From creative carvings to ghoulish trees people all across the country start decking their yards this time of year for Halloween .

Whether you prefer just a pumkin perfectly placed on your step or a goblin in your grass to scare all who pass  you can appreciate this time of year.

There really are no restrictions with decorating your exterior, but remember it is something people will see as they drive by so what you want to say is up to you, but your neighbors may not invite you to the car pool if you have too many zombies, so just keep that in mind

I say go for it, what ever floats your boat. For me I love country warmth so I try to extend that into the front yard as much as I can. Others go for ghoul & that’s cool too!

The crisp can be found peaking through the warm air this morning. Ever so slightly fall is sneaking in, meshing the end of summer & the beginning of autumn. Soon it will be gooles & ghost! Pumpkins & Mums all around.

So when is the official time to bring out the fall decor? I usually bring out the orange as soon as my husband leaves for hunting camp on labor day weekend.  Others wait until mid September or the beginning of October, but I am not aware of the official time to bring out the decorations. Maybe we will have to declare it ourselves!

Whatever your official date of decorating is it’s probably coming up & fall is by far my favorite time of year to celebrate. Maybe it is because I really have not decorated all summer & fall begins my year of holiday themed decor!

If you are like me - itching to splash your porch with pumpkins & corn stalks here are a few ideas for your home!

Try adding a few simple elements to a mantle or a main focal point in your house, such as an entertainment center.

Make up some sweet candle holders for your table to bring in the warmth of the season

Try adding green with your fall color to bring in the elements of your existing theme. Green is the ultimate neutral & will tie anything together if added correctly

I am a big fan of these vinyl words & phraseshttp://www.wallwords.com/index.asp kind of started the movement, but now you can find them in most craft sections at any retail store. You can also customize a pic or phrase at your local print shop.

No matter where you purchased them they are great. You can change them with your decor & I am pretty sure a big dumb farm animal can apply them! Yes I love them & you will too.

Have a bare wall?  Just throw up a silly phrase or picture & your done. Kids rooms, living areas, that bare spot over your wall!

That’s my pick for the day! LUV THEM!

In my opinion there is nothing  more beautiful than a classic wooden stair case. Some day I hope to have a dramatic country stairway that Scarlet O’hare would be proud of. But for now I can only dream & supply you with some great pics of inspiration if you are considering a stair case in your home, or maybe you have one that you are thinking of reconditioning?

Here are some of my top pics for stair case design

Check out these entries sent  into the inspired dorm room page at HGTV!

I want to go back to collage just to decorate my dorm room this way!

http://www.roomzaar.com/rate-my-space/Dorm-Rooms/gallery.esi

A glass of sweet tea a dramatic porch, and a rocking chair.–Miss Ariel

What do you think are the attributes that define Southern style? Check out some of the answeres contributed to Southern Style

Gracious and eclectic with a strong architectural basis. — John Chrestia

True “Southern style” has a subliminal sense of theater and joie de vivre, complimented by a definite bend toward elegance. — Joseph Paul Davis

A sense of gracious invitation. Warm, personal colors. Respect and reverence of our past. Subtle intelligence. — Barry Dixon

Decoration in the traditional or classical sense with an emphasis on comfort, hospitality, and liveableness, sometimes with a historical reference point, but not necessarily interpreting “period” interiors. Many Southern homes are renovations of once-grand architecture or even auxiliary buildings on the plantation grounds. — Ann Dupuy

The attributes that define Southern style are a quiet assuredness…a confidence…a warmth that embodies the phenomenon of “Southern hospitality.” — Charles Gandy

Southern style, to me, is rather eccentric, embodying classic roots with a unique application. Comfort and relating to the outdoors is always a strong consideration for design in the South. Color is also very important, many times pulling in color schemes from nature. — Cathy Kincaid

Southern style is unpretentious and extremely comfortable with an air of informality and relaxed elegance. — Josie McCarthy

Southern style means friendly, comfortable, approachable interiors. In the South, it’s all about being welcome. — Celerie Kemble

A sense of one’s heritage and the importance of making a home welcome to family and friends. — J.R. Miller

Southern style speaks of gracious living, hospitality, and restrained taste. — Betty Lou Phillips

Our Southern roots compel us to make hospitality and good manners a priority in our daily living. There is an underlying quality of dignity in the way we decorate. — Cindy Smith

Casual elegance. An inviting style. The mix of both formal and informal rooms that are integral parts of life in the Southern home. — Jim Strickland