Design, Create, Greet, Announce, Invite, and Impress with Paperless Post

This post contains links to Paperless Post.  I was not financially compensated for this post.  I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions expressed are completely my own based on my experience.

Places In The Home is in full-on this is not a drill, the holiday season is here mode.

When a shopping network host announced Christmas is less than two months away, it brought it all home.

This end of October-beginning of November week kicks off the whole let’s holiday plan and prep shebang, and I’m inviting and celebrating family and friends, thankful feasts and fêtes, seasoned and Seasons Greetings, ’tis the season of soirees and open houses, New Year’s Day supper, and happy birthday greetings with a little help from my friends at Paperless Post.

paperless-post-farmers-feast-invitation

Farmer’s Feast

paperless-post-farmers-feast-invitation-envelopePaperless Post is an online invitations, cards, and stationery platform. Begin the custom design process by creating an account.

Choose the occasion and from there peruse the selections of designs.

A wide range of distinctive designs, fonts, colors, backgrounds, shapes, and designers make it easy for you to create, design and send custom digital invitations, cards, and stationery for your business and/or personal needs.

Paperless-Post-Christmas-foyer

Christmas Foyer Card with Envelope – Paperless Post

Paperless Post has many cards free to send, and you can send a free card to up 200 email addresses.

Birthday wishes, save the date, dinner party, graduation, fundraiser, new address, game night, add your own photo, sympathy, charity event, birth announcement, girl’s getaway weekend, entertaining, sip and see free and fabulous.

Paperless-Post-TopiaryTopiary – Paperless Post

Premium designer cards require coins to send.  Coins are the currency used on Paperless Post to price premium design options and add-ons such as envelopes, liners, stamps, postmarks, logos, and backdrops.

As you go through the customization flow, the cost of your card per recipient will appear at the top right corner of the page.

Paperless Post never shows third-party ads on their website, in their emails, or on their mobile app.

Therefore, you do not have to use additional coins to remove ads.

fall-tablescape-items

paperless-post-turkey-and-toasts-invitation

Pheasant Plumage – John Derian

An invitation to gather together with friends to eat, drink, celebrate, and be grateful for one another on the third Thursday of November is but a custom design and email list away.

paperless-post-friendsgiving-invitationGourd Times – Crate & Barrel

Holiday time is open house time, y’all!

A customized invitation to join you to celebrate not only fits the occasion, but reflects your personal style.

Paperless-Post-Magnolia-Open-House

Plumier (Welcome)- Paperless Post

Paperless-post-rifle-paper-merry-and-brightHoliday in the City – Rifle Paper Co. 

paperless-post-A Tuesday TippleA Tuesday Tipple by Charlotte Olympia invites holiday style to the holiday mix and mingle.

paperless-post-Tuesday-Tipple-envelope

The Lady It’s Cold Outside invitation is decked out in faux fur holiday finery for a festive evening of holiday spirits, decorating, and dancing.

paperless-post-come-one-come-all

So sipping cocktails-Dino on the hi-fi-Cherries Jubilee-1960s throwback swanky.

dry-black-eyed-peas

The Peas on Earth invitation is perfect for our Creole black-eyed peas and Southern buttermilk cornbread Peas on Earth, Good Eats for Luck New Year’s Day supper.

Paperless-post-peas-on-earth-1

Peas on Earth

A Louisiana birthday celebration deserves a snazzy and snappy birthday card.

Paperless post

Snappy Birthday (Nicholas John Frith) – Red Cap Cards

Design, create, greet, announce, invite, and impress friends, family, and clients with custom digital invitations, cards, and stationery from Paperless Post.

The design and send experience is as easy as email, the design result as elegant as it is exceptional.

love your style

Show & Tell

Fall Decorating Around the House

The long awaited where have you been old friend crisp fall air whispered in my ear the time is now for fall decorating around the house.

More and more I find my taste aligns with simple, natural, and the work with what you have aspects of seasonal decorating.

fall-leaves-cones-1

Simplicity is defined as the quality or condition of being plain or natural; a thing that is plain, natural, or easy to understand.

