Tag Archives: fall decor

Not an Orphan Anymore

Ok, I have to admit I was a little shocked when I saw that it had been nearly a month since my last post. I’m not quite sure what happened because in my mind I thought it had only been a week or two. September was one of the busiest months that Michael Luke and I have had in a long time. We knew it was going to be tough going into it but we had no idea how quickly it would tire us and leaving us grasping for some free time. So much so that we took a much needed vacation to Seagrove Beach in Florida at the end of the month just to recoup.

All this brings us to October. A month that I have never welcomed so warmly until this year. Oh, I am so excited for October to be here. I’m ready to embrace Fall and hibernate down for the Winter. Anybody else with me?

If you are like me… when life gets busy the housework gets left behind. And boy did it! There was the changing of the guard from Summer clothes to Winter clothes for the girls, laundry, laundry, laundry, Fall decoration boxes, bags of luggage for our vacation, and general mess from life with two girls, a scatterbrained mom, and a working husband.

So, last week it was refreshing when I cleared off the mantel and began decorating it for fall. Amiss all the chaos there was finally some peace & calming (pardon the essential oil pun). The girls helped me and they loved it. Esther was ecstatic that we were decorating. They helped me pull each peace out of the box and danced around the room as I placed everything on the mantel one by one.

It really doesn’t differ much from my Fall mantels in previous years except for one little piece.

We found our “Not an Orphan Anymore” block in Nashville back in September when Esther got to reunite with her bff from Hong Kong.

You may remember him as the one who wanted a family and went home before her so that she could see getting a family wasn’t such a bad thing. Thankfully, she finally came around.

Anyway we passed by a vendor with engraved wood blocks and boards that were reclaimed from old barns. We immediately fell in love with it and knew that if belonged in our house. Not just because Esther isn’t an orphan anymore but because as Christians none of us are.

he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:5

Adoption is a picture of the gospel because as Christians God has adopted us!

So now this little reminder block finds it’s home on our mantel.

Oh and as for the big board in front of the fireplace. He’s going to be moving above the television cabinet… eventually.

Maybe I will actually get around to refinishing the cabinet, painting the walls, and hanging the board this year. Maybe. I will get around to blogging more though because I miss you. I miss typing and sharing. I miss blogging so here’s to letting you know that I am back.

What have you slacked off on recently that you have really been missing? Go ahead and find your moment of sanity and try to sneak a little bit of it back in your life. I dare you!

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Fall Mantel 2013

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fall mantel 9 Fall is officially here! It’s beginning to look and feel like Fall around here. And I don’t mean just the weather. This past weekend I had a couple of minutes free while Michael Luke and Noah were out running errands. So I rant to the store to grab a few pumpkins, grabbed a few things around the house, and set to work decorating the mantel! fall mantel 10 Fall is my favorite season for mantel decorating. Maybe I have a weakness for pumpkins or maybe it’s because I haven’t done anything to the mantel all Summer long so I’m just itching to change things up. The world may never know. What I do know is that I’m ready to share this mantel scape with you and the resources that I used.

fall mantel 8 My first rule of seasonal decorating is to try and use as much around the house as I possibly can. You don’t have to go out and buy ten scarecrows, a skeleton, or a faux feathered turkey to let people know you decorated for Fall. Instead look around your house for seasonal colors or color groupings that you want to use. Create Unity.I shared a few weeks ago some of the Pinterest pins I was pulling inspiration from. Milk glass is used a lot in decorating on Pinterest. I don’t have any, but I do have my Casafina Vintage Port cream stoneware. So I grabbed a few pieces as well as the “I am a Child of God” wall hanger. Using these creme colors keeps the mantel from looking too dark and allows the pumpkins to stand out… it is their of year to shine you know.
Some people are all about white pumpkins, extensively decorated pumpkins, or handmade faux pumpkins. That’s fine. Whatever works for you is great! In my case I wanted a lit bit of color (orange) and definitely don’t have the free time to spend fifty hours customizing a pumpkin. So I chose a few simple orange pumpkins and a few white pumpkins with orange highlights. They make me happy! I grabbed all the pumpkins at Publix for around $20. I splurged and spent an extra dollar on a bundle of wheat. Big spender, right?

fall mantel 2 fall mantel 5 If you followed my blog in years past (Fall 2011, 2012) then you probably remember the “S” monogramed picture. I use it almost every season. My sister made it for us as a house warming gift, and I love how versatile it is! So don’t be surprised if you see it on my Christmas and Easter mantels.

