SPRING BLOSSOMS

Last week I bought a flat of pansies, a couple small trees, some daffodils and some brown twigs and pussy willows. For about $70 my outside looks kind of ready for spring. Still lots more clean up to do but it's a start.

I love how the pussy willows and twigs made everything look a little fancier and richer.

Hope you enjoy the wonderful spring/summer weather we all seem to be destined to get.

HAPPY EASTER!

CHALKBOARDS

FYI to all the chalkboard lovers in blogland. There is a product out there that works like a paint marker but you use it on chalkboards. Have you've ever been in a grocery store that has their produce priced on chalkboards. I've always wondered how they got it to look that certain way. Well I think it's these pens. I saw mention of them on another blog which linked you to a site and they were going for $20 something a pack. I found them at Michael crafts for $12.00.


They write really easily and come off with a paper towel, water and a little elbow grease.

Here's the pack. They also had fluorescent colors. The package says you can mix the colors to make new ones. Haven't tried that yet but sounds fun.

We are going to Disney at the end of April. I just started our countdown yesterday. So excited. Just wondering if it's possible to loose 30 lbs in 29 days????

THRIFT STORE BARGAINS

One of my favorite thrifting spots is my local Goodwill. I never walk out of there empty handed.
On a recent trip I found a few things that found a new home in my downstairs bathroom.
I spotted this little caddy and for $2.97 I couldn't pass it up. At the time I didn't realize that it would find a perfect home on the back of my toilet. It fits paper hand towels perfect and is a good home for the soap and cream. My pedestal sink provides no room to put that type of stuff on it so I'm always looking for someplace to put it. I also found this metal stand for $12.00. It was cream with blue stones but I knew it would work perfect as a toilet paper/towel/anything holder. I just gave it a couple coats of spray paint and instant organization.

Here's a view from the door. Doesn't the caddy match the walls perfect. It was meant to be!

LIGHTEN UP

I've been trying to lighten things up in my kitchen. Someday I will get a new one but for now I have to work with the wood cabinets and sage green tile. My first instinct was to add red so I took that idea and ran with it. Everything was red. Below is a corner in my kitchen (this pic is from Christmas)


I don't know if it's spring fever or what but I have been longing for a more lighter look. So I took pretty much everything that was red and made it cream. Thank God for spray paint. This is the same corner now.

It makes me giddy just looking at it. Is that normal?

I found this hook at Homegoods and this kind of started the whole cream faze. I love it for it's style but also function. I use to hang my towel on the stove handle and it would slip off onto the floor everytime I was cooking. Talk about driving me crazy. Problem solved!!

Few more changes to come in the kitchen to take it a step further. I have the supplies just need the time. Hopefully soon.

ALL DOLLED UP

Here is how the herb boxes turned out. I had hubby hang them and I went to town dolling them up. I just went thru the house and found some plates etc to put in them. I am in love with them!! I think they make such a statement. I think it will be fun to decorate them throughout the seasons. Happy Hump Day!!

MAMA GOT LUCKY!

I was definitely feeling the winter blah's last week and felt some retail therapy would do the job. Man was I right. I headed to my local Marshalls and there before me were these.

I just about screamed right there in the aisle. I have always admired them over at The Lettered Cottage. Actually saw them at a TJMaxx over the summer and passed on them. What was I thinking?

Recently TLC had a giveaway featuring them and I so wanted to win them. I didn't but was contemplating buying them from the site she referenced. They were going for something like $45. I don't even want to tell you how much I STOLE these for.

$14 and some change. WAHOOO!! I left that store with a huge smile on my face and proceeded to Barnes and Noble. There I found the Flea Market Style mag that everyone is talking about. What a banner shopping day for me!!

Still tweaking where I am hanging them and of course on the hunt for things to put in them. More to come!

ADDING SOME VALENTINE FLUFF

It is a dreary day here today and snow is in the forecast. UGH! I've had enough of this weather. Because there was no sunlight my pictures are really poor (It could be my photography skills but I'd rather blame the sun!)

