If I could live in flannel during the winter, I so would. The material is soft, it’s a great layering piece and it gives me pops of color in an otherwise dreary time of year. I’m showing you how I styled this flannel shirt for fall from a recent excursion to the State Fair of Texas.











Would you believe me if I told you I’ve only been to the State Fair of Texas twice since I’ve lived in Texas?? I moved to Texas in 1999 and I’ve only been twice. How sad is that?!?! LOL What’s even crazier is that I’ve never been to Six Flags since I’ve been here either. My parents would travel to Dallas every other year to take us to Six Flags but I’ve never been since I’ve lived here full time. So lame.

I did manage to ride the Ferris Wheel while I was there and sneak a Fletcher’s Corny Dog. Wasn’t a huge fan of the corn dog. That was kind of let down considering it’s like THE food you are supposed to find at the State Fair of Texas.

Missing out on the fair from year to year is definitely a lesson in getting out and doing more things. More of that self-care that I keep talking about. I am working on reading more. And making it a point to make sure I read. It’s so easy to get swept away into a book. I’m reading The Guestbook by Andrea Hurst right now and it sucked me right on in once I started it.

It seems like I do a lot more reading in the darker months of the year. Probably for comfort and probably because it just feels like I should be curled up with a book. I’m curious if you feel that way. Do you read more in a particular season over the others?

I’d also love to know what you’ve been reading lately. I think the last 5 books I’ve read have been REALLY good. I plan on doing a post about what I’ve read lately – to share some of those books. I’ve been trying to dwindle down my TBR pile on my Kindle before I start investing in anymore books. I have SO.MANY.TO.READ. But I can’t complain.

Tell me what’s on your reading list and what you’re currently reading!!

SHOP MY OUTFIT

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT: Trish from Beatbox Portraits

I’m back with my new series, On My Radar. September’s On My Radar post was a hit and I’m excited to be back this month with some new stuff! This series is where I feature new finds, things/items I’m curious about, stuff I’ve tried, books I’ve read or books I want to read, etc. I hope it will encourage you to find something new or try something new. I love finding cool stuff – whether it’s for me or for someone else. Keep reading to find out what’s on my radar for October!!

FASHION
I am a sucker for Chuck Taylor’s. And I just added this pair of Chuck Taylor’s to my shoe closet. Give me all the Chuck T’s!!

I already own 2 Madewell bags. The Transport Tote and the Drawstring Rucksack. Yet, I really really really want to buy their regular leather backback. Slight obsession?? Yes. LOL

BOOKS
I recently finished London Falling by Emma Carr. And it was awesome. And then I learned it is also a series! And I can’t wait to grab book 2 which is London Dreaming.

I just started The Moonglow Cafe by Deborah Garner. I’m only a few chapters in but I’m loving it so far!!

I’m excited about a new book releasing soon (November 22) by Angela Correll!! I’ve already read her previous 2 books (plus interviewed her on my podcast!!) and absolutely fell in love with her characters and the story. Her first book was titled Grounded (and you can read my thoughts on Grounded here). Her second book was titled Guarded (and you can read my thoughts on Guarded here). Her third book is titled Granted. And I’m actually giddy with excitement because I get to revisit these characters again!!

BEAUTY
I was hired by Olay to be an ambassador of their products for the next year. Part of my ambassadorship has included me participating in a 28 Day Challenge with a couple of their products. The first product is Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Face Moisturizer and the second product is Olay Ultimate Eye Cream. So far so good. I’m up for anything that will reduce my wrinkles around my eyes that are more than just smile lines!!

HOME
Can I just build my farmhouse already?!? Oh wait – I have to go in order of my goals before I can build a farmhouse. LOL While I build my farmhouse in my head – I’m going to window shop as if this building dream of mine is coming sooner than later. Which means I can begin shopping for it now right?! I think I’ll start off with these GORGEOUS Rose Gold Flatware from Pottery Barn. I’m a sucker for mixed metals!! And I think I just found the perfect sofa for my office. And it’s pink velvet.

