Fall Nesting {Day 31} - Recap

We made it! Thirty one days... gold star stickers all around. I admit, signing up to participate in this series was a bit of an impulse decision and I seriously questioned my sanity a couple weeks in, but now I can see that it was good (and good for me!)... I'm still happy to be on this side of it though!



Over the past month I've shared some things I like to do this season to help prepare for the time ahead, and hopefully you've enjoyed it and maybe even gotten a few ideas to try in your home. I love watching the Earth and the animals getting ready and going through changes to ready themselves for the coming dark, quiet winter months. I think we humans naturally mimic these patterns... knowing that after this rest comes nature's rebirth in spring.

Here's a recap of all the posts in this series in cased you missed any or would like to go back and find a specific post.

{Day 1} - Introduction

{Day 2} - A Fresh Start

{Day 3} -  Baskets, etc.

{Day 4} - Preserve

{Day 5} -Warm It Up

{Day 6} - Maximize Your Entry

 (Walk of Fame, via Pinterest)

{Day 7} -  Decorating With Gourds

{Day 8} - Apple Cinnamon Cornmeal Pancakes

{Day 9} -  Make a Boot Tray

{Day 10} - Eat Dinner as a Family

 (Sunday in Bed, via Pinterest)

{Day 11} -  Sow Seeds

{Day 12} - Dijon Chicken, Kale & Potato Stew

{Day 13} -  Slow Down and Breathe

{Day 14} - Get Your Halloween On

{Day 15} -  Plan for Christmas

{Day 16} - Preserve Leaves

{Day 17} -  Decorate Yourself

{Day 18} - Planting Bulbs

{Day 19} -  Do You Faux Fur?

{Day 20} - Delicious Riots of Color

{Day 21} -  To Make a Spy

{Day 22} - Leaf Jumpin'

{Day 23} -  Fall Favorites

{Day 24} - Quality Time

{Day 25} -  Keep Up, Don't Catch Up

{Day 26} - Table Inspiration

{Day 27} -  A Little Whimsy Never Hurt Anyone

{Day 28} - Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

{Day 29} -  I'm Stumped

{Day 30} - Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

{Day 31} - You are Here!

Okay. Now if you don't mind, I'm taking a nap tomorrow. See you in a couple days and Happy Halloween!

Fall Nesting {Day 30} - Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

All right. I admit it. This time of year, as fabulously wonderful as it is, can also be incredibly busy, full of commitments and a little bit chaotic. We run around, we cook, we decorate, we run some more, we volunteer to lead crafts at elementary school holiday parties even though large groups of children stress us out (oh, is that one just me?) and we finish it up with another healthy dose of running around. I'm tired just thinking about it.

Sometimes we feel exhausted or burnt out, and occasionally we even get sick. I've been fighting a little cold for several days now, which is always what happens when I have lots of things happening at once.

One of the magical things my mother taught me years ago was to make honey lemon ginger tea.

It's a little cure all for when I don't feel so great or I'm just worn out. Honey is good for coughs and irritated throats, and all three ingredients are good for your immune system and overall health. The ginger might burn a sore throat a little, but you'll notice it feels much better afterward.

I had to throw some together this evening after a whirlwind trip to the grandparents and then a church Halloween carnival... I am beat. 

You should try it, it's really easy to customize depending on what you like.

Honey Lemon Ginger Tea

1 mug hot water filled 3/4 full

1-2 Tbs. honey, depending on your tastes (I use 1, so start there and add more if needed)

1 lemon, juiced (a couple tablespoons)

1/2-1 tsp. powdered ginger (I like it spicy!)

Stir together and enjoy.

Nothing tastes better if you're feeling a little under the weather!

P.S. Happy birthday to my baby!

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 29} - I'm Stumped

Here we are, on the eve of my youngest son's fourth birthday and approaching the very end of the month and the 31 Days of Fall Nesting series... and of course, I'm fighting a cold. Blerg.

Let's talk about stumps. Because in a bout of fall nesting, I had three large aspens in my front yard removed this past week; they were old, sick, and half dead... but it was still hard to do. I love me some big trees.

If you follow me on twitter or are a Facebook fan, you already saw this...

turn into this...

Zoinks.

All this wood has me thinking though...

(Centsational Girl)

(Simply Blanca via Pinterest)

 (thrifty and chic)

 (twig home via Pinterest)

 (furnish)

(Kara Paslay Designs)

 (curbly)

 (save on crafts)

(style me pretty)


Hmm. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
 

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 28} - Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

Last night was pumpkin carving night at our house, which means I was up to my elbows in pumpkin goo. I don't remember being grossed out by the slime and guts in a pumpkin as a kid, but my boys are not fans.

You can't really see in the above photo, but my younger son is gagging. Gagging! Over a pumpkin! Oh, those boys... love them to bits.

After all the pumpkins were carved it was time to roast the seeds - and this year I decided to try a sweet and salty mix because I'm a rebel like that, and I laugh in the general direction of healthy foods. Ha, ha, ha! Take that, tofu.

