Linda Caroline @ Home

Metamorphosis Monday

2009-08-24T09:49:00.010-04:00

I finally took the plunge and tried my hand at making over my vanity bench. After about 12 years, that poor little bench was in desperate need of some TLC. With some inspiration and instructions from bloggerland, the wheels in my head started turning. Finally, the light bulb went on in my head and I realized that I already had everything I needed (minus the staple gun). After a quick trip to the hardware department at Sears, I am now the proud owner of a shiny new staple gun (hubby has visitation rights, though!). I could have borrowed one from friends, but since it was inexpensive and I knew we could use it for many other household projects, I decided to buy one instead.

Achtung! Warning! The following two photos could cause you to lose your lunch or break out in hives...

Take one dusty, hairspray-laden, grody bench.

I can't believe I'm showing you this shot. Ewww...

Hurry! Flip it over so you don't have to look at it (I'd been using it with a towel on top the seat) and unscrew the seat. Got to use the drill and a hex bit for this part.

Didn't take a picture, but the next step is to glue the sheet of foam down using a glue gun. Now cut your fabric so that you leave enough to staple to the seat bottom. I didn't measure a thing.

I purchased this fabric remnant on clearance at Joanne's last winter for another project but changed my mind. It had the right colors for my master bath--funny how that works out! I wasn't completely happy with how the edges turned out, but that's ok because the next step is coming...

Use a glue gun to add your trim.

Keep glueing...

Place the completed seat back on top of the bench and screw it back into place. Completely forgot to take a picture, but after literally cleaning and scraping the metal for 1/2 hour, I took it outside and spray painted it using Krylon metallic satin nickel. Voila - it's a brand new bench! It looks even better with the colors in the bathroom we redid here. Now I don't have to spend $80 on the one I had my eye on at B, B & B!

As many a blogger has said before--it was so easy that if I can do it, so can you!

If you're looking for more inspiration in making over your home, visit Susan's blog for lots of Metamorphosis Monday posts.

Happy Decorating,

Linda

P.S. We are leaving this weekend for a week at Disney with the kids (9 and 13). We've done lots of research, but I would love your opinion on what not to miss while we're there. Hubs and I haven't been since our honeymoon, and this is the first visit for the kids. Restaurant selections would be really appreciated, especially for Epcot. Thanks!!

Tablescape Thursday

2009-08-19T23:28:00.011-04:00

It's been over a month since I posted a tablescape! Can you believe it? I have been enjoying checking out everyone's TT posts each week, whenever I get some time. Don't want to miss those amazing table settings! Hopefully when the kids start back to school in a few weeks I can find a little more time for projects and tablescapes. I put this one together last Tuesday, fully intending to post it, but I never found the time to post it for last week's TT. Somehow I've found some time and energy to post it in time for this week, so here goes...

My inspiration for this tablescape began with the butterfly plates. They are made by Mud Pie and just happened to have four different butterfly colors. I believe I bought them for $1.99 each at TJ.

A closer view of the place setting. I finally decided to buy some bamboo flatware, but then couldn't find it for the longest time. I snapped it up as soon as I saw some--and it is the darker colored handle that I wanted! I layered the butterfly plates over my Paula Deen dot plates and Lenox Butterfly Meadow Monarch plates (I have been waiting for close to 6 months to use them but couldn't come up with the right setting!).

To keep things simple, I placed three of my green dollar tree candle plates on top of silver candlesticks. I cut some white phlox from my flower bed and placed it in a slim glass vase. Quick, simple, and pretty.

I originally didn't want flatware like this because I prefer good stainless, but for the price it was a great deal and will work with many different styles.

Here's the yellow butterfly plate. The green placemats were a Stein Mart find on clearance.

Love the blue color in this one!

Lastly, the green butterfly.What a pretty shade of green!

Here's a closer look at the Lenox plate, which acts like a charger here.I normally don't pay very much for my plates, so $7.99 was a splurge. That's still cheaper than the sale price anywhere else.

I showed you these before many months ago; they were a steal at Dillard's last spring. They incorporate the colors from the butterfly plates well.

Here's Paula's message on the bottom of the dot plate. Don't you love her, ya'll? Forgot to re-orient this photo--sorry!

Another look down the table. The glasses are crystal and were another TJ or Ross find.

A full view of the table. Click on it to enlarge the photo. Too bad I couldn't incorporate the red roses my DH brought home for me into the table (you can see a tiny bit of them in the left corner of the shot).

