Source: adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com via Missy on Pinterest Wow, it's November 1st. Crazy, right? We're entering the season of giving thanks, and I think it's only appropriate to start it off right! Admittedly, Monica and I have been running around like chickens with their heads cut off (that is a terrible visual), but we have SO much to be thankful for, so I'm making it my goal to not let November go by without displaying gratitude. Yup, I'm adding it to my list of things I want to be intentional about! (Read more about that here, here and here.) Maybe I'll consider adding a little Thanksgiving decor to my home:
Source: dearlillieblog.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest
Or make a sweet treat with my kids
Source: heatherannmelzer.typepad.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Or start a new tradition.
Source: beautyandbedlam.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest Have each family member write what they're thankful for on a piece of paper and wrap it in a crescent roll. Open them at dinner and guess who said which thing.
Source: rebeccacooper.blogspot.com via Katie on Pinterest Cut out leaves from scrapbook paper and write words of gratitude on them. Punch holes in them and hang them on twine and display.
But whatever I decide to do, I'm going to do it whole-heartedly and with a spirit of gratitude. Want to join me?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We totally forgot to announce the winner of the Dine & Design tickets courtesy of Denise from The Painted Home!
The winner is:
Congratulations Stacey! We can't wait to meet you. Send us an email to claim your prize! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What do you do to give thanks? Please share!
I'm typically a traditional Fall colors girl, as you might remember from my fancy mantle (seen here), but this year my autumn color-loving self has been tempted by the hues of a different kind of pumpkin: heirlooms! These gorgeous, antique-looking pumpkins have seeds that have been around for hundreds of years, but are making a big comeback in Fall decor! They come in a variety of colors, but are mainly in muted grays, blues, greens and white. These babies are not cheap, but apparently, are absolutely delicious to use in cooking/baking, so you can decorate with them and then eat them. Big bang for your buck.: ) (That's what I tell my hubs, anyway)
Heirloom Pumpkins
Source: theinspiredroom.net via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: thenester.com via Jessica on Pinterest The Nester used them on her mantle and, of course, they look amazing. Can I just say that I love the Nester and her design motto: It doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful? Just sayin'.
Source: hollymathisinteriors.com via Jessica on Pinterest Gorgeous eye candy for the heirloom pumpkin-lover that I am.
Source: poetichome.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: twentysomethingtransue.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: susieharrisblog.com via Jessica on Pinterest If you're too cheap frugal to buy heirloom pumpkins, you can make your own that will last forever using this tutorial. Pretty convincing and super cute. I was so inspired by these photos, that I went out and bought my own to use in my entryway. Would you believe it if I told you that I bought mine at Home Depot? Well, I did. They were $8.00 a pop, but honestly, my life wouldn't have been complete without them (ok, I'll admit that that's a bit of an overstatement, but my hubs will tell you that once I get something in my head, I'm pretty darn annoying about it until I have it/do something about it.)
I only sprung for two heirloom pumpkins, but I love the character and colors they add to the little workbench I found this past summer.
And if you're really, really perceptive, you might have noticed two things that are different here: 1) I added a number 4 to my white pitcher (four is a favorite number around here because it's how many people are in our family and '04 was the year we were married). I created a stencil and then dry-brushed it on the pitcher. So easy! It's not perfect, as you can see, but I'll be cleaning up the lines as soon as I get the chance. (I just couldn't wait that long to post pictures!)
And 2) I finally convinced my hubs to paint the hallway that was covered in paint that I loathed. It went from swine-colored to a cool gray/tan neutral that I am in love with (you can see the new paint color here in my newly redesigned bathroom). So.much.better.
As you can see, it's still a work in progress, but the difference is truly amazing. {Love} So, what are your thoughts about heirloom pumpkins? Do you think they're cool like me, or just plain wierd? Have you used them in your home yet? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The projects for the final round of Crafting with the Stars are now up and ready to be voted on. We would be ever so grateful if you'd head on over to Sew Dang Cute and vote (for us)! We're crossing our fingers that this project wins us the whole contest!: ) Thanks for your help. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Happy Monday!
