I'll be lounging on my couch...

"I'll be lounging on my couch just chillin' in my snuggie..." Bruno Mars

Seems like once the calendar flipped past Labor Day, and the Mid-Atlantic got the thousand year rain storm, fall has blown in and in full force. The days have been crisp and the nights have been chilly.

One of the best things about the Mid-Atlantic is the seasons. Just as summer reaches an unbearable point, fall blows in... It's the time of year where you pull on ballet flats instead of flip flops to run up to Starbucks and get a Pumpkin Spice Latte instead of an Iced Mocha. You spend weekends breaking in a new pair of jeans. It's the perfect season for Burberry plaid and gingham checks.

It's the time of year where it's not quite cold enough to turn the heat on so you fight over covers and snuggle up close to stay warm. And it is the perfect time of year to update you bedroom or living room with a throw blanket.

Throws are a great opportunity to pop in some color to a neutral room or update an established color scheme with a fresh twist. 

Throw blankets fall into two categories: the Decorative Throw and the Workhorse Throw

The Decorative is just that, it is decorative and designed to give add a pop of color and texture. Decorative throws are typically smaller in size and are the perfect size for kids to snuggle up in or to keep you lap warm.  The Workhorse is a larger size and serves a more practical purpose. It is the perfect size to fold at the end of your bed or drape over your sofa.

And there are some great sales right now on a few classic throws that would be the perfect addition to any home.

Viva Terra has this luxe reversible silk fleece throw on sale right now for $64

Garnet Hill has their down and prima loft blankets on sale right now for $78 and up (depending on size, filling and color)

Gumps has done a rare thing and put their classic cashmere throw on sale for $220 plus it comes with free monograming

Gumps has also marked down their Italian Plaid Throw to $116- and that's a steal for the timeless Alpaca and Merino Wool throw

Pinecone Hill has slashed the price on their teen favorite, the pink leopard sheepy fleece,  they have it on their online outlet for a mere $27! The perfect gift for dorm dwellers or the teen that has everything.

So grab your now because Autumn is right around the corner

Birds of a feather...

There is something about Thanksgiving that stirs a desire within me to go live in a Ralph Lauren ad.The combination of the autumnal colors, the chilly mornings that beckon boots and sweaters, the sweet and savory smells, the thankfulness in everyone's hearts and the emergence of feathers as part of decor just make me happy and cozy!
This year I spent Thanksgiving with my sister and brother-in-law and their new little turkey and I have to admit I was really excited to use their wedding china...unlike me they are quite the outdoorsy sort ( I am more the cocktails on a patio type of outdoorsy) so when they chose their china and selected the Spode Woodland pattern my first thought was: I can't wait to have Thanksgiving on these plates! With each plate having a different woodland creature on it it is a bit of a game to clean your plate and see what yours is..good way to get a little one to clean their plate!

While I am not the hunting sort of girl (I am a good shot however) I am the pheasant feather decor kind of girl!

Feathers a a perfectly good alternative to greenery for the holidays...no watering, no needles falling off

a stylish feather adorned wreath can take you from Thanksgiving straight through the holidays

I have to admit I am also really loving the idea of donning some feather accessories for a little Black Friday action...

or might turn it up a notch and go high fashion with some very chic feathers, compliments of Sir Salvatore Ferragamo and Ralph Lauren

works for Carrie...works for me!

For all you crazy birds out there flocking to the early morning sales I wish you luck on your Black Friday adventures!

photos:Etsy, Elle, Sex and the City, Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, HouseandHome, Spode

I love a good conspiracy theory...

Did you ever notice the tiny little owl on the 1 dollar bill? If you have read (or seen the movie versions) of any of Dan Brown's novels you have heard of the Illuminati... well apparently according to Illuminatus Mythology the owl is a sign of the Occult and those pesky forefathers of ours loved putting their little symbols everywhere...

So this really isn't about old symbols rather the trend in owls that is still soaring.

Gorgeous fall nights seem fitting to think about owls! Owls are often portrayed as old and wise, so why not add a little wisdom to your life!

The every knowing owl keeps watch over the living room

This large vase also doubles as a great umbrella stand

The wisdom of the owl is not just staying in grow-up rooms... owls are trending high in nurseries these days

And sice the wise old owl has been hanging around for so many hundreds of years, in legends and in fashion there are some amazing vintage owls to had these days...

photos: NewYork Estate Jewelry, Illuminatus Observor, Project Nursery, Etsy, Global Views

Fall in love...

I am lucky enough to live in one of the most beautiful places ever- Central Virginia is blessed to have seasons! Just when summer has reached it's boiling point and the flood of UVA students back into town is enough to make me want to move the season turns and Fall sneaks in an I fall in love with this town all over again. We have amazing vineyards (totally biased to Veritas at the left- they are my ultimate favorite local vineyard!), we have chic pumpkin patches- I mean really...how adorable are these pumpkin topiaries I found at the side of the highway pumpkin patch?? I was really temped to make one of these but instead stole my college roommate's idea and made a monogrammed pumpkin- yes I do love a good monogram...

My town or rather...My-ville (come on do you know how often I hear Charlotte from Charlottesville??) is filled with people, like my big brother, who went to UVA and fell in love and never left. Resulting in a population that is obsessed with the color orange. While I am a tried and true Carolina Girl (I will pull for UNC and NCSU over UVA any day of the week) this time of year I find myself going over to the bright side and being drawn to the orange family for inspiration. While I will point out that Mother Nature does use Carolina Blue in almost all her palettes her fall palettes warm my spirits and make me want to recreate the fall feeling in my living room.  


If you stick with neutrals on big pieces then you can bring in these luscious warm tones to capture that feeling. Gorgeous textures like velvet are perfect for this color palette and throw pillows are a great place to splurge on a luxe fabric like velvet. Fall even inspires me to pull in more themed accessories and accessories that bring the outside in.

Fall also beckons me to use leather...I love a good leather sofa, there is nothing more durable. I can truly attest to that as I have a hand me down leather sofa that is older than me!  A great leather sofa or chair is an investment worth making and if you take care of it properly it will last for ever ( I use saddle soap on mine!) Choose a timeless style...channel your inner Ralph Lauren the master at classics- you don't have to buy RL but they do know how to do a timeless leather sofa... Maybe the leather pulls me back to my horseback riding days but it works because a classic leather sofa is a purchase I promise you will not regret.

I don't know if it is the pull of the harvest season, the slight chill in the air or the classic civility of fox hunting but I love fall. If you haven't had a fall in Virginia you have to experience it then take home the inspriation and memories and make it your own.

So if you are feeling rather blah and want to create a cozy space- look outside because right now Mother Nature is giving us a can't fail color palette to inspire!

pictures from: Veritas Vineyard, Ralph Luren Home, Fox Hunting VA, Roost, HGTV, Jaipur Rugs