As I mentioned in my Fall Porch Idea No. 1 Post, 

I was craving charm and simplicity with a warm welcome.

So, I decided to change things up and eliminated the bright orange pumpkins, the sprigs of wheat, pinecones, and some of the other decor and replaced the iron basket with a simplistic $2 thrift store basket to hold my pumpkins.

I added a pretty piece of pottery filled with natural reed grass, a simple blanket next to the basket of pumpkins and a rocking bench cushion topped with a pillow and blanket. 

I'm in love with the overall vibe. 

This was more the "feel" I was going for.

I want to know what YOU think?

Is Idea No. 1 or Idea No. 2 more your speed for Fall decor this year?

Hopefully this post will help you pause when you are decorating your own home - seasonally or every day decor - and ask yourself if the direction you are going is speaking to you. Trends come and go. Decide what makes your home "feel" like home...and go in that direction. You won't be disappointed.

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.

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KEEPING IT REAL

The changes to the front porch made SUCH a big difference to the overall feeling I get every time I walk out there to water plants or when I'm sitting on the rocker snuggling my Ella Pie. I love it.

STYLING | Fall Porch - Idea No. 1

I did two different fall porches this year...

My goal was to use things I had on hand and not purchase anything additional. 

This meant no real pumpkins. So, I gathered together my collection of faux pumpkins, and a dried gourd I picked up in an antique store one year, and placed them in an antique planter - taking center stage on my front porch bench.

I added pinecones and lanterns, a splash of more fall color with the use of a piece of fabric used under the planter and I tucked in sprigs of wheat and reed grass to the centerpiece as well as other items on the bench for additional touches of fall.

I loved it.

It screamed "fall" with all of the pinecones, pumpkins and wheat.

Neighbors loved it too and it really did look pretty.

Done.

Right?

Well...something just wasn't sitting well with me. 

It didn't "feel" the way I wanted my Thanksgiving to feel.

Craving charm and simplicity with a warm welcome...

I decided to change things up.

Go see how my second attempt turned out.

Let me know which one you like best - click on the link below!

FALL PORCH - Idea No. 2

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.

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KEEPING IT REAL

When Jay came home one night and saw this fall porch decor for the first time his response was, "Wow! We've got a lot going on up here."

And with that...he solidified my own personal feelings for wanting to change it up. Lol

SUMMER | Front Porch Refresh

Earlier this Summer, I was inspired to spruce up the front porch while we were trimming up some of the landscape plants as a family. I sat on the front steps, pausing for a breather and wiping the sweat from my brow, when my eyes were drawn to a pretty pile of clementine peels left behind from an earlier snack. I loved the beautiful color contrast of the soft orange peels against the minty blue exterior of our home and new right then and there I had to somehow recreate the color scheme throughout the front porch. But how?

Kumquats. Perfect...small enough to add pops of color without overwhelming the space. 
Sure...oranges or clementines would've been the obvious choice...but a memory from my childhood pushed me in a different direction; Cheering in the Kumquat Bowl - the "Super Bowl" of middle school football way back when in my hometown of Apopka. 

Along with adding a delightful Kumquat tree to the front porch, I also added some faux kumquats to the front door wreath. A few new pots for the three existing olive trees, swapping my alyssums for some portulaca and adding a sensible solution for watering all of my pretties - the addition of a gorgeous new copper hose pot...well...it finally feels finished.

I hope you enjoy how it all turned out...sources at the bottom of the post.

I really love how it turned out and I'm so happy we get to enjoy this pretty space.

As summer is winding down and with just weeks away from school starting...I think it's going to transition into the Fall and winter months quite nicely.

PS - Let's stay cozy + connected in-between posts...find me on Instagram for daily inspiration.

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LINKED SOURCES - simply click

Kumquat Tree + Pot 

Faux Kumquats

White Olive Tree Pots by front door

Large Olive Tree Pot by bench

Rosemary + White Pot

Rocking Bench

Pillow on rocking bench

Copper Hose Pot <--- easy link but found mine HERE for less

Copper Lantern next to Rosemary - mine was given to me as a gift.

Tall Lantern - found at my local Goodwill

White Bench - from a vintage market years ago

Wood Front Door Mat <--- linked something similar (mine was Smith+ Hawken from Target)

Black + White Door Mat

Grapevine Wreath + Faux Eucalyptus

Large Terra Cotta Pots

Olive Trees - I ordered mine online and the experience wasn't awesome. Plus, I realized I paid way too much after seeing them at Walmart for $15.

FUN ADDITIONAL LINKED SOURCES - just click

1. Trick for using the least amount of soil in oversized pots

2. How I'm currently keeping porch cushions mold + mildew free in the Florida heat + humidity

3. The pot my large olive tree was in before it got transplanted.

4. When the large olive tree was in my house - before I realized it wasn't thriving + moved it.

KEEPiNG it REAL

The kumquat tree is real. The kumquats are not.

Since the tree won't start producing fruit until winter and I'm not that patient, I decided to add my own for visual interest. Ha!!

This kumquat tree is a Centennial Variegated Kumquat tree.

The fruit it produces will be sweet + tangy - unlike the classic sour kumquat.

I can't wait to pick them off the tree and eat them...peel and all.

STYLING | Fall Front Porch

 Before we kiss our pumpkins goodbye and bid farewell to Thanksgiving + the lovely Fall season, I wanted to share our Fall Front Porch with you.

This new house of ours has all of the charm I've ever dreamed of; The front porch, the craftsman style home, the HardieTrim® boards, the shake shingles...even the subtle minty blue I would've never chosen on my own but really love. 

So, with all of that "charm" it's been fun decorating the front porch AND somewhat of a struggle. Choosing the right plant containers to use out front has been challenging because I didn't want to use anything too substantial or regal for our "cottage" home OR something so simple it would seem boring. I knew using ornate urns was never an option so I never tried those. I did however try some cute baskets and even some smaller clay pots. Although I loved the look and the idea of using baskets, they proved to be completely impractical. The baskets started to mold inside from watering - gotta love Florida humidity. The standard clay pots were just too orange and too short next to the brick columns. I was looking for height...and...well...charm.

I'm happy to say I found just what I was looking for after several visits to the garden center at Ace Hardware - and a special order...for these Les Fleur clay pots that have evidently been discontinued. So much for simple. 

They are the perfect faded clay I was looking for and with the addition of these pretty white florals, (White Knight Alyssums), that will apparently last through the Florida winter...I think they're pretty perfect. I'm happy with how it came together. Now...enough talking...I'll just let you scroll.

I have to also mention I lucked out when I found all of the pretty pumpkins you see in this post at a little general store called Andrew's Homestead. It's such a sweet little find and Andrew is such a great guy. I will be sharing more about this little local gem and the treasures Andrew carries...like Kombucha Juice on tap! More on that later.

It's Pie Day tomorrow everyone!! *wink*
And my heart is grateful.
I'll pop in quickly tomorrow to share all of my Thanksgiving desserts with you.

xoxo,
Jess

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Did I tell you how much I LOVE the pretty white flowers?
They actually stink but they're so pretty and cottagey and just my style...I can deal with the smell.
And they do shed some but the positioning on the porch allows the wind to blow the pretty little petals away. Kind of like having an invisible, personal porch Roomba®. Ha!!