We've had beautiful Autumn weather this week. This morning we are just hours away from our town's big parade and the beginning of our Fall Festival. I'm feeling sad that Sweet Hubby had to extend his business trip to Germany an extra day and will miss the main event this morning but happy he will be here later this afternoon and won't miss the whole weekend.
Obviously no Midwestern girl worth her salt could be experiencing Autumnal weather and a Fall parade without her thoughts naturally drifting to seasonal decorating.
I find myself drawn to mercury glass, ironstone and natural elements for holiday decorating now. Also, as in every other aspect of my life, I'm feeling less is more. Simple and natural with a dash of flair. That's me in a nutshell. I'm a study in contrasts. It's what makes me, me.
I always struggled with knowing how to incorporate Autumn and Halloween together and when and how to do what. I finally figured it out. In September I will focus on Fall elements, adding warmth and texture and keeping it nature inspired then, come October I will edit a bit and add in the Halloween and finally when November arrives, I will take the Halloween back out and count the days until I can decorate for Christmas! Commence with the eye rolling. I'm sure you smarties figured all that out years ago. Sometimes it's the simplest things that escape me.
I find a new house gives me an excuse to revamp the holiday decorations a bit, but a forever house gives me an excuse to really edit and just use and buy things I love for the spaces I have now. There is no more keeping stuff because I might need it for the next house. It's time for me to live in the here and now. Maybe there is a life lesson in there for me?
(pics 1 thru 4 from Pottery Barn, pics 5 and 6 from BHG)
Don't worry Jen, you aren't the only one who is just getting decorating figured out! I am also looking more toward natural elements and simplicity, maybe it's just years of dealing with "stuff" but I find simplicity is my mantra lately. Although...darn, I love all the photos you used and some of them are anything but simple!
ReplyDeleteThat is what I do. As soon as Labor Day ends I drag it out and commence. I have edited and only use what I love now. Less is more.I don't want my house to look like a shop.
ReplyDeletePS I adore mercury glass.
I love fall and Halloween and all the decorations. I also love the photos you posted, I hope you post some when you are done decorating :-) By the way, I made that Italian meatloaf for some friends a few weeks ago and it was DELICIOUS!!! I'm going to make it for my parents next week. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteJen- I have yet to be in my "forever" house-so I have stuff saved for that time. It's a sickness, I think!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are lovely-inspirational and wonderful. I'm glad your hubby will make it home this afternoon-what's the old saying-"better late than never"? xo Duaba
I love these <3
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Finland
I love decorating for Fall!!! Everything is so warm and cozy and I look forward to wearing sweaters and weekends curled up on the couch watching movies. Oh I can't wait :)
ReplyDeleteI've been fighting fall, JJ. It's true. But seeing these pretty pictures has given me the kick in the pants I need to take my front porch from Summer to Fall.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to buy some mums today!
Good morning Jen,
ReplyDeleteHard to think of fall decor here in the Pacific Northwest where we have had crazy hot temps for over a week! But I am really ready to add some mums to my outdoor pots and begin cooking soups and stews!
Hope hubby returns safe!
xo~Jill
I pull out the fallish decorations now and add in Halloween on October 1st just like you're suggesting! I do have a handful of Thanksgiving items that I add in on November 1st. It's nice when some things can do "double duty"!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE those mercury glass pumpkins... I just ordered some from Pottery Barn and cannot wait to get them!
Enjoy your fall festival, it sounds like a lot of fun...
~Chris
Gorgeous inspiration Jen. How wonderful "forever house" sounds. Enjoy your festive weekend! Patty
ReplyDeleteOh Jen...I so agree, the weather is fantastic and has my head spinning over Fall decor! I did a little fun Fall craft this morning and will be sharing it this evening on my blog......I have me Fall decor boxes sitting out, just waiting to find time to transform the house! My husband says it's too early, but I say not!
ReplyDeleteHave fun today and good thoughts for you hubby's safe travel home!
I like the way you think. And those photos are wonderful! Your decorating plan is great. I have my own plan too, since it gets cold here fast,and we cling to Summer like grim death....LOL I leave my summer decor up till Oct 1st and then up goes Halloween, then I reserve all the fallish decor for November. Have a wonderful Fall! Kit
ReplyDeleteI've always loved autumn, in the Midwest. It's lovely to feel the cooler breezes, and see the warm colors tinging the leaves now.