First, a disclaimer: If you've ever read our bios on the About Us page, you'd know I do not bake. At least, not well. For some reason, baking and I don't usually mix since I'm usually a"throw-in-a-dash-of-that", or a"that-looks-like-about-a-1/2 cup" type of person. Anywho, you need not be an expert baker to attempt this recipe. I'm living proof of that.: ) Now, on to the yummyness that is these apple dumplings. These are soooo simple to make and use only a few ingredients, but the best part is that they taste amazing! Gooey and sweet and perfect for Fall. I originally found the recipe here, and am forever grateful!
Here's what you'll need:
2 sticks of butter
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tubes of crescent rolls
2 Granny Smith apples
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
12 oz of sprite (or mountain dew)
Cinnamon to taste
Step 1: Peel and slice your apples into wedges.
I was so wishing I had a Pampered Chef Apple Wedger for this job, but alas, I had to do it the old-fashioned way. (If you want to make your life easier, contact our PC sponsor, Jane B. and she'll hook you up!)
Step 2: Roll an apple wedge up in one crescent roll triangle.
Step 3: Place crescent-wrapped apples in a sprayed baking pan.
Step 4: Melt both sticks of butter and mix with sugar and vanilla.
The consistancy should be sludge-like. (Mmmm…sounds good, doesn't it?)
Step 5: Pour butter mixture over the tops of the wedges, or spread on top with a spoon.
Step 6. Pour the can of soda all around the wedges and sprinkle cinnamon on top.
If it looks gross and like something the dog threw up, you're on the right track. Step 7: Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until brown and crispy.
Step 8: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Yum!
source Honestly, you can't go wrong with this recipe. It gets rave reviews every.single.time. Go ahead and give it a try! It might just convert you into a baker.; )
It's been a while since we showed you what's been gracing the walls of our Pinterest boards (if you don't follow us, you should!) these days. Well, that's about to change! There are so many incredibly talented, creative people out there who do some amazing projects, so prepare to be wowed!
DIY Acorn Wreath This one's a little bit traditional since it's a wreath form, but a whole lot modern with it's repeating pattern and funky green color. Monica is wreath-hater, but I think we might be able agree that it's super fab!
Baker's Twine Apple Art I think this apple art is so stinkin' cute. Wouldn't it be fun to make an apple with red twine, a pear with green twine and a plum with blue twine? So sweet!
This Jute Table Runner is made with floral jute webbing and I think it's simple and pretty. With Thanksgiving coming, this is th perfect way to dress up your table and wow your guests,
Halloween Styrofoam Eyes Monica's kids love Halloween, and I can see them totally falling in love with these cute pairs of eyes.
Birch Bark Candles Kim figured out a way to recreate the expensive birch barch candles from Pottery Barn.,,,but for a whole lot cheaper using real birch bark.! The finished product is rustic and beautiful. If you want to see more of what we're loving on Pinterest, click the button below. Have a great weekend, everyone, and while you're at it, do a Fall craft!: )
I don't know about you, but I always forget how much fun it is to decorate a mantel for different seasons. Sometimes it feels like the seasons go so quickly that it's silly to decorate for such a short time. Am I the only one? And then I realize…man, it's fun to try out different arrangements and see what I can come up with. Plus, for the Fall season, decorating the mantel totally makes my room feel more cozy. Last year, I actually did two different mantels: one for early Fall/back to school and the other for late Fall. I know…crazy.
And here's what's going on this year on the ol' mantel:
t I knew that I definitely wanted to include a branch of the gorgeous leaves from my trees outside. I mean, just look at those colors!
The little owl candle came from CVS (yup, on clearance!) and the giant acorn is from Hobby Lobby.
The most fun part about this mantel is the large leaf print in the middle. I actually made this in Picmonkey (a free photo editing site) using free clip art and chalkboard background. Then I had it printed at Staples as an engineer print- it cost me all of $4.00. We luuuurrrrrvvvveee Staples engineer prints (we've done loads of projects with them- you can see them here, here and here ), because they are so easy to work with and inexpensive.
*Update: Several of you asked if I could make the leaf print available as a download. Well, your wish is my command! Download the fall leaf print here. You gotta love the colors of Fall.
The silver vase is from a thrift store and the reddish gourd-shaped vase is another CVS clearance find.
