Fall Leaf Garland

Something magical I have noticed about Texas is the way the leaves fall. I sometimes sit in my backyard amazed by the movement of all the trees and the way they shower our backyard with their greenery. Our backyard looks like a forest from some angles, and all these trees bring an abundance of leaves. Being that it is Fall, I decided to put all the leaves to use and make a simple festive garland! This little cutie took all of 10 minutes and I loved the way she turned out.

You will need:

• Needle
• Thread
• Leaves
• Ribbon

Needle the thread through the thickest part of the leaves stem. Once you have strung your thread through all the leaves, secure your ribbon to each end. You're done! 

Eucalyptus Wreaths

I regret to report that I do not have a mantle. For some reason, every time the holidays roll around, I am far more aware of one's absence in my house. Mantles are for Christmas decorations and garlands. Period. I decided it would be super fun to bring cheery greenery into my house in the form of wreaths. I want to hang these three together somehow for a Christmasy little wall. Wreaths are so beautiful and timeless; I am certain they will make just as much of an impact as a mantle would. Follow my steps bellow. 

You will need:

• Silver Dollar Eucalyptus
• seeded Eucalyptus
• scissors
• twine or string
• cotton balls (optional)

• I start out by cutting the good pieces of the branches in about the same length. 

• Cluster three or more pieces and secure together tightly. 

• Once you have all your little clusters, attach them by twine again into a garland! Then form into a circle and secure by twine one last time. Then, I added some torn up cotton balls to mimic snow. This is totally optional but I think its cute! 

Holidays in a pot

I love the holidays - mainly Christmas. When October is coming to a close I kind of start to panic because I am soooooo EXCITED about what is ahead of me! I love the smells, the cold weather, (which is extra welcome this year after my first southern summer), I love decorating, I love buying people gifts, I LOVE THE MUSIC, I LOVE it all. Today it is dumping rain, I got a tornado warning, our house is inches from being flooded but I am inside and warm; I am thankful. I decided no better day to sooth fears and relax by making my house smell cozy, Christmassy, and festive. I'm sitting here watching Top Chef, sipping coffee, listening to the rain and smelling heaven. I feel content. I hope everyone throws together this simple concoction! This isn't just a Christmas thing; it is perfect for Thanksgiving, too!

You will need:

4 cinnamon sticks

1 and a half oranges

1 1/2 cups of cranberries

1 tablespoons of cloves

drip of vanilla

 Combine all of the ingredients in a pot and fill 3/4 of the way with water. Cook until boiling then reduce to a simmer! You can let simmer for 4-5 hours adding water if you need it. Save overnight in fridge and bring it out the next day!

Fall Wreath

I am obsessed with holiday wreaths, WHEN THEY ARE DONE RIGHT. Nothing worse than those million dollar wreaths behind the Michael's craft store checkout, but nothing is better than a rustic natural wreath.I was at Trader Joe's and found this grapevine wreath for $3.99, which is just an amazing deal. I got it and stuffed it with berries and leaves found in my yard. It took all of 15 minutes but turned out beautiful. Our current front door is a pretty funky orange which happens to be great match for this. I even toyed around with hanging it inside! You don't need a front door to make one of these, they are pretty anywhere! 

DIY Coffee Table Cactus Garden

I love the variation of cactus' and succulents. To me they are like jewels of the earth with their pristine shapes and their unexpected blooms. A while back I scored this really neat rectangular gold planter at a thrift store for like 10 cents and I knew I wanted to fill it with something special. A trip to home depot later I have this neat high-end looking coffee table piece for a grand total 25 bucks! 

You will need:

-some sort of pot or bowl

-cactus or succulents

-potting soil

-decorative rocks 

If whatever planter you choose does not have holes you must add them! Holes are crucial for drainage when watering your cactus. I used a hammer and nails to poke a couple across the bottom. 

Add your potting soil nearly to the rim. You need to add enough dirt to cover the plants roots entirely. 

Decide on your placement and be careful not to stab yourself! 

Add your gravel.

Wa La! 

Christmas wrapping - 4 ways!

This morning I wrapped presents for children with parents in prison. The experience made me cry, imagining what the kids' lives were really like and that maybe that one gift I wrapped would be all they would receive this year. This season really is about giving, as cliche as that may sound. Giving is an act of love. It is in our human nature to want to accumulate more for ourselves, but when we give, we consider others as being more important than ourselves- this is SELFLESS, an action of love! You should check out Angel Tree, an awesome organization that gives you an opportunity to bless a child. All this wrapping got me thinking just how touching it is to receive a gift. It truly feels even better to give one! I decided half the beauty of a gift is in the wrapping. I grabbed some things around my house, like cooking string, snips of branches off of my christmas tree, and leaves that look like holly from a tree outside. Adding these simple things make your gifts that much more beautiful. With a little effort looking around the house I was able to make these gifts appear that much more special.