How to Decorate the Home for Fall

Ever since moving into the new place I have been on the hunt for the perfect pieces to complement the home and both Brandon and mine's taste pallets. Sometimes it's a no-brainer and the pieces just scream "us",  but it's also been a bit of a struggle at times. Trying to find the "perfect" piece, when in reality there never will be a "perfect" piece. I am always thinking "oh, what if I find something I like more", and end up regretting not buying the item in the first place. I've been coming to terms with the fact that I need to be less hard on the decisions I make regarding decor. After all, it's who I share the home with that matters. Not whether or not the books on the shelf are colour coordinated.

One thing I've been focusing on is making the house more "homey". Little knickknacks and photos make all the difference, and just looking up at our new bookshelf makes me smile. Fall is the perfect time to incorporate more warm, homey pieces into your decor, especially since it's the season for cuddling on the couch with a cup of tea, some thrilling books, and over-sized blankets. I love switching up decor for the seasons and right now I am all about incorporating more design elements to really give off these warm, cozy feelings of fall. Here's a few tips on how to really up the autumn at home.




1. Change up the scent. Candles are some of my favourite decorating pieces. They are beautiful to look at when placed in clusters, and can really make you feel luxurious with their scents. I recently stocked up on some white pillar candles from IKEA and have been placing them in groups on the dining table, atop the mantle and on shelves. They give off such moody and warm feelings that just make you want to get cozy! Also, try switching out the summery fruit and floral fragrances for more moody scents like wild fig, spiced cinnamon, or woods. It really sets the tone for a cozy night in, all you need to add is a glass of wine. I'm obsessed with this one right now.

2. Bring the outdoors in. The natural elements of autumn make perfect decorating items, and I love that you can scour all these pieces on the cheap or for free! Go for a walk and bring a bag with you. Stock up on branches, leaves, pine cones, wooden pieces, and anything else that sparks your imagination. I've been filling jars with crab apples for the dining table, filling vases with real wheat and branches, and placing little white pumpkins around the house. Bringing the harvest in from the outdoors adds such a nice rustic and natural touch to the home for fall.

3. DIY. You don't need to break the bank to incorporate fall into your decorations for fall. A simple piece of lace from Value Village glued over a pumpkin makes all the difference. Or, did you catch my latest DIY I posted to Snapchat (username: @gabpacifico)? Take a few glass jars and tape some burlap, or wrap some rope around the sides. They make perfect candlestick holders!

4. Accent switch up. Light throws are getting put away, and large cable knit blankets and faux fur pillows and throws are getting placed on the couch for warmth and a nice added touch of fall decor. Tribal patterns, plaid and autumnal colours are also all great additions. The sofa really is the focal point of any room so you want it to be inviting, appealing and most importantly comfortable! I've been getting a few inquires about where I got my neutral sectional sofa, and I recently discovered a site that is just full of them! Check out these stunning sectional sofas from Arhaus (I can't get enough of this pink one)!

I'd love to see and hear how you decorate the home for autumn! Let me know!


**Side note: currently reading "Beware That Girl" by Theresa Toten. So Gossip Girl meets Gone Girl right now. Social climbing, Upper East Side and a dark past. I'll keep you posted!

How To: Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

If you ask me what I want for dinner I'll almost always say Mexican. I love the freshness of the dishes and all the flavours, especially the spice. And, let's get real… avocados are life.  This past weekend I hosted a little pre-Cinco de Mayo get together with my girlfriends. I knew I'd have more time to prep on a Sunday afternoon then on a Thursday after work, and bonus, I get to inspire all your Cinco festivities taking place this week! We got together in our Mexican inspired outfits -aka everything off the shoulder- ate an insane amount of guacamole, and indulged in spicy grapefruit margaritas.  It was a casual affair but we had such a blast, and the prep work was super minimal!  All it takes is a few little details in terms of food choice and decorations and you are set to celebrate the Cinco in true Mexican fashion! Here's how by adding a little extra effort in your hosting you can throw the ultimate Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

FOOD

Food is the key component of you Cinco de Mayo party, and you don't need to go crazy! A few key dishes is all you need. My menu included shredded chicken tacos, a Mexican caviar (basically a melody of beans, corn,  and veggies ), guacamole, pineapple salsa, and jalapeno poppers.  For dessert I served cayenne black bean brownies.

