Made it to Friday!  This week felt long at our house.. anyone else?  And busy.  Although it was one of those weeks where I felt busy, but at the same time I didn’t feel like I was getting much done.  I’m not a fan of days/weeks like that!  I was putting out too many little fires and not eating my frogs.  ;)  (If you haven’t read Eat that Frog it’s a favorite!  And clearly one I need to re-read.)  But enough about fires and frogs.  Let’s talk about trays!  How was that for a topic transition?  Ha.

I use trays when I decorate all of the time but I especially love using trays for holiday decorating!  They are such a perfect accessory to style with a little holiday cheer.  Use them to hold pumpkins and a Fall candle in October (spiced cider is my current favorite!), a vase with olive branches in November, and ornaments with some greenery in December.  I love using trays on my kitchen counters, dining tables, coffee tables, and console tables.  ALL tables need a tray!  Well.. most of them in my house do anyway. ;)  I’ve shared several of these favorite trays throughout my home in various posts already, but thought I’d round up my top 6 trays at the moment because they are making me happy.

*affiliate links used

{antiqued metal decorative tray/dining table/rug}

This antiqued metal tray is my most recent favorite.  I have the large size on my dining room table and it’s absolutely beautiful in person!

{eucalyptus swag/candles}

Aren’t the handles fun!?  And the rust gold is perfection.  I love the large size for long tables.  I styled it the same way I styled my coffee table with simple greenery, candles, white mini pumpkins and gold pinecones.  We slide the tray to the end of the table at dinner time and turn on the candles.  They light up with a little remote and create such a cozy vibe in the evening!  I’m getting excited to style it for Christmas.  There are so many fun ways to use this gorgeous tray!

{gold round tray/white jar/anthro candle}

I’ve shared this lacquer wood round tray a few different times.  I love puling it out for the holidays every year!  Aside from the pretty style I also love the size of this tray.  It’s just right for a kitchen island.  Big enough to hold a few fun items, but it doesn’t take up too much precious counter space.

{Cambria Dishes/Pumpkin Dishes/Mirror Tray}

I love this brass cafe mirror tray so much I bought two of them!  I keep one in my kitchen below my glass cabinets..

{organized jewelry details and sources}

and I have one in my bathroom.

It holds decorative bowls that hold all of my earrings.  Such a beautiful tray that can be used a variety of ways!

{marble and gold tray/oil bottle}

I recently shared this fun marble and gold serving tray.. love it so much!  I’m just now noticing that all the trays I’ve shared so far have gold handles.  Nothing wrong with being predictable. :)

(Sidenote:  This has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but when I went to World Market’s website to get the link for this tray I started looking around (job hazard) and came across this desk and isn’t it absolutely perfect!?  So fun for a teen bedroom or offie space and a great price.  I spent 15 minutes trying to figure out why we need it.  Spoiler – we don’t.  We all have desks already and I’m kind of bummed about that after seeing this one!  Maybe one of you were meant to have it?)  

{similar marble lazy susan}

I have fun plans for my lazy susan this Nov/Dec too.  If it’s not holding decor it’s perfect for cheese and crackers or holiday cookies!

{rectangle woven tray/neutral plaid table runner}

Last but not least you can’t go wrong with a great basket tray for the holidays and this tray is absolutely beautiful in person!  It’s so large and I love the brown handles.  This is my friend’s table and her house looks so cute for Fall!

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Those are my 6 favorite holiday trays at the moment!  I’m excited to dress them up again for Christmas. :)

Since we’re talking Target and I’m sharing a pic from my friend’s house.. isn’t her front porch cute too!?  I gave her the lanterns.. the rug and wreaths are also Target!  I rounded up some of my favorites for Fall from Target for an IG story a few weeks ago so I’ll add that collage below.  Some of the items have sold out but a lot of times they come back in stock so check back if you love something!  Or they might still have things at your local store.  Fall decor is pretty picked over at mine so I mostly order on-line.

Cute Fall Target Rugs:

{golden aspen leaves/yellow glass pumpkin/white ceramic vase/berry wreath/plaid table runner/brass round gold tray/woven rectangle tray (smaller version)/gold bowl/

clay grey vase/love fall most of all mat/pumpkin spice candle/plaid throw pillow/cable knit pillow}

I hope my tray round up gave you a few fun decorating ideas!  Enjoy the end of your week and make sure to spend some time re-charging.

Because next week.. we eat our frogs!

