit to Galveston, Texas, where our ship is waiting to pick us up, fill us full of Vodka Cranberry's & sail us away!

I've shopped my little bootie off, well...lets get real. I've shopped my plump little bootie off. Snagged up some fabulous deals on big 'ol beach hats, some must have summer-esque clutches, fabulous aviators, and hello 70% off white wedges. I love you too.

Our 800 pound bags are packed & loaded. The pup is dropped off @ Grandma & Gramps daycare. And my Redbook is in hand.

These past few hours in transit I've finally had time to get caught up on what's been going on in your lives. And can I just say, I think you all are pretty cool.

I'll be sure to drink 100 drinks several drinks for you all....with my toes in the water & ass in the sand.

Be back in a couple weeks!!

Saw It, Pinned It, Did It: Halloween Edition

This new link up hosted by the fabulous duo, Katie & Steph, could not have come at a better time.

Considering my house has been completely overtaken with glue guns, modge podge & lotssssss of orange & black.

Thank you Michaels.

I picked my 3 fave DIY's I completed in prep for our first Halloween Part-tay last weekend. 

Some of you have seen some teasers on my Instagram (@annexenos) feed these past couple weeks, but I saved some for this link up.

If you're stopping by from KCCO, first and foremost....WELCOME FRIENDS!  Secondly, you've seen the adorABLE Glass Vase Makeover. 

The original source was of course, our dear friend Pinterest.

View original source here.

This is pretty cut & dry folks, you glue the orange carstock to the vase with the black cardstock design on top. 

I know, super easy. 

The only thing I would add to Katie's instructions is to stay FAR away from the spray adhesive.  Go with the Modge Podge, folks.

Way easier & now my absolute FAVORITE crafting supply.  I use it TIME & TIME again.  The black roses....impossible to find.  I bought some cheapo ones from Walmart & the $0.96 black spray paint, and threw those puppies in the vase.  So Halloween-ey.

View original pin here.

This project is great when you have that perfect little wall to hang it on.  Since the main wall of our living room is french doors, there was the perfect spot right between both sets of doors.

Supplies Needed:

White (or wooden) Letters

Halloween Craft Paper

Ribbon

And of course, ol faithful, Modge Podge

Trace, cut, glue & hang!

View original pin here.

If you have a mantle, you can agree that it is the BEST place to decorate season in and season out. 

Supplies Needed:

All the supplies listed for the project above, two super cute projects & only one set of supplies!

I will say, this project is not for the in patient.  It took me about 3.5 hours to complete, but so worth it.

A tip for you:  BE SURE & MEASURE OUT FLAGS.  Don't try to wing it.  Measure the mantle, see what space you have to work with.  Cut the ribbon that will HOLD the flags first, then measure & see what size flags will fit.  I used the back of the half used Halloween paper for my white circles, versus buying white cardstock.

Ok...almost done.  Just a couple more.

I don't have a good daylight pic of this next project, so I'll use the actual Pinterest photo to give you an idea of how it turned out.

I saw the inspiration photo and just KNEW I had to re create.  So, I went to our local Pier1.   Does anyone else have a love affair with that place???  If I was rich, I would be in there EVERYDAY.  Ugghhh.  I die over their decor!!

Anyway, we have a long concrete staircase leading down to our house.  So what better accent than light up pumpkins!  Snagged these suckers up (on sale of course) for around $15.  The hooks, compliments of Home Depot. 

Speaking of love affairs.....(cough cough, Home Depot, cough).

And last, but absolutely not least.  My FAVORITE Halloween decor at the Xenos house this season...

View original pin here.

Everyone has a wheelbarrow....or maybe it's a Midwest thing. 

Grab yourself a bag 'o bones & a bag o' dirt, and plop the wheelbarrow wherever you please.

I hope you love how everything turned out!  I know I do.

Just call me Ms. Pinterest. 

Now head on over & link up!

Things I Love.

Hey.

Do you remember me?

I'm Anne.  And I blog around here.

And I love vodka.

Like big bottles of vodka.

I also love my girlfriends.

I love antiques....boy do I love antiques.  Combine that with a super handy husband & you can creat a little something like this.

I love that we leave for our cruise in T-4 days.

And last, but certainly not least.  I love Pinterest...can I get an AMEN. 

 I also love Link Ups.  So when I came across Katie & Stephs  fab new link up.  I knew I had to get in on that shizzzz.  'Speshially with all the DIY Halloween projects that have taken a dump in my house as of late.

Hello.  Perfect timing.

See you again tomorrow.

I know, two days in a row.

Can you frickin' believe it!?

I can't.

Slacker.

I have been an absolute slacker in one portion of my life as of late.

And that's blogging.

And for that I apologize.

I wanted to drop in and give you an extremely valid excuse.

Our first house party, and a Halloween party at that.

So I'm knee deep in house prep, decorations, crafts, buying shit, more crafts, spray paint & buying even more shit.

So there you have it, folks.  Our new home has trumped blogging over the past couple weeks. 

Please forgive me....I'll be back soon. 

Weekend Getaway to the Coast!

The coast of North Carolina that is, Raleigh to be exact.

My big brother is having himself a baby.  Well, his wife. 

Wow, that got weird for a second.  Almost as weird as this picture.

Almost as weird as this picture I snapped of them.

Well, his gorgeous wife is due with their first little bambino & we wouldn't miss the celebration for anything. 

And we like to celebrate.

With margaritas, wine & well.....martinis as well.

So, Mom & I are hopping on a plane and heading out to Raleigh for their baby shower on Sunday. 

And we are also kind of excited to see this guy.

And his huge watermelon head. It gets cut out of pictures it's so huge.

But I love 'em anyway.

So you all have a good one because I know I will.

Peace out Kansas City, hello Raleigh.

Looking forward to a weekend full of girl time while catching up with two people I absolutely adore in celebration of their little bambino!

Congrats Matt & Liza!! 

Tattoo: /taˈto͞o

Tattoo:

n. pl. tat·toos

1. A permanent mark or design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment or by raising scars.

 

Well, it's forever inked official folks. 

 

I endured did it.

I took the prick plunge.

I got my very first tattoo.

I've had this puppy planned for MOOOONNNTTTHHHHHHS, but I couldn't let it slip as Jon reads this 'ol blog.  Don't you honey?

And I don't go ruining surprises, so mum was the word.  Until now.

It just about killed me not being able to Instagram while I was getting skinned alive inked.

I was so excited to show Jon & so excited to show all of you.

For all of you dedicated Instagram followers (@annexenos), thanks for the love
Saturday night with my big reveal! 

We celebrated the rest of the evening with our good friends Eric & Justin.

No, I tip my hat to you Eric Church.

You rocked our socks boots off. 

Maybe I'll get this face tattoo'd on my ass next.

I mean, wouldn't you?

So tell me, do you have a tat? 
(You like how I say "tat" like I'm an 'ol pro.  No worries, Ma.  It's my one and only.)