Sailing into Fall

Hey Yall!  It's Fall! 

I know many of you have been waiting a long time to be able to say that right?  Well now you can!  Woohoo!  Since it's officially now fall and everyone will be getting out their fall decor I'm sure your are going to be seeing lot's of festive seasonal decorating.  You've already seen many of my fall touches around the house but I haven't shown you this one yet.

It's just a tad different from the usual.  For many of you this may not even seem very fallish at all.  But to me, my fall mantle decor not only seems fallish it's reflective of our own personal lifestyle.

  Many of you already know that my husband and I have a sailboat that we keep in the water at the lake.  While most people think of sailing as a summer sport it's actually more of a fall and spring sport around here.  Our summers are incredibly hot with very little wind and not often a lot of fun on a sailboat.  We have a motor boat for the hottest times of the summer but love our sailboat so much that we even sometimes go out during the summer and tough it out.  So I am sure you can imagine how excited we get when the cooler air comes back with fall and the winds pick up a little more.  That is why I just could not remove the sailboat from my mantle decor just yet.

Here's another peek at the little sailboat I found this summer in a consignment store at the beach.  I just love how weathered it looks.  Just like our old boat!  

I decided to remove all the other summer items and bring back these bottles that I bought from work awhile back.  

I thought the colors of these bottles were just perfect for fall, don't you?

When I see these bottles I can not help but think of a few songs for some reason.  I am reminded of the songs, Time in a Bottle, by Jim Croce and Message in a bottle, by The Police.  LOL!  IDK why?  I'm kinda funny like that!

Because I had the glass bottles on the mantle I decided to add my glass pumpkin here too for just a touch of fall.  The pumpkin on the left I have had for quite some time.  After adding it to the vignette, I decided it needed just a bit more.

So I went on a search for another glass pumpkin that was just right and look what I found at Kirklands.  It's blue and green and was just perfect for my mantle.  Sold!

The floral arrangements were another lucky find at another consignment store just recently.  I just loved how they looked and thought the bamboo holders were a perfect fit for us too.

I added the fall leaves to them for a bit more color for the season.

So there you have it friends, this is how I decorated my mantle for Fall this year.  I know I had planned not to change out my mantle for the season but I just couldn't help it.  I am glad I did because it must be bringing me a little more good fortune too.  I am going to be able to be in a regatta with my husband and friends next weekend.  I can hardly wait!

 I hope to share more photos from that with you afterwards too. 

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse of my own style for fall.

I'll be back again tomorrow with a peek at a few more traditional fall touches.

I hope you are able to get out and about and enjoy this beautiful season too!

Have a great day everyone!

Fall Decor in the Dining Room

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope your weekend is off to a great start.  Mine is all about work again but I have only one more week to go and then I'm off for a vacay.  I cannot wait!

I thought I'd brighten things up a bit by sharing a little more of my fall decorating in the dining room.  So far this year, most of my fall decor has been all about using what I already have.  Now don't read me wrong.  I did not say I haven't bought anything new this year just that I haven't shared much of that with you yet.  LOL!

Welcome to the dining room!

  The cute little sign is one I bought from work when they went on clearance.  I am thinking I may give this sign a little more aged patina if I ever get the time.  So far though, it looks just great to me as is.

Several ceramic pumpkins from last years trip to the dollar tree sit in a painted bread basket...

...next to one of my vases I had on the fireplace mantle.

  I switched those out for another great find.  I will share the fireplace mantle fall decor with you another day.  

My dining room cloche got the fall treatment too.

Do you see what I've caught under my cloche?  

Three adorable little pesky squirrels!

These two on the bottom we inherited from my FIL.  One is a wood carving from an older pastor of their church.  Don't you think they all look so mischievous?  I sure do!

I added the other vase from my fireplace mantle to the top of the dining room china cabinet.  The baskets stay on top of here year round.

I also added the boxwood wreath I made last year and just a small bit of beaded fall garland.  You can see and read the post about my wreath here.

I kind of feel like I would like just a little something else up here but not sure exactly what yet.  So for now, it's working for me.

So there you go!   Just a few more simple vignettes.

