Boo!
Did I scare you?
Gosh, I hope not.
I'm not a fan of scary, but here we are in October and everywhere I turn people want to talk about Halloween.
Or Friday the 13th.
Or horror movies and I am not a fan.
Oh sure, costume parties are fun.
I even been known to enjoy a creepy movie, every now and again, but I'm talking about a Hitchcock horror like The Birds or a campy scare, like the 1950s version of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers.
Beyond that, no thank you.
That sweet wooden ghost is more my Halloween speed. So much so that I recently made my own!
I'd rather paint pumpkins, fall-ify my home, decorate with thrift store finds and take a brisk walk on the waterfront, sipping something warm. That's my kind of October!
And so far, during this first week of the month, I've done just that.
But before I get tell you what else I have planned, let's take a peek back at September, shall we?
During that last glorious month of summer, it finally warmed up in my neck of the woods, after a rather chilly and wet season, and we spent a week at the ocean.
It was a lovely vacation filled with long walks in the sand, meals on our deck with a view of the waves, colorful sunsets, quiet afternoons lounging with family.
Laughter filled game nights and, believe it or not, daily whale and dolphin sightings. That part was crazy.
I've been going that same beach for over 20 years and this is the first year we ever saw them. And they were magnificent. What a treat.
Of course, it was also lovely to come back to my sweet cottage, where we were getting ready for several months of much less pleasant weather...and hibernation.
That meant I really needed to get my house in order...and my blog as well. On vacation, I realized I had so many pictures on my phone of DIYs I'd never shared. Most of them were completed months ago.
September was sort of a clean up month!
And last but not least, a round up of 20 ways to decorate with pumpkins. My goodness that was a lot.
Hopefully, I'll be as busy in October. I just love cozying up with projects when it gets chilly outside.
I have a few more pumpkin projects, a few {very not scary} crafty ghosts, some cottage decor updates and a new batch of thrifted finds to share. I'm a such a sucker for those thrift stores.
Although, I admit that I've been shopping online a bit lately, too. Favorite finds?
My new dishes. I adore them and just for today they're on sale and there's free shipping.
I bought another grout pen, more of my favorite cleanser and a brand new shower squeegee as I dig into my fall cleaning.
I ordered the best small bins for organizing.
They're the perfect size for this tiny cottage and they're not too heavy for me to lift.
I decided to store my fabric stash in two and the other two are in my linen closet. They're holding my placemats, pillow covers and curtains.
And they're just the right size for that incredibly cozy closet.
But. My favorite purchase of the month was a box of flameless votive candles.
I love, love, love battery operated candles, but I could never find good votives.
These do use those button batteries, but so far they have staying power...and the flames flicker and look great. I'll definitely be grabbing more of those to put in the pumpkins I plan to carve up.
Jack-O-Lanterns with happy faces.
Nothing scary, because like I said, not a fan.
Besides, fall and winter weather is scary enough for me.
👻
Happy October, Friends!
What are your October plans?
Happy Fall, Friends!
Good Sunday Morning my friend. I am with you not into the horror films either. Maybe a suspense classic of an Alfred Hitchcock but violence and gore NOPE! How fun you got to see the whale and dolphin sighting. Nature is such an amazing thing. Have a good week. Hugs. Kris
ReplyDeleteI have to say that part was incredible, Kris! I’d never seen anything like it before and those nature shows really don’t compare to watching it live. It was a treat for sure and a great way to end the summer. It’s chilly here today, our first real fall day, so I’ll be spending it inside with my sweater and glue gun! 🤣 Hope you are having a lovely, warm weekend!
DeleteI have the same sentiments as you do and prefer to ring in Halloween with cheerful and fun decor. So many decorations I see disturb me. I’ve gotten many wonderful ideas from your blog and happen to have the same Waverly fabric in my laundry room. Will try that grout pen next!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all those super kind words! You just made my night...and I'm always happy to chat with another Waverly fan! Aren't they the prettiest patterns? As for scary decorations, I agree, they're not my style, and yes, some are downright gruesome. Take me back to the days of paper witch and black cat cutouts that we used to hang in the windows. Those are my kind of decorations!!
