Fall Home Tour

Happy fall, once again! I thought I would post the rest of our fall decorations today. Hope you like them as much as I do!

In hindsight, I should have taken these front patio pictures in better light, but it is what it is and I'm a bit lazy, so excuse the over-exposed photos :).

I love our patio this year, for the most part. My mom gave me this wreath last year (she made it way back when) and I added a few feathers. It has the prettiest grapevine. I also love my pumpkin display this year! There isn't much room on the patio for a big production or anything, but a few pumpkins, some moss, and a grapevine garland seemed to be enough for the space. 

I also spray painted some old lanterns that I had and put some little wooden pumpkins in them for an extra touch. (I think I got those at JoAnn on super clearance a few years ago.) I'm still debating on how happy I am with the green color. It may get changed to gray before Christmas. 

Out of necessity, I decided to just decorate a couple of areas in our house since most of it is pretty bare (like 90% of it). The first is the entry way, which I posted about here. 

I spray painted those little plastic pumpkins gray and white. They are from Wal-Mart and I bought them on clearance last year. I love the wheat bundle best! I'm a bit obsessed with wheat.

 Okay, this doesn't actually stay on our dining table all the time, but I had extra decorations so I stuck them here and thought it was pretty. I SO wish I had curtains, blinds, and other decor in here! Curse you, money and expensive furnishings. ;)

(Sorry, this picture is super blurry looking...)

I'm keeping the little dome and cake plate set-up on there at all times. I got the dome at a garage sale this past weekend. I've decided that garage sale-ing is my new hobby (among a thousand others that I don't make time for). I love it!

Here is a little console in the corner of our living room. I really just added the faux pumpkin and those pears. I still need to spray paint that pumpkin, haha. (Wal-Mart clearance)

Aaaaaaand I may have changed the fireplace. I couldn't help it. The other looked so dark and really traditional so I attempted to simplify and brighten it up. (Can you tell that the darkness of this fireplace is driving me nuts?) I also took the orange pumpkins out and moved them to the patio. I have a real issue with any bright colors being in my house. This quirk annoys me, but again, I just can't help myself!

I like this mantel a LOT more. All of the mercury glass balls are from TJ Maxx or Crate and Barrel (wedding gifts).

I really, really, really wish that the leaves were turning in Lubbock but they aren't yet....so I just clipped a branch from a crate myrtle in our yard and called it good. I got the little tree stump at a garage sale for 25 cents. I love it.  

Oh, and we are in Colorado this week! I always forget how beautiful it is here in the fall. My family lives in Highlands Ranch, which is seriously like the perfect little bubble of a suburb. Being here always makes me weirdly nostalgic, because I tend to forget about it when I'm in Texas. It's nice that nothing seems to change when you go home....you still listen to the same radio stations, your mom still cooks the same meals, and you kind of get to revert to being a kid again :).

Anyways....that was a weird little side note, haha. Have a wonderful day!

Our Fall Fireplace

Happy fall, everyone! I was very excited to decorate our mantel for fall, even though the fireplace is not really how I want it to look at the moment. I still like how it turned out, though :).

We almost tore the fireplace apart this weekend and began the renovation process, but then we changed our minds and did the laundry room floor instead. (Pictures to come!)

I did paint the inside of the firebox black with some high heat paint. For some reason, it looks like there are little drips on the paint and I have no clue why! I may have to redo a bit of it. 

I bought the wheat this year at Hobby Lobby along with some real pumpkins... that was pretty much it though as far as new purchases go. I got a ton of fake pumpkins last year at Wal-Mart for like 25 cents each. I love after-season sales! I spray painted a few of them gray and white.

So that's our very traditional looking mantel. I cannot wait to get this brick out of here and lighten it up! I think I've figured out exactly what I want to do for the fireplace surround and even made a sketch of it (because I'm so professional like that). We are going to completely cover the brick and the wall above the mantel, and then beef up the mantek by building it out with some thick columns and then painting the whole thing white. I'm thinking of a simple cape cod, cottage-y feel.

Can't wait to share it! I'm excited to see everyone else's fall mantel's, too.

Have a great week. 

Are You Ready For Some Fall?

Because I am!!

I know. It's still August. And yes, I know that it will pretty much be summer around these parts until mid November...but I've always loved fall. And so many good things come along with it... cute clothing (boots!), a slice of apple pie, crisp air, and Sunday afternoon naps with football games playing in the background...ah, I am a happy girl just thinking about it. And then, for those of you who are like me (which I think is anyone who reads this), there are the decorations!! Oh, how the decorations call to me. 