Putting together an arrangement of pine cones and various leaves rich in fall colors is about as natural and easy as it comes.

gourd-antlers-1 (1)

There’s a time and a place for everything, and with the hustle and the bustle of the holiday season soon to arrive, this year’s fall decorating around the house look is brought to you by the need and the want to showcase decorative items germane to individuality, simplicity, effortlessness, and nature’s beauty.

pheasant (1)

sunflowers-pomegranates

pumpkin-spray (1)

welcome-gold

wreath-spray

Mama Places In The Home calls me from one of the hobby and crafts store we frequent for fall into holiday decor.

She is happy to report the entire stock of fall swags and wreaths is currently marked 70% off original price.

Sold!

Try, try as I may, I could not capture a good picture of the swag. The combination of a cloudy day, funky angles, and wth? exposure settings does not do it justice.

faux-pumpkins-gourd-dining-table

Gourds decorate for fall through to Thanksgiving– a small investment, big return accent.

gourds-orange-yellow-mums (1)

Some of my best shopping comes via the Facebook pages of local shops and boutiques.

See it.

Send a message.

Pull it and I’ll be right there.

stacked-gourds-pumpkin-1 (1)

Exactly what I did with these gourds.

Halloween-bar (1)

We’ll call this one fresh flowers and framed memories.

dave-darleen-desk

The year was 1998, and the event was one of the many school events-carnivals-fundraisers-assemblies- open houses we attended at our son’s elementary school.

Twenty+ years and two hair colors ago.

yellow-mum

Simple ideas, thoughtful touches steeped in warm and cozy overtones, inspired choices, natural elements, accessories, collectibles, and souvenirs near and dear to your heart and taste beautifully work the room and welcome fall into your home.

Darleen-signature-love

 

Show & Tell

Brown Sugar Creole Baked Pork Chops with Apples

Some things just naturally pair well together.

salt-pepperSalt and pepper. 

 

Netflix

rivet-modern-throw-blanket

Netflix and a cuddly throw.

Lennon McCartneyLennon and McCartney.

pork-chops-apples

Brown Sugar Creole Baked Pork Chops with Apples.

Although there’s no hard and fast scientific proof certain foods and food pairings simply taste better in a particular season, my taste buds attest to the fact baked pork chops paired with green apples, brown sugar onions, and sliced sweet potatoes dusted with ground cloves and fresh orange deliver the taste of fall.

baked-pork-chops-baking-pan

Brown Sugar Creole Baked Pork Chops with Apples

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

6-8 thin, boneless pork chops

3 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tablespoon Creole seasoning

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon thyme

1 ½ tablespoon chopped parsley

3 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples – peeled, cored and sliced

3/4 cup hot water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C).  Heat olive oil in large skillet. Brown pork chops on both sides in oil.

pork-chops-browning

Add chopped parsley and sliced apples to skillet.

Cook until apples are slightly tender and parsley darkens.

green-apples

Place pork chops on baking sheet and top with apple slices.

Brown Sugar Creole Baked Pork Chops with Apples

In a small mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, Creole seasoning, nutmeg, thyme and hot water.

Pour over pork chops.

brown-sugar-Creole-seasoning

Bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chops has reached 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

cloves-sweet-potatoes

Sweet potatoes grown in South Louisiana bring the taste of home to plate and table.

My mother-in-law always said sweet potatoes taste best after the first frost, but cravings won out over first frost patience.

baked-sweet-potatoes-orange-cloves

Wash and cut six (6) medium sweet potatoes into thirds.  Place potatoes on baking sheet.

Sprinkle with ground cloves and drizzle olive oil over sweet potatoes.  Slice an orange in half and squeeze juice from one orange half over potatoes.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until tender.

Cloves and oranges = fall aromatherapy.

peeled-onionA new addition to my taste of fall side dish rotation is brown sugar onions.

Easy.

Delicious.

Did I mention easy?

brown-sugar-onions

Peel and slice 3 large onions.  Place onions in medium saucepan.  Add 1/3 cup brown sugar and ¾ cup water, stirring to combine.  Bring to a boil.

Reduce to medium and cover with lid.

