Fall Around Our House {2015}

  As someone who always loved school and then became a teacher myself, I've just always loved the fall season! The awful humidity of the summer has gone, the cool breezes have begun to blow in, and to me, everything starts to feel new again  - with all the promise of the start of a fresh new year.  It's no secret if you know me that I'm super sentimental, and fall is just so chock-full of memories and traditions that I like to try to keep.  I love all of it and most of all Thanksgiving weekend.  It is far and away my most favorite four days of the year!

And the rest of the fall, with all of its coziness and focus on family,  just makes my heart happy too. I love when my house gets filled with all the warm colors and textures of the season! Just thinking about it makes me smile. :) 

If you've known me for a while, either in real life or here on the blog, you know that I don't have much money each year to spend on decorations.  There's a wonderful blogger I read who gets lots of gorgeous things each year from Pottery Barn...while I would LOVE to be able to afford that stuff, even on clearance, it's usually not an option.  A long time ago I wrote a post sharing some tips about how to decorate seasonally, and I would reiterate here...when money is tight, focus on a color, add candles, and shop all year round.  A good smelling candle on a pretty orange plate can cost you just a few dollars and will go a long way toward making your home feel seasonal!

And as far as shopping year round...you will feel a little crazy buying that faux pumpkin at a garage sale in May, but you will be so happy to unearth it come September - and be even happier it only cost you 50 cents when all the new decor in stores costs much more.

I also have a small house, so there's nothing "grand" here - just little bits of the season woven throughout my home.

Be prepared...I uploaded a lot of photos! ;)
Grab a cup of coffee or some hot cider....and come on in! :) 

I would say nearly everything I've purchased on clearance, made myself, or bought at a yard sale!  And yes, I use many of the same things from year to year, just switched around or updated... :)

A few months ago, we were gifted a piano!  As a music teacher, I love this for many reasons...not the least of which is that I now have another space to decorate seasonally! Haha!! ;) The black and white photo is of my mother-in-law back in the 50s...I saw it at her house this summer in a pile of old photos and I just had to have it!  It's the sweetest little picture of her, and she has played piano her whole life so I thought it was only fitting that she be framed on top of our piano. :)

I made this Geo Mesh wreath earlier this year and I love it! It is so easy to just add a ribbon and have a "new" wreath multiple times each year.  Lots of videos on YouTube if you want to make one yourself! :)

Hot coffee and Southern Living...good afternoon in my book. ;) 

 Something new I added this year was this adorable wood and burlap garland from Target.  Only $3 in the Dollar Spot!

At the Dollar Tree you can find little faux orange candles (the battery-operated kind) two for a dollar!  Such nice ambiance when you have kids and don't necessarily want a real flame right near where little hands get washed.  lol

I found this fabric last year at Hobby Lobby and my mom sewed up cases for me.  The combo reminds me of candy corn and I love them.

We are so lucky to live behind a small farm and we are given these glorious farm views all year long - here is our gorgeous backyard last night!  The farm starts right behind the rock wall that borders our property.  Ahhh!! Fall bliss! :)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a wonderful day!

Fall Around Our House {2013}

I post pictures of seasonal decorating on my blog each year so that when I pull the boxes down for each holiday, I can look back and see how I decorated the year before and remember what worked and what I want to tweak. 

Every year I *think* I like it the way it is…but then I inevitably change it a little every subsequent year. :) Part of that is my tastes changing over time, and part of that is due to new things I find on clearance or at thrift stores or yard sales that I buy throughout the year and place in the attic until it’s time to bring them down again. 

 

So here’s how our house looks right now…
{p.s. I have NO clue why the formatting is so messed up – I’ve tried to fix it 3 times and it still won’t save my changes.  Sorry it’s a little mushed!}

 

    

…pumpkin: thrifted…orange bowl: gift from friend…

 

 

    

…foliage and bowl: thrifted; candle: gift…corn: yard sale; bucket and filler: target dollar spot…

    

…acorn frame: CTS clearance; bowl and candle, gift; pods: Michael’s…
…kids’ q-tip art inspiration: Jones Design Company… 

 

 

…faux leaves: thrifted; grapevine wreath: JoAnn’s…

 

 

Loving this fun and functional chalkboard in our dining room!  Hopefully one of these days I’ll finally get the DIY details up!