I wasn't going to go overboard for Valentine's Day this year. I needed a break after all that Christmas, but then I opened up my bin and started placing things around and next thing I know it's all over.

Here's a few pictures of how it looks. I added new words that will stay up all the time now. Was trying to come up with something fitting for my Dining room. Thought that this is the place we celebrate holidays and special occasions with family and friends. Perfect. I still love my metal plaque and the idea that I can change it with every season/holiday. I love the Vday picture I chose.

I got these cupcakes from PIER ONE this year. Really inexpensive and so cute. I'm thinking of getting some of the Crayola Model magic and making cupcakes for other holidays to decorate with. I'll put that on my ever growing craft list.

Girlie-girl found me taking pictures and wanted to get in on the action.

Have a great week and stay warm!

ADDING SOME NUMBERS

I love the all the images I see in the magazines and on the blogs where numbers are added. I had picked up these 2 pitchers a Goodwill last week and thought they would be perfect to update with some numbers. I called my friend Kim who has the cricket and she was nice enough to whip these up along with some word for my wall (hope to get them up this week).
The numbers are my wedding anniversary. October 26th. Surprisingly that was Hubby's idea. So sweet. I love how they came out and hope to keep fresh flowers in them always!! Way to dark. Still playing with the new camera. Taking a class in Feb so hopefully these pictures will improve.

Happy Monday!

INEXPENSIVE PILLOW

I saw this idea over at Brighton Cottage's blog http://brightoncottage.blogspot.com/ She was having her cousin Carolyn guest post.

I started out with 2 black placemats from Walmart. They were 1.98 each. I got this burlap strip (I think it's used in upholstery) and the letter decal from Joann's Fabrics. That cost me about 3.00. So easy just had to iron the letter on.

I sewed the burlap strip to the one placemat then sewed around the edges leaving the one smaller side open. I stuffed it with some FREE blanket snow stuff I had left over from Christmas. It was actually in the trash and I had to go fish it out when I came up with this idea.

I stuffed it then sewed the final side and voila I have a stylish pillow for approx 7.00. I love it. Even Hubby commented on it when he saw it.

Here's the view looking into the living room. I got a new fancy camera for Christmas so am playing with it. From the looks of this picture I need to play some more!

I am so excited. I have a round coffee table sitting in my garage just waiting to be put together and painted. That is the next project. Just have to finishe getting those darn Christmas decorations away so I have some room to work.

A CLEAN SLATE

Happy New Year!!!

I rang in the new year in bed with a snoring husband by my side. We had a nice dinner, played Wii games and rented The Hangover once girlie girl went to bed. Very enjoyable and relaxing.

I look forward to all the endless possibilities this year has to offer. Still working on the resolutions but for now just enjoying the idea of a new beginning and clean slate.

IS IT HERE YET?

The exhaustion has set in. I am counting down to tommorrow at 5. That is when my guests are due to arrive and whatever isn't done by then isn't going to get done and I will just have to accept that. Until then I will be assuming the role of crazed mad woman.
In between wrapping, cleaning, some minor cooking and general craziness I found time to make some tassles for gifts. Thanks to The Nester http://www.thenester.com and her Tassle Ebook.. They were so easy and such fun to make. It is truly addicting. I think I actually dreamed about tassles last night.

I found the Santa ornaments at Crate and Barrel. The other supplies were from Michaels. I am not sure which I am giving and which I am keeping. I'm having a hard time deciding. I hope to make more for a party I have on Monday but that will have to wait until after the big day.

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!

I MADE IT MYSELF

I always like to do some sort of crafty project as Christmas presents. This year I decided on these cute embroidery hands. I saw this in the May issue of Country Living and it's from a fellow blogger myplumpudding.blogspot.com I will have to go ck out her site after I'm done posting.
I took the embroidery hoop and painted it the color I wanted. I traced the kids hands with pencil onto what I guess they call embroidery fabric. Then I started stitching and this is how they came out. Def not perfect but very cute.

