Fall decor planning

This is the time of the year when I start planning my fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving decorating.  I try to change it up a bit every year but I also try to use what I've got first.  I don't have a ton of money to spend on new décor every year but I am not one to keep something year after year if I haven't used it in my décor. 

I'll walk you through what I do.  This is my process; gleam from it what you want.  I hope it helps you. 

My first step is to determine what I want to do décor wise this season.  I turn to Pintrest and the internet.  Check out my "I LOVE Fall"  board.
https://www.pinterest.com/vicdenniso/

https://www.pinterest.com/vicdenniso/i-love-fall/

Here is my Halloween board -
https://www.pinterest.com/vicdenniso/halloween/

When you start reviewing what you are crushing on you should start to notice a pattern emerging in your choices be it be color, patterns or theme. 
I tend to like non-traditional colors mixed with traditional elements.  So blue, robins egg or turquoise mixed with white and then pumpkins, gourdes, pinecones, twigs and other natural elements.   

 I found these two tablescape's on Pintrest and I'm in LOVE!

 TIP - Take stock of what you have already on hand.  I have my hubby pull all the fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving bins out of the attic this time of the year.  My craft room/office is a mess right now with boxes and bins everywhere. 
I go through each bin and unwrap each item and look it over.  Now is when I ask myself.
1.  Did I use it last year?
2.  Will I use it this year?
I will not keep anything that I just keep wrapping back up and not using year after year.  My rule of thumb is 2 years.  If I haven't used it in my decorating in the past 2 years it goes. 

I also look each item over and review -
1.  Is it shabby?  Been loved too much?
2.  If so, can I repair it?  Do I want to?  Do I still love it?  Is it worth it to repair? 
3.  Do I want to replace it? Can I replace it? 
4.  Is it a family heirloom?  If this is yes, I WILL wrap it back up even if I don't use it
5.  Does it have sentimental value?  This is a personal one for us as everyone has a different attachment to things.  I keep a 2 little plastic reindeer that were on a Christmas cupcake from when I was about 7 years old.  It is the last Christmas my Grandpa (Pops) was alive and he gave me his reindeer to take home and babysit until next Christmas.  I've never EVER getting rid of those silly plastic reindeer that have seen better days.

But inevitably year after year figurines will get chips in them or possibly a broken hand no matter how well you try to wrap them up. 

TIP - If the item looks like it has seen better days then toss it.  It won't enhance your décor, (unless it has sentimental value - see #5 above). 

I also take this time to look through my linens, tea towels, table cloths, placemats and runners as well as napkins and even pillows.  I ask myself those same questions over and over to take stock of my inventory.  I make a pile for donations and one for keeping. 

The one thing that does tend to get shabby quickly is faux flowers, garlands, wreaths and picks.  They will get smashed or bent; picks will loose their color and wreaths can come apart in my hot attic.  Even bows can become unsightly after only 1 or 2 seasons so I have a more critical eye here as far as what I keep and what goes. 

After I've gone through everything (trust me it is fun, like Christmas in August! The kids even like helping me) and I've made my keep and discard piles I do something my family thinks is crazy but I think is, well sheer genius!
I take pictures of everything I'm keeping with my phone. 

TIP - TRUST ME!  taking pictures of your items will help you when you go to the store.  You won't have to guess if something will look good together or if what you have on hand is similar, you'll have the picture right there in your hand. 
I also take pictures or download to my phone my inspiration pictures from Pintrest. 
Now you've got everything in one place with you when you are out and about. 

After I have carefully re-wrapped everything I'm keeping and re-boxed it all I then review my Pintrest board and using my handy dandy phone I'll come up with a design plan.  Then I make a list of things I need to get (I'll use my phone here too).

My list this year is looking like this.
1.  Candles - Pumpkin, Fall Leaves and 2 other jar candles
2.  Candles - White pillar, votive and tea lights
3.  Candles - Scent wax for my warmers
4.  Votive/Pillar candleholders - Kirkland's
5.  Faux hydrangea in fall colors and dusty blue
6.  Ribbon in fall colors
7.  Mason Jars

TIP - be specific in your list.  Notice I'm heading to Kirkland's to get Votive/pillar holders... I saw this on their website and fell in love.

