This is the time of year when people start traveling more. Or at least it seems that way to me. Summer may be the traditional time to travel with the kids being out of school, but my family always did the longer trips in the fall and early winter. It was just easier to travel then. Remember, the South has that awful oppressive heat until mid-October most of the time. So, when the weather starts cooling down is when we actually want to get out and about. This time of year is also when we start pl

One of my favorite parts of fall is the colors that the leaves turn this time of year. We usually go to a pumpkin patch or farm this time of year and we end up spending at least a few hours in the car traveling. This is when we really get to enjoy the beauty of the fall foliage. Arkansas may not be known for it’s landscape, but in the area we live, it is absolutely gorgeous. On one side of us is the Delta with its rolling fields of cotton and wheat. The cotton looks like fields of snow and the w

One of the best things about fall is the leaves turning. It is always something that seems to start slow and then suddenly every tree is covered in this crown of gold, orange, and red. It always amazes me. I may be a grownup but the changing leaves and the piles of them in the yards just make me feel like a kid again. I love being able to look out the rear of my home and see the fall foliage in all of its glory. I have a lovely little deck on the back of my house and it is just perfect for sitt

The last week or so it seems that fall has really hit the mid-south. Last week we were battling temperatures in the high 90’s. This week its only going to get up to the high 80’s right before it plunges again. I’m not a huge fan of colder weather, but I love curling up on the couch and watching tv with my family. (Anyone else obsessing over The Masked Singer?) Having a comfortable great room is a must for me and my family. We love to gather up and watch tv together. We aren’t that family that ju

So, the promised cold front came through this weekend. And, oh my goodness, it is nice! My kid is saying that she’s freezing, but I’m loving it! Now time to break out the hot chocolate mix, the scarves, gloves, and get all cozy and comfy. What? It’s going to get back up in the 80’s by the end of the week?! Crap! Well I can at least pretend while its nice. So, let’s look at some comfy, cozy things for your dream home. Cozy Additions to Great House Plans So, one of the things that I love to do th

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The other night we indulged in a little bit of a fall tradition in our house. We sat down together and watched “Hocus Pocus". I love that movie. It makes me so nostalgic for my childhood and just gets me in the mood for fall and trick or treating. (The same thing with “White Christmas" for December.) One thing that I am super envious of in the movie is the fall foliage and what seems to be nice cool weather for Halloween. Here in the South we are more likely to get tornadoes and thunderstorms th

Fall is here and the temperatures are dropping, thank goodness. I don’t know how much longer I could have taken all of that heat. Here in the south, fall is when the rain starts coming in. And when it starts turning colder, we get freezing rain. So, we know about mud. We know about the muckiness that trails you in like a hungry cat and collects on the bottoms of your shoes. So how do you deal with this situation? How do you keep your home looking fresh and beautiful when half the yard just came

Bleary eyed, you fumble for the button on your phone that cuts off your alarm. You emerge from your warm cocoon of blankets and stumble into the kitchen to make your daily brew. For over 63% of Americans, this is how their mornings begin. With a cup of delicious, energy giving coffee. I’m no different. I absolutely cannot start my day without at least one cup of coffee. There are those days where the number is closer to three before the day actually begins. In that, I’m not alone either. The usu

I stepped outside to a pleasant surprise this morning. It was actually cool! Like, not cold, but just cool enough that it felt great as we got loaded into the car. The littlest one started talking about how she was going to need her jacket soon and how the leaves on the trees were turning yellow. It was a good way to start the day and a great morning for the first official week of fall. I love fall. It’s my favorite time of year. It’s not too cold so that I feel like I’m freezing all the time, b

The end of September marks the beginning of Fall. And you know what that means! Pumpkins, scarecrows, hayrides, bonfires, and pumpkin spice lattes for everyone! I’m down for everything but the last bit. (I don’t like the taste of them.) Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year. I love it when the weather starts turning just a bit cooler and it starts to get that dry, crisp feeling. After months of oppressive heat and humidity, we all love the change in the temperature. But there is just a s

The Rustic style is something that evolved from farmers and pioneers and has become something that is very stylish and popular. So, what if you want this style for your home, but you don’t know where to start? What if you are absolutely in love with the idea of a beautiful cottage style home, but you live in a cramped little apartment in town? Don’t worry. I have you covered. I’m going to take the basics of the rustic décor and break them down so that you can find the perfect mix of styles that

When you are looking for house plans, there are many things to consider. How many bedrooms do you need? How much room do you want? Do you want a formal dining area or not? Do you want a formal living area or not? Do you want a large kitchen? All of those things need to be considered and some will need to be compromised on. One thing you absolutely cannot compromise on is the comfort that your home is going to give you. A home, especially one that you are building, should be the most comforting p

Have you ever had those days where you just didn’t want to get out of bed? Where it seems that your faithful pillow and blanket are conspiring with the cat to make your room a utopia? You know, those days when you just lay there and you are getting the perfect ratio of body coverage, pillow angles and snuggles and then the alarm goes off. Those days that make you wish you were on vacation and there wasn’t an urgent need to get up. Yeah, we’ve all had those days. I love sleeping late on the weeke

Wouldn’t you love for your home to look like a luxury mansion? Stepping into the space every day and experiencing the beauty and sophistication of a grand estate? If you’re like me, then your home is a little less Beverly Hills and a little more hillbilly. So, we are going to look at some tips and tricks to take your home to that next level. You know what? You’ve got great taste. You probably already have a lot of these elements in your home. Let’s take what we know and what we have and add some