Daydreaming about Fall

Fall has always been my favorite season.  I actually dream about fall all year long (except at Christmas!).  So, when I saw that the Whisperwood Cottage was hosting a fall scouting party, I knew that I MUST start thinking about fall decorating and digging through my fall decorating photographs from last year.  Like I needed anyone to twist my arm....

I even became so inspired that I have decided to organize an extra room at my house with shelving totally dedicated to housing all of my seasonal decor (i.e. fall decor!) so that I can inventory (enjoy!) it at any time!! 

So, let's get on with this fall daydream!!

I guess the best place to start is at the front porch, and then we'll work our way through the house.  I am so proud of the pumpkin topiaries I made last year for the porch, and I cannot WAIT to put them out again this year!!!  I have them tenderly packed away just waiting for the calendar to turn August.  I'm not going to lie......I have thought about getting them out, but I can't have the neighbors thinking I am anymore nuts than they already do!!  They will need to wait until the end of August.  :(

Here's  a recap of my fall porch decor....I'm not changing a thing this year!! The bows, garlands, flag, and wreath are ready to roll!!!  My mix of traditional fall items with zebra, leopard print, and mesh ribbon are right up my alley.  I mean, really, who can resist zebra print AND a pumpkin???   :)

My favorite things from the porch are the pumpkin topiaries I made last year, my cornstalks, and the leopard print and mesh ribbons I made for the porch.  I love the unexpected touch the leopard print gives to the porch and how it ties the topiaries, wreath, and porch rails together. 

Of course, I couldn't have just plain cornstalks, so I added a couple of leftover acorn picks that match the garland, more mesh ribbon and leopard print bows, of course!!

Besides animal print, I cannot live without my fleur de lis stuff!!  I placed this bench on the front porch, and look how cute this turned out to be with my old leopard print pillows, my pumpkin pillow, and Mr. Pumpkin...

Mums are my favorite fall flowers.  I got these for $5 each at the nursery where I got my cornstalks.  Love the pops of color that only fall mums can give!

I also added a scarecrow, mum, and tiny pumpkin to my adorable zebra print fall flag!!

Here's a closer look at my fall flag.  Of all the flags I own, it is my FAVE!!!

 Now, moving indoors......Fall is always everywhere in my house, and I usually start my fall decorating the first part of August.  The neighbors can't see inside, so I usually start a little earlier in the house.  My family already knows I have serious issues!!!!  ;)

The mantle in the family room is all decked out for fall with my Dollar General pumpkins and my Kirkland's bejeweled pumpkins! I love mixing inexpensive finds with higher quality items.  Everything I do is budget-friendly, so I love a bargain!!!  This mantle will take me all the way from September to Thanksgiving. 

In the kitchen, my favorite kitchen rooster is shaking his tail feathers!!! I made this arrangement two years ago, and I am still loving it.

That is VERY unusual for me!!

I am still in L-O-V-E with my Mercury glass pumpkins from Pottery Barn....LOVING them paired with my silver trays on the wall in the kitchen!!

If you like it then you better put a pumpkin on it!! It seems like that is all I do during the fall...if it doesn't move, I WILL put a pumpkin on it! Even the candlesticks on the sideboard in the kitchen are not safe!!!  Yep, these mini pumpkins are from Dollar General, too.

My kitchen buffet all dressed up for fall!

My fall kitchen tree has become a tradition...LOVE the warm look of it!

Come December, he will be all decked out in gingerbread!!

Here's a closeup.....

And, last but not least, the back porch!!  The porch is right off the kitchen, and I do enjoy setting the stage for fall outdoors as well.  The wrought iron table is from my childhood, and I love to set this table for various holidays and parties throughout the year. 

This is one of my favorite looks set just for our family one fall Sunday afternoon.  My grandmother was a turkey farmer, so the Pottery Barn plates mean a great deal to me as they remind me of my grandmother.

A small outdoor fireplace gets a touch of fall with a wreath and jack-o-lantern!

A final look at the cozy back porch....notice my signature animal print.  Gotta have it!

Hope you enjoyed my mini fall tour,  and I am hoping that maybe it inspired you to start dreaming about fall just like me!!!!  I can't wait!

Linking up to the Whisper Wood Cottage for their Talent Scouting Party!!

Updates

Friends, thank you for the sweet emails and comments I have received in my absence for the past few months.  I didn't really know I would be missed, but I do appreciate your kindness!!

