Showing posts with label Fall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fall. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A Fall Mantel














This is my first ever fall mantel and gosh, how exciting it is for me to be able to share it with you!  Jason built this fireplace for our basement family room and now that it is done, I've been having fun playing around and accessorizing it.  I've never had a fireplace of my very own before!

This fall mantel was pretty simple to put together.  I started by using a large piece of driftwood we found on the beach while on vacation.  Then, I placed some faux pumpkins from Michaels around the driftwood.  I would have loved to use real pumpkins, but they are so pricey this year!  Perhaps the drought is to blame...  To finish it off, I placed some leaves around the pumpkins and driftwood.  Monochromatic, easy, and inexpensive.  Not too shabby.

How have you decorated your mantel or home for fall this year?  Anyone else left with their mouth hanging wide open over the price of pumpkins this year?  I'm sure I looked like a goon as I walked out of our favorite garden center, sad over the pretty pumpkins that would not be mine.

Thanks for reading!

I'm linking up to some of my favorite blogs:






Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Filled with Joy

Normally after Halloween I get in my Christmas mode and sort of forget about Thanksgiving.  I still am thankful and celebrate and indulge in all things delicious, don't get me wrong!  This year I wanted it to be different.  I wanted to embrace this holiday that I usually don't even decorate for and try my hand at some Thanksgiving crafts, recipes, and projects.   I had been seeing these lovely "Thankful Trees" all over Pinterest and got a lot of inspiration.  I was excited to make one for myself and my little family.  After all, we are truly blessed!  When Katie Bower and friends mentioned on their blogs about the second round of the Pinterest Challenge, I decided I would join in!  I began by taking some branches that I found outside and spray painted this spring and moved them into the dining room.


I gathered all of the supplies that I thought I would need for this project.  I was winging it, so I wasn't really sure what I would end up using!  My supplies included:  jute, some glitter, glue, gray and white card stock, a hole punch, scissors, a ruler, and some string (I actually used burlap that had come off of my tablerunner). 


To begin I cut strips of paper that were 1''x3''.


To make the paper strips more decorative, I made a little "v" at the end of each strip of paper.


I used the hole punch to make a hole and then tied some jute at the end to make a loop.  I tried knotting the jute at the top of the loop, but it was too large and looked messy.  I used my leftover burlap to tie the ends of the jute together.


I repeated this process for awhile until I had a nice little pile of paper strips.


To add a little more visual interest to the strips of paper, I put some glue on the bottom of the "v" and sprinkled on some glitter.





After the glue dried, I set down with a cup of coffee and set to work writing some blessings onto each strip of paper.  I didn't do them all because I do want to take the time to write one down each day with all three of my boys, even though I was tempted to!





I put the extra strips of paper into a glass with a pen right under the thankful tree.

















Our thankful tree is already pretty full!  My little family and I have been richly blessed.  In all honesty though, this tree should be covered in jute and gray card stock.  God does so much for us every day.  I am filled with joy!


Please make sure you visit all of the other ladies who are hosting this fun Pinterest party!  I've already seen their projects and they are amazing!  Thanks for hosting, ladies!


I'll also be linking up to these fun link parties!  Please visit them as well!


Please Join My Link Party!

Stay tuned for the finished pictures from our wine cellar!  I can't wait to show you!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Carving Pumpkins

Happy Halloween!


























I hope you all had a great weekend!

I've got some big posts coming this week, so stay tuned!  The wine cellar is finally done!


Thursday, October 27, 2011

Fall Fun with Grams and the Aunties

Last week we went to the best pumpkin patch/apple orchard with my Mom and sisters.  We had a blast!  Going on a weekday to a place like this is key.  We had the place to ourselves for the most part!  The only bummer was that the hay rides only run on the weekends.  There were plenty of other fun things to do though!
This lovely lady is my Mom.  She is wonderful!





I love this picture of Henry with his Auntie Amelia.





The baked goods at this place are amazing.  On weekends the line is out the door!  We all shared a very large and delicious cranberry muffin and some hot apple cider.


Auntie Amelia is a spoiler and bought each of the boys a bag of marbles.








This is the only picture I got of me with my boys all day!


The boys weren't interested in feeding the hungry goats, so Auntie Amelia did it.


She was a little creeped out!


Here is the farm house.  No one lives there anymore.  They have converted the inside of it into a coffee shop and a store.  The inside of the house is beautiful!


For a quarter, the boys got to play on the playground area.  They loved it!


Who wouldn't love a tricycle with monster tires?








Everyone got messy climbing this hay mountain.


The view from the top was actually quite incredible!


After successfully reaching the top, Grams, Auntie Liesl, and Henry posed for a picture.


Then Liesl took a break on this super comfortable log chair.


Henry climbed this and then went down the slide.  Oliver wanted no part of it!  I was actually glad because adults weren't allowed to go up and I wasn't sure how he would do by himself.





After the boys burned off some energy at the playground, we went to see the sheep and the llamas.


As I photographed this llama, I was reminded of how I used to style my bangs in grade school.  Shudder.











We had a great day and already have plans to go back next year!

Have a great day!