So yesterday was the day…
The fall decorations were officially taken out of storage and brought upstairs for display. Talk about flippin’ excited.
But before I got to work on any of the decorations, I made sure to put dinner together in the slow cooker.
Gosh, I just love this contraption. Seriously…does it get much easier than this? I’m so looking forward to making some of my favorite crockpot recipes this season.
So within a couple hours, fall had officially exploded in my living room.
I also realized that, although you’ve pretty much seen the (almost) finished product, I haven’t really given you guys the final living room before and after. Soooo…
Here’s what it looked like before…
(you can see all the before photos in this post)
Here was some progress…
(with more decoration details in this post)
And now, here we are today!
The lighting is a little funky, but you get the idea.
And, of course, the fall decorations are proudly on display too.
Including the candy corn.
I just feel like everything is so much cozier and I am absolutely in love with our new set up. The only thing we really have left that we want to do is sand and paint our window sill and frame (we want to paint it white to match the new floor molding). Once that’s done, I think that will make even more of a difference…hopefully we’ll get some time this weekend!
*****
So now, back to that dinner. Yesterday’s delicious slow cooker recipe was not my own and came courtesy of Skinnytaste and her Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili.
I only made a few slight alterations to the original recipe, but not enough to re-post it here, so definitely be sure to check it out. It was amazing, and even got rave reviews from the man of the house.
And no, I’m not talking about Cody.
Along with our chicken taco chili, I heated up the remaining slices of our Hearty Oat Loaf with some more honey butter to round out the meal.
So sad to have it gone…but so glad to have made it through the whole loaf before it ended up going bad. #WIN.
Jay and I finished off the evening with a Redbox movie and a couple small dishes of ice cream for dessert. If that isn’t heaven, well then I don’t know what is.
This morning I’m off to a much-needed massage appointment. I’ll be back this afternoon!
Question for the Morning:
What are some of your favorite recipes you’ve discovered on blogs? Feel free to link ‘em up…even if they’re your own!
Shari says
The living room looks great! :)
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
It looks great!!! I love the color :)
Samantha says
I love that How I Met Your Mother is on your TV! Looks great.
Faith @ The Cheap Girl's Guide to Chic says
Haha I was just planning to say the same thing. Can’t WAIT for the new season to start!
Laura @ LauraLikesDesign says
This recipe sounds amazing! I’ve never thought to combine chili and taco flavors, but it sounds delicious! I can’t wait to try this out–aren’t Crock Pots the best?!
Oh, that dish of candy corn would not last long in my house…those little things are addictive!
Danica @ It's Progression says
I have so many favorite recipes from blogs, but this is one of my favorite single-serving dessert recipes from Tina at Carrots ‘n’ Cake: http://carrotsncake.com/2010/01/the-3-minute-oatmeal-raisin-cookie.html
Angela @ Health's Angel says
The living room looks really nice and cozy! Decorating is so much fun, especially for the respective seasons. :-)
Khushboo Thadani says
Your new living room is so nice…much more homely :)! Overnight oats in a jar is undoubtedly one of the best “recipes” I’ve picked up in the blog world…if you can even call it that haha!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
I love the Fall decor! It all looks so professional.
chelcie @ chelcie's food files says
i’m obsessed with my crock pot..i use it all the time during the fall it makes life SO much easier! the living room decor looks amazing! I love the live, laugh, love frame mural !
Megan@funsizedfitness says
I love Julie’s Chocolate Protein Granola – it’s so good by itself and as a greek yogurt topping :)
http://www.pbfingers.com/2011/01/23/chocolate-protein-granola/
Hope @ With A Side Of Hope says
I love your living room! It looks great and I love the fall decorations too. It does look very cozy :)
I love cooking in the crock pot. It makes coming home from work and knowing dinner is ready, so easy!
Danielle@cleanfoodcreativefitness says
I love the fall decorations and your living room looks awesome! I love all the colors in it! I’ve found so many awesome recipes on blogs I have way too many to list!!! I do love anything on PaleOMG! I’ve never had a recipe I didn’t like from her!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More says
Your living room looks great! I really love fall so much. And I love How I Met Your Mother. ;)
Jana @ Newly Wife Healthy Life says
That chili sounds amazing! I got my fall decorations out this past weekend and I agree with you, everything just seems so much cozier now! There are a few more outdoor decorations I want to get, but besides that I am pretty much done!
Danielle @ Itsaharleyyylife says
i love changing things up and decorating! (: I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies yesterday and posted the recipe here: http://itsaharleyyylife.com/everyones-doing-it-pumpkin-style/ They are so good!
Natalie says
I think my favorite thing about the new living room is the dish of candy corn on the table :)
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
LOVE your “new” living room! And the fall decor always helps spice things up too. :) I love fall! I don’t dare put candycorn out on my table like that… They’d be gone in no time. I have NO self control around that stuff! Haha.
