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!