{Fall Inspiration} Insta-dump

 I love fall

It is my favorite season

Here are some of my instagram shots

celebrating all things warm, cozy,

pumpkin and orange :)

This is your life....

I have come across this wall many times on Pinterest

via

 and now my powder room chalkboard wall looks like this...

My Fall Porch

I love Fall

I love porches decorated for Fall

❖

Here is mine this year!

HERE is 2010

❖

HERE is 2009

Rain Rain Go Away~

This October is marked as being one of the wettest on record here in the Pacific Northwest...no big surprise really.

I have a first grader to walk to and from the bus stop, which means my umbrella is getting lots of use... so I started hunting around for fun umbrella stands.

Here are some I found...

I really LOVE this boot stand from
ZGallerie

via

Owls are quite the rage right now...LOVE it!

via

I found these two photos on Pinterest...

both cute DIY options with metal buckets

CUTE riding boot stand also from 

ZGallerie

via

This is another great DIY option...it was a stand found at a thrift store, painted and she added a monogram decal...LOVE it!

via

Do you have an umbrella stand??

A "Sweet" Easter decoration~

My friend Martha shared an inspiration photo of this (she ALWAYS finds the best photos!!).... and I couldn't wait to make my own.

As I was putting in the jelly beans...I pulled out all the black...I LOVE black jelly beans...do you??

Progress Week 5 {40 bags in 40 days}

LOTS accomplished here this week...at first I thought, not so much, but when I look at my list and start writing this post, I did pretty good :)

This week I tackled....

~Master Bedroom bedside table...found MORE videos from when the boys were younger that I had saved for Lucy, and she is just not interested, so off they went.

~Master Closet....I had done this not too long ago, but there were some things that had to go!

~Blake & Bennett's closet & bedroom...since the boys' were home on spring break this week, I got in their room with them, they HATE when I do that :)...and we purged!

~Foyer cabinet...this is where I store candle holders, candles, etc...I had done this recently too...so this became just a tidy up job :)

~Library :) armoire....I store my craft supplies in here...I really just tossed lots of junk!

(this bag is the perfect example of why I started 40/40...I hang on to stuff like this!)

Progress Week 4 {40 bags in 40 days}

This week was a little different.  I volunteered alot in Lucy's classroom, and had a couple of Dr. appts....so this week was not really broken down into days :)

The areas I tackled are:

~the drawers of my secretary

~under the kitchen sink

~the boxes on top of "my library" bookshelves

*the secretary went fairly quickly...the drawers hold things from notecards to recycled gift bags...so I went through and got rid of a TON of gift bags that I will not re-use and organized and purged the rest of the junk stuff :)

*under the kitchen sink...easy one...just lots of stuff that belonged in the garage that has been thrown here instead, and then just pulling everything out and wiping it all down!

*the boxes on top of my "library"...they are decorative boxes that I have been storing all my wooden stamps from my "stamping" days.  Lucy had NO idea these even existed, so you can imagine the squeals when I opened the boxes.  I let her choose some that she wanted to keep, and surprisingly, she was very particular about which ones she wanted...so, we have lots to give away!

I have to admit...I have been doing easy spots so far...I have left at least 5 days dedicated to the garage, and I just keep skipping over those days and choosing something else.

 It is also Spring Break, here at our house this next week, and the boys bedrooms are on my list...so I think that is what Week 5 is going to consist of :)

Progress Week 3 {40 bags in 40 days}

A little late in getting my Week 3 update done...but here it is!

Day 10 - Master Bath Cabinet... just lots of tossing old and unused products, and getting rid of one oversized cosmetic case!

Day 11 - Office Bookshelf...mainly just went through Lucy's books and got rid of the ones she doesn't care for (Sesame Street, Winnie the Pooh, etc...)

Day 12 - the backyard - spent some time cleaning out the ball bin, and some toys that didn't make it through the winter :)

Day 13 - The car - not much to do here but organize all my "green" shopping bags, and tidy up the center console

Day 14 - Master Bath drawers...cleaned all the drawers inside, tossed old makeup that I no longer use, and organized

So, I don't have bags to really show for this week because most of it was garbage...and these were really not areas in my home where things could have been donated...except for the books, there were a few :)

Jackets off & a book review

Not too long ago, Pam, did a post on her blog about taking the "jackets" off her books on her bookshelf.

I love books.

I love worn books...

used books...

old books...

but I especially love their colors.  

I had taken the jackets off all the books on my bookshelves in our office...but I had hesitated taking them off my cookbooks...I guess because I thought they would get "dirty"...but then Pam shared this picture and I was sold...the colors did it for me...

so this is my little kitchen bookshelf

It was an awkward cupboard, so I took off the door and made it the cookbook shelf....

and now that the jackets are off I love it even more...I love looking at the rainbow of colors...

I love the colors of the Serendipity Sundaes book!

I am so glad I did it!

next

I just finished this book...

and would only give it 

✭✭

I thought of not finishing it, but kept hoping it would get better....

it didn't.

Progress {40 bags in 40 days}

Well...everyday I tackle a new spot...the bags may not all be huge black bags...but I am purging and organizing!

Day 3&4 - I spent time in Lucy's room going through her closet and dresser.

Day 5 - (no bags to show for) I spent going through emails (deleting, responding, "filing") and I decided I follow too many blogs...blogs that show up on my "follow" list and I never actually read or comment...it was time to just keep my favorites!

