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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

Fall, Inside Our House ·

Welcome, Fall!


Friends!  I’m so excited about today’s post!!

Every year, I do a FALL HOME TOUR, but this year in particular is extra special because after 3.5 months of living in a gigantic mess, we have our downstairs about 75% finished!

ALLLLLL THE PRAISE HANDS!!!

You guys know that home is where the heart is, and my heart has been a great big mess since June 19th.  I like a cozy, quiet, clean, calm house…and unfortunately, that all came to an end on June 19th when our first floor flooded.

I couldn’t quite figure out how to word this next bit of information (my paragraph was super long), so here is a bullet point list instead of what we have been doing post-flood:

1: It took 16 days for our house to dry out using over 40 fans and some huge dehumidifiers.
2: Movers came in and packed up our entire first floor and moved everything out to a storage facility (everything including furniture, bedding, our clothes and shoes, candles, bath products, photo albums…our house was all packed up and empty)
3: They ripped out all of our flooring on the first floor and ripped out all of the walls to take the house back to the studs…

…everything in the ceiling had to be replaced to from ceiling fans to our sound system and much more, our beams had been leaking water, so they were heavily damaged…the water was coming in from both the ground and the ceiling, so it all had to go.

4: After everything was dry and then ripped out, we could go in and start putting the house back together.  The first thing we did was…the painstaking decision of re-painting our entire house.  Since we’re adding on to upstairs, we already knew we were going to have to paint the entire second floor (and originally, I was going to paint it Sherwin Williams’ Kilim Beige to match the downstairs), but when we realized we had to repaint the downstairs too, I decided to pick an entirely new color, so after five trips to SW, I ended up picking and loving their Moderate White.
5: I think it’s probably all going to look the same to you (which is okay!) because for the most part, we put it back the way we had it.  If you’ll recall, we just updated both the library and the kitchen weeks before the flood, so nothing changed there.  They tore out all of our wood floors and replaced them…but we loved our floors, so those are brand new but look the same.
6: You might notice that many of the light fixtures are new as we had to replace those along with ceiling fans too.
7: I already showed you this, but our guest bath had to be gutted and now…

…it’s finished too (you can see the entire remodel post on that room HERE.)
8: Even our patio had to be gutted back, the ceiling ripped out, the arches taken down…even the patio was destroyed, but thankfully, we were able to put that back together now too!
9: I will say that it’s not typical to complete a portion of the house and then another portion (instead of just doing all the floors and then all the tile, etc), but my sweet husband and our sweet builder knew life would be much easier if we had our patio, kitchen, breakfast room and living room back, so they focused on that area, finished it up (for the most part) and sealed it away from my bedroom, bathroom and closet which are still a great big mess along with upstairs (which is an even bigger mess), but this gave us a living space and eating area which we all desperately missed.  Now, they can use exterior doors and work on those areas without having to come into the main portion of our house…so it really is like two different universes over here, clean on one side and crazy on the other.  I know it’s silly, but having my kitchen table back and my couch really lifted a burden from my shoulders.  It feels like home again.  Just whatever you do…DO NOT GO IN MY ROOM OR UPSTAIRS.  Seriously.  Don’t.  As long as you don’t do that, you’ll be very cozy.

So, we have most of our downstairs back…with pumpkins 🙂 .  I’m sure I’m leaving out many details, but that’s all I can think of right now.  When the house is completely back together, I will share more pics and maybe answer some questions, but for now…it’s October and I have pumpkins, so that’s A LOT to celebrate!

Welcome, friends!  The sidewalk is dirty due to construction, but we have pumpkins out, pumpkins on our clothes and pumpkins in our hearts.

If you were here in person, I’d offer you coffee, a piece of bundt cake and a hug.  Come on in!

Awwwww!  We have our entryway back!

This was what it looked like for 3 months.  It’s so nice to have it “normal” again!

Sherwin Williams’ Moderate White anyone?!  All of the walls and trim were painted.

My favorite spot 🙂 .