A week or so ago I unpacked all of our fall decor and took inventory. I always overspend during the holidays and am bound and determined not to this year. I've given myself a $50 budget for all decor (including pumpkins) and think I can stick to it. Bryan was pretty excited about my sudden urge to be frugal :).

This is what we have. It may not look like much, but since I like to mix seasonal decor in with my normal decor, it seems like plenty to me! Also, please ignore our very stark white bedroom :).

Last year I was a bit minimal with my decor, but I really liked what I ended up with. The year before that, there were ZERO fall decorations since I was newly pregnant, very sick, and usually asleep. And as much as a I love to decorate, I always have a hard time with seasonal decor, because everything MUST match in my book, but I don't decorate with reds or oranges...so obviously that kinda puts me in a bind. 

Thankfully though, I have learned that you don't have to use traditional colors to make your seasonal decorations look amazing. 

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I am SO painting some pumpkins this year. I stocked up last year on faux pumpkins at clearance sales and am SET. All I need is a free naptime and some paint. Can't wait!

This year, since we've just moved into the new house and about 80% of it hasn't been touched as far as general decorations go, I will just be focusing on a few areas: Our front door, the dresser in our entry hall, our mantle, and our dining room.

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I would love to try my hand at these velvet pumpkins. I've found a few tutorials, but none that I'm totally in love with, so I may just make it up as I go along. 

Isn't this table set-up to die for? I love the apples surrounding the jars and the wheat. I saw wheat bundles at Hobby Lobby and am sorely tempted to go back and buy a few.

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Oh, you're about to see a sprinkling of pictures from the blog, Dear Lillie. I mean, seriously, Jenny is so so SO amazing at seasonal decor. I could look at her blog for hours (and have many times).

I love these fresh cut leaves and antique hydrangeas. Well, I really love this whole table.

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These are beautiful examples of how to style urns and vases.

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Again with the leaves. The simplicity of this really gets to me. I love it!

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I'm thinking that something similar to this pumpkin set-up will be happening on the front porch this year. And that peek of spanish moss? So very perfect.

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The texture in this wreath is awesome, as is the homemade "thankful" tree.

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So what are your plans for fall this year? Will you be going all out or just picking a few areas in your home to go crazy with? Where do you find the most inspiration?

Have an awesome day!

Quickly, before I decorate for Christmas. And a Feature!

Hello, hello!

 

I did a few fall decorations inside our house this year, and I wanted to share them before we took them down (which I am doing TODAY!) because it's almost Christmas time (!) and...they are starting to rot. :)

 

It's nothing flashy, just some pumpkins and gourds in a couple of places around the casa. I've never been big on the faux leaves/red/orange stuff, and I've actually never decorated for fall inside our house, so this is a big deal for me. ;)

 

 

 

Parker got a baby pumpkin and a warty pumpkin.

 



 

This is all the pumpkin love that our dining table got.

 

 

And then some gourds around the fireplace. I know, I know, we are a little boring---but I like it.

 

Did I mention we painted the house? I LOVE it. I need to take some more pictures! Will work on that one....

 

 

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ALSO. I had the absolute pleasure of making a sweet bridal shower invitation and menu for my favorite Michaela from Michaela Noelle Designs. Seriously, I love this girl. She is the best!

 

She styled a shoot for the wonderful Ashley Slater Photography, which has been featured on Something Pretty. 

 

 

 

Head on over and check it out! Thanks again, Michaela, for including me!!

 

 

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Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

 

 

 

Our Fall Patio Decor

 

I thought I would share our outside fall decor before it's too late and I've already put up our Christmas decor. (which  I am soooooooo excited about!)

 

I spruced up a wreath that I made about 2 years ago with a burlap ribbon from last year's Christmas wreath and some fake fruit that my crafty mom gave me. Thank the Lord for hot glue guns.

 

I made some cute, easy, and most importantly, cheap pumpkin decorations with tulle fabric and JoAnn ribbon. I love love love love these. Love. I smile every time I look at the patio. Thank you again, Pinterest.

 

AND. And, I finally purchased some burlap fabric and cheap pillow forms from JoAnn's and whipped up some outdoor pillows that I think will match our decor no matter the season. Don't look to closely at the seams though---it's definitely not my best work.

 

 

I need to look at other people's fall decorations! That is on my to-do list. I have been absolutely terrible at reading blogs lately. And blogging. But I guess there are bigger problems in life ;).