Falling Back in Love with Fall

Greetings everyone! 

It's been a hot minute since we've last chatted. And I'm not referring to this post-Summer-but-still-not-Fall-because-it's-hotter-than-the-sun weather we've been having. My last post was shortly after Little Man was born, and he just turned SIX MONTHS OLD! 

We're halfway through raising a human from baby to toddler, and it's still the coolest thing I've ever done in my entire life. Last night he started to really get the hang of leaning down to grab and pick up his toys, and I was SO proud! The most basic moments of life have now become major causes for celebration in the Wellman house, and I'll tell you what, getting excited about eating sweet potatoes from a spoon really does put your life in perspective. 

People need to BE HAPPY about stupid things more often. It does the soul good. 

Speaking of being happy about stupid things. LOOK AT MY NEW DOOR MAT!!!! It brings me so much joy to kick the season off with a fresh place to wipe my kicks. 

It's pretty awesome when you don't have to actually say anything, and your doormat takes care of welcoming your guests for you. Basically, it's like an Alexa...for your feet. 

I've recently become a big fan of buying my outdoor underfoot accessories at Hobby Lobby. Last Spring I found they had a pretty great selection and were extremely affordable compared to other online sources. This particular week all rugs were 50% off too (find the above HERE and HERE). That plus the 40% off one regular priced item code they always have and I was ready to rock! 

I've also joined the bandwagon of layering a mat over a rug. Yes, the rug gets dirty because it's outside and you walk all over it every day. But guess what, that's why the good Lord made washing machines. It gives your entryway a welcoming feeling of warmth, not to mention the addition of texture and spacial balance between the door and doormat.

In the last few seasons, I've been pretty skimpy with my Autumn decor. Mums can get expensive, and nothing ticks me off more than buying pumpkins and waking up to find they've been stolen or messed with by the high-schoolers who walk by our house every day. (Click HERE to see the display I set up when we first moved in, and how much that stressed me out.) 

The winds of change must've been blowing because this year felt different. The new school opened up the hill so there hasn't been near the amount of foot traffic on our street, and the start of cooler days (finally) had me deep into those cozy Fall vibes. 

Since a couple of our annuals were still hanging in there, we kept them and swapped everything else out for mums and cabbage. Yes, CABBAGE! I am HERE for this vegetable and vow it will become a staple in my Fall plant purchases. Look at that beautiful purple color!! Also, can we have a moment of silence for those stunning yellow pumpkins that (for some lame reason) did NOT end up coming home with me??? I may accidentally go back to Reading Feed and Garden and buy some on the way home from work today...accidentally.

The rest of our stash included wonky guards that looked like they were tie-dyed bright orange and green, as well as fresh white pumpkins that match everything. 

Eric: "Why do pumpkins have to match ANYTHING?" 

Beth: "They just dooOMG LOOK AT THIS CRAZY ONE!" 

Eric: "Ooook. I'm cutting you off."

Inside the house, I discovered these glittery pumpkins I picked up from Hob Lob on clearance last year. The orange color was "meh", so I grabbed some white acrylic paint and gave them a quick makeover. 

Oooh YAS much better. 

I think I don't get as amped up to decorate for Fall as I do Spring and Summer because my general vibe doesn't typically include muted earthy tones. I'm more of a bright and bold kind of girl. So finding the balance between color, texture, and pattern this year really got my heart fluttering. I've also brought out and showcased any brass decor I had, which is always in style so win! 

Overall am super satisfied with the results! Now all that's left to do is spend the rest of these perfectly crisp evenings with my two favorite gents. 

Check out all of our home improvements and decor, by visiting the OUR NEST page.

Seasons Change And So Did I

Autumn is upon us, and it is FINALLY cooling down. 

Prior to today, I've been able to run outside in a tank-top and still work up a decent sweat. I don't think Mother Nature's gotten the message; IT'S OCTOBER...START ACTING LIKE OCTOBER! I'm talking windows open, crisp breeze, candles lit, wrapped in a blanket burrito-style type weather. 

Pumpkin spice and everything nice, that's what I'm diggin' right now. 

Another thing I can't get out of my head is this book! 

