Fall Decorating on a Dollar

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Here are the details of my affordable Autumn decorating.

My leaf garland on the mantel costs $2!  I used a package of paper leaves from Dollar Tree and a package of brown cardboard leaf gift tags from the dollar spot of Target.  I simply taped them to kitchen twine.  It took me about 10 minutes.  I love how the leaves are the same ones that I have on the dresser in the dining room, it's my subtle way of tying the rooms together.

The ceramic pumpkins were also a Dollar Tree find, you can find them online here.  My wheat stack was $15...so total spent on my mantle, $22!

Finally, if you remember, my brown paper sack flowers in the foyer added a festive feel for a grand total of $.50!

Sweater Pillows

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Please tell me I am not the only one that goes into Pottery Barn this time of year and has to resist the urge to curl up on one of those down couches, covered with sweater pillows, and take a nap.

This fall, I've tried to create that same feeling in my family room.  I found a few cream cable knit sweater pillows at Hobby Lobby for $12.50 each.  I combined them with my white fur pillow I already owned and a  chunky chenille throw from Target.

Happy Napping!

Fall Mantel

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For years, I have dreamed of having a fireplace mantel to decorate for the holidays!  Yet, when it came time to decorate my first mantel for Autumn...I was totally stumped.  Not only that, I was still loving what was already there.  So I decided to keep it simple...

Join me on Thursday and I will share my easy and super affordable autumn decor tips, including the mantel garland and white ceramic pumpkins.

Homemade Fries - Recipe Review

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 I am not ashamed to admit, I love frozen fries.  In particular frozen fries from Trader Joes.  The problem is that Trader Joes is on the other side of town and I don't make it there often.

Last night we were having shredded pork sandwiches and I wanted some fries to go along with them.

What's a girl to do?  Check Pinterest of course! 

I found this recipe and gave it a try.

It was definitely not as easy as throwing fries from a bag into the oven.  However, it wasn't too difficult and the kids thought they were tasty.

Here's a poor phone photo of how mine turned out.  They were just out of the oven when I snapped this photo so I think they look a little greasier than they actually were.

 

You can find more of my recipe reviews HERE

Rambling about a knit dress

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I haven't being sewing nearly as much, or at the level, that I have done in years past.  In fact, this is the first year my kids have gone back to school that I have not been buried in orders.  Up until recently, I sewed around 25-30 hours a week.

  It's been a bittersweet time for me, I find that the less I create, the less creative I become in that area.  Plus, way down deep inside, I know the reason I am not sewing as much is that Evie is just simply growing up.  On the flipside, I have soooo enjoyed having time to decorate in my house, cook more, and spend more time with friends.  

My design group is having a launch tonight and I did come up with this little knit dress.  I know that this comfy dress will get lots of love and wear, but I can't help but miss the over the top appliqued and ruffly sets.  After all, the custom boutique design world is what pushed me to even start a blog!

I use a mish mash of patterns to create this style, some day soon I hope to get it in gear and show a tutorial.  :)

Fall Vignettes

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This week I have been working on decorating the dining room for Autumn.

I am no expert on creating vignettes, but here is the way I do it.

Step 1.  Clear the surface and start with a clean slate.

Step 2.  Gather any and all items you think you "might" want to use in your vignette.

Step 3.  Begin layering items

When I layer in my items, I try to start with taller items in the center then work my way out and down.  I move things around, add in items, take items out, and just basically play until my eye feels happy.

 I was inspired by the mixing of textures and finishes of Pottery Barn fall displays I have seen.  I combined rustic elements, like the picture frame, with different colors of gold, silver, and mercury glass.

 The gourd and pumpkins were from HomeGoods

I picked up the urn and picture frame at Hobby Lobby.  The paper leaves and moss came from Dollar Tree.
The free printable came from here.

I also added some cozy placemats to the table.  The candleholders were on clearance at Anthropologie.  I like to have a little centerpiece on the table, but don't like it to be something that always has to be moved or gets in the way of conversation.  I am happy with this little platter of lavender and candles.

I am really wanting to add some items on the wall to fill in around the mirror.

  I picked up these plates at TJ Maxx for  $7 and am thinking them over.

I also picked up this little gal at HomeGoods, isn't she caauute?!!

 I don't think I will put her out until a little later in October though.

Time again for family photos

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October 2011

Due to the drought we had during the summer, autumn seems to be coming on fast in central Indiana.  The fields are already changing color and that gets me thinking about fall pictures.

I am going to be a bad mom and admit that I don't really feel like taking pictures of the kids right now.  However, fall pictures are something we have done every year for the past 5 years.  I know that in just a few years I will treasure being able to look back over all the pictures in a row to see how they changed.  Even if right now, the changes seem too subtle too notice.

