Let's Keep it Simple: Fall Decor Organization

Storing your fall decor can be simple. I store items in bins categorized by the areas where I keep them.

My tablescape items are all stored in one well labeled bin. Each year I edit my decor as I decorate each space. I love adding fresh greenery and flowers too!

Organized storage space is as important as organized daily living space. It keeps you from having to dig through tons of bins looking for that “thing.” Who has time for that?

Here’s some of our fall decor this season!

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Getting the Garage in Order

Fall is in the air! While it may still be in the 80’s some days, I am LOVING this (mostly) cool Fall weather. It definitely beats the 90+ degree weather that is inevitably the norm throughout most of the year in the South. With the weather cooling down and everyone getting outdoors more to enjoy the few weeks of Fall that we do get, it is the perfect time to clean out the garage!

Here are a few tips to get started:

• Categorize items: yard maintenance, house maintenance, outdoor activities, etc.

• Contain smaller items (Look vertical for storage!)

• Pegboard is amazing for displaying tools, extension cords, etc.

• Bike storage is great if the kids can put their bikes away!

• Think floor space!

Here are a few pictures of one of the garages we have organized.

Need help getting your garage in order? We do that too! Give us a call to set up a consultation.

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Swapping out Your Seasonal Favorites for Fall

I’m on a plane heading to Montana in a flannel shirt and puffy vest and all I keep thinking is...Fall is here! For us in South Louisiana, that means football season, hunting season and cooler temps (Well, hopefully by Christmas). Football season, like everything else this year, will be a little different. There will be more at home gatherings and a little less tailgating at the stadium. Football season is also a time where we Southern gals reevaluate our closets. For some, that means switching out Spring and Summer clothes for Fall and Winter clothes. Here are 5 tips to help get your closet ready!

1.     Clean your summer items before retiring them for the winter to help them last a few more years. Nothing is worse than pulling out your favorite linen shirt only to find it has a stain.

2.     Move warm weather items towards the back of the closet or higher in the closet, making space for the fall and winter items (In other words....swap your stuff!). For me, that means taking swimwear out of drawers and putting them in a bin at the top of my closet and bringing my bin of sweaters down to put in the drawer. Garment bags are a great idea for special summer items to keep dust and moths away. Tip: Swimwear can be stored in an air tight space saver bag if necessary for space.

3.     Evaluate your flip flops and sandals. I know we southern girls wear our flip flops and sandals pretty much year-round, but this is a good time to evaluate what you wore in spring and summer. You might find some that are uncomfortable, loved so much they are falling apart or even a pair or two that you bought on impulse, but you really just don’t like.  Let them go. If they need replacing, this is also a great time because summer items are on sale.

4.     Evaluate your winter boots and shoes. Do they need to go to the repair shop for new heels or soles? Do they need polishing and conditioning? You can add this to your errand day list if needed.

5.     Are your winter clothes clean and stain free? Do any items need repair? Is there anything trendy that needs to be added so that you are your amazing, stylish self? Add this to your action list or errand list so they are ready to wear at the first cool snap.

 That’s it. 5 simple things that will make the seasonal switch much easier! Now go out and cheer on your favorite team in style! (Don’t forget your mask in your favorite team’s colors!)

Want more Fall inspiration? Check out our blogs on tailgating and decorating for the Fall!

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Tailgating Essentials to Start this Football Season Off Right

It’s the sweltering dog days of summer when cicadas sing lullabies and we watch the weather channel like crows watch the hen house, but we are excited because the new year is starting.  For us in the south, our new year starts on August 1st. Come August 1st, families start kissing the lazy days of summer goodbye as they become mindful of bedtime routines and getting children back on school sleep schedules.  Everything feels new at this time of year more so than January 1st ever could.

 The children are starting a new grade in school with new teachers and classmates. Many of our friends have moved into new homes over the summer break just to be ready for the start of the new year. And nothing is more refreshing than a new football schedule. Past losses are wiped free and anything is possible. There is a powerful feeling of hope at this time of year. It’s contagious and this is our South.

