Embracing the Tranquil Transition: Welcoming Fall with Open Arms

embracing fall

As the vibrant hues of summer gradually give way to the warm and cozy tones of fall, it’s time to prepare ourselves for a change that’s both refreshing and invigorating. The transition from the sunny days of summer to the crisp air of autumn brings with it a sense of renewal and reflection. I enjoy the cooler mornings and evenings and try to embrace the change of seasons. Here are some ways to mentally and physically embrace the enchanting season of fall.

Cultivating a Cozy Home Sanctuary:

embracing fall
Create a warm and cozy environment

As the temperature begins to dip, it’s the perfect opportunity to infuse your home with warmth and comfort. Swap out lightweight summer linens for plush throws and knitted blankets that invite you to snuggle up on the couch. I pull out my cozy blankets and lay one on each couch to curl up in on a cold night. Add rich, autumnal colors to your decor palette through cushions, drapes, and small accessories. Incorporate scented candles that evoke the fragrances of fall, like spiced apple, cinnamon, and vanilla. A cozy home environment sets the stage for embracing the change in the air.

Savoring Seasonal Delights:

embracing fall
Try a new soup recipe

One of the most delightful ways to welcome fall is through its culinary treasures. The transition of seasons brings with it an array of hearty and soul-warming dishes. Spend time in the kitchen experimenting with recipes that feature the bounties of fall – from pumpkin spice lattes and apple crisps to butternut squash soups and roasted root vegetables. Cooking together with loved ones not only yields delicious results but also fosters memorable bonding moments. A comforting pot of soup simmering on the stovetop is always welcome for fall.

Exploring Nature’s Beauty:

embracing fall
Enjoy time in nature

As the leaves begin to change colors, take advantage of the natural beauty that surrounds you. Plan leisurely walks in local parks or nature reserves to witness the enchanting transformation firsthand. Capture the kaleidoscope of colors through photography or simply immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and scents of the season. Bring some of the beauty of nature indoors. Nature’s gentle shift encourages us to embrace change as a source of wonder and renewal.

Cultivating Mindfulness and Reflection:

embracing fall
Take time to reflect

Fall’s arrival invites us to slow down and engage in moments of reflection. Set aside time for quiet introspection, whether through meditation, journaling, or simply enjoying a cup of tea by the window. Use this time to appreciate the beauty of impermanence and the cyclical nature of life. I start every morning writing in my journal and reading something uplifting and motivating. Fall teaches us that change is an integral part of existence and provides us with an opportunity to grow.

Fostering Connections and Togetherness:

embracing fall
Enjoy Fall activities

For women who value their relationships, fall offers numerous opportunities to strengthen connections. Host cozy gatherings at home, such as movie nights or intimate dinners, where you can share stories and laughter with family and friends. Consider organizing seasonal activities like apple-picking outings or crafting sessions to create lasting memories together. Embracing fall as a season of togetherness enriches our lives with shared experiences.

Nurturing Self-Care Rituals:

embracing fall
Take time for you.

As the pace of life tends to slow down during fall, it’s an ideal time to prioritize self-care. Pamper yourself with indulgent baths, hydrating skincare routines, and relaxing massages. Engage in activities that bring you joy, whether it’s reading a captivating novel, practicing yoga, or taking up a creative hobby. By nurturing yourself, you set a positive example of embracing change with grace and self-love.

In the embrace of fall, we find a gentle reminder that change is not to be feared but celebrated. This transitional season teaches us the art of letting go, while also inviting us to welcome new beginnings. Fall presents a canvas of possibilities for cultivating warmth, reflection, and togetherness. By savoring seasonal flavors, exploring nature’s splendor, and nurturing our well-being, we can gracefully transition into fall and relish the unique gifts it brings. So, as the leaves fall, let us also shed the unnecessary and step into the season with open arms and open hearts.

profileUntil next week,

Carrie

September Favorites

september favorites

Fall is finally here, the leaves are turning, the air is getting crisper, and the days are getting shorter. It has been unseasonably hot here so this is a welcome change. Fall decor is done and we are enjoying cooking new soups and comfort food recipes. I thought with the change of seasons that I would share a few of my favorites from September.

molly b originals
Fun seasonal accessories

I always like to add a few new accessories each season. Molly B Originals is one of my favorites for unique monogram pieces. You know I love a good monogram. When I saw the clear acrylic with leaf pattern, I knew it would be perfect for Fall. I picked the chic monogram style and love how it turned out. Of course, I had to get a Lilly-inspired piece too. This pumpkin is adorable, and I know I will wear it all season. I have quite a few Molly B pieces and I love that you have the option to change the pendant without buying an entire new necklace on certain pieces.

capri blue volcano
A unique scent

Scents are a quick and easy way to change the feel and vibe of a space. Capri Blue Volcano has been a favorite of mine for years. It is a hard scent to describe but it is one of those that is always recognized. Capri Blue has so many wonderful scents. I always pick up a new candle each season.