TIP - your money is precious - DON'T BUY IF YOU DON'T LOVE!  Keep to your list but if you do find something in a store you love ask yourself.
1.  Can I use it in my current décor plan? (I check my phone pictures for this)
2.  Is it worth buying?  Can I live without it and chance that I can get it on sale later or after the season? 
If you will be kicking yourself when it isn't there in October then buy it but save the receipt.  If you don't use it or change your mind about it you can always return it. 
I will be buying that lovely above cause I love, love, love it.  It will go with my color theme that I've got in mind (blue's with rust/orange)

Since we are still a bit early to decorate for fall you will have the chance to watch for sales and get good prices.  I always shop at the end of the seasons as well when things are up to 70% off but I still ask myself the same questions.  Even if I only spend $5.00 on something if I never use it I've wasted $5.00 and heck that is a school lunch!
I tend to buy more faux flowers at the end of the season.  These items have gotten really expensive over the past few years and they don't seem to hold up for more than 2 seasons here in the Colorado weather so any money I can save on them I will. 

I also look for coupons online and in the paper.  Did you know that Hobby Lobby has an online coupon every 2 weeks for 40% off one item?  You do know that Bed Bath and Beyond takes expired coupons don't you....and you can use a coupon for each item you have. 

Here is what I did last year for fall (September) mantle:
http://www.dragonfliesandthistles.blogspot.com/2014/09/fall-mantel.html

This was my November mantle:
http://www.dragonfliesandthistles.blogspot.com/2014/11/thanksgiving-mantle-step-by-step.html

I will be using some of these same elements this year but switching it up and adding blues and turquoise to the mix of oranges, rust and white. 

Well that is all I have for today.  I hope you will be able to take some of my tips and use them in your own decision making for your fall décor. 
Do you have any tips or tricks that I didn't mention?  I'd LOVE to hear them.  Drop me a line and let's chat.
Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate you reading and your support. 
Until next week.  Stay safe.
Victoria
I'd love for you to follow me on Pintrest -
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I'm on Facebook but not quite as active due to how FB works.  You need to watch for my post every week and like it or interact by messaging me on FB to see it in your newsfeed.
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MAJOR serious house problems

I mean MAJOR. 
We had a bad storm a few weeks back and I think our house was struck by lightening.  I know the house behind us and to the left was struck because I saw the lightening hit and their roof caught fire. 

I think ours was struck as well.  In the past few weeks we've had to replace several appliances and a light fixture.  First up is our dishwasher.  I turned it on and it started smoking - NOT GOOD.  When my husband took it apart to install the new stainless dishwasher he found the motor was burned up and had even charred the cabinet a bit.  NOT GOOD. 

Now I know that dishwasher motors can burn up if they are old or faulty.  BUT.... My husband turned on the hall light in our entry the very next day and the thing caught fire!!!!  I don't mean sparks I am talking flame! with busted glass everywhere.  (On a good note I do now get to pick out a nice new entry light)...

Finally our microwave... My husband was heating up his lunch the very next day and yep, you guessed it sparks, smoke and then nothing.  The entire unit went dark.  Now this didn't upset me too much.  We did have the red neck microwave being held together with electrical and duct tape!  So a nice shiny new one in stainless is now at home in my kitchen. 

I was afraid to turn anything on in the house for a few days out of fear of what would go next!  We had an electrician come out and make sure all the wiring is in good working order; luckily it is. He couldn't give us an answer as to why two pieces of electrical equipment and a light would go out in such succession other than coincidence.  Nothing that went was on the same breaker.  Personally my theory is that our house was either struck or had some affect of the lightening strike behind us. 

So I really don't have a blog today as we are working through these issues.  I did go on vacation for a while in between all of this.  We camped in Lake City Colorado, my secret spot.  A lot of riding ATV's (Razor's), hiking and fishing.  It was a great time and it is so beautiful there. 

 

I will be back next week with an update on the electrical situation and may be a new entry light. 
Also, I'm going to my first ever country music concert in Denver this weekend... Kenny Chesney and Jason Aldean.  I'm originally an East Coast city girl and when and where I grew up Lynyrd Skynyrd was country but I can't wait!!! 

Until next week, Stay Safe!
Victoria
Thanks so much for stopping by.  I appreciate you reading and your input. 
You can follow me on Pintrest -
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Facebook -
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The ugliest side yard in the world

No really and truly.

The backyard is really great with the garden and green grass but the side yard has become a collection of junk.  However, this part of the yard is right off the deck and where we entertain and grill.  YUCK.

We finally took the microwave and the hot tub cover to the dump, we recycled the paint and toilet - did you see the old toidy there? 

