Easy and Festive Fall Centerpiece

My neighbor John is getting married.  In order to celebrate the big event, my other neighbors and I are threw him a party.  I was in charge of centerpieces.  I did a similar centerpiece for my own rehearsal dinner almost four years ago!  It couldn't be simpler and I think they are perfect for fall.  Plus, I can send John home with something pretty for his front porch.

All you do is cut the top and stems off of a pumpkin, clean out the insides, and stick a mum inside.  I used 8 inch mums with the plastic pot removed because I wanted the flowers to sit snugly inside without sticking up too much.  I also like to get mums that have some flowers but aren't completely bloomed so that the recipient gets to enjoy them for longer.  Just don't forget to water them!

An added bonus?  Roasted pumpkin seeds!  Truly one of my most favorite things of all time.  All you need is a little patience to get rid of the pumpkin pulp, some salt and olive oil and a warm oven.  Divine!

Halloween Idea Round Up

I. LOVE. FALL.

It is far and away my favorite season (even though Christmas, my favorite holiday is technically in the winter), Fall is when I get to anticipate the coming of my favorite holiday.  I love the weather.  I love the crispness in the air, the change of the colors of leaves, fires in the evening, candles lit, hot cider, comfort foods, pumpkins...you name it, I love it.

Second to Christmas, I think Halloween is my next favorite holiday.  It is mostly because I love decorating for Halloween.  Every year I try to do a little more so that I am building up my Halloween decoration collection over time.  Pinterest has some awesome ideas for Halloween that I am going to have to try.  I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you:

First, DIY Halloween Garland.  How adorable would this be on a mantle?

Chalk paint pumpkins.  Love the mix of matte with metallic.

Loving this funky skeleton Halloween wreath.  I made a wreath last year but I think I'm going to have to up the ante.

I work at a medical school...we've got plenty of surgical gloves around.  Love this idea for a punch bowl. Easy and affordable!

Ombre pumpkin.  How cool.  Definitely not over ombre yet...

Simple, low cost idea with a high impact.  Love these black lace votives.  I want them on my mantle as well.

Okay, avert your eyes because this one is not for the faint of heart.  I don't know who thought of this or how anyone could eat these but they were too amazing not to share - finger sugar cookies!  How could anyone eat that??!!

Pumpkin bats. Adorbs.

My grandmother left me her milk glass collection.  My house is so tiny that I can't display all that I want but this gives me a great idea to try!  Love the colors together.

Do you have any cool Halloween ideas to share?

Links to all of these ideas can be found via my Halloween Pinterest Page.

Sweet Dreams

Haven't been feeling super creative lately but decided to try my hand at a mood board to see if I could get the juices flowing.  It is interesting that what I finished with is nothing like what my initial vision was.  Anyway, here is a gold inspired bedroom for this Sunday.  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Fall is on the way...

I know this because a) it is Labor Day weekend which marks the end of summer; b) football is already all my husband can watch on the tv; and c) all of my favorite catalogs are showing pictures of cozy Halloween themes and roaring fires.  Hands down my favorite time of the year.

In anticipation of this great season, One King's Lane is having a sale on throws today and I am in love with all of them.  I literally have a throw on every chair in my house.  I love to cozy up in the winter and in the summer my husband keeps the air conditioning blasting so high that I need one even in the hottest months.

These throws are just happy...and better yet?  Affordable!

Lots more here.  Bundle up!