(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 

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.