BIZ LIFE
Learning how to put a business plan together for a creative business isn’t easy. Especially when you’ve never written one before. I have a new adventure on the horizon and I’d like to get going on my business plan. The One Page Business Plan for the Creative Entrepreneur by Jim Horan, sounds like it’s the book for me!

BLOGGING
Have you listened to my Nitty Gritty Blogger Interview Series?? It’s happening now on my podcast – Boss Girl Creative!! I’ve got 6 interviews released and 5 more to go!! So many great nuggets of wisdom from these ladies! And SO many nuggets waiting to be discovered in the unreleased episodes!!

WEDDINGS & EVENTS
Y’all – I made a trip out to Marfa for a GORGEOUS wedding vow renewal photoshoot. And I cannot wait to share this experience via photos and videos with you!!! While we both wait (impatiently for me lol), here’s some great articles recently featured on some of my favorite online wedding publications!
One of the Most Beautiful Spots in Hawaii to Tie the Knot
An Autumnal Wedding in a Catskills Lodge
3 Looks for a Modern Industrial Wedding

Until next month, I hope you’ve enjoyed my October On My Radar!!

This Must Have Farmhouse Decor for Fall post is written in partnership with Cost Plus World Market. All opinions are 100% my own.
Fall is here and it’s now October and I’m just ready for all things that happen in this month: pumpkins, pumpkins & more pumpkins…oh and Halloween!!! I LOVE decorating for fall, especially when I can incorporate it into the farmhouse feel I’ve got going on. I’ve rounded up some of my favorites from Cost Plus World Market in this must have Farmhouse Decor for Fall list below + my thoughts on how you can incorporate these items into your own home to achieve a farmhouse-feel for fall!

This 3-tiered galvanized cake stand is a perfect option to feature mini pumpkins! Find some white pumpkins or paint some white!

Add this Farm-house chalkboard to display a home-y fall quote. One of my favs is “Thankful – Grateful – Blessed”.

Snag this 3-tiered glass drying rack for all of your mugs that you’ll be using during these cooler months of fall.

Galvanized Metal Bins are the perfect item to store blankets for you and your guests.

Pick up some Glass Milk Bottles to showcase fall florals or cottom stems on your dining room table or sideboard.

This gorgeous Live Magnolia wreath would be perfect for your front door.

Grab some of these Wooden Pillar Candle Holders to display pumpkins or fall colored candles on your dining room table or on your mantle.

Use this living Olive & Eucalyptus Garland as a table runner and then add in some stems of cotton or fall foliage to bring in some pops of fall color.

Add some of these fall themed Trivets to your Kitchen for a little extra Farmhouse. This Pumpkin trivet and this Grateful trivet are perfect options!

I’ll be making a trip to my local Cost Plus World Market in Fort Worth to grab these items so I can bring Fall into my home + I’ll be making a trip to a local pumpkin patch to purchase some cute pumpkins!!!

Don’t miss out on the Friends & Family Sale happening at Cost Plus World Market starting THIS FRIDAY, October 6, 2017 and lasting through Monday, October 9, 2017!! Save an extra 30% on home décor, furniture, entertaining essentials and more. Save 10% on food and beverages. Get YOUR coupon here and then find a store close to you by using their Store Locator function.

This is the PERFECT opportunity to grab your Farmhouse Decor for Fall! Plus maybe even start your Christmas shopping??? I know I’m going to be on the hunt for some more Clearly Canadian. If you didn’t realize Clearly Canadian was back on the shelves, I just made your day. LOL

SHOP THIS POST FOR MY MUST HAVE FARMHOUSE DECOR FOR FALL

Looking for some more seasonal decor? Check out these Thanksgiving Wreaths and Halloween Decorations

What do you love most about Fall??

This Girl on the Go conversation about Self Care Ideas is brought to you by AT&T. All stories & opinions are 100% my own.
How often do you truly take time for yourself? You don’t need a massive time block every day, but you do need to be mindful of moments where you can focus on yourself and no one else. When you are constantly hustling like I am, it’s easy to pass up those mindful moments to keep working towards that next goal or thing on your to do list. I know I can be working at my desk and then “look up” and realize it’s lunchtime, only to realize I hadn’t moved in 4 hours. Do you know how bad that is?!? Yes, I’m focused on the task at hand but I’m not MOVING my body. So bad!! Can you relate??