The verdict? oh.em.gee. Y'all should try making these, because what it lacks in healthiness it makes up for in deliciousness.

{P.S. Bah! Birthday party tonight during game seven of the World Series! Vom!)

Sweet and Salty Pumpkin Seeds

2-2 1/2 c. raw pumpkin seeds

2-2 1/2 Tbs. oil or melted butter (I used half of each)

6 Tbs. granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. ground allspice or cloves

1/4 tsp. table salt

Turn oven to 300°F. Make sure the pumpkin seeds are dry. (or stick in oven on a pan for 10 minutes or so just to dry, then remove and continue with recipe)

In a large bowl mix oil or butter, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, allspice or cloves, and salt. Add pumpkin seeds and stir to coat. Pour onto large pan and roast in oven for 30-50 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they reach your desired level of pumpkiny crunchiness.

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 27} - A Little Whimsy Never Hurt Anyone

You should love being in your house; it should be filled with people and things that make you happy and do your heart good. It's my firm belief that there should always be at least a few pieces in your decorating arsenal that are there simply because you love them and they make you smile... even if they may look odd to anyone else.

Whimsy, people. Learn it, live it, love it.

Sherry & John at Young House Love are masters of this with Sherry's love of all animals ceramic and their amazingly fun, meaningful art choices.

(Young House Love)

What makes you smile? Do you have any special dates, places, or items that are special? Find a way to put them on the wall or stick them on a table so you can see them every day... it'll be like an inside joke. It will make you happy. Which matters. A lot.

(Fabulously fun ribbon chandelier from Living with Lindsay)

  

And while we're talking about things in our home making us happy? Let's discuss trends. I feel like we see so many fun things on blogs and in magazines and we're filled with this weird need to replicate them. 

'I absolutely cannot live without a chevron rug in my hallway,' we say to ourselves after seeing 147 photos of them in stylish homes.

And please, if you truly love chevron, go for it with reckless abandon; but listen to your true, authentic inner voice to make sure... sometimes it can be hard to figure out what you really love and what the masses love and is on trend. (My apologies to chevron for being selected at random to get picked on right then, I bear you no ill will!)

Conversely, we can be afraid to decorate with something whimsical. We don't want other people thinking we have bizarre taste... we are so often worried about what others think of us.

News flash, friends: let's stop that! When other people come over and mop our floors, clean our bathrooms, make us dinner and walk around in our house all day, then other people can tell us whether or not our flying pigs or weird bathroom branches are fabulous. (they are, by the way)

(Sunday in Bed, via Pinterest)

 I challenge you to think about how you can purposefully introduce a bit of whimsy into your home this fall. Something that will make you smile, and by all means something that will help prevent you from taking yourself (or your home's decor, holiday decorations, or tonight's dinner) too seriously. That's no fun at all and should be avoided at all cost.

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 26} - Table Inspiration

There is so much amazing inspiration online, and I could easily waste an hour or two looking at photos of decorated tables. I love having people over and planning menus, but I've always been intimidated by 'tablescapes.' I get so overwhelmed! So my philosophy is to search until I find a photo of a table that I love to copy to be inspired from...  hey, at least I'm honest!

(Source: jackrael, via Pinterest)

 (Source: Style Me Pretty via Pinterest)

 (Source Martha Stewart via Pinterest)

 (Source: Layla Grace via Pinterest)

 (Source HGTV via Pinterest)

 (Source: Better Homes & Gardens via Pinterest)

 (Source: stylizimo, via Pinterest)

 (Source: Project Wedding via Pinterest)

See, some people know what they're doing. Thank goodness for them!

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 25} - Keep Up, Don't Catch Up

Now that we've gotten a fresh start for the season by making donations to thrift stores and tossing our clutter into baskets, let's concentrate on maintenance.

(source)

It's always easier to keep up than catch up; that holds true for work, school, and our personal lives. And have you noticed that a clean house equals a calmer house? And a calmer house equals happier, more fabulous family members? 

Every day I try to tidy as I go so giant messes don't accumulate, and when my kids are in the habit of cleaning their toys every day it's sheer bliss around here. So once you tackle the clutter, just work to keep up with it instead of falling behind. Here are some general tips that I've found helpful (and try to implement):

• Only touch stuff once - put it away, don't put it down.
• If you don't use it, get rid of it (hopefully we already did that earlier this month!)
• Store things where you use them, not where they "belong" (homework and movies in the armoire? Why not!)
• If you have kids, use them - helping with the house is the job of all members of a family. Here's a great list of some age-appropriate chores for your children.

I also like to try and maintain an easy weekly schedule for household cleaning so I don't get overwhelmed or end up wasting my entire weekend scrubbing bathrooms. Spend fifteen to thirty minutes a day on chores and then let it go... I promise, if you keep up instead of catch up, your house will be plenty clean and you won't have panic attacks when someone calls and says, "I'll be right over!"

