Adventures in Fall: Flower Planter

Did you guess what was missing from the outside of the house?

Here is one last look to see if you can tell what we took down...

We took down the chimney!

The top part came down alarmingly easy...It was kind of like a tower of little kid's blocks that you could just grab one and toss it off the roof. 

See what I mean!

We have a great bunch of guys over this weekend to help with taking down the rest of the chimney and hopefully finish a few more footers - I will post pictures soon!

 So, for weeks I have been resisting the urge to put out fall decorations. I like to wait for the actual season to start but places like Hobby Lobby (who already have CHRISTMAS items out) start selling everything so early! Since today is the first day of fall, I did a bit of fall decorating outside. I pulled out all of the summer flowers that were pretty much dead and went with a mum and pumpkin fall flower box ! 

I am not sure if I will leave the green vines in or pull them out too...they were still looking good so I trimmed them up a bit, but I think I might light the clean look of no vines hanging over the side. What do you think? 

Remember you can still like up your encouraging posts {HERE} 

Linking up to Meet Up Mondays

Adventures in Decorating: Shelf Arrangement Poll

I need your help, please! As I showed you last week, we checked off one of our Home Improvement 2012 Goals! Daniel built and put up these beautiful shelves...and now I have been gathering little pretty things to display on them...but I can't quite pick an arrangement that I like. Would you help me?! Over on the side bar I made a poll. See it...right about the followers (WHICH REMINDS ME ONLY 1 MORE DAY TO ENTER OUR 100 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY!!!) the little question "Which arrangement do you like best?"

I am welcome to other arrangement suggestions too! The frame kind of has to stay on the top shelf...but other than that I can move and arrange...

I kind of like having these 2 together - Daniel go the statue for me as an engagement gift, and that little picture is our first kiss as husband and wife! 

So vote, suggest, give ideas...

AND then jump over to enter the 100 followers giveaway!

Adventures in Home Decorating: Valentine's Day Garland

I don't have a fireplace

or a mantle.

But I love garlands! 

My parents just moved to a new town house 

and now my Mom has 2 fireplaces and 2 mantles!

So, now when I get the itch to make a garland, 

I can just send it to her! 

Mom~ If your package didn't come yet, DON'T SCROLL DOWN!

Here is my Valentine's Day garland...

Supplies: Felt, yarn, glitter glue, needle, cardboard and scissors

Make a bunch of hearts of different sizes and colors.

 The longer your garland, the more hearts you will need.

 I wanted to add the word "LOVE" to the middle section, so I made some triangles and traced the letters

And added some glitter glue

I measured my yarn and then lined up all the hearts and letters in the pattern I wanted to have them on the yarn. I am much to Type A to just go random on this! I have a thing with symmetry...I cant help it.

 Tie a loop at one end of the yarn and start stitching a few stitches down the center of each heart. I used a plastic knitting needle for this because the eye hole is large enough for the yarn. It was a little hard to push through the felt, but I made it work. Every once and a while move all the hearts down to the end of the line...

 For 3 of the hearts in between the letters, I glued a contrasting heart over the stitched heart. This will help keep the hearts from shifting on the yarn. 

I packed it up and sent it off to my mom. When she gets it up, I will post a picture!

Adventures in Decorating: Finding a Deal

One of my most favorite things is fining a great deal! 

Are you with me?!

 Last week I was looking for a new pair of dress black shoes for work 

(cute ones that I can wear all day and not have my toes feel like they are breaking off, 

I didn't find any, suggestions?) 

and I wondered into TJ Max. 

I didn't find shoes. 

But I did find this beauty..

I loved the colors and style right away.

It is real heavy duty, and I knew just where I would put it! 

I told myself if it was less than $10 I could buy it. So I turned it over and....

YES! 

Welcome to your new home beautiful platter. 

(Totally already had the potted plant with the matching pot!) 

Have you found any great deals lately?

Adventures in Decorating: Heart Basket

Normally, I am not ga-ga about Valentine's Day or Valentine's Day decorations...BUT, blog land and Pinterest have given me lots of ideas and I just had to try a few!

My first Valentine's Day project inspiration came from Adrianne @ Happy Hour Project 

If you click on the link and check out her blog, she has the pattern that I used and really good step by step directions. Here is what I did... 

First, I printed and traced the pattern from Adrianne

Then I used my favorite tool to cut out the pieces. 

And I used my 3-hole punch to make the holes

Fold up each of the little fingers and

 tape the yarn on the bottom of the inside of the bowl

 Then start weaving. Adrianne was much better at taking pictures and explaining the weaving process...I sat down with a movie on (Pride and Prejudice!), went to town weaving, and totally forgot to take any pictures until I was done!

 I finished the inside and bottom with felt hearts to cover up the cardboard

My basket is a tad bit lopsided, but still cute! Now I need to get some Hershey Kisses to put inside...