Julie @ Sweetly Balanced says
I love all of the fall decorations!! I always want to decorate for the seasons, but usually by the time I get around to doing it the season is almost over :(
Some of my favorite recipes I’ve made a few times…
http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2009/03/skillet-chicken-with-broccoli-pasta-and-parmesan.html
http://www.tablefortwoblog.com/2012/02/08/buffalo-chicken-mac-cheese/
Becca says
http://debbidoesdinnerhealthy.blogspot.com/2010/08/taco-corn-bread-casserole.html
That cornbread casserole has been such a HUGE hit!!! I have made it at least 4 times this month for 3 different families… they are great for pot luck and tastes fabulous!! Everyone who has tried it has given it rave reviews…even my picky “I’m the chef” dad.
Candice says
Love that room! I have some remodeling to do.. but the whole thing just sounds daunting.. thanks for the inspiration!
Sam @ Better With Sprinkles says
The living room looks great! I’m definitely checking out that taco chili recipe – that combines two of my favourite things! I don’t have a slow cooker though, so hopefully I can do a stovetop version.
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance says
I’m a big fan of my cauliflower crust pizza–I love that I made the crust recipe super simple! http://eatmovebalance.com/cauliflower-crust-pizza/
Lynn says
Your living room looks great, we are getting a new floor put in this fall and I am thinking about touching up the paint to something more “us” while it is ripped apart. Your post encourages me to do that (and to hang up more of our pictures).
I have made a ton of blog recipes, and it is hard to pick a favorite but your caramel icing definitely tasted great when I put it on zucchini cake last week.
Laurie @ Love, Laugh, Laurie says
Your living room looks AWESOME!! So pretty! And a little how I met your mother? Always nice :)
Tara says
I LOVE the decorations!! I can’t wait to get that cozy feeling going in my house :) Gosh I love fall and the change of seasons!!
Andrea @ Andrea Out Loud says
LOVE your living room!! adorable :)
Stephanie @ The Travelling Tastebuds says
Oh my gosh those are a lot of pumpkins! Enjoy your massage :) I’m sure it will be epic.
Rachel says
aww you look all set for fall!
Kim@hungryhealthygirl says
The living room looks so warm and cozy….love all of the Fall accents. Okay, you’ve inspired me…..my Fall decor comes out this weekend. I have made that same crockpot chicken taco chili and agree it is delicious.
Suzanne @ Fit Minded Mom says
I love crockpot cooking!!!
I also LOVE the sconces that you have next to your window with the candles on them. Is that a recent purchase and if so, can you tell me where you got them?
Chelsea @ Dine & Dash Diaries says
It officially feels like fall here, too—I have the windows open and I’m dying to make some chili!
Jodi @ I Run for Food and Wine says
pumpkin everything is my favorite part of fall! I just bought some new Fall candles, and that makes me so excited, I’m like a crazy person.
This ‘White Chili’ is really great!
http://irunforfoodandwine.com/2012/01/31/white-chicken-chili/
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says
I love the fall look! What a great day! Fall decorations, and a wonderful fall meal with bread! I LOVE it!!
Kerry @ Totes My Oats says
I love your fall decorations! Right now, I can’t get enough of Tina’s 3-ingredient pancake! It’s so yummy.
Julianna @ Julianna Bananna says
your living room looks AMAZING! I especially love the “love” (haha) on the wall! and of course, candy corn is always a winner. ;)
Jentry Nielsen says
I love the living room! So cute, very fall like as well!
P.S. I LOVE How I Met Your Mother, such a great show! haha
Andrea @ Vegvacious says
I love the new set up in your living room! It’s really warm and cozy looking now especially with all of your fall decor up!
PS – I made your hearty oat loaf & veg soup on Monday night – SO GOOD!! I linked up to it in my What I Ate Wednesday post because it’s the perfect Fall dinner!
Bethany @ Accidental Intentions says
I’m completely obsessed with Jessica’s Roasted Apple, Pecan, and Chicken Spinach Salad.
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2010/10/roasted-apple-pecan-and-chicken-spinach-salad/
The roasted apples are LIFE CHANGING. I had this salad on a weekly basis last fall, and there’s an excellent chance its about to pop back up on my meal plans starting next week.
Tabs says
Can I come over and sit in your living room? It looks absolutely inviting and I am totally in love with it! Nice work girl! :)
Lauren says
I am definitely not a seasonal decorator but my mom is and she has done the same thing to her house. It’s all fall decked out. Once the candy corn comes out, I know it’s serious. :)
Annie says
oooh I love your fall decorations! I love halloween and autumn, lots of yummy foods too :) x
Annette@FitnessPerks says
The room looks great!! I love the color on the walls. And yes, the decorations! Wahoo. Gotta try that recipe–we both LOVE mexican, and I totally am in love with the crock pot. Hello easy!
michelle kim says
One of the most popular cupcakes I’ve made was from your blog (the Oreo cookie cupcake)!
I’ll have to get in on this slow-cooker chili action, too!
