River Rockin' Out!

I decided to finally tear out all the weeds in my back yard flower bed and pour in pretty new river rocks in their place. The rocks are providing the double duty action of looking cool and blocking out future weeds. In my nit witty head I envisioned pretty stone beds with ornate flowers and plants equally placed at exactly four inches apart.

Photo courtsey of: Shed Style

I also saw pretty contrast of cool gray rocks against lively and vibrant green plants.

Photo courtsey of: Silk-Flower-Smart

A place where there were no weeds or unsightlys in sight.

Photo courtsey of: Shed Style

 I worked tirelessly for five hours last Sunday. I cut weed blocker tarp into  intricate shapes and sizes to go around the existing plants. I made a trip to Home Depot where I hauled twelve heavy bags of river rock, (I guess I should say Riann hauled them, but I was there cheering her on) off the shelf, into the car, then out to the back yard. I made very good progress in those five hours, silly me I thought it would only take one! Nit wit I know! I did make a muddy mess but it's all cleaned up now! So after all that then I finally realized I actually needed fifteen heavy bags of river rock, not twelve, so I quit. Role model I know, but it was getting late, Home Depot was closed and I was oh-so-sore.

Stay tuned for my before and after shots of my Rockin' River Rock Flower Bed with no weeds. It may take me a while to get it posted because I have come to realize that I strained my hamstring during my five hour river rock romp. So it is going to take me a while to put the extra three bags of rocks out. Epsom salt baths every night and I'll be back out there this weekend, I swear!

Follow Up on Fall

I added and subtracted some things from my fall decor.  Just something wasn't right so I played around with it a little bit today.

I added some old books that were on my mantle under my ceramic pumpkin.

I felt like something was missing before, but now after the addition of the books I feel like it is complete!

I also removed the haunted house sign and put it outside where it belongs. So how do you like this small update?

And now with more room on my fire place mantle I was able to add my white ceramic pumpkins and jack-o- lantern votives.

So my house is slowly becoming a fall haven, and I still haven't spent a single copper penny!

Fall Flair!

I know you have been waiting with baited breath for my after photos of my fall entry way. Well I finished it up tonight and I'm very pleased to announce that I did it without buying one single thing. I used leftover materials that I had around the house from previous projects and parties.

Here is the before, sad and plain, entry way shot:

The new fall flair entry way:

I tied my BOO tags on the apothocary jar lids.

The tags are tied with some black and white ribbon I had left over from the French Classy Shower.

I then filled the jars with faux pumpkins and gourds that I have had for six years. I used left over moss from my onesie flower pot in the middle jar. Then in the big jar, I pushed in harvest corn cobs that I had last year tied to the front door.

Here is the before, the pitiful empty jars:

After: Fall and full!

 The black urn and damask table runner are both left over from my French Classy Shower, and the ceramic pumpkin I bought at CVS four years ago for .50 cents. (at an after Halloween clearance price!) I have had the haunted house sign for six years and the orange felt chandelier hanging off a drawer knob at the bottom of the table I got at Michael's clearance last year for .50 cents.

I feel like after Halloween I can take off the BOO tags, remove the haunted house sign, chandelier, and maybe the damask table runner and then I can keep this decor out through Thanksgiving! Talk about versatile! My vow is complete! I didn't spend a dime and I think it turned out alright! (Sure I could have hoarded my way through Target, Home Goods, and Michael's but I didn't and I like it even that much more that I didn't buy a thing!)

Let me know what versatile fall decor you put out this year!

Boo!

I thought that this year I just wouldn't feel like decorating for Halloween. I thought about it being too expensive, too much effort, and too messy, but tonight I got in the fall mood and I vowed not to spend a dime on anything! I saw this blank canvas entry way table that was in major need of sprucing up for the fall festivities.

Before: So plain and crying for some fall flair:

These perfect and versitile apothocary jars are just begging me to be filled with lil' punkin's and fall things.

So to get started I first I laid down this black and white damask runner that I had left over from my French Classy Shower. It was a fabric piece that I got for $4.00.

Then I started by making tags that spelled out BOO to tie on these jars.

I cut the tags out of orange floral paper that I have, using a packing label as a template.

I traced on the plain side of the paper so the pencil wouldn't smear on the front. Sometimes I'm smart.

Only sometimes.

Then I used stencils that my mom gave me, that she used back in her teaching days, to trace the individual letters.

I used a Sharpie to color the letters in black.

Then I put them all together and here's the finished result:

They were so simple and I think they turned out so precious. They seriously took me about five minutes to create! That is including the several stops I had to make to yell at the dog to stop bumping me! I needed a steady hand, dang it!

I used materials for these tags that I already owned so they didn't cost me anything! Yay, my vow is still in tact!Stay tuned for the fall finish on my sad and plain apothocary jars and entry way table to see if I stuck out my vow not to spend a dime!

Weiner Boy!

Yes, he has many nicknames, Dana calls him Dieter, Riann calls him Pumpkin Face, Flat Face, and Sweet Face, but I affectionately refer to him as Weiner Boy!

He got that name because he lies outside on the grass in the sun, belly up, with his, well ummmmmm, thingy, exposed to the world! That pretty much sums up his personality. He's laid back, he spends his days enjoying simple pleasures, and he loves his food. God save you if you get between him and his food bowl at dinner time. Sweet Face will take you out at the knees.

A Real Fall

Last October we went to Ohio and it was the first time in a long time that I had been up North during fall.  It was a real fall, not a fake, rain every day but still 80 degrees kind of fall that Texas has. It was changing leaves, crisp cool sunny days, and cold nights that make you want to put on a fire. So while I'm sitting here in the midst of a Texas fall, where it's raining, gray, and 80 degrees outside, I remember my trip up North. Here are a few photos I took last October while in Ohio.

I see you orange tree, I see you! Do you see that perfect little orange tree far off in the distance?

Well I just had to get closer! It was burning orange and perfect. The contrast between the green grass and firey orange leaves just gave me the Fall feelings!

And boy was I was in for a treat when I spotted this pretty lady. This old house with a tin roof just looks perfect for a creepy trick-or-treat stop!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Lonny!

Ok, I just found my new obsession. It is this new online mag called Lonny. Too bad it only comes out once a month! (I think, I don't read, I just browse pictures.)

Weird name I know, but once I started looking at it I was hooked. It is currently free, but I don't know if it is going to stay that way. I don't read things other than blogs!! I just look at pictures, people!

It is a mixture of Martha Stewart Living, Lucky, Country Living, and Veranda all in one online, paper free magazine! If you have time check out the pages. I am a magazine junkie, and this lil' ol' website tided me over for a while today!

If you peruse on over you can see pictures like: This beautiful, my perfect wedding reception setting,  table with lanterns and wire chairs!

Or this amazing black and white bathroom. I am obsessed with silhouettes and cameos!

I also love that big old sink and the black and white together. This bathroom is a dream!

Let me know if you love Lonny as much as I do!