longaberger bentwood pumpkin
Perfect decor for Fall

How cute is this bentwood pumpkin from Longaberger? I thought the design was so unique and knew it was a piece that I wanted to add to this year’s decor. I chose the small pumpkin and this color is gorgeous. Each piece s handmade and will be in my Fall decor for many years to come. Longaberger has so many gorgeous and unique pieces for Fall.

tiered trays
So many options

Tiered trays are one of my most useful and versatile pieces. This year’s fall tray was made with pieces left over from previous projects. I added some garland, pumpkins, acorns, and cotton. The metal words were from DollarTree, and I thought they were the perfect addition. The little truck lights up too. The options with a tiered tray are endless.

theorem alpha cleanser
Theorem Alpha cleanser

I must admit that sometimes in the Summer I am a little lax in my skincare. Fall is the perfect time to get back to my routine and back on track. Alpha cleanser from Theorem has been my go-to. Alpha is a resurfacing gel-based cleanser packed full of AHA, BHA, and peppermint. I only use it a few times a week and my skin feels incredibly refreshed and cleansed. I have noticed a definite change in my skin. My skin is smoother, brighter, and less congested.

I hope you enjoyed a peek at a few of my favorites from September. Maybe you find something new that you would like to try too. Wishing you a wonderful Fall season. I’m looking forward to it.

Until next week,

Carrie

 

Shop my favorites here:

Molly B Originals

Capri Blue Volcano

Longaberger

Theorem Alpha Cleanser

Fall Decor

fall decor

It has been a busy week so this blog will be a little shorter. I had the privilege of participating in our local NAWBO/Women in Leadership Annual Conference last week and preparing kept me busy. It was a wonderful day with 300 women enjoying speakers, shopping, networking, lunch, and so much more. I had a great time but boy was I tired. I met so many wonderful ladies and I am looking forward to connecting with them again soon.

Last week I shared my dining room Fall decor. I thought this week I would share the rest of my decor. I always do a little in each room and focus on key areas to create vignettes. My foyer table is changed out each season. This year I took my Longaberger wreath and added Fall garland and acorns as the centerpiece. I like to try to reuse and repurpose as much as I can.

In my family room, I try to concentrate on the fireplace area and built-in area. I had not used my tired tray in a couple of years and decided to fill that with all things Fall. A big impact! The fireplace looks festive with pumpkins and decor from Mackenzie-Childs.

The porch is another favorite area. My potting bench is a treasured piece, and I always add to its decor each season. Switching the pillows on the bench is a quick way to make a change too. Mums, pumpkins, and gourds finished out all of the decor.

 

I hope you have time to enjoy all that Fall has to offer. The weather is finally starting to feel more like Fall so I am hoping to have our first bonfire and smores of the season soon.

Enjoy!

Carrie

Fall Dining Room Makeover And Decor

fall dining table decir

Fall is finally here, and as much as I love summer and summer decor, I was looking forward to decorating for Fall. I always like to focus on a few key areas for impact and build on my decor from there. The dining room is always my first spot to decorate. I try to change it or do something a little different each year.

This wreath I purchased at a craft fair and I think it is perfect in this space. It really brings out the fall colors in the room. I may leave it out all year too. My corner table got a little makeover for fall too with just a few key pieces.

I started with my Longaberger placemats and napkins. The fruit pattern is the same pattern on my valances and border so it coordinates perfectly. I love the pop of blue in the pattern too. The place settings are also from Longaberger from years ago. The place setting is simple with the white pumpkin and acrylic word again in the pop of blue.

The center of my table always has the beautiful tray that Bob made me. I love using it as a focal point and building from there. My Emma Bridgewater hurricane is always a favorite each season. I added the wine cooler, fall floral display, and smaller Bridgewater vases to the tray.

fall dining room decor
A beautiful tray to group items

The olive trees line the rest of the table, and I love the natural look these add to the design. The design was finished with candles from Rae Dunn, glass pumpkins, and acorns and pumpkins. The design did not take too much time, and I think it brings in the fall feel to the dining room. Happy decorating!

Until next week,

Carrie

Fall Holiday Decor

 

Happy Fall Y’All

I really enjoy decorating for each season. Each season has its own feel, color schemes, and scents For fall, I like to bring in some richer colors, metallics, and lots of candles. You can never have enough candles. My favorites are ones on timers or with remote controls so you don’t even need to worry about them. Everything looks better with the glow of candlelight, especially with it getting darker earlier in the evening.

A few things I like to do is to concentrate the bulk of my decor in just a few spaces and sprinkle a little throughout the rest of the house. Create a big bang in a few areas. I usually concentrate on my foyer, mantle, fireplace, and shelving in my family room, staircase, and dining table. I will pair some of my high-end Mackenzie-Childs pieces with pieces I find at DollarTree, Walmart, Target, and HomeGoods. They always have a fabulous selection and I frequent them often. All of the box stores have really stepped up their game in the last few years.

As always, decorate however it makes you happy. If you love your decor, it’s perfect. Just have fun with it and hopefully, I can inspire and give you some fresh ideas. Happy decorating.