Thanks for stopping in.  And a big thank you to all of you who have inspired me to get busy on my own home and pop out the fall decor.  I am really enjoying it!

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!

Hoo! Hoo! Who are my night owl friends?

Anyone else out there having difficulty sleeping through the night?  I sure have been!  In fact, I am having quite a hard time staying asleep all night long.  I wake up wide awake with my mind racing often around 1:30 or 3:00 am and then just can't get back to sleep.  Very frustrating!

Today I am especially exhausted because I woke up at 1:30am last night and could not get back to sleep to save my life. Then, I had to be at work for a 6:00am truck. Ugh!  I am guessing this has to do a lot with getting older but I am so tired of being restless.    I am not enjoying being a night owl nearly as much as am I enjoying this one.

Isn't this litte fella just the cutest thang!  I found him last week on my day off when I went across town to check out the new Home Goods. Only,  I actually found him at Ross.  Bargain!

I couldn't wait to place him on the washstand outside my front door.

The welcome sign was one of the other items I purchased from Home Goods.

Just look at those googly eyes!  They make me smile!

I've had this arrangement for a few years now and really enjoy that it is holding up so well.  If your thinking you have seen my red metal pitcher before, you have.  In addition to using it outside I also used it for a tablescape for the 4th of July.  You can check that out  here.

I pulled out my fall wreath now too.  It's the one I did a redo on last year.  You can see that post here.

We have even been getting cooler temps now over the last few days too.  Hoo!  Hoo!

  I'm still getting out the fall decor yall.  Fun! Fun! Fun!

Joining Marty at A Stroll thru Life today for

Tabletop Tuesday

Thanks for stopping by again.

Give me hoot!

Hehe!  

A Fall Lantern

Today I am off so I have the time to pull out a few things.  The first area to get "Fallified" is my lantern.  This was quite fun.  I am so glad I bought this thing because now I feel like I now have a dedicated seasonal decor area.

Here it is all completed!

So what do you think?  I used everything I already owned in this vignette except for the ribbon.

I bought this plate last year from Marshalls.

This year my little urn to the left got a boost of  height by adding the darker grass that I used in another arrangement last year.

The willow pumpkin was my mothers that she didn't want and last year I added the orange lights.  I had it on the front porch last year but never really turned it on.  This year it's inside where I can enjoy it.  Fun!

Yep, uh huh, here's the same picture at a few more angles.  LOL!

I got this ribbon from Joanne Fabrics just the other day on my day off when I went to the new Home Goods across town.  Let me just say that was some experience.  The crowds were crazy!  You would have thought it was black Friday.  Gee! 

Here's just one thing I came home with from our new Home Goods store.  I just couldn't resist this fella, could you?  Can't wait to move him outside.  I made a few more stops that afternoon at a few more of my favorite shops on that side of town and boy did I rack up.

I'll be back to share those finds and more fall decorating with you another day.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I hope you have a wonderful afternoon!

It's Wine-Thirty...so let's Dish!

Hey Yall!  I'm officially back from my bloggy break and ready to dish it all out.  

I've set the table for you so come on in and let's have a little chat shall we.

I'll sit here because it's set for me.

Yes friends, it's wine-thirty!   If you care to indulge, I hope your all comfy because this may take a bit of reading on your part. 

 I have been on a blog break for many reasons.  One thing that made me take a break AGAIN was just plain old despair.  This isn't the first time I have felt this way.  I was looking at far too many popular and creative blogs and feeling like I had nothing to share that hasn't already been done or said before.   Because let's face it ladies, a lot of what you and I are sharing, someone is also doing much the same, only a different version of it.  Yep, I said it.

 The difference is that some bloggers get a lot more attention from it then others.  Some are wittier, some are more creative and some work harder at growing their blogs then others.  Hooray for them, and I sincerely mean that! The problem for me was, I did't fall into the above description.

And you know what they say about birds of a feather. 

 I had sincerely been feeling left out of the flock.

 I happen to fall into the NOT working so hard at growing my blog category.  The fact is I just don't have the time to devote to it that others do because I am BUSY woman.  Yep, I said it again!

 My plate is very full, not just with all the extra dishes!  

