Autumn at the Front Door

Isn't fall spectacular! Every day the colours get a bit richer and deeper.  Oranges, reds, purples, and they all look so lovely together.  I've thrown in the towel for a softer, muted colour scheme this year.  I'm fully embracing autumn tones.  Here's my cottage front steps, all dressed for fall.

With the help of my mum, we've managed to collect a few brass pots over the summer. Searching second hand shops, we found four of varying sizes.  Staggering them down the steps with the addition of red, orange, yellow, and white mums.  Mixing in my terra cotta pots with my two black pots creating a gentle path to our front door.

 My WOODLAND WREATH  that I've recently made is hanging on the door to greet you.

A pair of owls are hanging by a strand of jute so we didn't have to damage the siding.

I gave my hurricane candle holders a good scrub and popped a small brass pot with a candle inside each one.  And as I purchase pumpkins for Halloween, they will get nestled in along both sides.

Just as important as the curb appeal to me, is how it looks from inside.  Making sure that the landing looks as cosy from the door as it does from the street.

Inside is a bit messy...I've been preserving like a mad women!  Pretty sure I completely over planted
tomatoes and peppers.  To think these plants that I started as seeds have turned into salsa, tomato sauce and soup! The whole thing has just deepened my addiction.

There may be frost tonight so I've pulled the rest of my veggie plants out and this is what I've picked.  I'm hoping that under some newspaper these green tomatoes will ripen.  I was asked how much our garden had saved us, I don't know if it saved us any money, however having fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables a few steps away allowed us to create amazing meals.  The savings, if any, were just an added bonus.

Once I get this tidied up I will share my fall decor,
Happy Nesting!

Cottage Woodland Wreath for Fall

Are the mornings getting chilly where you live?  Can you feel the changing of the seasons?  Leaves haven't started to fall yet, but soon they'll be crunching under our foot steps. Big,  cosy blankets get pulled out again, sweaters come to the front of our closet...its coming!  Yes, I am saying that with excitement!  And so begins the start of fall decorating.  First on my list of change is the front door wreath.

I  usually reuse my wreaths for a few years, until I get fresh inspiration. My inspiration this year, nature, a woodland/boho wreath.  Made of  twigs, moss, raffia,  creamy mums, feathers, and smaller brass tipped feathers.

Once I make a plan, either on paper or through pinterest, I start collecting.   This straw wreath was found at the Dollar store, at an unbelievable price of three for three dollars!   It's a little smaller then what I wanted but you can always enlarge a wreath by layering materials on.

Using twirling twigs I tied them onto the wreath in groups of five or six with jute.

Adding the twigs quickly stretched out the size of the wreath.  Now, looking much bigger and a tad bit wild, it's much closer to my vision.

Using the grey moss, I filled in all the open holes in the front and along the sides.

Hiding all the yellow straw, I attached the mums randomly with hot glue.

Burlap was then hot glued to the back of the wreath to add a bit more texture and fullness.  After painting the tips of my smaller feathers with gold I spaced them randomly, adding a hint of bling and texture.

Now I have my family searching secondhand stores for large brass pots. I want to add them down

the front steps for a bit more shine and sparkle.

In a recent post where I shared our new exterior lighting, you can see the start of my brass pot collection (the very back, left side...collections have to start somewhere ;).

(click on picture to see this post)

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Spring Cottage Wreath

(click on picture to see this post)

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Happy decorating for fall!

I'm linking up with
My Repurposed Life/talk of the town
The Scoop

Paperless Post

Recently I was approached with an offer to create a sponsored review.

Immediately I thought...oh, here we go...SPAM.

You can imagine my excitement when I realized  it was legit!

Then to find out it was an offer that I would enjoy.  

