Fall Home Tour: Modern and Fresh

Today is a big day around these parts!  

It's Nate's birthday.  I won't share how old he is. (Hint: It's old.)  I still need to wrap his gift.  (#wifefail).   Ike and I always have a tough time on Nate's birthday because we both have to be on our best behavior.  Which is hard for both of us.

Today is also a big day because it's our turn to share our Modern and Fresh Fall home tour!

The Modern and Fresh home tour is hosted by Lindsay (The White Buffalo Styling Co.) and Kristen (KFD Designs).  These lovely ladies asked a bunch of stylish bloggers (I fooled someone along the way) to share how we cozy up our homes for fall.   Bring on the scarecrows and "boo" signs.  Or not.

Important notes: There will be no black crows in these photos because birds freak me out.  Also, Ike managed to make his way into approximately 83.4% of the pictures.  I don't know how I'd go through life without having an assistant.

Let's start outside.  

 

 

 

 

 

Exterior Decor.jpg
outdoor fall decor.jpg

I always place mums on our front steps. They look beautiful until it gets cold.  I then lose all interest in keeping them alive.  That motivation is redirected to keeping myself warm. 

Speaking of keeping warm, let's head inside.   Here's the view from the front door. I tried to get a few different angles than normal. 

Decor and the Dog Entry.jpg

Our console table got a new Fall do. 

Fall Console Table {Decor and the Dog}.jpg
Fall Console Table 1 {Decor and the Dog}.jpg

I had Nate's Sweet Old Lady Cow photo made into standout from mpix.   I then worked around her.  I picked up the wire frame thing and the scale at a couple of local antique shops.  I had been wanting a scale forever and finally broke down.  Good life decision.  I added the hive vase from West Elm and a shiny pumpkin from Michael's to help balance out all of the old.

I also went to the dark side and added some bunting.  I know.  I'm worried about me too.  

Sweet Old Lady Cow Fall Console Table Decor {Decor and the Dog}.jpg

Moving on to the living room.  

Our couch is cozy with some tribal-ish pillows I picked up from Target for $6 each.  The birthday boy hates them because they itch his precious man skin.  I keep telling him that beauty is pain.  Ike, on the other hand, loves them! 

Decor and the Dog Fall Living Room.jpg

He leads a rough life. 

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I added some pumpkins, some owls, some candles and some old books.  It's now Fall.  The end.

I'd like to think that the bookshelves days are numbered.  Which is why they look the same as when we moved in 5 years ago.  Cheesy wedding photos and all.   And that scrolly thing.  Don't judge me on the scrolly thing.  It's days are more numbered than the bookcases.

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I whipped up these pumpkin bookends.  They add just the right amount of cozy Fall to the mantel. 

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One of my favorite parts of our house is that I can take photos from the second floor walkway.  Here's the living room aerial view. 

Fall Home Tour.jpg

Let's head back downstairs. 

Fall Tour.jpg

Just be careful to not trip over the dog.  Like Nate and I do 50 times each day.  He doesn't move.  Trust me. 

Ike on stairs.jpg

Our living room and kitchen are open to each other.  Let my assistant show you the way.

Decor and the Dog Fall Home Tour.jpg

The fall decor in the kitchen is pretty simple.  Some pumpkins and a plant on the table.  A bowl of candy corn on the counter (a Fall necessity!).  I have been baking up a storm in the kitchen lately. 

Decor and the Dog Kitchen Fall tour.jpg

There is usually a freshly baked pumpkin good on the counter but this week it's a poorly decorated hipster cake for Nate's birthday.   Every grown Iowan man's dream.

hipster birthday cake.jpg

Another kitchen view. 

Decor and the Dog kitchen tour.jpg

You can see above that the kitchen is connected to the dining room.   The dining room is our latest victim.  Sort of.  Our new table is in the same state as you last saw it.  We still haven't found chairs.  Womp, womp.  Once we work all of that out, I think there might be some open shelving going on in here.  

Dining Room Fall Decor.jpg

I went to the dark side on the top of the hutch.   

Black Fall Decor.jpg

I have an indoor mum on the table.  I meant to put it in a vase but couldn't find one I liked.  I'm sure it's days are numbered too.

Dining Room Fall Decor from Decor and the Dog.jpg

You've made it to the end. I feel like should be handing out pumpkin muffins.  Ike thinks it's time for you to leave because he needs a nap.  He gets cranky when he's tired.  Poor thing. 

Fall home tour front entry.jpg
Fall Home Tour {Decor and the Dog}.jpg

Be sure to check out all of the fabulous tours going on during the month of October.  So much virtual stalking!

1 – Kristen and Lindsay 2 – Sarah from Sarah M. Dorsey Designs 3 – Gabbi from Retro Ranch Reno 4 – Brittany from Brittany Makes 5 – Jesse from Scout & Nimble 6 – Julia from Cuckoo 4 Design 7 – Carolyn from Sweet Chaos Home 8 – Jennifer from The Chronicles of Home 9 – Bethany from Dwellings by Devore 10 – Carmel from Our Fifth House 11 – Kristin from The Hunted Interior 12 – Annekke from This That & Life 13 – Michelle from Décor and the Dog 14 – Cassie from Primitive & Proper 15 – Ally from From the Right Bank 16 – Shannon from Shannon Berrey Designs 17 – Danika from Gorgeous Shiny Things 18 – Kristin from Bliss at Home 19 – Jenna from Rain on a Tin Roof 20 – Jessica from Dear Emmeline 21 – Kelly from View Along the Way 22 – Sarah from Lacquer and Linen 23 – Eileen from A Creative Day Blog 24 – Sarah from Royal Marigold 25 – Lori from Lori May Interiors 26 – Jennifer from Dimples and Tangles 27 – Caitlin from Desert Domicile 28 – Sherry from Design Indulgence 29 – Lakeitha from Lakeitha Duncan Lifestyle Blog 30 – Shavonda from A Home Full of Color and Whitney from The Curtis Casa. 31 – Angela from Number Fifty-three and Jennifer from Brave New Home.