DeleteI do not like horror films of any kind. Scary, like Hitchcock on occasion. I do adore autumn though and enjoy using natural things in my home to bring the beauty inside! I can't wait to have this addition done, and get my side of the house back completely! Just about 6 weeks left!
ReplyDeleteI adore autumn too, Deanna! I've seen the progress on the house and I know you're getting close to that decorating stage. Yay!! Just in time for Christmas!!
DeleteI don't mind scary as long as it is not a slasher/dasher type of show. I like psychological thrillers the best. I just put an order in for the votives...thanks for the tip! Hope you have a really great week. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, those movies are on the never, never, ever list!! Haha!! I like the psychological thrillers, too...especially when I can watch them by {fake} candlelight. I hope you enjoy your votives as much as I love mine!! xo
DeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteWe are planning our Annual Pumpkin Carving Party. And Sam will be here this season. YAY! I am all decorated and I have been planning the menu. My parents will provide the pumpkins.
Happy October,
Carla
I need to speak to your parents about pumpkin farming. We haven't been able to grow one. Someone told us we're missing the bees!! Maybe so...Happy October!
DeleteKim, it seems like October is going so fast and we are already in the middle of the month. Have fun carving the pumpkins and enjoy the weekend.
ReplyDeleteAnd now we're at the end of the month...gosh where did the time go?? I hope it's been a fun month and you have a Happy Halloween!!
DeleteOctober is flying by. I just hosted a girl's Night Out party. I had three back to back tablescapes.
ReplyDeleteI will be hosting a Halloween dinner party next. Happy weekend.
Linda, you truly are the hostess with the mostess...and the reigning queen of tablescapes!!
DeleteI’m not a fan of horror movies either, Kim. I remember going to see Wait Until Dark with Audrey Hepburn, years ago and even my beloved hubby jumped in that one. I’m crazy about your new dishes! I need to check out the votives as I haven’t found any that I’m wild about. Your vacation sounded wonderful and relaxing. Happy weekend to you! 🧡
ReplyDeleteOh, I just watched that movie on TCM, Kitty!! It was scary. We also watched the 1950s Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Blob, with Steve McQueen. They were creepy, too. I think the black and white film adds to the chill. I much prefer Christmas movies!! I do still love my votives and I won't let anyone use the new dishes yet...Haha. They think I'm crazy, but I'd just like looking at them in the glass cabinets right now...without chips! 🤣
DeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteAs you have seen when visiting my blog ( and I thank you for that) , I am in full Halloween mode!! It has always been a favorite of mine and of my boys and this year, I let Joe and Joey talk me into decorating the front of the house for Halloween for the first time in 20+ years...No, we do not get Trick or Treaters but I did it for my family and me to bring us joy and make us smile!! I am all caught up and again, I apologize for not coming by sooner... It seems I just can not find enough time in 24 hours in a day even though I am retired!! But I think that is a good thing!!
Hugs,
Deb
Deb, I always appreciate your visits no matter how long there is between them all. I totally understand, I am in the same boat. Where does the time go? I love reading blogs and looking at everyone's lovely decor, but laundry or the bills or meal prep somehow always seem to get in the way of my fun, too!! Haha!!
DeleteLovely views of the ocean ...
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's the middle of October already, this month is flying by.
A lot of our garden centres have art and craft fairs and beautiful displays at the moment which have been fun and interesting to go to.
Enjoy your October days.
All the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
Goodness, you have been busy, and your holiday sounds like a dream. We used to go on holiday to a little town here in South Africa called Hermanus and would see whales all the time. They come through between June and December to have their babies and it's a sight to behold. Nature is amazing.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you when it comes to horror. Give me a thriller that messes with my mind anytime over some silly movie with creepy monsters, red, glowing eyes, and needless blood and gore. I just lose interest.