All in all, it's looking pretty cute, although my leaves probably won't live to see another day…
Its been about a year and my Stenciled Faux Tile Fireplace is still one of my favorite projects to date! It's the perfect backdrop to all my mantel decorating craziness.: ) Do you decorate your mantel for the seasons?
Maybe you noticed something missing from our Fall Lovers Series… Pumpkins! We’re not haters and we didn’t forget… we were saving them for this special pumpkin post! We had the pleasure of sharing some fabulous, non-traditional pumpkin ideas for the 69 News in Allentown, PA and now you’ll get to see the inside scoop on how to make your own.
We got together this week to have a pumpkin party of sorts… it included lots of pumpkins, a large bowl of uncooked cookie dough (yum!) and a big old mess!
I Can’t think of a better way to spend time with a BFF can you? Tac Pumpkins
This is a Horchow knockoff and we’re thrilled with how cool it looks. Jess said it looks like a “biker chick pumpkin!” Simply spray paint your pumpkin (we used Oil Rubbed Bronze) and when it’s dry, simply push the tacks in a cool pattern. This literally took about 5 minutes.
Sticker Pumpkins If you have kids, they’ll love to help with this one. We used simple “teacher stars,” but you can use any sticker shape. Make sure your pumpkin is clean and totally dry, add the stickers, and then spray paint. When the paint is pretty much dry, remove the stickers and reveal the awesomeness!
Ribbon Jack Be Littles These guys would look great in a big, black wooden bowl. It doesn’t get any easier than this folks… Simply wrap the ribbon and hold in place with a thumbtack.
Mr. Pumpkin Head If you've seen Toy Story 3, the you know that Mr. Potato head works even on a pancake, so why not try pumpkin? If you have little ones that are a tad young for real pumpkin decorating or carving, this is the idea for you!
No pumpkins were harmed in the making of this tutorial! You do need to poke the holes with a pen so that the pieces stay put. I promise I used Novocain before starting the procedure.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box (cliche, but oh so true) and use fun items you already own!
Sexy Lady Pumpkin Vera Wang might want to hunt us down after this post, but we love the look. We took some sexy tights and believe it or not, squeezed a pumpkin in! It was really quite hysterical and I almost wish we had it on video.
It’s definitely a two person job!
We cut the bottom end and then wrapped the stem with the other.
I think Vera might be proud!
Decoupage Pumpkin The key to this funky-punky is cutting thin strips of paper. Simply take scrapbook paper or fabric and cut it into ½ -1 inch strips. This was a small pumpkin, so we used ½ inch. Apply modpodge heavily to the back of each strip and start wrapping the pumpkin. When it’s completely covered give the outside a coat of modpodge as well. This one is to go with Monica’s Poe Inspired mantle.
Modpodge goes on white, but don’t worry… it dries clear.
By about this time in our pumpkin party, here’s what the kitchen looked like. We never claimed to be neat crafters did we?
Crackle Paint Pumpkins This project was inspired by Beth who was inspired by Jane… don’t you love the sharing of ideas in the blog world? We sure do! For these you’ll need some cheapo dollar store pumpkins… and man, they’re ugly at first.
First, spray a base coat. We used flat, black that we already owned.
We had a little spray paint station outside. The hubs loves our multi-colored grass! Then, apply the crackle medium. We bought Martha’s brand from Michaels. We patiently waited grabbed the blow drier to pick up the pace and once it was totally almost dry we brushed on the top color. The key here is long, even strokes. Crackle paint can be a tad fussy.
Let the top coat dry and watch as the cracks magically appear. It’s pretty cool!
House # Pumpkin Another simple idea, but one that would look adorable on your front porch. We picked up these numbers at Lowes and then used a mallet (a hammer would work too, but there’s just something fun about a mallet) to bang in the screws. Presto- Chango… house # pumpkin!
Cookie Cutter Pumpkin Since we're committed to being the REAL housewives of Bucks County, we're sharing once again another FAIL with you! We were inspired to try banging cookie cutters into pumpkins. Sounds simple enough right? Well, it would have been simple if the pumpkin wasn't thicker than the cookie cutter. I do think it would have worked on a smaller pumpkin… Instead, it broke the cutter and we had to do quite a bit of work to get it out.
