Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

I am over hot weather! I am ready for fall: cooler temperatures, brightly colored leaves, football season, and pumpkin bread! I thought, for today’s Friday Five, I’d show you five ways to get ready for fall in your home.

Now that the kids are back in school and football season’s about to start, I’m ready for falling leaves and pumpkins.

How can you add fall touches to your home? Here are five ideas:

(1) Add fall colors indoors.

If the leaves aren’t changing to the warm, wonderful fall colors yet, change some things inside to those colors!

For example, add some throw pillows and a comfy blanket in warm fall colors to your living room. I found the pillows and blanket, above, at HomeGoods. So, for about $60 total, I gave my living room a fall feel.

Of course, before you go shopping, shop your home! Look for throw pillows or other decor in warm autumn colors. Then redistribute them to the rooms you want to redecorate. And think outside the red and orange: teal goes great with autumn colors! Because blue is opposite orange on the color wheel, teals and blues really pop when paired with fall colors!

(2) If the leaves haven’t changed color outside, buy some that have.

I am not a huge fan of fake/faux foliage, but sometimes, you have to give Mother Nature a kick in the proverbial pants.

Given that the leaves aren’t changing colors outdoors yet, I bought some leaves and flowers from my local craft store. They weren’t too expensive, especially with a coupon (both Michaels and JoAnn have coupons that you can get in the newspaper, online, or with their apps). For less than $10, I have fall foliage in my dining room!

Add faux stems to a vase, a bottle, or galvanized bucket for an easy fall centerpiece.

(3) We have a runner.

One of my favorite, easiest projects of all time: creating a runner from extra/leftover fabric!

This project is super easy! All you need is a little fabric, some fabric glue (I love Fabri-Tac), and 30 minutes! Find the instructions HERE.

I like runners on tables because they provide a pop of color and/or pattern, but are easily moved for meals, homework, games, whatever. Plus, I love criss-crossing different ones for a more interesting table than just one tablecloth.

(4) The eyes have it.

OK, OK, I know – it’s early for Halloween. That said, some of our stores have started putting out Halloween candy displays!

Rather than eating the candy now (no, no, I’d never do that!), make some cute candy jars for Halloween. Save two spaghetti sauce or pickle jars, remove the labels, and wash well. Then glue (I used a hot glue gun) the jar to some thrift store candlesticks. The eyeballs are from the dollar store – and, if you don’t want eyeballs, use plastic spiders or bats or whatever you want.

I glued magnets to the eyeballs with a hot glue gun (wow, that sounds really gross!) and stuck them to the lid of the jar. You can find the full tutorial for how to make these holiday candy jars here.

The great thing is that you can find other small holiday decorations, glue magnets to them, and change the candy jars for each holiday! For example, for Christmas, I swap out the eyeballs for little bells! It’s an upcycled project that gets recycled each holiday! Love that!

(5) Make applesauce!

Our market is just starting to get in varieties of apples…so the time to make applesauce isn’t far behind!

I have an easy recipe that you can make in the crock pot or on the stove top. Find Nana’s Applesauce recipe HERE. Your house will smell just like fall!

Are you ready for fall? What’s your favorite part of fall? Share in the comments!

This day in Dogs Don’t Eat Pizza history:
One year ago: DIY Two-Tier Coffee Table

Two years ago: Best All-Natural Way to Clean Grout

Three years ago: Repurpose Shutters into Privacy Screen

Four years ago: Ideas for a Family Command Center