Cook until onions are tender.

brown-sugar-onions-1

Sweet, savory, and spicy blend, mix, and marinate together to produce a fall dish full of seasonal flavors, comfort, and tradition fit for a crisp fall day or evening meal.

enjoy

 

Show & Tell

Winter Ready Your Home Tips

Don’t put off until the bitter cold hits what you can do now to ready your home for winter tips is the topic of today’s blog post.

cabin-in-snow-mountains

It’s never too early or too late to take the bull or bison by the horns and show the elements who’s boss with these winter ready your home tips.

bull bison

Big blustery talk won’t cut it, but the big blustery winds of winter will cut right through cracks, crevices, ill-fitting weather-stripping, and exposed pipes.

Can you feel the brrr?

There’s winter ready your home tips for that.

Hygge is the Danish word used to describe a mood of coziness, comfortable, and contentment.

hygge

I wholeheartedly subscribe to this feeling for house and home in spring, summer, fall and especially winter.

Cozy comfortable contentment is nurtured by warmth and peace of mind promoted by these winter ready your home tips.

Winter Ready Your Home Tips

Drafts, and cracks and leaks are the enemy of the manageable heating bill.

Seek them out and seal them up with a tube of caulk.

Check around your windows and doorframes for cracked, rotted or missing weatherstripping, installing new to prevent and reduce warm air from escaping.

Cover vents and openings to prevent unwanted guests of the eek! kind from making a winter home.

window shutters

flickr

The window frame that is in a state of decay will give way to the harshness of old man winter.

Replace any rotting wood, caulk and seal, and feel the warmth, not a draft.

Remove any and all debris, leaves, sticks, pine needles, pecans (gifts from these little darlings) from gutters.

squirrel eating nut

Snow Squirrel

Trim and cut any branches back from your house.

I suggest hiring a professional service to remove overgrown limbs, branches, and vines from electrical wires. 

Don’t forget to winterize the patio furniture, planters, and pots we love to summer outdoor living to.

Clean patio furniture and allow to completely dry, and then store in storage shed, basement, or garage to protect from the elements.

Clean out planters and move potted plants inside.

Remove water hoses, wrap, and store away for the season.

Drain sprinkler heads and valves in order to eliminate the pipes from bursting.

sprinkler-head

Close drain valves.

Set sprinkler timer to appropriate settings for the winter.

Wrap exposed pipes and cover outdoor faucets with a faucet cover to protect and prevent damage.  

fire-in-fireplace1

There’s a time and a place for a DIY project, and getting your wood-burning fireplace safely and accurately winter ready is not one of those times.

The best tip in this area is this: hire a professional chimney sweep.

chimney-sweep

Stock up now on the baby, it’s snowing outside essentials such as ice melter, snow shovel(s), ice chopper(s), snow brush, and snow scraper.

Alaskan-ice-melter

Perform an at home diagnostic test on your snow blower.

Change the oil and replace the spark plug.

Craftsman-snow-blower

I’ve sought Dave the Builder’s advice on the following:

Getting Your HVAC System Winter Ready for Your Home Tips

Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean return air grills, vents, and floor registers.

Start the season with a clean, new air filter.  Change filter every thirty (30) days.

Cover window unit A/C with an insulated liner.

Look into replacing an older thermostat with an energy efficient programmable model.

Nest Learning Thermostat

Nest Learning Thermostat

Reverse the settings on ceiling fans to clockwise to blow the hot air downward.

Energy.gov suggests turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day from its normal setting to promote saving as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling.

Safety is always in season.

Replace the batteries in your smoke alarms.

Install a carbon monoxide detector or an all-in-one unit.

First Alert SCO501CN-3ST Battery Operated Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Voice LocationFirst Alert SCO501CN-3ST Battery Operated Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Voice Location

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Getting prepared now with these winter ready your home tips feathers the nest with protection as well as peace of mind for the winter months ahead.

love your style

 

 

Show & Tell

A Gouda Idea: Fall Entertaining

Those of you who are in fall entertaining, pumpkin, color, sweater, and comfy throw heaven, please do share, show, and tell with us what fall looks like in your corner of the world.

hey there pumpkin welcome mat

Hey There Pumpkin Welcome Mat

Our Canadian snowbird son called home this past Saturday to show and tell what fall looks like in his corner of the world.