Finally, I got a little brave and decided to use a dry erase marker to write on my Casafina stoneware serving tray.
It was a simple and free way to create a sign for the mantel. I think it’s a nice touch. What about you?

I also chose to place a pumpkin down low for Noah. I wanted her to be able to see and feel one so she can really learn what a pumpkin is. Her little kitten art project doesn’t look bad there either!
Now it really feels like Fall at our house. Bring on the football, soups, and sweaters. I’m ready. Have you done any Fall decorating yet? Do you have a special place in your house that you love to decorate? What type of pumpkins do you like to buy? The biggest you can find? Orange? White? Mixed? Fake?

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Fall Pinspiration

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It may be hot outside but even with the soaring temps I have already started brainstorming for our Fall decorations. Last night I got a little pin crazy on Pinterest (some of you may have noticed). So I thought I would share some of my favorites with you.

Please be kind and re-pin from original sources hyperlinked below each picture.

Starting with this inviting picture…

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I couldn’t find the web sight for the picture above, only the image link. If someone knows where this is from let me know. I would love to give the owner credit.

I love all the warm colors in this picture but what really caught my eye was the use of seed and beans attached to the candles and pumpkins. This would really be an easy project and a great way to personalize inexpensive candles into something special. I have to admit though that I would be afraid to leave the candles burning on a wood table. What if the wax dripped or the heat damaged the table?

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I love the beautiful place setting above because of the use of carnival glass. Fall is my favorite time to pull out my carnival glass pieces. Notice how formal it looks paired with simple burlap and white dishes. This is really an elegant place setting and would be perfect for a dinner party.

rustic table setting (source)

I couldn’t find the web sight for the picture above, only the image link. If someone knows where this is from let me know. I would love to give the owner credit.

This beautiful rustic table setting also uses carnival glass and a gorgeous piece of pottery for the centerpiece. All you Mississippi people are probably thinking what I was when I saw this picture, “I could use my McCarty pottery as my centerpiece.” It was my first thought when I saw this table setting. I’m pretty sure this isn’t a piece of McCarty (I can’t see the Mississippi river) but the color is very similar.I already have plans to use some of my pottery in my tablescape.

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I truly loved my Fall mantel last year but would love to try some new design ideas out.

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There are several things I love about the picture above. First, the FALL pennant banner. Pennant banners have really been catching my eye lately and this one is no exception. It’s simple but adds to the character of the mantel. I also love the use of white pottery. I don’t have a lot of white pottery or ceramics but it is incredibly versatile. White also has way of dressing a design up. It’s clean and timeless. Finally, I really like the “Count Your Blessings” sign. It’s almost a foreshadowing of Thanksgiving and a wonderful reminder. If we started counting our blessing we would never finish. God has blessed me more than I will ever know.

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Here is another use of white pottery. It is a beautiful contrast to the orange and browns used. BEAUTIFUL!

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Above is a simple craft and another wonderful way to add a little bit of Fall color to your living room, center piece, or mantel. And I don’t know about you but I have a weakness for white pumpkins. Like the pottery they are elegant.

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Finally, I am ready to get my monogrammed “S” back on our door. This will be the third year we have used it and it is still holding up beautifully. ML got it out for me the other day but we still need to get the hanger out of the attic It’s so cheerful looking!

In addition to our “S” door decor I hope to spruce some pumpkins around the front porch and hopefully find some more cute ideas on Pinterest.

Have you been Fall pinning crazy lately? What knew decor idea are you trying out this year? Sequined pumpkins? Homemade garland? Burlap table runners? I love trying to add a new thing or two every year.

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