Friday 17 September 2010

It's a Fall Cloche Par-tay!

Happy Friday!  There are lots of Fall gatherings going on in blogland this week!  I'm joining the fun at A Stroll Thru Life, Southern in My Heart, Color Outside the Lines, Style Feature Saturday, The DIY Showoff Fall Festival, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk InteriorsUnder the Table and Dreaming and Kozaks' Closet and It's So Very Cheri  ... I thought I'd join the fun.  Here are a few of the cloches (and other glass containers) that are scattered throughout our home, showing off the season's colors.  (Feel free to click on the pics to enlarge them).

In our breakfast area, this cloche sits on a red-tiered buffet table from Kirkland's.  The cloche actually belongs on a different, dark brown base, but I though I'd pair it with the white dessert stand instead to allow the pine cone, pear, red pomegranate, leaves and berries to pop against it: 



On the other side of the breakfast table, I placed wine corks, along with a few acorns, in this glass hurricane that is on our wine bar:


The hurricane sits on what used to be the base for a glass fruit bowl (that is, until I broke the bowl ... ooooops):


Over in our great room, the coffee table has a simple tray filled with books and this candle holder, which I chose to fill with *rustic* potpourri:


Also in the great room, these glass hurricanes are filled with all things Fall and are displayed on the mantle.


On the buffet table, I decided to pair the candle in the glass lantern with just a couple of leaves and pinecone:



In the sitting room, you'll find this cloche that I placed on a fun and fancy gold cake stand from Home Goods.  I placed folded up book pages, a pinecone, pumpkin, leaves and a little shell (from our nearby beach) inside of it.  I topped it with a raffia bow and called it a day:


I like mixing casual with fancy:


Walking across the way to the dining room, the floral centerpiece is flanked by large hurricanes (Cindy Crawford line at JCPenney's).  Like the hurricane on the coffee table in the great room, I stuck with a more muted, simple filler of acorns and pine cones (found at Pier One and Kohls).  Something is missing though.  Oh, wait, I know(!) ... it's needs some raffia!  Can you tell I'm overdosing on those bows this season?  Pretty soon, I'll be wearing one in my hair!  LOL.



Outside on the screened porch, I placed these large lanterns (from my fave Home Goods) on the fireplace mantle.  I filled them with a large candle, along with leaves, pumpkins, acorns and guords (a mix that I found at Michaels):



Lastly, I filled this votive with a few large pumpkins (from Michaels) and set it beside one of the rocking chairs on the porch as well.  I'd like to raise it up a bit though by sitting it on a few books ... that's *if* I can find them.  Hmmmm ....


Well, folks, that's all for now.  I'm off to look at everyone else's fun Fall projects! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday 14 September 2010

We interrupt this program ...

Greetings !!

I know we are in the throws of "all things Fall," however, I just wanted to take a moment to share a little adventure that I went on this summer. 

Admittedly, I am be-YOND petrified when it comes to flying ... we're talking a paralyzing fear!  I've flown quite a few times in the past, but ever since 9/11 (I worked in Washington, DC at the time, just a few miles from the Pentagon), I've been scared to death at even the *thought* of stepping onto a plane.  Some of our fun friends decided it was time for an "adults only" trip (a/k/a no.kiddos.allowed!).  While I was praying it was to a place close where we could travel to by car, alas, it wasn't!  They decided that Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) was the destination!  I immediately said "you guys have fun" ... however, my husband and determined friends wouldn't accept no for an answer!  They wore me down, and wore me down and wore.me.down, until I relented and agreed to go (of course, not without a prescription for Xanax)!  Even though I felt sick and couldn't sleep for several days before we left (and also sad since I was leaving my son for the first time), I'm sooooo glad that I faced my fear of flying because I had the time of my life!

A few weeks before we left, my sweet husband asked if I'd renew our wedding vows on our trip since it was around the same time as our 15th wedding anniversary!  I cried ... and, of course, happily agreed to marry him all over again!

Off we went.  Punta Cana is a such a beautiful place!  We were greeted by an airport filled with tropical huts: (click on any picture to enlarge)


We immediately warned our shuttle escort, Eduardo, that we were a crazy bunch from South Carolina.  He and his co-workers were amused:


The resort where we stayed (Majestic Elegance Club) was beautiful !! 


Here we are, shortly after arriving at the resort .. one of the gals in our group embellished and *bedazzled* fun T-shirts for all the ladies to wear, saying "PC or Bust!" LOL


Our rooms were beautiful:


As was the view:


The food?  Well, let's just say it was "okay."  For example, this tiny, itty bitty thing is what they consider a chicken wing.  Ummmm ... needless to say, I pretty much stuck to bread our entire trip.


There were gorgeous pools everywhere! Of course, we usually found ourselves at the one with the swim up bar.  Here are the fellas with their "Bubba" mugs that kept their drinks nice and cold:


We loved getting dressed up to go out at night and often split up tables between guys and girls.  This way, the guys could talk all things sports *yawn,* while us gals could talk shopping and all things fun!


The day of our renewal was gorgeous !!  It took place at 5:00 p.m., on the beach at our resort.  Another couple in our gang also renewed their vows (and, ironically, their anniversary date is the same day as ours)!  What a special day it was. 

