Seasonal Inspiration

Autumn, Seasonal Inspiration

A Spookilicious Halloween

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Happy Halloween!

Halloween has such potential for bringing out the kid in us.  Join in the fun with these ideas:

1.  Spider Parade:  This creepy trail of spiders startled my own family (even though I’ve done this before)  So, that was a dollar well spent!

 

 

2.  Add some eerie to existing elements:  Most of the year, Beethoven adds some dignity to the family bookshelf.  With the addition of some funky glasses, he becomes “vintage spooky.” 

The versatile apothecary dish joins the haunted fun when filled with plastic bones and moss. This display is mostly filled with year-round accessories, like the large book and various candle holders.  The strictly Halloween-themed additions are few, small (ie. requires little storage), and inexpensive choices.  If you like the spooky globes, find the tutorial from Flamingo Toes here. 

 

 

3.  Add holiday fun to unexpected places.  This adorable teddy turned bathroom attendant is a light-hearted surprise for guests.

 4.  Make some ghostly snacks, like these Cookie Ghosts & Mummies:  Check out my YouTube video for complete instructions.

Enjoy!  Hope your Halloween is “Spookilicious!”

Home Life

Make Home a Refuge: Create an OK Place

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Life is hard sometimes, isn’t it?

What a beautiful thing it is to have a place that envelops you and provides a refuge from the big bad world out there.  To make this value a reality, create an “OK Place.”

What’s an OK Place?

It’s a little niche of real estate that communicates to your heart and mind that, “Indeed. Everything is going to be OK.

It’s hard to access that truth while flying around, putting out fires.  Often, we need a safe place to just sit and absorb our present circumstances before we can engage with it.  Take a breath, let your soul catch up with reality, and then head back into the fray knowing, “OK.  I can do this.”

A favorite chair, a pile of cushions, or a corner of the couch– everyone needs an “OK Place.”

What are the essentials of an OK Place?

  1.  A Landing Spot

You need a landing spot for your beverage of choice (facing the world requires hydration!) and a place for your inspiration of the moment– a book, a magazine, favorite photos, an I-pad, etc.  Pull up a side table, use the end of a shelf, a sturdy stack of books or vintage luggage, a small chair, even a tree stump (bottom left picture)– almost anything can be pressed into service.  Your landing spot supports you by providing a home for whatever tools that moment requires.

2.  A Cozy Blanket

Akin to swaddling newborns, a cozy blanket communicates comfort, safety, and shelter in a small, but powerful, way.  The more senses you can minister to (in this case touch), the greater impact your OK Place can have on your well being.

So, go identify your OK Place.  If you don’t already have a place you gravitate to, create one.  If you do have one, equip it with the essentials.

Make your home a refuge by equipping it to serve you well!

Autumn

Happy Fall . . . On a Budget

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Ah, fall.  Cooler temperatures, cozy scarves, and pumpkin spice–everything.

This year, I want to be conservative with my finances and my space, but still fully relish this delightful season.   If you also watched Marie Kondo’s Netflix special and were inspired to de-clutter, you’ve learned to thoughtfully consider what you add to your life and home.  So, here’s to embracing the season . . .  while being financially savvy and mindful of how much inventory I’m signing up to store at the season’s end.

1.  Multiple Uses: 

Invest in items that work for more than one season.  These pine cones reflect autumn, but they’ll also support Christmas and winter displays.  (And are free for those of you fortunate enough to live near pine trees!)  Evergreen topiaries can be dressed for any occasion.  Bowls or trays in neutral colors or a material that coordinates with your style (think: wood, brass, silver, copper, mercury glass, galvanized tin, etc) can flow from one season to the next by changing what you put inside.  So, shop with flexibility in mind.

2.  Embellish Existing Elements:  

This teapot of greens gets a few autumn colored companions (from the Dollar Tree), and it’s ready for the season.

Most of the year, the wreath below adds some much needed green to my desert spaces.   By wrapping a beaded garland around it and adding some leaves, it says, “Hello, Harvest!”

Find a wreath with a basic, non-season-specific leaf for your base.  Add garlands, floral picks, or ribbons appropriate for the season, and you also put to work Tip #1!

3. Repeat after me: Repetition!

One of the reasons store displays or magazine spreads look so pulled together is because they employ the design principle of repetition to create theme and a defined style.  You can do that!  Find an inexpensive item you can tuck in and around your more unique pieces to pull them all together.  Pine cones, acorns, pumpkins, ribbons, tea lights—there are so many options.  In your home store or online look for “vase fillers.”  These bagged beauties specialize in small but abundant pieces that naturally repeat.  And repetition reveals intentionality in your design.

 

4.  Color Cues:

Consider using the colors already present in a room to translate the season.  Fall isn’t restricted to yellow, orange, and brown anymore.  You can find autumn-themed treasures in every color scheme these days.  The result is a harmonious environment that echoes the season, without shouting it.  How does this save money?  When you coordinate with your current color scheme, it’s easier to pull from inventory you already have to support your theme.

In this white and gray example from my dining room, I’m using place mats, plates, napkins, napkin rings, and a tray that are put to work year round.  The pine cones, acorns, and mini pumpkins are the only season-specific items (and small, taboot), but they pack plenty of punch by gathering them into a central focus point.

It is possible to scimp on purchases without scimping on joy!  Now where’s that apple cider . . .

Happy Fall!