It seems like I’m constantly either glued to my computer, phone or tablet. And it doesn’t matter where I am – there’s always an electronic device within reaching distance. Usually is right in my hands at all times. I rarely stop. I’m constantly going – whether it’s just my brain or me physically.

Recently my hubs and I decided to start decluttering. And when I say declutter – I’m talking about all aspects of life. Not only every single square inch inside and outside of our home, which includes all of our bills too. We have finally set some goals for ourselves since we both felt stuck in accomplishing them because of all the “stuff” around us – house/bills/debt etc. So we started tackling it all.

I can’t tell you how much stuff we got rid of that we’ve been hanging on to for way too long. I even managed to cut our bills in half because there was just so much waste. One area that I took a strong look at was our phone bill. I have been an AT&T customer since I received my first cell phone in high school. In college, I moved to my own cell phone plan and have been paying for that same plan since 2001. I think the only real change was when the iPhone came out and we had to add in those fees. Y’all – I was on the same plan, because I was TOO SCARED to switch. I finally made the decision to try out AT&T Prepaid specifically for my rental business. It gives me a dedicated line specifically for my business and allows my personal cell phone to stay exactly that. Personal. LIFE CHANGING.

After all the decluttering was complete, I started to really look at my day to day and realized how poorly I was treating myself. Remember when I said I could be working-working-working and look up and see I had been sitting still for 4 hours?! Yes. That’s horrible.

So, I’m challenging myself to be more mindful about taking care of myself on a daily basis to go along with all the free-ness I feel from decluttering all aspects of my life. I’ve come up with 50 self care ideas that are going to help me (& YOU!) because let’s face it – we have to take care of ourselves. And whatever that looks like for you – we both need to make it a priority. Because at the end of the day it is so important to replenish yourself so that you can continue hustling and being that girl on the go.

Our bodies are not endless. Take care of all of it!! Give yourself some self-care and reap the benefits in all of the other areas!!

1. Try yoga.

2. Take a bubble bath.

3. Go for a walk.

4. Meditate.

5. Bake a cake.

6. Sleep in.

7. Get a massage.

8. Read a book from start to finish.

9. Go swimming.

10. Browse Pinterest.

11. Buy fresh flowers for your desk or office.

12. Paint your nails or get a manicure.

13. Journal.

14. Grab drinks with a girlfriend.

15. Write a letter to your best friend & mail it.

16. Unplug for an hour.

17. Indulge in a 15-minute dance party.

18. Light a candle.

19. Drink lots of water.

20. Gaze at the stars.

21. Write a love note.

22. People watch.

23. Drink hot cocoa.

24. Dress up for no reason.

25. Watch the sun rise.

26. Watch the sun set.

27. Daydream.

28. Buy yourself a cupcake.

29. Make a smoothie.

30. Hang pictures or quotes that inspire you.

31. Listen to good music.

32. Grab a coloring book & color.

33. Buy a new outfit.

34. Watch your favorite movie twice in one sitting.

35. Smile as big as you can.

36. Listen to a podcast.

37. Call your best friend.

38. Apply a face mask.

39. Watch your favorite TV show.

40. Look through your old pictures.

41. Go see a movie by yourself.

42. Host a girls night out.

43. Get up and stretch.

44. Go for a run.

45. Write down your goals.

46. Eat some chocolate.

47. Send someone a thank you card.

48. Book a mini-vacay.

49. Go to a State Fair or Carnival.

50. Cook a new recipe.

I hope this list gives you some ideas on how you can step back and begin to actively take care of yourself. Start with decluttering your life: your stuff, your bills, your debt. And then begin to work on YOU.

What do you do for self care?? Have you decluttered your life before?

This post is written in partnership with Westrock Coffee in celebration of National Coffee Day!
Mornings are a beast for me. It takes me an hour just to get myself out of bed once I become coherent of my alarm ringing. I need all of the morning hacks just to get me out of bed. And I know I could get so much more done if I could just get up in the morning and get going. So I’ve got a list of 5 morning hacks that are helping me to change my morning routine. If you have a hard time getting up in the morning, this is the post for you!

