Thanks Again, BHG.com!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Monday, friends!  I cannot believe that we're already at the end of July!  As much as I love Fall, I don't want summer to end just yet.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speeeeeaking of Fall ... I was be-YOND flattered (and dumbfounded) when the kind folks at Better Homes and Gardens recently contacted me to see if they could include another Fall mantel of ours as part of this year's Fall Mantel Decorating Ideas feature on their website!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's our mantel from last year and what <a href="http://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/decorating/fall-mantel-decorating-ideas/#page=2">BHG.com</a> had to say:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWvZ5hhAmqUjeoogPMNbO35Ypcs2dtyqkm6YCZJTuTLN3PKL0rOeSRjWEf5_pq4HDwiSW6fP6yvBeAggqB8svSvyzKQMYfv5Iryk-I45yZDa71nSwZOLAW-YEI7LVltiuH1B2oCnHNQ/s1600/fallmantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWvZ5hhAmqUjeoogPMNbO35Ypcs2dtyqkm6YCZJTuTLN3PKL0rOeSRjWEf5_pq4HDwiSW6fP6yvBeAggqB8svSvyzKQMYfv5Iryk-I45yZDa71nSwZOLAW-YEI7LVltiuH1B2oCnHNQ/s640/fallmantelclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span class="heading2"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Welcoming Fall Mantel</strong></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"Becca (adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com) combined rustic and vibrant elements on her fall mantel, using a metal-and-wrought-iron frame as a focal point for her design. A vintage wooden pheasant figurine, a red fall sign, and small gourds placed under a glass cloche to give her mantel pops of color. Creamy pumpkins, candles, and burlap-wrapped pitcher add to the design, and a garland made from fall-hue wooden </em></span><a href="http://www.bhg.com/topics/arts-and-crafts/beads.htm"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>beads</em></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em> strung together on picture wire adds a fun layer. The mantel gains a welcoming glow with light-up branches placed in a pitcher alongside faux florals, natural branches, and feathers."</em></span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm like a proud Mom seeing our little mantel included on their website! </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you have a moment, you should take a peek at the other mantels they featured (click <a href="http://www.bhg.com/thanksgiving/decorating/fall-mantel-decorating-ideas/#page=2">here</a>) ... they are fabulous!  And, I'm sure you'll recognize quite a few of them!  Yes, I'm truly humbled to be in their company.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, again, thank you, BHG.com ... I'm not worthy, but sincerely appreciative!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Becca</strong></em></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br />

Thanks Again, BHG.com!

Happy Monday, friends!  I cannot believe that we're already at the end of July!  As much as I love Fall, I don't want summer to end ...

