CHECKING IN!!

  Hello, remember me!? I'm still around and I will be checking in via the blog once in awhile. Today felt like a good day to reach out! For those that stay in touch with me via Facebook and mail, thank you for caring enough to send me emails and private messages. It sure is nice to think I am being thought of and missed.

perdue.kathy

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Kathy Perdue

Find me on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/Kathy sue/ or at Poshmark .....https://poshmark.com/closet/fiano

goodlifeofdesign.blogspot.com/2018/08/something-new-for-fall-for-me.html

You can also find me on instagram here....https://www.instagram.com/perdue.kathy/ if you are so inclined.

It is that time of year when I start purging my closet, planting flowers for the upcoming holidays, start browsing for Christmas gifts, and ideas and making my own plans for how I want to decorate our Holiday home.

Our weather here in California is still warm during the days but cool mornings and evenings. Still warm enough for just a cardigan or light weight sweatshirt to keep warm. I love this time of year. I purged my closet and put away most of my summer clothes, but have to admit I am sitting here in flip flops and could have on shorts and be pretty comfy.

I have fun revisiting my closet and cashmere sweaters. It's like meeting up with an old friend each year.

We have out a few white pumpkins and of course Mums on our porch. I've switched out my great room pillows to their fall look and the mantel has some cute little white pumpkins lined up in a row.

Yesterday I planted the cyclamen and ornamental cabbage out back, soon I will be planting them in the front too. 

We are enjoying our walks around the neighborhood and it was fun seeing the grapes and the harvest. The grapevines are turning beautiful colors of golds to reds.

This time of year always gets my mind spinning in different directions, but trust me I don't rush. I am more of a planner, enjoy the process kind of gal. I hope you all are enjoying your fall and pre-holiday time too. 

 

 

How To NOT OVER DECORATE For Fall!!

 

    Keep It Simple, Keep it Natural

GOAL:

To add texture and warmth with the additions of a fewAutumn touches.

There are copious amounts of Fall home tours going around blog land right now and it is a great way to get ideas and inspiration that you might apply to your own home.

I have seen the:

THE GOOD 

THE NOT SO GOOD

&

WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD THEY DO THAT? 

 There is nothing worse than when a home's decor looks as if it should have price tags on everything. Also remember not everything requires a bow!!

Of course it is all subjective, and I am a self-proclaimed a less is more, big is better kind of gal when it comes to decor. 

If you are a more is more kind of gal, please don't take offense to my methods, it is just what works for me and what I'd like to share with you today.

 My perspective comes from let's keep it simple and natural as possible.

Seasonal decorating can be tricky because it is so easy to get carried away. 

We have so many offerings out there, and social media and the internet has opened up so many opportunities in the decorating world.

The very first thing you need to do is to remove all the accessories in your room so you have a clean slate. 

Then slowly move the larger additions you would like to add, and create your layers, always keeping in mind less is more, and you don't have to have everything you own out all at once. 

I have a few guidelines that I use when doing seasonal decorating.

1. Keep it simple
2. Use natural elements whenever possible
3. Choose 3 different areas in your home to decorate.
4. Just like on the stage, there should only be one star in a room 
5. Repeat elements to give continuity to your home, I like to use 2- 3 main elements in my Fall decor.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE 

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My home

USE NATURAL ELEMENTS

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CHOOSE THREE DIFFERENT AREAS TO DECORATE

ENTRY:

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MANTEL

I am going to show you a little contrast here. The first mantel is what I would call simple, natural and tasteful Fall decor. The second mantel is in the, "Let's put a price tag on this stuff and sell it!"

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The Don't Do This!!

You will notice the only thing natural in this arrangement are the candles. They could have saved themselves so much money and work by doing something simple and natural.

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 If you need a little help in doing your mantel I have a step by step blog post that can help you out. 

Read it HERE!

THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE STAR IN THE ROOM

What I mean by this is if you have a dining room attached to your kitchen decide where you will put the Fall decor, the table , island or counters. If you have Fall decor everywhere, the eye will be bouncing around the room and not be able to relax and enjoy the view.

The same for your living room or Great room. If you want the mantel to be the focal point then you should keep the coffee table and end tables very simple.

Remember to always enter your room and stand back to see if the eye flows seamlessly or if you have moments of jumping around from one area to another. Your home should have a flow and continuity.

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Of course these are all just guidelines and methods that I have found that work for me over the years.  

Nothing in design is ever in cement or an absolute.

Use your own discretion and keep in mind at all times the look and feel you want your home to have. 

Keep in mind........

You will have to put away ALL the stuff you put out in order to do your Christmas decorating. Ho-Hum sigh!! That just might be what puts a limit on the more is more look!!

