Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Decorating for Fall!

Today's Fifty Two Shades of Shay is a peek inside our rent house!  We have decorated for fall over here!

Let me start by saying this...in December when Andrew suggested we sell our house and move into a rental for a year while the new house was being built (and put half of our things in storage), my very first statement was this, "as long as I can still decorate the house for each season and you will shuttle all of my decorations to me from storage".  He agreed...and therefore, I agreed.  I don't mind living in temporary housing...but I want it to feel like home. 

 Here is my philosophy about decorating for holidays...you should do it whenever it makes YOU happy.  I know I tend to decorate early.  I decorated my house for fall on August 28 and will most likely decorate my house for Christmas mid-November.  If it makes you happy to do it early, then do it.  If it makes you happy to wait a while, then that's great too.  In my opinion, it's a lot of work, so I want to enjoy it as long as I possibly can...so, I do it early.  To each her own.

Here are my other thoughts on decorating for fall...

1. I try and put out mostly fall decorations and not Halloween.  I feel like this way, I'm getting to celebrate the entire season instead of just one holiday.  That being said, you will see some Halloween specific decorations in my house...but I really try and get mostly fall things.

2. I leave everything up past October 31.  If I'm going to decorate for Christmas mid-November, then I don't want to take down everything on November 1 and wait a few weeks until I put my Christmas stuff out.  Jack-o-lanterns make us happy in November too, so I don't mind leaving them out.

3. I don't host Thanksgiving at my house, so it doesn't matter to me that on Thanksgiving Day, I have Christmas decor up and not Thanksgiving decor (no one is coming over to see it).  That being said, I am very thankful on Thanksgiving for my Christmas stuff being up and my house twinkling, so I think it's perfectly acceptable to have a tree up on Turkey Day...again, to each her own...this is just how I roll.

4. I have collected fall decorations for 10 years now...I know some of you are going to ask, but I do not remember where I purchased every specific item.  If I mention where it was purchased below, then it's a recent enough purchase where you could run out and get one too.  If I don't mention it below, then I probably got it at Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, a little boutique, Pier One or some place like that.

Welcome to our one and only fall at the rent house...

I love my front porch at this house because it's nice and wide.  Our last house had a narrow porch.  The stone pumpkins look so neat at night lit up with candles.  I found them in Joplin at Sandstone Gardens.

I incorporate a lot of candy into my house each time I decorate for a season.  Since it's fall, candy corn flows from every little container I can find.  My kids don't touch it...probably because there is some kind of candy out all the time.  Since it's always out, it doesn't appeal to them.  

This is on my dining room table.  At Christmas, I'll put out red and green M&Ms and at Valentine's Day, conversation hearts, for Easter, jelly beans, etc.  It's a bright and colorful way to add a little season into everyday objects.

A peek into our family room.

The light was too bright to really show you my garland.  I put up garland on the mantle for fall along with some pumpkins.

My kids' favorite part of fall decorating is when I put out the spook house!  It's a Department 56 Spook House and can play haunting sounds and the little lights flash inside.  

I change out my kitchen table place mats, cookbook and candle...and top it off with a big pumpkin.

I love my subway art :).  I had a friend of mine make this for me last year.  You can find several people on Etsy that can make the same kind of subway art for you too.  Just take your favorite printable and have them turn it into a sign.

My kitchen rug makes me happy :).  It came from Hobby Lobby.

I found these pumpkin plates at TJ Maxx Home Goods this month!  They're really cute and come in several sizes.  I also have out my Gooseberry Patch fall cookbooks (I must admit...I have 9 of them!).  I love these little cookbooks!

By my sink, I always have another cookbook, a Circle E Candle and my favorite Williams-Sonoma soap.

I first bought Spiced Chestnut soap when we lived in Michigan 9 years ago.  Every time we use it, we think of the Village of Rochester Hills.  That was one of my very favorite places to shop and eat.  I love Michigan in the fall :).

My coffee bar...the most important spot in my house!

On one side of my stove...

...and then, the other side of my stove...and my most treasured possession...

...two years ago, Sheaffer had someone come into her home and help us make these plates with our kiddos' hand and foot prints.  I have one for fall and one for Christmas.  I love these so much!!

