Give Your Porch Spook-Tastic Flair for Halloween

by Jessica // September 24, 2014 // No Comments

It’s finally fall, my favorite time of the year. I love that the weather is cooling off, the Halloween carnivals and festivals, football games, pumpkin patches, and last but not least decorating my home for the fall season. The decorative options for a pumpkin or two are endless, I’ve found a few of my favorites and I hope they inspire you to start decorating too. The pictures below have clickable links to the source for more information.

via www.bhg.com Love the look of this look, it’s simple, affordable and will look great through the Thanksgiving holiday.

via www.bhg.com With this arrangement stabilize the bottom pumpkin with rocks or sand; stack the pumpkins from largest to smallest, leaving lids with stems off on all but the top pumpkin.

via www.bhg.com If you’re into carving your pumpkins, this is a cute idea with sunflower seeds.

via www.southernliving.com To create this topiary, sandwich bay wreaths between pumpkins stacked in concrete urns, and top with a small pumpkin.

via www.pinterest.com This raven wreath is so simple, I would have never thought of something like this! The ravens you can find at just about any store that sells Halloween decor. The foam wreath is just painted or wrapped in a black ribbon.

via www.thegatheringplacedesign.blogspot.com This wreath is a great fall decor option to get you through the Thanksgiving holiday season and simple to make.

via www.susieharrisblog.com Check out Susie’s blog for step-by-step instructions on how to make these lovely fall wreaths.

www.bhg.com Love the color combination of this one.

via www.marthastewart.com This is a great alternative for the front door if you are going to be away with your own trick-or-treaters. I have actually done this the past few years, very easy and looks great.

via www.thistlewoodfarms.com

via www.marthastewart.com

via www.countryliving.com Another creative idea for your fall decor, a little metallic spray paint to add a nontraditional twist to your pumpkins.

via www.goodhousekeeping.com Carrying on with the raven theme, this makes a dramatic statement, sure to spook your little trick-or-treaters.

via www.marthastewart.com This one is a little more simple, but still very cute.

www.southernliving.com

via www.bhg.com The door decorations made from painted gourds are sure to catch the eye and chill the heart in the dark.

via www.potterybarn.com

via www.marthastewart.com This one is simply a large shredded garbage bag(the thin cheaper bags work best), I have also done this the past two years and looks great. It does tend to get very tangled, if you live in a windy area you may want to wait until a day or two before the trick-or-treaters arrive.

via www.bhg.com Easy to pose and secure with nearly invisible fishing line, the plastic skeletons can withstand the weather and hang out the entire season.

via www.bhg.com These spooky silhouettes are simply traced onto black paper or poster with a light placed behind. This is a project the kiddos can definitely help with.

Hope you have enjoyed this post and it has inspired you to get decorating for Halloween.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog and please share with your friends. If you have recently subscribed and haven’t received email notifications please subscribe again, I’m still trying to iron out a few glitches. Have a great day!

Jessica

Happy Tailgating

by Jessica // September 19, 2014 // No Comments

Now that football season is well on its way, I’m always looking for a new recipe to take to fall/tailgate parties. Convenience is priority, if you can prepare the dish ahead of time it’s a definite winner. The recipes I chose are many of the standard tailgate dishes but with a twist to spice things up. The ingredients are listed, just click the pictures for the recipe instructions. I have also found a few fun gift ideas for your favorite fan, the shopping season is almost upon us, yikes!

via www.southernliving.com

Grilled Salsa

2 ears fresh corn, husks removed
1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeded (optional)
1 small sweet onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
6 medium tomatoes, halved (about 2 lb.)
Vegetable cooking spray
1 small garlic clove, quartered
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Fried pork rinds

via www.myrecipes.com

Smoky Blue Deviled Eggs

12 large eggs
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup freshly grated smoked or sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped jarred roasted red bell pepper
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Pinch of ground red pepper

via www.bhg.com

Smoky Pineapple Guacamole

Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
2 ripe avocados, halved, seeded, and peeled
2 slices fresh or canned pineapple
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon finely chopped canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
Tortilla chips or assorted vegetable dippers

www.myrecipes.com

Hot Spiced Boiled Peanuts

2 pounds raw peanuts in the shell
1/3 cup salt
3/4 cup hot sauce
1 (3-inch) piece fresh ginger, sliced
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
2 bay leaves

via www.chef-in-training.com

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

1 package Hawaiian rolls
10 slices Gouda cheese
Filling
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
⅓ cup Franks Buffalo sauce
1½ cups shredded rotisserie chicken
Blue Cheese Spread
½ cup mayo
½ cup crumbled blue cheese
¼ cup diced celery
¼ cup sour cream
Topping
½ cup butter, melted
1 cup blue cheese crumbled
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

www.ohbiteit.com

Sweet Heat Molasses Meatballs

1 cup Molasses
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Chile Powder
1 tsp. Ground Ginger
1 pinch of Cayenne..to taste
1/2 cup water

via www.lillybee.com

At Lilly Bee you can customize your ballet flats with your monogram, sorority, or team initials. They also have rains boots available in your school colors, check them out.

