Pumpkins 'n' Pinecones

Since Halloween is just a few days away, and Thanksgiving is close on our heels, I thought I would post a few pictures of decorating the inside of the home with some of my favorite inexpensive items....mini pumpkins and pinecones. I purchased six dollars worth at 2/$1.00 of the white ones at the grocery. I already had the pinecones. Then I got busy and spread them throughout the house.





 I have an old child's chair that sits just to the right side of the entry buffet. I keep an oversized hurricane candle holder on top of a stack of old books. Each season I change out what goes in it. Through November it will hold an assortment of P & P's. (pumpkins and pinecomes  :)






The buffet in the entry. I couldn't resist the blue-grey pumpkin. Tallow berries are another of my favorite things.  The white dried berries keep forever and are the perfect color for any season.

The fireplace and mantle get a wonderful cinderella pumpkin and 2 large sugar pine cones. More spanish moss and candles always add warmth. Check out the ginormous dictionary the ficus is perched atop. Found it at an estate sale, and LOVED it at first sight! A steal at $6.00. My oldest daughter was with me at the time and wanted to hide as I squealed with delight when I saw it! Everyone turned to see what all the commotion was about.  I'm pretty sure I was the only one that saw value in it.

I did purchase 2   12" grapevine lighted pumpkins from Hobby Lobby.  I loved the ones from Pottery Barn, but they cost a great deal more, and they do not allow for connecting multiple strands. They also come with a huge plug that would be hard to hide. (and yes, another very large dictionary, I can't resist)  The poinsettas are from last December.  I keep them all year long because they love this sunny spot, they don't shed like a giant fern, and the white and green leaves are perfect for my home year round.

One pumpkin gets its' place in the center of the kitchen table.  "Jack" stands guard next to the kitchen sink.  I love to have one something next to the sink for the current season.  Makes me smile everytime I wash my hands.

 One for the powder room plus a candle....

First Impresions

Baby deciding to put herself in the middle of everything! Her eyes match the wreath.

It's that first glance that forms our first impression of someone or something. Not always conscious, mind you.  I heard the other day that 40 percent of women base their first impression on shoes. Yes, shoes. I do love cute shoes, but I don't think that is the first thing I notice. Though come to think of it, just last Sunday I told a total stranger how cute her shoes were, and then she said to me, I was just going to say the same about yours.  I was wearing one of my new favorite pair. Comfortable AND darling! Well, there you go.....

So, here I go making my first impression on the blog.  I will be the first to admit I am learning as I go, not a techy girl, mind you. But since it's fall already, I decided to start with the front porch. It makes a big first impression of your home. And with a little help, your personality applied to the porch can create wonderful anticipation of entering.

This is the porch to start with.  Summer heat got the best of the plants. I already took down the summer wreath.  The budget is tight with 3 in college, so let's see what I can come up with.

I see Bella, the cat, sneaked into the picture. I pulled out the wreath from last year, bought a couple of mums from Walmart, and stuck a collection of found branches into the tub.  The rest is just spanish moss and a few inexpensive fall finds from Michael's.

Two of the pumpkins are real, one is not.  Of course if I wasn't on a tight budget I would have an entire selection of real gourds and pumpkins! And a new wreath in more red and orange colors.

The little red child's chair I found at an estate sale awhile back. Throw in a rusty old galvanized bucket and you're good to go!

So there's my attempt at a quick and inexpensive fall front porch....how's yours coming along?