Monday, September 30, 2013

Autumn Abounds Recap, Linky Party and Incredible Giveaway

Happy Monday!

It's time for a fun Fall linky party and incredible giveaway (be sure to enter down below).  I mean ... WOW ... just LOOK at what you could win!




But, first, I want to say thanks so much to all of you who took the time to visit our Fall homes ... I was happy to be a part of it ... we all truly appreciate your company!  

If you happened to miss any of our Autumn spaces, feel free to click on one of the following links:


At The Picket Fence House Number Pumpkin Topiary


My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia Rustic Fall Mantel

Domestically Speaking Apple Popper Recipe


At The Picket Fence Decorating A Fall Mantel

Setting For Four Sparkly Fall Mantel

Cupcakes and Crinoline Sweet Potato Apple Soup Recipe

Adventures in Decorating Colorful Fall Mantel

Ella Claire Sparkling Cider Recipe 

JoJo & Eloise DIY Mens Boutonnieres

French Country Cottage Autumn Office Reveal

Debbiedoo's How To Be Your Own Van Gogh; and 


Now, I don't know about you, but I would LOVE a chance to win the following gifts (too bad I can't enter, but YOU can)!



$300 faucet from Pfister


   

  Teal and Lime custom mood board valued at $300


$25 Decor Steals gift card


$25 to Antique Farmhouse gift card:



$100 Minted giftcard


ENTER HERE!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now, let's get this party started ... can't wait to see your fabulous and festive Fall decor!

Fall Around the Dining Room

Happy Monday!

I'm excited to be part of the "Fun Around the House" virtual tour where 11 other bloggers and I are sharing parts of our Fall homes over the next two days!  So, go grab a cup of "coy-fee," get comfy and start touring!

*     *     *

WELCOME to our Fall dining room ... all decorated for a big fancy meal that we'll never eat in here.  Yes, admittedly, we don't dine in this room ... at all ... ever ... never.  Obviously, that needs to change.   


Maybe it's time I "ring the dinner bell" and have family and friends actually *break bread* at this table!  I'd be happy to pluck the faux pumpkins from the pretty bowls (that I recently purchased from Home Goods) and fill them with a yummy Fall soup.  The wine and water glasses are just asking to be filled, and the napkins are ready to get dirty:


And, as we all laugh and talk with our mouths full, maybe ... juuuust maybe that's when I'll point to the "1 second craft" I added to my centerpiece (from Kirkland's, filled with faux hydrangeas, pumpkins and burlap) and entice everyone to share their favorite "holiday traditions."


After we're done sharing traditions and family memories from years past, I just might have to turn everyone's attention to the chalkboard I pulled out and propped on our sideboard, where I attempted to add a simple saying of "thanks":


Hopefully, the soup bowl filled with chicken chili or the gold "blingy" candlesticks will distract our guests, and they won't pay too much attention to my "wonky" handwriting:


If not, no worries ... I'll just quickly point out these cute black and white plates (also from Home Goods) that I pulled out ... hoping to complement the chalkboard!  And, of course, mention how I love how the pops of orange work so well with these colors, too:


Then, I'll share with everyone that, besides being grateful for wonderful family and friends, I'm thankful that these floating shelves, filled with these seasonal plates, haven't come crashing to the floor!  


Yes, this just might be the year that we actually enjoy Fall harvest in here.  If not, maybe the pretty "HARVEST" garland from Home Goods that I hung in front of the window will make people "think" that we are!  


As we say here in the South ... "HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!"


Thanks so much for visiting our Fall dining room!

Now it's time to tour the Fall spaces of these incredible bloggers whom I'm blessed to call my friends ... you'll be amazed by their talent!

Dawn from Creative Cain Cabin:





Ann On Sutton Place:



Kim from Savvy Southern Style:


And, Laura from Top This Top That:





I'm also joining:

Stone Gable/Tips and Tidbits


Thanks for your visit ... I'm off to start touring!

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

A Fall Vignette that Didn't Cost a Penny!

While I absolutely love holiday decorating ... thanks to a minimal budget, I love *free* holiday decorating even more!  That's why I was happy to have created a vignette on our sofa table in the great room with things I already had on hand.