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Free Shopping!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Sunday!  It's that time again for "Let's Switch Things Up a Bit!" </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today's victim ... the dining room:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_XAAKD3kD4bctTLdsvKljVyuSBw0a9VbngSwdRhkf_5aT_uktRGimPgmDR_xW7Rd5JTj77p3DBm_Yjmya3vDVeU0ly3HVRq8iY6DbAXlBs5fO3dVM20a1BICBAV_GM7xF7HMhykLCQI/s1600/diningsummeroverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_XAAKD3kD4bctTLdsvKljVyuSBw0a9VbngSwdRhkf_5aT_uktRGimPgmDR_xW7Rd5JTj77p3DBm_Yjmya3vDVeU0ly3HVRq8iY6DbAXlBs5fO3dVM20a1BICBAV_GM7xF7HMhykLCQI/s640/diningsummeroverall.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Newly painted lamps (AS Old White) that used to be green and in the great room now give the buffet a lighter look:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg1hg1Hl-S7J6z5Gqbw0EqogvrhNpnABIPuyQ-cdy-hV7x1Eg5c7NBlManHqM4_18RDZOCk99rMUMiYvD75FFVp6IW5i2cjMl3RvRd5r1Abum6JpfGwtbnfM21Nb8dAyvTedoEXsp_FQ/s1600/diningsummersideclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixg1hg1Hl-S7J6z5Gqbw0EqogvrhNpnABIPuyQ-cdy-hV7x1Eg5c7NBlManHqM4_18RDZOCk99rMUMiYvD75FFVp6IW5i2cjMl3RvRd5r1Abum6JpfGwtbnfM21Nb8dAyvTedoEXsp_FQ/s640/diningsummersideclose.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A blue runner flew on over to the buffet ... it not only serves as a fun pop of color to contrast with our white pieces, but also helps to tie in with the blue plates on the shelves:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK3XFogZ8lzaMY3-bD4ue22JxWjoBWIOut8hfDlLP8PWbW-byrtAodP7Gt7vIUKlFiDvEN_y6WggFRBgJKTOYjk2HBYi8jM2Jz0AF9G2hNv2NQ1OO7cpJTT5zv3k-OQRi2qNJTHPIZ60/s1600/diningsummerbuffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeK3XFogZ8lzaMY3-bD4ue22JxWjoBWIOut8hfDlLP8PWbW-byrtAodP7Gt7vIUKlFiDvEN_y6WggFRBgJKTOYjk2HBYi8jM2Jz0AF9G2hNv2NQ1OO7cpJTT5zv3k-OQRi2qNJTHPIZ60/s640/diningsummerbuffet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's fun to shop your house to create new vignettes, isn't it?</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj265H0e1EFSqEW7xN3ANQOq4sm9QueT2aMo13oibGKQ83_fydJ53ZfdOxxF4c_i2KAX4wMw44-Lib07UiwDGsGexD3FmNqv7r6pm6CSR_ObrYFhQ-2B9ffdiegyNZugqShsozrNZELNkg/s1600/diningsummerbuffetclose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj265H0e1EFSqEW7xN3ANQOq4sm9QueT2aMo13oibGKQ83_fydJ53ZfdOxxF4c_i2KAX4wMw44-Lib07UiwDGsGexD3FmNqv7r6pm6CSR_ObrYFhQ-2B9ffdiegyNZugqShsozrNZELNkg/s640/diningsummerbuffetclose1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ3_rO1-vi-_gqnTigZb7gYOeoHUVg62vJQw3nuG3GFrLcvup7d9e8m5E-Ol4xLBNjw9lPGN1USTbYsQQeMqKeXjAmSAwHQYvzmfZwaDKDxTJla9QOhTNlhWb-JRnhYisA7nyg4WCDA4/s1600/diningsummerbuffetclose2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJ3_rO1-vi-_gqnTigZb7gYOeoHUVg62vJQw3nuG3GFrLcvup7d9e8m5E-Ol4xLBNjw9lPGN1USTbYsQQeMqKeXjAmSAwHQYvzmfZwaDKDxTJla9QOhTNlhWb-JRnhYisA7nyg4WCDA4/s400/diningsummerbuffetclose2.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This glass cloche filled with yummy "faux" cheese, grapes and corks traveled on over from the dry bar in the breakfast area:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvAMuajgcbUkpK65dPi653Ghj-ZoEF2sohMwuAFRqCXC-qKad3XsPvwJ5b0GkNzEw8CVe_J-xVmFnNAlyOvC0ChQSCeEacoZgppYgTp55nBb1cqh9yUPDxz-F0v_hp32sZdopSEpXyY8/s1600/diningsummercloche.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvAMuajgcbUkpK65dPi653Ghj-ZoEF2sohMwuAFRqCXC-qKad3XsPvwJ5b0GkNzEw8CVe_J-xVmFnNAlyOvC0ChQSCeEacoZgppYgTp55nBb1cqh9yUPDxz-F0v_hp32sZdopSEpXyY8/s640/diningsummercloche.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">... the engraved cheese knives from PB are still one of my faves:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2xQ22i-TMCytenmpJekWdjytjU6UuIes2TusClxeJp-z0uhIgQ4LShSKFJj2J9yOA2eL5-hul65071hEFfUvWJJDPtfShG1Lzxzx-O4lURvY-fCKtjTa828So8q-SZXdrul8T-xIAVo/s1600/diningsummerbuffetclose3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2xQ22i-TMCytenmpJekWdjytjU6UuIes2TusClxeJp-z0uhIgQ4LShSKFJj2J9yOA2eL5-hul65071hEFfUvWJJDPtfShG1Lzxzx-O4lURvY-fCKtjTa828So8q-SZXdrul8T-xIAVo/s640/diningsummerbuffetclose3.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over on the table, painted candlesticks (AS Old White) ...</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvrRtBNN64bQtBLKajTO1OfjRKDHNkuv61LnqTaIpAho-p9AV6dUSdgcQpsP6QctQizaZ1H43ZKQxj3IsQWswz8ZpcrOLUTR1K3xeqN7UhZmtaosABeVKDjP-MJehQwWqwWaGF21pc3Q/s1600/diningsummercandles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvrRtBNN64bQtBLKajTO1OfjRKDHNkuv61LnqTaIpAho-p9AV6dUSdgcQpsP6QctQizaZ1H43ZKQxj3IsQWswz8ZpcrOLUTR1K3xeqN7UhZmtaosABeVKDjP-MJehQwWqwWaGF21pc3Q/s640/diningsummercandles.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">A dainty pitcher filled with faux florals:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSo73ZVuTnjFbnoK2-Q0PHnyQxvlgCwhl7vmLQIV92mRoCDwq2vlr0mQ6JEyrObmUaxjVum1jxw7QU5Ke77KnNTmjBeiSNfL6afE5TOLy3Kypt0BIvMmJpFvET8TTiMPiVgGuKoFUIck/s1600/diningsummerfloral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOSo73ZVuTnjFbnoK2-Q0PHnyQxvlgCwhl7vmLQIV92mRoCDwq2vlr0mQ6JEyrObmUaxjVum1jxw7QU5Ke77KnNTmjBeiSNfL6afE5TOLy3Kypt0BIvMmJpFvET8TTiMPiVgGuKoFUIck/s640/diningsummerfloral.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">annnnd, a fleur-de-lis dish:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmr-n31HCDDn2W_im2cfW_1-L-kMRDpJH2d-YUZ3Huiqi3XmSpUX2BR-nd9VludSoM6hFLXR3HMdQsGwGB16t0TqnXdCMNyB5YRZ9WbNkMWSzejpNk8neqK81lN9P4m5_uDaq8h1ophI/s1600/diningsummerbowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwmr-n31HCDDn2W_im2cfW_1-L-kMRDpJH2d-YUZ3Huiqi3XmSpUX2BR-nd9VludSoM6hFLXR3HMdQsGwGB16t0TqnXdCMNyB5YRZ9WbNkMWSzejpNk8neqK81lN9P4m5_uDaq8h1ophI/s320/diningsummerbowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">help to create another simple vignette:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZ1eM0ZQ1ITbI-4_L0gAJRrsmHYiw50VWEdg9MbTTIfbiC6PjEFp5aLdT-pUSdR8fQb4LHHEzRqIBUpCZyVzHhnNg_-XvNQ3T1N0XB79tK0uCW34buYLvdQW7rt5Pnr6DhA0WdSuJIj4/s1600/diningsummertable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZ1eM0ZQ1ITbI-4_L0gAJRrsmHYiw50VWEdg9MbTTIfbiC6PjEFp5aLdT-pUSdR8fQb4LHHEzRqIBUpCZyVzHhnNg_-XvNQ3T1N0XB79tK0uCW34buYLvdQW7rt5Pnr6DhA0WdSuJIj4/s640/diningsummertable.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I suppose the *only* drawback to shopping your house is that it leaves lots of empty spaces that need to be filled in in other places ... oops!  Time to shop the house some *more* I suppose ... what a <strike>vicious</strike> fun cycle!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa-miI0TNUhOU6qa2O8Ifc7XsmRidPhCFLZ1jgBPFR13iCaScmA-FWfl-dChHE0vyVRGiQ-jTILd1VkzrKayNGdhHFs7W9NtUrFbR18wZKdiVuzpY9E8MKye3tuSLdPbmswgzn1H4YC0/s1600/diningsummerside1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMa-miI0TNUhOU6qa2O8Ifc7XsmRidPhCFLZ1jgBPFR13iCaScmA-FWfl-dChHE0vyVRGiQ-jTILd1VkzrKayNGdhHFs7W9NtUrFbR18wZKdiVuzpY9E8MKye3tuSLdPbmswgzn1H4YC0/s640/diningsummerside1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sooo, just which rooms are *you* shopping today?!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks for stopping by,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm linking up with:  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DIY by Design/<a href="http://diybydesign.blogspot.com/2012/07/sizzle-into-summer-its-party-75.html">Sizzle into Summer</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">French Country Cottage/<a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2012/07/feathered-nest-friday_19.html">Feathered Nest Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thistlewood Farms/<a href="http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com/all-about-color">All About Color</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div>

Free Shopping!

Happy Sunday!  It's that time again for "Let's Switch Things Up a Bit!"  Today's victim ... the dining room: Newly pai...

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I love Rum Cake!

