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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

All things Fall!, Inside Our House ·

Spooktacular October Home Tour!


It’s OCTOBER!!!

To celebrate the start of one of my favorite months of the year, I thought I’d do my annual home tour post.  I’m pretty sure I’ve done this post like 10 years in a row…I walk around my house, photograph all of the pumpkin stuff I have out and then post it.  I continue to do it year after year (even though things don’t really change) for a few reasons: 1. My grandmother insists. 2. When I go to decorate each year, I pull up last year’s post to help me put stuff back out. 3. Home tour posts are my third favorite blog posts to read (right behind day in the life posts and beauty posts!).

So, today, I’m inviting you all into my house to celebrate the first day of October 🙂 .

Now, some of the most common questions I get each year after this post are:
1. WHERE DO YOU STORE ALL OF THIS? In plastic bins in my attic.  Nothing fancy, just big bins.  Andrew hauls them up and down the attic ladder each year.
2. WHEN DO YOU DECORATE/TAKE DOWN? I always decorate the week before Labor Day (so, end of August) and then I typically take it down mid-November and put up Christmas.  That being said, last year when we took all of our Christmas down, Andrew asked if we could decorate even earlier this year since it’s so much work (he wants to enjoy the fruits of his labor longer!), so who knows?  I might get all sorts of crazy and decorate November 1.  Would that freak you guys out?!  Hahaha!
3. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE YOU TO PUT IT OUT?  A few hours!  I always do it one day while the kids are in school.
4. WHERE DID YOU BUY____?  I’ve had this stuff for years and years!  Some of it, over 15 years!  I would say that my go-to places for holiday decorations outside of specialty stores are Pottery Barn and Hobby Lobby.  My friends Amanda and Amy make all of my holiday signs that you’ll see and then my friend Lori decorates all of the plates and platters with my kids’ hand prints on them.

Okay, come on in, friends!

This was day two of Smith wearing braces.  He didn’t quite have the hang of it yet!  Ha!  I love my babies!  I also love my stone pumpkins from Sandstone Garden outside of Joplin, MO.

If we can’t get him to smile, we can get him to make a goofy face!

Come on in…we realllly love pumpkins over here!

 

 

 

Twinkle lights always make the mercury pumpkin come alive!

 

 

My Pumpkin Patch sign is new this year from Hobby Lobby!

 

 

Hi, my name is Shay, and I love seasonal pillows.

 

First fall with the new counter tops!  I’m diggin’ it!

 

 

 

 

 

All of my spook houses are from Snow Village’s collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This season, I bought new place-mats for the kitchen table from Pottery Barn!

 

 

There are even signs of fall in the laundry room 🙂 .

 

At the top of the stairs.

Our Halloween sheets are forever old from Pottery Barn.  They look so sweet next to the kids’ pumpkins 😉 .

 

 

I spy pumpkins everywhere!

 

That’s it!

I’d love to have you over for coffee and something pumpkin to eat (maybe we could watch a Hallmark movie too?!).  In the meantime, I hope you have the BEST October 1st!  Happy fall, friends! xo

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Comments

  1. Erika Slaughter says

    What time should I get there? Will you please have my coffee cooling? 🙂 Looks GREAT and FALL READY!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Yes! I typically buy them off of Amazon. I don’t think hand towels are super sanitary, so I use those instead. I don’t remember where I bought the tray???

  4. Aubrie F says

    So cute! So when your kids get snacks do they use your little Halloween plates?! Love that idea!

    • Ralinn says

      I’m sure the kids are excited when they get home from school and the decorations are up. It’s always fun seeing how other people decorate. Where did you find the BOO letters?

    • Nicole Johannes says

      Please share more about your new kitchen countertops! They look beautiful! I currently have a white speckled granite and am considering replacing with white quartz. Would love to hear what you went with and your thoughts! Thank you!

      • Mix and Match Mama says

        I really like the quartz. I don’t think I like it better or worse than the granite though. They’re both so durable and easy to take care of, that I really don’t think I could pick between the two. I went with quartz this time because I liked the color so much.

  6. Courtney says

    I ❤️ fall!! Your house looks amazing! Random question… Do you like having your TV on the side of your fireplace? Trying to decide if I want to put ours over the fireplace or on the side.

