Oct 24, 2014 |
I love decorating, but let’s face it- sometimes it can be costly. I do what I can to avoid a strain on the wallet.
Happy Fall!
Autumn starts the holiday season at Bedford Manor. The above collage is from three years ago. I haven’t started to put out my decor this year but that will change in 36 hours.
I get a lot of decorating tips like most of us, from Pinterest. And my mom. She’s the Queen of Budget Decorating.
Just check out these fun and frugal ideas for bringing the colors of the outdoors, indoors.
Autumn Potpourri in Ceramic Basket
A small bag of autumn-themed potpourri adds color and fragrance. If you don’t have a holiday dish, use a glass bowl.
Leaves in a Basket
A garland of multi-colored artificial leaves can be immediately put in a simple basket. Place on your fireplace mantel, hearth, coffee table, or on a bookshelf.
Squash in a Planter
This is great for outdoor patios as well as indoors. Put a disposable container upside down inside a bigger planter, cover with newspaper or other buffering, and place assorted miniature squash and pumpkins on top.
Scarecrow in Leaves
A miniature Scarecrow sets well atop a small assortment of artificial leaves in a bucket or basket.
Apple Cider Arrangement
A single bunch of artificial apples with small flowers fits nicely in this Apple Cider Barrel.
Scarecrow on Butter Churn
A fun Scarecrow overlooks an assortment of silk flowers in a papier mache pumpkin basket.
All the decor in these photos was purchased at our local Michael’s Arts & Crafts store, for $5 each or less.
Now that’s Autumn on a budget. My mom’s got skills.
Hey, Mom . . . can you come over on Saturday?
And Frankly, My Dear . . . that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Bunco at Tiffany’s
Why I Don’t Go To Carnivals in October
Slightly Sweet: Pie Crust Cut-Outs
This Thing Called Pinterest
Another Post About Pinterest.
Oct 10, 2012 |
What’s been your favorite part of this last week? I’ve had so many! It’s October. The Yankees and Tigers are in the playoffs. The weather finally cooled down enough to wear long pants and hard shoes, which means the cats are more snuggly.
Snuggly Cats
Dot and I are really in sync with our new routines now. I love that she can drive herself to college, but when I need to run errands I just drop her off and pick her up. It beats driving back and forth and back and forth… especially with gas prices soaring to over $4.79/gallon three days ago. Today I went grocery shopping at Target when a friend sent me on a “Visual Scavenger Hunt”. He texted me what I needed to find, I’d text him back a photo, and then he’d offer up the next item. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but it was certainly fun… and in my heels, of course, wandering back and forth many times, I also certainly got my exercise for the day!
TARGET Visual Scavenger Hunt and Other Great Finds
I’m sticking with my Clean Out the Fridge meal plan… for the most part. It’s led to one or two interesting combinations that won’t be repeated. And several delicious ones that will!
Rice, Cream of Chicken Soup and Diced Green Chilies. Interesting.
My Non-Dot turned 18. I can’t believe these Little People I’ve known for so long are grown-ups. Not just in age, but in attitude… for the most part. I mean, they were just seventeen quite recently.
Best Friends
It looks like I’ll have five giveaways for the first part of November. And I’m working on a few new Holiday recipes, too!
I’m building a Blogger Wish List.Oh, Santa…! The Blogs I love most and aspire to be like are so professional looking. But it takes money to make money. So right now, This Elf is working on getting a Light Box, photo-editing software, and a new camera bag. Sounds like I’m a photographer instead of a Blogger, right? Well then… a new backpack for all my writing supplies, a gift card to any bookstore in town, and journals. Lots of journals. And pens. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Well, those are this week’s highlights. We still indulge in the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino once a week.
Autumn Bliss
Here’s something noteworthy: The Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice comes both as a hot latte and a cold Frappuccino. Their Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino is the mocha-free drink. I didn’t know that until after I unwittingly ordered Dot the one with mocha. Since she’s not a coffee drinker, guess who got an extra one? I’m a tad energetic right now… Don’t worry. She got the Pumpkin Creme Frapp. I promise.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world? Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
Sep 12, 2012 |
I don’t know about you but my Word this week is
“AUTUMN”
It’s almost the middle of September. Last week it seemed so lovely and Fall-ish. This week, we’re in the midst of yet another heat wave. And this one brought the humidity with it. I’m so sad, though. The last heatwave dried out both my Sweet Broom plants and they’re not reviving. They were so beautiful a few months ago. My goal for this winter is to uproot my yard and clean out the growth I don’t want, so that just before Spring comes, I can plant what I do want.
