The things I love about fall!

I love that the weather is changing. It's so cold in the mornings but perfect temperature in the afternoons. The leaves are changing and the scenery is beautiful! I love being outside in the evenings too, there is that smell that just smells like Fall! I love looking at all the Halloween decor people put up on their porches too. It's just a FUN time of year!

Another things I LOVE about Fall are all the SHOPPING deals, especially online. When you work full time, you tend to spend a little more time shopping online than actually going to stores.

I just looked at Overstock's website today and realized they are having their Overstocktober Fall Clearance Event!! They have some great deals on furniture up to 15-25% off! These deals are only good until tomorrow at midnight.

How cute would this bench be in a little girls room:

Lady Bug Green Tufted Bench

Too bad I'm having a boy. If you have any ideas for a BABY BOYS NURSERY, let me know, I need help!!!

The art of Vinyl

I've been looking for some wall coverings or pictures of some sort to put behind my couch in my main living area. I have a shelf pretty high on the wall so I need something below it. I've been looking in to the vinyl lettering and pictures more and more lately. In my search, I've found myself spending more time over at Etsy. I'm falling in love with the vinyl wall art. Yes, I know it's a little old and trendy, people have been doing it for years, but I never wanted to get in to the trend. Am I too late? Another option I've been toying with is the old vinyl wall sayings. I love this saying too.

Life Not Measured by Breath

Ornate Tree with Birds Vinyl

My walls are a neutral, light color; my shelf above gets changed around with the season; and my couch is about the same color as the one pictured below. As you can see, my walls really need something...

(Similar only in color.)

How to Give Your Sofa a Makeover

Of all your furniture, giving your couch a makeover may be the most intimidating. Luckily, learning how to give your furniture a makeover isn't as difficult as you might imagine. With a few simple steps, your sofa will have a fresh, exciting look in no time. Find this original article by clicking here.

 

 Instructions:

1. Research and visualize. Look online at photos of sofas you like and determine what aspects you're drawn to. Whether you're interested in colors, patterns, materials or another element, take notes and keep them in mind as you go forward with your sofa makeover.
   
2. Cover it up. If you're looking for a whole new take on your sofa, a slipcover is often the best option. Use your tape measure to get the precise dimensions of your sofa and then find a slipcover that fits both your sofa and your style.
   
3. Add some spice. Some sofas don't need a drastic makeover. If your sofa is in good condition but just needs a bit of spice, consider getting a new set of pillows. These accessories are a quick, easy way to freshen up a piece of furniture.
   
4. Think about blankets. Throw blankets can really add to the overall look of your couch. They're also a cozy way to enjoy the comforts of your home. Pick a couple with interesting colors or patterns and you can add true style to your sofa.
   

Moved this over from my other blog...

I had this on my other blog but thought it belonged better over here:

I have had my eye on this couch for quite some time now. I need your opinion. Where in my house would I be able to put it? It matches my bedroom with my bedding and curtains and I can start looking for more black furniture set. Could I pull off a couch in my bedroom? Or do I try to use it in another room and redecorate entirely? I'm leaning more towards my bedroom.....

Leather Furniture Grades Fact Sheet

I came across this really interesting article about Leather Furniture Grading Fact Sheet. I so wish I would have found it when D and I were shopping for our leather couches. I had no idea about Aniline, semi-aniline and pigmented leather. I've heard of pigmented but the other kinds... huh?


When shopping for a leather couch or furniture in general, you may notice that leather pieces have a much wider price range than furniture made with other materials. The pricing of leather furniture, in part, has to do with leather grade. Learning the grading system can help you choose the best leather furniture for your home. This leather furniture grades fact sheet should help you in your furniture hunt.