  I work full time outside of the home.  I have also taken on a new position in management and find myself even more hurried then ever.  I'm sure some of you can relate right?   Let me be clear, I am NOT implying that those of you who have popular blogs are not busy.  You obviously are and you are also working hard at growing your blog.  You have made it a higher priority then I do. That's fantastic.

But, let's be real and true here.  Not all of us want to devote so much time to blogging and that should be okay too.  Because, really it is!  If you blog, one of the best things you can ever do is come to terms with why you are blogging.  This can take time for some of us but, I do believe I have finally arrived!

  I read not so long ago about how you should never mention how busy you are because you might imply you are too busy for your readers.  Well ladies, I am sorry to say this but there are many times when I am and you are... just too busy!  This is life.  But, I don't feel like I should have to pretend I am not when in fact I am.  I have always felt it best to be completely honest with my readers and have always done so.  I am busy, but the fact that I am taking the time to blog should be enough to show you that I am not to busy to communicate and share with you as well.

I am not changing my blogging style which is very personal to who I am just to portray something online.   This brings me to the real meat of why I took a break.  Blogging is such a mixed bag of expectations, isn't it? 

 I recently read another post about what turns you off about other blogs.  While posts like this can be a very helpful tool for some, it was quite helpful to me except in a very different way.  Because, all I can say about all the hundreds of comments was...Wow!  Honestly ladies, who could ever meet up to all of the expectations that I read on there.  OMG!

  I certainly have committed several of those hundreds of comments and dislikes at one time or another.  OH Well!

Here's a few I know I've done...

1.Yep, I've always centered the wording on my blog...apparently this drives others nuts.

2. I'm usually way to wordy...because who has time to read!

3. I post too many pics of the same thing at several different angles....Guilty!

4.  I've used poor grammar many times I'm sure from rushing to post..though I do use spell check. 

5. I use waaay too many explanation points and cutesy language.  Guilty! Guilty!

6. I am not always sharing something new, original or exciting enough. Blah, blah,blah!

7. I sometimes share info about my family.

8. I've had music on my blog...this scares too many people.  Ooops!

9. I've not taken the time to always email people back who comment on my blog.

And No.10 (the biggest pet peeve out there)

10. I've whined and complained and not always come across as perfectly cheery and happy.

Seeeriousslyyy?????

Well, at least I've never had those annoying pop up ads on my blog that get in the way of your reading.  Haha!  But....I totally get why some of you do and I don't get my panties in a wad about it.  Life is just to short to get in such a snit about these things.  Really Yall!

It's just a blog!  I am not going to change who I am because I like who I am.  I seriously do not understand how anyone could ever meet up to all the expectations of many who commented about their pet peeves.  And, that's just it.  If you spend your time trying to fit into a mold in the blog world you may not be quite so happy.  In fact, you run the risk of loosing all your inspiration as I did.  Who says we all have to blog for the same reasons or follow the same rules?   I blog because I enjoy it and that's why I keep coming back even after so many struggles with not feeling good enough.  I am done with trying to fit into a blog mold.  I'm done trying to adhere to all the preferred blog rules and even some of the so called blog rules of etiquette.  I have my own set of God given rules and they have served me well most of my adult life.

I will whine at times because my life is full of ups and downs.  I feel like I am all the richer for it too.  I will cheer at times (hopefully a lot more now) because I have family and friends and thoughts that are awesome and worth shouting out about even if the majority doesn't agree. 

Thanks so much for sitting a spell at my table today.  If you've actually read this, I hope you'll be back and visit with me some more if you like.   I am so ready to move into my random blogging mode. I don't fit into a category, I blog all over the map, and I'm good with that.  I expect most of my upcoming posts to be very short due to time restraints.  I'm not going to let that stop me anymore though.  Blurb or blab, it's still my blog.

Well, I gotta run now I am already behind schedule for taking a shower and getting ready for the day.  I've got the day off and there is a new Home Goods grand opening today across town.  Guess where I am headed?  

I've joined the following parties today to share my story.  If this were a real party with many ladies all gathered together this type of a discussion might just go on right?  I think so and I happen to think there's room for all of us at the table.

So come on and join us at;

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Have a good one!