He and his lovely wife were welcoming several friends in for an evening of fall entertaining featuring fireside cocktails and fall themed food and drink.

fall-dinner-party

We discussed what cocktails and dishes would be served, the fall decor touches his bride was adding to the mantel, how good of an idea it was for his mom to suggest a first fire of the season to warm up both home and hearth, and at the moment it just happened to be snowing.

fall-snow-Canada

Louisiana temperatures can’t see fit to drop below 83 degrees with 98% humidity.

Meanwhile, the Canadian snowbird is not only enjoying fall, but winter to boot (or should I say aboot).

winnipeg-maple

Cool, crisp, and cold weather signals it’s time to pull out the blankets and throws, start a fire in the fireplace, bedeck the abode to fit the season, and invite friends over to gather together for a it’s fall y’all celebration.

fall entertaining

Part of the fun of entertaining is coming up with festive and creative ways to put a festive spin on the presentation of drinks, snacks, entrées, sides, and desserts.

all-party-pumpkin-chip-holderBetter Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens shows how using a hallowed-out pumpkin lined with a fall themed kitchen towel as a serving bowl for chips brings the fall harvest serving A game to the table.

hello-fall-kitchen-towel

fall entertaining

Better Homes & Gardens

Apples and cheese make tasty pairing partners, and these appetizing apple-shape cheese are so simple to make.

Begin by rolling your favorite choice of soft cheese into a ball.

Coat the cheese in smoky paprika, finely crushed pecans or walnuts, minced fresh herbs, or crushed gingersnaps.

Press the top of the ball to create a spot for the stem.

Finish the “apple” by inserting a branch with leaves or a pretzel, bread, or cinnamon stick paired with a bay leaf to create a stem completing the apple look.

Silea Cheese Markers - Set of 6

Vintage Silver Plated French Silea Cheese Markers

Rustic Farmhouse: Rounded Cheese Board & Knife Set

Fall, winter, spring or summer- farmhouse chic is a Gouda look.

It’s Pumpkin Time

pumpkins fall arrangment

My daughter-in-law is a loyal Michaels Stores shopper whereas her mother-in-law spreads the loyalty around in the name of the best deal.

This past Sunday, I lucked up on a super Sunday sale at our local Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores.

Wooden Slice Cake Stand

Place & Time Fall Harvest Wooden Slice Cake Stand

I’m stocked and ready to fall to Thanksgiving tablescape.

pumpkin-pillows

Several fall decorating-entertaining-tablescapes show and tell emails between the two of us garnered ideas and inspiration across the miles.

She suggested I take a look at the fall into Thanksgiving themed pillow covers available from Wish.com.

The grateful and the autumn pillow covers are on the way, and I can’t wait to see how the pillow covers in real fall decorating time will complete the look I have in mind.

I suggested she print and frame this lovely colorful fall printable from Refresh Restyle as fall favors for her guests.

The link to the free printable is provided under the image.

Colorful-Fall-Printable

Colorful Fall Printable from Refresh Restyle

Our favorite time of the year season easily inspires a celebration.

Fall entertaining is a crisp breeze when good ideas, finds, and friends come together.

love your style

 

Show & Tell

Fall Decorating Inspiration 2018

This week finds me tuned into fall decorating inspiration 2018.

Warming home and hearth with seasonal updates for fall in this the season of cozy colors, textures, and patterns appeals to my penchant for gifting the home, eye and heart with the much anticipated unveiling of the best the third season has to offer.

fall-leaves-colors

Fall In Love

Transitioning the spaces and places in your home to mark summer’s exit and fall’s arrival is easily achieved through welcoming rich warm colors and engaging layers to create and convey a cozy mix.

Let’s take a look at what’s in home motivated by fall decorating inspiration 2018.

reading-chair

Domino – Photography by Carter Berg

Curling up with a good book in a cozy spot is always in season, especially on a crisp fall afternoon or evening.

whiskey-in-a-teacup-reese-witherspoon

Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits 

dive-into-fall

Family Circle – October 2018 Issue

The October  issue of Family Circle plants a pumpkin seed of fall decorating inspiration 2018.