You GUYS! I've literally told everyone about it, so thrilling, so addictive, and so fierce. I randomly picked it up at the airport before my trip to Arizona last week, and I kid you not, by the time I landed back in Ohio I was done. 10 hours max cover to cover. 

If you've read "The Girl on the Train" or "Gone Girl", this is right in that similar genre. It also may have inspired some of the ladies at work to form a book club. #CoverGirls
"Luckiest Girl Alive" by Jessica Knoll.....GET IT! 

The reason I had to find something to read at the airport, was because the book I ordered from Amazon got delayed (womp womp). What DID arrive from Amazon though was my new coffee table!!! 

Since I was in a bit of a time crunch before leaving for Arizona, our only bonding moment was when I brought it inside off the porch. But lucky for me, I have an incredible husband who had it assembled and eagerly waiting when I arrived back home. For less than $100, I'm in love with this piece. I think it has great lines, is very sturdy, and the faux marble top is as beautiful in real life as I'd hoped it would be. 

It's narrower than our last table, which makes moving around the living room much easier. Plus the white top doesn't show NEARLY as much dust as glass. Less dusting = total win.

Other new ditties around the nest include swapping out all my yellow flower decor, for these wickedly glam dead roses and black branches. 

The Fall vibe is STRONG y'all! 

Lastly, on my most recent trip to Marshalls, I skipped out of the store with this charming vintage-inspired throw rug. With every intention for it to live on our front porch, I could just picture how seamlessly the reds and blues would tie into our hanging lanterns and throw pillows. But like most plans I make, that idea changed quite rapidly. After one day outside, the wind kept blowing the corners over so the whole rug bunched up, and after straightening it back out multiple times...I surrendered. Apparently it's not quite heavy enough to sustain the elements.
So back in house it came, where I do believe it'll be just as happy in the guest bedroom. 
It really brings in some nice texture, and helps break up all the wood flooring. Plus those little tassels are just too dang cute!

I love it when the seasons change. It's always the perfect excuse to update your wardrobe, switch things up around the house, and find a new book to get lost in. 

Soup's On! 10 Hearty Flavors for Fall

How is it basically the end of November already??? From all the tree's I've seen up, and the never ending marathon of Hallmark Christmas movies playing at my parent's house, you'd swear we skipped straight to December. 

But fear not Fall! YOU you special, YOU are important!

In our house, Fall also means soup season. Nothing says “comfort” like having a delicious bowl of goodness steaming in your hands to fill your belly and warm your soul. Whether you’ve prepped it the night before in the crock pot, or are just now dusting off your dutch oven, there is no time like the present for soup.

As a tribute to this harvest season, I’ve gathered 10 of my absolute FAVORITE soup recipes! I originally posted my soup finds at STRONG IS OUR SEXY, and now sharing them again with you! Each bring their own unique flavor to the table, but I promise, they are ALL equally heavenly. If you want to read the full recipe, click the link to go to the original source page.

Enjoy!

BBQ Chicken Chili 

This one pot recipe is great for using up leftover chicken. The BBQ flavor is a unique twist on traditional chili, and topping it off with cheese and cilantro is always a good idea.

Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Chicken pot pie has to be one of the most classic comfort food “go-to’s” out there. This version brings everything you love about the pie into a soup. Using bags of frozen veggies along with chopped fresh ones makes for easy work, and if you happen to have some biscuits laying around, I highly suggest paring the two.

Easy White Bean Soup

The building blocks of this soup are pretty basic; meat, beans, vegetables, and tomatoes. The beauty of it is you can swap and add whatever you want! Don’t have spinach? Any leafy green will work. No sausage around or keeping it vegetarian? Just add more beans. It’s all good people.

Pumpkin Chili

Any excuse to use pumpkin while cooking in the Fall is a good excuse. This vegetarian chili is still extremely hearty even without the meat. The black and garbanzo beans provide a boost of protein, and depending on how spicy you like it, feel free to amp up or down the amount of chili powder.

Left to Right: BBQ Chicken Chili – Skinny Taste, Chicken Pot Pie Soup – Skinny Taste, Easy White Bean Soup – Hello Natural,
Pumpkin Chili - Julia's Album

Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup

I love egg noodles. They’re chunky, curly, and oh so easy to cook. Simply toss all the ingredients into the pot, bring to a boil, then let simmer to whip up this quintessential under-the-weather dish.

