Let's start a campaign for Instant Autumn

Don't you feel like September should be instant fall?  Like, who cares that we're likely coming from the hottest month, and summer vacations.  The moment September hits i feel like Mother Nature should drop the temperature about 30 degrees and we should all start wearing flannels, tall boots and sip hot cups of pumpkin spice lattes whilst bumping along on a hayride out to the pumpkin patch.  There should be a crisp, yet slight chill in the air, leaves of gold and reds, and Halloween costume planning.

September-when it's still in the 90's, with humidity, and it's hotter than it's been all summer long-i feel like Instant Autumn could have a following.  Instant Autumn means i could once again return to the sunroom.  Even the cats came inside last weekend, and that's saying a lot of it's too hot for them out there.  Instant Autumn all the things.

Instant Autumn would mean pumpkins lined the stairs (but first you'd slather them in vasoline to keep the squirrels from nibbling)

 You'd break out your wreath in all it's wispy goodness.

You'd have pinecones everywhere and ribbon wrapped books.

You'd corral ceramic (dollar store) pumpkins galore atop collected candlesticks

Instant Autumn is something you could easily add to your regular decor.

Both inside and out.

What are you doing to add some Instant Autumn to your home?

sharing is caring: thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, travel photo mondays @ travel photo discovery, places i've been @ the tablescaper,  travel photo thursdays@ budget travelers sandbox , Monthly projects @ Evolution of Style Make it Pretty Mon @ Dedicated House  inspire me mondays and power of paint @ domestically speaking, Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper,  Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick,   Sundays @ Suburbs Mama  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple, persia lou, the diyers @ homecoming,  home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, the scoop @ stone gable,  inspire me tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. your designs this time, inspire me weds @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  work it weds @ the blissful bee, outdoor weds @ a southern daydreamer, whimsy wednesday, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, look what i made,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts,  charm of home, link party palooza @ tatertots and jello, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, creativity unleashed @ shaken together,inspiration gallery @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now,  furniture fridays @ mustard seed, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, design it fridays @ finding fabulous, best diy @ 36th ave, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming. inspire me please @ liz marie blog,sunday best @ the girl creative  shaken together,

Step away from the living room-another redo.

People, i am back from France and itching to show you pictures but my computer is not cooperating.  We're gonna work off what we have saved, and that is the current state of the living room.  So without further adieu-

Shazam.

Now that is one debrownified turned deblue-ified collected looking living room if i ever did see.



 And that is one de-slipcovered, leg showing accent chair working fabulously alongside the plant happy hall table.

 

And that is one texturelicious tray up on that there wall, with those ikat damask (designy words!) curtain panels who are doing their part to de-tan those tan walls without lifting a paintbrush.

Not that this was so bad...but ignoring the big blue wall wasn't working out that well.  But ignore it i did try, with the gray curtains and the non blue having rug.  Certainly brightened things up, at the very least.  Ten points if you spot Sunday.
 
It was still too cool in here, with those light blue pillows and ottoman that i assumed were necessary to live with the blue wall and make it a little less random.

Seriously. so. much. better. 

Matchy, but like a collected matchy.

 

 Another bout of textureliciousness with the only unkillable plant i know.

That is why one must have it in multiples.

I'm finding the blue wall is less bothersome without the slip cover on the chair.  That tv stand is a continued thorn in my side.  Stay tuned for an update on that.

Ah, the important things in life.  Travel, music, and home decorating.  Also, reading, because: Books!

Who knew the key to making this work was golds and more vibrant blue? 

Not me, i guess that one's obvious.  Would never have thought the key to ignoring the blue wall was to bring in a deeper blue.

I love how although the pouf is not leather, it mimics the look of the leather ones with the stitching. And the size of that pouf is gigantic, allowing it to masquerade as a coffee table.

I can not even tell you how much i am loving this "new" space, and i seriously think (aside from the tv stand and minor accessorizing) that it is done.  Emily Henderson-esque, styled up pretty, done.  Step away from the living room.

sources-rug:rugsusa/ ottoman:amazon/ pillow cover: alexandra foster c/o house of turquoise/ curtains and pillows:homegoods

sharing is caring: Monthly projects @ Evolution of Style Make it Pretty Mon @ Dedicated House Throwback Thursday @ Sweet Pea, inspire me mondays and power of paint @ domestically speaking, inspire me mondays @ , Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper,  Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick,   Sundays @ Suburbs Mama  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  give me the goods @ rain on a tin roof, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, the scoop @ stone gable,  inspire me tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. inspire me weds @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  work it weds @ the blissful bee, outdoor weds @ a southern daydreamer, whimsy wednesday, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts,  charm of home,  open house @ no minimalist here, link party palooza @ tatertots and jello, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, creativity unleashed @ shaken together,creative connection @ making home base,  inspiration gallery @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now,  furniture fridays @ mustard seed, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, design it fridays @ finding fabulous, best diy @ 36th ave, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming. inspire me please @ liz marie blog,sunday best @ the girl creative  shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   sunday soiree @ craftomaniac

A winter door to adore

My friends, this is a plea for your help.  I need to win.  Win what, you say?  A half a day off from work, paid, of course.  And how, you say?  By decorating my office door and knocking the judges', ie my coworkers, socks off.

Now, i would really love to do Chanukah all up on my door, really i would, but you know, i just don't think these are "look how spot on that menorah looks" sort of people.  So i'm thinking along the lines of winter wonderland, snowmen and mittens, sort of thing. 

But how can i make that be something special?  And interesting?  And on a door? 

