A Cheap Date

I know you thought I disappeared, but really, i'm just trying to knock out projects one at a time - and honestly, I've had more fun reading your blogs than crafting my own lately!  

However...  :0).........the man returns tonight after being gone all friggin weak AND my little children just left on a plane with their dad for the Westpoint game this weekend - which, sidenote, a tad jealous that the boys are running around NYC without me!!  Oh well.  Where was I?  Oh! We are child free this weekend and V is coming home - so i thought i would set a pretty table and get the playlist ready and have a little romance waiting on him when he returns!

So...i am linking over to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursdays! I don't think I can remember ever participating in this blog party - not even on the old blog - but i thought it would be fun today.  This is in our sunroom.  Usually, where homework, PS2, and lately, talk about girls (i can't stand it) occurs when the boys are home.  This is their haven...but not tonight!

I see below that I really need to do something about that security sticker.  It's not necessary, and to be honest, kind of bugly.  Not familiar with that term? Butt Ugly.  See, you learned something today.  I'm here to help.  I also see below that there are screw holes that need caps in the french window frames.  GAH.....another project.  WHEN DOES IT END GIRLS, WHEN??

 

All in all, I'm kind of pleased with my little impromptu soiree set up here.  If you're interested in the details - here they are:  The 3 votive glass candlesticks were in a set from Walmart for $6.97, as were the pumpkin spice votive candles for $0.99 each - and trust me when i say this - Walmart has the STRONGEST (better than yankee IMO) smelling fall candles around. I can't speak to the other scents - i haven't tried them - but the fall ones are all over my house - and they're $5 for the large jar.  


The orange plates - also Walmart from like 4 years ago.  The placemats and napkins were $2.00 a piece from there also - this week - and very cute!  Leaves....Michaels on clearance like 12 years ago. Not kidding - those stupid leaves have moved with me 4 times.  Iced Tea goblets...hold on to your seat...Target.  Yes, i left Walmart for Target.  But...these were also like 10 years ago.  Gosh, i'm beginning to think i have a very cheap, dated table!  Well at least the bowls didn't come from the bargain bin - those came from Pottery Barn a couple years ago.  on clearance. ahem.
 

So, we're having Lemon-Olive chicken, which when i type this, doesn't sound so good, but it is.  If you like lemons and olives. It's kind of Mediterranean. And i'm going to work on the playlist - I'm thinking some Corrine Bailey Rae, maybe some John Mayer or Jack Johnson...any suggestions? I love a good playlist for different events.


That's it sweets - I promise to get off my duff and post this weekend.


Oh - and for those of you doing the Fly Lady thing - it's entries and Dining Rooms this week - get on it girlies!

Finally a little fall decor.

***edited to add that I'm linking to Cottage and Vine's Falling Up Party***

I know.  I'm really behind the times.  Nester and her 31 days of baskets, i mean fall. If you're reading her, you'll get the joke behind the basket comment.  But I had a good reason. My camera crapped out and i struggled for a few weeks on whether to bite the bullet and buy the one i really wanted - because i really had a hard time choking down the cost.  But i also have a hard time replacing cameras every 3 years - and that's been the life span of my last 3 point and shoots so.... you know where this going, right? Let's just say i have pictures with this post today.

We have been really busy around here but a lot of what we've been busy doing doesn't warrant pictures.  Like, i know you really don't want to see the new enviro friendly flush system we installed on our toilet - so i'll spare you that.  Or the debris in the backyard from the oak tree V is in the middle of trimming.   Or the flooring that Vance installed in the attic so we could start putting boxes from our garage up there.  

Maybe i SHOULD show you - i would feel better thinking we are actually making progress here.  But those aren't the fun ones.  

Here are the fun ones :)

Remember when we took the first stab at the front door with paint, but i said there was more to come?  This is where it started originally...

and this is where we last left it...we hated those fake frosted panes from 1980.  Those had to go.  Vance wanted to just take a hacksaw to them and i was all like "sure...honey...." and worried that we would end up buying new doors after some botched murder job with a hacksaw.

And this is where we are today....and look....no door-icide....just pretty clear glass. Love that man.  

How do you like my Southern Living at Home baskets?  These are my absolute favorite accessory.  I stuff all kinds of things in there - the only thing is i need to put some felt on the back because they're already scratching up my paint and that's not gonna do.  

Here's a closer shot.  I love the frosted autumn fruit.

 I also did a little sprucing up on the inside and will do more this week...but this is good for starters.  I gave my candle a burlap snuggie and a fruit wrap.  Vance laughed. And then quickly said it looked awesome.  Smart man.

See that beautiful turquoise teapot? His mom sent that to us when Vance mentioned  i loved hot tea.  I love this piece.  I love the color, i love the bird on top. I just love it.  Very very pretty to me.  I think about her every time i sit down on the couch and see it - she's a very awesome woman and very talented writer. My mother gave us the serving tray last Christmas and it quickly became a favorite of mine as well - it's a great starter base for every season as well. Love me some neutral pieces that i can do a lot with.
 

That's it for now chickies.  More to come this week now that i have a camera and all ;0)

Falling in love with Fall. Now if i can find those boxes....

I want my front yard to look like this....complete with picket fence.   Isn't this just the sweetest pic ever?  I believe this was on the Southern Living website.  My girlfriend Susan has a sweet picket fence and has put her halloween decor out and mixed in the Southern Living touches - and it looks great.  I might have to ask her if i can post a few pics of her yard - it's awesome.

I haven't gotten that far yet.  I am still weeding through the moving boxes.  However - i will say that i have now taken 2 more car loads to goodwill, AND an entire trunk of canned goods, dry goods and misc items to the food pantry yesterday.  I finally have room to breath. I think it's the claustrophobic thing and being overwhelmed with all the crap in my house that is causing me to long for this in my backyard.  I feel my entire body relax when i look at this picture...(southern living again)

I will never have that slice of heaven - we don't have that kind of cash - but i know i could do something smaller, more appropriate for both my wallet and the house...i just need to convince my dad and hubby to be.  But i can do little things....  like this (country living)

or this... isn't this so simple and elegant? This came from a blog called My Cottage of Bliss...it's to die for.

 

I also love this....from Rate My Space...gorgeous. warm. cozy.

 

and while we're talking dining rooms - i realize this isn't fall-ish - but i am in love with these barley twist candlestick and honeycomb candles. sigh.  ignore the flowers and picture mums instead.

 

and just for good measure....let's not forget Halloween is around the corner!  This is the only picture i've seen that makes orange look good on a house! (Pottery Barn)

and because we're headed to Savannah in a few days...yes, again!!!!  I'll go all Paula Deen on ya  - Happy Fall Y'all!!!!!!!!!!!