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup

This meatless taco soup has three different types of beans, along with corn and tomatoes, to really pack a protein punch and leave you feeling satisfied. Plus with the use of a slow cooker, you can set it and forget it!

Thai Noodle Bowl

OK. So this isn’t technically a soup, but you eat it out of a bowl, and it has a brothy base so I’m counting it. Don’t be intimidated by ingredients like lemon grass and fish sauce, everything can be found at your local supermarket. The end result is so colorful and deliciously worth it, believe me!

Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Spinach 

This pasta based soup is a recent find of mine, but is quickly becoming a popular go-to at home. Frozen bags of tortellini make this especially quick and easy, plus the recipe includes directions for toasted parmesan crostini. YUM!

Left to Right: Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup – Love Grows Wild, Slow Cooker Vegetarian Taco Soup – Classy Clutter, Thai Noodle Bowl – Vikalinka, Tortellini Soup with Italian Sausage and Spinach – Yellow Bliss Road

Slow Cooker Ranch White Chicken Chili 

Ranch? Check. Chicken? Check. Letting it cook all day while I’m at work? Check! This white chili is bursting with flavor, and perfect with just a dollop of sour cream on top. Need more heat? Feel free to add a little chili or habanero powder to kick it up a notch.

Italian Orzo Spinach Soup

Orzo is fun. It may look like a type of rice, but in reality they’re tiny little pieces of pasta! If you’d rather use what you already have on hand, any pasta could be substituted for the orzo.

Left to Right: Slow Cooker Ranch White Chicken Chili – Southern Bite, Italian Orzo Spinach Soup – Gimme Some Oven

Hungry yet? 

Do you have any no-fail soup recipes you bring out every year? My husband as a MEAN chicken noodle that's his "go to", and I can't deny, it IS pretty tasty. :) 

SIOS - Chambray My Way

Playing some Strong is Our Sexy catch up before the weekend! Check out my article about how you can dress that wardrobe staple; the chambray shirt. 

Fall is here, people!
The beautiful trees with now amber leaves are a sure sign that it is, in fact, autumn. This time of the year is hands down my favorite. Nothing beats holding a warm beverage in your hand, crunching leaves under your boots, keeping cozy with a big scarf—safe from the crisp air—while picking out the perfect pumpkin (and hoping that said pumpkin doesn't get smashed in the street by the annoying group of boys who live on your block).
Heaven.
OK, so the pumpkin-smashing isn't so great, but there really is something special about the change of season, and the perfect balance it brings between a blistering summer and frigid winter.
The fashion that follows is also a reason why I am such a fall fanatic. Give me riding boots, chunky sweaters, and a color pallet that matches those gorgeous leaves I mentioned. One piece that I think should be in everyone’s fall fashion collection is the chambray shirt. This shirt is so versatile; it can go from casual to professional with just a few swapped accessories, and is great for layering on days that start out chilly, but end a little warmer.

To give you some inspiration, I've created a little fashion show to demonstrate how you can wear this classic piece all season long. 
(Please excuse my awkward poses. A propped up iPhone just doesn't give you the direction you need to be a successful model...psssh!) 

For more ideas, visit STRONG IS OUR SEXY! 

For more ideas, visit STRONG IS OUR SEXY, and read the whole article HERE! 

Setting The Table for Fall

IT'S FALL Y'ALL! 

I adore this time of the year. Leaves crunching under your feet, a hot drink in your hand, and pumpkins scattered all over the place. Getting to layer sweaters and scarves with cute jackets and boots is a definite perk as well.

Fall fashion is just a giant mass of cozy wrapped up in flannel goodness.

Autumn has made its way into our home recently, and I've been dying to share with you my table decorations this year! 

Just like in fashion, layering is such an easy way to instantly make your table look polished. You can layer plates, table runners, napkins, you name it. I placed a napkin in between my stacked plates to break up the look, and to tie into the black centerpiece. Speaking of the centerpiece, this one is a vase from IKEA I bought years ago, placed on top of a mirror, and filled with fake leaves and flowers. The table runner is made from an IKEA panel I had hanging in my room during collage (this one is equally awesome), and a strip of fabric I pulled from the remnant bin at Jo-Ann Fabrics ages ago. 