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Friday !!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm keeping this short and sweet, but wanted to share something that we've wanted to do for a long time ... we </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*finally* got new carpet!  </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>BEFORE:  </strong>Not *too* bad ... in PICTURES!  But, up close ... it had a much different story to tell!  Trust me!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgaQS4b-22RbE14mdOamT-KH7GiaSSPQoPumcn6cB01d51f9nH0quikXsJLJfmserNwWJ5qadvevKzavZQ2HKYfrDn2weOlrv2aa1INT7r7OdKXCWLxpuMFF6DU5WNi_05_WVDJ3_51E/s1600/masternewchandie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgaQS4b-22RbE14mdOamT-KH7GiaSSPQoPumcn6cB01d51f9nH0quikXsJLJfmserNwWJ5qadvevKzavZQ2HKYfrDn2weOlrv2aa1INT7r7OdKXCWLxpuMFF6DU5WNi_05_WVDJ3_51E/s640/masternewchandie.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>DURING:  </strong></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Goodbye boring, flat builder-grade carpet filled with pet stains, kiddo stains, food/drink stains annnnd, yes, paint stains (not to mention lots of pink undertones, which I never truly noticed until after seeing this picture)!  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqkh5MjLB24dzhkQdjKPdN2XQreZiMWDDr4Xj9_kGWejOKrZLx02FK5Xe_rhhcUdWZb2chqRG411Q6bIbBepk_IFOAZyOET34pa1h95klBshIsGLGeNtqcWCsJqxkHR7xrXkXhbhvlGY/s1600/masterold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqkh5MjLB24dzhkQdjKPdN2XQreZiMWDDr4Xj9_kGWejOKrZLx02FK5Xe_rhhcUdWZb2chqRG411Q6bIbBepk_IFOAZyOET34pa1h95klBshIsGLGeNtqcWCsJqxkHR7xrXkXhbhvlGY/s640/masterold.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>AFTER:</strong>  Well, hello Mohawk SmartStrand Silk "Rum Cake" carpet!  The fine folks from Lowe's installed it for us, and we couldn't have been more pleased with the installers' promptness, skill and professionalism.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDsKwPTLhYQaHmwBOrqkXns0HygTHQqznDmpCMGC5FydQ-usT2opeHio59HD6WCgzLKJzBkyxcpwfpy42wnk68MEoXjZT9NvOoA49r8lAk-22Mhm0-Avtry5-WcF5pZedzd27Anb_R7E/s1600/masterafterrug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDsKwPTLhYQaHmwBOrqkXns0HygTHQqznDmpCMGC5FydQ-usT2opeHio59HD6WCgzLKJzBkyxcpwfpy42wnk68MEoXjZT9NvOoA49r8lAk-22Mhm0-Avtry5-WcF5pZedzd27Anb_R7E/s640/masterafterrug.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I LOVE how lush and semi-shaggy this carpet is ... the padding is nice and thick, too!  Our Dyson is not quite sure what to do with carpet that it doesn't glide over ... it actually has to work now!  LOL  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgPsK1y6YFAneHs2EPIgPgiepWAlWv-EG_GpFbaUm9BeKXRk-6ZWk1NYdVjefaN-s-Yru-Babg9-gZq470nkJClSY3fTc9CU6cIm1bWNoJUFTGeSXQFKWhTdDA4fJf2i4BaH3IC1BCfI/s1600/masterrugclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgPsK1y6YFAneHs2EPIgPgiepWAlWv-EG_GpFbaUm9BeKXRk-6ZWk1NYdVjefaN-s-Yru-Babg9-gZq470nkJClSY3fTc9CU6cIm1bWNoJUFTGeSXQFKWhTdDA4fJf2i4BaH3IC1BCfI/s640/masterrugclose.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We also had Jax's bedroom and "guest room turned playroom" done in this carpet, as well.  Our 4th bedroom (which is John's office) is hardwood.  Yes, this was definitely a "why didn't we do this years ago" project !!  I'm sure many of  you have those types, as well!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7m93IqFzGppxsFfHs2rn3sXGGMkENCA6Di-RuXN_c3P2jvj7oLgMB77pjL6qKjpke6wG3lOVtrfxoGKWw5QRC640bSwo4SZjEVy1gSc2KYHh0Ae625svFNt028zbXI0qaxfrdhlniEM/s1600/masternewcarpet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY7m93IqFzGppxsFfHs2rn3sXGGMkENCA6Di-RuXN_c3P2jvj7oLgMB77pjL6qKjpke6wG3lOVtrfxoGKWw5QRC640bSwo4SZjEVy1gSc2KYHh0Ae625svFNt028zbXI0qaxfrdhlniEM/s640/masternewcarpet.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm going to go roll around some more on the new carpet!  LOL</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div><br />

I love Rum Cake!

Happy Friday !! I'm keeping this short and sweet, but wanted to share something that we've wanted to do for a long time ... we  *fin...

