Fall Home Tour

I know it's been 90 degrees this week and still technically summer, but the cooler temps we had last week really got me thinking about Fall!  I think now that it is September, Pumpkin Spice is back at Starbucks (and everywhere else), and football has started, we can officially start talking all things Fall!

 With less than 2 weeks until our due date, every weekend is huge for us because we don't know if it will be our last weekend before we become parents or even the weekend we spend in the hospital having a baby!  We are soaking up and cherishing every last day we have of being just the 2 of us because we know how much our lives are about to change.  This past Labor Day weekend, I slept in on Saturday morning and didn't really want to get out of bed, knowing this could be my last Saturday to sleep in and just lay in bed.  Labor Day weekend for us was a great time to get some home projects done (organized the garage, outdoor projects, gardening) and time to just relax as we didn't have a lot of plans.  But one thing that was on my agenda for the weekend, was getting my home decorated for Fall!

Being so close to my due date, I knew it was now or never.  I didn't want to think about dragging out Fall decor with a brand new baby.  So I decided to take this long weekend as the perfect opportunity to get this completed.  After planting mums for our front porch and front of the house, I was really in the Fall spirit to decorate indoors.  (We always go with yellow mums for Notre Dame football!)

We moved into our new home in April of this year, so it was fun to think of new ways to decorate here.  And this is my first year to have a fireplace mantel to decorate for all of the holidays and seasons as well, which is very exciting!  Here are some ideas you can take from my home and incorporate into your home this Fall season!

The orange plaid pillow is from Joann Fabrics craft store this year and the "Our Nest" pillow was from Tuesday Morning, bought last year.  The fuzzy stool is from World Market.

The gourd on the mantel is actually artificial!  Bought from Michael's craft store.

When we moved into the house, I decided to swap out my old entry way table for this longer one from World Market, called the Everett Table.  It fits so much more decor, which I love! 

We intentionally had the builders paint the walls white and we haven't repainted anything yet (except the nursery) and I am actually really liking the bright white!  So, we will probably keep the walls white for a while.  I have ideas and plans to add wainscoting and shiplap around some places, so it may be smart to paint when we do those projects.

I recently painted this buffet table I had Mindful Gray by Sherwin Williams.  If you remember it used to be bright mustard yellow!

I like to layer things when decorating a long buffet table like this, with lots of different items and different heights.  All of the pumpkins you see here or in my Fall decorating, are all from Michael's craft store.  They have a great selection of artificial heirloom style pumpkins that are great for decorating.

This rather frightening photo to some holds lots of meaning to us.  This is actually a photo from the Chicago Tribune of my husband's great-grandfather who owned and operated a meat packing business in Chicago at the time.  So while it may be a bit disturbing to some, we think it is a really neat photo to have. 

All of the floral arrangements were put together with random stems of flowers, berries, or feathers that I already had.  There is no rule of thumb here, just throw whatever you have together. 

The wood tiered tray is from The Painted Fox Home online. 

I think this makes me officially ready for the baby to arrive.  We have less than 2 weeks until our due date and I think I am driving myself crazy with wondering everyday if today is the day!!!  We are just SO excited to meet him! 

Fall Wardrobe Obsessions 2014

 Some of my Fall obsessions include new clothes for my wardrobe!  After all, Fall weather is sweater weather!  Here are some items I am currently crushing on!

1.  J.Crew Factory Solid Tights in Spiced Wine  

2. J.Crew Factory Charley Sweater in Red Currant  

3. J.Crew Factory Calf Hair Belt in Cheetah

4. J.Crew Factory Navy Gingham Button-Down   

So, I am a little obsessed with J.Crew Factory store!  They were having good Labor Day sales, what can I say.  I knew what I was looking for and they happened to have it.  These wine colored tights will be great dressed up with a black cocktail dress and heels or even dressed down with boots and sweatshirt dress.  I have a very thin cheetah belt similar to this, but I loved this one because it is much thicker.  And I DO wear my cheetah belt a lot!  It dresses up a simple black outfit for work or even a simple plaid shirt like shown.  The sweater is perfect for layering!  It is a light-weight sweater with 3/4 sleeves so it will look great even over this new button-up!  This washed shirt has already been a good transition piece with shorts, with jeans, or under a sweater for colder winter days to come. 

Which brings up another point!  Do you call a collared shirt a "button-up" like I do?  Or do you call it a "button-down?"  Random question, I know, but I've always just called it a "button-up" and some people think I'm crazy for it!   

Leather:  I am noticing a lot of leather accents and details on everything from cocktail dresses, t-shirts, and pants.  I am loving this simple shirt from Ann Taylor with just the right amount of leather on the sleeves and on the front pocket.  Let's not get crazy with the leather, though.  I am not trying to look like a biker babe!