Gold and purple pine cones??? Yes please! 

I found all of these either in our backyard, or under a tree I passed on my walk the other day. A quick coat of spray paint and nature got a nice dose of glam!

The candles are from IKEA, and the rest is just random fall decor I picked up last year at Hobby Lobby or Dollar General.

Yes I know it looks a little silly since we really don't use our dining room, or plan on having a bunch of people over anytime soon (not to mention the absent cutlery and glassware). But I just CAN'T pass up the opportunity to decorate for the season!
Do you fill your home with leaves and pumpkins? Or do you go the frightening route for a more Halloween theme? I like to keep things somewhat Fall-neutral, and make my decor last from September through November. 
Decorate smarter not harder!

Guest Blogger: Michaela from Happy Apple talks Pumpkins!

Today we have my blogger buddy, and real-life awesome friend, Michaela from Happy Apple  to talk about how she decorated her pumpkins this season. Take it away Mikey! 

Hey everyone! This is Michaela from Happy Apple and I am so excited to share my pumpkin decorating post!  I absolutely love Halloween and fall so decorating my pumpkins is a definite on my Fall To Do List! 

This year I used black and white paint with silver sequins to decorate my pumpkins. I really like using paint instead of carving pumpkins because it cuts down on the amount of cleanup and the pumpkin doesn't go bad as quickly. 

On the little pumpkin I just painted swirls inspired by scroll work on iron fences. And then Mod Podged the sequins on in random places to give it some bling.

On my big pumpkin I just did a half and half of white and black. I think next year I would write a message in the black part to give it an extra pop, but the monochromatic color really stands out! 

Thanks for sharing Michaela! Those pumpkins are ADORABLE! I'm always game for anything with some bling.

Be sure to check out her Halloween post about caramel apple bites, they look scary good :)

Getting Festive for Fall

This quote perfectly sums up how I feel about Fall. 

I've always been more of a "cool weather" kind of girl. When everyone else was craving shorts and swim suits, I was usually more comfortable in jeans and a sweatshirt. Honestly, I think it was because of my body image. I mean who wants to show off tons of skin when they're not proud about how they look? This past summer though, I actually really enjoyed the warm weather and the chance to wear sun dresses everyday. 

(Wooo progress!!) 

But true to myself  Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year. Everything becomes crisp, and the trees are ablaze with spectacular colors of red, gold, amber, and orange. 

This is the first year that I had a nice big space to decorate for this wonderful season. Last year I bought accidentally stole (little mishap with the self-checkout at Kroger) two small pumpkins  and decorated them the best I could in our little apartment. 

Cute right? :) 

So THIS year I was uber stoked to get normal sized pumpkins and go to town! 

We had an extra hay bail from seeding our yard that Eric brought to the front for me, then I arranged the pumpkins and mums we got until I was satisfied. Then I drug my chalkboard menu window out of our hallway (where it has been since move-in day) and drew some festive fall pictures on it. 

This was made from a shutter I bought from Building Value for $4. I attached some fake flowers I had in a vase to it with some wire, then tied scraps of burlap that was leftover from my Christmas wreath project (featured HERE, and the tutorial to make your own is HERE!). 

All together now!

YEAH FALL! 

Even my paint swatches go with the color scheme :) 

I have to tell you though, last night I could hardly sleep. I had visions of waking up and everything being stolen. My pumpkins smashed in the road, and my shutter and window long gone. I know we live in an "OK" neighborhood, but you just never know. 

Well low and behold, one of the pumpkins was missing this morning. Luckily it wasn't smashed, just brought all the way down the block and plopped down in someones yard. 

Idiot hooligans.

I brought everything except the hay, flowers, and my window inside before I left for work today. So hopefully it's all still sitting there when I get home. 

Have you decorated your house for Fall? Are you more of a seasonal decorator, or a Halloween decorator? I'm not one for scary stuff, so I like to keep it charming and hopefully leave it out through Thanksgiving. 

That is if my pumpkins survive...