4-2

Matt and I managed to keep with our tradition of a little friendly Halloween competition. Although Colombia is all about Halloween, they don't participate in pumpkin carving. So, we took advantage of the American soil and carved pumpkins a little early.

Drum roll please.

Pumpkin A


Pumpkin B


Can you guess who the winner is?
Uh-huh.
This guy.


I don't want to be a sore loser, but I feel like I must share what happened to my pumpkin. I chose to clean and carve my pumpkin outdoors on a beautiful Tennessee afternoon. Then my pumpkin sat outside on this beautiful Tennessee afternoon waiting for night to fall so we could light a candle and let the competition begin. This beautiful Tennessee afternoon did a number on my pumpkin. It basically melted it. I came outside and my pumpkin had sunk in and the bats had completely detached. I had to do some surgical maneuvers with toothpicks and pins to bring it back to competition form.

So that brings us to the score.
Matt: 4
Sarah: 2

Seriously. I was really hoping to tie it up this year.
This competition isn't going to be so friendly if we see 14-2.
Better luck next year.

Happy Halloween!

Ioway

{Ioway. When Matt and I lived in Lake Charles, Louisiana I still carried an Iowa license. One night, entering a bar, the bouncer looked at my ID and said, 'Ioway, huh?'. Yep}
 
Day One - Three
Our first weekend in Iowa included sleeping in, enjoying coffee and fall colors, a trip to Target & Panera {heaven} and an International Food Festival with the Ostlunds. Unfortunately, I did a pretty poor job of picture taking at these social events. Probably because I was busy being in the moment and sampling Bacon Candied Ice Cream.

Sunday we headed East {???} to get family pictures taken care of and to celebrate Graham Cracker's big birthday.

Marcie did the cakes herself. Impressive and so sweet!

Day Four

The Schetzsle's had us over for dinner and I enjoyed catching up with incredible friends, while dining on some great food and wine. Unfortunately, I won't be back for Katie's baby shower, but I was able to give Mama Schetz and Baby S their gift a bit early.

I could not be more excited for this bambino to arrive. Kate is absolutely gorgeous, inside & out and has been an amazing friend for years. She is entering motherhood with such grace, which is not surprising and the little peanut that enters this world in January is beyond blessed to call her mom.

Matt and I were delighted to spend the evening with friends, but I would be lying if I said that we weren't in love with having some pups around {aka: Big Sisters}.

Day Five

I had the pleasure of joining Betty at the National Tour Debut of La Cage Aux Folles. Ever seen the Birdcage? Think of that, on Broadway. I LOVED it. Drag Queens and Music. Sold. On top of all that, Charlie got us some amazing tickets, up close and absolute center. I had no idea a man could rock legs like that before this experience.

Day Six

After lunch with Scott at Matt's top pick, Buffalo Wild Wings, I had an appointment to see my friend, hair stylist, and new mama, Tiffany. Her mom Shawn was kind enough to come to the salon and bring her baby boy Trevyn. 

Seriously. Between Trevyn, Graham, and the cutest baby bump Kate is sporting I came down with a case of the baby fever... Can you blame me?

Tiff can work magic and transformed my long locks into a cute, fun bob. Loves it. I feel like a grown-up... which is probably what an almost 29 year old should feel like.

And so far, from what I can tell this hairstyle has helped with my  Colombian white ceramic floor issues.

Day Seven

We hit the road {something we don't get to do too often} and headed over to the High Trestle Trail Bridge, to check out the beautiful fall landscape.

After working up an appetite, we headed to Hickory Park: An Ames Tradition. I need to mention the insane amount of eating out we did with the McQuinn's. They supported us in seeking out each craving our Colombian hearts desired. Thank You!

After eating at one of our top restaurants in the old stomping grounds, we decided to peruse through the campus of our alma mater. 

Including the house Matt and his roomies used to occupy. In all honesty, I am shocked it is still standing.

After the trip down memory lane, we headed over to Shelley's house to spend the afternoon with her family.

Matt requested that this picture be posted on the blog.

Along with Claire telling me that, "I needed more practice playing catch."

Catch and Tree Climbing. The things you will do for an adorable face.

Day Eight - Ten

Our last weekend was family & friend/football focused. Saturday night we had a crew and a private room to watch the Iowa game and more football with friends on Sunday.

Both Matt's sisters, Marcie & Shelley,  came over with their kiddos for the weekend. We enjoyed some togetherness over smoked meat, Cakebread wine {i die for some Cakebread... It's probably a good thing I can't get it here. I would be a different kind of ama de casa...if you know what I mean} and Jade Garden.

We had an amazing time our first 10 days of vacay. It's hard to be so far away from so many people we love and care about, but the time and effort made by friends and family to see us is so special and very much appreciated.

Day Eleven

Got up early to head to Des Moines International {i love that} for a flight out to Knoxville...

home

My camera cord was exactly where I left it... 

In Colombia. 