Starbuck’s Pumpkin Spice Latte is back, and I can never have enough of that. Dot’s new favorite is their Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino. As she says, “It’s like Pumpkin Pie, in a cup!” I must agree with her on that one!
Pumpkin Creme Frappuccino
We’ve been Pinning everything Autumn that we can find. This weekend I plan to bring in the fall decor. I can’t wait.
To help get into the season, I created this free printable download for you. Just click on it to open, and print it! Feel free to use it for whatever purpose it suits you.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
And now it’s time for “What’s the Word?” Wednesday!
“What’s the Word?” Wednesdays is a link-up that allows other bloggers and readers to share whatever they want to talk about. Think of it as a virtual coffee date with some great friends. What’s going on in your world?
Tell us all about it!
A few things to remember:
- Each week’s link-up is valid from Wednesday through the following Tuesday. So if you link a post today, you can still come back and link another post tomorrow! In fact, you can link up as many posts as you want.
- If you add a link, please put the badge on your post as well.
- Each week has a new link-up. Please make sure you grab the correct Badge Code.
- Be sure to check out what others are posting, and even leave a few comments.
- You can now show your “likes” by voting for your favorite links.
So, c’mon. Join the conversation. After all, a great coffee date is one where everyone gets to chat, dontcha think?
Nov 5, 2011 |
[For the original article, click here.]
When Writer’s Digest Community offered this weekly prompt, there was no question I would combine my loves of holiday music, Harry Connick Jr, and NYC/Central Park. Take two of your favorite songs, and match up a line from the chorus of one with a line from the chorus of the other. Then, write a scene that starts with the first lyric, and ends with the second.
I hope the location came across clear enough; Central Park in autumn, when the leaves and snow intermingle. I am a romantic, obviously, and I have no problem sharing that.
The two songs I chose were “Autumn in New York” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”. The latter is my all-time favorite holiday song. The former is a dream… so far.
Maybe someday I’ll get there – New York in Autumn. Or winter. Maybe for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Maybe not.
But that won’t stop me from dreaming of it; and striving for it.
This New Year’s Eve I’ll be working: writing my way to New York City, and every other place I’ve ever wanted to visit. I’ve got to start somewhere, somehow. I choose now to start.
What will you be doing New Year’s Eve?
Nov 4, 2011 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
The first “storm” of the season is on its way to Southern California, bringing with it high winds and light snow. I’m hopeful (but not realistic) about seeing a flake or two this weekend. My trees are billowing as I write this, and about ready to drop their leaves.
I love this time of year: the time when the desert is a little more colorful, when people bundle in sweaters and scarfs, when the smell of fireplaces and warm cooking are almost everywhere.
And so are the traveling carnivals. You know what I’m talking about: those caravans of Big Rigs that take over the local mall parking lot for less than a week. The rusted colorful contraptions they set up when no one’s looking. It’s as though they sneak in at the dead of night and stay just long enough to play their creepy music. Then just as suddenly, they’re gone.
Every year they show up here at the end of October, and two things happen.
First, the wind blows harder and colder, forcing pedestrians to wrap their coats tighter as they scurry to and from the safety of their buildings or cars. Their eyes dart about to find what their hands don’t want to reach for unless they have to. Cold handles, flying papers. Anything the wind can play with.
Second, I always think of Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. I read the book in junior high, the year my father passed away. I could relate to the absent father storyline. It was fresh pain. Being raised in the midwest the descriptive book and subsequent movie seemed to add to the already imaginative thoughts I carried: the atmosphere of falling leaves, the early nightfalls, and all the What If’s… The story both scared and delighted me, creating that sweaty nervousness that only a great page can.
To this day, I count it as one of my favorite stories. It must be. It still affects how I feel at the end of October.
The desert isn’t a colorful place. Grass yards are not the norm, and rainstorms are few and far between. And so today’s storm is teasing us, saying this is what could be. Very much like Mr. Dark tempting the boys.
The winds bring apprehension and suspense. Maybe tomorrow there will be the smell of rain. At night, perhaps a snowflake or two. Full of promise… or lies.
An autumn wind always makes me think Hitchcockian. What secrets blow with it? What will it take away when it leaves? The local carnival left today. I wonder if the storm drove it away, or is following the show.
And I can’t help but recite, as the sun sets and the leaves rustle in the howling winds…
“By the pricking of my thumb,
Something wicked this way comes.”And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