You can barely even tell it's a bat. Drats!
If you've tried this and it worked, let us know and give us some tips! So there you have it… some non-traditional pumpkin ideas to try in 2011. If you want to see us in action, we'll be posting the clip to the 69 morning show soon. Be sure you"like" us on Facebook, because we'll link it there.
Happy Wednesday, thanks for pumpkin partying with us!
Linking to: iheartnaptime Under the Table and Dreaming, Tutorials & Tips, Tip Me Tuesday
I know that I'm a little behind on Fall mantle decor, but I thought I'd share what I have going on right now on my newly updated fireplace. When I stenciled the fireplace, I rearranged the mantle, as well, in a back-to-school/early Fall style.
I loved how light and airy it felt, yet still included some Autumn touches like the rust and yellow books and green apples. Works beautifully with my stencil, doesn't it?
The books are actually Monica's that she bought at the barn sale, and I know she wants them back, but I don't think she realizes how at home they look on my mantle. Maybe these pictures will convince her?!; ) The propeller thing was an item I found while on vacation at the Jersey shore and I whole-heartedly adore it. The tiles are from the historic Moravian Tile Works not far from my house. I have four of them and each represent a different season.
But then, I got itching to really fallify my house with rich, deeper colors, so today, I brought out all my junk and got to work. When I'm styling a mantle- or any space for that matter- I like to collect things from all over the house and mess around with them for a while. I should have taken a few outtake pictures, because oh boy, you would have thought I lost my head at some of the arrangements I came up with. I usually try to follow a few simple rules, like grouping in threes and mixing up patterns and textures. So, here's mantle # 2 for you:
In my opinion, you can't ever go wrong with pumpkins so I made sure to include them.
Some of the pieces were used in my fall mantle last year, like this copper-colored vase and faux grasses. The mirror was a $4 find at Liberty Thrift Store, that I've been holding on to until just the right time.
I've had the little dried gourds for years, and the over-sized acorn came from Hobby Lobby.
I always love decorating and redecorating my mantle again and again and again. It's a sickness. Do you change your mantle decor to fit the season?Which style do you prefer: Mantle #1 or #2?I'm undecided.: )
Source: tumblr.com via The Real Housewives on Pinterest Is it just the English teacher in me, or is this funny? I seriously laugh every single time I see it. Perhaps this picture is what inspired me to shoot for a non-traditional fall mantle this year. I'm usually a warm colors, traditional fall mantle girl. Not this year. I wanted something with cooler tones and some personality. Enter the Poe Inspired Mantle.
The black & white pumpkin and the raven are both from Hobby Lobby. (My daughter claims it's a crow, but it's a raven to me, heck it even squaked"Nevermore" the other day!) I was thinking of getting sticks for the vase, but I saw these peacock feathers and they just screamed"AWESOME" so I went with them and some spoooky branches. The owl is adorable and will become a permanent part of my decor somewhere.
I still really struggle with having the TV above the fireplace because it cramps my decorating style, but it's definitely the most practical. Sorry, for the BTR promo… when you have 4 kids, sometimes you gotta let them watch tv so mommy can take blog pics. Who knows, maybe BTR will want to be featured on our blog? Ha! (If you don't know BTR, then you clearly don't have an 9yr old) In addition to finishing my fall mantle, the babies and I (perhaps at 2 and 4 they're not babies, but we call 'em that) did a little fall craftin' with some scrap particle board. DIY Scrap Fall Sign Nothing fancy about this wood; I think the builder left it. It's really poor quality particle board, but I saw its inner beauty! Well…actually… I was just glad it was free.
My famous paint can shot (can something be famous just because I declared it so?) I just used some leftover paint that Nate left here. Oh, who's Nate you ask?? Umm, just my pal Nate Berkus. We're tight. (hahah!) This paint did come in the Nate Crate though.
Did you know that Jess and I like to paint topless? KIDDING!! I let my kiddos do the painting… you thought I was a hoochie for a second there didn't you?