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All Ready for Fall!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yup, I'm all decorated for Fall!  Okay, okay ... juuuuust kidding!  But, I simply couldn't resist the great gathering that Amy is hosting at <a href="http://www.whisperwoodcottage.com/2012/07/the-talent-scouting-party-open-call-for.html">WhisperWood Cottage</a>.  You can share your Fall decor and projects from last year to get everyone's wheels spinning for the upcoming season!  In fact, your fabulous project(s) could even end up on the pages of "Cottages & Bungalows" magazine!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, humor me as I take a stroll down memory lane ... starting with our Fall mantel!  </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDVFTq5UDFXeysrjvekMvkDNuJaMp4oPmjVzkFVv1Xc-UvwmyYH7nDJG6r3-nYQiKr6Uide7nMwiXjrvr9EgNLbt3JTKhjsk-QzOZe7ux6NBxH_uRqgYe56JnhVAnQg3zLCvH_ip0O9Q/s1600/fallgreatfireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDVFTq5UDFXeysrjvekMvkDNuJaMp4oPmjVzkFVv1Xc-UvwmyYH7nDJG6r3-nYQiKr6Uide7nMwiXjrvr9EgNLbt3JTKhjsk-QzOZe7ux6NBxH_uRqgYe56JnhVAnQg3zLCvH_ip0O9Q/s640/fallgreatfireplace.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Even though it took *foreva,* one of my favorite elements was the garland I made by stringing inexpensive wood craft beads onto picture wire ...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84J6RHIA3WhqsVvLdB9sYvuEy-sppELhj3e8PLjMKgsOuJvi-Oji2ECC5hXqT8YYpBLCG92IuEheQu7jhpMmnGQTR_jBt_aiPLmqyU14Goi4o1jDkrg-2EB7FfevhIc311ZjUu3AI63c/s1600/fallmantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84J6RHIA3WhqsVvLdB9sYvuEy-sppELhj3e8PLjMKgsOuJvi-Oji2ECC5hXqT8YYpBLCG92IuEheQu7jhpMmnGQTR_jBt_aiPLmqyU14Goi4o1jDkrg-2EB7FfevhIc311ZjUu3AI63c/s400/fallmantelclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Over on the buffet, Mr. Roo took center stage:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWZsEC1Thr7L6tO5UEu8aFQ6NgjdXOc2KaPL7wLAQxKs8iQ3tYVMdyUCNSshL2CtoKOq4lhsnafg21A9LGbpcev9p7vLQUnXU-NUxN8l4AFxnrmRybTg2dxNCsJk7fCSNCLs_PvRcPmE/s1600/fallbuffetnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWZsEC1Thr7L6tO5UEu8aFQ6NgjdXOc2KaPL7wLAQxKs8iQ3tYVMdyUCNSshL2CtoKOq4lhsnafg21A9LGbpcev9p7vLQUnXU-NUxN8l4AFxnrmRybTg2dxNCsJk7fCSNCLs_PvRcPmE/s640/fallbuffetnight.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, how easy was it to add a little something to our lantern by nestling a candle in burlap:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccSfRqG1lvAFIePIwRYRjNmDvuvFHX7k1hDP0M0qO2w-jVBvXGqBsRtw50UBAs67U6PpOksjMJZt_OyfVpbh2pk_7A-gzsuj4yBCJ5QHLC34lRUcb24y5AJQce4QBWXSOYNVtAuJvMBs/s1600/fallbuffetlantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhccSfRqG1lvAFIePIwRYRjNmDvuvFHX7k1hDP0M0qO2w-jVBvXGqBsRtw50UBAs67U6PpOksjMJZt_OyfVpbh2pk_7A-gzsuj4yBCJ5QHLC34lRUcb24y5AJQce4QBWXSOYNVtAuJvMBs/s640/fallbuffetlantern.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Burlap even made its way to our lamp shades, too!</span>  </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakVaCAOCf_1aUGbqF6Zn0CldQ4yX2qoYe9tur-VEblyuVcl17d54DienSZSub0Dt2vQxVj3f4U0q1vQucaQ-uMf1T_GECJ-s-D21obI-IqBTnJuA0zWP6FuzE2nwPbUmAb6kxudO2GME/s1600/fallgreatmirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhakVaCAOCf_1aUGbqF6Zn0CldQ4yX2qoYe9tur-VEblyuVcl17d54DienSZSub0Dt2vQxVj3f4U0q1vQucaQ-uMf1T_GECJ-s-D21obI-IqBTnJuA0zWP6FuzE2nwPbUmAb6kxudO2GME/s640/fallgreatmirror.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The breakfast area didn't go untouched, either ... and, those who know me know that our Fall family tree means a lot!</span>  </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAb_qa2gvpO-kj0O7goZpybRDect92oJe7c7Bk8fkjVSvrVXrA_cKF8hFvzaOw3KsfauB1uE79gcxe_jcl0FhVvcdMkRJIDlzXpz2Hca2CqYCdSww1Jrr-YZmHs4P5xF4EIdvUJtekRE/s1600/fallbreakfastoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAb_qa2gvpO-kj0O7goZpybRDect92oJe7c7Bk8fkjVSvrVXrA_cKF8hFvzaOw3KsfauB1uE79gcxe_jcl0FhVvcdMkRJIDlzXpz2Hca2CqYCdSww1Jrr-YZmHs4P5xF4EIdvUJtekRE/s640/fallbreakfastoverall.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always look forward to wrapping it with natural elements (such as burlap, grapevine, pinecones and leaves) and adding special family photos and sayings to remind me what is truly important!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwdbQYwMy1yQKzGIzQxK6hPdpyac5OO79Hi4kGek3EuFx-GLJCzJg-ki0-MVIdCg7-DNwlkmyxLkw1QW1Pwzyy3AZoPYAqgS_nmqUITDNnRk00J4PBORKzj6Vw20VqaNrl-3Ei7C2DpU/s1600/falltreeclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwdbQYwMy1yQKzGIzQxK6hPdpyac5OO79Hi4kGek3EuFx-GLJCzJg-ki0-MVIdCg7-DNwlkmyxLkw1QW1Pwzyy3AZoPYAqgS_nmqUITDNnRk00J4PBORKzj6Vw20VqaNrl-3Ei7C2DpU/s640/falltreeclose.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the neighboring kitchen, a simple word filled a chalkboard (inspired by SugarPie Farmhouse):</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghyfjoe8sehG02QURtlTiDJJz6tkPDQKQZE5mo_X-g8pUF5IMvmGP7nrZIVB1Jvw9E8pCTX704EXUltE4M66nUptA-ZWOq4N1BK6140yhjXVl-OqtwXvMC6pmtR2EKh1oOnXwPWFPd6o/s1600/fallkitchenharvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghyfjoe8sehG02QURtlTiDJJz6tkPDQKQZE5mo_X-g8pUF5IMvmGP7nrZIVB1Jvw9E8pCTX704EXUltE4M66nUptA-ZWOq4N1BK6140yhjXVl-OqtwXvMC6pmtR2EKh1oOnXwPWFPd6o/s640/fallkitchenharvest.