Fall in Arizona

It was 72 degrees in Phoenix on Sunday.   I'll repeat that in case you didn't catch that.  It was 72 degrees in Phoenix on Sunday!   Enduring what seems like endless months of very hot weather almost seems worth it when the temperatures drop into the 70's in Arizona.   Sunny skies and a cool 72 degree breeze is nothing other than paradise.  

It was a perfect time to pull out my Thanksgiving decor.   I always start with the front door:

I love airing out the house when the temperatures drop.   After a long summer of doors and windows closed and the A/C running, it's nice to be able to turn off the A/C and open all doors and windows and let the fresh air in.  The fresh, cool air flowing through the house inspired my warm holiday decor. 

I started by making another burlap runner for the entrance table.  I chose a cream colored burlap from Hobby Lobby to add some lightness to the dark table.  I'm warning you right now, I'm 99.9% sure I'll be making another burlap runner for Christmas, Spring, Easter, etc.   I kind of heart burlap runners right now.

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The light table runner and orange pumpkins started the simple and basic palette that I carried throughout the house:

I made a runner for the coffee table in the family room and added some pine cones and orange pumpkins to a rectangular basket:

I've always been partial to neutral colors so being able to use these soft, pale colors just warms my heart.  See what I just did there?   I bought some plain burlap pillow covers from Hobby Lobby and added some embellishments to give the pillows a little flare:

the scratches on corner of the table are courtesy of Grievous and Naboo......

I contemplated added more embellishments to the pillows but decided to leave well enough alone.   See Grievous and Sweetheart's foot in the corner of the picture?  They were taking a nap while I was attempting to snap pictures.   All the commotion didn't seem to bug either one of them because they didn't budge.     

I added two orange pumpkins to the shelf in the family room and some beaded garland to the candles:

Simple and warm:

I usually put out all of my pilgrims (I have quite a few) but this year I decided to give them a break.  Although I did sneak this Mr & Mrs Pilgrim to the shelf in the hallway:

And while I was making runners for the entrance way and the family room I decided why not for the table as well?  I'm loving the cream color on the dark wood:

A simple blend of white pumpkins, pine cones and a few glittered pumpkins in a leaf-shaped bowl is perfect for a centerpiece:

I've had this wrought iron pumpkin for over 15 years.   I bought it at an after Thanksgiving day sale at Cracker Barrel's general store.   I added some beaded garland and a cream colored candle:

I added Thanksgiving subway art to the shelf on the kitchen along with some mini pumpkins and called it good: 

Does an owl speak Thanksgiving to you?   It does me, so I added one to the end table:

This is one of my all time favorite Target clearance finds.   I love the way the gold shimmers when the tea light is lit:

And that's it.   Next on the agenda:

Yep, Christmas plans are in full force.   Christmas holiday projects, Christmas cards, Christmas shopping, family time, etc.    It's my favorite time of the year!

Touch of Fall

Sweetheart and I went on a bike ride this morning and I ran into some pinecones along the path.   I thought they would be a great addition to my self in the kitchen.   Then I thought fresh clippings would be a good too.  So when we got back from the ride I went straight into the back yard with scissors and a small basket in hand.  

The colors are perfect for my Fall shelf:

I added some to the living room table as well.   There are those dollar store pumpkins I was painting last night.  They look so much better in white:

I added some clippings to the front table too:

See how pretty the color of the clippings just blend in with the gold pumpkins?

And to my pumpkin in the hallway I added some glittered pumpkins to give it a little more color:

Those are the pumpkins as I was added color last night:

The front door also got a little bit of Fall added to it:

And I made a banner last year year to hang by the front door but all I could find was the four letters.   I used the same banner for Halloween, Valentine's day, Easter, 4th of July and Labor day.   I must have tossed it out because the actual burlap banner was nowhere to be found.  So, I just made another.  I had everything I needed:

There it is peeking out from the inside:

Simple, but I like it:

I know that it's not officially Fall until September 22nd.  But putting this stuff out just gives me a great sense of what's to come:  cooler weather, footballs, holidays, birthdays and a lot of fun stuff!

I do love my Coach handbags

My Sweetheart signed off on my Fall handbag purchase a couple of weeks ago so what I had been on the hunt for my new handbag. I bought a black handbag earlier in the year so I wanted another color. I decided on the Chelsea Leather Ashlyn hobo in Parchment. I bought the matching wallet and a signature pony tail holder with rhinestones to add embellishment. I love it!

Fall Wreath

I love decorating for the holidays! I don't normally pull out my fall decor until Thanksgiving. It's usually October 1st that kicks of the holiday decor. But this year, I just wanted to get my fall decor out on Labor day. The only reason I didn't is because all of my fall decor is in my Thanksgiving bins in the garage and sifting through it to pull out only a few items didn't seem worth it. Only because on October 1st, I would be putting it all back so I can have my Halloween decorations out for the month of October.

So I thought to myself.. maybe I'll just put a fall wreath on the door.. so that from the street it will appear as if I'm in full Fall spirit! Great idea! So I went to Joanne's today and picked up a vine wreath, garland and some ribbon. I've been seeing square wreaths everywhere online lately so that was my inspiration for this project.

Using floral wire, I attached the leaf garland to the vine wreath:




Then I made a bow out of the ribbon that I bought:



And here is my end result:

I think it looks great! Now I feel like I'm in total Fall decor compliance!

Have a great weekend!