 

 

 

Oh fall, you make me happy.

 

I only bought two new things this year to decorate for fall…this pumpkin here and his “friend”.  All of my other decorations are old.  It looks like this one is sold out, but the other one I bought (you’ll see it below) is still in stock.

I’m just always trying to tuck little bits of pumpkin into every space.

Awwwww!  My living room is back!!!  Friends, IT WAS RAINING IN THIS ROOM. Raining.  Literally, raining in this room 3.5 months ago.

We basically put it right back together to how it was before except we did get new fans (instead of replacing it with the same) and obviously, our giant sliding door thing isn’t installed yet (nor is that wall finished…it needs molding/floor installed around, some texture), but that should be done by the end of October.  That door back there in the corner is to my room…do not open it.

 

 

 

All the fall touches make me happy.

 

And we now have our kitchen table back.  The windows behind it are also not installed yet…but this is huge progress 😉 .

We had juuuuuust re-painted the kitchen and updated it when this happened.  So, we didn’t make any changes this time through…just put it back to what we had just done.

 

 

 

There’s the smaller pumpkin 🙂 .

 

 

 

I have these plates for every occasion and celebration…

…and they always make me happy.  My friend Lori makes them.

 

 

 

 

Inside my pantry.  My friend Amanda makes these cute holiday signs!  Side note, today is her BIRTHDAY!!!

 

Little touches in my office too 🙂 .

And the patio outside even has pumpkins too…with scaffolding 😉 .

So, we have come SO FAR!  Now, I’m guessing my bedroom, closet and bathroom still have another 6 weeks-ish and then upstairs…maybe in 2022 (ha!), but this is HUGE progress.  HUGE!  So, a cozy house with pumpkins for your Monday.  It sure makes my heart happy!!!  One last thing, I posted this last year, but I’ll post it again because I think it helps:

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 16 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.

I hope this helps too!

Happy Fall, Y’all! xo

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Comments

  4. angela ware says

    my goodness, your house is absolutely breath-taking! so glad you can enjoy this season & all things pumpkin ?

    • Crystal says

      Look at the progress!!! It has come so far. I *love* the Moderate White! Can you share what color you painted the trim/molding?

  5. Carly says

    This makes me so happy! Not just the pumpkins but because I know how much it means to you! Maybe you’ll be able to put out even more of your Christmas stuff?!

    • Ashlee says

      Yay!! Glad you’re getting back to normal at home! I’m planning on bringing Christmas out on November 1st if ever there was a year to do it it’s this year! Go for it!

  9. Courtney says

    Where did you get that big, beautiful ottoman in your favorite spot? I love that room! So cozy!

  10. Angela says

    Love it! We’ve had SW Moderate White on all of our trim, doors and cabinets for years and still love it! Classic and warm, it’s the timeless white, it all looks beautiful!

  12. Beth Knecht says

    I’m so happy that you have more of your cozy home back! I hope the rest of the construction goes super fast so that you can put up all of the Christmas decor!!

  13. Ramona Puckett says

    Your house looks great and I know you’re feeling better about it. Love all the pumpkins, the holiday signs, the coziness, it’s looking like home again!

  14. Jessica Miller says

    It looks amazing, so fresh!! I’m so happy for you that you got to decorate for fall 🙂 could you share any information about your wood floors? I love them!

  15. kathy says

    Such wonderful progress – I know you are in your happy place. I’m celebrating with you!

  17. Cortney McCurry says

    What a cozy beautiful home and you can tell you put so much love into decorating and making it a welcoming space! Where did you get your leather chesterfield and other leather sofa? We just moved and I am trying to finish furnishing this home and would love to finally get a leather chesterfield to finish off our living room, yours looks perfect!

  18. Tracy says

    I know this is silly but I do 2 months of halloween decor, and 2 months of Christmas. So Sept. 1st to November 1st. Then thru the first of January for Christmas.

  19. Ralinn says

    Congratulations on getting part of your house back together. It looks great. I love the light paint color. I live a couple of hours from Joplin. I need to get the pumpkins you have on your porch.