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kitchen canisters were easily filled with Fall goodness:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP34YiniGvIX64I4YAwX6Ee914DcYnbwM_ERwChw1kogcTxu68upLOh2-69VR7nEA5hcLY5o3Gg3_Gl3lWmGtcDglLaC7y_28zxyG8QBL1J_pyTeW8uVGdRw3Lsi-EqM1ICzrlip8y-M/s1600/fallkitchencanisters1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP34YiniGvIX64I4YAwX6Ee914DcYnbwM_ERwChw1kogcTxu68upLOh2-69VR7nEA5hcLY5o3Gg3_Gl3lWmGtcDglLaC7y_28zxyG8QBL1J_pyTeW8uVGdRw3Lsi-EqM1ICzrlip8y-M/s400/fallkitchencanisters1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Onto the dining room ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_eZwHYNeDMr8OLj_qOP5SELql4SYM2p5tEYMBC7pKopY750oJAizYQl0Jf-RTtI2G0iIXArRK9KX_ZzNbGwL1n26cbztD-OhqvMdtx3jTth_PcUQ25_af7uqP0QUn9TyVRn9NFGIbx8/s1600/falldiningafter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_eZwHYNeDMr8OLj_qOP5SELql4SYM2p5tEYMBC7pKopY750oJAizYQl0Jf-RTtI2G0iIXArRK9KX_ZzNbGwL1n26cbztD-OhqvMdtx3jTth_PcUQ25_af7uqP0QUn9TyVRn9NFGIbx8/s640/falldiningafter.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">mixed in with the fun mercury were the white pumpkins that used to be orange ... </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEgS2bGRHF8HOr_s7Jpomd-XttAWjhik0Og4UxlGyidxOpnDs70Yw8MnFTuNYx8XQTjaPQiID0uCDEyTLlC-4E3GXwfQb57MywubIJvQXUcJ1z-QpXzXm3QwxDgORcrlNqJ5lioJ5hHw/s1600/falldiningoverallclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzEgS2bGRHF8HOr_s7Jpomd-XttAWjhik0Og4UxlGyidxOpnDs70Yw8MnFTuNYx8XQTjaPQiID0uCDEyTLlC-4E3GXwfQb57MywubIJvQXUcJ1z-QpXzXm3QwxDgORcrlNqJ5lioJ5hHw/s640/falldiningoverallclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">that is, until I painted them with Annie Sloane's Old White chalk paint!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGjSMqUoDOTP-bk_hvfglGeQyDStQLmauElvTbEZ81RLUBDs48maenElzFqlj0sF0Xa3LafssT5q6AkB6vkKaTejc8SGZdOWuK-fIHUM016Yx0jbJkJ62AtipySGXucmvoKk03HN5gu8/s1600/whitepumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVGjSMqUoDOTP-bk_hvfglGeQyDStQLmauElvTbEZ81RLUBDs48maenElzFqlj0sF0Xa3LafssT5q6AkB6vkKaTejc8SGZdOWuK-fIHUM016Yx0jbJkJ62AtipySGXucmvoKk03HN5gu8/s640/whitepumpkin.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our neutral sitting room was splashed with corals, reds and browns.  And, yes, those are leaf placemats that I layered on top of the mirrors:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-zifh5MObzLkdpBqeZ9knJD_WyqTtjBBOQL_4aLFwYk2KPvKidGzQKCVT7BR0jmtarPfDBv461Gl-Q0dfobdyjtxT8GCw0YZliBbyLaUUcWjaDYqluQyHr4zO1uhCHZ17HsEoQcb_n8/s1600/fallsittingoverallcloser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-zifh5MObzLkdpBqeZ9knJD_WyqTtjBBOQL_4aLFwYk2KPvKidGzQKCVT7BR0jmtarPfDBv461Gl-Q0dfobdyjtxT8GCw0YZliBbyLaUUcWjaDYqluQyHr4zO1uhCHZ17HsEoQcb_n8/s640/fallsittingoverallcloser.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know white pumpkins will be alll over our house again this year, too!  Here is another painted one that I simply placed on a bright orange leaf ... love the contrast.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWkg0tsDqJK8X8DO_MbKBJ_ryG9zA-1LA2xc7FJJCjFBuphyiP5rFvl_YLAy0SoHLVXF9rPyvgrtPGoRbbbuU0TzB2RWFa0DaA2TggFrUZu8h_niQSqHjM9-Qc33WGM5-vQXNNomymLg/s1600/fallsittingpumpkinsilver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQWkg0tsDqJK8X8DO_MbKBJ_ryG9zA-1LA2xc7FJJCjFBuphyiP5rFvl_YLAy0SoHLVXF9rPyvgrtPGoRbbbuU0TzB2RWFa0DaA2TggFrUZu8h_niQSqHjM9-Qc33WGM5-vQXNNomymLg/s640/fallsittingpumpkinsilver.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly, outside ... I made inexpensive pumpkin topiaries to flank our front door ... </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYcn4vRbd9qBuQCA4xwQlcT2mk1uBJRK1LjQJhZi4eu90dV8V19IGJ1IuoFqOkgcQ0OMH80s5bnEwgjzB-WyaZ5PjZluB4ePQCouYL6NIshrJnhhr0GIifb9S_FjBZ7-FGmroP0QVCns/s1600/falloutdoorway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyYcn4vRbd9qBuQCA4xwQlcT2mk1uBJRK1LjQJhZi4eu90dV8V19IGJ1IuoFqOkgcQ0OMH80s5bnEwgjzB-WyaZ5PjZluB4ePQCouYL6NIshrJnhhr0GIifb9S_FjBZ7-FGmroP0QVCns/s640/falloutdoorway.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and one of my mesh wreaths stood front and center to greet our guests:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcs8wOU_I-j-FAnVw26-flmn0NzBB_7_Q7hD7kzK0U5U9Wih3fa9e6eftm6zC5FaygU5BqL80Lb963H0C1-mLmTo9ptHDHCW0AB0IUulppZLl2Ubc3toVtnblOo5XkBuVUF0hmy7cbJg/s1600/halloweenboo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEcs8wOU_I-j-FAnVw26-flmn0NzBB_7_Q7hD7kzK0U5U9Wih3fa9e6eftm6zC5FaygU5BqL80Lb963H0C1-mLmTo9ptHDHCW0AB0IUulppZLl2Ubc3toVtnblOo5XkBuVUF0hmy7cbJg/s640/halloweenboo.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As much as I don't want to wish summer away, admittedly, I am looking forward to football, chili and Fall decorating!  Who's with me ?!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks for stopping by ... don't forget to come on over and party!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.whisperwoodcottage.com/"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NQiSF5C5iAm_oev4umIZ29knr7MbWGmyEqeg0_WfKUuj2bemp9J_VMO5UpvhNbWPCiopme0b7-TqFh63adXjPbrmL2r-He_TBV_JZ8DyzeIKdpXejl4tIiIl_vfq4D-BGket7B9eQ5k/s1600/talent-scout-button-2.png" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm also joining: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/07/wow-us-wednesdays-75.html">WUW</a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Coastal Charm/<a href="http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2012/07/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no122.html">Nifty Thrifty Tuesday</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