Pinterest, yes, of course, ideas abound...but the actual implementation of it all is where it gets a little tricky for me.  I need some grade school teachers to help me out, b/c clearly these people know how to add some holiday bling to some boring spaces!

Source: andrewrachelashmore.blogspot.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

Snowman, simple, looks easy enough.

Source: myclassroomideas.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

Snowman, looks fancy, and time consuming.

Source: Uploaded by user via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

Oh if only i had the surrounding wall space for this, this is seriously kicking it up a christmas notch.

Source: bing.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

My goodness, this penguin is super cute and perfectly holiday neutral.

So then there's my other idea, which i have been wanting to create since last year, which is the ever popular snowman wreath.  However popular online it is, i know my coworkers will be seeing it for the first time. 

Source: sewmanyways.blogspot.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

Twig hands are an especially interesting (and hopefully not bug filled) idea.

Source: cottageinstincts.blogspot.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

Or adding jingle bells or rosettes for his buttons.

Ooh, and i could crumple up some tissue paper and make like a whole snowball scene!  Would you guys think that vote worthy?  Well let's hope my office does!

Oh My Darlin' Tablescape

This is the perfect tablescape for this sort of in between time--end of November fall/beginning of December wintertime. When i saw this setting in the Lowe's Creative Idea Magazine, i said to myself, Self, this we could do.  We've got vases and we love clemetines--the only hard part will be ensuring no one eat said clementines.

Yay!  Loves it.

Self was also very excited to use the pincone dishes and enhance the pinecone-ness of it all.

 



Don't you think the candlestick mimics the look of the pinecone?

 

You better believe the boyfriend was thrilled to see that he was finally given the ok to tear into the clementines. 

 

The only item that was actually purchased for this table was the clementines for 5 bucks a box. And considering that they did double duty as decor and healthy snacks, i'd say that's money well spent. Enjoy!



I'll be participating in these parties and if you are too, you really should be linking like this, b/c do you think i really want all this busy-ness down here?  no. and they say they won't feature people who don't show a link, but time and time again i see them do just that. really gets my blood boiling.  holiday copycat @: debbie doos, krafty kat, mod mix monday, Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, my romantic home, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper, tablescape thurs @ between naps on the porch, xmas tablescapes @ stone gable, xmas tour @ nesting place, xmas vignettes @ a thoughtful place

It's Electric.

The kitchen. A space none to seen on the blog.  A space next on the list (at least, my list!) A space i stare off into during dinner, imagining the could be's and the should be's. So for sure that's where i'd focus if i won Barn Light Electric's annual B.L.O.G giveaway.  Let's take a few moments to lose ourselves in that fantasy, shall we?

Thankfully, the kitchen needs nothing more than granite, back splash, paint job and lighting. 

And lighting does it need. 

With our dark cherry cabinets, it's well, it's dark.  The plan is to install pot lights-instant solution to cave like dwelling-and update the fan.

Well hello fan update, where've you been hiding?  You're so sleek and retro modern.  I like you, ball ceiling fan.

With all those pot lights, we wouldn't be relying on the fan as the only method of illumination, so this silver sleek fella would be a nice option.  This guy's totally customizable, as many of their products are.  You could choose all silver, like i would, or other blade colors to match your space.  Light or without light options, too.

Ooh, this sphere pendant is pretty and perfect for above the sink. Actually it's a fabulous counterpart to the ball fan, don't you think? Great, now i'll never get this combo out of my head! 

Look at this raindrop light!

It's like a tiny tear.
Like those i'd shed if someone else won this gorgeousness.

And these would be full on waterworks and tears of joy if they told me i'd won. 

Thankfully, even if i don't get picked (why, Barn Light Electric, why??) the prices aren't so outrageous that you couldn't afford to beautify your space with some of these anyway.  But let's keep the fantasy alive while we still can.

Who's gonna join me?

1. Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you’d love to own
2. Feature your lighting picks on your personal blog, and link to the lights if you can!
3. Copy/Paste these rules at the bottom of your blog article
4. Once your personal post is up, you must email your blog link to: marketing@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win – the contest ends July 2nd, 2012
5. Don’t have a blog? Find out how you can enter by visiting our website or read these Official Rules

For those that do not have a blog but want to enter, please email the following information to marketing@barnlightelectric.com:

• First & Last Name
• Mailing Address
• City,State, Zip
• Valid Email Address

Nice day for a wine wedding

My little brother got engaged two weekends ago.  Yay for him and his fiance!  Right away i wondered what they would do for the overall theme of the wedding, and i can totally see them going in the wine direction.  To pinterest i went!

For the fall...

Source: google.com via Fabiola on Pinterest

Or for the sunnier seasons....

Source: mysparklingevent.com via JoNell on Pinterest

Cork bouquet!

Source: etsy.com via Coeleen on Pinterest

For sure, or a DIY version.

Source: pinterestwomen.org via ardath on Pinterest

Great picture.

Source: onehopeweddings.com via ONEHOPE on Pinterest

How bout this cake?  yowza!

Source: blog.pinkcakebox.com via Caitlin on Pinterest

Might be the perfect gift from me...

Source: momscraftyspace.blogspot.com via Taryn on Pinterest

 

or this is even better.

Source: growingupgardner4.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

So many options!   Anybody else in wedding planning mode? 

Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, Making the World Cuter @ Making the World Cuter, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, lil luna, sugar and spice @ 733, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloogy Reading @ Serenity now, Catch as Catch Can @ My Repurposed Life, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, refresh your nest @ making lemonade, free for all @ 5days5ways,