My favorite things ~ Best of Bundle up Basket *closed*

Fall.

It’s probably… no, it’s definitely my most Favorite season of all.  I’m trying to super soak up all the fall I can get here because in a few short days I will be jetting off to a place that never sees fall, especially not this time of year.

So… I thought it would only be perfect to have a Best of Basket for the Best of Season!!

For those of you who are tracking with the adoption plans…. we are SO close. It’s hard to imagine that this time in two weeks I will have already had my babies in my arms for a few days, already been to my interview and visa appointment for the kids and hopefully will be heading to visit orphanages as well as weigh and measure and cuddle babies and kiddos who are waiting for their mommies and daddies to come for their interview and visa appointment for them.

Personally, My heart in some ways has had to disconnect a little bit from the face that I’ll be leaving my babies for 6 weeks… yes, I’ll be going to my babies but I still will miss Zoe and Jack so much it will hurt. There are moments that the realization of that takes my breath away. But I know that God has blessed us with the most amazing support system here and they are super loved by this HUGE family that I have here. We are just finally wrapping up TONS of paperwork, or I should say Dan is. He is the man! Because we aren’t going through a typical agency we have a lot more paperwork to do ourselves and as much as it’s been a headache, it’s been great in understanding truly what takes place over there while we are waiting for things to finalize.

Financially, we are also SO close. It’s hard to imagine that just over 6 months ago we needed $32,000- $35,000.  That was a number we just couldn’t get our heads around and it was EASY to trust that God would indeed do this because we knew there was NO way we could make it happen. Well, HE HAS done this and has used so many of you to do it through.  Now, that we are lacking a small percentage of that number…. we can get our heads around it, and it can be a struggle to trust God in these last few days…. I know that sounds CRAZY because Look at all He’s done already!! But I’m telling you…. us humans are prone to wander and prone to gravitate towards fear and control. We need His goodness, like a fetter, to bind our wandering hearts to Him.  * Just to clarify, DRC adoptions do not cost $35,000. More like $20-22,000 for one child, if you’re going through an agency that tells you it’s a lot more, then I’d really be a little leery of that agency. However because we are adopting TWO children and also we are Staying there the full 6 weeks then the costs are a lot higher… (obviously, still not as high as adopting two one at a time… but still, it’s a significant chunk of change!)

Spiritually, Someone reminded me the other day that spiritual attack is eminent. The enemy doesn’t like anything that portrays the Gospel and Christ’s love for His children. That’s why marriage is often under attack, why churches are bombarded by darts of all sorts of evil, and why Adoption can come with a heavy dose of oppression.  Both Dan and I have had moments of paralyzing fear. And Thankfully, due to the prayers of all of you they are soon washed away by the truth of God’s strength and power and over all control of all things. But it’s hard sometimes when there are so many emotions you’re feeling and each one can be manipulated by the enemy or experienced through my own wisdom and understanding and can lead you astray and quickly bring you to a place of paralyzing unbelief and fear. But the Gospel came to capture each stray thought and conquer every fearful moment. So, just be praying for us in those regards.

 

Now… onto cinnamon and nutmeg and cuddling under the softest blanket ever.  :)

So… by now, you know the ropes…. For every $5 donated for the next two weeks then I’ll enter your name into the drawing for this heart warming Basket. Give the post a shout out on Facebook or Twitter… I’ll enter you in again. :)  On November 3rd  while I’m IN CONGO :) I”ll do the drawing and somebody’s autumn will have just gotten a lot more snuggly!!!

 

I think I’m a blanket collector of sorts. I just really like the idea of having plenty of blankets and quilts to load up on someone who maybe just wants to cuddle up in our living room while watching Terranova with us ;) or crashes on our couch for the night and needs a pile of soft warmth to keep warm since we keep our little apartment really cold at night.  I love blankets, quilts, throws….. and  I am in LOVE with THIS Pottery Barn blanket. It’s got the best of both worlds…. plush woolly warmth on one side and the comfort of knit cable on the other. It’s amazing!! And it’s going to wrap around you and those you love and keep you all warm this fall and winter

And you can’t have fall without the occasional sneeze or sniffles or just a cold rainy day that demands a cup of hot tea with some honey.  These Tazo tea bags are by far my very favorite. I make the Tazo Passion tea (you know, the pinkish iced tea that Starbucks makes) year round and it’s my most favorite. But a little birdie barista told me that the best remedy for an oncoming cold is 1 tea bag of Calm and 1 tea bag of Refresh + a spoonful of honey and maybe even a splash of lemonade.  Steep 5 minutes…. then enjoy… finish feeling calmed and refreshed.