And your home is soooo beautiful! Love the colors and the warm atmosphere :)
Laura says
i feel like every recipe i cook is from a blog! what redbox did yall rent? i am always on the lookout for redbox movies… never would imagine paying for more than $1.50 for a movie now!! we just rented What to Expect When You’re Expecting… and it was adorable!!
Claire@NavigatingNorth says
Everything looks SO cozy, Courtney…good job! The food, the decor, and even the paint colors…loving it all!
Holly says
LOVE the new look..like I said before, I think your pictures look perfect- and the fact that you just ‘winged it’…let’s just say I’m a tad jealous of how GREAT it looks ‘just winged.’ ;)
And mmmmm that is one of my favorite recipes of yours- the Hearty Oat Loaf…I can’t wait to make some- it’s beginning to be the perfect time for it- stews, soaps & stoups galore :D
Brandi says
The living room looks fantastic Courtney! I love the colors!
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily says
The living room set up is so nice! I can’t wait to get my Fall decorations out, hopefully this weekend :)
Shannon says
Your living room looks so cozy. I love it!!!! :)
I find Pinterest to be a great source for finding recipes. I just made the Instant Macaroni and Cheese that I pinned yesterday for last night’s dinner. It was good, but I put a 1/4 cup more milk than I was supposed to. Oops. I’ll try it again, but it turned out great. I also found Funfetti Cookies, which turned out awesome. Don’t make a double batch of them though, because the batter is THICK. I learned that lesson the hard way.
I follow you on Pinterest, so if you want to follow me, I’m @ShannonMHunter. You’ll find the recipes that I mentioned on my pinterest boards.
Ellie@Fit for the Soul says
ahhh I love that centerpiece! I think it’s time to hit up the 99cent store for me and decorate our place too~:D You just inspired me, hehe. And I looove love the crockpot! Yesterday I made some meat in it a la mexicana and came back home and it was falling apart at the TOUCH of a finger. After coming back home I whipped up a whole mexican meal in 15 minutes just because of the crockpot! It seriously needs more attention from the public :D
Claire @ Keeping Up With Claire says
I love the fall decorations! So cute! My favorite fall recipe to make is this Pumpkin Gingerbread. http://ohsheglows.com/2010/10/02/pumpkin-gingerbread-with-spiced-buttercream/
SO GOOD!
Michelle@Peachy Palate says
Angela over at oh she glows is just a genius as is Sonia at The Healthy Foodie…! Though I made these lately which you might be interested in :) http://peachypalate.com/2012/09/03/when-once-a-day-isnt-enough/
Elaine says
I just made Pumpkin Biscoff Cookies and (not to toot my own horn) but they turned out so well! The perfect fall cookie!
I also love Skinnytaste. The most recent recipe I tried of hers and loved is a Summer Vegetable and Sausage dish.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/07/summer-vegetables-with-sausage-and.html
Amanda B. says
This recipe for Chili Chicken Tacos is one I keep coming back to again and again. I love the flavor of the chipotles and it’s not a lot of heat. You can use more of the sauce and less of the actual chili to control the heat (I know you’re sensitive!). We usually have tacos one night, quesadillas another and I freeze portions.
http://www.marthastewart.com/318209/slow-cooker-chili-chicken-tacos
Alex @ Healthy Life Happy Wife says
My two favorite recipes were both from Oh She Glows – her creamy avocado pasta & her vegan pumpkin cheese sauce! Both so tasty! I totally recommend both! All of her recipes are excellent, though.
kolya says
Ha…Cody fits in perfectly with fall decorations. He’s the color of candy corn (:
Julissa says
Your living room looks great! I love the big window which (it looks like) looks out to the front of your house. My mom & I plan to get out the fall decorations tomorrow- so excited :)
Meghan @ After the Ivy League says
Great job on the living room, and your fall decorations look so cute! I love that you’re watching How I Met Your Mother in the background…one of my favorite shows too! haha
Julie says
I love fall! Awesome that you’ve already started to pull out the decos :) The best part is definitely candy corn….
Jai says
I’m loving the sweet potatoes lately! I recently posted my take on Sweet Potato Enchiladas (a spinoff of a Pinterest recipe) and tomorrow I’ll be posting Sweet Potato Stuffed Shells with Caramelized Onions. :)
http://jailavie.com/2012/09/05/mini-sweet-potato-enchiladas/
Jen says
Oh Court!! The living room looks wonderful!! :) It’s definitely cozier. Props to you and Jay for all the hard work you did on it.
Bek @ Crave says
I love Skinny taste recipes, as well as yours, PB Fingers and Enjoy Your Healthy Life!
Linz @ Itz Linz says
Itz my own, but itz so good! Cacao Cherry Power Protein Smoothie: http://itzlinz.com/2012/08/30/cacao-cherry-power-protein-smoothie/
Lea @ Greens and Coffee Beans says
I love your fall decorations! I’m so excited for fall to be here!
You’re new living room set up looks awesome, I love the blue accent wall!