Hope you enjoyed this week's table. There are lots more waiting for you over at our bloggy hostess Susan's blog, so be sure to meander over there!

Happy Decorating,

Linda

My Thrifty Treasures

2009-08-17T09:16:00.014-04:00

I've taken a break for most of the summer from blogging, mainly because the kids are home and they keep me busy. The kids and I can't believe how quickly it has gone by though! I know many states have already gone back to school, but schools here in VA don't start until the day after Labor Day. We still have a week at Disney World coming up, which we are all excited about. It'll be a nice little send-off before the new school year begins.

On to my thrifty treasures...To me this was a thrifty find, so I bought two for $10.00 each on clearance from Southern Living @ Home. They are a great size, well made, and a terrific price. They're slso beautiful to look at, don't you think? The robin's egg blue color is almost the same color as my favorite plates, so they match up well. You can see those here.

Isn't this adorable? I only paid $3.99 for it. I haven't found a permanent spot for it yet. I know some of you are really into bunnies, so you might want to scour your local TJ Maxx for it before they are gone. I also saw one with a squirrel perched on top.

ESTATE SALE TREASURES

The following items were purchased at an estate sale of a dear friend. Please keep her and her 3 girls in your prayers, as they are going through a horrible divorce and have lost everything. Just to be nasty, her husband allowed their gorgeous home to go into foreclosure, their cars to be repossessed, and on and on. The entire story is so ugly that it breaks my heart. She is a godly woman who I love like a sister, and she continues to be a woman of God in the face of such evil. We've been working hard for the past few weeks to prepare her home for a huge estate sale (minus the professionals!). We got first dibs on the items, but it still felt weird, even though we knew we were helping financially. She and her oldest daughter (21) keep saying that it's just "stuff", but I know it's still hard to let it all go. I know I will think of her whenever I see the things I purchased. To be fair, we made sure other people had priced the items we bought. Here goes...

For 50 cents, how could I pass this up? It's a 1989 edition and just adorable. Here's the forward. Click on the picture to read it up close. These little guys play Christmas music together. They were only $2 and just need some batteries. Can't wait to try them out. I'm such a sucker for Christmas stuff. I had to restrain myself.

This little box holds something inside. Do you know what it is?

Sorry for the blurriness, I took the pics in a hurry. It's an unused special edition Creative Memories photo album. The price? $1. I would have priced it higher, so when I paid for everything I threw in about $10 extra since I walked away with so many bargains.

These pretty little pineapples will look beautiful on one of my Christmas trees. The store sticker on the bottom had $22 on it.

I've always wanted one of these. I haven't even checked to see if the candles are in the box. It's not a high-end piece, but for $3 it was just right for me.

I think I paid $3 for this sign.

Who can resist paper dolls? This set was untouched and for $1 it will provide hours of fun for my daughter and I. I also bought an American Girl teaching packet for $1 that ties in historical events with the dolls. What a great way to teach history to girls!

Got two of these Williamsburg cone forms for $2 a piece. They retail online for $32 and up. I've always loved colonial Christmas decorations (even if they aren't completely authentic), so I'm excited to use these.

Blurriness again--this is another Colonial Williamsburg centerpiece form. I paid just $3 for it, but I know it's worth probably $30-$40. This will be filled with fruit and greenery at Christmas, but I may try some fall decorations in it first.

And for inspiration I bought these hardback titles that I've always wanted for $1.00 each. I also purchased 3 vintage Nancy Drew books to add to my daughter's collection (which was originally mine) for .50 each.

Cute little plaque that is now in my bathroom ~ $1. There's a little wear in the right corner, but it can be easily touched up. Also bought a round wall clock with a pineapple design for $2--forgot to take a picture of it!

Some Southern Living @ Home beauties that were only $5 each. These pieces have been retired, but I think they retailed for around $20 a piece. Perfect for fall and Christmas. She also had several other SL@H pieces that I already had.

Another SL@H piece. It is also a retired piece. I always wanted this little sconce but never bought it. I think I paid $7 for it. Not sure what will really end up on here. It's hanging in my golden yellow and red family room.

I think that covers everything. All told, I spent $55. Well spent, don't cha think? Be sure to stop by Rhoda's Southern Hospitality blog for lots more Thrifty Treasures as well as wonderful decorating ideas and adventures. It's like stopping by to chat with an old (not in age, of course!)friend.

Blessings and Happy Decorating,

Linda

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue!

