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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 Home Tour: 2025 Edition


And just like that, it’s the first day of OCTOBER!

Here’s the deal, celebrate it.  Embrace it.  Make it special.

Two years ago today, I was on my porch watching Sunday afternoon football when our very very dear friend called…and fifteen minutes later, I was standing in the ER over his wife’s body while a doctor was telling me he did everything he could, and he was sorry.

Celebrate October 1st.

Celebrate every.single.day that you get to be alive on this Earth.

Life is way too short.

Make today special.

I am planning on making this October 1st SPOOKTACULAR.  We are going to blink, and it will be Christmas, er, I mean November 1st. 😉

I have a lot of ways to celebrate this month here on my blog. 

You could start by…

#1: Taking a peek at my 31 DAYS OF OCTOBER RECIPES post.  It has one fall/Halloween/festive savory/sweet/sip for every day this month.

#2: Check out my 9 KEYS TO A COZY HALLOWEEN NIGHT.

#3: Share your TOP 5, BOTTOM 5 HALLOWEEN CANDY (quite the divisive post!).

…plus you can read EVEN MORE festive October blog posts HERE too!

To kick off our October 1st, I am opening up our front door and welcoming you inside our home for our annual SPOOKTACULAR HOME TOUR.

You know the drill…things don’t change that much from year to year, but if I didn’t post this, my grandmother would be unhappy with me (she loves this post).

Needless to say, here I am once again showing you my pumpkins 🙂 .

This post is just a lot of pictures because I never know what to share, so basically, I’m sharing it all.  I sprinkled in a few captions but mostly it’s pics.  I took some during the day and others at night…and it’s a hodgepodge of fall.

Get cozy and settle in.  I have a LOT of pics to share.

Welcome…

Now that we have a new front door, we had to find a new home for this guy.

My friend Courtney gave me an early birthday present.  The ghosts are swirling around in there.  So cute!

My grandmother passed her Johnson Brothers Friendly Village dinnerware set on to me years and years ago because she knew how much I love, love it.

Whew!

That was a LOT of pictures!

Thank YOU for coming inside and being a part of our family’s cozy fall home.

Let’s all thank ANDREW for buying and placing every.single.solitary.pumpkin you saw on this post.  He went to the store and picked them all out, loaded them all up, unloaded them all, and carried them each to their spots.  He also planted all of those mums.  He basically knows the EXACT way to his bride’s heart 🙂 .

Now, where do we store all of this seasonal decor?  You can check all the deets RIGHT HERE!

Don’t forget that we’ve updated so many rooms in our house!  If you’re looking for specific sources from specific rooms, these posts here will be the best bet for you to find that information: 

GUEST ROOM RE-FRESH

A FRESH NEW FRONT {DOOR}

KITCHEN & GREAT ROOM REFRESH

OUR HOME GYM

ASHBY’S “NEW” ROOM

MADELEY’S NEW ROOM

KENSINGTON’S NEW ROOM

FOYER UPDATE

OUR (NEW) UPSTAIRS BATHROOM

UPSTAIRS LAUNDRY STATION

FAMILY ROOM RE-DO

LAUNDRY ROOM RE-DO

GUEST BATH

GREAT ROOM

PRIMARY BATHROOM

MY NEW OFFICE

PRIMARY BEDROOM

BACKYARD UPDATE

THE DINING ROOM

Happy October 1st, friends.  Wishing you a wonderful start to the month.  Let’s go celebrate today. xx

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Comments

  1. Diane Moore says

    Thank you for the tour! It looks festive 🎃
    I am not a ber person. Give me May, June, even April & March. But, you remind me to celebrate every season, yes, every Day!
    So when the sun is low in the sky & always in my eyes, when the leaves are falling, but it’s still 85 degrees, I will Rejoice 🍁🍂🍁

    Happy October 1!!!

  3. Amy Grace Duncan says

    I grew up with those Friendly Village dishes, and they have a special place in my heart! It’s so sweet that Andrew is into decorating. My husband is like that with Christmas decorations. It’s a family affair and we all get excited about it. Check out Costco for great Christmas decorations! I’ve gotten wreaths, accent rugs, etc there. Happy Wednesday!

  5. Carrie Martens says

    October 1st and both our teams won game 1 of their wildcard series 😊🎃😊🎃😊🎃 Go Cubs! Go Red Sox!

  6. Karleigh Johnson says

    Gosh I just love your home when decorated! I’d pay money to come stay in your living room while I drink a cup of coffee…but you’ll need to watch my children so I can drink it while it’s warm 😉

    Where do you get your fall village houses from? Is it department 56? So cute!

  7. Bren says

    Oh how I look forward to this post every year too! Love everything about it and already looking forward to a month from now when you change seasons. Just love all the festiveness of the “ber” months!

  10. Kriistin says

    Andrew is AMAZING. I’m trying to remember if you’ve done a Top 5 things about Andrew that drive you crazy, so I’m not as jealous as I am tempted to be!!