Leopard/Cheetah:  I have always loved a touch of leopard or cheetah in my wardrobe.  Obviously, I just bought my second leopard belt and have some leopard flats already.  But those flats have been worn so many times they are falling apart.  It is time for a new pair.  These are Steve Madden from DSW.  I love that they are a more subtle cheetah print.

Green Canvas:  This warm green shade is great for Fall.  I have some winter leggings in this color that I love!  But I am really wanting a canvas jacket like this one from Old Navy and some green canvas pants.  Any kind of transitional piece that I can wear on casual work days, dress it up, or wear on the weekends are perfect for my wardrobe.  These pants are versatile enough for any occasion.

Burgundy:  If you haven't noticed this burgundy/maroon/dark purple trend this Fall in fashion then you are living under a rock!!  Or just haven't been shopping yet!! Seriously, it is everywhere and I LOVE it!!!  I have the wine colored tights and the sweater for layering but I just think you can never have enough of this color.  Fall -- into Christmas season -- add some sparkle and these pants would be perfect for a casual New Year's Eve night.  They work for Fall and Winter so they are a must-have!  Oh, and I also just bought Revlon's Black Cherry lipstick in this color!  I am not a lipstick person normally, but I might be now! :)

Top Knots:  My hair is finally growing out and getting long enough for a knot!  Maybe not quite a top knot but a low bun is a start!

**images from clothing website or from Pinterest**

Happy Fall Y'all

Fall has officially arrived (I am a couple of weeks behind), but it definitely feels like Fall now with this cold weather!  Especially after just getting back from vacation where it was in the 80's all week. 

When it comes to Fall decorating, I typically don't overdue it too much.  I feel like it comes and goes so quickly, and before I know it, I am decorating for Christmas!  So, I just focus on 2 main areas -- the front porch and my entry way.  I am sure to always buy and decorate pumpkins for the front porch.  I usually don't carve the pumpkins, it is such a mess!  So each year I like to think of a new way to decorate the pumpkins without the carving.  And I love to give my entry way a festive new look for the season to greet guests.

Here are the pumpkins just plain -- trying to decide how to paint them still.

The Fall wreath on my door stays simple.  Just a craft store wreath ring wrapped in burlap with a black and white bow.  Perfect for both Fall and Halloween.

Craft Day has Arrived!  (or pumpkin makeover day!)

I like to get together with friends or family throughout the year to do seasonal crafts.  This Fall we decided to bring our pumpkins together and we would decorate and paint them together!

 

I decided to go with a Black & White theme for my pumpkin decorating this year!  So a couple of days before, I spray painted 2 pumpkins black and 2 pumpkins white.  I just used regular spray paint I had lying around the house.  This way, they were nice and dry and ready to be decorated on Craft Day.  

Here's how they turned out!! Each one was a little different.  So now my porch is festive and fun for Fall and Halloween! 

There ended up being 1. Monogram  2. Black & White Chevron  3. Gold Metallic Polka Dots  4.  Plain White

Welcome! Come on in!

This is what my entry way normally looks like.  Some vintage suitcases, an "M" on a stack of books, a faux plant from Ikea, some iron rings from Crate & Barrel, and my favorite cow picture taken by my photographer at my rehearsal dinner before my wedding. 

And this is what it looks like decorated for Fall.  Most of this is I already had.  Either tucked away in Fall Decor storage or around the house.  By just rearranging things within your home periodically, it will feel fresh and new without going out and buying new all the time.  

What I did here -- I added the owl.  Spray painted an old frame orange and added a free printable from Pinterest that looks like chalk art.  This way I can add a new piece of art for Thanksgiving without changing the entire table.  I spray painted an empty old frame I had lying around yellow for a pop of fall color.  I added a vase of 3 decorative green balls and a large ball of twigs for some natural textures.  Some white pumpkins from the Farmer's Market in a large vintage jar were added.  And a book was replaced with one with a pop of color.  So you can make a big difference in your entry way with just a few things that you probably already have around your home.

While I was at it, I decided to make some Fall banners.  I couldn't decide if I wanted a Halloween banner or just a Fall banner that could be left out longer throughout season, so I made one of each.  Following Shanty 2 Chic's blog tutorial, along with my own printed chalk board letters and take on the tutorial, I now have 2 great banners to hang around the house! 

Making the Fall banner out of burlap and printed letters from my computer.  (created on power point)

In the midst of making our homes beautiful, one DIY project at at time, it is the journey of how we get there that is most memorable.  Even if it takes a little longer than you planned!

Ooooops!!!  CRAFT DAY FAIL!

My sister may have been a little distracted when she made her Fall banner backwards!  Don't worry, it was fixed before hung on her mantel! 

Enjoy your FALL and everything that comes with it because before we know it, WINTER will soon be arriving! :(  Brrrr!!