5 MORNING HACKS TO JUMPSTART YOUR DAY

HACK 1: Program your coffee maker in advance.
Let the smell of Westrock Coffee help you wake up in the morning. When you choose Westrock Coffee, you are choosing to support the farming families that partner with Westrock Coffee. It’s ethically-sourced, high-quality and affordable.

We are a coffee company that believes in ethical and sustainable coffee from crop to cup. Westrock Coffee is made with love and is changing lives with each delicious sip. Sustainability is our standard for great coffee – coffee that was ethically obtained and of the highest quality.

Dallas area readers!! Find Westrock Coffee on the shelves of your local Kroger or Bed, Bath & Beyond. Not in the Dallas area? Search here to find a store selling Westrock Coffee near you.

HACK 2: Get outside.
Take your morning cup of coffee and enjoy it outside. Or go for a walk to help you wake up.

HACK 3: Open up your blinds.
Let the sunlight in! Not only is it good for your soul, it’s good for your body.

HACK 4: Get some “me” time in before work. Try getting up 30 minutes earlier and enjoy some time with a good book. Or indulge in a bubble bath.

HACK 5: Prepare stuff the night before.
Set out your clothes the night before, prep your breakfast and/or pack your lunch. Take care of the things that make you feel rushed so that you can enjoy your morning routine.

I hope these hacks start helping you to become a bit of a morning person. They’ve begun to help me – although I may not ever truly be a morning person – at least I’m trying these morning hacks to jumpstart my day.

To learn more about Westrock Coffee: visit their website. #coffeeofchoice

Are you a fellow blogger?? Did you know I host a weekly podcast called Boss Girl Creative?? My podcast teaches the whats, whys & hows of blogging, business & being a creative entrepreneur. Recently, I launched a brand new series called the Nitty Gritty Blogger Interview Series. It’s me interviewing successful bloggers and asking them the nitty gritty questions – the how they did it questions. There have been some amazing interviews thus far and several more to go!! I’ve listed them below, but keep this post bookmarked because there will be 11 total interviews!! They will definitely be interviews you don’t want to miss!!

NITTY GRITTY BLOGGER INTERVIEW SERIES

Interview #1: Lauren McBride of Lauren McBride Blog
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 111!

Interview #2: Vilma Gonzalez of Vilma Iris
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 113!

Interview #3: Stefanie Schoen of The Style Safari
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 115!

Interview #4: Camille Whiting of Friday We’re in Love
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 117!

Interview #5: Janssen Bradshaw of Everyday Reading
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 119!

Interview #6: Alexandra Evjen of AVE Styles
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 121!

Interview #7: Elisabeth McKnight of Elisabeth McKnight Blog!
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 123!

Interview #8: Esther Julee of Local Adventurer!
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 125!

Interview #9: Juli Bauer of PaleOMG!
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 127!

Interview #10: Marion of Miss Mustard Seed!
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 129!

Interview #11: Liz Marie Galvan from Liz Marie Blog!
Click here to listen to her interview in Episode 131!

Interview #12: Taylor Bradford of Taylor Bradford Blog & Boss Girl Creative (my own interview!)
Click here to listen to my interview in Episode 133!

I hope you’ll take a listen to these interviews to help your own Boss Girl journey. There are tons of nuggets of wisdom tucked inside them. Or check out the rest of the episodes in my podcast. There are over 100 and counting!! If you are a newbie to the show, this is the place to start to get your feet wet!!

Cheers, Boss Girl!!

I’ve been on a reading kick lately. Do you ever have those moments where you just want to read all of the books?? I’m that girl right now. I think during the spring & summer, I just was kind of meh over books. Nothing I picked up held much luster for me. But now I’m like – give me all of the books! I’m sharing my Must Read Books for Fall today and a few I’ve already read (within the last few weeks!) and the rest I’m really excited to read!