  7. Kristine says

    I love your blog, first one I read daily!! I’m just curious why you changed counter tops? Did you not like the ones you chose when you built the house and this was the first thing to change when the opportunity arose?
    I chose a darker counter top but now i see yours and I’m questioning my choice

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We’ve lived here 5.5 years, so I picked them out probably a year before that and even though I still like the Alaskan white granite, I was ready to lighten things up.

    • Lori says

      So festive! Would you consider doing a tour of your closet? I can’t be the only one that would love a peek inside that space! How you organize, change things out seasonally, etc.

  10. Michele says

    Shay,
    Where did you get the pumpkin with the lights on it, and the Fall sign with the lights? Hobby Lobby?

  12. Laura says

    Love the fall decor! Everything looks so festive and cozy. I was wondering why you switched the countertops? The other ones were beautiful too. Also, where do you get your patio table? 🙂

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Patio table is from Restoration Hardware, and I was just ready to lighten things up!

  13. Stephanie says

    Do you happen to know the paint color of the trim on the exterior of your home? I’m building and my brick is similar to yours and I love that trim color!

  14. Michelle says

    Thank you for sharing your fall home tour. I love it! Is your attic climate controlled? Do you worry about your stored decor melting or discoloring?

  15. Donna Winward says

    Looks DARLING!!! Quick question…do you leave your dining room table set whether you are expecting guests or not? I know some people do that. Just curious. Thx!

  16. Dawn says

    I love your new white countertops! I am ready for a change too and have been searching for just the right one. May I ask the brand and name of yours, it looks like it has just enough marbling in the design? Is it quartz? Thank you, and your home is lovely!

  17. Amanda Wilson says

    I want to smell that country home candle!!!!! It looks so cozy!! Love everything. ,y fave is the stone pumpkins on your front steps. Happy October Shay!! Tomorrow is my birthday!!!

  18. Beth Valenta says

    Fall is just happy! Love seeing your festive home! I am adding my Halloween around my pumpkins as we speak to prepare for our annual Halloween party! Love my theme this year!! It’s the small things.

  19. Clare Butler says

    I wanna come for coffee and a movie! And that pumpkin bread you make with the marshmallow drizzle on top!!!

  21. Lauren says

    Random question, but what day of the week do you have your house cleaned? And how often? Love your crazy home!! ?

  22. Amy Zurad says

    So cute! I adore the concrete looking pumpkins on your porch! Can you please tell me where I can order them? Adorableness!

  23. Tracy Doubts says

    Thanks for the post Shay! Your decor posts are always my favorite! Love the new counter tops and your outdoor table and chairs, just lovely!!

  24. Lisa Sipe says

    It all looks so great!!! I LOVE the handprint turkey pics!!! So, so, sweet and I am partial to little people things being Mom of 12 and Nonna to 21!!!! I love the video of your HAPPY children, just precious! Good job being a good Mama!!!

  26. Sherry says

    Thank you for the ideas! I love the idea of having the fall plates available on the counter set in a decorative corner or something. I have a teenage son who I think this would be perfect for, readily available and also fun to look at!

  27. Lily says

    So festive, so many pumpkins! Do your stone pumpkins also go up in the attic, or do they live in the garage or something? And this might sound funny, but I’d love to see a photo of all your decor all packed up in the bins together! It’s hard to visualize how many bins it might be, especially with pillows taking up space! Maybe you could take on when the pumpkins go up and Christmas stuff comes out?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      They live in the garage!! They’re really, really heavy! Also, that’s a great idea! Here’s a tip, all of those fall pillows are just covers. I remove the cover and will put a Christmas cover on the pillow and then I’ll put the normal cover back on. This way, you’re storing covers and not actual pillows!

  29. Kim Nations says

    Your house as always looks beautiful. I have a book that i wanted to add to your read list but could not think of the title yesterday.. It is Whitney my Love by Judith McNaught.. It is so good. She is a good author. Have a great day..

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Um, YAY!!! Watch any of them that have the words “fall, autumn or harvest” in there!! The girls and I watched one last night about a dude ranch and it was cute!