 

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

                   https://pineapplesandsweettea.com

                   https://www.facebook.com/carriekellydesigns

                   https://www.initialoutfitters.net/ckelly

                   carrie@carriekellyesigns.com

Five Minute Fall Decor

Fall is finally here and it’s time to bring in the warm colors of fall into our home decor. Does the thought of changing out your decor stress you out especially with the holiday season right around the corner? Do you skip decorating for fall altogether? What if I could help you decorate a room in five minutes with five accessories? Sounds easy, right? It really is with a few perfect pieces.

Let me show you my kitchen refresh for fall. Clearing out the summer decor and pineapple placemats and accessories were the first steps. It’s nice to start with a clear space to really see all of the possibilities. I love bringing in some warm-colored pieces and buffalo plaid prints are some of my favorites. I switched out my pineapple placemats for a gray buffalo plaid with a pumpkin personalized with our name for our counter eating area. Personalized pieces are a quick and easy way to achieve a high-end designer look. These are pieces you won’t see in everyone’s kitchen and on every store shelf. Mixing patterns is always a great idea, pieces don’t always need to match, they just need to go together.

With that thought, I used personalized black placemats on the kitchen table to coordinate with my napkins and napkin rings. It all pairs nicely. A pumpkin soup tureen from Pier 1 became a pretty centerpiece. My napkin holder is a Nora Fleming piece. I love her pieces because you only need to switch the minis to create a new look. Their collection contains minis for every holiday, season, and occasion. I highly recommend them. A fall candle and fresh flowers complete the table. Fresh flowers are always a must in my house.

Kitchen Table Refresh

The last few changes were simple. I always have a personalized cutting board on my counter and I just switched it out for the same pumpkin style as my kitchen counter placemats. A Mackenzie-Childs pumpkin and fall candle add to the display. Switching my summer kitchen towels for pretty fall ones was the last step in the kitchen refresh. Towels are such an easy way to achieve a quick change. Normally I add garland to the windows but decided to leave them out this year. I wanted a clean, uncluttered look.

What do you think? I really did just do this refresh in just five minutes with five accessories. Room designs don’t have to be complicated, sometimes less is more. I really enjoy the simple uncluttered look before the holiday decorating begins. Enjoy the crisp fall weather and changing colors.

 

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

                   https://pineapplesandsweettea.com

                   https://www.facebook.com/carriekellydesigns

                   https://www.initialoutfitters.net/ckelly

                   carrie@carriekellyesigns.com

 

DIY Fall Wreaths

It certainly doesn’t feel like it but fall will be here soon. I’m looking forward to cozy sweaters, bonfires, and warm apple cider. I am also going to try some new fall recipes in my Instapot and some new soups. I could eat soup every day. If you are like me it is time to change my decor from the bright, fun, and whimsical summer theme to a more earthy, warmer toned fall theme. I enjoy changing my decor for each season and it keeps things from feeling too stale in the house.

I ordered a couple of new wooden cutouts from Initial Outfitters and wanted to create a couple of new pieces. The acorn was something different and it really caught my eye. Painting it turquoise gives it a pop of color but still fits in with my fall theme. The white frame with chicken wire I have had and used for different things. It’s great if you can repurpose something and think outside of the box. I thought it would be nice to combine these two pieces instead of doing a traditional wreath. Ribbon and floral picks were leftover from a previous project and I added these in. I really like how this turned out and the frame is going to be a great piece to repurpose each season. Change the cutout, bow, and flowers and you have a whole new look.

The happy fall cutout is a new one, and when I saw that I knew it was just what I wanted for the front door. I like a piece I can use all season and maybe add a few extra accessories for a holiday or special occasion. Warm, metallic looks are so on-trend and this was the look I wanted for this piece. I painted the happy fall part in a metallic copper paint but decided to leave our name natural for contrast. Since this piece will be on the door a clear coat is a must to protect it from the elements. Again, I repurposed a wreath I had, the grapevine is a perfect natural element for fall. Adding a strand of cream pumpkin garland and a burlap bow finished the look. I like the cream colors against the copper and darker grapevine. For Halloween, I can add some witches and bats without having to create a whole new piece.

DIY doesn’t have to be complicated and by taking what you already have and adding to it a new look is easily created. I am planning on starting my fall decorating this week and I hope you will follow along for inspiration. Show me your decor too, I am always looking for new ideas. Follow along at Carrie Kelly Designs for videos on these two projects. Enjoy the cooler weather and change of seasons.

 

Carrie Kelly is an Interior Redesigner Industry Specialist and  Lead Designer at Carrie Kelly Designs specializing in interior redesign, seasonal, and home decor helping clients create beautiful spaces in their homes without the time and expense of a full remodel. She is also an Independent Consultant with Initial Outfitters, a boutique featuring all things monogrammed and personalized for your unique style. Carrie is also the author of Pineapples and Sweet Tea, a Lifestyle blog.

Find her at: https://carriekellydesigns.com

                   https://pineapplesandsweettea.com

                   https://www.facebook.com/carriekellydesigns

                   https://www.initialoutfitters.net/ckelly

                   carrie@carriekellyesigns.com