“College football is not like religion, it’s more important than that.”

-      Unknown

 We are not sure who coined that phrase, but it certainly goes a long way in describing how southerners feel about football. We absolutely love our football! Perhaps it’s the spirit of competition or the need to belong to something greater than ourselves, regardless the reason football is king in the South. From Friday night lights to college tailgating and NFL teams, we love it all.

 If there is anything to know about football in the South it’s that tailgating is serious business steeped in long traditions that vary by school. Whether you are at The Grove at Ole Miss or sailgating with the VOLS Navy on the Tennessee River before a game you are sure to discover the regional flavors that make these traditions so special.

To prepare for the start of this football season…

Here are some tailgating essentials:

• A perfect outfit in your team’s colors!

• A clear purse

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Bug Spray

• A hat

• Tent

• Folding chairs

• Folding table

• A wagon- to haul the goods if you are walking around

• An ice chest filled with your favorite beverages and lots of water because it’s HOT!

• Ice chest with (already prepared)food to grill.

• Bottle opener/Corkscrew

• Coozies

• Snacks

• Battery powered fan

• Hand wipes

• Hand sanitizer

• Small first aid kit

• Phone chargers

• Small bag for trash

• Tailgate grill (Fire extinguisher)

• Propane or charcoal

• Utensils/BBQ tools

• Paper goods (Plates, napkins, paper towels, cups)

• Speakers or entertainment system

• Games

• Extension cords

• Décor-flags, rugs, pom-poms or anything else needed to make your tailgate look like home!

• YOUR TICKETS!!

To pack an ice chest:

• Stack bottles and cans at the bottom of the ice chest.

• Pour fresh ice over cans and bottles

• Put tailgating food on top of ice in air tight containers

•  Large plastic tubs are great to store the non-perishable items throughout the year. Be sure to restock before putting them away so they are ready to go for the next home game.

Game day is almost here!  Check our Facebook and Instagram pages for pictures of our tailgating adventures and please share your tailgate pictures with us! 

 What would you add to this list?  Let us know!

And last but not least…Geaux Tigers and Geaux Cajuns!

Decorating Your Home This Fall Without Falling into Chaos

I absolutely LOVE the later half of the year!  It’s like one fun event after another. We go from high school, college and NFL football, to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and College Bowl games, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza and then New Years Eve!  It almost feels like there is something to celebrate on a weekly basis in the fall. And being who I am, I embrace the opportunity to turn every one of those occasions into a decorating event.

But if you’re as busy as I am, decorating for all those holidays can become overwhelming, so over the years I’ve developed practices that make these daunting tasks very doable.  I hope my lessons learned are helpful to you as we approach one of the busiest times of year!

The Chaos Coordinator of Halloween!

Divide…

If you’re an avid decorator like me, you have multiple areas to “dress up” for the season.

My first piece of advice is to divide.

Around mid-September to the beginning of October I start setting out my fall decorations. I find it best to divide my home into vignettes then tackle those areas piece by piece.  I place everything I need for each area in bins labeled for those respective areas. That way I can easily decorate each area with just a few minutes.

And Conquer.

After all of my items are divided into their respective areas, it’s time to conquer the task a little at a time. For example, when I have a little extra time, I’ll take out my Halloween foyer bin and start decorating that particular vignette.

Pro Tip: Include a picture of the decorated area in each storage bin.  This way, you can quickly remove the items not needed for this holiday vignette and get to decorating with exactly the elements you need.  Decorating from a picture helps take some of the pressure off, and even makes the task easy (and fun) to pass along! Over the years I’ve been able to hand off the foyer, mantle and other simple areas to my children to decorate.  It’s fun getting the whole family involved.

Before Picture 1

Before Picture 2

After Picture 1

After Picture 2

Then, Hit Reverse!

When it’s time to return to “normal,” I reverse the process.  Taking down the decorations is just as easy when using this method.  I can easily un-decorate a little at a time without turning my house upside down in the process.  This makes decorating year after year a fun activity rather than a chore.

Foyer Before

Foyer After

Mantle Before

Mantle After

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