We did a very rough base coat. I didn't want it 100% covered. Then it was time to stencil the letters and I needed to get it straight, so rather than take 2 minutes to find a ruler, I just used a scrap piece of paper and a piece of chalk to make some guide lines.
The stencil I used was the Helvetica font and I got it for $7.99 at HobLob.
I love these little bracket symbols. Jess and I probably over use them, but we can't help it. They're cool.
Some of the letters require a little work. First, stencil in the shape as is…
Then, you need to fill in where the plastic was for support. I just used two little pieces of painter's tape. It fills in nicely as you'll see in the finished product.
DARN my lack of planning. LEAF PILE was too long… I had 2 options… pretend"AF PILE" is a cool, family inside joke, or come up with a plan B…
I went with plan B. I painted over the AF…
and decided that a visual would work. Kaden ran outside and picked out two leaves that he liked the most. I pressed them on the wood and did a light stencil around the edges to create the shape of the leaf
I'll be the first to admit: 1. This is not a fancy-schmancy masterpiece 2. It's really hard to read. (Fall sorta looks like"fail"… The hubs was confused why I wrote the word"pile" until I explained it… and yes, there is a P missing from"pumpkins" for the sake of space)
However, even with all its quirkiness, after a final light sanding, I was really happy with the finished product.
I think it's a fun, personal addition to our front porch.
Sure, it's no crazy-cool subway art, but for $7.99 it's cute and kept me and my kids busy making it for at least an hour. That scores one in my book!
So, do you have any junky wood sitting around that you can make a cool family sign with? Give it a try and let us know how it turns out.
P.S. I have to confess, there are many things I wanted on this sign that didn't fit… Starbucks and Pumpkin Spice Latte just to name a few!
We're on a roll here with our Fall-Lovers Series. I'm ready to curl up with a good book, under a warm blanket, drinking a Pumpkin Spice Chai from Starbucks. You? If you missed the first 3 days in our series, click here, here, and here to catch yourself up!
I'm definitely a mums and pumpkins kind of gal. Keep it simple and keep it totally fallish. I'll be honest, though. Today it was a mere 90 degrees here in Bucks County, so decking out my front porch for Fall was the last thing on my mind. Even though I've seen a few places put out mums already, I'm not quite ready to get mine. I did manage to find a few pictures of my front porch from years past:
My house just naturally lends itself to Fall colors since our front door and shutters are a chocolate brown color.
I painted plain old fake terracotta planters a bright, fallish, cheerful yellow which popped beautifully against the mums. You won't find that little cutie on the step in stores, though. She's all mine.
This is the view looking out from our foyer on a rainy Fall day. I just love the big trees all over our property that whose leaves turn such lovely colors. I have bigger plans this year for my front porch, which I hope will actually happen sometime before Halloween (we host a Halloween/Trick-or-Treating party every year). But who knows?! Anyway, since I'm not offering much in the way of inspiration from my own home, how about these beauties?
Front Porch Decor
Source: bing.com via Jessica on Pinterest Pottery Barn just does it best, don't they? This look is a little over the top in my humble opinion, but there's no doubt as to which season they're celebrating in this house.
Source: iheartmygluegun.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: midwestliving.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: uncommondesignsonline.com via Jessica on Pinterest If you ever browse Pinterest, then you've probably seen this picture of these painted/carved pumpkin topiaries. People are so dang creative, aren't they? But, don't you dare think you have to buy a million pumpkins, paint your front door and put a table on your porch to make it look fabulous and fall-y. No way. Just look:
Source: bhg.com via Jessica on Pinterest Now, this is more like it! I love the simplicity of this front porch. Something about it is just so homey. And I'm totally digging that blue door and light fixture, but that's another post for another day.
Source: bhg.com via Jessica on Pinterest What is with all these non-traditional painted front doors? Do you love it or hate it? I'm lovin' it and have already started brainstorming about attacking my front door with paint!
It’s in the Details …
Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest If you do have a big porch with room for an old table and chairs, a vignette of pumpkins and foliage is absolutely adorable!
Source: bhg.com via Jessica on Pinterest Another great trick for adding Fall elements into the outdoor design of your home, is by adding pumpkins, gourds, and dried cornstalks into your existing flower beds and window boxes. Instant fallification (yes, it is now a word. Boom.) without screaming It's Fall! in everyone's faces and annoying your neighbors.
