Fall Home Fragrances

The weather was BEAUTIFUL to welcome October this week—crisp, bright and colorful—but chilly! I actually had to start wearing a jacket to work in the morning and close my windows at night. In addition to fall going full-swing this month, it's prime pumpkin season. While I'm not a huge fan of the popular PSL, I love the warm and spicy fragrance in candle form. Woodsy notes reminiscent of outdoor bonfires and frosted forests, rosemary and pomegranate are a few other scents I seek out for a cozy, festive feel as the weather turns cool and the holidays approach.

Spicy Apple doubles as a stunning centerpiece, Frasier Fir has such a strong and bold aroma—a longtime favorite in my family, and Ski House conjures up idyllic winter vacation memories and aspirations of those to come! Winter is no one's favorite season, but with a few of these candles burning warmly when you come in from the cold each night, there's certainly something to look forward to.

one | spiced apple 

two | brown sugar

three | spice

four | pomegranate, blood orange, champagne

five | rosemary

six | pomegranate, pine, cinnamon

seven | wintertime fire 

eight | dark rose & smoky wood

nine | frasier fir

ten | balsam & fir

eleven | burning wood & mountain spruce

twelve | fire irons, birch 

affordable throw pillows

Target works hard to constantly surprise and delight shoppers, and its throw pillow selection had just that effect on me when I stopped in over my lunch break a few weeks ago. I hadn't seen the "show room" floor pad concept yet, which I was impressed by, and upgraded fixtures really made the Home section look more like a Macy's than a mass discounter.

I've had essentially the same apartment decor since graduating five years ago, and I'm not at the point where I regularly redecorate, but a few new pillows would go a long way in giving my tiny space a necessary facelift. I found several that would have popped perfectly against my mocha microsuede sofa—coordinating Aztec combinations of soft lime, peach and evergreen—but I resisted what felt like an impulse purchase and left the store empty-handed (save for pride in my will power).

I'm now a little regretful that I didn't get them, and went online to course-correct. I didn't find the styles I'd loved in the Eden Prairie store, but was AGAIN surprised to find a ton of other cute options. I'm over my comfy-but-cliché leopard pillow, but for my current bachelorette pad, think accent pillows should still be fun and whimsical. Some of these are a little too young for me, but I love a colorful mix of prints and patterns—especially the teal/lobster pairing in the last row!

Today my company is doing lunch & lawn bowling at Brit's downtown so I'll be contemplating these decorative combinations all afternoon—going to be 80º and sunny! Also I may have dreamt about grilled cheese last night (#notashamed), so I cannot wait to get one...! Happy hump day, guys!

one | two (pretty cheesy, but how can you not feel happy when you see it?) | three

four | five | six 

seven | eight | nine

shop all Target pillows

home sweet home

I spend a lot of time in my living room—eating, blogging, Bravo TV-watching—so when my cozy-but-bland throw started to feel stale, I didn't hesitate to replace it. A brighter, lighter style is a great mood booster. This Racked roundup introduced me to some great home decor sites and helped me find the right piece for my style and budget: a bluish-teal striped cotton throw that pops against my chestnut micro-suede sofa (I would've loved to wrap up in this, but controlled myself). A byproduct of the search was, of course, a whole new wish list. Furbish and Zara Home are favorites for a quick and punchy update; West Elm and Anthro for bigger investments. Here's what I'm targeting next: A modern pillow. Elegant flatware that's so much prettier than my hand-me-down set. Tumblers with an intricate design and touch of shine. A reflective stone for depth and color. A tray to organize remotes, coasters, matches and pens that collect on the coffee table. A textured pitcher. Pick up Rachel Zoe's new book, Living in Style, for tips on putting a personal spin on everything. I'm slightly obsessed with the designer—her style, her ambition and her conviction. And after clicking through these fun facts I'm for sure watching Almost Famous tonight. Can you believe I've never seen it? I KNOW. Have a great day! 

one (so cute with this floral and this coral!). two. three. four. five. six.