 

 

…faux berries: Michael’s…

…fall garland: thrifted…

    

…free printable in thrifted frame…

…garland and banners: DIY…

…tray: Goodwill; plate: Target clearance; berries: A.C.Moore (old); candle: free with coupon at Hallmark (old)…

…garland: DIY…

 

 

…free printable in thrifted frame; bird, lantern, faux fruit: thrifted; pods: Michael’s, runner: Wal-Mart (old)

 

I just love the colors and words of this free printable!  Great for the month of November.

 

 

The wreath is a DIY Ballard knock-off…another tutorial I should have posted ages ago but just don’t have the time right now with these two crazy kids of mine!

 

Well, that’s our house right now!  Hope you enjoyed the little tour! I love fall and get so, so excited for it every year!  And only a few more weeks til Thanksgiving…my very favorite holiday!  Hooray! :)

Summer Decorating Around Our House {2013}

Hey everybody!  Did you have a nice 4th of July?  I hope so!  We went to a parade in the morning and a picnic in the late afternoon.  I made deviled eggs and chocolate Coca-Cola cake – doesn’t get more American than that, right?!  It really was a lovely day.  Although it was hotter than…I don’t know what.  But it was ridiculous.  Every time I think I would love to live in the South I remind myself of how much I HATE humidity!   It does not do good things for or to me.  lol

Anyway, I thought I’d show you all my simple summer decorating this year!  When I was typing this post, the first thought that came to mind for a title was “My Summer House.”  HA! As if.  Maybe someday…but probably not. ;)

I have a “rule” for myself that any shells or ocean items in my house have to be actual things that I’ve collected from a real beach.  No fake shells for me.  I mean really, I live like 12 minutes from the beach so I have no excuse.  The only exception is starfish – I have a few of those around the house and I have honestly never once found one in all my beach trips over my lifetime.  So I bought a bag last year at Christmas Tree Shop.  ;) But that’s the only fake stuff you’ll see!  The rest is all legit. :)

{Oh and P.S. Yes the blog is still under construction!  Bear with me for a while! }

 

On top of the bookshelf…lantern and picture and cork jar all thrifted! 

 

The little sailboat painting came in a different frame and I just popped it into a white-washed one for a more summery feel. 

 

And I love the simplicity of white shells in a cork jar! 

 

 

Driftwood and another corked jar (again, thrifted).  I love the look and texture of driftwood!  So fun and each piece is so different. 

       

 

 

Over on the entry-way hutch…I’ve been using these pieces for years and love mixing them up a little with each new summer.  

 

 

Driftwood is from my favorite place on earth…Mount Desert Island, Maine. 

    

 

This was the first year I’ve made a little rag garland and I love it!  Seriously so easy to do from fabric scraps…I remember the Nester making these years ago and that’s where I got the idea. 

 

    

 

Pinterest-inspired and used from last year – simple paper star garland in the hallway (sorry, it’s really dark!)

 

 

More Pinterest-inspired crafts!  Luke and I had fun doing these together.  Although I’m totally the mom who says,  “Let’s do a craft, buddy!  It will be awesome!” and then realizes she doesn’t have half the materials actually needed to do it.  Hence why our crab is not walking anywhere near water (aka no blue paper) and has one lame little cloud above his head.  haha!

    

 

He also made these watercolor fish during his last week of preschool.  I have them hanging in the dining room.  I love them!

 

Our bathroom…again, it’s really dark in here (no windows if you remember!).  This “vingnette” (wow that sounds snooty) is actually my favorite in the whole house…but it’s so dark.  With flash and without flash.  Driftwood is real, starfish is the fake.  ;)

    

 

Above la toilet…my brother gave me this giant shell years ago.  I think this will actually stay all year now. 

 

I added starfish to the tray table I showed a few weeks ago. 

 

Here’s what it actually looks like on a normal day…medications, coupons, amber teething necklace, paci, etc.  And etc.  And etc.  lol

 

 

Last but not least, I HAD to share my most recent Pyrex acquisition: 

Isn’t she BEAUTIFUL?!  I AM IN LOVE.  99 cents at the Salvation Army.  Lindsay and I went thrifting when she came to visit last weekend and I spotted her on a bottom shelf.  Love the summery vintage vibe! 

 

Well, there’s my house for the summer! Only 1 month and 26 days til I can decorate for fall!  hahahaha ;)

 

Summery house past links: 2010 & 2012.