these are a few of my favorite things

September, in most regions of the country, means fall. In Fort Worth, we broke the record for the number of days over 100 degrees in one year this week. There is a break on the horizon though and rain the forecast for next week!!! Can I get an AMEN!?!

So, although we are currently still sitting in the heat and summer (depending on the day), I am looking forward to fall and all that goes with it.

horned frog football, y'all!

Go Frogs

I understand. How original...you live in Texas and love football! Well, first, give me props for being excited. I was not an avid fan in early college. But, with love of a man, comes a love of his hobbies. B's love (following me and skiing, of course) is football. I am proud of our TCU Horned Frogs and all the success that they have had and continue to have. Its better to embrace it and love it than to fight it. Right? It would be a long fall if I didn't like some football.

scarves



Scarves are a fun accessory that is versatile, can add a pop of color and provide a little fun to an otherwise drab outfit. There are so many different options as to how to wear a scarf. Different knots, ways to wrap the scarf, etc. Even with a light shirt you can feel cozy in a cool breeze. So much fun!

hot apple pies

No, I'm not talking food here, people. I'll get to that next. I'm talking about my favorite cold weather beverage. B happens to make a mean hot apple pie, especially when I'm feeling under the weather. This opens you right up and warms you from the inside out.

2 oz Tuaca

4 oz hot apple cider (from bottle or homemade)

whipped cream

cinnamon stick for garnish

Add the Tuaca and the cider, stir well. Top with whipped cream and add the cinnamon stick. YUM!

chillies, stews, pot pies and soups

 

B and I fancy ourselves to be quite the chefs. If we did the love language thing, ours would be cooking (if that is one)! We love to spend time together, the conversation we have while cooking and eating is important to us. We also love the fun of experimenting with new ingredients and recipes. Well, a slight change in temperature and we are busting out the Green Chili Stew (already made once this season), pot pie, tortilla soup, gnocchi soup. I'll start posting my favorites as we make them. Comfort food at its finest.

fall cleaning

Spring cleaning is usually where people's heads are at. But, as a typical Type A personality and an organization enthusiast, I like to take every opportunity to purge the closets, drawers, trunks, etc. Take the opportunity to switch out your closets. Move your summer wardrobe to storage and exchange it for your fall/winter clothes. I use a plastic storage bin that can slide under the guest bed. It holds a good number of sweaters and holds lots of summer-time clothes. Its also a great time to donate clothes to worthy causes. If you saved an item last season, and realize when you pull it back out that its showing its wear or is just out of date it is time to move on. I cannot encourage this enough: BE RUTHLESS. Get rid of things. Love the items you have and move on.

family

I am, what you call, a homebody. I love family time hanging out around the house. I am lucky enough that when we visit my parents the men love to golf so Mom and I can shop, antique, run errands and get dinner started. Everyone comes together mid afternoon and just relaxes. The cooler weather allows for nice conversation on the front porch and then welcomes you into a cozy home decorated with pumpkins and gourds for the fall season.

Some of these aren't 'things' per say, but they are my favorite parts of fall. I hope you have a wonderful fall day and soak it up while you can! Its going to be 92 degrees again tomorrow...but I'm sure the day after that will be lovely; you never know!

something to remember

Something important to remember when life is busy and stressful. Remember its about being happy in the end so make it your goal :) 

area rug agony: operation complete

Its funny that the week I post about having such complete agony over finding an area rug I FOUND ONE! I subscribe to One Kings Lane and Joss & Main. I stalk search it everyday in hopes of finding items to make our house a home. Not all items are affordable...I mean, we are a couple on a budget! But its fun to dream and to build a 'wish list', but occasionally I find a true treasure.

I found said rug on One Kings Lane 3 weeks ago. I knew it was perfect. I called B and was given 'the go'. There was one thing standing in my way: my thriftiness. I am my mother's daughter and will only brag about items if I find them on sale. Those who do not shop on the sale rack are just foolish. You want a good future, you plan for it! I cut corners & DIY where I can. I made the ultimate decision not to purchase the rug...but I kept thinking about it and how I wished I had bought it.

One week later, what did my wondering eyes should appear??? THE SAME RUG on Joss & Main!!!! And not only the same rug, but for $150 less. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. I ran up and down the hall of my office, arms in the air, yelling for my coworker who is also on a mission to make her house a home. After a quick call to B I decided it was a sign and bought it :)

It happily arrived to our apartment on Saturday morning. I had a girls afternoon at the pool but I have the sweetest husband in the world who set it up for me that evening. Ringo assisted in setting it up and loves it. He always moved to the carpet to eat snacks and chew on his favorite toys; now he doesn't have to. We will have to watch him though...I will be protecting this bad boy like its my job.

Ringo loves the area rug, obviously.

He's just showing off the pattern!

We may adjust the table and chairs, but its the look that matters!