MUST READ BOOKS FOR FALL

ONE. Origin by Dan BrownGoodreads.com Synopsis: Robert Langdon, Harvard professor of symbology and religious iconology, arrives at the ultramodern Guggenheim Museum Bilbao to attend a major announcement—the unveiling of a discovery that “will change the face of science forever.” The evening’s host is Edmond Kirsch, a forty-year-old billionaire and futurist whose dazzling high-tech inventions and audacious predictions have made him a renowned global figure. Kirsch, who was one of Langdon’s first students at Harvard two decades earlier, is about to reveal an astonishing breakthrough . . . one that will answer two of the fundamental questions of human existence.
As the event begins, Langdon and several hundred guests find themselves captivated by an utterly original presentation, which Langdon realizes will be far more controversial than he ever imagined. But the meticulously orchestrated evening suddenly erupts into chaos, and Kirsch’s precious discovery teeters on the brink of being lost forever. Reeling and facing an imminent threat, Langdon is forced into a desperate bid to escape Bilbao. With him is Ambra Vidal, the elegant museum director who worked with Kirsch to stage the provocative event. Together they flee to Barcelona on a perilous quest to locate a cryptic password that will unlock Kirsch’s secret.

Navigating the dark corridors of hidden history and extreme religion, Langdon and Vidal must evade a tormented enemy whose all-knowing power seems to emanate from Spain’s Royal Palace itself . . . and who will stop at nothing to silence Edmond Kirsch. On a trail marked by modern art and enigmatic symbols, Langdon and Vidal uncover clues that ultimately bring them face-to-face with Kirsch’s shocking discovery . . . and the breathtaking truth that has long eluded us.

PURCHASE ORIGIN BY DAN BROWN

TWO. The Life List by Lori Nelson SpielmanGoodreads.com Synopsis: In this utterly charming debut — one woman sets out to complete her old list of childhood goals, and finds that her lifelong dreams lead her down a path she never expects.

1. Go to Paris
2. Perform live, on a super big stage
3. Have a baby, maybe two
4. Fall in love

Brett Bohlinger has forgotten all about the list of life goals she’d written as a naïve teenager. In fact, at thirty-four, Brett seems to have it all—a plum job at her family’s multimillion-dollar company and a spacious loft with her irresistibly handsome boyfriend. But when her beloved mother, Elizabeth, dies, Brett’s world is turned upside down. Rather than simply naming her daughter the new CEO of Bohlinger Cosmetics, Elizabeth’s will comes with one big stipulation: Brett must fulfill the list of childhood dreams she made so long ago.

Grief-stricken, Brett can barely make sense of her mother’s decision. Some of her old hopes seem impossible. How can she possibly have a relationship with a father who died seven years ago? Other dreams (Be an awesome teacher!) would require her to reinvent her entire future. For each goal attempted, her mother has left behind a bittersweet letter, offering words of wisdom, warmth, and—just when Brett needs it—tough love.

As Brett struggles to complete her abandoned life list, one thing becomes clear: Sometimes life’s sweetest gifts can be found in the most unexpected places.

PURCHASE THE LIFE LIST BY LORI NELSON SPIELMAN

THREE. The Sleuth Sisters by Maggie PillGoodreads.com Synopsis: In this cozy mystery, the first of a series, middle-aged sisters Faye and Barb decided to open a detective agency in Allport, their small town in northern Lower Michigan. They agree that Retta, their baby sister, will NOT be included, since she tends to take over any organization she’s part of. Sweetly but firmly, Retta will tell you what you should do, could do, and will do.
The agency does not take off, and Faye reconsiders the decision to leave Retta out, since as the widow of a slain state trooper, she’s got contacts all over Michigan. Retta’s only too willing to “help out” and immediately begins second-guessing their decisions, which leads to sparks between her and Barb.
The sisters finally get a decent case: finding a man who apparently murdered his wife years ago and has been on the run ever since. As they try to investigate what happened, they’re opposed at every turn. Local cops doubt the “lady detectives” and most of the town is convinced Neil Brown killed his wife and brother-in-law in a fit of anger. The murder victims’ father has no doubt Brown is guilty, and he’s furious that anyone might take a different view.
Still, someone wants to keep the sisters from finding Brown and digging into what really happened the day he left Allport. As the sisters piece things together, the new police chief seems like a possible ally. The problem is that both Barb and Retta are attracted to him, and Retta seldom meets a man she can’t get. Accepting defeat in that arena, Barb tries to concentrate on the case and proving Brown isn’t guilty of murder. She succeeds, but it means she must face a desperate killer in a remote, dangerous spot. Only Faye and Retta can save her, and they have no idea where she is.
Family humor–particularly the close-but-oh-so-different status of sisters, plays a big role in this murder mystery. Each sister has strengths and foibles. Barb, intelligent and composed, sneaks around town at night, correcting the spelling and grammatical errors on signs that drive her bonkers. Faye, kind-hearted but insecure, can’t see herself as the capable person she is. And Retta? Retta knows she’s attractive and clever. She’s only trying to help when she tells you exactly what you should do with your life–or your detective agency.