;)

Well!  It has been a week!  And a few days.  I hope you’re all doing well. :)  We have been adjusting to our new norm around here and it has felt good being back on some sort of a schedule!  I’ll be honest.. getting into a groove and routine with work while my girls and Kenny are still working/doing school from home has been a challenge.  They each pop into my most used “office” (aka the kitchen and family room) multiple times a day and it is making it a little tough to take pictures and share decor.  Ha!  I had big plans of knocking out all of my Fall decor and taking a bunch of pictures and posting a full home tour, but that might not be in the cards this year.  I’m pretty much taking it one day at a time right now so we’ll see!  For now instead I’ll just share what I’ve done so far.  With all of the heartache going on around us right now and our hazy skies that have been a constant reminder of the fires (so devastating) it has been easy to feel down.  It’s so therapeutic for me to take a little bit of time each day to get lost in decorating and feel some excitement for the upcoming season.  Little things like that bring joy and now more than ever we all need something that brings joy in our lives!

I’ll link all sources below but you can also find most items on this Fall decor favorites page. (*affiliate links used)

{eucalyptus garland (similar garland I’m using in another room here)/eucalyptus wreath/gold mirror (comes in black too!)/faux pumpkins/serving boards similar here, here and here/marble lazy susan here and here/gold round tray/white jar/anthro candle/herringbone rugs/similar faux olive branches}

I was looking for a mirror or something large for my family room mantle and came across this gold mirror.  Too small for over my fireplace but it was the perfect size for over my stove and I’ve loved the change!  It dressed up our kitchen and I love bringing more gold into my home during the holidays.  I added my garland and a few of these faux pumpkins with some real mini white pumpkins to complete the look.  Does my Fall decor give a small nod to Christmas with garlands and wreaths?  Why yes.  Yes it does.  Do I feel bad about that?  Not one bit.  This is 2020 and anything goes.  I’ll probably put up one of my Christmas trees in early October.  Kole can deck it with bats and spiders and I won’t feel one bit bad about that either.

This year we all get a pass.  You do you. ;)

{marble and gold tray/oil bottle}

You might have noticed in the picture above that I used my lazy susan next to my stove to hold our wooden spoons, salt and pepper, etc.  I loved the look but the elevated lazy susan was too high for my oven hood.  I found this gorgeous inexpensive marble and gold tray that is a better fit for this spot and love the way it turned out!  I always get lots of questions about my utensil crock and it sold out but I found some cute similar options I’ll link below.

This was my butler’s pantry last year.

{flour/sugar canisters/similar marble board/white bowl/natural basket/eucalyptus swag/linen glass pumpkin/white jar/similar beads/similar wood bowl/gold pinecones}

I started decorating it this year and then looked at last year’s picture and laughed!  Without knowing or trying I did something really similar.  Guess I have a method and style I gravitate to!  I might add more to this shelf but thought I’d share how it’s looking at the moment.  Also my new indoor step ladder has become my new BFF!  LOVE having it for seasonal decorating.

{September 2018}

I’m always climbing all over my counters this time of year so you can see why my step ladder and I are so tight. ;)

I was beyond ready to take down my patriotic summer pics on my shiplap wall in our hallway, but not quite feeling ready for Halloween.  I had a notebook full of 12×12 scrapbook paper (beautiful Fall prints) that has been in my office for years.  I tore out some of the prints and laid them on the floor to arrange them and see how they might look.  (iPhone pic with bad early morning lighting!)

{hello fall banner/fall scrapbook paper pad/woven ottomans/lyla knit throw}

I can’t even tell you how much I’ve loved this because it instantly brought in ALL of the warm gorgeous Fall colors!  If you don’t have a shiplap wall to decorate this would be a perfect way to update a gallery wall for Fall.  Just switch out your family pictures or regular prints for beautiful Fall paper!  So inexpensive and it makes a huge impact.  I’ve loved my woven ottomans below this wall and added this cozy throw and a Home Goods pillow.  At the end of this post I linked similar pillow options I love!

If you’re new here (hello and welcome!) I always attach things to this wall with painter’s tape.  You can see that I attached my banner at the top with some command hooks (left those up after Christmas last year!) and more painter’s tape to really hold it in place.  You know the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the dad’s obsession with Windex?  That’s me and my painter’s tape.  (Family joke!)  And yes.. once a teacher always a teacher!  This wall is totally where I get my bulletin board fix for each month.

Gotta be me. ;)

{wool jute rug/couch/similar coffee table/similar wood board here & here/eucalyptus swag/gold pinecones/candles/woven plaid pillow/bluma hand knit pillow/similar cable knit pillow/knit throw}

I shared this cozy Fall scene in my last blog post.  I’ll take pics of my other pillows and the rest of this room soon!  When I can find a magic 30 minute window with nobody around.  So maybe in the Spring when there is a vaccine? ;)

{similar faux branches/white vase/dough bowl/mini velvet pumpkins/linen citris print/brass candlesticks/candles/similar console table/similar baskets}

I also got my console table styled for Fall and this might be my favorite spot so far!  I just love Fall colors!  I added my long time favorite faux branches (these are similar and so beautiful) in my white vase.  This ceramic vase is the perfect size for tall faux branches and because it’s white it has worked and looked good during every season!  I also added a dough bowl full of mini pumpkins (some real and some faux) and then my new linen citrus print.  Isn’t it fun!?  I just attached it with a small, clear command hook.  Simple brass candlesticks are always a good thing and completed the look.