We are a happy family!!! I love it, B loves it and Ringo definitely loves it. In the morning you can find the Little Man rolling on it to scratch his back. It is certainly a fabulous addition!!

flying solo

B is away this week on business. Leaving me a single mom (puppy mom, that is). Although, it IS a big responsibility I will use this time to play with the pup and write a little here. I have solved my Area Rug Agony!!! YES, that's right, we have a new addition and are one step closer to Operation: Make us a Home being complete! I can't wait to show you. Be on the look out!

area rug agony

Well, we are still on the hunt for the perfect area rug. This is a difficult task. Size, design, color, price point, there are so many aspects to consider. This rug is for the dining area so it needs to be wide enough for the chairs to be pulled out from the table and durable. I've measured and taped it out on the floor...with assistance from Ringo, of course.

I am really struggling with the design. Traditional? Contemporary? Simplistic? There are so many options! What to do? What to do? I feel like an area rug can make or break the space. I am still in the process of developing my sense of style and decor; its not an easy task. Remember, we have an awesome farm house table and redone chairs in a turquoise blue with yellow gold distressed under the blue. I would like to have a pattern or design rather than just something plain like burlap, even though I'm seeing lots of that, we just need something to create a separate eating area from the rest of the apartment that adds lagniappe. Here are a few inspiration photos.

Garnet Hill

I love this pattern and the different options in color. The coral stands out to me. I'm not a big red person, but this is in the family and still warms up the space and adds some contrast to the table and chairs.

House of Turquoise

This is all too cluttered for me, but focus on the rug. I like the pattern added to the mix. And you're not focusing on one single color.

House of Turquoise

I am hating the orange chandelier, but I kind of like the rug. I like the design a lot and the changes in color keep it interesting. 

House of Turquoise

I am seeing so many stripes, that must be the 'IT' thing for area rugs right now. I really like it too. Stripes are clean, crisp, slightly nautical, which I like, and timeless.

Thoughts? Ideas? Direction? I've done several shopping days and am just having the hardest time finding something that really strikes my fancy. Help!!!

lake bluff, illinois

The husband and I were lucky enough to head to cooler weather this past weekend. My grandmother resides in Lake Bluff, Illinois. The Village of Lake Bluff is a quaint one; it is scenic, right on Lake Michigan (as evident by the name) and has been her home for 45 years. My grandpa was a commander in the US Navy. Lake Bluff happens to be VERY close to a large base, so when he retired, it was a good place to be!

Lake Bluff started as a vacation destination, serving as a place for people to get out of Chicago in the summer. It is BEAUTIFUL! Lake Bluff and its neighboring town, Lake Forest, are no longer summer cottage destinations. It is home to the elite! With beautiful homes to enjoy the lake front and all that the area has to offer.

Downtown Lake Forest

Lake Michigan



My dad met us there and we had a lovely weekend. We spent time with the great and wonderful Grandma, walked through the neighborhood, took a drive up to the lake to see the beautiful houses and water, spent some time with my aunt and uncle and took Grandma to her church on Sunday.

 

She couldn't come to the wedding so this was her opportunity to get to know Brian. Did I mention that my grandma is 97 years old? She is amazing. The kind of woman you pray to be. She raised three sons (which is why God blessed her with four granddaughters), was married to a naval officer who was gone on ships for extended periods of time, was a registered nurse and later, a librarian. A woman of all trades :)

Grandma's house

Armour Estate

I am very happy that Brian got to meet her and spend time with her. We can't wait to go back for Christmas. Talk about a white Christmas! Not to jinx us, but I've had a white Christmas for as long as I can remember. Sometimes to a point that is obnoxious...to others :) But I never complain. I have a great love for the North Shores. Lake effect means its time for Christmas and family - the two best things!!!

For now, we brought this little gem home from Grandma's house. It was hanging in my parent's room. I hung it above our key rack so we can think of her often.

 

Guest are welcome!!

Until next time, Lake Bluff!

ta da

Here they are! I am so happy with how they turned out :) Now we just need to host dinner for our friends! Beautiful chairs from my grandma, made anew. How lucky are we?

Ringo is the perfect accessory :)

Don't they look great? I'm so pleased. Operation: Make Us A Home is not complete...we're just getting started. Now that the chairs are done we are looking for an area rug, which is harder than I thought! Once that is purchased I am moving on to my next transformation:



Yep, that is exactly what you think it is...my camp trunk! Fabulous, isn't it? My mom got my us matching trunks when we went to camp. We were the only ones with them; aka Mom is the best :) Well, Mom and Dad are now trying to pawn things off on their children. And my sister has the trunk from my grandma's house so Mom and Dad brought this and dropped it off at our apartment  I decided it would be fun to take on this project. I'm going to buy some feet for the trunk to give it a little more style and change out the hardware. What Annie Sloan paint I will be using is still TBD but I will keep you updated. I feel like our home will be so much more a home when we have the rug and the trunk completed. Let the games continue.