  31. Sarah says

    I’m a daily follower and think I noticed for the first time that you have animals mounted in your family room!! How have I missed that up till now? Your kitchen – your island color, stone and light fixtures – are simply my favorite! Happy Fall!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I think they’ve only been up a year or so! Thank you so very much for being a daily follower! xo

  32. julie says

    This is one of my absolute favorite posts all year-I’m so glad you keep up the tradition! I am home sick with such a bad cold and your cheerful and beautiful pictures made my day. Thanks for sharing!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      They were harvested to feed kids at a school in Africa. The men also built a kitchen that included refrigeration/freezing so the kids could eat for over a year. For most of the kids there, lunch was their only meal of the day. It took three trips to Africa to complete, but those men made it happen.

      • Diane Moore says

        That is wonderful. I don’t know why people have to leave a negative comment. They should assume the best, whatever that might be. I really enjoy seeing how BIG you & Andrew live your lives and lead your family. I’m older than you and it’s so hopeful to see young families loving God and their fellow man. Thank you for the way you live your life and for sharing it here XOXO

  34. Sophie says

    Do you ever forget one little pumpkin in someone’s room and find it months later? This happens to me every holiday! I’ll find an Easter egg in June or a Christmas tree in February that I totally forgot. LOL

  35. Diane says

    Love your new countertops! We also just replaced our darker quartz countertops with a marble look quartz plus we have off white cabinets too! I think it is the perfect way to lighten up a kitchen and give a timeless look. Hugs from this SLP Grandma in Waco ?

  36. Kristine W says

    Everything looks so cozy. I love all the candles in
    various parts of the house. I only burn mine on the stove top. Go with Andrews idea with decorating early. The last few years I have gotten earlier each year. Last year was November 3rd. It’s a game changer for me. I get to enjoy all my hard work plus it makes me so happy. I love the Christmas season.

  38. Meredith says

    Love it! Fun and classy all at the same time! Decorating can be a lot of work, but it’s totally worth it in the name of embracing the season. And the kiddos love it. Thanks for sharing!

  40. Grace says

    Your home is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing all the fall inspiration!

    Where did you find the backrest pillows in the kids rooms?

    Thanks!

  42. Emily says

    You can absolutely put your Christmas decor up on November 1st….I’ll be putting mine up then as well 🙂

  43. Emily says

    Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday so I decorate beginning of November! It’s so much work, plus when it’s over, it’s over so I take them
    down right after Christmas!

  44. Heather S says

    We are so the same with decorating! We start up in mid to late Aug, to be completed for September 1st (our wedding anniversary). We start our take down November 1st to have Christmas completed by the first full week of November. You just get to enjoy the actual holiday season so much more when all of decor is in its proper place!

  45. Mary says

    i can’t get over how many lamps you have! This might be some sort of lamp record! Do you have overhead lighting or do you just use them as decoration? Just curious. I don’t own any lamps which is why it stood out to me 🙂

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I never turn on my overhead lights. We almost exclusively use lamps instead. I think it’s cozier 🙂 .

      • Kimberly C says

        I love the cozy feeling of lamps in the evening…. but during the day I like things nice and bright. So if it’s cloudy out I turn on all the lights, at least in the kitchen when I’m in there.

  46. Lara says

    Shay – Any advice on how to find someone locally to make handprint/footprint plates (Tampa Bay, FL area)? I’m not even sure where to begin doing a search but would love to have someone made with my toddlers’ prints!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Is there a pottery place by you? If so, maybe ask them if they know of someone to assist you with your make your own pottery pieces. Sheaffer introduced me to Lori years and years ago!

  47. Tina says

    Wow! You’ve been in your house 5.5 years already?? So hard to believe! Smith was around 2 when I started reading your blog (my son is Smith’s age), so I feel like I really know y’all.☺️ — I have 2 December babies, a December anniversary and a December husband and mother-in-law.? So, we put our Christmas decor up Nov 1! We really do soak in and enjoy the season so much more! We spend more quality time together, with more hot chocolate, Christmas movies, baking, etc. A few years ago, we started an annual Christmas candy making party, with our entire family, and it has become a favorite. Each family brings their own idea/ingredients and everyone helps with each one. We keep it simple and fun for the kids. A couple of years ago, we started a popcorn stringing tradition with my oldest (the other 2 are babies). We watch a Christmas movie and eat popcorn and treats, while we string our popcorn. My point is…we have lots more time for all our Christmas activities, because we decorate early!☺️

  48. Bethany says

    So cozy!! This is one of my favorite posts of the year!! And for the record, I am ALL for Christmas decorations on Nov 1st 😉 Thanks for sharing!!!