Nicollete-top-grain-waxed-leather-persimmon-chair

Nicollete Top Grain Waxed Leather Chair

A comfortable chair and a good book or magazine pairs well with a fall afternoon or evening.

The cozy reading corner essential check list includes a table lamp, swing arm lamp, floor lamp, or small reading lamp producing optimum light.

Add to that a spot table, a spot of tea, and a plush throw and you have the elements of comfort to ambiance.

Hiend Accents Cable Knit 50"x60" Throw

Seasonal tabletop accents enhance a fall-autumn-Thanksgiving table is set to gathering together.

Vintage-French-Pewter-Hunting-Dog-plate

Vintage French Pewter Hunting Dog Wall Plate

antique-silver-sentiment-charger

transferware-sterling-silver-Victoria-Magazine

Victoria Magazine

Fall Decorating Inspiration 2018

Velvet fabric in vibrant colors will make the table runners I could not source to suit.

velvet-fabric-fall

standing-ringneck

Standing Ring-necked Pheasant

The needlepoint fabric in pheasant detail I wanted was just a bit too pricey for my taste- $2000.00+ too much.

One enhanced search and source session later and this P Kaufmann Game Birds Heritage Ducks Pheasants over paisley fabric is on its way to Places In The Home.

P KAUFMANN GAME BIRDS HERITAGE DUCKS PHEASANTS OVER PAISLEY

pumpkin-cream

Frosted Eucalyptus Garland

Frosted Eucalyptus Garland

seeded_eucalyptus_bunch

Seeded Eucalyptus Bunch

faux-wood-plate-charger

 

fall-vegetables

harvest chicken casserole

 Harvest Chicken Casserole

Fall tastings generate a fair amount of dirty dishes.  I’m sure the sentiment of the below images echoes a majority opinion.

dishes-board

If you’re like me, placing a positive spin on the task at hand cuts through the dread and the dirt.

Enter Mrs. Meyer’s Apple Cider scent dish soap.

mrs-meyers-apple-cider-scent-dish-soap

This stuff is fall in a bottle.

The staying power of both scent and suds justifies the price, adding a bit of aroma therapy to an otherwise unremarkable household duty.

ornamental-cabbages

Ornamental Cabbages

Autumnal bouquets in harvest tones, pumpkins, gourds, acorns, pecans, cotton bolls, persimmons, apples, pears, ornamental cabbage, pansies-  nature absolutely is the best arts and crafts store.

When nature is in the house the simple yet elegant essence of fall-autumn is present and accounted for.

pansies

A touch of autumn through new to me art, accessories, scents and taste.

fruit-lamp

Pastels pair beautifully with deep rich tones of copper, mahogany, and ebony creating seasonal color contrast for fall through winter decorating.

throw-pillows-fall

A mix of traditional and modern pieces creates visual interest and curated contrast.

Sadik 2 Door Accent CabinetSadik 2 Door Accent Cabinet

Simeon Pumpkin-shaped Glass Base Table Lamp

Simeon Pumpkin-shaped Glass Base Table Lamp

 

Scents of the season~

brown-sugar-chestnut-soy-wax-candle

2-Wick Candle Brown Sugar Chestnut Soy Wax Blend Candle

I can personally attest to the scentsational aroma of the Hot Buns and Apple Cinnamon Vanilla scented candles from Our Own Candle Company.

The entire house smells so delicious when I burn one of these candles.

hot-buns-cinnamon-candle

Fall is here, and what better way to announce its arrival than to welcome style home through fall decorating inspiration 2018.

Simple enhancements in seasonal colors, textures, patterns, tastes, and scents reflect a warm feel and cozy character.

Happy first weekend of fall, y’all!

love your style

 

Show & Tell

Welcome Personal Style Home

Gearing up to add a touch of fall to house and home, the creative process requires giving thought to the elements of design and decorating that will best welcome personal style home.