Source: bhg.com via Jessica on Pinterest I think this is so clever- place a few branches from your yard into a planter, add white lights, or specialty Halloween lights onto them and throw in a few pumpkins while you're at it. This is the perfect Halloween/trick or treating touch. Can't you see these lining your walkway as the little ghosts and goblins (or scantily-clad Britney Spears, or wierdly-clad Lady Gaga's, which I may or may not have seen in my neighborhood last year) come to get their candy? Ahhh…too awesome!
Source: thepaintedhome.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest Denise, from The Painted Home, decked out a tree in her yard and included the numbers of her house on painted pumpkins. As she says, you want Fall to know where you live. It doesn’t hurt a girl to dream.
Source: room-galleries.myhomeideas.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: southernliving.com via Jessica on Pinterest Yes, please. (If you own one of these, please invite me over for some hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire. I'll be the best friend you never really wanted.)
What’s your front porch style? Over-the-top or Understated? Happy Thursday!
We've dedicated an entire week to expressing our adoration for the Fall season. Click here to see Day one of our Fall Lovers Series- the Anti-Wreath.
My favorite place to accessorize is my mantle (or is it mantel? Everywhere I look people spell it differently! For the record, I'm going with mantle today). I'm not kidding when I say I tweak it almost daily. So, while, for now, I am happy with my fall mantle, it probably won't stay this way for long. Ha!
See those bronze-colored vases on the right? I got those bad boys on clearance for $2.50 and $1.50 respectively, at Michaels. I wish you could have seen my happy dance when I heard what the final marked-down price was.
I battle my incessant need for symmetry every time I style my mantle, but I think I finally came up with something that is somewhat symmetrical but not exactly the same on either side of the mirror. I threw some fall-looking foliage that I've literally had for 5 years, at least, in the round vase and added a few dried gourds to complete the right side. I toyed around with a whole bunch of things (I need to remember to take a picture of all the stuff I dragged into the living room to play around with- it's like a decor bomb went off. Wouldn't that be cool, though? A decor bomb…hmmm.) Where the heck was I? Oh yes, the mantle.
I think my favorite part of the mantle is this little stack of old books and a the simple orange pumpkin (also from Michael's years ago). I love the pop of orange against my blue/gray walls.
The old lantern was my grandmother's and has seen it's fair share of rooms in my home. I love that thing. Overall, I think I'm happy with the mantle. For now. Here are a few other fabulous mantle pics to inspire you:
Source: bhg.com via Jessica on Pinterest You had to know that I would include an all-white mantle, didn't you? Don't you love the bits of autumn color in there? Beautiful!
Source: athoughtfulplaceblog.com via Jessica on Pinterest I thought twice about including this picture, since Monica declared her disgust with wreaths of all kind. But I like this leafy one. Deal with it, Mo.
Source: marthastewart.com via Jessica on Pinterest You certainly can't go wrong with pumpkins.
Source: thenester.com via Jessica on Pinterest I love these two non-traditional Fall mantles. The Nester used a few big gourds that matched her color scheme, and while not over-the-top fall-ish, it still hints at the autumn feeling. And this one:
Source: homestoriesatoz.com via Jessica on Pinterest …is absolutely gorgeous. I'm going to remember this one for next year's mantle. show it to my husband so he can remind me of it since I have the worst memory known to man But wait…what if you don't have a mantle?.Never fear! Just pick a shelf, table, countertop (whatever!) and decorate away! I used this shelf in my kitchen to add another touch of Fall into my home.
I {heart} this so much. I used leftover frames from our Nate Show makeover, and added the letters F-A-L-L which I printed on heavy cardstock in different fonts. I actually already had the metal lowercase L (my hubs and I couldn't resist the $2 grab bag at Michael's last Black Friday and ended up with whole bunch of random metal letters), and used scrapbook paper to make the last L. I threw in a couple burnt orange items and voila! Pretty fall kitchen shelf.
So, now you have no excuses. Go ahead and Fall-ify your mantle!