The people that lived here prior had red rock on the side... personally I am not a fan and over the past 5 years we've been digging up rock and giving it away and yet we still have more rock so I give up on trying to get rid of it. 

What I'd like to do is level the side - we live on a hill and when it rains here the water just rushes down this little hill.

We are having the fence re-placed this summer and I've got to find a place for the firewood.  But what to do with this little section of yard? 

I've had some ideas but I'd love to know what the readers think.

I think I may need to do steps since I'm going up/down hill.

But if I could go flat I like these.

 

 

I also like the idea of getting rid of the ugly gate and may be doing a pergola even possibly with a nice gate attached (we do have dogs and kiddo's to keep contained).

 

I'd also like to keep the grill in this area if I can. We will have to keep the trash there but I like the idea of hiding that.

 Ultimately I'd like to move the grill to the cement slab outside of the garage but that is another mess that we are currently clearing!  Why do men think they need to save every scrap of wood, every nail and nut/bolt they find?  We have scraps that are too small to do anything with. 

I did however save the scraps of cut picket fencing from the back and other side yard - I'm going to make planters out of them.  More on that in a later post!

You can see all my garden ideas on my Pintrest board.
https://www.pinterest.com/vicdenniso/garden/

I'd love to have you follow me on Pintrest!
https://www.pinterest.com/vicdenniso/

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll be gone for 2 weeks coming up.  I'll be taking a vacation here in beautiful Colorado.  Riding ATV's, camping, hiking and a lot of photography that I'll share when I'm back on August 1. 

I'd love to hear your ideas for our side yard - what would you do in this narrow space - 5 1/2 feet wide and @ 30 feet long on an incline.  I can't wait to read your ideas.
Thanks to everyone who read and gave me suggestions last week on my dinning room furniture.  I really appreciate the comments. 
Until August - stay Safe!
Victoria

You can also follow me on Facebook -
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I'll be on Instagram soon!

To paint or not to paint... that is the question

I love the look of painted furniture just love it.  I have a lot of 'Pinned' painted furniture on my DIY board on Pintrest, (link below).  I am just afraid, very afraid of doing this myself.  The furniture I would want to paint is old, really old and has come from family.  What if I mess it up?  It's not like I can go back to what it was before without a lot of work once I start down the painting path. 

So, to paint or not? 

Lets start with my dinning room set.  My grandparents brought this from Scotland when they immigrated.  They came with 10 kids and the clothes on their backs.  Once settled in Baltimore my Grandfather sent for the dinning room set.  Miraculously it made it in once piece.  It was willed to me when my grandparents passed and I've brought it to Colorado. 

There are no nails in any of this furniture it is all dovetailed.

Let's start with the table.  First and foremost, the chairs you see below do not go with the table.  They go with the table that we have outside (you'll see that in a bit).  The chairs that go with the table have not faired as well as the rest of the set.  After all they are about 100 years old and the years have not been kind to them.  Without nails, (only dowels), they have become very unstable so we have them stored. 

The table needs a good sanding, I've done nothing to it over the years that I've had it.  It has some nice details in it.  Sorry it needs a good cleaning!  A bit dusty there isn't it. 



So, paint it?  Paint it all or just the base?  What color? 

The next contender is the buffet...broken leg and all.

You can see the leg details match the table. 

I feel like the buffet is the best contender for paint.  So, leave the top dark and only paint the body?  What color?  I've been leaning toward a robins egg blue or a blue green, grey or white? 

I've also got the china cabinet. 

I've thought about painting the inside a light grey or off white cream color but should I paint the entire thing?  So is this a better contender to paint? 

I'd only like to paint one piece of the dinning room set.  Otherwise I think it will be too much.  What do you think?  Should I paint the chairs as well?  I know I need to reupholster them and that is in the mix for this year.  Overall I'd really appreciate some input. 

I'd also like to paint our outdoor table.  This is the table that goes with the chairs I'm using in my dinning room right now.  It was my husbands GREAT Grandmothers kitchen table.  There are 3 leafs and a total of 6 chairs.  This table came from the great-grandmothers farmhouse in Cheyenne Wells Colorado and was willed to my Father-In-Law who gave it to my husband and myself.  So this is another piece of furniture that has special meaning. 