This one is for my Mom And this one I did for my girlfriend. It's purple, the picture doesn't show the color very good.

Really easy, really inexpensive (got all the supplies from ACMOORE) and I hope a real keepsake.

I hope to do one for myself but that will be a winter project.

CHRISTMAS HOUSE TOUR

I thought I would join in The Nester's House Tour and show some of my decorations. I had hoped to do this earlier but the day got away from me so here I am as the house is getting dark taking pictures. Not the best but they will have to do!



Santa greets you as you walk in the front door. This is my entryway.

I got this large white container at Target over the summer. I think it's a beverage holder. I love changing it up every season. Summer had lemons, Fall had pumpkins. One of my favorite items!

We don't have a fireplace and mantle to hang our stockings so a few years ago I saw something similiar and thought it might work. Found this ladder at a craft fair. It does the job.

Every year Girlie girl sits on Santa's lap. I wanted to display in a nice way so I bought some inexpensive frames and fabric. The fabric is hot glued to the paper that they frame came with and he picture is taped. So simple and I love the results.

This is a secretary that I got from Craigslist over the summer. This is def my favorite piece of furniture. I have found that the more stuff I cram into the shelves the better it looks.

This is my break front in the dining room. I ordered the BELIEVE from a friend who is doing the vinyl words. Still waiting for a few snowflakes to finish it off. The large picture is actually tin and the picture is magnet so I can change them out with the seasons. I have to do a future post on this piece. It's just to cool.

Kitchen shelf that I change up every season/holiday.

Little cabinet in the kitchen. I just got the Santa and Mrs Claus this year. They are kissing salt and pepper shakers from Gooseberry Patch. So cute.

Here's a view from the hallway into the living room. I'm loving my red furniture with Christmas.

I didn't get a good picture of the tree so will have to show that on another post.

Now I am going to attempt to link up to The Nester. Wish me luck, I am completely computer illiterate

BETTER THAN SCRATCH

It's a rainy day here and girlie girl announced she wanted to make Gingerbread cookies. I have never made them from scratch and didn't think today would be the best day to make my first attempt. There is so much still to be done. More shopping, decorating, cooking and at some point some cleaning. Wanted to keep things nice and easy to insure a happy experience.
I found this at the grocery store and figured it was worth a try. So easy!!!
We rolled out the dough and used some cookie cutters we had. She especially liked the mini ones. We had lots of fun decorating with sugar glitter. Let me just tell you that stuff gets everywhere. I'll be cleaning that up still in January.

Yummy right out of the oven

Here's the finished product. They are pretty good tasting.

This week we'll try the sugar cookies!!

Hope everyone is relaxing and gearing up for the last full week before Christmas.

NOTHING LEFT BUT THE COOKING

I'm sitting here relaxing waiting for my inlaws to arrive for the holiday. Everything is done. Food is purchased. Table is set. House is clean. Even the serving dishes are decided on and I went a little crazy and marked each one with a sticky note telling us what goes in what. All that is left is the cooking. Thankfully I won't be doing much of that. My mother-in-law has perfected the turkey cooking so why mess with a good thing

Here are some very poorly taken photo's of my Thanksgiving/Fall decorations.
I got this piece from Craigslist for $50. I had to do some minor tweeking with paint and new molding up top. I love how it turned out and I can't wait to decorate it for Christmas.

Girlie-girl helped me set the table. We counted all the plates, forks, knives etc. Thought it was a good opportunity to do some practice math. She also practiced her writing skills by doing the place cards. I am going to keep them. I know years from now it will be such a joy to pull them out and remember when.

I usually don't go crazy with table decorations. The food is the main event and it requires alot of room. I found these for $3.50 at a produce place. I thought they were nice and would be good to use for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Here's the final table, before I put on all the serving pieces. Right now there isn't a clear space on the table. My mouth is watering just thinking of all the good food that will be there in a couple days

Happy Thanksgiving !!!