Day 6 - Dining room buffet...just a small bag of dishes that I never use

Day 7 - the Pantry!  This always feels great.  Why have I kept the inside to the crock pot when the whole thing went out months ago??  People have crock pots for years...me...I have had TWO in the past five years...they just don't last!!

Day 8 - Family room armoire...got rid of movies (vhs) that do not get watched anymore...stray cords that no one seems to know what they belong too, and lots of dust :)

Day 9 - Powder room cabinet...mostly just almost empty sunscreen bottles and band aid WRAPPERS (does anyone else's kids do that? :)

so...another productive week...I can only imagine what Goodwill thinks during these 40 days!!

Progress {40 bags in 40 days}

So far, so good :)

Well, honestly it has only been 2 days (I haven't done today's bag), so maybe next week will be the true test

I started with the living room side table where I have stored past issues of Mary Engelbreit Home Companion and Victoria magazines.  Since this is about some sacrifice, I knew it was time to part ways with all of these.  The reality is...I have not looked at one of them in over a year....

Today I am taking them to a local antique store who is interested in them!!!

My next spot....

behind the living room sofa...yes really!

I have a console table behind the sofa with a lamp, it sits at an angle, and this is where I store home decor things that I tend to switch out regularly (candle holders, decorative bowls, etc)...so I moved all of that into a new home and got rid of quite a few UGLY picture frames that I had been "hiding" back there...much better!

(I love the idea of using dark bags...out of sight, out of mind!!)

Well 2 down, and it already feels great.  I know I may not end up with 40 bags, and some of them might only be the size of a grocery bag, but anything is better than nothing!

Off to the Goodwill!

Here we go!

My Family has also made their decisions on what they will give up:

Toby - sugar

Powell - fast food

Blake - energy drinks

Bennett - soda & candy 

Lucy - lent jar filled with little things she can do each day for someone

I picked up my bags

I wrote my list

Check back Friday to see what I accomplished :)

40 bags in 40 days!

I have several friends preparing for their Lenten sacrifice.  I am not Catholic but value Lent and the idea of giving up/doing something out of my comfort zone in preparation for Easter.

So, for me this year, I am going to participate in the "40 Bags in 40 Days" challenge

It seems like I am always taking a bag here, a bag there to Goodwill, but do I really dig in and "sacrifice" things that I might like, but no longer use or need?? 

 I also plan to re-read Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, and doing the 12 week study to remind myself to find intimacy with God in the busyness of life. 

I am linking up with white house, black shutters, and plan to post my progress here every Friday as a way to keep me accountable :)  I will also post a pic of my list of what I plan to tackle!

Care to join me??

Now this is {repurposing}...LOVE

??Got Pallets??
Stumbled across this on another blog...

I LOVE this idea....so cool

it is from HERE

{jelly roll pans function as drawers!}

A Harvest Birthday Dinner Tablescape~

This last Sunday I hosted a Birthday dinner for my Mom and Stepdad~

The tablescape is my take on the PB table I posted about in my previous post

As much as I love all the white...my home is more about color...I am inspired by the colors in "tuscan style" decorating, and at this time of year it is abundant!

I know, I know, my Boys let me know, I forgot an "E" in celEbrate! :)

I just had to share my roasted chickens. 

 Anne mentioned in a recent post about the simplicity and comfort of a Sunday Roast...and shared this 

Herb Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Sage 

recipe from House Beautiful...so I thought I would give it a try.

As I was flipping through my House Beautiful magazine I also found this recipe

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

(image House Beatutiful)

...so I made those too...these were sooo delicious...a MUST try!!  

...and I also saw this recipe

Broiled Mushrooms in Tamari Butter

(image House Beautiful)

...so I made those too!

Delicious...I made wild rice and bread to accompany it all!

A perfect Havest Birthday Dinner!!

Love this tablescape!

I love this Fall tablescape

I have a "thing" for antlers anyway...and seeing them mixed in with these pumpkins is

sooo lovely!

I love this one just propped up on some old books~

My Front Door!

I linked up tody with Kristen from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia today on her Front Door Link post!

I love my doors! 

 When we moved in these doors were solid beige...and let in very little light into our foyer.  

These add so much character and warmth to the inside and outside of our home!

Click HERE to see a transformation of the inside of the doors too!

Lucy's {Vintage Cupcake Party}

I had the most fun planning this party for Lucy.  

A friend had given her the cupcake dress, so I went from there.  

I loved the idea of a {vintage} style party, so I tried my best to pull in lots of vintage inspiration.

I used lots of cake plates and milk glass pieces to add to the look...

I made all the cupcakes {lemon, strawberry, and chocolate!}, and found these darling white ruffled cupcake papers which added to the vintage feel I was going for...

Antique pink roses in small green glasses, strawberries and grapes piled high....

The {sweet shoppe} was a huge hit.  Apothecary jars filled with lots of goodies...

Candy Necklaces, Marshmallow Ropes, Tootsie Rolls (Lucy's fav!)

Kisses, Fruity Pops, and Strawberry & Chocolate Whoppers!

For the place settings for each girl, I used these antique class plates, with a small Kerr jar with a grey and white striped paper straw...and my Mom made these darling little place cards.

LOTS of tissue flower poms added so much color and whimsy!

Mason {Kerr} jars were used for the pink Lemonade and Iced Tea with vintage paper straws fround on Etsy.  I also made water bottle labels that said "Happy Birthday Lucy".

I put the lemonade jar on a OLD stool I had that was Toby's Great Great Grandfather's.

I LOVE the way this party turned out.  I had been planning this day for so long, and I really feel like it came together exactly how I wanted!!