Holiday Home Tour

This was the "first" version of the white tree.....

(not sure if you will notice the changes)

AND the second (not to say final as we still have 12 days before christmas so I proceed with my disclaimer: christmas decor subject to change at any moment!!)

I added more ornaments.....I started this holiday season with "simple" decorating BUT I really am a more is more girl at heart! Last weekend at the library I checked out every December Home Decor issue they had (ya know, in case I missed something) and I did! While browsing through BHG, there was one home that was featured and her theme was simple also (although that's every year for her) and she had what I have found to be the most brilliant idea ever!

Tying together groups of smaller ornaments with ribbon (that would other wise get lost in the tree) and uses them as 'fillers'. L O V E! My tree looks a lil fuller now!!!

Here's a cutie lil ornament that I picked up this year.......

And another grouping ( I ♥ the chocolate brown polka dot ribbon)
The book shelf beside the tree....
A shot of the newly painted mantle wall (WITH the flash)
And WithOUT the flash....much more romantic this way! I just hung the mirror over the weekend (prior to the mirror there was a vintage white washed window frame resting on the mantle which prohibited all the extras that are on there now!!). As I look at this picture I am realizing this looks more formal - I like the casual better.....hmmm, we'll see what to do after the holidays!
The SIMPLEST, most elegant item all season! (I won't tell you that it's taken me 3 weeks to put the pinecones and lights in there - pitiful isn't it?!?! Sometimes the simplest tasks take us the longest).
A lil grouping on the kitchen table....(I thought about covering the picture up on the candle with some burlap -which would make the shade coordinate better BUT I LOVED the black and white picture on the candle).
Ok, I'm linking up to the Nester's Christmas Tour Of Homes here http://www.thenester.com/2010/12/christmas-tour-of-homes-2010.html and I CAN'T WAIT to see all of your homes!

A LEOPARD doesn't change her spots....

You CAN'T take the leopard outta this girl!! It's no secret that my animal print of choice is LEOPARD (although I have been leaning toward zebra has of late). I wanted some more leopard accents in my holiday decor BUT nothing too garish! I had these vintage pale gold ornaments on hand and wouldn't really use them in my decor as they are...so they've been sitting in the box all season....UNTIL the lightbulb went off to leopard-ify them....

I pulled out the glue and this FAB glitter mix that I had (silver, golds and coppers all in the same tube - no CLUE where it came from). They were looking good BUT missing something....the BLACK around the spot, that's what they needed.....

Ta-da!! L O V E!! I didn't have any paintbrushes on hand and was SO desperate to get them done that I considered using my make-brushes (no worries, that insanity only ensued momentarily) so I used the next best thing - a Sharpie! I think I need to make some more of these bad-birds (I only made 2). Happy decorating!

Christmas Fluff

In this post I will be showing you "fluff" and stuff!!

I started out with this silver tinsel wreath from the dollar spot at Target.....

Hung it on the window frame mirror in the entryway.....KNEW it looked pitiful and sad...KNEW it needed some ribbon....but just couldn't decided what color / kind to use...silly, right? For some reason these days I am very indecisive....

While at the shop sorting through the ribbon choices, I brought all the greens and leopard print home! I thought this celery green plaid was a gorg choice.....
Here's a side by side.....it's pretty amazing what a difference a lil swatch of ribbon and color made....wouldn't you agree?

I had some empty glass globes from last year and this vintage tinsel (which by the way I have available for purchase IF you're interested) and combined these two elements to make a vintage sleek ornament....
and as we learned, ribbon makes a world of difference.....and I had these stragglers from other ornaments I purchased and some soap BUT they were BOTH wrinkly....you're looking at this saying wait, the orange one is smooth....
That's because I used this.....

My iron is at the shop and I wanted to complete this lil project SO desperate times called for desperate measures! My lil helpful hint of the day...for small wrinkly items, use your hair straightener!!

Remember this lil cupcake holder that I employed to hold my ornaments?

While it was a clever idea it needed more.....
AHHH, that's MORE like it!! (see the orange ribbon I flat ironed, and the tinsel ornaments I made?) Orange, zebra, leopard silver......OH, and I moved it here....
Much better, no?

While we're' looking at the bookcase......here is my "ode to CHRISTmas"....
Simply covered my decor books in wrapping that coordinated with my decor...simple and elegant.....and OF COURSE the reason for the season.....Celluloid / bakelite Mary, Joseph and Manger (baby Jesus will appear in due time) Vintage church and a FAB tin tile with a crucifix.
THESE are a few of my favorite things.....

White Christmas....

...I was dreaming of!! If you're a follower of my blog you know we suffered a flood in July at which time almost all my holiday decor was destroyed (including 5 christmas trees) SO this year we had to buy a new tree. I started thinking about what kind of tree to get....obviously I wanted a pre-lit tree, my IDEAL tree would be a wire-y vintage tinsel tree BUT the more I thought about it, I came to the realization I wanted a white tree! Yep! An UNCONVENTIONAL out of the box white tree!! SO after a lil cajoling here it is.....