The mark of fall season for us is the smell of one thing….. William-Sonoma Mulling Spices. I get a can EVERY year. You can make cider from it… OR like we mostly do,  you can sprinkle some in a pan of water and put it on the stove to simmer… and soon your whole house will smell like the essence of fall. (you can also do this with quality vanilla and it will leave your home smelling like cookies!)

Yes…. She’s holding a Kindle. And Yes… it’s in my Bundle up Basket. Some of you probably have one because it’s amazing!! (I can’t believe how light and convenient it is) but you can always gift it to someone you love dearly. But I thought one of Fall’s delights is bundling up with a good book and a cup of tea, but since I can’t offer you a zillion of my favorite books (shipping would KILL me!) I thought I would do the next best thing and give you a Kindle.  It’s the 6 inch Wi-fi 3G Keyboard Kindle. And it can be yours or someone you love this holiday season!! And I got a rich brown leather cover for it too. That way… all you have to do is stick it in your purse or laptop bag or even keep it on your counter-top and it’s protected!

 

One thing I love about the temps dropping and the weather changing is the fact that I don’t have to keep my hair in a ponytail off my neck (which is definitely my Texas summer go to hairstyle) I find myself wearing headbands and cute flowers and decorative pins in my hair. And so, I wanted to include some and I knew just the girl to ask. Kate Miller, we used to be in the same small group last year and she would come each week with her hair all dolled up featuring the cutest sweetest hair accessories. I finally asked her WHERE do you get your hairbands… to which she replied, “I make them myself”.  Of course she did… I mean, she’s super creative and just oozes vintage romantic style, so it only makes sense that she would be the creator of these adorable hair jewels.  She has a business called “Frill” So I asked her to make you some. And she DID!!! Isn’t this headband and hair clip awesome!! (There are a few more I’m including and I’ll show you them at the end)

 Each Friday lately I’ve had the morning and afternoon all to myself. My in-loves watch the kids and I’m off running a million errands that I have written down throughout the week. But My favorite moment of that blissful day is my lunch at Panera Bread. I LOVE LOVE Panera Bread. It’s my go to place and I haven’t had really anything there I didn’t enjoy. Most of my lunches with Best Friends have been there and the atmosphere is just so….. warm and thus reminds me of Fall!!!  So, here’s a $20 gift card to Panera Bread.

 

I can’t remember when I had my first one…. or when it became an airport tradition….. or when it became a holiday shopping at the mall tradition… but somewhere in the past 8 or so years The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory became a personal favorite of mine and a tradition for those specific times at the mall or airport. And not just anything from there (although EVERYTHING they make is amazing!!) but specifically their Caramel Apples.  OMG! They are Incredible.  So, you’re also getting a $20 gift card from them as well.  :) You’re welcome!

 

Uggs. Nuff said. If you’ve ever put a pair on your feet you KNOW. They are the most amazing shoe. It’s like getting to wear your favorite house shoe everywhere and look super fashionable in the process.  The insides have the softest most durable fleece in it and it’s like wearing a blanket on your feet. (without the claustrophobic feeling that blankets can have on toes)  Anyway, I LOVE these Cardi-Uggs!!! don’t you?!  But, since I don’t know your shoe size yet…. I thought I’d just give you a $150 gift card to Zappos so you can order the color/size and style you prefer!!! :)

And another Fabulous job of photography for this shoot by Kristin Shyla!!!

 I  wanted to show off a few more pieces of Kate Miller’s Frill Hair Accessories and of course Kristin was happy to help with that as well!!

Just to remind you that this will be up on the blog until November 2nd…. and on November 3rd…. I”ll do a video of the random drawing!!  (IN CONGO!!! :) )

And then I’ll ship all these goodies to you.

After you donate……  post something about this on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll add your name again to the list.  Just be sure to friend me and tag me (Casey Nichols Chappell) in your status on FB and mention me @caseychappell in your tweet!

If you desire your name to be put on the list for the basket drawing without donating just email me at caseychappell.com@gmail.com

PayPalDonationsare not tax deductible. If you would like to send a check just email me.

Donations will end on November 2nd and one of your sweet names will be announced on November 3rd!

*an actual basket is not included.

And finally… the sweetest lil’ punkin ever!! ;)