  49. Kathleen Latham says

    Hey Shay! Your house is beautiful! I may have missed this when y’all got new counter tops but what did you used to have and what do you hve now? Is there a reason you got new ones? I’ve been dreaming of new countertops since we bought our fixer upper and love to hear pros and cons to different types! We are hoping to do ours soon! Would love to hear about yours! Happy October 1st! 🙂

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I had granite in Alaska White and now, I have quartz in Calcutta. I was just ready for something lighter!

  51. Deena says

    Hi Shay! Quick question…..where do you store all your non-seasonal, regular decorations when you take them down to make room for the fall ones? Everything is beautiful! I love following your blog. I especially love your book reviews and have told several of my friends about it! So…..thank you for doing what you do!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      That is the trickier part! I store it in the most random places and always have to take pics or else I’ll forget: under my stairs, in my game room closet, in the cabinets under the TV…random places like that.

  52. Melinda Bridge says

    I store my regular decor in the bins that I store the seasonal decor. Under the bed storage bins are great!

  53. Shannon says

    Love this post every year! Also, even though it was a whopping 94 degrees on Monday, we made your white chicken chili…all three of us LOVED it! Thanks for another great menu item!

  54. grace says

    Celebration is one of the best things in life so why not have more of it!? You can totally start Nov 1 if you want!

    Around here we like to use November for everything Thanksgiving (how it came to be a holiday, Sarah Josepha Hale, Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation, Pilgrims, Native Americans, Plimoth Plantation, the Mayflower etc.) and a real focus on the term thanksgiving (gratitude, especially to God) what it means and how it can be a daily practice.

    Then the very day after Thanksgiving is over, out comes everything Christmas, which is our favorite! We celebrate from then on through Christmastide (aka the Twelve Days of Christmas) which runs from Christmas day through January 5th (Twelfth Night). This way you still get to celebrate Christmas for a long time AND also get to have fall/Thanksgiving/pumpkin decor up during the month of November.

    Have fun decorating and celebrating!

  55. Vicki Leuck says

    How many times can Shay write, They’re quartz. The color is Calcutta. ?
    Forget fashion, your home tours and kiddos are my fav!

  56. Julie Long says

    Shay I love all your décor..your house is so elegant! I got dark brown granite and I’m so over it, but new counter tops aren’t in our budget for a long time..how can I lighten up my kitchen??

  57. Lizzie says

    Love your blog! I’ve never really wanted an Alexa dot or echo, but after reading your blog with about the Echo 5 I had to check it out. Mine is being delivered today. Can’t wait to play around with it! Would you mind sharing where you got your coffee table in your family room? Love the look of it. Thanks!

  58. Paula says

    Your home is as beautiful as a magazine spread.

    I love the Halloween/ Fall Village Houses!

    I always read comments. I can’t get over the details people see in the corners or pick out in the background! .I never see it until pointed out.

  59. Annie says

    I’m late to the party but love this post every year! Where did you get the adorable personalized countdown calendar hanging on the pantry door?

  60. Kim C says

    Please don’t ever stop with home tour posts — Your house is always so beautiful Shay! And I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again — I absolutely LOVE your kitchen! I would have to add on to my house but your kitchen is what I dream of. And for having 4 kids the house always looks immaculate! When you need another idea for a “routine post” could you do one about your cleaning routine? I’m always tweaking mine to try to make it better or more efficient.
    Happy almost weekend!

  61. Debbie says

    My all time favorite post but I’m late to the game! It’s all so gorgeous and you have a fall/Halloween combo going on which I love! Do you leave the Halloween items up through Thanksgiving like your ghosts and “boo” etc? I would love to do that because it’s all so much work to take down. What do you do Shay?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Thank you!! I leave it all up and then take it all down at the same time. I think I’m going to put my Christmas stuff up really early this year!

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