If you're new to these parts, check out our full house tour and about us pages!

Have you decorated for Fall or are you waiting until December to get your holiday decorating on?  What makes your home feel like Fall?

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Pumpkin Parade Link Party

It's party day!  You'll find me in the corner sipping on my pumpkin martini.  Avoiding eye contact.  Scrolling Instagram and counting the minutes until I get to go home.  

Wait.  This is an internet party. I can attend from my couch. Sweet. 

Enough about me.  Did you check out the fantastic pumpkin projects from my lovely co-hosts? 

 

Those are some classy looking pumpkins up there.

Now it's your turn! 

You can link up on any of our blogs listed below. Please use a permalink and link to as many projects as you wish, as long as the posts involve pumpkins. The linky below will stay live through Tuesday, October 15th. Next week, each of us will spotlight a few of our favorite projects on our blogs. We’ll also pin those projects on our shared Pinterest board.

The only rules: 
1. Please share a pumpkin post - could be decor, crafts, cooking or anything else pumpkin.
2. Please link back to the Pumpkin Parade and at least one of our blogs.  All would be awesome.  Just copy this!  

 Shift Ctrl ArtPrimitive & ProperDecor and the DogA Little Bite of EverythingA Swell Place to DwellNewlyWoodwardsBoxy ColonialWills CasaCuckoo4DesignBliss At HomeGo Haus GoInteriors by Kenz

3.  Put that pumpkin martini down and please go to at least one other blog and comment. This is what makes the parade extra fun.  Mandatory fun is the best kind of fun.

Can’t wait to see your projects!  Check back here on Sunday for our fall home tour!

pumpkin parade.jpg
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Fall Cleaning Checklist

This post brought to you by BISSELL Homecare, Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

Fall decided to arrive this past weekend in Iowa.  It went from 88 degrees on Friday to the high 40's on Sunday.  Rude.

As much as I dislike the cold, I am looking forward to the wonderful things that Fall brings!  Hot beverages, boots, blankets and deep cleaning.  Oh yes, deep cleaning can be wonderful.  Wait, that's a lie but I do feel better going into Winter with clean windows and carpets!

I previously mentioned that I am big on surface cleaning but not so big on deep cleaning.  I try to make sure that I do tackle deep cleaning at least twice a year (Spring and Fall).  This weekend I whipped up a Fall cleaning checklist.  These are tasks that I need to complete in the next few weeks.  You know, before the chance of snow happens.  Here's what I need to tackle:

Our carpets need a deep cleaning.  Our living room carpet especially needs it.  This guy and his bear, Ted, aren't the cleanest things in town.

Poor Ted.

We use the BISSELL Proheat Deep Cleaner that we've had for a few years.  It's easy to use and brings our dingy carpets back to life. 

Ike tells me that he's not the only messy one around these parts.  Nate and I have been spending a lot more time in the kitchen and it shows.

Our deep cleaning list includes vacuuming out drawers and kitchen crevices.  You know, anywhere that flour can land.  

I previously mentioned that I had a new friend, the BISSELL PowerGlide.  It has come in handy as I have started on my Fall checklist.

Before I can start deep cleaning, I like to surface clean all of the baseboards and floors in the house.  This includes the stairs which were previously a giant pain.  I'm a weakling and hate carrying a heavy vacuum up and down the stairs.  The BISSELL PowerGlide has a removable pod that lifts off the base and allows me to carry only part of it up and down the stairs!

I love clean windows. I just don't love cleaning them.  It doesn't help that we have 1 million of them to clean.  I always start window cleaning by vacuuming out the bugs and dirt from the window sills.

The ability to use the lift off feature makes this task super simple.

The lift off feature and long-stretch hose is awesome for cleaning the tops of the cabinets.  I always used to assume that the tops of cabinets cleaned themselves.  Turns out that it was just my mom.  Who new?

So far I am a big fan of the quality and effectiveness of the BISSELL PowerGlide®.  We own other BISSELL Products and we appreciate their quality and performance! Here’s another look at the awesome features I mentioned when I first received it:

- No loss of suction and sealed system

- One-step removable pod for portable cleaning

- Long-stretch hose

- Lightweight

- Swivel steering for maneuverability

- Adjustable handle for easy use and storage

- 12-inch foot for stability

- Large capacity dirt cup

- 27-foot cord

- Included TurboBrush® and crevice tool

You can visit BISSELL on Facebook to enter to win their sweepstakes. Here are more cleaning tips to help you tackle that Fall cleaning. If you would like to purchase your own BISSELL Powerglide you can use the code POWERGLIDE on BISSELL.com for $20 Off Plus Free Shipping for the following products through 11/30/2013:

· PowerGlide Pet Vacuum with Lift-Off Technology – 2763

· PowerGlide Pet Bagged Rewind Vacuum – 38631

· PowerGlide Pet Vacuum – 1044

Have you started your Fall cleaning?  What's your favorite and least favorite Fall cleaning task?

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Don't forget to check out today's fab pumpkin projects! 

Wednesday:Boxy ColonialWills CasaCuckoo4Design