(F)ALL AROUND THE HOUSE

Hey everyone!  Did you have a good weekend?  I just got back from a long weekend in Florida.  The weather was gorgeous, not at all fall like, but when I stepped out of the airport today, brrr, definitely a lot cooler than when I left on  Thursday.  I think fall is here to stay in Chi-town.

I won't be back to the Florida house until a couple of days before Thanksgiving.  I felt I needed to continue with some fall decorating there so that I won't be overwhelmed with decorating, grocery shopping and cooking when I get back.  A couple of weeks ago I shared my fall mantel  (here) so today I'll show what I did  to the rest of the house.

Before the inside though, the potting table outside gets a little something.

The geckos will love nesting in the faux leaves.  The pumpkin man will be replaced with another pumpkin for Thanksgiving.  He is the only Halloween  decoration I have for this this house. Poor lonely guy.

For the inside entry I bought a coastal inspired dry floral fall arrangement.  See starfish and shells?

In the living room I always cut palm leaves for the vase, and I added a felt pumpkin for the season.

The behemoth leaves come from the  landscaping. They are too big for any vase I have so I simply  scissor cut them into a fan shape.  Once they're trimmed back, three fit beautifully in the vase I always use.

The family rooms gets candles and little munchkin pumpkins.

With all of this decorating done, I'll have plenty of time for baking pies (frozen), breads (heat and serve), and cookies (slice and bake).

P.S. I'm not  much of a baker or cook.

In the meantime, we're planning a small Halloween party at the Illinois rental.  Anyone else having a party?  What are you planning?  I'm scouring pinterest for ideas but so far I have nothing.  Nothing.  Not that I don't like anything, I'm just too indecisive.  And it's still a couple of weeks out, right?  No worries.  Until next week.  Ack!!

Anyway, hope to see you around some linky parties this week.  I'd love to see what you've got!

Barb

Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Show And Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed
Remodelaholic Friday @ Remodelaholic
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Look What I Found Friday @ Vintage Revivals 
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Show and Share Day @ Just a Girl
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal 

Guest Post: Do You Textorate?

Please welcome today our first guest blogger! 

We are so excited to have some of our bloggin' friends guest post during this busy time.

Alison from the Polohouse has a beautiful blog. 

She lives here in the Midwest, like Barb and I, and is a very creative woman! 

Lucky girl has a beautiful home that was once a polo barn. Cool, don't ya think?

So, here we go. Take it away Alison!

Do you Textorate?

I love to add numbers and letters into the design and decor

of casual rooms. This look is increasingly popular in decorating

today and works well in rooms such as family and game rooms, offices,

and kitchens too.  

There is just something about old type and numbers that add

a little bit of graphic interest to a space.

You can add antique or vintage signage, destination subway or bus blinds, grain and feed sacks, marquis letters or numbers, and other decorative elements that have printed text on them.

If you don't have anything antique or vintage to work with, you can stencil or create

your own images to replicate an older look.  There are many websites and companies that sell  these kinds of tools and stencils to help you create your own vintage-style designs.

Whether through a lettered sign, old numbered tags, chalkboard messages, or monogrammed

towels or pillows --- you may be "textorating" and not even know it!

Do you use letters or numbers in your home decor?

Blessings,

Alison, The Polohouse

Thanks Alison! Barb and I love your blog and so happy
you were able to stop by for a guest post today!!

Hope y'all are having a happy week, full of adventure!

xoxo

Vicki and Barb

To Busy To Post - Guest Series

It's Coming Soon!

Join the adventures of these wonderful ladies!

See ya in September!

Barb and Vicki

Mantel Swooning

Well, we made it to St. LouiE (no, that's not a typo, I meant to do that!)

As the day progressed, it got HOTTER! Wow!
It's gotta be about 100 degrees down here. And it's really only 7 hours away.
Amazing what people have to live with. I love the NORTH... yes, even the snow!

But, what I really, really love is my sister and brother-in-law's home. My bro-in-law does all the decorating. He is really into it and I love shopping with him. In fact, I'd love to just shop throughout their home and pick up a few goodies to take back with me. hehe! 

But, of course, I won't! (Just basically cause they'd find it when they came to my house!) :/

Just kidding of course, or am I?

All of these vintage finds have been collected throughout the years by my brother-in-law at estate sales or auctions. He has a rule, ya only bring $20 and that's all he allows himself to spend.
I think through the years he's found some great things at a decent price!

Their fireplace is a see-through fireplace, from there great room into the kitchen area. C'mon check it out with me. I took loads of pics... 'cause there's loads to see!

Lots of GREAT VINTAGE eye candy!!

Keep checking back, there's loads more to come this weekend! This house is full of character!

Enjoy your evening!

I'm linking up to the FANTASTIC FRIDAY GALS! and Miss Rhoda at Southern Hospitality.

 

 

Favorite Room

Barb and I started our blog last November. We were a little nervous but I thought with her interior design style and my graphic design abilities... we could do it.

I really never wanted to "show off" my house. I live in the REAL WORLD with teenage boys running around, the smell of chicken nuggets and fries cooking every other night, and organized chaos throughout.

I recently did a blog post about farm tables. I was really encouraged by everyone's comments about my furniture choices, so that I thought I'd be brave and share my living room. This isn't really a living room that sits in your home and you only go in it when you have company or it's holiday time. This is a REAL WORLD living room! 

Lots of collected furniture and treasures.

It hasn't been "designed," it hasn't been "planned" out, it morphed over the years of lots of trial and error. I've moved different pieces of furniture in, then back out again. I wanted it to be comfortable. Over the years I never felt it was cozy.. until Barb added her extra touches of bringing in all the furniture from away from the walls. (And I say to myself, "DUH, I should have thought of that!")

My Chair!

Most of my curtains are from Pier 1... on sale!

We all hang out together in this room. The boys... their girlfriends... their friends, etc. There will be many a morning I wake up and have teenage boys sleeping on the couches; sometimes with a blanket on, sometimes curled up in a ball trying to keep warm... especially in the winter. 

Typical evening... that's my 16 year old, eating chix nuggets and talking to his girlfriend,
with Nicholas, the dog, eying the plate of food,

Here's that red table I bought several weeks ago for only $65.

Turquoise and red... a fav color combo! (Vase & pitcher - TJ Maxx, fake flowers - Hobby Lobby)

I relax in here, work on the computer in here, visit in here and many times
eat in front of the TV in here.

My work desk.

My new metal postmaster sorter. My co-worker had two in her garage from her grandad and asked if I wanted one!

Here's where I try to house the organized chaos... computer hardware, bills, old magazines, etc.

Sleepy? Grab a blanket to keep you comfy, in case you fall asleep.

It's a well-used and well-loved room! It's our FAVORITE room.

What's your favorite room in your house? Why do you love? Is it photo-ready in a second or lived-in?

I hope you are having a fabulous Wednesday. It's hump day. Two more work days left.

xoxo Vicki

Linking up to these parties.