Life for me has been crazy, to say the least.  One major thing ---  My 80 year old mother was living with us for quite awhile, and after the holidays she started having some major problems with falling and needing 24 hour a day care. Even though we tried to keep her here with help coming in and out, we just could not meet her needs.  Me quitting my job is certainly not feasible, so we all agreed that assisted living would be best for her. She is loving her new place and enjoys the many activities that the home offers, especially the bingo and three wonderful meals a day!  Needless to say, this was quite the move, and another topsy turvy turnover of my house yet once again.  Her constant care did not allow me time to do any projects, go thrift shopping, or anything outside of work, much less time to do the things I enjoyed such as crafting, decorating or blogging.  Slowly but surely, I am getting back where I need to be.  (Just had a pedicure today for the first time in MONTHS, and I sure forgot how AWESOME that is!!)  I haven't been to Kirkland's or Hobby Lobby since right after Christmas if that tells you how crazy my life has been!!!!

Other than the situation with my mother, I have been very busy at work with multiple graduation activities, closing out the school year, and tons of end of the school year activities.  I even had a week long conference to attend in Orlando. 

Finally in the last three days, I can start to feel myself breathing again!!!

We did have a vacation booked for several months, and I am looking forward to staying in a magnificent log cabin for a week!!!!

I will be sure to take lots of pictures as I know it will be beautifully decorated.  We have been locally to the beach for several years in a row now, and it's funny that the mountain trip actually costs less than the local beach house visits have.  We do the beach thing all the time, so it will be nice to soak up some different scenery!!!

Promise to be back m ore regularly after the vacay!!!!!!!!

 Happy 4th of July!

Easter Tablescape

I can't believe it's almost time for old Peter Cottontail to hop on down the bunny trail!! I remember my grandma singing that song to me all the time as a little girl in the days heading up to Easter. She was BIG on holidays, always making sure everything was just right. I remember her saving green stamps to get 12 place settings of silver and Desert Rose china at the Quick Check when I was a little girl all because she wanted "fancy" china and silverware like the ladies in town had. (I still have her Desert Rose china.) My grandma didn't have much (she was a turkey farmer), but she sure knew how to "put on the dog" as we say here in the South! (For all ya'll that don't know what that means, it means to strut your stuff!!) And she always put on the dog when it came to any and all holidays. I guess the acorn doesn't fall too far from the old oak tree, eh?? She always said that even the most humble abode could look like a mansion with a neatly pressed tablecloth and a fine place setting. 

Last year I got Peter Cottontail (from my FAVORITE store...Kirkland's!).  I love him and decided to use him again this year because he literally looks like he is hopping (wheeling) down the bunny trail in the middle of my table! I'm really into creams and whites again this year for Easter rather than the traditional pastel colors.  I loved my tablescape so much last year, I decided to keep it pretty much exactly the same for this year.  That is VERY unusual for me to keep anything the same, but this is too pretty not to copy again.  The best part is, I bought ABSOLUTELY NOTHING new for this gorgeous table.  That is the VERY BEST PART!!

Egg plates from Pottery Barn last year. Still just as pretty!



 Tulip plants from Michael's last year...painted the terra cotta buckets with a paper towel dipped in white paint.  Still looking just as good this year!

I guess you can see why I didn't see a need to spend any $$ this year and copycat myself for a change.  LOVE IT!!!

A Few Tweaks in the Kitchen

I can't leave anything alone, and I blame it on my Multiple Personality Decorating Disorder!!   I see something and there I go, off room shopping and tweaking things!!

Even though I love my kitchen more than any other room in my house, I still can't leave it alone!! This all started because I had a few $$ left on some Christmas gift cards, and I knew that I would end up losing my cards before Easter got here (it's a miracle I have hung onto them this long!!).  I still have a good bit left on a Pottery Barn gift card and also a Yankee Candle one!!!  WOOHOO!! 

I dropped in Hobby Lobby Saturday night and looked around because I knew I could knock out one of my cards there.  I just ADORE gift cards, especially the Visa ones you can use anywhere....free shopping!! You cannot beat that with a stick!!!!!

So, of coure, I immediately spied these new cute, cute, cute, fleur de lis signs.   Two of those just jumped right into my cart!! LOL!!  They were about 7 bucks each!!!  LOVE the bling on them!!

Fleur de lis + burlap + French script+ bling = LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!

Look at that photo holder that was fleur de lis and burlap also!! ANOTHER score for about $12!!

I'm using it as a recipe holder!!!

These new purchases inspired me to FINALLY hang up my Bon Appetit picture that had been hiding in my closet for like FOREVER!!  I have always loved this print.  I loved my roosters that were there, but it was time for them to take a break.  I loved them so much, I have waited over a year to put up this picture!! They are on a little roo-cation for now in my closet.  LOL!!

Did you notice the silverware art there on the counter? Got those at the fleamarket for $4 each. Yes, that's right!! I hung them separately.  Didn't like them.  Tried them together in a grouping on the wall, didn't like that either.  So, I thought why not just stack them on an easel, and I LOVE IT!!!  I'm sure they won't stay that way forever, but I like it....for now!! hahaha!

Closer look at my masterpiece stacking!!