I usually have the kids open little gifts on the morning of the first day of school that contain Halloween jammies, Halloween undies and something else special (this year, Pottery Barn Halloween plates), but this year, we let them open their gifts before dinner the day we decorated for fall.  It was more fun doing it this way because for one, we weren't scrambling to get out the door for school and two, they could immediately put their pjs on (which they love to do!).

Waiting to be opened

And then we ended our night in our new Gymboree skeleton jammies which glow in the dark :).

I'm not the only one blogging about fall decorations today... Erika is too!  

Erika is showing you inside her new home and her fall inspirations on her blog today!  You won't want to miss this...it's like Fifty Two Shades of Erika as well :).

Step inside Erika's house for fall!

And if you're still looking for some more fall inspiration, don't forget to check out my fall board on Pinterest.  I have more fall there than you would know what to do with!

I also have a delicious assortment of fall recipes on my foodie blog!   

And one last thing...tomorrow morning at 9:00 AM, I'll be cooking in the kitchen at Good Morning Texas!  We're cooking up quick and easy breakfast solutions for busy families!

Speaking of breakfast, this morning on the foodie blog...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pancakes!

Have a great Tuesday!

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Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Coffee

In this world, there are coffee drinkers and then there is everyone else.  Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about and some of you don't get it at all (you would be in the second group).  Coffee is more than just a drink, it's an experience...every.single.time.

I love coffee.  Really and truly, if I were to be doing my Fifty Two Shades in order of importance, my first post would have been Jesus and my second post would have been coffee :).  

 I decided to wait and do my coffee post at the beginning of September for two reasons...first, it's getting cooler outside and that just demands coffee, and the second reason...

...Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte is back for the fall!

Today just seemed like the perfect day to celebrate coffee!

So, how do I get my coffee?  Well, I drink at least two cups a day.  My first cup is always right when I wake up.  As soon as my alarm goes off and my eyes pop open, I head straight to my coffee.  I get excited about my coffee in the morning!  We use our Keurig Single Cup Platinum Brewer at home...

Here's why we love our Keurig:

1. It allows everyone in the house to drink whatever they want without having to brew an entire new batch of coffee.  If some people want flavored, if some people want tea, if some people want decaf, if some people want stronger coffee...you get to pick that and not brew an entire pot.

2. You get a fresh cup of coffee every time.  I like to drink coffee throughout the day (especially if it's cold or raining outside), so I keep getting fresh cups of hot coffee and not stale, old, made it a few hours ago coffee.

3. It's so simple to clean!  You only have to wash your coffee cup!  When you brew a pot of coffee, you have to wash out your coffee pot and your filter...but not with the Keurig...just your cup!

 I like to buy my coffee from Coffee Giant.  

My grandparents told me about this website years ago and I've been hooked ever since.  They ship quickly and their prices on coffee (especially the K-Cups that go into a Keurig) are great!  It's much less expensive than buying in stores like Walmart or Target and they have an unbelievable variety!  Right now, I'm drinking a lot of Green Mountain's Pumpkin Spice and Andrew drinks Donut House's Chocolate Glazed Donut.

Some of our other favorite K-Cup flavors are:

Caramel Vanilla Cream

French Vanilla

Hawaiian Coconut (which is seasonal)

I love my coffee with one Truvia and some creamer but this time of year, I'm excited about this...

 Ahhhh...it's such a wonderful site to see my favorite fall and holiday creamers in the grocery store :).

So, my first cup of coffee is brewed at home in my Keurig with some Coffee Giant Coffee and creamer.  But my second cup a day always comes from...

Starbucks :).

I'm Shay and I'm an addict.  I have no plans of reforming.  I enjoy this dependency too much.

Nine months out of the year, I get a tall nonfat Caramel Macchiato every day.  Is there really anything better than that green and white cup?  Yes, there is...

...the red cup.  (All of you Starbucks lovers out there know what I'm talking about!)  

The other 3 months a year, I'm a nonfat Pumpkin Spice Latte girl.

My name is Shay...and I love coffee.

Next week, it's Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Decorating your House for Fall!

Happy Tuesday!

And if you missed my first Meal Planning Monday yesterday, click here to see it!  I'm trying to simplify your dinner routine one meal at a time.

