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An Autumn Stove Top Potpourri + Casual Friday!

September 9, 2016

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Earlier this week, I shared my favorite fall candles, but Chris loves to whip up a stove top potpourri occasionally. Potpourri’s are great if we are having friends or family over with sensitivities to candles or we’re having a party with a lot of kids around and the candles might get knocked over or blown out (Faye says “happy birthday!” before blowing out my candles every time). Here’s his go-to recipe for fall:

Autumn Stove Top Potpourri | Chris Loves Julia

Add the water to a pot over medium heat. Cut the peel from the orange and then cut the orange in half. Core the apple. Squeeze the orange halves into the water to add the juice, then drop the orange halves in, along with the apple and all the other ingredients. Bring to a boil then reduce to low heat and allow to steep on low. Do not allow the pan to boil dry – add more water if needed.

Autumn Stove Top Potpourri | Chris Loves Julia

We like to steep it until the water reduces down to about half, then we’ve been known to fill it up again and reduce it once more–it still gives off a lot of delicious fragrance. Let us know if you try it!

Other fun things this week!

So much truth. 

An embarrassing thing about me is every fall, I’m still wearing a brown puffer vest I got in 9th grade from American Eagle. It’s time to upgrade this obvious staple in my wardrobe and I am eyeing this one. hard.

“Hi, I’m a part time teacher with a budget of $5 million.” –the funniest round up of every couple on HGTV shows

We’ve gotten so many questions about the new end table in the living room. It’s actually this small sideboard! It’s an incredible piece of furniture. I have a full post coming up next week about all the little changes in the living room.

A little bit ago, I sent for some glasses to try on from Warby Parker. Have you heard of them? You can pick up to five frames from their site to try on at home–for free! It’s so much less pressure than going into an office and a lot more convenient with kids, too. This week, after my 7 year old glasses finally broke, I sent for the Durand style glasses in Whiskey Tortoise.

I love that Sarah is using Semihandmade doors in her new kitchen (we used them in the Pittsburgh kitchen and we’re using them in the office, too!). And I lo-ove that she painted them green! (No, I have never looked that cute painting anything.)

An Autumn Stove Top Potpourri + Casual Friday!

After seeing Kirsten’s front door (above), I found and ordered this little 2×4 buffalo check rug in a heartbeat–can’t beat $27!

Hope you have a wonderful fall weekend! We’re loving this 60 degree weather.

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What do you think?

  1. Libby says:

    I hate to comment here but wasn’t sure what else to do as I wasn’t sure you’d get my comment on your etsy shop location… I received my gorgeous print and it was bent! Am I just SOL? :(

  2. Alison G says:

    Wow, you have expensive taste and a big budget. That vest is quite spendy. ouch…. same for the sideboard.

  3. Nancy says:

    Thanks for the potpourri recipe! Now if it ever gets cool enough to feel like fall!!!

  4. Kim says:

    Love the buffalo check look. For anyone who wants an outdoor friendly version, Williams Sonoma has a 40 dollar navy coir one! Link: http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/buffalo-plaid-doormat/?pkey=e%7Cplaid%2Bdoor%2Bma%7C34%7Cbest%7C0%7C1%7C24%7C%7C4&cm_src=PRODUCTSEARCH

  5. Katie says:

    I love the layered rug look! Thanks for finding a cheaper version. But is the check rug safe for outdoors? Are you just planning on bringing it in during rain/snow?

  6. Laura says:

    I laughed my head off at this post, because i’m still wearing a black puffer vest from American Eagle every fall too…and its also prob from the 9th grade!

  7. I LOVE the idea of this stovetop potpourri! My husband hates when I light every candle in the house and have 9 different wonderful smells smacking him in the face when he walks in the door…this potpourri may just save our marriage ;)

  8. shannon says:

    Last year for Christmas I received one of those J.Crew vests and it is the bomb dot com. It’s warm, just the right amount of puff to be soft without making you look like a snowman, and the pockets unsnap but you can also go in from the sides so you get four pockets! It runs a little big which gives enough room for layering a sweater underneath.

  9. Kristen says:

    That Buzzfeed article about HGTV was hilarious and spot on!

  10. Emily says:

    Where the heck does one get juniper berries? Also, the hgtv roundup is every thought I have when I try to watch those shows.

  11. P says:

    Love the rug!! It’s showing up as $73, not $27 however :-(

  12. Stephanie says:

    I’m so jealous of your 60 degree weather! It’s in the 80’s in lower Michigan!!!!!! I’m angry!!!!

  13. Susanna says:

    It never occurred to me to layer door mats!! What?! Life changer!! Ok, maybe just porch changer….

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