Saturday, September 24, 2011

A Fall Table...

Last night my teenage daughter had a few friends over.
The plan was for them to stay for dinner and then they were doing the funnest thing that girls do...hair & makeup.
I decided to make a spaghetti dinner for them since it is a meal that most people like.
Homemade spaghetti sauce, caesar salad and garlic bread.
While I was in the grocery, some sunflowers caught my attention.
So I grabbed a bunch and went home to make a pretty table.
I really wished I had a vintage tin to use as a vase.
But since I didn't, I used what I had....just a regular tomato tin for the sunflowers.
{I have always loved that look.}
And some red & white dish cloths for a table runner.
It was a great little dinner party.....and the girls even noticed the sunflowers!
And it satisfied my urge to make something pretty...I love to make some pretty!

This post is linked to these great parties:

The Lettered Cottage




UndertheTableandDreaming








Weekend Wrapup Party @ Tatertots and Jello












Somewhat Simple





















Tip Junkie handmade projects



Sunday Scoop @ I Heart Naptime

UndertheTableandDreaming

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Next Week is 'Apple Treats Week'...


I have declared next week 'Apple Treats Week' here at Echoes of Laughter.
I grew up in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, which is famous for it's apple orchards & high tides.
Apple picking is a regular part of our fall activities...and in the kitchen apple smells are plentiful...whether it be applesauce or pies.
So next week, I will  share with you some of my very favourite apple recipes.
All of them will be fairly easy recipes with regular baking ingredients.
They will be perfect for sharing with a cup of tea...or packing in a lunchbox!
And I will be using fresh apples from the lonely little tree I have here in my own backyard.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Has my blog helped you be a better home manager?



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If you like my blog and it helps you in any way be a better manager of your home & family, could you please click the button above and vote for me for 1 of the top 25 Home Management Blogs?

I would be so very grateful!

This blog is dedicated to beautiful living...be it decorating, organizing, creating or cooking!

Thank you so much for reading!

Monday, September 19, 2011

A Little More of Fall Decor...

I was able to finish off a little more decor for Fall at our house.
Over the years, I have discovered a few things about my decorating style.
Creating tablescapes are my favourite to add to our home for seasonal changes.
I don't like hanging or pinning things up...I just like thing making horizontal surfaces beautiful.
I love to use things like vases, old books, prints, candles or greenery.
For this tablescape I used things that I already had.
The plate is a piece from my Grandmother's china... called "Buttercup" by Spode.
{Interestingly, I spied some of this china pattern on the table at Sarah Richardson's Farmhouse.}
And the old Schwartz peanut butter jar with buttons? It came from my Grandmother's house too.
I am sooo sentimental. Always have been. Always will be.


Some of you have left comments that I have inspired  you to decorate for Fall!
Thank you so much...that is the biggest compliment to me!
For me, Blogging is completely about sharing & inspiring.
Did you know that I try to reply to every comment or visit every blog of my visitors?
{Although last week there were some glitches with the commenting issues}
Did you know that some of you have the 'no reply' email option turned on with blogger?
That means when you ask a questions, sadly, I cannot reply.
If you think it could be you, you may want to check into that.
Otherwise, you might think I am quite rude for not getting back to you!
Thank you for reading & have a wonderful Monday!

This post is linked to these great parties:







Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design












Thursday, September 15, 2011

Nesting For Fall 2011...

I have been busy these past 2 days decorating our home for Fall.
Yesterday I was not very happy with myself as the fall decoration storage totes were on the bottom of the pile under all the Christmas storage totes.
I mean, seriously, who does that to themselves?
 I was sweating by the time I was done fishing out the 2 totes that I needed!
***
This year I chose a colour theme of white, yellow & orange to decorate & freshen things up with....less brown and black over last year.
I only spent $15 in a few new flower stems from Michaels.
{Did you know that flower stems are 50% off this week? Great deal.}
Of course I started with the piano-tel.
This is my very favourite area to decorate!
The quote in the frame is a free printable from Mrs. Brooklyn Limestone blog.
The vase that holds the branches is a spray paint project you can read about here.
A vase of branches is such a beautiful look....I adore this look.
I could put one in every room & never get tired of looking at the same gorgeous shape.
The quote in the frame below is a free printable from Becky Higgins' blog.
I think it is such an apropriate quote for fall. {I love Jane Austen}.
For the coffee tablescape...I picked up the pinecones while out walking with the dogs and everything else I already had.
Here is how the living room looks.
{The more I look at this, the more I want to paint my coffee table white. What do you think?}
And I made this little vignette this morning on our dining table.
It is a little farmhouse table-ish...with apple-shaped salt & pepper shakers and napkins.
The apples are from our own little tree and they taste so good!
I just picked up the flowers stems at Michaels this morning.
Have you decorated for Fall yet?
Here in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on October 10th this year, which makes it far too early for us to decorate for Halloween.

What is your favourite look for Fall this year?
Did you buy anything new, or use what you had already?

If you would like to see how our home was decorated for Fall 2010, please visit here.

Thank you so much for visiting me!!





This post has been linked to these terrific parties:








Somewhat Simple


The Lettered Cottage








Tip Junkie handmade projects


http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/search/label/the%20Cure%20for%20the%20Common%20Monday




36th Avenue


Show & Tell @ Blue Cricket Design







The Girl Creative







Sundae Scoop @ I heart Naptime














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