I was thinking of painting the base white and staining the top a dark walnut color.  What do you think? It is protected on our covered porch and in the winter I wrap it in plastic.  So a white base and dark stained top or a grey base and a dark stained top?  OR another color all together?  OR should I paint the entire piece? 
Again, I appreciate suggestions. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I appreciate your help and suggestions. 
Have a safe and happy week!
Victoria

You can always follow me on Pintrest -
https://www.pinterest.com/vicdenniso/

Facebook -
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Early summer garden

Well summer has come to Colorado with a vengeance.

It rained all of May, it could have been snow so we count ourselves lucky it was just rain.  There was a lot of flooding and we've still got sink holes all over the place.  It was cool and rained off and on the beginning of June, rivers overflowing and more flooding.  We even had a flood in our basement.  Now it has gone from rain and cool to 80-90 degrees and all the snow in the mountains is melting really fast.  More flooding, especially in the downstream states like Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas. 

One good thing to come from all of this is my garden is going crazy!  My lilac bush bloomed really early, in April but it looks like it could bloom again.  I've never seen it do this but it has buds on it!  I'll keep you posted if it blooms again. 

I thought I'd start out by showing you some of my garden and then my back porch.

The garden is really going crazy! 
First lets talk Pansies.  I really love them.  They remind me of little faces.

 

Some garden centers sell Pansies as annuals but I find that they are prolific and will spread and come back for a few years. 

I LOVE self seeders; in other words any flower that will produce seeds.  You can harvest them yourself or let them go.  I do both.  I let some go and run wild and sometimes I gather the seeds and move them around my garden to propagate the flower elsewhere.  Marigolds are an amazing self seeder, one flower can produce up to 50 seeds. 

Usually in the spring I go to Home Depot and purchase their large wildflower seed package.  Sorry I don't remember who makes them, possibly Remington?  I just know they have 3 sets of packages, they are pretty large.  One is purple one is orange and one is blue.  Read the packages as they have different seeds in them. 

I also plant bulbs especially tulips, dahlias, daffodils and crocus.  Daffodils and Crocus will propagate and move in your yard.  Planting a few bulbs and in a few years you'll have 50 or more! 

I've bought some perennial bushes like Russian sage or lavender, English lavender, Queen Anne's Lace, Columbine and bleeding heart. 

 

Okay let's take a look at my garden.  Yes we have a trampoline!

We live going up a bluff here in Colorado so the yard has a bit of terrace to it.  Most of the yard is now flat but the garden area is raised. 

That large bush is my lilac. 

To the left of the above the garden terrace keeps going across the back of the deck and yard then runs toward the house. 

Lets take a close up look at all those plants on the corner.
These are bachelor buttons, another self seeding plant.  I have them in all colors, pink, white, blue and pink.

 

This little white flower is on the corner with all the bachelor's buttons.  It was almost hiding with its sweet little white flowers.  Do you see the pansies hiding in the below picture too?  I tell you they are prolific.

 This is a yellow columbine it sits on the wall down from the bachelor buttons on the corner.  Look at all the blooms! 

 
 I am not sure what kind of flowers these are below but I've got them in several colors from white to pink to purple they are also prolific and seem to pop up in different places each year.  You can also see the Russian sage and yellow Queen Anne's lace. 

 My poor little bunny is hiding somewhere in the garden!

 Not sure what this flower is called either but it has beautiful little purple bell shaped flowers on it. 

 Last year I bough a Clematis.  This year it has bloomed!

Every day I go out to my garden, I weed a bit and let the stress of my full time day job melt away.  I really like seeing what could bloom next.  Today I found these sweet little flowers about to bloom, they remind me of strawberries.

 

 

These round flowers are bulbs that get purple flowers on them.  I don't remember them blooming twice last year but they are about to bloom again!  

 Last year, along with the clematis we bought a honeysuckle.  The flowers are orange and the silly thing is full of blooms. 

I hope you liked the garden tour.  I'll keep you updated on what blooms next. 

I'd also like to give you a quick tour of my back porch.  It is covered and we spend a lot of time out there during the summer.  We eat outside and entertain there.

As soon as you come out our back sliding glass door there is the summer kitchen table.

I may paint this table this summer.  It is from my husbands Great-Grandmothers kitchen.

 

I use lanterns in my decorating both inside and out.  I will bring this lantern back inside in the fall and use it on my mantle.  This summer I filled it with DIY sea glass (post to come later) and shells I've collected along with a pinecone.

 The bowl I got at Home Goods and holds napkins

 



To the right of the table is the hot tub.

To the left is the entertaining area.  I still don't have real patio furniture, no love seat or couch just chairs still.