All Ready for Fall!

Yup, I'm all decorated for Fall!  Okay, okay ... juuuuust kidding!  But, I simply couldn't resist the great gathering that Amy is ho...

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Mudroom Changes!

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greetings, sweet friends ... remember me?!  May I just say I've been a bad blogging friend lately!  My crazy summer projects here at home, finishing up my parents' home, along with enjoying family fun, have kept me busy, busy ... out of the blogging loop!  Now, it's time to catch up on all that I've missed!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the things I've recently tackled was revamping our laundry room just a bit.  Here's a peek at the before ...</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSV9_QW5ftRErAzv7rgh6G4flDS20ufHqXixZWKynJyXFNfEy7JnHAlda5M4_5jI20PyxXfEgyJ8IEfWpUlFwJcojOm6XKh-_lCJzzyBYgIWSOpmVJY6dEV9Mep3_hHNNzXuNCiLbuJ8/s1600/mudoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSV9_QW5ftRErAzv7rgh6G4flDS20ufHqXixZWKynJyXFNfEy7JnHAlda5M4_5jI20PyxXfEgyJ8IEfWpUlFwJcojOm6XKh-_lCJzzyBYgIWSOpmVJY6dEV9Mep3_hHNNzXuNCiLbuJ8/s400/mudoverall.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, here's the <strong>AFTER</strong> (sorry for the grainy quality):</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZQ-Ew2IgGpoQyre1wnJ0B7WHlaD0cQ6iNfanOrRTsj1oceBO8u0_zzxNTAzkCNRygR5UiuZKNgxbcBJhAaGVhyphenhyphenf_E8j0GMWIn6dlLBi-1jf3_iFqpeLJUqUCXdzyuBFgyK6mtTM1zaQ/s1600/mudroomoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZQ-Ew2IgGpoQyre1wnJ0B7WHlaD0cQ6iNfanOrRTsj1oceBO8u0_zzxNTAzkCNRygR5UiuZKNgxbcBJhAaGVhyphenhyphenf_E8j0GMWIn6dlLBi-1jf3_iFqpeLJUqUCXdzyuBFgyK6mtTM1zaQ/s640/mudroomoverall.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's amazing the difference a couple of little changes can make, isn't it?  First, I painted our cabinets Annie Sloane's Pure White.  I then painted the walls BM Wythe Blue and the ceiling BM White Sand.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNSy26iJX0G-GDXYu9XhmLBrudYl8RPLt_Itum9HsUO3qs0AKP7YPmA761pH5w3MIhgf9es_4bCvq23r1LrKGGou2hfm1sL0ZNgBAzBk-llLilXrylRgHfDq81A0C6oij_1yxLIcVeSs/s1600/mudroomoverall1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNSy26iJX0G-GDXYu9XhmLBrudYl8RPLt_Itum9HsUO3qs0AKP7YPmA761pH5w3MIhgf9es_4bCvq23r1LrKGGou2hfm1sL0ZNgBAzBk-llLilXrylRgHfDq81A0C6oij_1yxLIcVeSs/s640/mudroomoverall1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our little "command central" is clean and fresh (well, kind of, lol) ...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJiATOA6bWD3s1iYd0By8K1NCIY62X1syqvzR3Zha4B6KcUil_-WKRgZmyagFhdvy97GEQysGLDz3FgDvlUObhv8Gi3-yU0_n_k4V0J6C7OKBWDXW1ZcR-FDugrii0UEW9FJRu_IBzYw/s1600/mudroomdesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJiATOA6bWD3s1iYd0By8K1NCIY62X1syqvzR3Zha4B6KcUil_-WKRgZmyagFhdvy97GEQysGLDz3FgDvlUObhv8Gi3-yU0_n_k4V0J6C7OKBWDXW1ZcR-FDugrii0UEW9FJRu_IBzYw/s640/mudroomdesk.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Canister of clips for fun:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFLDb-czFg4yTYyzIlSG1K1b7kc8OeNh6DXF1nrZuBrIzYcwHydR1Mxda7BNjW4Xq8_uNCbFoeMSYQBqmd0V8fER-KOBoGG3XfotgnQpkxehEFFwj64zl-NOT2oAQ47mRuNZZ2QUEw8Q/s1600/mudroomclips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFLDb-czFg4yTYyzIlSG1K1b7kc8OeNh6DXF1nrZuBrIzYcwHydR1Mxda7BNjW4Xq8_uNCbFoeMSYQBqmd0V8fER-KOBoGG3XfotgnQpkxehEFFwj64zl-NOT2oAQ47mRuNZZ2QUEw8Q/s640/mudroomclips.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I didn't change anything on the soffitt ... really like how the white plates and pitchers look against the blue wall color:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSLPI1JUv8PbKMc3cTaDfNjYQ-XnKic04ElQGeOKPPErRGx7eqZS9JeU-5hL4J99cyzFP_aii0751Z6FFm8y07aFrdzXIrmYEjFB2I-g9C3Uxx_EzKnCyDAQma0vmsSuEEe_Fsap9jfw/s1600/mudroomsoffitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieSLPI1JUv8PbKMc3cTaDfNjYQ-XnKic04ElQGeOKPPErRGx7eqZS9JeU-5hL4J99cyzFP_aii0751Z6FFm8y07aFrdzXIrmYEjFB2I-g9C3Uxx_EzKnCyDAQma0vmsSuEEe_Fsap9jfw/s400/mudroomsoffitt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I moved our fun, family sign in here ... nice reminder to us since it's the first thing we see when we enter the house from our garage:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOq7GcktUXWruXuzNpwA3ZSXapPo3wry8qj0ilR0glWGh3vfmq-Jv3QRzEQYu215prrQZYvRSwg3BUhQjFMdkW1h_-s8UAjzwnzlDPR7y6Blh4N38UVrUz_eMr4EfkqyCgICItoAb0Cs/s1600/mudroomart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOq7GcktUXWruXuzNpwA3ZSXapPo3wry8qj0ilR0glWGh3vfmq-Jv3QRzEQYu215prrQZYvRSwg3BUhQjFMdkW1h_-s8UAjzwnzlDPR7y6Blh4N38UVrUz_eMr4EfkqyCgICItoAb0Cs/s640/mudroomart.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>BEFORE</strong> ... admittedly, as much as I loved the shelf on the long wall, it was a bit too long as the door entering the house would *some*how always bang into it.  