About Leather Furniture Grades: 

1. Letter and number grades: One of the most difficult things about leather grading in terms of letter or number systems is that there is no industry standard. In other words, grade-six leather might be drastically different in price and value between two different manufacturers. In-house grading systems are only convenient if you're comparing furniture manufactured by the same company. 
2. Characteristic grading: One standard way of comparing leather is by looking at characteristics. This type of leather grading isn't a number or letter system, but manufacturers will use terms to tell you about leather's color treatment, texture and durability. The most important characteristics are aniline, pigment, grain and correction. 
3. Aniline, semi-aniline and pigmented: Leather can be classified as aniline, semi-aniline, or pigmented. Aniline leather has not been treated with color in any way. It is least resistant to stains, as well as the most expensive, but has a completely natural look and feel. Semi-aniline leather has been dyed or stained, but in a translucent way so that some of the natural characteristics still shine through. Pigmented leather has an opaque coating of color, which is often stamped with a leather-like texture. It is the most durable and least expensive, making it a great furniture option for active families.
4. Top-grain versus split: Leather used for furniture is also typically characterized by the layer where it is found on the hide. Top-grain leather comes from the very outside of an animal. This type of leather is inherently more durable, since an animal's skin is its strongest at the surface. Split leather is found below the top layer. It is less durable and has fewer natural markings, but is also less expensive.
5. Correction: Leather can also be classified as corrected-grain, which means it was sanded or buffed. The terms full-grain and top-grain are sometimes used interchangeably, but this isn't necessarily accurate. Full-grain leather is a type of top-grain leather that hasn't been corrected. This is the most expensive and highest quality leather available, as it is most durable and natural. If top-grain leather is corrected on one side, velvety leather called nubuck is created. Split leather, on the other hand, can be corrected to create suede. Both top-grain leather and split leather can also be corrected slightly to create a smoother surface. 

Halloween Fun

This is a little off from what I normally post about. With it being Halloween, I've been in a crafty mood lately. And you need decorate your furniture and home for Halloween right?

I've been browsing some blogs for the past little while and found some really cute and easy ideas to try this year. The first one, I already did and the others, I can't wait to try. Tuesday nights are my craft night, so I'm looking forward to an evening full of fun!

Oopsey-Daisy

First, a friend of mine shared this adorable Halloween Advent Calendar she found over at Oopsey Daisy. She made one for her family and I couldn't resist making one too. The picture is the original, mine is not picture ready yet but I love it! I just need to add the candy... I know I'm a few days late... I'll just eat that many pieces when I'm putting them all on. :)


 

Kirsti Koo

The next one I found was by complete accident. I can't wait to do this tonight! I found this adorable door mat at Kirsti Koo. She saw something similar at a big box store and found a way not only to make it cuter but for a small fraction of the cost too!

The Soladay Family Blog

Finally, and I'm sure there are more to be added to this list through out the season, I love the idea of putting vinyl bats on your mirrors! The Soladay Family had this idea and I can't wait to try it! I just bought Sure Cuts A Lot 2 from Craft Edge for my Cricut last night. I've already started looking at cute bat's to use.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

How to Organize a Home Office or Writing Desk

Whether you use your home office writing desk as your full-time workspace or to pay bills and correspond with loved ones, it can quickly become chaotic and disordered. Not only will having a clean, organized home office desk increase your productivity; it will lower your stress level as well. Once you know where to begin and have a goal in mind, you will have a tidy desk with everything in its place. Take a look below to learn how to organize a home office desk.

Organizing Your Desk:

1. Take out the trash. Bring a wastebasket and at least two cardboard boxes into your home office. Remove everything from the desk, considering each item as you take it off the desk. Toss obvious trash into the wastebasket. (You may want an extra box to hold things you want to shred.) Place items that belong in another room or that you want to give away in another box. Set the items you need to keep in your home office in the other box.
   
2. Find places for desk necessities. Set your day planner or organizer on your desk so that you can quickly and easily use it. If you use a desk calendar, a desk lamp or a telephone in your home office, place those on your home office desk as well. Select your favorite writing utensil and place that on your desk along with a notepad. Everything else should be stored and organized out of sight.
   
3. Organize office supplies. Select one drawer in which to organize your office supplies, such as pens, pencils, staplers and tape. Most office desks have a small, narrow drawer near the top that is ideal for these supplies. If your office desk doesn't, you can use a drawer organizer in one of the narrower drawers to neatly contain these items.
   
4. Go through the filing drawers. Take the time to go through filing drawers in your home office desk. Shred any documents that are no longer necessary. Label the file folders alphabetically or categorically. For example, you may want to make a file folder labeled "Utility Bills" and another labeled "Receipts."
   
5. Deal with wires. Organize the wires behind your desk by bundling them together with small Velcro straps. You can also use cable ties, rubber bands or even hair ties to keep the wires in your home office from becoming a tangled mess.

 I found this article at Overstock.com.