Fall decor!  I love you so much.  Thank you for cheering me up this year!

Your longtime fan,

Erin

:)

{POST SOURCES}

Happy long weekend everyone!   I hope you’re enjoying it so far.  It’s crazy hot on the coast this weekend (record highs!) so we have either been in the pool or in the house with the air blasting.  I hope you’re staying cool this weekend!  If it’s already cooling off in your neck of the woods I hope you’re enjoying it!  I mentioned in my last post that I recently ordered some new barstools for our kitchen.  I have been looking at and debating different barstools since January!  Ha.  With bigger purchases like that (especially for home decor I know we’ll have and use for years) I really do my research.  I was going to share my favorites in a post next week but just realized that a lot of these barstools are on major sale this weekend!  So I’m sharing them now. :)  I definitely have a style/look I’m going for and you can tell below that my favorites all have a similar vibe.  I love every one of these barstools but finally decided on one and pulled the trigger!

*affiliate links used

1 – Aaron bar & Counter Stool   2 – Greely Counter Stool       3 – Wicker Counter Stool

4 – Sunwashed Riviera Counter Stool   5 – Eloise Woven Counter Stool     6 – August Barstool

7 – Balboa Counter Stool     8 – Portside Counter Stool   9 – Parisian Counter Stool

Aren’t they all beautiful!?  I ended up choosing #5 – the Eloise Woven Counter Stool.  I had it narrowed down and was really debating between the Eloise and the Balboa Counter Stool.  I proudly announced to Kenny a few months ago.. “ok.. I’m buying the Eloise!  Decision made!”  He of course was like “whatever.. I don’t even know/care what you’re talking about..”   Then I went on-line to hit order and.. they had sold out!  Ahhh!  I was so bummed.  I decided to just buy another option but every time I went to do that I just couldn’t pull the trigger.  Then last month I was looking at something else on Mcgee & Co and saw that you could enter your e-mail to be alerted when the Eloise stool was back in stock so I did.  I got the e-mail last week and didn’t hesitate to order them!  They are backordered now and I have no doubt they will sell out again (at least temporarily!).  I should have waited until this weekend to get them because everything is 15% off right now!  I was too worried they would be gone again if I waited.  I hope I love them once they get here!  The barstools we have now are beautiful, but they are over 7 years old and are definitely starting to show some wear and tear.  We are due for a change!

On a side note and speaking of Studio Mcgee.. have you seen their new Fall collection coming soon to Target?  So many beautiful things!  You can’t order on-line until the 13th but you can put things on your wishlist so you’re ready!  I was really impressed with the items I ordered from their last collection and have a few things I can’t wait to snag from this one!

{wool jute rug/couch/similar coffee table/similar wood board here & here}

We might be roasting outside but we are still feeling all things Fall inside!  I have been having so much fun adding Fall touches to our home this weekend!  I ordered this large metal tray for my coffee table but it hasn’t come in yet, so I pulled out a large serving board I’ve had for a while and added my Eucalyptus swag, these candles, some mini white pumpkins and gold pinecones.  So simple and I love the way it turned out!  This would be so beautiful on a large dining table too.. just add more of everything for a pretty Fall tablescape.  Any greenery would work (swags or garlands).  (I added some options in my last post here.)

These candles are so fun.  They come with a little remote control and light up so pretty at night!

{woven plaid pillow/bluma hand knit pillows/similar cable knit pillow/chunky knit throw}

I’m also loving this pillow combo on my couch!  I’m going to put this knit tassel throw on my couch corner when it comes and move this cute Target throw I’m using now into my mudroom.  Give me all the cozy pillows and throws!  They are the simplest way to bring Fall into your home.  I rounded up some favorites below.. so many are marked down this weekend!  You’ll see a lot of these popping up in my home this month. :)

{SOURCES}

1 –  Chunky Cable Knit Pillow   2 – Woven Plaid Pillow    3 – Sungea Throw Pillow

4 – Darren Textured Pillow   5 – Owl Embroidered pillow   6 –  Sungea Geometric pillow

 7 – Bluma HandKnit Pillows   8 – Woven Stripe Pillow  9 – MIULEE Decorative Throw Pillows

1 – Bourina Decorative Fringe Blanket   2 – Surya Turner Throw    3 – CozyChic Diamond Throw

4 – Lyla Knit Throw   5 – Bluma Chunky Knit Throw With Tassels   6 – Chunky Knit Throw

7 – Cozy Sherpa Throws     8 – Tassel Knit Throw Blanket    9 – DOZZZ Knitted Throw Blanket

Just wanted to pop in with some happy Fall vibes.  It has to cool off soon right!?  Until it does I’ll just be over here pretending!  Faking Fall is a skill I’ve perfected over time.  Just ask my family as they wade through bins of faux leaves and pumpkins on their way to the pool and smell cinnamon spice on their way to the ice maker this weekend.