Since the theme is all things Mexican you need to serve the obligatory guacamole and salsa, and the salsa doesn't have to be boring and especially not from a jar! I served up my famous Mexican caviar dish. It's only famous because my girlfriends are obsessed with it and request it for every summer gathering! It's definitely the perfect side for a Cinco party-- serve on tacos,  as a dip with chips, or as a salad, everyone will swoon! Here is a similar recipe. 

Next up was a new recipe for me; this pineapple salsa. Wow! I am now addicted. This could not be easier to make and it was amazing! So fresh and the heat was killer! A new favourite for sure.

You can't taco 'bout a Cinco without tacos! I woke up the morning of and added some chicken in the slow cooker with orange juice, lime juice and spices. After letting it cook for 5 hours I pulled it apart using two forks. Topped on a corn tortilla with the above sides and you have such an easy take on tacos. Check out this easy, hassle free recipe. 

For dessert I adapted Deliciously Ella's black bean brownie recipe from her latest book.  I subbed the raisins for 1/4 tsp of cayenne and 1 tsp of cinnamon to add a Mexican flare to the brownies. I also cut up pineapple to serve with chili powder and lime, and some round watermelon bites for a sweet snack. 

DRINK

Tequila, tequila, tequila. Since coming back from Mexico my bestie and I had a few tricks tucked in our sombreros.  We infused a bottle of José Cuervo with fresh pineapple. And also served tequila shots inside hollowed out cucumber ends. The rim was dipped in chili powder; talk about a flavour burst! Just be sure not to core out all the flesh of the cucumber. Bonus- you get to eat the cucumber afterwards!

For our spicy grapefruit margaritas I squeezed fresh grapefruit and added cayenne to the juice. This was mixed with tequila, lime and a dash of sparkling water and made for the most refreshing afternoon cocktail. 

DECOR

Anytime I'm hosting I love adding decorations that encompass the theme of the party to really set the vibe of the day, or night. For this Mexican inspired affair I used the blankets I bought in Mexico as table runners. Not only were they perfect for the occasion but they also brought back some sweet memories! I love the designs and colours in the blankets, so I really drew on the bright pinks, corals and blues. I put one on the drink/dessert buffet and the other sat on the island where the food was. I love how the impact they made!

I added other elements like bright florals, chill peppers, and cacti to decorate. Above the dessert buffet I strung together a colourful "papel picardo" inspired banner (literally means perforated paper), which is a common Mexican folk art tradition. You can use tissue paper and let your inner crafty child come out as you fold and cut the paper. I used multicoloured construction paper. Here's an easy tutorial. I also put single stem flowers around the room in little jars. I brought out all my colourful dishes to go along with the bright colour scheme.

Throwing a Cinco de Mayo party does not need to be intimidating or pricey! All you need is a few key dishes to set the Mexican mood. A couple fun decorations also make the theme come alive! 

What do you think of my Cinco de Mayo fiesta? I'd love to hear your plans. Why not try a few of these ideas/recipes and have yourself a Mexican inspired evening? 

Looking for outfit inspiration? Check out this post, or this post.

FANCYPUFS x PASTELS&PASTRIES

Cotton candy has officially landed in Toronto, and I am beyond excited to introduce you to Fancy Pufs! Fancy Pufs is bringing cotton candy back in a stylish and modern way with their fabulous mobile cart and all organic, natural, gluten-free sugars. With fresh flavors like lemon and pomegranate and non-traditional flavors like salted caramel and chai tea, Fancy Pufs will seriously wow your guests.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to style a pretty-in-pink, sprinkle filled, cotton candy extravaganza of a little girl's party for Fancy Pufs and I am beyond excited to reveal the photos today. We wanted to showcase their products in unique, fun ways, and what is more amazing than topping a marshmallow buttercream-funfetti birthday cake with a gigantic pink puf!? Marshmallow, sprinkles, pink cotton candy... it's literally what my dreams are made of. In terms of styling, the whole dessert table was adorned with pink accents perfect for any little girl's special day. We had such a blast! I styled and shoot the photos, while Michelle acted as master pufista, spinning puffy pink clouds made of cotton candy dreams. We also served up cotton candy waffle cones, cookie butter confetti popcorn (more on that to come) and bon-bons galore!

Check out the photos below and let us know in the comments what you think!

Thanks for such a sweet day Fancy Pufs!

Cotton Candy by Fancy Pufs
Styling/Photos by pastels & pastries
Funfetti Cake by pastels & pastries (stay tuned for the recipe!)
Rose Bouquet by deLight Floral + Design

Looking to fancify your next event? Check out Fancy Pufs