  12. Alana says

    Where can I find an Andrew? My husband does not understand seasonal decor. And won’t listen to Christmas music until Christmas Eve 😭 I love him dearly but clearly something is wrong with him 😉

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I need to start a new business “Mix and Match Andrew’s Pumpkin Skills” 😉

  14. Heather says

    Your home looks so beautiful and cozy! 🍂🍁🎃
    Fall decor is my favorite. Thanks for sharing with us, and for reminding us that every day is a gift. 🧡

  15. Callie says

    I just love your love of decorating! Walking into your home would make me so happy, I just know it.

  16. Karah Stracener says

    Your house is GORGEOUS! Thank you for sharing all of your fall decor. You have me wanting to go and buy more pumpkins. Happy October!!

  19. SS says

    Shay, so fun. We were running around decorating yesterday!!! This year I am feeling excitement and love from my grandma’s that are no longer with us. One Gram always said “Oh Boo!” Instead of other words. Lol. So we have pieces that say Boo that were hers. She also gave us this really large pumpkin for outside and our kiddo gave it a fresh coat of paint. The joy on her face doing that was so much fun. Our other Gram loved painting ceramics, so kiddo put up ceramic jack o lantern that lights up and has ghosts that go with it in her room.
    Sending you a big hug as well. Tomorrow is my cousin’s bday….. About 6 yrs ago I got the call that broke my heart my cousin had passed (she was my age, we grew up together, and planning on getting through our kids teenage years together)…had passed. I went down to see her kids and I will never forget that day. Now her son is about to leave to join the Army… Ugh… My heart is full of of worry and pride. So please keep him in your prayers!!!

  20. Sheaffer says

    Do you know how many pumpkins I’ve bought this year? ZERO. Yep, ZILCH. Can we still be friends?

  21. Michalina V Peterson says

    I love this post! It gives me all the cozy holiday feels. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home!

  24. Laura says

    I love your house tours. I’d be interested to see what you add to your decor this year. Do you buy something new each year?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I do not buy much from year to year. I think the only new things this year are the two pumpkin pillows (one in the library and one in my bedroom).

  26. Alison Martinich says

    Beautiful house!!! I am so curious… Did Andrew hunt those animals that are mounted in your house? They are so cool!!

  27. Robin says

    So beautiful! Do your pumpkins last more than a week? I’m in Dallas and put one out that lasted about 4 days. (Insert frowny face.) It was a mess! I know some of yours must be in the sun. Do you have a tip to keeping them “fresh” for a bit? Again, your home looks so beautiful and cozy. Have a joy-filled day!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      They do! These have been out and not replaced for at least three weeks. We will sometimes need to refresh the ones that face direct sunlight, but so far this season, these are the originals. Once we place them, we don’t move them around much. I think moving them often tends to soften them up too. We do replace a few, but we haven’t so far.

  28. Susan Fitzpatrick says

    I always love your home fall tour! Andrew did an amazing job with the pumpkin and mums. I need him to come to my house! 😆 I love the Johnson Bros Friendly Village plates. What a sweet and treasured gift from your grandmother. ❤️

  29. Gail Prowant says

    I am like your grandmother I love seeing this post every year. Thanks for sharing your beautiful home with us.

  30. Linda Oesterle says

    Love the tour every year! I am just wondering did I miss the September Book Review??

  32. Elizabeth L says

    Love these home tours! So fun. Did you have all this stuff out when your kids were little? lol. I have a 2.5 year old and 5 year old and I’ve basically had to put away all my table books and decor. My house feels so bare! Of course I try to incorporate pillows and seasonal blankets and little pieces of decor that they cant reach. But now you are really inspiring me! I cant wait for the xmas tour next!!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Yes! In fact, you can go back in the archives and see those posts too. You will recognize so much of the decor!

  34. Dawn Scheurich says

    Thanks for the tour!! I’m with your grandmother—give me all the pictures! Your tours are always my favorite posts!

  36. Katie Hahn says

    Your first couple of sentences in this post hit close to home. Yesterday a PreK classmate of my daughter (4.5 years old) who had Down Syndrome passed away from an infection. His Dad is a teacher and coworker of mine. Crue was a bright light in this world and it is devastating to our small community. Our comfort comes from knowing he is healed and whole in Heaven running with Jesus. Holding my babies a little tighter today.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Oh my heart. I am just devastated for this family and your community. Goodness, that is just the absolute worst news.

  37. Kay says

    I’m with your Grandma-I look forward to your home decorating posts every time! They are the best. Thanks for sharing-it all looks fabulous with a special call out to the pumpkins on the outdoor fireplace…they are especially amazing!

  38. Diane says

    What a joyous fall home and important message about embracing each day. Two prayer requests: our neighbor (and fellow speech pathologist ) passed away from ALS leaving to cherish her memory her husband and daughter; October is mammogram time for me and would appreciate prayers of peace awaiting the results. Hugs from Waco !

  39. Courtney Acosta says

    2 questions – your chandelier by the front door is simply beautiful! Can you share the link? Secondly, that moose is quite impressive! Did Andrew kill it himself?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      It’s from Restoration Hardware. I love it too! And yes, Andrew harvested the moose himself.

