Jack-O-Lanterns 2010

Here's the pumpkins we carved this year, 

illuminated on Halloween night...

I went for a 3 and a starfish,

while Jacob carved Elmo for the kids.

Happy Halloween!

Book Page Wreath

I finally decided on a Fall wreath to replace the one on our front door 

(see this post on my choices).

Using the fabulous TUTORIAL from Emily at Jones Design Company,

I ended up making a book page wreath.

While it was ultra time consuming and used A LOT of hot glue, 

it was pretty easy to make and totally worth the time!

It was pretty inexpensive too - all I had to buy was a wreath form ($5 at Michael's) and an old Thesaurus (.79 cents at Goodwill).

Here's how it turned out...

 Isn't it pretty!?

I'm debating whether or not I should keep it on the front door...

I'm worried about it getting ruined outside (even though our front porch is covered) 

and I think it would look really pretty hanging in the house somewhere...

Inspiration Files: The Braverman House from Parenthood

I LOVE the show Parenthood (Tuesdays on NBC).

I look forward to watching it all week long.

But rarely do I make it through an episode without crying.

There's just something about actually being a parent that makes you really emotional about parent/child dramas (maybe that's just me though).

Anyways, one of the things that really draws me to the show (besides the great story lines) is how set designer, Julieann Getman, decorated the interiors of the characters' homes.

The show mainly takes place in three of the characters' homes and they are all decorated beautifully, yet realistically, like real people actually live there. 

However, my favorite house is Adam & Kristina Braverman's house.

When the show shoots in their house, I actually pause the TV to drool over their decor.

It just looks so comfy and homey. 

Like a place your kids and all their friends would love to hang out in. 

A place where lots of happy family memories are created.

Adam Braverman (Peter Krause) and wife Kristina (Monica Potter) live in a house based on a Craftsman in Pasadena. "Their style is Pottery Barn, right off the shelf," Getman says. "Not everything matches, but it's easier when it's done that way."

The red counter stools and pendant lights in the kitchen (painted in Benjamin Moore's green-gray Saybrook Sage) are from Pottery Barn. Though the sofa and chaise sectional in the family area of the great room were custom made from a striped material found at F&S Fabrics in L.A., many of the accessories are from discount stores such as Cost Plus World Market and HomeGoods. The wooden desk with barley twist legs, seen at left, was purchased at Wertz Bros. for $399.

The chrome pulley lights above the kitchen are $129 each at Pottery Barn. The cabinets are from the Kitchen Store in Culver City. The glass-front farmhouse hutch was purchased at Down Home American Country Antiques in Orange. 

The front entry of the Adam Braverman residence has a wide door with sidelights, a striped rug from World Market and a suzani-covered chair from Mortise & Tenon. 

Getman describes Adam and Kristina's bedroom as a "refuge from their fast-paced family life." 

It is painted in soothing Van Courtland Blue, a color in the Benjamin Moore Historical Collection. 

The headboard and bench were custom made. 

The rug, nightstands and dresser are by Pottery Barn; the lamps are from Restoration Hardware. 

The stool and floor mirror were purchased at Upstairs Downstairs in Culver City. 

The linens come from Bed Bath Beyond. 

"I shop a lot at Living Spaces," says Getman, who strives for realism rather than perfection. "It's much more what people can truly afford as opposed to what they see in magazines." 

I guess that's what I love most about that house - 

it's something I could actually afford to do in my own home.

Fall Decorating VS. the Ultra-Curious Trio

I love decorating for the seasons and accessorizing our home, however, having THREE toddlers in the house makes this quite challenging.

The trio are at that stage of life where they are curious about everything, which means anything that they can reach, cannot be left untouched (or mangled).

This means I cannot have any accessories on our coffee or side tables.

Silly me, I thought I could set out my vintage soda crate filled with my favorite magazines.

 

Apparently that was not a good idea.

 Nothing can sit on our fireplace hearth either.

Caught in the act!!
Can you see how most of my decorative twigs have been snapped off and broken?

If a chair sits next to a console table, nothing can be on top of the table that is within reach.

See what I mean?

There can be no tablecloths, centerpieces, or any decorations on the dining table.

 

Except maybe a lone toy. 

So as you can imagine, this year I've left most of my fall decorations packed away in the closet and I've had to settle for just decorating the mantle and hanging a wreath on the front door.

Here's some pictures of our fall mantle (that the kids can't reach!!)

Some random books covered in brown paper so they match 

along with some pumpkins I've collected over the years.

My homemade chalk board with a fall quote that I love.

More of my pumpkins and a vase filled with my homemade scented pine cones.

A vine wreath paired with a vintage looking tin star from the craft store.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can't even imagine how I'm going to decorate for Christmas this year. 

We'll probably only get to decorate the top half of the tree!

I guess these are okay sacrifices considering I have three beautiful, healthy children :)

Linking up with:

Finding Fabulous Frugalicious Friday 

A Little Knick Knack: Everything but the Kitchen Sink