PURCHASE THE SLEUTH SISTERS BY MAGGIE PILL

FOUR. Y is for Yesterday by Sue GraftonGoodreads.com Synopsis: The darkest and most disturbing case report from the files of Kinsey Millhone, Y is for Yesterday begins in 1979, when four teenage boys from an elite private school sexually assault a fourteen-year-old classmate—and film the attack. Not long after, the tape goes missing and the suspected thief, a fellow classmate, is murdered. In the investigation that follows, one boy turns state’s evidence and two of his peers are convicted. But the ringleader escapes without a trace.

Now, it’s 1989 and one of the perpetrators, Fritz McCabe, has been released from prison. Moody, unrepentant, and angry, he is a virtual prisoner of his ever-watchful parents—until a copy of the missing tape arrives with a ransom demand. That’s when the McCabes call Kinsey Millhone for help. As she is drawn into their family drama, she keeps a watchful eye on Fritz. But he’s not the only one being haunted by the past. A vicious sociopath with a grudge against Millhone may be leaving traces of himself for her to find…

PURCHASE Y IS FOR YESTERDAY BY SUE GRAFTON

FIVE. Innocence by Kathleen TessaroGoodreads.com Synopsis: Some dreams never die.
It’s 1986 and eighteen-year-old Evie dreams of being an actress. Leaving her hometown of Eden, Ohio, for the first time, she’s heading to London to study drama. Together with fellow students Imogene (a born-again Laura Ashley poster child and frustrated virgin) and Robbie (a native New Yorker, budding bohemian, and very much not a virgin), Evie’s flung into a thrilling new world: a world illuminated by the glamorous, outrageous Robbie. Together, anything’s possible.

But then life, and love, intervene. And everything changes.

Fifteen years later, Evie’s a single mother teaching drama to night students and living with the eccentric Bunny in her house of artistic renters. Robbie’s gone now, killed in a car accident. And Evie’s doing her best to forget the past, as well as the dreams they once both shared.

Then an old friendship comes back to haunt Evie. Literally. And suddenly everything is about to change again.

PURCHASE INNOCENCE BY KATHLEEN TESSARO

SIX. The Almost Sisters by Joshilyn JacksonGoodreads.com Synopsis: With empathy, grace, humor, and piercing insight, the author of gods in Alabama pens a powerful, emotionally resonant novel of the South that confronts the truth about privilege, family, and the distinctions between perception and reality – the stories we tell ourselves about our origins and who we really are.

Superheroes have always been Leia Birch Briggs’ weakness. One tequila-soaked night at a comics convention, the usually level-headed graphic novelist is swept off her barstool by a handsome and anonymous Batman.

It turns out the caped crusader has left her with more than just a nice, fuzzy memory. She’s having a baby boy – an unexpected but not unhappy development in the thirty-eight year-old’s life. But before Leia can break the news of her impending single-motherhood (including the fact that her baby is biracial) to her conventional, Southern family, her step-sister Rachel’s marriage implodes. Worse, she learns her beloved ninety-year-old grandmother, Birchie, is losing her mind, and she’s been hiding her dementia with the help of Wattie, her best friend since girlhood.