Now I can rewind  and share our lovely last 18 days 

full of fam & friend moments, 

food,

{seriously. ate. nonstop. It's like I forgot I live in a place that rocks swim suit season 12 months out of the year}

shopping,

{I spent the day unpacking and organizing all of our American products... 

lots of spices, health&beauty products from Target, 

a Swifter I'm dying to use,

sheets, pillows, and a throw blanket...

Did I mention we bought another suitcase to bring all this back?}

and 

other stories.

{believe you me, I've got some stories}

{mmmhmm. that's right. I got my 'heer' did}

Stay tuned for the Iowa & Tennessee rundown.

But for now here is the 'sala de estar' {living room} update.

Photo Wall: Finished

I'm excited about looking at pictures of familiar faces and special memories... It beats looking at a blank white wall.

Perfect Pillows: Found

Found these gorgeous lime green girls at Home Goods. How I wish I had one of these stores in the neighborhood! I also scored a throw blanket that is the perfect weight to snuggle up in when the air conditioner gets to be too chilly.

I'm excited to say this place is beginning to feel a bit more like

 home.

blog blunder

Remember, when I promised to be a better blogger. 

Well, a better better blogger I am not.

Because a better blogger would have made sure to bring

their camera cord so they could upload pictures.

Follow my drift?

Matt and I have been enjoying our Iowa time.

It's been full of family,

friends, restaurants, musicals,

relaxation, Good Morning America,

and 

we even have a bottle of Cakebread waiting to be opened.

Oh, did I mention all of this has been done in amazing fall weather

{image found here}

If this bum blogger figures out a way to upload some pictures,

I will be back soon.

Until then,

enjoy autumn.

I know I will.

North America, back so soon?

That went fast.

Our bags are packed (with things that seem so foreign here, including pants, scarves, jackets, and closed toe shoes) and we're ready to go {Mr. John Denver anyone?}.

For those of you who know my beloved spouse, you know he's not much of a planner. Even with his impending arrival stateside, he has been mum about what he wants to do, where he wants to eat, and if he is as excited as I am about setting foot in a Target. 

However, in the last 48 hours it has hit him.

What is McQuinn excited about... 

...Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, BBQ, and college football. There's a few other things, like seeing family, meeting up with friends, running around with the Bella, and lounging. But you can't blame us for focusing on the food. 

Can you?

Here's our agenda for the weekend:

Celebrate the Graham Crackers big birthday. Somehow while we were gone, this boy grew up, walks, and is turning 1!

Catch up with these 'twindergarteners'! 

{Who likely know more Spanish than me... maybe I should buy Dora on DVD.}

Most importantly spend quality time with these beautiful people and even manage to get into a family picture.

We are also hoping to hook up with a few gorgeous smiling familiar faces, known here as amigos for some catch up and cocktails.

I promise to be a better blogger while I am away. Last time I had to leave the computer so Matt could successfully complete his three Fantasy Football Drafts {yep, that's right, I said tres}. 

See ya later alligators!

PS: Thank you to Shelley & Marcie who all these pictures were borrowed from. 

PSII: Today's kinda a special day. Happy Birthday Minnie!

Picture Perfect

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Matt and I managed to run some errands 

{scored some much needed new pillows for our bedroom}, 

find a great ceviche restaurant, spend a night out on the town, and even get some sun. 

Oh yes, we also completed another project in el apartamento. 

Kinda.

My heart has been set on creating some sort of photo gallery wall for a while now. 

Thanks to Pinterest I had all sorts of inspiration. 

Here are a few of my favs:

{found here}

{found here}

{found here}

{found here}

Hold up.

My photo gallery wall doesn't quite look like these. This is inspiration. 

1)We do things a little more simple in Colombia

2) Frames are hard to come by. What I have available isn't anywhere 

near the fabulous selection found in the above pics.

Last week I told you Matt "McGuyver'ed' a plan to hang the frames. 

While we gave it the good ole' college try, it didn't pan out. 

So we went traditional. 

Nails. Hammer.

Before we started putting holes in our nice white walls I made a cheat sheet for the frames.

I figured out the layout for the frames and traced them onto a large piece of paper.

{You might notice this is yellow legal pad paper. 

This was all I had. I also did not have tape. Therefore, I hot glued the legal pad paper together. 

Very resourceful, if you ask me}

I measured the back of the frame to determine where the nail would need to go in order for the frame to hang, made a visible dot and taped it to the wall

{Obviously some tape came into the picture at this point}

Then Matt began to hammer away.

We have no idea what these walls are made of, but they are crap.

This is what it looks like finished.

You may notice that there are no frames. 

While we hung each frame to ensure we liked the look, there is not one with a real photo in it. 

I forgot to get a shot in the midst of their quick premiere.

However, you do get to see Bella. 

I like her there. A lot. 

She is so much more noticeable here on the wall. 

Especially when she is all by herself. 

This project will likely not be finished until we return from our upcoming travels to Iowa & Tennessee. We have a lot of loved ones to see and take pictures of before this wall can truly be picture perfect.

Darlings

The foundation we visited yesterday sent some pictures from our visit. 

Now I can share some of those darling little faces.

Happy October!