So much so, that the shelf went *kerplunk* on the floor one day, along with the pictures that rested on the shelf ... wasn't a whole lot of fun picking up all of that broken glass!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomBwp0Aux4DRp-6G2CS9Otse669kkpI3yV3ZG_xWNX4fTCpUQrhZvmg-R7WBYgD0nZ5tGvwigGnEwID9lP5YAym6fiDUw8l0LGtp1ive5I92753i21goirMS7AAErUFJmI8-OKCMGp-0/s1600/mudwall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomBwp0Aux4DRp-6G2CS9Otse669kkpI3yV3ZG_xWNX4fTCpUQrhZvmg-R7WBYgD0nZ5tGvwigGnEwID9lP5YAym6fiDUw8l0LGtp1ive5I92753i21goirMS7AAErUFJmI8-OKCMGp-0/s400/mudwall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>AFTER!</strong>  We removed the shelf, as well as the hooks below ... added more/different frames, which elongated the family gallery wall.  I love how the black frames pop against the wall.  I'll also be adding a family quote (in vinyl) above the pictures:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMGeJRGSQRY1cd3ijsVzcn4LQSvxNMpkhh6j5R5Edj5sUxOceueL2th1N9STxn4qpq2Cksi7AKLMKoR8TQcATe6CIdVgrC7sGv96NiiQDuZskvnBgZvI7byYUG4WhZUL-KoRfx7dKKI4/s1600/mudroompics1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiMGeJRGSQRY1cd3ijsVzcn4LQSvxNMpkhh6j5R5Edj5sUxOceueL2th1N9STxn4qpq2Cksi7AKLMKoR8TQcATe6CIdVgrC7sGv96NiiQDuZskvnBgZvI7byYUG4WhZUL-KoRfx7dKKI4/s400/mudroompics1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I then added individual hooks right into the case molding ... super easy (I may end up adding a few more):</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOpXPJE-hE1fpEIu_EjpPbRL9j37CK5AfSE0-tP2t6gFYQxiDIY0vfzArAmtpmPLK76GW487eNt0BnbsxfMD3dWxsocxvm4S4_RoTHyjLANQElCY8d651psaZNm3O6TA27gGd2trvJXc/s1600/mudroomhooks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOpXPJE-hE1fpEIu_EjpPbRL9j37CK5AfSE0-tP2t6gFYQxiDIY0vfzArAmtpmPLK76GW487eNt0BnbsxfMD3dWxsocxvm4S4_RoTHyjLANQElCY8d651psaZNm3O6TA27gGd2trvJXc/s640/mudroomhooks.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnnd, of course, the P-U basket is still here, LOL (such a sturdy basket from Target):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aSr2p4XwM_x7LhxB4w1AuFhyphenhyphenJaujmmDSXOUy54RmGNEhWjL8mAV0IqKMcZBc_KRH1v_QcvfTyjYPOrjF6E-POpVpXV2_2qYUn5tTwXFOTT8nUJh8W_U-9dN4rjNB81ujGIz4NtFEBE0/s1600/mudroompu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8aSr2p4XwM_x7LhxB4w1AuFhyphenhyphenJaujmmDSXOUy54RmGNEhWjL8mAV0IqKMcZBc_KRH1v_QcvfTyjYPOrjF6E-POpVpXV2_2qYUn5tTwXFOTT8nUJh8W_U-9dN4rjNB81ujGIz4NtFEBE0/s400/mudroompu.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of gallery walls ... I look forward to showing you all more of the coastal redecorating I did at my parents' house, including the gallery wall I created.  Here's a peek at what I added above the frames ... I took an ordinary oar from this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstYTxmfJh6sh6JvCDIwXwU4r2zf0GB9m6J-n1FuoyQC-Vj_S0Wjua71RWtFycSuKljPPsfN-ZedEuhbBTJEm7NLzVuat1EVevfYomUTSsfPSo60dk52IIiBFOLqIevmKvbklFDTOFUU/s1600/beachpaddleb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfstYTxmfJh6sh6JvCDIwXwU4r2zf0GB9m6J-n1FuoyQC-Vj_S0Wjua71RWtFycSuKljPPsfN-ZedEuhbBTJEm7NLzVuat1EVevfYomUTSsfPSo60dk52IIiBFOLqIevmKvbklFDTOFUU/s400/beachpaddleb4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to this.  I just added layers of paint I had on hand (CeCe Caldwell's Seattle Mist and Vintage White, followed by a bit of Annie Sloane's Duck Egg Blue and navy craft paint).  I then added "FAMILY" and started sanding away ... </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bn1BtNVyQTYtZixO6w1AGJSuRxH7eZsGBl2-ydMGj3bTEi8Xclx5Gm6ZfWMOQ2Bk_s1gX97pMxgnrVxKYoSvJw12ln5N2wsCTpvyrQse9_X3ddveeMZsAo9PHwrKstHEucpff9I8sbI/s1600/beachpaddleclose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bn1BtNVyQTYtZixO6w1AGJSuRxH7eZsGBl2-ydMGj3bTEi8Xclx5Gm6ZfWMOQ2Bk_s1gX97pMxgnrVxKYoSvJw12ln5N2wsCTpvyrQse9_X3ddveeMZsAo9PHwrKstHEucpff9I8sbI/s400/beachpaddleclose1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">love how sanding here and there revealed the layers of paint ... I then added a bit of nautical rope for a fun touch, too:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJS2TL0F7tzakFbDxIFH8zJRd5zuIq2iWHIJiKOg1QRDk4h8E8Hv110W1G6Z61SD6YH1h7dENwtfBU10wj2XxoX8sB8SmcfnBAx5L54CAuUl-MNTz6iedwZD-JOosjm9qJS8UwfvZDITo/s1600/beachpaddleclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJS2TL0F7tzakFbDxIFH8zJRd5zuIq2iWHIJiKOg1QRDk4h8E8Hv110W1G6Z61SD6YH1h7dENwtfBU10wj2XxoX8sB8SmcfnBAx5L54CAuUl-MNTz6iedwZD-JOosjm9qJS8UwfvZDITo/s400/beachpaddleclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stay tuned ....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, as always, THANKS for stopping by,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">Becca</span></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm linking up with:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/07/wow-us-wednesdays-75.html">WUW</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>

