[ pumpkin: delicious and beautiful ]

NOT ONLY do I love eating all things pumpkin - pie, cookies, bread, cheesecake....it's a gorgeous colour in decor, particularly at this time of year. As the air outside cools, a hint of that warm pumpkin tone inside makes a space feel nice and cozy.

lisa

[1,6 elle decor; 2,4,5 house beautiful; 3,7,8 martha stewart]

[ charming tin displays ]

I LOVE interesting little tea tins and how they look displayed together on a kitchen shelf. Their intricate, colourful patterns make a charming little display.

lisa

[bolig magasinet, design*sponge, apartment therapy]

[ serene white and grey ]

THIS BEAUTIFUL room in Style at Home stopped me in my tracks. It's a lovely light-filled space that just beckons you to sit back and relax. The beautiful millwork, the pale walls, the gorgeous grey tufted sofas and ottoman...swoon!

lisa

[Janis Nicolay for Style at Home]

[ a weekend afternoon at St. Stephen's Green ]

I HOPE YOU all had a lovely weekend! It was a sunny, crisp fall day on Saturday, so I decided to head into Dublin's city centre for a walk.

St. Stephen's Green is a 22 acre park in the heart of Dublin and is a hub for tourists and locals alike. The thing I love about it on Saturdays is that the iron railings surrounding it play host to local artists to display and sell their art. Artwork goes all around the perimeter so it's like one really long gallery.

After touring the "gallery" there are horse & carriages waiting to take people to tour the streets.

A walk through the park is pretty at this time of year - the leaves are just starting to fall and it's a lovely spot to feed the birds and enjoy a picnic.

I love the ivy on the old Georgian buildings when it changes colour for fall.

A browse through some shops on Grafton Street and the shopping centre...

...then it was time for a little sweet for my trip home. What a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

lisa

[all pics: Lisa Roy on her iPhone!]

[ fabulous fall decorating ]

OK, SO NOW THAT fall has officially arrived, I think it's safe to say that some fall decorating is in order! Embracing a new season at the start always helps ease the pain of having to bid farewell to an amazing summer. From a spruced-up entrance to a few special touches around inside, there are so many ways to make you say "i LOVE fall!"

fill outdoor urns with mums, scatter a few pumpkins and make a garland by wiring together some corn

if you have a woodburning tool (available at any craft store), trace your house numbers on a gourd and poke holes with a pointy tip on your woodburning tool to create this fun house number urn

replace seasonal flowers in your window boxes with an assortment of little gourds and corn

string together some baby gourds to make a garland for your fence or across your doorway

a simple grouping of corn tied with beautiful ribbon is an elegant way to welcome guests

suspend a grapevine wreath with cord from the ceiling and wire on some artificial leaves and little votives (these ones are little carved-out gourds with tealights)

cover a styrofoam wreath with corn husks and suspend from a mirror or door with gorgeous wide ribbon

(love the little grouping on the mantel as well)

wrap glass votive holders with corn husks for pretty candleholders and floral arrangements

top a lamp with a fun pinecone as a finial

Now don't those ideas make you want to see what you can find outside or at your local craft store to jazz up your home for this cozy season? Have a great weekend and happy fall decorating!

lisa

[all pics: martha stewart]

[ wine crates for...? ]

WOODEN WINE CRATES can be used for so many things - I've used them to transport and display handbags at a craft fair and some of you may remember the special ones that I snagged from U2's The Edge that I store magazines in. I never would have thought to use them for anything other than as containers to hold things but apparently they can serve a much better purpose - floors! What have you used wine crates for?

lisa

[inredningsbloggen]

[ a charming kitchen for a charming artist ]

I STUMBLED upon this lovely kitchen belonging to UK textile print designer, Teresa Cole. It's a light, lived in, comfy space and the bright hit of red cabinetry gives it such cheerfulness.

Teresa started Teresa Green upon graduating in printed textiles from art & design university. All of her fabrics are from within the UK, her linen from Ireland and her inks all water-based. With a passion for kitchenalia - ladles and kitchen scales and old garden objects, her illustrations have a whimsical feel and are as adorable on cards as they are on cushions, kitchen linens and purses. If you are looking for some lovely handprinted pieces, be sure to visit her website.

[bottom pic: country living]

[ fall wardrobe bargains ]

BEFORE I LEFT Canada, I decided to pick up a few new pieces for fall since prices are so much better than overseas. If you are looking to add some new pieces to your fall wardrobe, Joe Fresh Style should be at the top of your list of places to check out. Joe Fresh Style is a fun line of fashions and accessories available at over 335 Loblaws and Real Canadian Superstore grocery stores across Canada. From chic footwear to the latest in outerwear, Joe Fresh Style offers collections for men, women and children at ridiculous prices that will knock your socks off!  Who knew grocery shopping could be so fashionable?

I scored cardigans for $19, a crisp white shirt for $12, striped nautical top for $12 and a ruffled tank for $14. And then I had to escape before I got carried away - after all, I only have so much room in my suitcase!

lisa

[ first class, baby! ]

FIRST, LET ME start off by saying I don't travel first class. I'm coach, all the way and have grown accustomed to
a) ending up next to someone who has either bad b.o., bathed in perfume or smoked a pack of cigarettes before boarding;
b) knowing I may or may not have access to an armrest for my flight;
c) a simple choice of chicken or beef;
d) a seat that doesn't really recline more than 10 degrees
e) waking up with a stiff neck from "sleeping" in some weird position

So when my guy was able to get us some upgrade vouchers with his frequent flyer miles for our red eye flight back to London then Dublin, I was doing backflips! Suddenly a dreaded long flight had become something to look forward to! Upgrading to Air Canada first class is like winning the lottery!

You get an Individual pod that includes a cosmetic pouch with earplugs and sleeping mask, a nice comfy thick blanket, a remote for the pop-out TV (because reaching forward a couple of inches to adjust volume is unacceptable!) and a seat that adjusts to so many positions, you don't know how to get it to return to its original state...

a glass of champagne, followed by a snack of mixed nuts & choice of wine...

a menu to choose your meal consisting of starter, main course, dessert (with actual china, cutlery and personal salt & pepper shakers)...

all to be enjoyed while reclining with your feet up, watching your choice of movies on your pop-out TV (I decided on Sex and the City 2)...

then time to lie down, snuggle up and catch some zzzzzzz

Gee, I can get used to this! I think it's created a monster! How can I possibly fly coach again??

lisa