        • Mix and Match Mama says

          The meet harvested in Africa went to a school that Andrew was a part of building (over four years) to feed the children there. The meet in the Canadian/Alaskan moose (it was on the border) went to that town.

  41. Nicole says

    Okay, back with my random questions because I love asking your opinion! 😂😇 Do you guys tailgate before football games? If you grab dinner out before a HS game, do you have a drink? Curious what you do! Thanks!! 🤪

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We do not tailgate before football games. We always eat before they start, but that depends on where they are playing. Sometimes, we’re grabbing something at home and other times, it’s somewhere near whichever stadium. That varies, but we always eat before games and we don’t drink any alcohol with those meals.

  42. Rebecca Lingerfelt-Brown says

    I woke up thinking about my late husband who died suddenly without warning and then read your post. I echo it all, including you Grandma’s love for this post!😉 Today is “hair” day in anticipation of both my late and current husbands’ 50th HS class reunion next week. (Yes we all went to HS together) Anyhoo, I sat in the chair and showed my girl our fall decs we put out yesterday! This all makes me smile!🧡

  43. Sil says

    Thank you! Love seeing all of your fun decorations and your beautiful home! I look forward to this post every year!

  44. Robyn says

    I absolutely love these posts when you “open” your home. Now, I just need the links for your goodies…as my decorations need a refresh.

    Happy October!

  46. Lori Sharp says

    I wait for this post all year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that you share it for us and your Grandma!!! The next favorite post is the Xmas holiday tour! Such a beautiful home with our without pumpkins! (but pumpkins are nice :))

  51. Kristy says

    I was planning to go buy pumpkins with my girls after school today! I’ll add a treat too. Thank you God for the breath in my lungs, may I breath out your joy and peace to those around me.

  53. Faith Kapp says

    Your house is absolutely beautiful! I think Andrew should start providing premarital counseling. That’s a good man to do all that!

  54. Kat says

    Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks!!! Oh my goodness! I rarely see these “in the wild” like this. I have a large collection that began with my grandmother giving me my first one. I use them to decorate seasonally, too. I just love the covers for fall and winter.

    I first “met” you at the Go Wild planner conference many moons ago and have been following along until Covid hit. I stopped doing everything like reading books and blogs. I even stopped writing my own blog that I started in 2008. I just survived teaching school that year and found myself stuck in a major life rut. I then went to the other extreme and threw myself into working out constantly with new CrossFit crew but ignoring the simple little things like taking time to read and connect with others outside the gym. I’m just now finding a better balance with all of these things. I started reading M&MM again this summer, and I’m so glad I did. You remind me to just take each day in and find the joy. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Just live each day. Thank you for helping me find that perspective again!

  55. Rhoda Watson says

    OK Shay…last year I was about to stage an intervention on the number of pumpkins in your home but most especially the ones around your pool area. I was just about to commend you on your (relative) restraint this year until I saw the last few photos in your post LOL. Do you rent a Uhaul to get them all home from the store??? OK….love your pumpkin quirkiness!!!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I most certainly do need some sort of fall intervention 😉 . Andrew just piles them all up in his truck.

  58. Samantha says

    Great fall decor! Andrew is the best husband…wowza, I can’t beleive he has time to do all that with his to SF business and all. You guys share know how to juggle a lot! Kuddos.

    I noticed two ring cameras that were on, on top of the black bookcase. Do you keep your indoor cameras on 24/7? They are pretty high up ro turn on and off or close the cover.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      He’s one in a million! And yes, we keep cameras up 24/7 all over our property. There are a lot of crazies out there 😉 .

      • Annie says

        I get there are a lot do crazies out there. However, you live in a gated community and have a security system. I completely understand having your outdoor cameras on 24/7, I do too. I’m talking about the indoor cameras. Why would you want your indoor cameras on 24/7? We have the same cameras and we turn them on when the cleaners come once a week and then when they leave, we turn them off. I would never want my personal conversations with my family and friends to be recorded, nor do I want us to be videotaped 24/7. Your kids especially the teens don’t care? Mine would and so would their friends. Are they in the bedrooms too? Very strange to have indoor cameras on 24/7. You must have untrustworthy teens. Also ring was hacked several years ago.

        • Mix and Match Mama says

          Unfortunately, the home right next door to ours was burglarized this year and the perpetrators have yet to be apprehended. We have had to increase our security especially in the interim. Trust me when I say, everyone in my family is relieved with extra precautious measures.

  60. Mary Smith says

    Love these pictures! Are you able to link your couch that’s in the tv room of the kitchen? And I’d love to hear about the wall going up the stairs with the kids drawings!!

  61. MICHELLE OKERLUND says

    I’m with your Grandma…this is one of my favorite posts of the year! Fall is my favorite Season! Thank you for the tour!

  62. Megan G says

    I love your cozy library near your entrance!! I could so cozy up there with a good book and the fireplace! Love it!!

  63. Deanna Gemmer says

    I love all the amazing pumpkins around your house. You must have spent a fortune but it was worth it. They are so fun and festive.

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