 

The coasters I made using stamps I had on hand and some purchased felt pads on the bottom.  They are tiles I got at the home improvement store.  I've had the clock for a while I think it is a Steinmart purchase.  The galvanized tub is from Crate and Barrel.  I filled it with sand and a candle. 

 This table I got at Home Goods.  Here is another couple of lanterns and another galvanized tub all filled with candles.  The large finial is an older purchase from a store called Gordman's.  The divers helmet I got at Hobby Lobby. 

 



 The coffee table is old, from Goodwill.  I need to paint it - I'd love suggestions on colors!  I got the tray at Home Goods, the metal orb is from Target as is the shell dish.   I made the fisherman's floats out of Christmas ornaments!  (directions to come in a later post).

 I use lots of pillows on my porch, because I don't have regular furniture and just chairs I try to make them as comfortable as possible and pillows help.  This one is from Target last year.  You know I love dragonflies!

 

My daughter got me this lovely wind chime for Christmas it is from Pier One.  It lights up blue at night and I love it!  

Well that is it!  I'm sure you need a rest now.  Thanks for reading and stopping by.

If you have any questions about any of the flowers or anything please drop me a note here on the blog, I respond to every comment. 

I'll leave you with a beautiful Colorado sunset that I took from the back porch today. 

Until next week, Stay Safe!

Victoria

 

You can always follow me on Pintrest -

https://www.pinterest.com/vicdenniso/

 

Facebook -

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China Cabinet restyle

Well it has FINALLY stopped raining here in Colorado.  I feel for the folks downstream in Oklahoma and Texas, yes it has rained there but all the water from the rivers in Colorado is also heading there and overflowing banks even without the rain we finally sent that way.  We still have ski resorts open we've got so much snow still. 

It rained most of the Memorial Day weekend here and we did try camping but I can only spend so much time in a camper cooped up before I cry ENOUGH!  So what did I do when we came home?  I re-styled my china cabinet.

Well I tried to anyway. 

I inherited this from my maternal Grandmother, it goes with the buffet with the broken leg and a smaller buffet my Grandmother called a 'server'.  It is a mini version of the 6 foot long buffet.  Also the table and 6 chairs.  I don't use the chairs because none of this furniture has nails, it is all dovetail, tonged and groove; not a nail to be found.  Out here in the dry west the chairs have gotten a bit rickety and I'm just afraid they will break so I have them stored but everything else gets a lot of use.

This is the finished product.

I've got a lot of stuff.  Glasses with silver rims, glasses with purple stems, glasses with gold rims a bunch of tea pots and dishes... I'm a bit addicted to dishes. 
As you can see I need to repair the drawer, heck the entire thing is in need of a good cleaning or something.  I've thought about painting the inside white and the outside a color but I'm really afraid to, what if I don't like it?  I don't want to mess up a 100 year old piece of furniture. 

This is what the cabinet started out like.

Heck I don't know if the finished is any better than what I started with!

I read online that the rule of thumb is to make triangle patterns in your display.  This is to make it more appealing to the eye.  You are also supposed to elevate things and make sure things are at different heights to keep your eye moving.  The same would apply to any surface you decorate.  Keep things in odd number groups, vary the heights and keep that triangle pattern. 
I tried.

The 'after' is on the left and before is on the right.... I think I did well at elevating things, I even brought in a natural element of the wood on the top shelf. 

What do you think?  Be honest I need some help here!  I think I've just got too much stuff. 

The problem is that all these things mean something.  Take the red teapot with the gold on it.  This was my maternal Great-Grandmothers and is from England.  The white teapot and cups with the green pattern (it is bamboo) my Uncle brought this tea set back from Japan PIOR to WW 2.  It says 'Nippon' on the bottom.  He also brought back those blue and white teacup and saucers on the little stands.  If you look close you will see a dragon, it is raised and inside the teacups are carvings.  The china on these two teacups and saucers are paper thin, you can see through them! 
The gold rimmed plate is from Russia, I got that from my Aunt, it was her Mother-in-Law's.  Those little red books you see in the after photo I got from another Aunt and they are real books. 

Well after that disaster!  But I always promise that I will share when things go well and when they don't.  How else will we all learn if we don't make mistakes?  I just need some real guidance here! 

Thanks for stopping by.  I'll be back next week with a door craft, thinking outside the box or wreath!
Until then, Stay Safe!
Victoria

You can always follow me on Pintrest -
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Facebook -
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