*Bonus Challenge: Count how many times I wrote mantle in this post. That should keep you busy while you're bored at work. You're welcome. Linking up to: Home Stories of A to Z
It's Fall! Yay! Well, ok, we might still be experiencing 80 degree weather, but Monica and I are in total Fall project mode. We both have lists miles long of stuff we want to accomplish, and things we want to do during this, our favorite season ever. There's just something about getting back into a regular groove that makes us so much more productive. We're already planning our usual Tuesday evening blog nights (if you ever want to reach both of us at once, that's the perfect time!), and have some awesome tutorials, fun room designs, and, of course, lots of seasonal decorating to share with you!
If you're new around here, you'll quickly realize that we looooooooove Fall. In fact, last year, we dedicated a whole week to Autumn goodness. You'll definitely want to check out some of our fav Fall finds from last year, like…
Easy Apple Dumplings Oh yummmmmm. I can't wait to break these things out at our first Eagles football party. I don't know about you, but the only reason I watch every game is for the food. Oh yes, I said it.
Fall Mantle Inspiration This is my Fall faux-mantel from last year and I absolutely loved it, but I'll be mixing it up this year since my kitchen looks totally different.
Fall Anti- WreathMonica is a wreath-hater, and she's not afraid to admit it. Her solution for her front door was totally awesome, and I daresay it'll make you a hater of traditional wreaths, too. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the start of the Fall blogging season, we're happy to announce that we're accepting new sponsors! We have a few openings that we would love to fill, so if you have a business that you think we'll love and can help you promote, send us an email at eastcoastcreativeblog@gmail.com! Seriously, what better way to sell your stuff than to have two loud, passionate, crazy women on your side?! For all the nitty-gritty info about our sponsorship opportunities, click here. Come on board with EC2- we'll take good care of you!; ) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------We can't wait to share with you all that we've been doing in our homes (anybody ready for a Monica patio update?!), so why don't you throw on a pair of jeans and a comfy sweatshirt and cozy on up with us. Let the Fall fun begin!
It's time for a Back to School roundup of our favorite items from the best sponsors around! We've hand-picked some awesome eye candy for you all inspired by the Fall season. Enjoy!
1. This Thirty-One Gifts Spirit Collection is perfect for the athlete in your family…or even the crazy fanatics parents! I'm loving the primary colors, and this orange set screams"Hello Autumn!" Get one in your school's colors and be the envy of the other parents.: ) 2. It's time to start warming up the inside of our homes, and this headboard made of old doors is just so inviting, isn't it? Architectural Antiques has tons of doors with loads of character that could make this dream a reality! 3. You know we totally {heart} Moo &Puppy Digital Paper Shop (we use it all the time! Remember this?) and this Polka Dot Autumn Digital Pack has us motivated to make some invitations to our next bonfire and hayride! Right now, buy 2 packs, get one free and use the code RHBC15 for 15% off your order. 4. Isn't this Industrial Light with Vintage Enamel Shade from Lucent Lampworks gorgeous? It totally looks like something you might find in an old schoolhouse. Love that color. 5. One of the first things I do when September hits is bring out my Fall candles. I can NOT get enough of them. CJS EcoChic's Home Sweet Home (a blend of fine cinnamons), sounds warm and toasty. Sign me up. Also, because they're soy, these babies last forever, so my house can smell like Autumn right up until Santa comes. 6. I think this Vintage Garden Trug from NachoKitty would look awesome sitting on my hearth filled with matches, some scented pinecones and old newspapers. Everything you need for an amazing fire in one {really cute} place. 7. My daughter Campbell is just starting her first year of pre-school (excuse me while I cry), and I'm excited for her and anxious that she'll transition well. I love the sentiment of this Red Letter Words Dream Huge Set, and it expresses exactly what I want for her.
8. I expressed my love for the Honeycomb Allover Wall Stencil from Royal Design Studios last time we highlighted our sponsors, and I'm proud to say, that I've added it to my home! I can't wait to share the tutorial for you, but let me just tell you that this stencil is incredible. LOVE.IT. Use the code RHBC10 for 10% off your order.
9. Belvedere Designs has a huge selection of vinyl wall quotes, but this Abraham Lincoln Quote stuck out to me. Great for an office, or over your kid's desk. Choose from loads of colors to match your room!