2009-07-02T12:42:00.020-04:00

I'm a little late posting today--things surely change when your kids aren't in school all day. I finally found a bit of time this morning to put my tablescape together, but then I needed to get to the gym...so now I am finally getting around to posting. Where does the time go?! I still have to post my pictures from our ladies' Sunday school breakfast the other week. I'll post those next week, but in the mean time, I'll post one teaser shot at the end of this post. Did you figure out the theme?

Old Glory; the Stars and Stripes; the Star Spangled Banner; the Red, White and Blue...however you refer to the American flag, it is the oldest and most recognizable symbol of our nation's pride and independence. I love that flag! I am so grateful for the sacrifices that others made before us in order to gain and secure our freedom. That includes my ancestors, who have fought in just about every American war, including the Revolutionary War. May God bless America on her 233 birthday!

I'll try to keep the commentary brief since I'm short on time...

The table is decked out in all her patriotic glory. Won't you join us? Details--the runner is actually four Dollar Tree placemats that I decided would look great down the center of the table. Please ignore the wrinkles in the tablecloth (I refuse to iron it again). I've used those Dollar Tree glasses yet again, tying a patriotic flag ribbon to the stem and adding a red and white star napkin in a fan pleat to the glass. The napkins are actually bandanas from the dollar bin at Target. Love that Target! I also tucked a flag in with the napkin, but came up one short...then I forgot to add another one. Oops!

Don't hurt your neck trying to look at this shot! Can you tell I was in a hurry?

I love Fitz and Floyd bowls. They are sizeable enough to put side dishes in for our meal. Got them at either Ross or Marshall's around Memorial Day.

Accidentally found these stored in my cabinets while looking for something else and just knew they needed to join the party. I forgot I had these little guys. They're from Target many years ago.

A closer look at the place setting...the flatware is from Target. The handles are lucite and the blue is a little bit darker than the picture shows. I used red, square Walmart plates (quite heavy) as chargers and added my Churchill transferware plates...

adding a simple Tabletops Unlimited plate in navy blue...

then my white Mikasa French Country plate...

and a Godinger blue and white floral...

and finally the matching Churchill bowl.

The topper is a wooden star from the dollar bin at Target that I picked up about a month ago. Some have stars and others stripes. There are two glittery ones in the centerpiece. Almost forgot - I alternated the place settings. Two have my Johnson Brothers Willow and Asiatic Blue plates and bowls in place of the Churchill.

For a touch of whimsy I added my baseball dip bowl and bat spreader. What else says America like baseball? It is the great American past time, after all!

A closer look at the flatware from Target. The handles are lucite and the blue is a little bit darker than the picture shows.

Let's move on to the centerpiece now. I've had this cute little birdhouse for many, many years. I decided to tuck in some pictures of family members in their uniforms as filler in the centerpiece. This shot has my then 3-year-old son saluting in dad's Coast Guard hat; he's now almost 13 and is thinking about going to the Coast Guard Academy when he graduates from high school. I love, love this picture. The shot behind it is of my husband's grandparents, with his grandfather in his army uniform during WWII. I wanted to add a picture of my husband's father during Vietnam, but I couldn't find it. A wider shot. The plaque in the middle usually hangs in the study and is 3-dimensional. A local artist makes these for the different services. I received mine as a gift from the spouses' association about 5 years ago upon finishing a term as president.
Here is the other side of the centerpiece.

I had a large flag platter that I used to anchor the centerpiece. I added a handful of r/w/b political buttons from my collection. I received the majority of the collection from my great aunt when she passed away. I spent many hours looking at her collection as a child, so I'm very thankful and blessed to have it passed down to me. I'm also glad that she collected from all parties! I have a post on my collection here, if you want to see more. I also tucked in a blue glittery star from Target.
More of the buttons. Do you see the other glittery star? I used my red mercury glass pedestal to elevate the flags in the centerpiece. All of the branches of the service are represented, and of course the American flag stands proud in the center. We have friends and family who have served in all of the branches of the military and we are very proud of them and all those who have served. Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July!

And now for the sneak peak at my breakfast tablescape.

Did you figure out that it was "Breakfast at Tiffany's"? We really did eat breakfast at our friend Tiffany's house! It was yummmmmy!! Stay tuned for more next week.