I'm also giving away one free entry in the Workout Mama's online bootcamp!  

Click here for a chance to win!

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Fifty Two Shades of Shay: The Scent(s) of this Woman

The whole point of my Fifty Two Shades of Shay series is for you to get to know me better.  Sometimes, by getting to know me, I might have a useful tip or a great pair of wedges to show you.  Today, it's all about the way this mama smells.  And I smell pretty darn good!

I don't know when I became obsessed with scents but it's an absolute obsession.  My mom isn't a scent person.  She has probably 15 bottles of random perfume at her house that she uses...but for me, I adore scents and I wear them depending on the season...they're important to me.  I love, love, love bath gel, lotions, body sprays and perfumes.  Today's post is all about my good scents ;).

(As a side note, I was not in any way paid by Bath and Body Works for what I'm about to say about their products...but if they'd like to send me a thank you note a bunch of free lotion, I'd be happy to supply my address!)

From March through August, I use this fabulous lotion and shower gel...

Bath and Body Work's Lemon Vanilla scent is my go-to spring and summer lotion/shower gel.  Every year, they say it's seasonal and won't ever be back...and every year, it comes back.  In January, they always bring it back as part of their big 75% off sale and so I stock up.  I keep it in my gym bag and my bathroom.  It's a scent that will just make you happy.  I use the shower gel and lotion but since I shower at night, in the morning when I wake up, I feel like I need a great perfume that compliments the Lemon but has a sophisticated and lovely scent...so, that's when I spritz on my favorite spring/summer perfume...

I only wear two perfumes and Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb is one of them.  I wear it every day during the spring and summer and it always smells light and fresh.  I love it.  I love perfume because it can define you.  A person can be remembered by their cologne/perfume...and trust me, I'd love for you to remember me by this one!

After the warm months of summer, I am practically giddy over my fall scents.  And when I say giddy, I mean, I refresh my Bath and Body Works webpage over and over again, hound the people in store and scour my inbox for emails about their Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin scent.  

I'm not lying...two weeks ago, I called Andrew during the middle of the day and said, "This has been the best day ever!", and he said, "What?  Did they get your pumpkin lotion in?".  And they had.  And that's why it was the best day.  And that's why he's a good husband...because he knows stuff like that.

The first time I bought this stuff was my freshman year of college 13 years ago...and I stock up and hoard this stuff like some kind of animal preparing for winter.  I swear the weather in Texas cools off a good 30 degrees just by me wearing this (at least in my head it does).  

Right now, you should go buy yourself some.  It's amazing how a little bottle of lotion can perk you up and make your day just a little brighter.  My mom always told me that she appreciated the fact that something as simple as lotion or a candle could make me so happy.  I'm a firm believer in that it's the little things in life that give us the greatest joy.  Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin equals joy.

Find it all right here!

And what perfume do I pair with my fall and winter scents?  My absolute favorite perfume in the world...it makes me smile every morning when I put it on...

Burberry Brit.

I have no words.  It's wonderful.  It's my favorite.  I will never not wear it.  I love it.  Do you get how passionate I am here people?  

But...I'm not done.  I'm saving the very best for last.  Yes, I love the Lemon Vanilla in the spring and summer and yes, the Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin makes me cozy and warm...but what scent is my absolute favorite, I've blogged about it for years, I've named a bundt cake after it, I once bought an entire case of it...it is my favorite and I still have 8 bottles left from last year to take me until this November when they bring it back...

Vanilla Bean Noel.

Let's just pause and pay our respects to the best smell ever created.

I'm obsessed with this stuff to a level you just don't understand.  I keep a bottle in my purse 365 days a year.  I wear it daily from November through the first warm day of spring, but I always have it with me in case I need a little extra something happy.  It's the best.   

Just you wait until this November when it hits the stores and online...you will see it and think of me.  They should just go ahead and get rid of the reindeer and put my face right on the bottle.  

So now I want to know...what scents make you happy?  What do you wear?  Scents are so important!  We recall memories from a scent, we think of people we've lost and loved from scents.  Scents can be very powerful.  What's your scent?  I would love to know!

Next week, we move from one vice to another in my life...it's Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Coffee.  Enough said?

Today on the foodie blog, a quick and easy breakfast casserole that we like to eat for dinner!