10. And last, but certainly not least, Liberty Thrift Stores is our favorite place to thrift and all of their Accessories are 50% off this weekend! Stop in at any of their five locations and accessorize your home on the cheap! We're so grateful to all of our wonderful sponsors for helping us make this blog possible. We'd be thrilled if you shared a little EC2 love with them.: ) Have a great Labor Day Weekend! Have plans?
While I know the official start date for fall is a month away today truly seems like the first day of fall for me. It's dark, cool and rainy out and our pumpkins are starting to turn orange'.
I planted my urns up with Mums this weekend''.
The hydrangea are starting to get their pink tinge''
A small stray leaf has turned red and fallen to earth'.
There's no sense denying it, I'm a font snob. I spend far more time choosing a font for a presentation than I actually do coming up with content! My husband completely doesn't get it… I've even showed him things in Comic Sans and then a fabulous font like Basic Title and he just can't even tell the difference. So, instead of wasting my time on him, I thought I'd gather up 10 free fonts that I'll be using this fall and share them with you!!
Cafe & Brewery///Honey Badger///Chemistry///Aaargh///DK Sleepy Time/// nixie one///Neo Retro Draw///Veron///Kiwi School Handwriting///Harting/// Here's my take on a few of them… There's something I'm loving about Honey Badger- can't put my finger on it, but I'm drawn to it! Chemistry is all Breaking Bad and awesome, but not illegal- don't worry! Neo Retro Draw has recently made it's way to our sidebar pics- I love the simple hand drawn look! Vernon, oh wait… it's VERON… Apparently I loved the N so much I added an extra! oops! I love simple, clean fonts with stretched letters. So modern and fabulous!! And just for good measure… the"hello" is Learning Curve (a teacher go-to I might add) and our EC2 watermark is Hype. So… go download your favs, but first tell me… Which is your favorite?
You probably noticed that we post 4-5 times a week here on the blog. That means most days you can come here for a daily dose of creativity. But what if I want more??? So you want more than just one dose a day? Sounds like it's time to follow us on Facebook! We love Facebook because it let's us interact with so many of our readers and lets us share far more than we can here in only one daily blog post.
Click HERE to Like Us on Facebook! Still not completely convinced? Let's see what you've been missing…
Project Sneak Peeks. I did a major 48 hour garage renovation as a surprise for my hubs. I'll be blogging it soon, but if you were following along on FB you'd have gotten some major sneak peeks and you'd have known that my husband came home 8 HOURS earlier than he was supposed to!: )
Jess gave this project sneak peek for an AMAZING project she just finished. This one will be posted on Infarrantly Creative next week. I know I'm biased as a BFF, but it's freaking awesome!
Bits of Monica Humor. If it makes me laugh, I share it. Sometimes I get eye rolls from Jess. Ha!
Real Life. We're totally normal (well kinda) gals with lots going on in our crazy lives. Sometimes we share things (like Jess' Anniversary last month) that let you get to know a bit more about the girls behind EC2.
My baby girl turned 5 this week. Don't be fooled by me sweetly calling her"baby girl"… she's in a supper annoying, naughty phase right now. Actually, I told Jess the other night that KJ was so naughty that I didn't even want to mention her bday on Facebook- GASP! Don't worry, I got over it and below is the post.
Awesome Finds. We use Facebook to share awesome inspiration for projects, products, and FOOD! Anytime we find a great deal or an amazing recipe, we'll let you know. I shared this project last week and I'm still swooning over it!
So there you have it. Plenty of reasons YOU should be following us on Facebook. Oh and wouldn't it be cool if you told your friends to do the same? We think it would be pretty darn fabulous! Like us HERE In other news…
If you're not super familiar with blogs, I'll fill you in on a secret… people are too busy in the summer to regularly read all their favorite blogs. That's kind of okay with us because we love to relax and play in the summer too! Here's another secret… Fall through Christmas is a stinkin' amazing time in the blog world. We're talking insane creativity people. So mark your calendars because September 3rd EC2 is ready to rock your world! (slight exaggeration, but we do have some cool projects!) Have a great weekend! Do you already follow us on Facebook? If not, did I convince you to?
