Touche' Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn...that mecca of home decor. We all love it. We are all inspired by it. We are all prone to copy their ideas, putting our own spin on them.

Would you agree?

Several weeks ago, I got to thinking about my Christmas mantel. Hmmm...what can I do this year? So being the dork organized person that I am, I started sketching ideas so I won't be the "deer caught in the headlights" clamoring to come up with an idea for the mantel at the last minute.

I had a cool idea...involving a tree branch & some letters. (I won't share my sketch with you for fear that Carmelina from Creative Carmelina read this post. She's an amazing artist.)

I even prepared my husband, asking if he thought we could hang a tree branch from the ceiling over the mantel. (His reaction? Priceless.)

Anyway, yesterday I received my Pottery Barn catalog in the mail. It's a happy mail day when their catalog arrives.

And there right on page 91 was 90% of my idea!!

How did this happen?
Was Pottery Barn looking at my sketches?
Were they in my head?
Snooping around in my house?
Pottery Barn copied me for once?????

This is an outrage I thought! How dare they!

For all the times I copied them, most recently here in the Spring, I guess it's time to say,

" Touche' Pottery Barn, you got me!"

(Disclaimer: This is meant to be a fun post. I am not that demented that I think Pottery Barn actually copied my ideas. All in good humor.)

Have a most wonderful weekend friends!

Don't forgot to enter my Ramsign giveaway! I'll be drawing a winner sometime tomorrow.

Fall Leaves Tablescape

I would like to share a Fall tablescape with you today, but first some words to set the tone...

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came -

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

~George Cooper, "October's Party"

This table was done quite inexpensively, I hope you enjoy it.

Green & brown napkins both from Pier 1, found  on clearance, I believe just over a dollar each.  Napkin rings from Kohl's and I want to say they were 38 cents each. 

Dinner plates from Dollar Tree.  Flatware is Gibson from Christmas Tree Shop.  Now I'm not sure the price exactly, but I believe it was less than $10. 

Leaf plates from Christmas Tree Shop.  They came in 4 different colors.

Glassware from Dollar Tree.

Wicker candle holder is something I bought  in the summer of 2010 while on vacation.  Leaves from Hobby Lobby.  Little leaf dishes from Target, again on clearance, a few years back.

I will be linking this up at:

Savvy Seasons by Liz for the Autumn Arrives Party

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Thank you for stopping by today and for always leaving kind words. I really appreciate all the friendships I have made through blogging.

Just a reminder:

If you haven't entered my Ramsign giveaway, please click on the picture in my sidebar or click  here to enter.   I'll be drawing a winner on Saturday!

Halloween Favorites

Every year, I can't wait to take out my absolute favorite Halloween decorations.

My vintage looking Dee Foust pumpkin heads have stolen my heart!

I'll be linking this up to:

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Fall into Fall at DIY by Design

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit me. I really appreciate it.

PS-Please click here if you would like to enter my giveaway.

Ramsign Giveaway

I have seen Ramsign products all over blogland and I've always loved them.

Imagine my surprise when they contacted me to have a giveaway, right here on my humble little blog!

Ramsign is a Denmark-based company that manufactures classic enamel signs.

Ramsign is offering a free house number sign from 1 digit and up to 5 digits to one of my lucky readers! There are 5 different styles to choose from.

"Only Ramsign offers real old fashioned, hand stencilled signs, featuring original design, thick and glossy enamel, 30-year warranty, excellent service, free delivery, and money back guarantee."

How could you go wrong with that?

Please go to http://www.ramsign.com/ to take a look at all this company offers. They even have an impressive photo gallery that you might enjoy.

I was thinking...who says you have to use the sign outdoors? With all the creativity floating around, I'm sure one of you ladies could come up with an ingenious idea of how to use one of their signs in a different way, should you choose. I bet that'd rock all of blogland!

What I think is really great too is that Ramsign ships worldwide, so this giveaway is open to everyone!

Now, let's talk a few rules:

1. For one entry, please leave me a comment on this post.
2. For a second entry, please leave me a separate comment if you are a follower.
3. For a third entry, please post about this giveaway on your blog. Just be sure to let me know you did (in case I miss it).

(Oh & please leave me an email address if you don't have a blog so that I can contact you should you be a winner.)

How about if I draw a winner on October 15, which happens to be my birthday? That way I'll spread a little love on my day. Sound good?

Good luck!!

Double Digits

Today, my son turned double digits...he's the big 1-0 now.

We had a bowling party for him with his school friends this afternoon and a family party this evening.

It was a terrific day but right now, I am partied out.

Is my little angel really 10 years old already?
Happy Birthday to our sweet, tender-hearted comedian....we love you!

Have a nice evening friends and I'll be back tomorrow with a giveaway!

Apple Cake

The baker in me loves this time of year. Desserts made with apples or pumpkin are the epitome of Fall goodness.

Today, I would like to share an apple cake with you. I got this recipe from Taste of Home.

Adams County Apple Bundt

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups plus 5 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/3 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
2-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 medium tart apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Confectioners' sugar, optional

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, 2 cups sugar, oil, eggs, orange juice, salt and vanilla. Beat until thoroughly combined. In another bowl, toss apples with cinnamon and remaining sugar.
Spread a third of the batter into a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan.  Cover with half the apples. Repeat layers. Spoon remaining batter over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1-1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 20 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Just before serving, dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

Yield: 12-16 servings.

Hope you enjoy!

October in New York

If I had to pick a favorite season, it's no mystery that I'd pick Autumn. If I had to pick a favorite month, I would pick October.

October in New York is beautiful.

This photo was taken several years ago. We aren't at our fall foliage peak yet.

Today I got an email from Anthropologie that said....

Welcome to the finest month.

A month of cooled winds,

warmed hearths

and leaves underfoot.

What can I say? Perfectly said.