Warmly Fall

Good Morning,

The time of fall is fast approaching. Although some retailers have been hot on the trail for a month or more, we the consumers tend to move a little slower in order to savor the season. I used the title "Warmly Fall" because the weather is still warm as fall slips in.

Speaking of warm, Starbucks has their Pumpkin Spice Latte and Salted Carmel Mocha available now. In fact this is the sign on their door so what better way to welcome fall. We are all ready to see some pretty tree colors and happy pumpkins on the porch. Lots of places already have their mums out. I usually wait a little bit to put them out because they don't last very long. But the temptation to move from one season to another is calling my name.

I did pick up some new fall things but I'll post those later as the decorating begins. This post is just to encourage you to get your antenna up for all the changes. But don't let that guy at Walmart tell you it's going to be a really bad winter because somebody saw a wooly worm rolled over to the left on their sidewalk. LOL. That will put a damper on the beautiful fall appearing daily.

Here are a few pictures to help your anticipation!

Look there is some orange showing out on that tree. In case you can't tell fall is my second favorite time of the year with Christmas being my most favorite. I don't want to rush things but it is only a little over 100 days until Christmas. But never mind that today just get out and breath the fresh air and enjoy the sunshine. 

Why not spend a few minutes looking for fall in your neighborhood!

A Neat and Tidy House

Happy Labor Day!

Lately I've seen so many books about how to clean your house or maintain it after you get it organized. The title of the most recent one is "Tidying Up." The old version of that is called picking up after yourself. My dad always told me to have a place for everything and put everything in it's place. Wow! That has been more than fifty years ago. Sad to say there is nothing magical about putting something back where it belongs after you use it.

Sometimes we just have to hear something said in a different way in order to get an understanding of it. So here is my take on "A Neat and Tidy House". I once heard someone say you can't organize clutter. We all have some of it. One person wants to keep everything and another doesn't keep much of anything. Neither of these extremes is correct. We have to have balance in our life. Here's an example: My parents came from the great depression. During that time in history you had what you had and you better hang on to it because you might need it. After they passed away and I was left with a thirteen room house to clean out. Oh, my word. You just wouldn't believe the little pieces of string and the rusty nails stashed away. Mind you they had probably been in the same place for thirty or forty years. So I have seen a lot of clutter in my lifetime.

The same person who said you can't organize clutter also said you shouldn't have anything in your house that does not make you smile. When you have so many hand me downs or do dads from so many different people it's hard to let them go. But when all that stuff doesn't make you happy it maybe time to take a picture of it and pass it on to someone else. Now don't misunderstand me. I have things I have kept from my family. I just don't have bunches of them. I kept the most important ones so I would remember them. The ones I did keep do in fact make me smile.

When you pare down you will discover your own personal design then you will want to keep things neat and tidy because you are enjoying your home. Plus if you designate a place for everything and you put it back where you got it everything will be neat.

You can get somebody to come in organize and decorate your home but if you don't maintain it you will be right back in a mess. I really believe a lot of the time the reason we don't pick up after ourself is because we don't like our home. You could be overwhelmed by all that needs to be done and don't know where to begin. You just have to start one area at a time and do a little each day. As you are working in your little area begin to find a place for things and practice maintaining your "new neat and tidy." Little by little one day at a time you will have gone through your whole house. Then all you have to do is make sure you tidy up every day by looking for things that are not in their place.

There is really no need to buy a book telling you in a bunch of words just two things. Have place for everything and always pick up after yourself by putting it back in the place where you found it.

"Tidy and Neat" to all!

The Scent of Fall

Good Afternoon Thrifty Folks!

Fall has so many wonderful scents associated with it. Cinnamon and spice and everything nice as well as all things pumpkin.

As I was leaving the grocery store this morning I smelled cinnamon and it took my breath away. I am a sucker for candles or air fresheners. I like for our house to smell so warm and inviting that no one will want to leave. We have all expericenced "house-a -tosis" either at someone else's house or our own. It just seems like houses pick up smells and sometimes we don't even realize it. So I am always on the lookout for good smelling things.

Kroger had their cinnamon brooms outside the door just laying there waiting for me. Of course I had already checked out but I was quick to return in order to get the first fall scent. The brooms were 2 for $7.00 but they were $9.00 each with a bow. I immediately moved into Thrifty Sissy mode. There is a lot of ribbon in my sewing room and I can tie a bow so I opted to save $5.50. Really, $5.50 for a bow. Now I realize their ribbon might be a little fancier than mine but $5.50 goes a long way at our house.

I usually get one of these brooms and put it on the door to the garage. This is a great welcome home for us plus the garbage can is very near the door so it helps with that situation too. I hope this will whet your whistle to get yourself a fall cinnamon welcome home too.  After all $3.50 is a small price to pay for a whiff of the upcoming season.

 
Fall Thrifty to You!!!