How I know it's almost Halloween....

This arrived in the post last week:

Yep, my annual Halloween box from Mom. Sure I'm 30 years old and am still getting Halloween gifts from my Mom-so?! Unbelievably my Mom spent $90 to send a 20 lb. box which is sure to include a ton of candy I really shouldn't eat seeing as how I have to be in a bikini in two months time for our Miami trip but oh well....

I haven't officially opened the box yet, I'm saving it for Halloween but I did have to sneak out Calum's Halloween costume from the top which I ordered from the US Amazon since our UK selection isn't great. Here's a little sneak peak, I think it's safe to say that someone wasn't really loving not being able to use his hands and wearing a furry hat. Let's hope we have more luck on the actual day, this year I'm having Calum's friends around again for a little party and we're going to take Calum trick or treating around the new neighborhood to meet a few of the more distant neighbors we haven't had a chance to meet yet. Can't wait x

Down on the farm....

Last weekened we made our first visit to the nearby Godstone Farm which was I'm sure, the first of many. It was a perfect fall day to see the animals (which weirdly included ferrets and guinea pigs in an outdoor pen), play in the gigantic sandpit and explore what has to be the biggest playground I have ever seen. I think I had as much fun as Calum did, seeing the smiles on his face were priceless.

Calum with just about the biggest pig I've ever seen. For the record, seeing a pig in person has really put me off eating pig-such disgusting animals!
Trying to climb into the pig pen
Petting the goats despite the big sign saying DON'T PET THE GOATS
Love that smile!
This was only a small fraction of the sand pit. Calum finally overcame his dislike of sand that day, up until now he's not liked getting dirty!
On the swings

Before and after....

When Mark and I first viewed our house last year around this time, I fell in love the second I walked in the door. It just had that warm, cozy feel that felt like home and as we walked through I could picture us living there-Calum playing in the massive backyard, the three of us sat around the kitchen table eating dinner, it just felt right. This was despite the fact that the house was decorated in a style that was completely not our own (garish yellow wallpaper and gold carpets, *red* wallpaper in the master, a bedroom completely in pink from ceiling to carpet, different floors in every room due to the owner owning a flooring business.....). After months of waiting, we moved in on May 28th and within a week Mark had invited about 30 different painters and electricians in to give us quotes on how much it would cost to make it our own.

For a period of a month our house was filled with painters and electricians; on the day the fireplace was replaced we had 10 workers total in our house! It was a nightmare and something I'm not sure I can live through again-my OCD was in full effect and the stress of trying to keep the house clean and livable was overwhelming. Four-plus months later and we're still not quite there in terms of finishing touches (pictures, mirrors, entry table and etc.) however I thought I would post a few before and after pictures since most of you haven't had a chance to come over yet (although I know you will eventually, guest room remember!).

BACK LIVING ROOM AKA WHERE THE GROWN UPS WATCH TV:

BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER (still waiting on our new mirror to go above the fireplace)

FRONT LIVING ROOM AKA CALUM'S PLAYROOM:

BEFORE
BEFORE

AFTER
AFTER

KITCHEN (we've decided to keep this as is for now, even though it's not my dream kitchen-yet!):

MASTER BEDROOM:

BEFORE-The previous owners tried to sell us these curtains for £200!

BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER

HALL AND ENTRY WAY:

BEFORE-Gold wallpaper covering the hall on all 3 floors
BEFORE-The only picture I could find of the matching gold carpet, this is a picture of the winding staircase leading to the 3rd floor which is currently my office

AFTER-I LOVE these windows, an original feature of the house which was built in the 1930s
AFTER
AFTER (view from kitchen to front door, door on left leads to Calum's playroom)

GUEST ROOM:

BEFORE-pink carpet, two styles of pink wallpaper.....
AFTER-the bed is admitedly too big but as this will probably someday be another nursery we couldn't justify getting new bedroom furniture. Not to worry though, when/if that time comes, we have plans to convert the 3rd floor to a guest room! x