  20. Anne says

    This post made me so happy! I can’t imagine your excitement putting out all your pumpkins and looking at your beautiful almost finished ? home. It’s so cozy and beautiful. So happy for you!

  21. Kristen Cartledge says

    I always decorate for Christmas on November 1st! So please go ahead! I put up too many trees to only enjoy them for a few weeks!

  22. Angela Ellingson says

    Lovely!! Oh that has to feel so good! Just follow your own advice and keep those doors closed, turn up Michael Bublé and hopefully it will all be done soon! Now I’m off to get my house in order and decorate. I’m feeling inspired!

  23. Amy says

    So festive. I wouldn’t be surprised if I drove by your house I’d get a whiff of pumpkin spice, apple cider, and bonfire. I need you to look at the picture, second from last where Kensington is holding a green sign. Look at the green sign. Your reflection.

  24. Lisa says

    Everything looks so pretty! Would you mind sharing what type of hardwood flooring you used?

  26. Serena W. says

    It looks beautiful!!! I have to say, the study might be my favorite room. I just love it! Enjoy having some normalcy back and all of your pumpkins, and I say put up the tree whenever you want this year because it’s been a crazy year and do whatever makes you happy!

  29. Crystal says

    Look at the progress!!! It has come so far. I *love* the Moderate White! Can you share what color you painted the trim/molding?

  30. Tracy Doubts says

    So happy for you and your family Shay. I know construction can be a bear, Andrew did a great job getting you guys back in so quickly! Everything looks lovely and I love, love the SW Moderate White.

  31. Pauline says

    Love your decorations and your home is beautiful! Can you share what tile you have in your entry way please? Thanks.

  32. Joy says

    The downstairs looks amazing and so cozy. I’m so happy for you guys that the worst part with the flooding and repairs are over.

  33. Ranisa Brletich says

    Out with the red couch and in with the leather. Where did you get the leather couches? We are currently shopping for new furniture. I like the feel of fabric in the winter and the easy to clean of leather. I can’t make up my mind!

  34. Martha says

    As far as making your home cozy – mission accomplished! I wouldn’t be able to decide which corner to settle down in with my book! I have a question about the books in your library; they all look so vintage, not a paperback to be seen – where on earth did you get them all?

    Thanks from the beautiful Ottawa Valley 🙂

  36. DonnaS says

    Everything looks fresh and beautiful. The new paint color really brightens it up in your home. So glad you are able to feel cozy again!!

  38. Shavon says

    Your house is really starting to look like a home again. Congrats! And boy can I commiserate on the paint issue. I currently have four test colors in various sections of my open living/kitchen/dining area. I’m not sure I care for any of them. The hubs is ready to strangle me! Oops! Who knew paint could be such a hard decision?!?

  39. Misyy says

    Love everything!! I know you are so happy. Do you combine Fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving decor? It looks like you do. I’ve always done that but decided to separate them out this year. I think I’m going back to combining them. 🙂

  40. Mitzi Hutcheson says

    So beautiful! You are so great at decorating and I just love your style! I am trying really hard to de-clutter and simplify as we have been in our house 20 yrs and haven’t done a good job at purging. I want to have a nice, clean and cozy home again. I am very happy for you and your crew. You are just a beautiful soul and Mama, Shay!

  41. Kay says

    Yay! Your holiday decorating posts are my FAVORITE. I look forward to Fall and Christmas each year. It looks so happy and “festive” (as my three kids would say!). I LOVE your new pumpkins too. And mostly, I’m so happy for you that you have a space you can relax in while the rest of the work gets done. You have been such a trooper! Now, I am Jewish as is my family but I grew up half Catholic (mom) and half Jewish (Dad). Though it is not my husband’s dream, I put up a flocked white-lit tree each year and it makes me SO HAPPY! Reading by that tree is everything, and with Covid this year, I’m going to put it up early. All of that to say, especially this year, do what makes you happy! Put up your Christmas things on 10/31 if you have to lol!!! There are no rules!

