Simply Autumn

Autumn Mantel

It's Autumn!  It my still feel like summer here in New England (blah!) but I found these pumpkins and put my fall mantel together to help me get in the spirit!  October 1st is Friday so I will add some spooky Halloween for fun!  

I (think) that I linked this to the fab bloger Nester's Fall Mantel party!

Go check out all the fall goodness there....

www.thenester.com

Summer's Fade...

On this very warm September day here in New England it's time to say "good-bye" to summer as it fades into autumn...

SUMMER 2010

A very busy and fun summer! Looking forward to all that autumn brings!

How much "stuff" can on boy have?!?!

My boy has a lot of "stuff" (that's using my nice word).

All of his "stuff" was beginning to take over his room.  I could barely see the floor, the dust clouds were tremendous and I swear it would multiply overnight!

So we purged!!!!!

A LOT!!!

Before:

(Scary, very very, scary!!!)

2  HUGE bags of trash

3 bags of "stuff" to Salvation Army

4 hours from start to semi-finish

After:

MUCH BETTER!!!

Now it needs a good paint job and a large bulletin board or magnet board.  I"m using the sports canvases 

and this print below as inspiration for wall color....

Here are some colors I'm considering...

Martha Stewart "Faded Ink" @ Home Depot

Martha Stewart "Bay Leaf" @ Home Depot

Martha Stewart "Ice Rink" @ Home Depot

If you don't have a Home Depot close to your home you can order these samples size jars for $2.95 (plus S&H). Isn't that cool!!!!

If you have a favorite or suggestion please leave a comment....I would love to hear from you!!!

This always reminds me of autumn....

I just posted about this marching band ...

This is the drum cadence I could hear from my bedroom window...

(make sure to turn off my playlist first before playing the video)

I loved my high school, I hope my kids will love their school as much!

Strath Haven High School (the best)

Touches of Autumn

I love autumn, yes I do...

I love autumn, how about you?!

This time of year is my FAVORITE!  All the pumpkins, apple cider, fuzzy sweaters, football games, piles of beautiful leaves, homecoming, bon fires......aahhhh, I could go on and on!  There are days I miss visiting my parents home on autumn friday nights and hearing the marching band play and the cheer of the crowds at my high school football field (we only lived 3 streets away)!  That was totally "autumn" to me! (sigh)  Those of you who grew up in Wallingford, PA know what I'm talking about ;-)!

Anyway, since autumn officially starts next week I have changed a few things around my home to reflect the changing seasons and so I share a few pictures with you, my friends....

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

I "heart" Nate Berkus!!!

On Monday September 13, 2010 The Nate Berkus show premiered ...

but I was not watching (darn it!). Instead I was watching the relaunch of The Martha Stewart Show on The Hallmark Channel.  Needless to say I was a little disappointed with Martha on that first day but I gave her show a second chance on Tuesday (first day jitters I thought).  Well day two (for me) was not much better, sooooo I did some "channel surfing" and found Nate on at the same time! I was able to catch the last 15 minutes of his show and was hooked!!!!  I "heart" Nate!   Don't get me wrong, I still think Martha Stewart is amazing and talented but I related so much better to Nate and his style and approach to life. 

 I do have a reason to post about Nate, I really do.....it relates to his show on Wednesday September 15, 2010.  Nate featured a family who lost their Mother soon after she gave birth to twins (heart breaking!).  But there was a beautiful message Nate and show were trying to convey as they completed the the unfinished nursery for the babies....honor the pass (loved ones who have passed, childhood, family) and keep the spirit alive through thoughtful decorating touches. Nate spoke my "decorator Language"! This is something I have always done as I have decorated our home.  Here is an example of this type of decorating in my own home...

This small shadow box holds 3 of my Mom's charm bracelets (mostly from the 1960's) and has been part of my living room decor for more than three years now.  There are so many cool charms on the bracelets that I hated to store them away in an old jewelry box.  I have fond memories of trying these on and asking her what each one "meant".  Now my children ask about the charms and I share my Mom's stories with them....and so the stories and memories live on...

Thank you Nate Berkus for encouraging us to decorate with thoughtfulness and meaning!

11

September 7, 1999

CREATIVE

GIRLY

SMART

LOVING

STRONG WILLED

LOYAL

MIDDLE SCHOOLER

ARTISTIC

SISTER

DAUGHTER

September 7, 2010

Happy 11th birthday Kaitlyn!  You are growing into a beautiful young woman with the world at your door! Like the quote on the stone in the picture....

"If caterpillars turn into butterflies, imagine what you can be!"

  I love you!!!!!!