 

(source)

Here's a general idea of how I aim to plan my weekly chores. Your list may be totally different depending on your schedule...

Monday: Vacuum entire house

Tuesday: Dust, clean mirrors & windows that need it

Wednesday: Laundry

Thursday: Deep clean bathrooms

Friday: Deep clean kitchen, mop kitchen/dining room

Saturday/Sunday: Hopefully noooooothing!

Note: I do spend more time on laundry day, but I don't spend all day; I make a massive pile of clean clothes on my couch as I do loads of laundry and then fold them in the evening when my kids are in bed and I'm watching TV with or without the hubster. (I love the help when he's home, though!)

And sometimes things get crazy and you fall behind. It happens to everyone, and it's okay. Don't be too hard on yourself, just do what you can and work to catch up... then go back to keeping up. 

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 24} - Quality Time

Since we're focusing on home and hearth, all things warm-n-fuzzy, and family right now I thought I would touch on quality time - now is a perfect time to start a new tradition or do some fun things with your family if you often find yourself running in 14 different directions at top speed (and I'm sure most of us can relate to that).

Consider me an imaginary big yellow stop light: slow down!

Kids need more free play time, couples need more time to connect with one another, and all of us need a big time out.

For my ladies:

• Treat yourself to a pedicure or manicure (look for a nearby beauty school if you want a deal!)
• Get up a little before your family and enjoy your morning coffee (or water) in blissful silence
• Start a Sunday 'Spa Day' tradition - give yourself a pedicure and apply a facial mask, relax in the tub with a good book... recharge for the coming week!

For couples:

• Date night, anyone? Even once a month is better than nothing!
• Meet for lunch during the week if your kids are in school, or go on a picnic
• Take walks together
• Put the kids to bed, make a list together and tackle any household chores as a team.

 For families: 

• Start a family movie night, or family game night once a week
• Weekend trips to the library
• Crafts (if I, the queen of crafty fails can do this, so can you!)
• Family slumber parties: if it's too cold to backyard camp, have a living room slumber party. Your joints will only hate you for one night, your kids will remember your coolness forever.
• Try a no-technology day each week - no TV, no video games, no cell phones, no microwaves?? (some things get a free pass, like refrigerators. Unless you're learning to salt cure meat as a family, and then please pass the mead, ye cool medieval one. )
• Read together! When I was young my dad would read "Little House in the Big Woods" to me every fall and I loved it.

I just spent my afternoon crafting it up with my youngest, which is a pretty large accomplishment considering how bad I am at kid crafts. I saw an easy looking art project on Pinterest and decided to try something similar with my son.

All in all, a success! Take that, crafty gods. (said with the utmost respect, please don't make me ruin another ironing board cover this month?)

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 23} - Fall Favorites

I've been spending this entire month going on about pretty little leaves and blue skies and pumpkin scones, and I haven't been doing as much demolition handy house-fixing.

I'll be back to my normal paint color-obsessing self soon, and even as much of a challenge this 31 Days of Fall Nesting series has been for me (oy), I'm really glad I'm powering through it. There are so many things I love to do this time of year, and while 'knock holes in walls' is always on my good list, it's been temporarily relegated to the bottom of my priorities.

For now, I am simply soaking up this favorite season of mine before it's over; I believe that a big part of preparing for the cold months to come is to enjoy the heck out of the beauty and good weather while it's around. It won't be long before all those windows are closed and latched!

I thought I'd share a few of my fall loves with you today!

("These are a few of my favorite things...")

Favorite Fall Foods and Drinks: 

Chai (with a shot of espresso, even)

 

(pinterest)

Pumpkin spice lattes (hold any caramelly drizzle or whipped creamery foolishness)

Pumpkin scones, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, pumpkin flavored Brussels Sprouts...

 (my point is that I enjoy ODing on pumpkin this time of year, I lied about Brussels Sprouts)

Favorite Fall Music

"Autumn" by George Winston

"Winters Solstice II" by Windham Hill

(yes, they're both instrumental new age. I promise they're both worth it and you won't have any desires to braid flowers into your hair after listening.)

Favorite Fall Scents

Scentsy's "Autumn Sunset" 

Bath & Body Works' "Leaves"

Favorite Fall Fashion

(pinterest)

Boots, scarfs, and tights (oh my!)

Sweaters, sweaters, sweaters

Fingerless mittens

Fall Fall Activities

Reading books (hopefully under a cozy blanket)

Baking pumpkin goodies

Early morning outdoor pink cheeks and noses

Crunchy leaf walks

So tell me... what is your can't-do-without fall item or activity? I do love a good list, so fill me in on anything I should know about!

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}

Fall Nesting {Day 22} - Leaf Jumpin'

Y'all should stop everything you're doing right now, and go rake your leaves. Before you know it, all the good leaf jumping weather will be gone!

{Click here to see the other posts in my 31 Days of Fall Nesting series...}