 

 

Something NEW For Fall For Me!!!

Do you feel it? There is just a touch of crispness in the air in the mornings and the evenings here in California.

I know it is probably a bit different where you live, but it is that time of year when we all start thinking about Fall and cooler weather.

With the changing of the seasons we also start thinking about changing things up a bit in our homes and wardrobes as well.

This past week I have to admit I did a little thinking about my wardrobe when I got my new Boden catalog and this picture popped up!

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Hello darling, come to Mama!! Omgosh stripes and leopard together in one shirt!! Okay I did get a little excited, I have to admit so of course I had to push the BUY button!!

Leopard is a pattern I love for the Fall weather. I find it to be a classic for me since I do wear camel for the Fall/Winter season. Camel goes with my coloring and it just works well in my wardrobe.

Oh don't worry I didn't stop there!! Even though I am trying reallllly hard to not buy too many new things. I actually kind of needed, okay wanted a new pair of sneakers.

Check out the striped detail on the back!! AGAIN perfect for my Fall wardrobe!!

20% OFF
USE CODE G9C2 AT CHECKOut

I think I will be going through my Fall pieces this week to see what fits, what doesn't and what I should keep or purge. How about you are in the mood for a little Fall update?

 

 

BEAUTY POST: NEW and REPEAT PURCHASES!

  

It's been awhile since I have written anything about skin care.  I try very hard to take good care of my skin and as with most of us, I wish I had not sun bathed in my teen years.

Since I did, I try to at least take care of my skin in the best way I know how. If you have read this blog for very long you know that I started using the Korean Skincare methods. You can read about it Here!!  

Repeat Purchase!

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One of the products that is an absolute must for this time of year is their sunscreen. I don't use it on my body but absolutely love it for my face. It's different than most sunscreens I have used. 

Here is what they say on there website......

a perfect lightweight sunscreen that gives powerful broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection as a staple in your daily skin care routine. The Mild Essence formula prevents sunburn and premature aging with SPF 50/PA+++

Here is what I have to say about it!......

It goes on easily, no white residue, lovely scent, doesn't sting my eyes, and it WORKS!! Love this stuff!! They also have one for people that have oily skin if you tend to need less moisturizing products.

If you need a good sun block for your face this is the one for you, you can thank me later! 

This next product is something I have read about forevvvvver,  but am just now trying and I must say the hype was true.

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Here is a little secret.... I'm a mouth breather when I sleep, yes, not very attractive to think about, but  we mouth breathers  get dry lips so I have been putting this on my lips at night and I have to agree with all the hype. It's great!!

My favorite lip gloss is still the Laura Mercier Lip Glace in ROSE! Love love love this stuff, the feel, flavor, smell the color, the finish. My hubby likes it too when I kiss him. I don't know about you all but makes it SOLD in my book!!

DEFINITELY AN UPCOMING REPEAT PURCHASE!

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This will be a repeat purchase, in fact I am almost out!! Can't wait to get it again and maybe try a new color too. Yes, I am totally addicted to lip gloss! Are you?

I'm in love with a new to me mascara that my friend told me about. NO more clumps or caterpillar lashes. This stuff is great....

SOON TO BE A REPEAT PURCHASE!

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It's all in the brush. As we get a bit older our eyelashes seem thinner and shorter and the larger brushes just put too much mascara on our lashes and we look clumpy and over done. This mascara can be layered on and it does not clump. This is my first tube but it's definitely going to be a repeat purchase.

This next product has lasted so long I have yet to repurchase. It truly is like water so you have to get the hang of how to apply it.

REPEAT PURCHASE FOR SURE!

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I just shake it up and put literally a drop on my middle fingers and rub in a circular motion on the apples of my cheeks I then take a brush and blend it in.  It is like water, seriously. This goes into the skin smoothly and creates a natural glowing look on your cheeks.

I will top it with the Bobbi Brown Rose Quartz brick, but just a little.

REPEAT PURCHASE FOR YEARS!

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Another product that is new to me that I got as a sample and enjoyed it so much was a white truffle oil. I am not sure if it is making a difference yet, but I do love the texture and overall appearance of my skin........

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I apply this after my toner and before my snail cream and moisture cream!

Yes, you read that right I use snail cream. This stuff is a must in my beauty arsenal. It truly has changed the texture and softness of my skin....

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I love skincare and makeup products and always love to try new things, but what I have shown you in this post are the things that I am not looking for any replacement for. 

There are always things I want to try and will continue of the search for and loving every minute of research and the hunt.

Do you have products that you are totally loyal too and nothing will make you change it for something else. Please Share! I love girls helping girls.....