Elizabeth Drake

Elizabeth Drake

I look at each individual space in terms of framing a scene à la Hollywood set designer or director.

With a discerning eye, I evaluate what makes the cut.

welcome personal style home

Many of us derive our personal design and decorating choices from affecting colors, textures, patterns, scents, sounds, and ingredients we’ve impressively seen, felt, heard, smelled, and tasted.

If something leaves a lasting impression on you, one strong enough to influence your design and decorating choices, by all means bring it home!

The life lived within a home comes alive through personal style and taste, and there is nothing more chic than the home that beautifully demonstrates this.

Regardless of season or occasion, design and decorate with a sense of you in order to distinctly welcome personal style home.

fall-treeFlickr

Enlist the senses to aid in a frank assessment of what is working for you in the space and what is not.

Picture a tree and its branches.

The tree trunk represents your signature design style preference- the all things house that make a home foundation.

Branch from the “trunk” with transitional pieces.

Select a reference point for color, pattern, and/or texture and “branch” out from there.

 

expired

If the date stamp on certain pieces has expired, purge these items from your decorating portfolio.

I catch myself attempting to justify keeping pieces long past their decorative prime because somewhere in time it appealed to me, and perhaps it may again strike my fancy.

No, Hattie Hoarder, it won’t.

Say goodbye to the stale, the outdated, and the expired in lieu of something or nothing (less is more sometimes) better suited in its place to welcome personal style home.

dining-room-table-image

Our interior design, decorating, and home decor choices reflect our core design style preferences.

It’s these thoughtful and personal choices that resoundingly welcome personal style home.

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

Thoughts on Fall and What I Associate Autumn With

I associate autumn with checking the how many days until autumn (or fall) countdown timer every day from the first day of August until the official first day of fall.

associate autumn

When will fall get here consults include the SmokyMountains.com fall foliage prediction map.

fall-foliage-map-South

Louisiana and the deep South is estimated to experience the peak color for fall on November 19.

Until the real color deal arrives, nandina leaves color my world with a hint of autumnal color.

fall-nandina

Our sense of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch is naturally heightened by autumn’s splendor.

autumn-association

My East Tennessee roots run as deep as the fall foliage colors in full peak season, naturally leading me to check hotel availability in the Pigeon Forge area and the happenings at a Gatlinburg jewel, the Buckhorn Inn.

transferware-bowl

Scenes from a fall home include the above image of the Transferware vegetable bowl I bought last year on one of my late October treasure hunts.

When I spotted the A Welcome Inn sign in the pattern, my mind immediately engaged in a lightening round of I associate autumn with.

brown-white-bowlCovet Antiques on Etsy

Autumn comes to mind and life when there’s a Transferware vegetable bowl placed upon the Thanksgiving table.

saying-graceA framed print of Grace by Eric Enstrom hung on wall of my grandparent’s dining room and never fails to take me home. 

Thanksgiving holidays spent in East Tennessee at my paternal grandparents house included aunts, uncles, and cousins from Illinois, Michigan, Georgia, and surrounding Tennessee towns gathered together in Fountain City to break cornbread together.

We lovingly referred to it as hillbilly old home week.

Buckhorn Inn Gatlinburg

Buckhorn Inn

Timing and travel is key, and I associate autumn, East Tennessee and family with crisp colorful fall afternoons spent in the Smoky Mountains and special times at the Buckhorn Inn.

fallen-leavesFallen Leaves

Natural beauty.

Robust colors of amber, magenta, crimson, tobacco, sage, aubergine, arugula, marigold, brick, moss, forest, caramel, and paprika.

Trees of ginkgo, maple, apple, persimmon and magnolia.

Sitting on the front porch with a cup of hot chocolate in hand listening to the sounds of the local high school bands.

Delicious seasonal dishes, sweets, and warm beverages.

hello-fall-jar-candle

Scents of cinnamon, pumpkin, amber, fig, spice and cedar wood.

Warmth of fabrics woven and woolen.

Cozy spaces, simple pleasures, and the warmth of an inviting home.

What do you associate autumn with?

Darleen-signature-love

 

 

 

 

 

Show & Tell