For today, I'm loving how the countertops look!!  I really adore that burlap fleur de lis recipe holder.  I need to get a recipe card on there, but I couldn't wait to share it with you.  I think I will get one that my grandma handwrote.  That would be a sweet touch!

This is just a random shot of the mirror in the eating area.  As soon as the calendar turns to March, I plan on breaking out some of my bunnies and eggs.  I can't bring myself to do it just yet with February still on the calendar.  I am READY for spring!!

Enjoyed tweaking the kitchen a little on my gift card budget.  Guess what??? I STILL have $$ left.  LOVE IT!!  I am sure I won't have much trouble spending the rest very soon. 

Have a blessed week!!

The True Story of the Three Little Twigs

This all started with three little twigs. I took three little twigs and added them to my foyer arrangement, and that started me on a rampage!!! The result --- I revamped some of the florals in my house over the past few weeks. Three little twigs started this whole mess!!!

I don't know why, but I have gotten to where I like to mix three elements into every arrangement I do.  I like to mix feathers, traditional silk/faux greenery, and then dried elements.  Since Christmas, I have revamped several arrangements around the house, and now I have added two more!!

Here's a closeup of the ones I shared back after the holidays once Santa had left the building!!  NOTICE the three elements in each one....

Did you notice the feathers, greens, and dried elements?

Here's a closeup of the piece on the mantle....Again, feathers, dried and faux greenery all mixed. 

 I love this look!!

For some reason, I think having the three elements makes the arrangements look more customized, and it really helps them fit with my decor better!!  Look at the arrangement by my front door.  I have not shared this before.  I added some more dried elements to it, and also added feathers, of course!!!

A little closer look....

Here's my revamped kitchen arrangement...I love having something tall on the island.  I want it to be dramatic, and this arrangement fits the bill perfectly!!  Again, notice the three elements in the arrangement. I think I'm stuck on creating things with the dried and feather additions!

Here's a larger view....(Ignore the crockpot on the stove!! DINNER!!)

I really like how this arrangement now helps the rooms flow together a little better.  I have been trying to pinpoint what my "style" is, but I swear I have no clue.  Sometimes I think it is Tuscan, sometimes I think it is more eclectic, then I have hints of traditional/Old World and also French. 

 I think I am a gumbo!!!!!! If anyone has any idea what I am, I'd certainly like to hear!! 

Partying over at:

Chatty Chics for Wild Wednesday and

 Kristen's Creations for Share Your Creations Thursday!!

Mardi Gras Tablescape

I wanted to do a Mardi Gras tablescape this year, but I wanted to keep it very simple. I didn't want to spend a bunch of money since it is only for my family. So, I set out to create an inexpensive Mardi Gras tablescape that was high on style but low on price!!

I decided I wanted to set the small table up front in my great room, so I wanted the look to be more elegant. I went with a lot of golds with touches of purple and green. I used all of my regular dishes, silverware, placemats (turned over to the gold backside!), votive cups, and Kirkland's napkins (I use these all the time). To the napkins, I added inexpensive masks (I did buy these) in purple and green. These were a dollar each!! So, for four dollars I have "fancy" Mardi Gras themed napkin rings. They have elastic bands on the back. Twist the bands around your napkins, and viola! Cute, cute, cute!!

For the centerpiece, it was SUPER EASY!! I used an old Kirland's tall votive holder. I place a chunk of styrofoam in it and stuck in two small green sparkly picks at the base and fanned them out. (I did buy these at Michael's back at Christmas -- don't remember the cost). I then stuck in a tall Mardi Gras mask that had a stick on it that you hold it with -- $4 at Hobby Lobby. Behind that I stuck ONE purple sparkly thingy (don't know what the technical term is for that!) that was about $2. I also threw in a single peacock feather for fun, plus just because I love feathers and have to keep the theme going! So, for about 7 or 8 dollars, I now have an adorable Mardi Gras centerpiece!!

Here's a closer look at the centerpiece itself......I love how rich and elegant it looks!

I just love, love, love the feathered mask and the peacock feather!!!

 I threw some old beads around the bottom, along with two plastic fleur de lis Christmas ornaments I had, placed three votives on the table, and called it FINITO!!  Bling, bling!!!  I LOVE IT!

 A few daytime shots from different angles.!  I love New Orleans and the mix of styles you find there.  I think my style is very New Orleans, like a gumbo mix of this and that!!!!

Taking a little closer look in the daytime.....

Now, I just need to make some read beans and rice, and we are good to go!! I also made some FUN new arrangements this weekend for the great room and kitchen. I will share those later this week!! My inspiration for the kitchen was a $3 picture I found at Family Dollar. LOL!!

Have a great week everyone!

Linking up to a few parties this week:  Table Top Tuesday, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, and Kristen's Share Your Creations Thursday!