Fall Around the Dining Room

Happy Monday!

I'm excited to be part of the "Fun Around the House" virtual tour where 11 other bloggers and I are sharing parts of our Fall homes over the next two days!  So, go grab a cup of "coy-fee," get comfy and start touring!

*     *     *

WELCOME to our Fall dining room ... all decorated for a big fancy meal that we'll never eat in here.  Yes, admittedly, we don't dine in this room ... at all ... ever ... never.  Obviously, that needs to change.   

Maybe it's time I "ring the dinner bell" and have family and friends actually *break bread* at this table!  I'd be happy to pluck the faux pumpkins from the pretty bowls (that I recently purchased from Home Goods) and fill them with a yummy Fall soup.  The wine and water glasses are just asking to be filled, and the napkins are ready to get dirty:

And, as we all laugh and talk with our mouths full, maybe ... juuuust maybe that's when I'll point to the "1 second craft" I added to my centerpiece (from Kirkland's, filled with faux hydrangeas, pumpkins and burlap) and entice everyone to share their favorite "holiday traditions."

After we're done sharing traditions and family memories from years past, I just might have to turn everyone's attention to the chalkboard I pulled out and propped on our sideboard, where I attempted to add a simple saying of "thanks":

Hopefully, the soup bowl filled with chicken chili or the gold "blingy" candlesticks will distract our guests, and they won't pay too much attention to my "wonky" handwriting:

If not, no worries ... I'll just quickly point out these cute black and white plates (also from Home Goods) that I pulled out ... hoping to complement the chalkboard!  And, of course, mention how I love how the pops of orange work so well with these colors, too:

Then, I'll share with everyone that, besides being grateful for wonderful family and friends, I'm thankful that these floating shelves, filled with these seasonal plates, haven't come crashing to the floor!  

Yes, this just might be the year that we actually enjoy Fall harvest in here.  If not, maybe the pretty "HARVEST" garland from Home Goods that I hung in front of the window will make people "think" that we are!  

As we say here in the South ... "HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!"

Thanks so much for visiting our Fall dining room!

Now it's time to tour the Fall spaces of these incredible bloggers whom I'm blessed to call my friends ... you'll be amazed by their talent!

Dawn from Creative Cain Cabin:

Kelly from Eclectically Vintage:

Ann On Sutton Place:

Kim from Savvy Southern Style:

And, Laura from Top This Top That:

I'm also joining:

Stone Gable/Tips and Tidbits


Thanks for your visit ... I'm off to start touring!

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How to EASILY repair old fancy frames!

Have you ever

           come across an

old frame that

               has some missing

fancy decoration?

Now you can easily fix it!



First you purchase this product


at Hobby Lobby. It's pricy so use your 40% off coupon. Take a friend and have them use a coupon too to get them both 40% off.


I started with this old frame with a corner piece missing it's fancy scroll work.  I picked

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A Fall Vignette that Didn't Cost a Penny!

While I absolutely love holiday decorating ... thanks to a minimal budget, I love *free* holiday decorating even more!  That's why I was happy to have created a vignette on our sofa table in the great room with things I already had on hand.

Whether it's with a bowl of *seasonal* autumnal goodies, filled with faux pumpkins I've gathered over the years ...

or an inexpensive plate from Wal-Mart's BHG line that I scooped up last year (and, happy to say that they're at Wal-Mart again this year, too).

After spending time perched on the bookcase in our sitting room last Fall, this fella (from Michael's) came back for a return appearance ...

and, a lantern, once filled with nautical rope during the Summer months, now has faux leaves in its place ...

with a Fall *crown* made out of picks and leftover ribbon from last year.

Sparkly, little crows, complete with witches' hats, flew on out of our Fall bins and over to branches I recently snatched from the woods, 

annnd, a metal hammered bucket, filled with holiday pillows last year, became a comfy resting spot for a few faux pumpkins this year!  

All of these things came together to create this:

FREE!

Now let's see if I can get away with spending zero dollars finishing the mantel on our porch!  Wish me luck!

As always, thanks for stopping by!

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Pot Full Of Happiness!!

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I have a confession.......

Yes I am obsessed with recycling, lotus and Buddha  and this post is combo of recycling and lotus obsession.

My husband had a sudden desire of drinking natural cold water of a clay pot last summer. So we got this black pot but it had some leakage problem so was lying unused. Then one day I just picked it up and without even a proper plan in my mind I just painted it blue. Then it was lying like that for a week because I had no clue about what to do on it. 

Then my obsession with lotus came to rescue and I painted a blue lotus on it. It was looking very beautiful and suddenly it has become 'pot full of happiness' :)

Then bit emptiness was there or something was missing so one pink lotus came to give it company and it was
'sheer happiness'

Pink one became my favorite. Getting dried and getting ready to get a coat of protective layer so that I can use this pot as planter and can keep it outside as well.

Here is a complete look. Adding cheer and pop of color to my balcony garden.

A closer look. Looks mesmerizing whenever I look at this pot. Lotuses look so real and happy.

Enjoy some more views of the pot :)

It looks wonderful indoors..................

as well as outdoors.........

I have a beautiful baby pink Bougainvillea that I'll plant in this pot. That will be icing on a cake and all of you wonderful readers you just stay tuned to see whether bougainvillea will add the charm to pot or pot will enhance the beauty of bougainvillea :) Will be a fun to see that!! Till then you can suggest me a nice and appropriate name for this pot :)

Wish you a very happy and creative weekend ahead!!