  42. Christin says

    All kinds of cozy!! We are remodeling our home right now too 🙂 Where is the fireplace insert from that’s in the library? Thanks!

  43. Lindsey says

    Shay, my Christmas decor comes out November 1. Makes it sooo much cozier to watch Hallmark Christmas movies! Live your life girl ??

  45. Leigh says

    It looks great!! Our food was August 8th and just finally starting the reno. What did you do for meals and eating? Our kitchen is gutted and we are always having to eat out. I probably should have asked this a month ago ? because we are hoping the kitchen is done in a couple of weeks. But this has been my biggest stress.

  46. Danna F says

    When you say “don’t open that door or go into that room” it makes me want to go more! Ha!
    Your house looks lovely with all the fall decor and rooms back together. I am sure just having your kitchen and living room is such a joy! Hope the next month or so go quick on construction. Have a great Monday!

  48. Kelly says

    I always love your house tours and especially so this year because I know how having your fall decor out makes you so happy! I just love the library, it looks like a page out of British Country Homes:).

  49. Tracy says

    Yay! It looks so good. Love the fresh white walls. I’ve always been a colored wall girl and then my daughter wanted a white bedroom. We found a Behr white that we LOVE and did her room, hubby’s office, and our guest room all that same white. So glad you’re finally seeing progress!

  50. Eryn says

    I always tell my husband…things can happen every other time of the year but don’t mess with my holidays! Fall and winter make me so happy!! I guess life doesn’t always work that way ?
    Happy your house is coming along!

  51. Dana says

    So happy for you, Shay!! It all looks so good. I love your style! I just have a question- how do you keep all those decorations on your counters? Does your pantry have outlets or do you pull your things out (like your mixer) each time? I’m just thinking of all the random things on my counters and wondering if you just pull that stuff out each time? Maybe I’m just lazy, but it seems cumbersome to keep pulling them out and putting them away!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      The two appliances we use daily are the airfryer and coffee maker which are both out in these pics. I only use a hand mixer, and not that often, so it’s in the cabinet. Our blender and toaster are plugged in on the pantry counter.

  52. Susan says

    So beautiful! So glad it feels all out together for you.
    I love decorating for fall. I keep it up until the weekend after thanksgiving then it turns into Christmas.

    Also where are your sweater and tshirt from? Did I miss that somewhere?

  53. Kara says

    Does anyone eat the candy corn or is it for decoration?! I love setting it out but no one eats it ???‍♀️? everything looks great!! ?

  55. Emily says

    Horray, I’m so happy for you Shay! It must feel so good to have things somewhat normal. I usually decorate for Christmas around November 1, I agree with Andrew! It’s so much work and when Christmas is over, it’s over for me so it comes down right after. We will see if I can get my act together decorating early with 3 kids 4 and under. ?

  56. Dawn Richardson says

    Shay! It looks fabulous, I mean picture perfect. I am so happy for you to have this part almost done. Happy Fall sweet Lady!

  57. Alison T. says

    Five trips to Sherwin Williams for one color?! Lol. But, it looks fabulous. ? I bet that progress feels SO GOOD!

  59. Francesca says

    These photos represent a lot of work, Shay! Great job! ALSO I see YOU in the photo of baby Kensington holding her baker sign with your face there… I totally thought that was on purpose for a second. 😉

  61. Janette says

    Did you have replace all of the bookshelves, cabinetry, and kitchen cabinets? Also, how did you keep your furniture from getting ruined? So sorry you had to go through this. What a nightmare!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Yes, we had to replace all of that…the same cabinet maker that made them the first time came in and did it. During the flood, neighbors and friends came over and helped us move everything out of the way of the water. Our brown leather sofa in the living room did get ruined but we replaced it with the exact same one 🙂 .

  63. Whitney says

    Never too early for Christmas in our house. It takes everything in me to wait until November 1st to put up our tree! Halloween—-> Christmas. I’m with Andrew, gott- enjoy it longer!