Immediately, my daughters and I googled their website. I couldn't wait to play on their site.  The colours, fonts, font colours and designs!  My youngest daughter, who is in University to be an Event Planner, immediately downloaded the Paperless Post App on her phone. An Event Planners dream! I'm still not that great with my phone and apps, but the fact that I can play around on this site and create personalised cards on my laptop with ease is important. What I like is that it isn't just for the big events in life, Weddings and Graduations or big birthdays, you can also send a single card to say 'hello.' 

Perfect timing though because it's our oldest daughters birthday on Friday...I'll show you what I've made her.  Look away Mariah!
First I had to narrow all the choices down!  They have so many birthday card invitations.

Isn't that one so sweet, however we have a thing for owls...

After leaving a personal message inside the card, I changed the envelope to be Mariah's favourite colour.  When it arrives in her mailbox, the envelope opens and the card greets her.  How lovely is that!

THEN, if that isn't easy enough, there is an option for scheduled sending.  So I'll look all organized when it arrives first thing on her birthday.  There is also a follow up page to track the card/invitation and tells you if it has been opened.   

When you open an account you get 25 free coins to start you off, so I sent a few more cards out.  It was so much fun to mix and match.  I wish this was available way back in the 90's for my Wedding! It would have saved us a ton.  

So, whether you need  invitations for a large celebration or an i love you  make sure you check out 

Paperless Post first.

This post was published in partnership with Myself- Abby's Way and Paperless Post,

all thoughts and reviews are my own.

Cottage Lighting for Curb Appeal

Welcome!

This is our home that we have loved and lived in, since 2010.  Almost seven full years.There is a nice flow from room to room, rarely feeling too small or too big for our family. Functions very well.  But the details, the little details have always been my issue.  From paint colours to materials used.  Having bought a new house, we couldn't talk ourselves into immediately changing all the details.  Instead, year by year,  project by project, we have been working through our list of upgrades. 

First it was finishing the basement, then painting over the bold colour choices from the builder, then interior lighting, and landscaping.  And now, exterior lighting.  

There was nothing wrong with the previous lighting, perfectly fine. But fine just wasn't cutting for me anymore.  At our first stop we were thrilled to find big, curvy cottage style, bubble glass, outdoor lights. Perfect. The pricing worked within our budget, done!

Hear that noise? That is the sound of my heart singing! As soon as he held the new light up, it was love! They match the scale of the garage so much better and the style definitely says cottage.

After a few choice words and a bit of a struggle....

TADA!!

A comparison of the two styles...

What do you think? Better?

Here is a little list of the details that I love about cottage style at my front door,

• First, I love to arrange an assortment of flower pots and candles to suit the season.  Staggering them along either side of the steps of this porch seems to soften the hard lines of the concrete. Filling them with flowers to bring the garden up to the door.  It's even better if the flowers stretch and spill over the edge of the pots. So yummy!

• A welcoming wreath.  Personally I love the process of creating a wreath, it is one of my favourite things to do.  The planning, collecting and assembly, it's so much fun!  If that is something you don't enjoy, you can find gorgeous wreaths already made almost anywhere.

• Lighting, making sure that your home is lit up.  Not only for safety, but also to add character! Treating your fixtures like earrings, making sure they match the colours and details that are pre existing.

• Welcome mats are another area that you can add seasonal decor.  I have a black lattice style welcome mat at the front door that hasn't changed since we've been at this address. I find if they have a coloured design or pattern they get dirty fast, and need to be changed seasonally.

• Plaques, and exterior wall art.  This is a new 'hunt' for me. On either sides of our front door I have bare walls...gasp! I am realising this is a great space that I have completely over looked! Maybe something copper or even some weather worn wood...but that is the fun of it, nothing is ever truly complete.  I'll enjoy this search.

The exterior of our homes are very important.  They literally are the shells that protects us.  My wish for you is that above all it keeps you safe and warm...or cool!  That wish is for you and yours. 

Linking up to

A Stroll thru Life

Dishing it and Digging it

Dwellings-the heart of your home/amaze me mondays