Autumn Touches.

Here are some Autumn touches around our home!

Remember this wreath from last year?

I think it's aged well! The leaves are (unfortunately)

really brittle now, but I'm hoping it

will last another couple years, especially considering

how much of a hassle it was to make it! ;)

My favorite season is right around the corner.

*Warning: I'm going to swear in 3....2....1....

the wall color (very similar) that I chose for our bedroom.

Fuck Spring cleaning! Nothing inspires me more than autumn. I don't know if it's because it's my favorite season, or because the impending doom of WINTER is upon us, but nothing gets me MORE amped up to do house cleaning/organizing/decorating, than this time of year. I think it's the combination of the most awe-inspiring season and the thought of having to be stuck in a dreadfully decorated house that gets my juices flowing. Every fall I always end up making several trips to Goodwill to get rid of clutter (I don't want to be stuck inside with it for 4 months!) and doing house projects before the cold weather sets in. This year: I'm making Abe move the curtain rods in our living room/dining room UP to where they should be. The previous people left the curtain rods, so that's what we've been using, and we haven't bothered to move them because the walls of this 1917 house are lath and plaster....meaning it's a bitch to hang anything in these walls! BUT the curtain rods are hung at exactly the worst place possible, going against every design rule, and I can't live like this any longer. Abe said "You've lived like this up until now!" (because he doesn't want to help me move them, but what he doesn't realize is they have bothered me since we've lived here.)

Also, the upstairs bedrooms need a lot of help. More so our room, than the guest room. (the guest room is mostly used for my shoe-storage, and has a comfy futon (oxymoron?) in there for guests. Our room needs new curtain rods, possibly new curtains (if budget allows)...but really, and most importantly, it needed a new paint job. I'd LOVE to start painting tonight, but I doubt Abe wants to sleep with paint fumes, so I'll wait to start my latest project tomorrow. Look for updates soon!

Oh, and I guess I'll have to do a future blog post on our garden too, now that it's harvest season...

*all photos are from pinterest.

This rustic "Americana" style is definitely

Abe's influence on me...but I find myself

evolving past this style (still love it, though). 

This super masculine style is also Abe's influence on me.

Especially the weird scary stuff. (We have a lot of that

in our home right now).

The above bedroom is something I have been admiring

for months. Feminine, but not girly, modern, but 

not stiff. 

Throw Pillow Fetish.

*excuse the dark photo, it was taken with my cell phone

several months ago. But those are what my old

throw pillow covers look like. Pear Green with

brown fern print embroidered on.

The throw pillows I sewed up today.

I went with the orange thread and bright orange "invisible" zipper.

Why not? I love going with the unexpected.

Burnt orange rope trim. I couldn't decide if I wanted to 

bring out the light duck-egg blue/green strip or the 

orange/brown color, but I went with the warmer tone

(I never fail to go for the warmer tone!)

there's nothing wrong with my old pillow covers, other than I've had them for a while and was getting sick of looking at them. Plus, the actual pillows are these really nice down pillows, and I figured I could just MAKE my own pillow covers! My original intention was to get RED fabric or pumpkin orange. Something to warm up the sofa/curtain colors that I have going on. But I found that really awesome plaid fabric for $5 (total) and the only other fabric I really (REALLY!) loved was this floral upholstery fabric that was $25/yard. The trim was actually pretty costly and the total for both covers ended up being just under $25 (now you can imagine how much the trim cost). I think overall it wasn't so bad in price, considering pillow covers at Pottery Barn are $29 Each (no pillow included). I will still be on the lookout for some more Christmas-y throw pillows (might even just purchase some at Target, take out the stuffing, add my own zippers). All in all, I would definitely pay $25 again for 2 pillow covers and an afternoon sewing project! 

Fall Leaf Wreath

This was the inspiration for my wreath, 

by my hero: Martha Stewart.

Here is the link to how to make the above

wreath. Make sure you watch the video!

My version of the wreath.

Supplies you will need for the paper leaves,

*as noted in the Martha Stewart tutorial.

TIPS: Paste over scrap paper or newspaper, change

the sheet out after it gets too sticky.

Have a damp wash cloth near so you can wipe

the sticky glue off to avoid frustrations.

*this part is really tedious and I am unsure

if I would ever do this particular project again!

Items you need to bundle leaves in preparation

for the wreath. In Martha Stewart's version

her real-leaf to paper-leaf ratio is a lot less.

I used more real leaves than paper leaves

for a more full wreath effect.

The wreath in progress....I ran out of both real and

fake leaves the first night.

Finishing touch! I used used floral wire on the back

of the bow to affix it to the wreath.

The paper leaves are really quite delicate, and

I am unsure the wreath would survive a windstorm

(I would bring it inside). But since 

I have a covered porch, I decided I wanted to

display it outside. 

Happy November!

Fall Minestrone.