  64. Dedra Reneau says

    I love the new colors! Did you repaint your fireplace mantels as well? If so, what color and did you add a faux finish?

  65. MaryAnn Oswald says

    Base on how great your home looks I am in the process of painting my whole downstairs Moderate White.

    What color did you paint your ceiling?
    So out of my wheelhouse!!

    Thanks in Advance!

  67. Erin says

    Love your decorations! I know you’ve mentioned it before, but what brand are your cute Halloween village houses?

  68. Debra E says

    It looks beautiful! Home sweet home!! So happy for you, and just in time for Halloween decor!

  69. Lori Taylor says

    Hi Shay, I love the house, Fall/Halloween decor & all! I’m wondering where you got the rug underneath the kitchen table from? I also have a round table in my kitchen & have been wanting a round rug to place under the table. Thanks so much!

  70. Mary says

    We have Sherwin’s Moderate White too!! Everything looks so beautiful….your home is the perfect combo of clean and bright, and warm and cozy!!

  72. Jennifer Rightmer says

    Everything looks amazing! I know you are so relieved to have it back in order and so festive! Love the round table and chairs in your breakfast area! Where did you purchase it?

  73. Liz Thorson says

    Thrilled for you Shay! Everything looks fabulous—cozy, festive, inviting and fresh!

  74. Chelsea says

    Love all the decor! Way to power through all the construction progress! Your link for your friend loris adorable plates doesn’t work though;/ i need these in my life! lol

  75. Jen Oakley says

    I can’t even imagine how hectic and stressful all of this has been… your house looks gorgeous once again though! So excited to see the updates! We decorate on November 1st! I’m with Andrew— my fall decorations get two months to shine and then my Christmas decorations get two months. Haha!

  77. Lisa says

    I’m so curious about where you have accumulated all of your artwork/paintings from over the years. It’s all so beautiful!

  78. Gina says

    Yay! I have been looking forward to this post! Shay do you mind sharing where you found the 2 white doves you have in your book shelf? Thank you!

  79. Donna says

    Thank God, you have really bounced back from that rain tragedy with the house! The portions that are refinished are absolutely gorgeous! You have such a classy taste in decorating.

  81. Carly says

    Shay, I wanted to share a book series with you. The Beach Plum Cove series by Pamela Kelley. The books are super short and could be read probably in a day-two days. There’s barely any actual deep story arc, 100% predictable BUT the Nantucket references, Hallmark movie references and food descriptions are amazing. It is literally like wrapping yourself in a warm predictable blanket. Just what 2020 needs.

  83. Karah Stracener says

    Everything looks so cozy! I am so happy for you that you have part of your house back together. I love all your fall décor. Thanks for sharing. Praying the rest of the construction goes quickly for you.

  84. Kaylee says

    Where did you get all of those little plates that are stacked in your kitchen? Do you have a stack for each holiday? Also, how did they salvage all your floor rugs during the flood?

  85. Chrys says

    I remember vaguely Sean and Catherine gifting you guys a piece of furniture from their line from Wayfair…where did that piece go? We are currently couch shopping and haven’t had much success. Is your leather couch comfy and cozy for Hallmark movie watching? ? So happy things are starting to feel normal again for you!

  86. Dawn says

    Do you have a better pic of your Fall Blessings plate? I have a couple from your friend that I’ve ordered and am looking for one for Fall! Thank you ?

  87. Keely says

    Hi Shay,
    Does your friend Lori have a website or Etsy that I can find her at? I don’t have Facebook and was hoping to reach out about the plate making! Thank you!

  88. Kimberly C says

    I’m so far behind on reading up on my favorite blogs! ? So happy to see things are coming together at your house again! I can only imagine what a huge relief that is! Everything looks fantastic — and your kitchen remains being my #1 favorite room in your house tours =]

  89. Amy Monaghan says

    Where did you order your “Big Door” from? I just saw it has been installed on your Instagram stories!! It’s perfect!