Have a great day!

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Fifty Two Shades of Shay: Organizing & Storing your Jewelry

And today's Shade of Shay...organizing and storing that wonderful jewelry of yours!

You know how I love my jewelry, right?  I love my bangles and my big earrings...I love to wear all of it at once.  But what do I do with it when I take it all off?  I store it carefully.  The thing about jewelry is that it's fabulous, fun and the best way to make any old tee shirt and jeans shine...but if it's a big tangled mess in some jewelry box, you might as well throw it out.

About two years ago, I decided enough already.  I was so tired of reaching for an earring only to find one of the two.  I was tired of grabbing a necklace only to see that it was caught and twisted around 4 other necklaces.  And I was tired of wearing the same 3 bangles every day because I couldn't really see or get to all of mine, and so I just wore the same ones over and over again.  

One day, I dumped all of my jewelry out on my bedroom floor.  All of it.  I sorted it, threw away what was broken, divided it into piles (gold bracelets, silver bracelets, necklaces, earrings, watches, rings and very special pieces from my family).  I looked at what I had left there on my bedroom floor, wrote down a few notes and then went to The Container Store for some solutions to my jewelry madness.  And this is what I came up with...

1. First and foremost, I took all of my very special family jewelry that I don't wear but need to keep forever and placed it somewhere safe (not pictured).  I didn't want that being confused with my fun costume jewelry any longer, and I especially didn't want it damaged.

2. Next, I tacked my earrings....

These are all of my earrings, each in their own little sandwich bag inside a plastic box with lid.

See :)

Each pair is inside the bag and placed in the box.  This way in the morning, I can just look through the box, find a pair for the day and go.  I always have two of each pair, they're not damaged and they're really easy to look through since they're all laying on top of each other in the box.  Plus, since they're in the plastic box with a lid, I can stick that box in any convenient spot I have in my bathroom (and not just in a jewelry box).  My plastic box is inside a drawer that houses my hairdryer, flat iron, hair brush, etc.  My earrings are safe and protected and valuable jewelry box space isn't used up.

3. I took the exact same approach with my necklaces.  I found a bigger box with a lid and placed each of my necklaces in a sandwich bag inside.  Every necklace is safe and protected and most importantly, not getting tangled up with other necklaces.  I can just look through the box each morning to find one that suits me for the day.  I know some people hang their necklaces, but I don't have wall space for that.  I like to just close this up and stick it under my bathroom counter.  Easy.

My necklaces.  Because the baggies are clear, they're a cinch to look through and find the perfect necklace for the day.

My gorgeous Bauble Bar necklace is safe and sound.

4. And then of course, there are my bracelets.  I love my bracelets.  I have so many bracelets that I divide mine up into two categories, gold and silver.  If you don't have as many bracelets, then you only need one box...but for me, I need two.  

I found a great compartment box at the Container Store and use that for my bracelets.  Every morning, I just open up a box, pick a few bracelets (or maybe 9), load up my wrist and go.  By using the compartment boxes, I'm able to see the bracelets at one time and then really decide how I want to mix and match them for the day.

These are my gold bracelets :)

And my silver bracelets (I wear much more gold than silver).

 5. And for watches and rings, I decided to get one good jewelry box from Pottery Barn and go from there...

This is just your basic old jewelry box but I only keep watches and rings inside (and a few bracelets that I tend to wear every single day with my other bracelets from the bracelet box).

Inside on the first level.

And down below on the second level.  

I'm not going to lie...piling on my jewelry has been so much simpler (and faster!) now that I have a good storage system in place.  Plus, I really feel like I'm wearing more of the jewelry and getting my money's worth now that I can easily access everything.

And don't forget, this week, I'm doing a Stella & Dot giveaway!  Talk about fabulous jewelry!  Click here for more details and to enter to win my big prize!

Thanks for stopping by to see how I store all of my jewelry!  I bet some of you just assumed I slept in it and never took it off :).

And today over on Sheaffer's blog is her 

Shopping with Sheaffer and Shay: Back To School Edition!

I showed you my post about shopping for girls clothes and today, Sheaffer is showing you boy clothes.  You must go check it out!! 

Check out dinner tonight...

BBQ Baked Chicken Tacos!

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