That leads to the age old question...what are they going to wear?  (I am not sure if Todd and I will be in the pictures this year.  I like to think we don't age and look the same.  ;) )

I looked at all my usual favorite places for kids clothing and nothing was screaming to me, especially at some of the price tags I saw!  Enter a $10 Boden coupon in the mail.  Combine that with 15% off and free shipping, I'm sold.  I let Evie pick the dress she liked best and then I picked a shirt that I thought coordinated, without being too matchy, for McKinley. $35 after tax and shipping, done!

  In 8-10 days, after the clothing arrives, I will grit my teeth against the "we don't want our pictures taken" whining and drag my kids out into the field.  Wish me luck!

Our Entryway Striped Wall & Harvest Decor

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I am slowly starting to put out some autumn decor.  I have been gathering ideas on Pinterest and saving them to my Harvest Decor board.

One idea I immediately fell in love with was these brown paper flowers.  Using her instructions and $.50 worth of lunch sacks from the dollar store, this is how my version turned out.

 The chalkboard was made from one of our kitchen cabinet doors and a quart of schoolhouse green chalkboard paint.   (the cabinet door had a few small scratches and the builder replaced the one in the kitchen, but left me the damaged one.  I am glad they did!) I am far from being a good chalkboard artist, but I enjoy changing the quotes every few weeks.

Aside from the paper flowers, raffia pumpkins, burlap pumpkin, and acorn...this is pretty much how the entry area looks all the time.  I would like to maybe add a few more clocks and I definitely need to finish the stool project.  You might remember that I picked up the stool (and the wire basket) while antique shopping with the kids.

I think it will probably take the whole month of September, maybe longer, for me to get all the whole house decorated the way I want for Autumn....but that's ok!  Not rushing will give me plenty of time to sit and watch the leaves change.

Check out more transformations by clicking here. 

Find many more DIY ideas over at {aka}design by clicking here.

Dining Room Progress

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I'm hesitant to say dining room reveal because there are still several finishing touches I would like to make.  So, for now, I will say dining room progress.

  Here is my to-do list:

New chandelier

Hang mirror

Plates around mirror

Centerpiece for table

When we left off last week, I had shared the dresser, accessories, and wall art.

The table is from World Market and the white slipcovered chairs are from Ikea.  They are large chairs!  If I had chosen smaller chairs I could easily fit 6 around the table.  At first, I was regretting my chair purchase...but after a having people over a few times in the last month I feel good about it.  The chairs are comfy enough that people naturally gather in the dining room to chat, almost similar to a living room.

The pillows are from the outdoor section of Pottery Barn, they were on clearance for $13.  Now is a great time to check out patio markdowns for affordable pillows!

I was so happy that World Market now carries this glass drying rack for $14.99!  I am not sure where it is going to live for good, but for now I threw it on the table as a centerpiece.  I have been wanting a piece like this for some time and have seen it on websites for as much as $60.  I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much.

From this angle you can see how the aqua paint color on the dresser ties in with the powder room.  You also get a peek at my striped entry wall and how the lighter gray in the entry compliments the darker gray in the dining room.

Here was the dining room at the beginning of August.  It was a busy month!  We replaced the flooring, repainted the dresser and got new knobs, added more pictures and repainted the mats, painted the mirror, and got a new dining table.

  

 BEFORE:

AFTER:

Here is the view to our dining room from the foyer hallway:

Dining Room Source List:

Paint Color - Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray

Curtains - Target

Table - World Market

Chairs - Ikea

Large Mirror - Garage sale find

Accessories - Home Goods, World Market, Pottery Barn

Be sure to check out more before and afters here!

Tunes

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I have been loving this Phillip Phillips song lately...thank you, Olympics.

Happy Tuesday!

Welcome September

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I hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend!

Our day has consisted of laundry, Storage Wars reruns, and cleaning the garage.  The garage was the last room that really needed some more attention in the unpacking department.

For breakfast we welcomed September with pumpkin pancakes.  Nothing fancy, I just added 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to my regular Bisquick pancakes.  I know Bisquik has something bad for you in it, but it's ok with me.  I have tried several brands of baking mix, including organic and homemade, I simply like the way Bisquik pancakes taste the best.

Bring on September and October, definitely my favorite time of year!  I have been pinning like crazy to my fall food and harvest decor boards.  There are too many yummy recipes and cute decorating ideas, I know I will not even be able to scratch the surface in the few short months of autumn.

While it was not cold today, it was overcast and drizzly so for dinner we had a fall/winter staple, Crockpot Beef Stew.  I found this recipe several years ago and modified it to fit my needs.  It could not be easier!

Crockpot Beef Stew

Beef Stew Meat - about 1 pound

Can of tomato soup

Can of water - more for thinner stew

Salt

Pepper

Onion & garlic flakes

3 potatoes

Vegetables (whatever you have on hand)

Sear the stew meat like you would a beef roast.  Throw all the ingredients together in the crockpot and cook on high for about 5-6 hours.  This recipe allows me to use up whatever veggies I have in the fridge! Today I used frozen corn and baby carrots.