ReplyDeleteThose mercury glass pumpkins are so pretty! And I really like the apple and leaf garland.
Have a wonderful fall weekend with your family!
I can't wait to decorate. But I must move next month first! Now I'm packing up, not taking out.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
What wonderful pics you shared! Those are some great fall decorating ideas. Sounds like you're going to enjoy this weekend with that fun festival and the pretty weather. I love weekends like that. I live in the south and we're just now getting some cooler weather. Finally!
ReplyDeleteI am doing the same. Learning to live right now instead of storing what has amounted to clutter for tomorrow. I am looking forward to some simple fall decorations here. Jackie
ReplyDeletea beautiful and wise post, my friend.
ReplyDeletexo
elyse
I love the fall pics and your thoughts on seasonal decorating. I am also finding that I want to drag out less bins of "stuff" and use what I have outside or around the house. It is so pretty and stress free! Happy Fall!
ReplyDeleteI love autumn decorating (and autumn!). The photos that you posted are inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI'm the same with the "forever house". Now that we've moved into our new home, we are determined to get rid of the clutter, the stuff that we thought we "might use someday". And, now that we are in a place that we love, we are also determined to only bring in things of quality, to live up to the house.
I love all of the photos you posted. Beautiful and so full of fall! How fun your town has a fall parade, I bet the kids love that. I have started my fall decaorating....adding mums instead of my spent petunias....fall mantle. I can't wait to see what you do with your new home!
ReplyDeleteHappy fall!
~Shanon
Well done Jen! I just figured that out this year too (and I just turned 50 2 weeks ago)! I love to put up Fall decor around the first day of school and can't wait to yank out my withering flowers outdoors and set the Fall stuff out on the front porch. LOVE the cute pics you have of that beautiful porch!!! Love hearing about your life in "The Village"!!
ReplyDeleteYour post is making me stick with my goal of going through my seasonal stuff and edit out what I truly don't love, every year I say I'm going to do it and don't, hopefully this will be the year!! Hope you had fun at the festival!!
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteI can get out my fall decorations, now? YAY! I always just put out a lot of pumpkins and gourds and some halloween stuff (mostly vintage) and then same thing at thanksgiving...I change out the halloween for thanksgiving. And...I'm one of "those" people, who puts up my little tree near the fireplace for Thanksgiving. First of all, I have guests that won't be here for Christmas. Secondly, it is a little four footer that is pre-lit and then I add vintage ornaments and pinecones. Then it is done!
xo, Cheryl
favorite favorite favorite!!! have you tried the mercury glass spray paint yet? i'm dying to ... keep looking around the house to see what i can alter ... ;o)
ReplyDeleteJen - the pics are great and make me want to decorate right now! I struggled a while with the whole "when/what," but I settled into a routine similar to what you described and I can tell you that I love it and all my neighbors love it too. It keeps decorations up from Sept - end of Dec. I'll definitely be looking at these pics for inspiration this year! They are absolutely perfect!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful fall decorations! I'm so jealous that you are having FALL weather. It's still very summery here in Houston. It was 96 degrees at 6:00 p.m. while I was driving home! Maybe if I get my pumpkins and scarecrow out, it will feel like fall. Happy Fall Ya'll!
ReplyDeleteI love all the photos you used and some of them are anything but simple!
ReplyDeletepersonal training mayfair
I just painted my front door the lovliest shade of dirty red. Well, I think it's lovely - you see, I hung the door last night when it was dark, and it's just now light out and I have to go take a look. I want the front of the house to make your stomach hurt it looks so lovely! Thanks for the inspiration. : -)
ReplyDeleteYou have a done a beautiful job! You are one of those decorators whom I wish I were!
ReplyDeleteHow on earth did I miss this post?
ReplyDeleteI have been working on this today
at my little cottage. It is fall on
the inside cloches filled with minature pumpkins lying a bed of spanish moss. Hurricanes with candles surrounded by acorns. I love this time of year.