4 Slices of pancetta or bacon

2 Tablespoon Oil

1 onion, chopped

1 large carrot diced

2 ribs celery, diced

2-3 Garlic Cloves, minced

1 med. Zucchini, diced

1 med sized potato, chopped

1 28oz can diced tomatoes

1 32oz Chicken Broth

2 Cup Water (or just more chicken broth)

1 Teaspoon Dried Oregano

Salt & Pepper to taste

1 15oz Can Cannellini beans OR Great Northern beans (drained)

4-6 Cups Kale, chopped

2 Cups Cabbage

1 Acorn Squash (peeled & chopped) *in order to peel easily…stab with fork and microwave for few minutes until soft enough to peel and chop.

  

Cook pancetta or bacon in large soup kettle. Once cooked (but not crispy) take out bacon and chop into small pieces, place back in kettle, add oil. Add onion, carrots, celery, zucchini, and potato. Cook until veggies are soft. Add garlic, cook until fragrant (but do not burn!). Add canned tomatoes, broth, water, oregano. Bring to boil & simmer for 30-45 minutes on stove, letting all the flavors mix, adding salt as you go. Stir occasionally.

30 minutes before serving add beans, kale, cabbage, and partially cooked squash.

 Before serving/taste and add more salt if needed! Serve with Parmesan cheese on top.

*We had our soup with cheese bread! Just get sourdough artisan bread, slice, spread butter (in our case "I can't believe it's not butter") sprinkle with garlic powder, parm. cheese and then put grated sharp cheddar on top...broil in oven, watch carefully! It's ready when the cheese is bubbling and slightly browned. YUM.

Something Delicious.

Here is an extremely easy, yet completely delicious (and beautiful) Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe.
I've made it several times (I prefer to make it in a spring-form pan with my own graham cracker crust).

I made it this weekend, for a beautiful fall backyard BBQ. I will probably make it again before this season is over! Enjoy.

J.Han Closet Visit.

*No photo of actual closet...because this 1920's  house has 2 TINY closets and therefore our clothes are crammed in and really, there is not way of making it look presentable, ever. Actually there is...but it would require knocking down a wall...so...

Vintage ring stand: Thrift store find. (2years)

Top to bottom: diamond/gold bow pinky ring:

gift from favorite aunt. (15 years)

Square cocktail ring: Purchased from cart

in Piazza Novona, Roma. (7 years)

Oval ring: thrift store find. One of my faves. (1-2 years)

Tibetan Silver Flower ring: Anniversary gift. (6-7 years)

Vintage wooden BEEF box: gift from husband. (1-2 years)

Left to Right: Turquoise bead earrings: made by me. (4 years)

Next 2: Vintage leaf earrings, thrift store finds.(10 years, 3 years)

Bakelite necklace: thrift store. (6 years)

Diamond/Gold Peace necklace: Gift from favorite

aunt. (Favorite aunt turns out to be rich, too). (6 years)

Leaf pendant: thrift store, pinecone: West Yellowstone. (4 years)

Clockwise from top:

Moc boots: NYC. (2-3 years)

Minnetonka moc boots: Zappos (1 year)

Minnetonka mocs: Xmas gift from MIL (3 years)

White fur flats: Moksha, Seattle. (6-7 years)

Jessica Simpson Leopard Heels: Zappos for 28th Bday gift to self.

Bejeweled boots: Vintage (bought brand new). Etsy. (2 years)

J.Crew tweed dress circa 2001.

Wool Long sleeve dress: Etsy. (3 years)

Eddie Bauer circa 1990. Recent Tacoma re-sale store find!

Left to Right: F21 magnetic bracelet. Love it...but if you

dance too hard...the magnets fail and you end up throwing the

damn thing on the floor! (2 years)

Leaf Cuff: Vintage, thrift store (5 years)

Pyramid bracelet: F21 (2 years)

Angled Bangle: Thrift store (4 years)

Flower embroidered coat.

ETSY (amazing).

1. It was hard to pick items. (I stuck with fall-ish items) 2. General theme being: THRIFT STORE! my whole house is that way, though. 3. I would REALLLLLLY love it if some of you posted closet visits! I'm really interested in what people cherish. (and spying on their closets) 4. I forgot to do purses. I have some cool ones, but I am by no means a purse collector and it was probably a subconscious decision when I "forgot." (I have been using the same 9West cross body purse purchased at ROSS for the last year.)

Found objects.

The Husband & I found these on our nightly walk. If they look like chestnuts to you....you are WRONG, sort of. They are actually Horse Chestnuts...which are TOXIC. But we had a great time stomping on the outer husks, and seeing the horse-chestnuts pop out. I grabbed a couple to photograph when I got home. It's unfortunate they are toxic because they sure do look beautiful. (and maybe even scrumptious). 

Here is a website that teaches you the difference b/t REAL chestnuts vs. Toxic chestnuts! After the photo shoot, I threw mine away. Didn't want to take a chance on any animal or human! eating them. 

fall foods.

Opal Apples (a new variety). Crisp, juicy, tangy.

*AND this is a break through, bc I have for YEARS

hated apples, not because of the taste, but because

of the texture. So this is pretty amazing.

The only time of year I allow myself to buy Oreos.

For some reason, the hot-orange filling 

makes them absolutely irresistible. 

Other Fall foods I am looking forward to: Pumpkin Pie ice cream (which we already have in the freezer!), home made apple pies, caramel apples.