They’re so lucky to have me.

;)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Happy September!  I’m so excited to welcome Fall!  I love summer but by this time of year (and especially THIS year) I’m over it and ready to have some sort of schedule and routine back.  Kole starts school (at his actual school!) Tuesday and I feel like it will be Christmas morning for both of us.  Ha. ;)  I started pulling out a few fun things for Fall yesterday and it cheered me up immensely.  I thought I would share some of my favorite go-to’s for Fall decorating along with a few new things I ordered this year.  In case you needed a pick me up too.

:)

This was my Fall porch last year and my cute striped jute rug and Hey There Pumpkin mat are both back in stock!

{Flatweave Stripe Jute Rug/Hey There Pumpkin Mat}

I’ll probably use them again this year and do something similar because I love all of the neutrals with a pop of purple!  Below are some other fun mats I’m loving this year.

{Navy Herringbone Rugs/cutting boards here & here/silver pendants/Hicks pendant/round gold tray/faux pumpkins}

A few other favorites I’m bringing back out.. my eucalyptus garland, swags and wreaths.  These exact options have sold out but below are similar options!  I’ve ordered some of these to add to my collection this year and will show you how I’m using them soon.  Also these faux pumpkins are long time favorites that look so realistic!  I always combine them with a few real pumpkins.  How can anyone be sad/mad/depressed when your kitchen is full of pumpkins!?  It’s not possible.  I know because I’ve tried.

Pumpkins are just what 2020 needs. :)

I always get asked about my Thankful tray and haven’t been able to find another one like it but isn’t this Thankful serving tray beautiful!?  Perfect for shelf decor and then to use for Thanksgiving or any other meal in the Fall. This 3 foot long serving board would also be so fun to decorate with and display on a table.  Layer in candles and decor or delicious food.. beautiful either way.  I’m also obsessed with these leaf shaped cheese platters!  This photo doesn’t show off my linen glass pumpkin candle holder (to the left on my counter) but it is absolutely beautiful at night when it lights up!  Another Fall favorite.

Eucalyptus swags are my best friend in the Fall!  They dress up shelf and counter corners and are perfect to use on tables and mantels too.  Layer in candles and pumpkins and other Fall decor for a cozy display.

{Harvest Pumpkin Salad Plates/Cambria Dinnerware/Brass Mirror Tray/Spiced Cider Candle}

Decorative plates are another easy way to add some Fall to your kitchen!  My cute pumpkin salad plates are on sale this weekend!

{Sectional/Wool Jute Rug}

My family room last year for Fall.  I pulled in some navy last year but this year I’m going a little more neutral!

{Wood Oval Tray/Pacifico Pot/Moroccan Woven Basket}

Always lots of wooden bowls and baskets.  :)

I’ll also be pulling out my wheat stalks again!  I love displaying wheat in clear glass jars in the Fall.

{Fall by the Lake/Brass candle holders}

I was so excited to pull out this stunning Fall print again!  My family LOVES this as much as I do. Kenny and each of my kids commented at different times on how much they love this picture after I brought it out.  Probably because they don’t get to see this outside in the Fall.  Our palm trees don’t change much.  Ever.  Ha.  Using it in my entry this year! :)

Excited about the pillows I’m using this year.  These handknit pillow covers just arrived on my doorstep and are the coziest!  I got them in brown but they also come in a green too.  I have a few options to pair with them that I’ll share soon!

{Similar – Faux Autumn Oak Branch/Clear Vase}

You can’t go wrong with faux Fall branches and in my opinion you especially can’t go wrong with faux Fall branches from PB!  They can be a little pricy, but I consider them a great investment.  They look so realistic and I use them again and again and again!  Kenny and I don’t always see eye to eye on what makes a good investment but even he agrees with me on this one.

I know this because I just asked him and he nodded and smiled.  He’s watching one of the Marvel movies while I type this post and might have not been really listening to me – just enjoying witty banter between the Hulk and Thor, so I’m taking full advantage and rolling with it.  It’s probably a great time to also mention the new barstools I ordered on-line a few days ago.  I think I’ll do that.

Just waiting for the right fight scene.  ;)

I’ll be back with more Fall decor soon!  Happy decorating!

:)

{POST SOURCES & FALL FAVORITES}