Leia returns to Alabama to put her grandmother’s affairs in order, clean out the big Victorian that has been in the Birch family for generations, and tell her family that she’s pregnant. Yet just when Leia thinks she’s got it all under control, she learns that illness is not the only thing Birchie’s been hiding. Tucked in the attic is a dangerous secret with roots that reach all the way back to the Civil War. Its exposure threatens the family’s freedom and future, and it will change everything about how Leia sees herself and her sister, her son and his missing father, and the world she thinks she knows.

PURCHASE THE ALMOST SISTERS BY JOSHILYN JACKSON

SHOP ALL OF THE MUST READ BOOKS FOR FALL

What is on your Must Read list for Fall??

Owning a vintage rental business over the last few years has allowed me to learn things I never thought I’d need to learn. Like today’s post for example: how to remove damaged wood veneer from a table that you leave outside overnight, not realizing your sprinkler system was still running in the wee hours of the morning. Yep. That was what happened to this table. I had setup for a photoshoot in my backyard and left some of the larger pieces underneath a tree (because I couldn’t move them by myself and needed to wait for my hubs to help). The damage, honestly, wasn’t bad. But because I didn’t know how to just fix the areas that needed some fixing, I just decided to pull the veneer completely off and start over.

HOW TO REMOVE DAMAGED WOOD VENEER

This is my process on how I removed the damaged wood veneer (and the remaining veneer that wasn’t damaged). Outside of being tedious (get comfy), the removal process is not hard at all!

Supplies:

Putty knife
Cheap iron with steamer function
Old towel
Water (for iron and towel)
Mallet or Hammer

Technique:

The best way I can tell you to do this is to use a really cheap iron (my iron was older and I worked it too hard during this project and it died before I was finished) with a steam function. Let your iron heat up and take a towel and lay it on top the section you are wanting to remove (work in small sections). Add just a tad bit of water to the spot on the towel that you are going to put the iron on. Iron that area for a few minutes and then remove the towel and take your putty knife to begin working the veneer loose (veneer is held together with glue – that is why we are using an iron to heat it up + the moisture helps left the veneer loose as well). That’s it. You just repeat this process over and over and over until your veneer is completely removed. It’s definitely tedious but it’s not a hard process.

WATCH MY QUICK VIDEO TUTORIAL ON HOW TO REMOVE DAMAGED VENEER

Have you ever tackled a project like this?

I’ve been working hard behind the scenes to bring you my latest moonshine creation: Apple Pie Moonshine. I’ve been on the hunt for some inspiration for some new moonshine recipes and finally found some inspo in my latest Southern Living Magazine with their Classic Apple Cobbler recipe. This recipe got my brain churning and I knew exactly what my next moonshine recipe was going to be – especially because y’all have fallen in love with my Caramel Apple Moonshine recipe. So keep reading for the latest creation…
This moonshine recipe is sweet and smooth and has a hint of fall spices. And you can almost taste the a la mode with the vanilla bean and vanilla vodka. It’s definitely going to be a hit at your next get together!!! Now I’m wondering who is going to help me drink all of this. ha! Actually…I think I’ll be making some of my moonshine recipes for gifts this year. Who wouldn’t love a cocktail as their gift?!

APPLE PIE MOONSHINE

Ingredients
2 qts. Apple Juice
2 qts. Apple Cider
1 vanilla bean, split open
1 1/2 tsp. apple pie spice
1 c. white sugar
1 c. light brown sugar
4 cinnamon sticks
500 ml Moonshine (I like Devil’s Cut & Midnight Moon)
250 ml Vanilla Vodka

Directions
In a large pot, add in apple juice, apple cider, vanilla bean, apple pie spice, white sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon sticks. Bring to a gentle boil and then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for at least an hour. Remove from the heat and bring to room temperature. Strain out the vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks. Once your liquid has cooled, add in the alcohol. Serve either cold or warm.
Makes about 18 cups.
**Please drink responsibly**

Love moonshine? You’ll have to check out some of my other favorite moonshine recipes below!

Need some more cocktail ideas? I’ve got you covered there too! Here are some reader favorites below!