Mudroom Changes!

Greetings, sweet friends ... remember me?!  May I just say I've been a bad blogging friend lately!  My crazy summer projects here at hom...

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Summer Mantel

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Monday, friends!  Can you believe that summer officially starts in three days ?!  This year is flying by!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've been busy, busy continuing to refresh my parents' home and look forward to posting more pictures soon.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For now, I thought I'd share our summer mantel.  And, I'm sure you're not surprised one bit that it has a coastal theme to it!  You *might* even notice that the wall color has changed, too!  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTJSwZugrztSx8-kegbSfliw9PWMbzqxYSXN-zPobNl_STgMx5qH9TSM6VNH58GrVP6uy2IpY1scMiuiY-2J2zV1dbYmrQF3DbPSEXqzV4J8Nt7dk7cTkvjTlNfSZh1iPGcAwWKX2UuE/s1600/mantelsummeroveral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTJSwZugrztSx8-kegbSfliw9PWMbzqxYSXN-zPobNl_STgMx5qH9TSM6VNH58GrVP6uy2IpY1scMiuiY-2J2zV1dbYmrQF3DbPSEXqzV4J8Nt7dk7cTkvjTlNfSZh1iPGcAwWKX2UuE/s640/mantelsummeroveral.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Starting on the left ... I kept the soft, white flowers in our cream vase, but added Manzanita branches for a bit of depth, texture and coastal feel:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkrAuo5g8M0x_0jqpGerN8UhufA-DHqACgQaLzN16hED0mhT3ULEf7y09xFObhZHbvEJ-QphSlAbxdqhtDQaU63f1cza97dI6uPkZsJVkZ-SlrfQWQhMGwm23AA2QBv5bXq6QtF-zzrM/s1600/mantelsummerfloral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkrAuo5g8M0x_0jqpGerN8UhufA-DHqACgQaLzN16hED0mhT3ULEf7y09xFObhZHbvEJ-QphSlAbxdqhtDQaU63f1cza97dI6uPkZsJVkZ-SlrfQWQhMGwm23AA2QBv5bXq6QtF-zzrM/s640/mantelsummerfloral.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I found this cute boat at Home Goods ... I like the neutral color, vintage look and how it pops against the mercury candle holder in the background:</span>  </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawLx5ZIsB31R7w5L_iR2sXu8f87al4pUnqyJ0Mqmh53QGoo57Qnl4UxHY9qEM_US7n55P3zSyWY7Q3M-FN1FcYDRyFozu8uAjJWjGt2i2t0DA7R-RCB-31K2eVJDg3cb-yWisFSgVdv0/s1600/mantelsummerboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawLx5ZIsB31R7w5L_iR2sXu8f87al4pUnqyJ0Mqmh53QGoo57Qnl4UxHY9qEM_US7n55P3zSyWY7Q3M-FN1FcYDRyFozu8uAjJWjGt2i2t0DA7R-RCB-31K2eVJDg3cb-yWisFSgVdv0/s640/mantelsummerboat.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This whimsical print is from a local store ... love that it adds a pop of blue right in the middle of our mantel-scape!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bi_7-YF7h63TeuX6I21l3TWn8z0x_FhucsV09R379f6mbxQVdrF_YLy35LZUzqtgblesD8jL-0RXhQa7qmmSNpjIPpK3hqvo8ecFkeB6skmiXarT47YjkyGI77XLSNECXEA2-nzXw8g/s1600/mantelsummersign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bi_7-YF7h63TeuX6I21l3TWn8z0x_FhucsV09R379f6mbxQVdrF_YLy35LZUzqtgblesD8jL-0RXhQa7qmmSNpjIPpK3hqvo8ecFkeB6skmiXarT47YjkyGI77XLSNECXEA2-nzXw8g/s400/mantelsummersign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adding coral is such an inexpensive way to pop coastal elements to your space.  I stacked this one on plates I had on hand just to give it a bit of height.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK_7iLlmctxWC7GV6SUxBCFsVVOqmNIKxNbn03IF_gk9Cmu9snwjwGf0yV34IsU1AWxvg0ELz9mE1zI4CGr8qLzN-QyPpSNMisRo_RKUSnchhO2F4So2jS-jzp94ems8P-DpwCkX1kQ0/s1600/mantelsummercoral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK_7iLlmctxWC7GV6SUxBCFsVVOqmNIKxNbn03IF_gk9Cmu9snwjwGf0yV34IsU1AWxvg0ELz9mE1zI4CGr8qLzN-QyPpSNMisRo_RKUSnchhO2F4So2jS-jzp94ems8P-DpwCkX1kQ0/s640/mantelsummercoral.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnd, I just can't seem to "retire" my mercury candle holders.  I love the shiny touch that they add to another otherwise neutral palette.  Peeking through is an oversized sea fan ... you guys know I love layers!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAUVdscW5i8JIWtmR31oy2xqgg5VBH1QFU3UzeSonQgkA7zxG8sSGuIprJt7pPX787AD4fjl9GPR72RjjI7MOwUSlXDgIaQJunzc9zHVc2L7ja9G021Pu52w2uT3ZZGCAd8avJFbSkYs/s1600/mantelclosecandles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAUVdscW5i8JIWtmR31oy2xqgg5VBH1QFU3UzeSonQgkA7zxG8sSGuIprJt7pPX787AD4fjl9GPR72RjjI7MOwUSlXDgIaQJunzc9zHVc2L7ja9G021Pu52w2uT3ZZGCAd8avJFbSkYs/s640/mantelclosecandles.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly, down below ... I added rolled up vintage maps to an urn I had on hand.  Because I didn't have that many of them, I then rolled up inexpensive craft paper and tied a burlap bow around those as well ... they make a great filler and help the maps pop:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgl5TMxId6vRoKFMDS5Hv8N0E1A8KyIUlms1u8jZBZjnjD2PwnIeJN7V0YoDhKNOocBbgw7se3oH3bYmf48NfBlwWwPG1nx-Xe-iUXXxZbdJQI2Ye0bENwOnpmc4UDJniqKbkkr82mYo/s1600/mantelsummermaps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgl5TMxId6vRoKFMDS5Hv8N0E1A8KyIUlms1u8jZBZjnjD2PwnIeJN7V0YoDhKNOocBbgw7se3oH3bYmf48NfBlwWwPG1nx-Xe-iUXXxZbdJQI2Ye0bENwOnpmc4UDJniqKbkkr82mYo/s640/mantelsummermaps.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, there ya' have it ... our summer coastal mantel!  Thanks so much for taking a peek.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A5Qi051zoXAYG4uoIZqPJOn812TRU8IhPwhyct2Mv-ROvii4iTt0oQ9XnhO1iCSuhpCWiuqYh7Ki-FfwouESnokZDNhpEbo_7J4kABUsydyFAHwNNEeoYHUttKsPuDFmkJU8Sz7pSDQ/s1600/mantelsummerclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0A5Qi051zoXAYG4uoIZqPJOn812TRU8IhPwhyct2Mv-ROvii4iTt0oQ9XnhO1iCSuhpCWiuqYh7Ki-FfwouESnokZDNhpEbo_7J4kABUsydyFAHwNNEeoYHUttKsPuDFmkJU8Sz7pSDQ/s400/mantelsummerclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, as always, thanks so much for stopping by, sweet friends,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Becca</em></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm linking up with:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lettered Cottage/<a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/summer-mantel-link-party/">Summer Mantel Party</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/2012/06/wow-us-wednesdays-71.html">Wow Us Wednesday</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-91/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tuesdays-treasures-91">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/summer-mantel-link-party" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img alt="The Lettered Cottage" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Summer%20Mantel%20Link%20Party/Summer_Mantel_Party_Button.jpg" style="border: currentColor;" /></a></div>

Summer Mantel

Happy Monday, friends!  Can you believe that summer officially starts in three days ?!  This year is flying by! I've been busy, busy con...

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