www.thomasdeanco.com

These crisp, tailored dress shirts come with logos in your team colors and are a perfect tailgate outfit for both genders.

www.cabelas.com

This is a must for your favorite tailgater, it’s available in all your favorite college or alma mater colors. Found at Cabela for $379.99.

via Etsy @ RedBarnProducts

A great game for all ages, whether in the back yard, tailgating, or at the beach with friends. This company I found on Etsy and they have all your college teams.

via www.theoldtry.com

I couldn’t help but add this print, a perfect little gift for your favorite Alabama fan. Check out this site for other affordable prints that represent your favorite state or team.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and happy tailgating. Thank-you again for following my blog, your support means so much! Also, if you have subscribed to my blog and are not receiving email notification, please subscribed again, I’m still trying to iron out the glitches.

Jessica

Provence, France

by Jessica // September 15, 2014 // No Comments

If you are looking for a dream vacation across the pond I’ve found a few stunning rental properties that might suit your fancy. Take a peak and get your passports ready.

This lovely home is in the heart of the Alpilles of Provence, Le Grand Mas . The six bedroom home will run you about 1,100 euros or $1,400 per night. The home is minimally decorated allowing the architecture and views to speak for themselves in Provence’s most highly sought after region. This provencal house of old stone, surrounded by a great pool house and gardens, is just a short walk away from the center of Saint Remy de Provence. It stands in a flourishing and manicured park of olive trees and roses. The sublimely decorated home boasts modern amenities and gorgeous scenery.

Provence is most famous for its striking, fragrant lavender fields which bloom in early summer. Other notable destinations include the Roman city of Arles, the city of Avignon with its famous medieval bridge, the Pont d’Avignon, and Les Baux de Provence, a fortified hilltop village. On the coast of Provence you’ll find the fishing village of Cassis, where you can take a boat tour of the harbor. Further west you’ll find Marseille, France’s oldest city and an important trading port throughout history.

Amphitheatre – Arles France

Avignon’s famous medieval bridge

Cassis, France

The next home is equally beautiful, the main house offers great views of the Massif d’Etoiles. Guests have access to most of the estate including the tennis court, swimming pool, gardens and olive groves. The house sleeps 12 and runs about $2,000 per night.

Hope you have enjoyed taking a little peek at the lovely Provence. The homes shown above have clickable links for more pictures and details about the properties.

Thank-you so much for following my blog. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with your friends.

Jessica

Fall Flowers

by Jessica // September 9, 2014 // No Comments

Now that the weather is about to start cooling off and football season is well on its way, its time to start thinking about planting our favorite fall flowers. Your choice of fall flowers will be with throughout the holiday season. What better way to greet your guests than with two beautiful planters flanking your front door or fall flowers lining your sidewalk. There are so many beautiful colors and combinations to choose from. Below are a few of my favorites and a some simple steps to hopefully keep your flowers looking lovely throughout the season.

via www.homestoriesatoz.com via www.southernliving.com This lovely trio is orange pansies, violas, and orange panels, also paired with wheat grass and ivy.

How to care for your pansies. Pansies are not difficult to grow. Good soil, steady moisture, and at least partial sun will provide the results you’re looking for. What they don’t tolerate is heat and humidity, which is why they thrive in spring and fall. Plant pansies 6 to 8 inches apart. Pansies respond well to regular deadheading. As often as possible, every couple of days if you can, pinch off faded blooms and any fruit (small green seed capsules) that may be forming. This will spur plants to continue blooming. Be sure they’re growing in a well-drained location, pansies are susceptible to saturated soil.

via www.southernliving.com This arrangement of pink blooms of ‘Strawberry Sundae’ twin spurs (Diascia hybrid) is paired with a beautiful pale purple pansy.

via www.southernliving.com Pair colorful pansies with an evergreen for an established planting that can still change from season to season.

via www.southernliving.com Place two of these cheerful pots flanking your front door to welcome your guests.

via www.southernliving.com

With mums, what you see is what you get, so buy the bigger plant. When night temps drop (mid-September), buy plants as they start to break bud. You’ll maximize bloom time. Once buds start to open, you’re pretty much guaranteed flowers―no matter where you display them, they are happiest in sun. Another tip via Southern Living to keep flowers coming is by watering and pinching. Soil should be moist, but never wet. Check daily while weather is warm, every other day when it’s cooler. Fertilizing is not necessary. Remove faded blooms to encourage even more buds to open and you’ll have color through October. If plants dry out, submerge in a bucket of water, or jab a sharp pencil into the soil several times and then water.

via www.katesgarden.ca This site has beautiful spring and fall arrangement ideas.