Take a look of all my DIY projects here.

Update: I have planted bougainvillea in it and this is how it looks.........

  

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Helpful Hubby!

See him up there?




He is the most helpful Hubby! Along with his helpfullness, Hubby gives himself to me all day for my birthday. Basically, I GET TO BOSS HIM AROUND!


Remember when I had painted the upper fireplace white to match the mantel (way back in February), but lacked the finishing touch...trim? If not, you can see that post HERE.


 So I asked Hubby to cut and install the

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Vastu Gyan: Master Bedroom Vastu

Master bedroom in a home is occupied by head of the family and is considered as most private part in the home. It is the place to unwind and relax. Sound sleep is an important factor in maintaining good health. It is also a place where you start and end your day. Therefore utmost care should be taken while doing up master bedroom as you spend one-third of the whole day in this room. Here are vastu tips:

The best direction for master bedroom is Southwest direction other option is Northwest and North. Avoid Southeast direction. Bedroom should always be away from main entrance to prevent disturbance.
Shape of the room should always be either square or rectangular. As it ensures better arrangement of furniture in a room.
Placing bed in south direction is an ideal location so that while sleeping one's head should be towards South. Sleeping with head towards east is also a good option but avoid North. Only dead bodies are placed with their head towards North and legs towards South.

Image Source: Click Here

There should not be any beam just above the bed. Always keep bed little far from the wall for proper air circulation.
Doors of the bedroom should open fully, if it's not than it can limit flow of fresh air inside the room. East, West and North are the suitable direction for door.
Windows in East an North ensure morning sunrays and proper light throughout the day.
Avoid placing mirror opposite to the bed, Idols or pictures of God in bedroom, storage under the bed (it restricts proper air circulation).
Dresser should be placed in North.
Bathroom should be in the East or Southeast. Avoid placing bed facing bathroom's door.
Ideal location for cupboard is Southwest or Northwest. Safe or valuables should be kept in Southwest facing North.
Avoid bright colored walls for bedroom. Ideal colors are green, chocolate, light blue or gray.

These are some guidelines to bring happiness, prosperity and health to the head of the family and other family members.
Read about Dining Room Vastu here

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Our Fall Mantel

Happy Friday and "Happy *Almost* Fall Y'all!"

I'm excited to be a part of the "Autumn Abounds" series, featuring Fall decor and recipes from several bloggers!  I've been so inspired with all that I've seen over the last two weeks!

Now, it's my turn ... for my part, I thought I'd share our Fall mantel, full of seasonal color:  

Okay, so, when it comes to styling mantels, my OCD-self always *has* to add the centerpiece first and work my way out.  Thankfully, when I was cleaning out underneath my son's bed (yes, I hide accessories EVERYwhere), I came across this wood and iron piece that I used as part of our Fall mantel two years ago (seen here).  So, I blew the dust off of it and propped it up here once again, except *this* time, I layered a wreath in front of it for a pop of color. 

These colorful and fun "GIVE THANKS" blocks yelled out to me to take them home when I was a local decor shop not too long ago ... must've been that cute owl trying to get my attention.  It worked!

I then pulled out pumpkin candlesticks I had on hand (from Big Lots), along with vases that I filled with various Fall branches and feathers:

I've had these cute Fall cards for a few years and thought it'd be fun to attach them to various branches with mini leaf clothespins (from Michael's):

Of course, it wouldn't be a Fall mantel in our house without a little bit of garland.  And, why not raid my husband's stinky tackle box for fishing line so that I could have a few leaves "falling" off of the mantel, too.

You think if I rake those leaves up that I'll have a pile big enough to jump into?

Faux pumpkins, nestled in a simple urn, hopefully won't melt sitting by the fire:

   At night, the candles magically turn on and add a bit o' ambiance:

And, the orange string lights woven through the garland help make the leaves glow: 

Ahhh, nighttime (and, fun exposure effects from PicMonkey):

Come back soon for more of our Fall home!

In the meantime, I hope you didn't miss Mary Beth's fabulous recipe for sweet potato apple soup ...

  

or these amazing homes, filled with autumn goodness!

Monday, Sept, 9th Shannon @ http://foxhollowcottage.com

Tuesday, Sept. 10th Heather @ http://www.atthepicketfence.com

Wednesday, Sept. 11th Jen @ http://www.jenniferrizzo.com

Thursday, Sept. 12th Kristin @ http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com

Friday, Sept. 13th Maryann @ http://www.domestically-speaking.com

Monday, Sept. 16th Kristin @ http://www.yellowblissroad.com

Tuesday, Sept. 17th Vanessa @ http://www.atthepicketfence.com
Wednesday, Sept. 18th Heather @  http://www.settingforfour.com
Thursday, Sept. 19th Mary Beth @ http://cupcakesandcrinoline.com

And, here's who is up next!

Monday, Sept. 23rd Kristen @ http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com
Tuesday, Sept. 24th Angelina @ http://jojoandeloise.com
Wednesday, Sept. 25th Courtney @http://www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com
Thursday, Sept. 26th Debbie @ http://debbie-debbiedoos.com
Friday, Sept. 27th Kim @ http://sandandsisal.com

And, come party with me here!

Thrifty Decor Chick/It's Fall Y'all Mantel Party
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures

Thanks so much for stopping by,

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