Our great friend and neighbor, Tony, "officiated" for us since it wasn't a legal ceremony.  (Look.at.that.ocean!)


My honey reading his sweet vows:


... placing a beautiful anniversary "bling" on my right hand:


... and sealing it with a smooch:



I love how John's shirt seems to match the ocean in this shot:


The palm trees were gorgeous:


Here is one of my faves ... the infamous jumping pic!  What fun!
 

After the ceremony, we all went to dinner to celebrate, but not before stopping by the beautiful gazebo to see if my husband could still get down on one knee.  Yay, he could:


Annnnd, of course, I simply *had* to convince the girls to take a funny "goddess-pose" picture:


The trip flew by too fast ... MUCH too fast!

Again, I'm so thankful to my family and friends for encouraging me to face my fear of flying.  If I hadn't, I wouldn't have been able to take such a beautiful walk with my honey after renewing our vows ... the beginning of our next chapter together:


Okay, back to your regularly scheduled programming ... so, as you're decorating your beautiful home for Fall, I'm curious to know what fear have you faced lately?
I'm linking up with Tuesday Morning's Chatting at the Sky

Thanks for stopping by,

Monday 13 September 2010

Fall is in the Air !!

Happy Fall Y'all ... my oh-so-favorite time of the year is here !!  I'm a tride and true *Fall-aholic* and have been having fun placing festive touches around the house.  My poor husband *isn't* so fond because, unfortunately, he knows that this means countless trips to the attic to bring yet a-NOTHER box of goodies down for me to go through !! 

We've recently made a few changes in the kitchen, so I thought I'd share them with you, along with the Fall atmosphere in there now.

This summer, we painted the vaulted wall, along with the rest of the kitchen, SW "Ivoire."  We love it !!  It truly makes the kitchen look bigger, brighter and cleaner. 


This is what it used to look like:


Love the difference!  I've really been enjoying this softer color palette ... keeping the red in as simple accents, not focal points.


We went to Hobby Lobby for the first time evah this past weekend!  Let me just say that I'm glad that it's an hour and 1/2 away or else I'd be there every.single.day.  If you have one close by (and have never been) run, don't walk, to this awesome store that is filled with everything you can imagine ... and then some! 

The garland on top of my soffit came from there ... love the muted tones in it.  I mixed a few white pumpkins in, as well, for contrast.


Back down to the counters ...


I found this beautiful platter on sale at Pier One! I love their new Fall dinnerware line, and would've grabbed up the dinner plates to match, but, alas, they only had square plates and not round. Boo!


A simple raffia bow and leaf dress up this pitcher, which is doubling as my utensil holder:


My Southern Living cookbook is ready to be used ... okay, well, *maybe!*


Annnnd, the other side of the kitchen ... of course, I jumped on the bandwagon and simply *had* to number the canisters!


The cloche is harboring pumpkins while Rooster, Jr. stands guard:


I LOVE the festive cards that I ordered from CariKraft ... you should pay her Etsy store a visit!  I've scattered these all around the house ... so simple, yet so stinkin' festive!


Look, she even sent me a card with my name on it, too ... yippeeee !!


Here's our little coffee/tea area.  My husband would like to be buried with his Keurig coffee maker!  LOL




My double stacked iron bowls display all kinds of seasonal goodies ... guords, acorns, leaves, pumpkins and more raffia:


And, look, there's another CariKraft card peeking through ... did I already mention I love them?! 


Lastly, we recently removed the Black Galaxy granite countertop from our island.  We wanted something larger and opted for a very reasonably priced piece of maple butcher block.  Here's what it used to look like:


And here it is now!


We're really enjoying this larger workspace (especially my 4 year old who loves to do activities and eat here). I'm also loving the farmhouse feel it brings to this space now (especially this time of year)!

Mr. Rooster sits on a bronze tray from Target, flanked by wheat, guords, corn, pumpkins and leaves.


You may have spotted the new rug in front of the island ... I found this little beauty at HomeGoods for a great(!) price.  Love all the soft colors in the palette:


Well, I've kept you long enough.  Come back soon, and I'll show you around the breakfast area, where quite a few changes have taken place as well.

I'm linking up to:

BTNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday

Making the World Cuter Monday

Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple

It's So Very Creative at It's So Very Cheri

A Silly Little Sparrow for Toot Your Horn Tuesday

The Gypsy's Corner for Three or More Tuesday''

A Stroll Through Life for Tabletop Tuesday

DebbieDoos Before and After Party

The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday

Domestically Speaking for the Fall Party
Thanks for stopping by,

Wednesday 8 September 2010

kitschy goodies...

Whenever we drive out of Bangalore during our many weekend getaways, we make a quick stop at Channapatna, a small town famous for it's wooden toys & lacquerware. Every time we manage to find something interesting:-)
During our trip to Masinagudi few weeks back, we did out customary stop at Channapatna, my eyes fell on these button-like boxes with Indian Kitsch painting. It was instant love.
Such a familiar scenery that one gets to see painted on trucks and on auto-rickshaws in India.
Oh yes! Taj Mahal had to be there...
I am amazed at the lovely art and crafts in India.
If you are driving out of Bangalore sometime, do stop by at Channapatna, you won't be disappointed:-)

Have a great festive weekend everyone!