Now you DID see one of my requirements was a pre-lit, right? Well, this one did NOT come pre-lit (and again due to the flood, lights also needed to be replaced SO I got just enough to get thru this season and will be in line the day after Christmas for the half off sales). Below is what we started with...

Truth be told I had all the ornaments on the tree and it looked NEKKID! I knew I needed something more (which is when I added the lime green ribbon) Notice there are no pics of the "before" the ribbon version!!
On the tree are mercury glass like (thanks to water damage on my vintage silver shiney brites) orange, lime green and fun funky ornies! SO I wanted a fun tree top.....got a lil zebra print in there! (now I must admit I thought I was original with this tree top idea BUT realized I have seen it on other blogs like Shannon's http://thedavisfamilynwa.blogspot.com/2010/11/winner-and-evolution-of-topper.html at Bless Our Nest and here on Queenie Eileenie's Blog (she has a FAB Christopher Radko style here) http://queenieeileenie.blogspot.com/2009/11/candy-colored-christmas.html
Another lil bit of decorating on the tv bookcases....I am going for "rustic elegance" in our decor and would also like my holiday decor to reflect that (with HINTS of lime green). My plan is after the holidays while I am purchasing my lights at 1/2 off to also pick up silver and chocolate brown accents for next christmas.

Two years ago Tia of Two Junk Chix http://twojunkchix.blogspot.com/ and I made these canvases. They were our modern-ish take on a style Ballard offered at the time.
HAPPY DECORATING! I have linked up to Faded Charm's WW here http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/

AND check out ALL SORTS of Christmas Trees here http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-christmas-tree-party.html

Merry PINK Christmas...

...is the theme I chose for the shoppe window. Breaking from tradition (which seems to be a common theme as WalMart is carrying pink christmas paper, breast cancer awareness paper,etc). Now I have to be honest and admit I do not like the color pink AT ALL! SO, this was a stretch for me (but I know how y'all LOVE pink, and I am here to please the masses when it comes to merchandise!!). If you see anything you're interested in, shoot me a message!

***** Santa is SOLD!*****

*****Carol frame is SOLD!*******

Rustic Elegance

So when I moved I KNEW I wanted to decorate the next place in a "rustic elegance" style (think classic silver and leathers kinda Ralph Lauren-ish). BUT it was a challenge when everywhere you looked was white walls and a blank canvas! Here's a totally idiotic admission - I was scared to pick the wrong paint color! Now before y'all say "it's only paint" I've said that to myself a million times BUT for some reason, that first color choice on an other wise blank canvas is difficult. BUT a choice has been made...

Remember the mantle wall looked like this?

TA-DA!! Now it looks like this!! Courtesy of "hedgehog" a true value color. I know it looks like a dusty plum but it can also look like a muddy grey...just depends on the lighting. I L O V E it! THe white accessories just POP! off the paint color.
I had the worst time decorating the mantle for thanksgiving(when the walls were white) the silver accents just didn't look right, the white window frame would just blend in with the wall BUT no MORE!! Once the paint was on the walls it was so easy to decorate! It's amazing what a difference paint can make!
NOW, the question is....do I paint the oak fireplace surround a creamy white OR leave it?

Happy WHITE Wednesday! For more white, go to Kathleen's blog http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! May you all have a blessed holiday with the people you hold near and dear!

Give Thanks

I haven't done too much Turkey Day decorating (couldn't find it from the move in June and when I did there were several larger serveware / deco pieces that were destroyed in the flood - SO that means I should hit the sales the day after Thanksgiving - oh wait, that's Black Friday, I will be shopping anyway!!). I picked up this "Give Thanks" sign at HobLob....maybe not exactly appropriate over the bar OR MAYBE it is!! I LOVE the granny smith apple green and orange combo this fall. For a brief moment I thought I wasn't going to be able to use my apple wreath for Thanksgiving decor as it just wasn't looking "right" that was until I added the green metal serving tray and the give thanks sign BUT still, something wasn't quite right....it was the burlap "ribbon" I had on the wreath (see my post back in September if interested) BUT when I added the orange - POW! Perfect! So I guess that just goes to show if ya really LOVE something, just keep trying until it works!

This next piece is my FAV of the season! I bought the old porch column base at the CUTEST lil antique row (she was a private owner with a barn, a shop, and 3 or 4 cute lil themed out buildings right there on her property). I knew I wanted a cloche look BUT for some reason never picked one up (ok, I do know the reason, I am trying to cut back on unnecessary tchotckes) SO I flipped a vase/pillar holder thing I had on hand upside down, added some of that crazy filler and the cutest metal turkey I just picked up Monday and have a very Pottery Barn-ish display.
The holiday mantle which I am not thrilled with....another case of trying to use what I love(ya know when ya get a pic in your head of what you plan to do and then it doesn't play out that way - here's a case in point). I really wanted to use the silver, the black and white photos of my kids and the turkeys...so we'll see what else I come up tonight when I get it all back on the mantle as the painter is there RIGHT now!! So y'all will see the new color too!
I am selling 2 Johnson Brothers platters....perfect for fall / thanksgiving even Christmas! IF interested leave me a message. One is 12" and the other is approx. 14".