Whether it's with a bowl of *seasonal* autumnal goodies, filled with faux pumpkins I've gathered over the years ...


or an inexpensive plate from Wal-Mart's BHG line that I scooped up last year (and, happy to say that they're at Wal-Mart again this year, too).


After spending time perched on the bookcase in our sitting room last Fall, this fella (from Michael's) came back for a return appearance ...


and, a lantern, once filled with nautical rope during the Summer months, now has faux leaves in its place ...



with a Fall *crown* made out of picks and leftover ribbon from last year.


Sparkly, little crows, complete with witches' hats, flew on out of our Fall bins and over to branches I recently snatched from the woods, 


annnd, a metal hammered bucket, filled with holiday pillows last year, became a comfy resting spot for a few faux pumpkins this year!  


All of these things came together to create this:


FREE!


Now let's see if I can get away with spending zero dollars finishing the mantel on our porch!  Wish me luck!


As always, thanks for stopping by!

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Friday, September 20, 2013

Our Fall Mantel

Happy Friday and "Happy *Almost* Fall Y'all!"


I'm excited to be a part of the "Autumn Abounds" series, featuring Fall decor and recipes from several bloggers!  I've been so inspired with all that I've seen over the last two weeks!

Now, it's my turn ... for my part, I thought I'd share our Fall mantel, full of seasonal color:  



Okay, so, when it comes to styling mantels, my OCD-self always *has* to add the centerpiece first and work my way out.  Thankfully, when I was cleaning out underneath my son's bed (yes, I hide accessories EVERYwhere), I came across this wood and iron piece that I used as part of our Fall mantel two years ago (seen here).  So, I blew the dust off of it and propped it up here once again, except *this* time, I layered a wreath in front of it for a pop of color. 


These colorful and fun "GIVE THANKS" blocks yelled out to me to take them home when I was a local decor shop not too long ago ... must've been that cute owl trying to get my attention.  It worked!


I then pulled out pumpkin candlesticks I had on hand (from Big Lots), along with vases that I filled with various Fall branches and feathers:


I've had these cute Fall cards for a few years and thought it'd be fun to attach them to various branches with mini leaf clothespins (from Michael's):



Of course, it wouldn't be a Fall mantel in our house without a little bit of garland.  And, why not raid my husband's stinky tackle box for fishing line so that I could have a few leaves "falling" off of the mantel, too.


You think if I rake those leaves up that I'll have a pile big enough to jump into?


Faux pumpkins, nestled in a simple urn, hopefully won't melt sitting by the fire:


   At night, the candles magically turn on and add a bit o' ambiance:


And, the orange string lights woven through the garland help make the leaves glow: 



Ahhh, nighttime (and, fun exposure effects from PicMonkey):


Come back soon for more of our Fall home!

In the meantime, I hope you didn't miss Mary Beth's fabulous recipe for sweet potato apple soup ...


  
or these amazing homes, filled with autumn goodness!

Monday, Sept, 9th Shannon @ http://foxhollowcottage.com
Tuesday, Sept. 10th Heather @ http://www.atthepicketfence.com
Wednesday, Sept. 11th Jen @ http://www.jenniferrizzo.com
Thursday, Sept. 12th Kristin @ http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com
Friday, Sept. 13th Maryann @ http://www.domestically-speaking.com
Monday, Sept. 16th Kristin @ http://www.yellowblissroad.com
Tuesday, Sept. 17th Vanessa @ http://www.atthepicketfence.com
Wednesday, Sept. 18th Heather @  http://www.settingforfour.com
Thursday, Sept. 19th Mary Beth @ http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com

And, here's who is up next!

Monday, Sept. 23rd Kristen @ http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com
Tuesday, Sept. 24th Angelina @ http://jojoandeloise.com
Wednesday, Sept. 25th Courtney @http://www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

Thursday, Sept. 26th Debbie @ http://debbie-debbiedoos.com
Friday, Sept. 27th Kim @ http://sandandsisal.com


And, come party with me here!

Thrifty Decor Chick/It's Fall Y'all Mantel Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures

Thanks so much for stopping by,

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