Kale and Ornamental cabbage plants prefer cool weather. The best time to plant them is in the early fall. Planting kale in August or early September will allow the plant to become established. Ornamental Cabbage and kale should be planted in a sunny location in a moderately moist, rich soil. Water ornamental kale if the soil dries out about 1 inch deep. Water with 1 inch of water so the water seeps deep into the soil. If your fall and winters are normally wet, you might not need to water them at all.

This gorgeous arrangement was found on www.serendipityrefined.com, absolutely beautiful.

via www.reposhture.blogspot.com Ornamental cabbage, mixed with an established evergreen and ivy. This arrangement has a few Christmas tree branches, pine cones, and decorative branches to transition from the fall to Christmas holidays.

via www.southernliving.com This combination of evergreens, ornamental cabbage, and pansies are lovely.

via www.lovethispic.com One last picture for a little inspiration.

I hope this post has given you a few ideas for starting your fall plantings. The pictures above have clickable links for further details.

Thank-you for following my blog, hope you enjoyed this post. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with your friends. Have a great week!

Jessica

No More Mess Mudroom

by Jessica // September 3, 2014 // No Comments

With school starting back, there’s the clutter that comes with it. If you are like me the paperwork, backpacks, lunch boxes, and sports gear all end up on the dining room table or at the back door. I think being organized is helps you keep a clear head, it teaches your kids to become organized, and will help the hectic mornings run a little smoother. As I look for a picture of an organized mudroom for inspiration I see numerous custom-built cabinets and built-ins that cost hundreds to thousands to build, but for many of us that is not an option. If you can come up with five spare feet of wall and floor space there’s still hope for getting your kiddos a little more organized and momma a little happier.

via www.houzz.com This mudroom looks amazing, crisp and clean. With a generous amount of shoe storage, hooks for coats and bags, and overhead storage.

via www.houzz.com This one is simple and has space for baskets to hide clutter, hooks for coats or purses, and over head storage.

via www.shelterness.com Love the look of this with touches of red, great way to tidy up your back door.

via www.bhg.com If you can’t afford custom built-in cabinetry, this would be my favorite storage option. Perfect if you are in a rental or base housing.

via www.countryliving.com Another cute option with a rustic twist.

via http://westermanfam.blogspot.com If storage and clutter isn’t an issue for you this is a perfect option. Just a simple bench to slide on your shoes and a hook to hang your bag at the door.

via www.target.com Declutter your hallway or mudroom with the Threshold 27″ hook rail. It’s ideal for organizing your hats, coats and scarves. This rail has 5 tri hooks that offer increased holding capacity. If this doesn’t offer enough storage try using two hook rails together. Dimensions: 3.27 ” L x 27.0 ” W , priced at $23.79.via www.target.com The Corina entry bench will bring a sense of organization to your busy entryway or mudroom. The entryway storage bench gives you several cubbies for storing shoes. It has 3 pullout baskets for stashing hats, mittens, sunglasses and more. Like I said with the hooks above, if this bench doesn’t offer enough storage put two benches side by side. This bench paired with the hook rails above would cost you around $200, add a decorative pillow or two and you have a custom look. Dimensions: 20.5 ” H x 38.0 ” W x 16.25 ” D Priced at $179.99

via www.Target.com This storage shelf measures: 15.5 ” H x 42.0 ” W x 11.25 ” D, priced at $169.99. Pair this shelf with the bench below and it would run you around $300, another affordable option.via www.target.com Durable and stylish, this entryway bench with baskets will make a handsome addition to your home’s foyer or mudroom. Dimensions: 25.0 ” H x 46.0 ” W x 17.0 ” D. Sale price $119.98.

via www.kirklands.com Pair this mirror with the storage bench below would look great at your front door for extra storage and a place to put on your shoes. Mirror measures 28L x 1W x 42H in. Priced at $149.99.

via www.target.com The Threshold Bench with Casters is a classic look for any space in your home. This classy bench with a decorative mirror will finish the look at your entrance for extra storage. Dimensions: 18.0 ” H x 46.0 ” W x 16.0 ” D. Priced at $149.99.

The majority of the items shown above are from Target, look under home-furniture-entryway for many more options to help you put together your storage space. I’ve also listed a few options from various stores listed in the previous three posts (click on home at the top of the page to scroll to previous posts), check them out.

Thank-you for reading this post, I hope it has inspired you to get more organized and cut down on the clutter in your home. Please subscribe and share with your friends for future posts. Have a wonderful day. Jessica