TOP 5 Reasons I L O V E Trader Joe's

Reason NO. 5

FRIENDLY helpful staff! If ya don't see it, ask somebody....I was looking for their Cilantro dressing (LOVE in a bottle...put some on plain 'ol spinach leaves and WOW!) as it turns out, it's current'y on a recall SO if you have a bottle make sure it wasn't on the recall list (I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for when it makes a come back!)

Reason NO. 4

Healthy and affordable! The offerings at Trader Joe's are the direction I am going in regards to healthy / organic eating....(and they offer samples SO you can try before you buy)

Reason NO. 3

You can get an ENTIRE meal wine INCLUDED for under $15.00! That package of pork carnitas from Trader "JOSE" (how funny is that!?!?) fed 2 adults and 2 kids (which ps, the kids LOVED - I was half expecting them to gripe and complain BUT they came back for seconds and thirds). Now I do feel the need to let y'all know I had the balance of ingredients on hand for shredded pork tacos (shredded cheese, diced fresh tomatoes and fresh cilantro BUT these are staples in our home)

SEE? Entire meal for $13.60!
Reason NO.2

FREE Pumpkins! That's right! This FAB cinderella pumpkin and palest of green shade pumpkin on top were FREE! On my way out the door I saw a sign that said "pumpkins .29" I was sure it was by pound even though it didn't have the "lb" after the price....WHAT?! Could these fab varieties really be .29 EACH? So I stood there, hemmed and hawed....realizing I parked downstairs and a block away (as we were doing other shopping).....how would I carry my bags and 4 pumpkins (yes 4 because I needed 2 for each urn)....just then a TJ worker passed and I asked "are these really .29 each?" he replied "I think they're free....lemme check" so now I am all beside myself....and he comes back and says "yep. they're free. the season is over (and I am thinking to myself WHAT?! don't people just decorate for fall? Thanksgiving dinner?) how many do you want? 2?" so I say "um, can I have 4? or is that too many?"

Look very closely and you will see my 2 urns with my pretty (FREE) pumpkins! and that leads me to

REASON NO.1.......to shop at TRADER JOE'S

I left there feeling HAPPY!!!!

Onto the giveaway....Leave me a comment of what YOUR fave item from Trader Joe's is and I will send ya a lil Starbux gift card - enjoy a latte on me for sharing YOUR fave item! Winner will be drawn Sunday at 8pm Illinois time!!

See Mary at http://urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com for a VERY GENEROUS Pottery Barn giveaway!!

Fall Window Boxes

IF you read my post yesterday you know that the summer bounty has faded and left me with empty sad pots AND WINDOW BOXES! I wanted to do something natural looking but not FAKE. I picked these up....

Pretty and simplistic.....
Golden Eucalyptus.....
Now I KNOW gold glittery mica doesn't SCREAM natural BUT they do resemble embellished stix, so I think were good! I don't think the Nester would be too disappointed!
I started with these pitiful looking boxes.....I KNEW the direction I wanted to go....a taller graduated arrangement...all I had on hand were some stix (and a few other fillers you'll see later)
Box on the other side.....LOVE the big 'ol metal star in there!
Hope ya don't mind as ya fallow along on my step-by-step arrangement process! Grab a cuppa joe!
So I added those fab looking natural flowers....that's a lil better.....the stix aren't so lonely anymore....

Then I added those gold stix (after fluffing out to look more natural) on an angle so as to make a lil nest or bed for the gourds and pumpkins....
ABOVE I just stuck it in as it came so you could see the DIFFERENCE between fluffing and stuffing....
See the difference? The bunch on the left looks stiff and un-natural....
Don't be afraid of your artificials! Bend and fluff, trim if necessary....
...using your wire cutters.....MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU!!! Here I am trimming the eucalyptus down so I can out in at an angle and continue to make a nest...

and VIOLA!!! The finished product!
Just when any sane person would be done, I add MORE!! Can you spot the difference between the above and below pic? It's almost like where's Waldo!!
In case you weren't up for playing along, I'll just tell ya...I added a HUMONGOUS pine cone and a ceramic plate in fall colors.
So tell me, which do you prefer? The box as it was OR with all the bells and whistles (ie the pine cone and plate). Is the more really too much?
Here are the boxes side by side

This is the first box I showed you. The only difference between the two is the star. The pumpkins and gourds are real, as are the tall stix....the rest, FAB fauxness!! Happy fall y'all! Tomorrow....top 5 reasons I love Trader Joe's and a GIVEAWAY!! Check out f

or fall decorating ideas and gearing up for Christmas!