I am also grateful for our beloved Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting our tablescaping party each Thursday. It's THE PLACE to be each Thursday!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Summertime "Blues"

2009-06-17T16:52:00.013-04:00

Thursday is starting to become my favorite day of the week--how about you? I enjoy visiting all the amazing tablescapes by my wonderful bloggy friends and finding wonderful inspiration for future tables. As always, it's hosted by our tablescape and decorator extraordinaire, Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch. Stop by her blog when you leave here, if you aren't a regular participant or spectator for Tablescape Thursday. You'll be glad you did!

Check out this cute little guy. I found him in a beautiful shop in Swansboro, NC over spring break. I had really wanted one in red or green, but they were out. But now I'm really glad I bought him anyway--I finally got to use him in a tablescape, too! He is a knock-off of the Herend bunny that we ocassionally see in blogland; the best part is that he was $12.95. Maybe the next time I make it back there I can find some of his little friends--after all, we know how bunnies like to multiply!

Here is the perfunctory wide-angle shot. Welcome to the Summertime Blues...maybe we should put on a little B.B. King as we dine!

A little closer look at the table and the centerpiece. The hydrangeas came from my garden. They are one of my favorite flowers (along with gardenias and magnolias--just call me a southern girl). I moved the glass out of the way so you could have a better view of the center of the table.

The tablecloth and matching napkins are Portmeiron (TJ Maxx). This table is all about layering on the blues in complementary shades. Be sure to take a closer look at the design in the tablecloth; there are little bees and butterflies throughout.

Let's start from the bottom - blue placemat layered with a scalloped-edge dark blue napkin and the matching Portmeiron napkin. I used my everyday flatware (Gorham Melon Bud) and Dollar Tree glasses.

Now let's add these gorgeous Johnson Brothers Willow Blue dinner plates. I'd seen this around blogland and when I found them in Homegoods I had to have them. They are a classic. Wouldn't they be pretty paired with red as well? I've had these for a few months but hadn't found the right pieces to complement them...until now. ;)

Found these adorable salad plates at either Ross or Marshalls ages ago. They are Godinger. Another good choice for mixing with red, don't you think? This blue is a little lighter and closer to a washed denim.

Finally the piece de resistance--these oh-so-gorgeous Johnson Bros. Asiatic Pheasant Blue bowls. How I wish they had other pieces at TJ Maxx! Can you see the beautiful scalloping on the edges of the bowl? I found them online for around $11.99 at Replacements Limited. How much did I pay? Only $1.99!! What a steal!

The full setting. If only I had a nice outdoor dining set, I would have set this up outside. It has the right feel for the outdoors, I think.

I don't have the infamous Target birdies, mainly because I already had these pretty babies from Michael's. They flew in from my baker's rack just to say hello.

The matching Willow coffee mug. I wish there was a matching saucer, but I didn't even see one listed on the Replacements site, so I don't think there is one. Does anyone out there know? I used one of my Mikasa French Countryside saucers instead. Love the birds flying in the pattern!

I decided to add in one of my white pitchers for water refills.

I trimmed of some blooms from my Nikko Blue hydrangea. Unfortunately, I completely forgot to add aluminum sulfate to my hydrangeas this year so they would turn blue. This one has a little bit of the blue in it.

Here's a shot that shows the cobalt blue violin vase my mother gave me years ago (and someone gave to her about 30 years ago). It's made by the Maryland Glass Co. I used to dislike it, but it's grown on me. You can also see the little blue and white egg I got about 9 years ago from Bombay Co. I have a handful of blue & white pieces that are stored away.

Notice that I finally remembered to light the candles in this shot. :) Simple. Summery. Hope you enjoyed it!

Blessings and Happy Decorating!

Linda

P.S. I almost forgot--I'm so excited for next week's TT. The theme is one I've been dying to find an excuse to use--and then it fell into my lap. Our Sunday school class ladies are getting together on Saturday and I'm doing the decorating for our gathering. I'll give you a few hints: it involves a specific color that is named after a particular "place"; it involves things that sparkle; I won't "golightly" about decorating. Have you figured it out? Tune in next week!

Metamorphosis Monday

2009-06-07T22:50:00.004-04:00

It's been ages since I've participated in a MM, so I'm excited to be participating this week. Want to see more fabulous metamorphosis ideas? Visit blogger extraordinaire Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more MM posts by the design and decor queens of the blogosphere.

This week I have a simple, quick makeover for you that is also inexpensive.

Before: builder grade chandelier in the dining room that originally had no shades. BORING!! I'm also not a big fan of the brass, so the chandelier stays until we buy proper dining room furniture. I added the black shades a number of years ago and that was the end of it--until...

I'd been on the look-out for new, dressier shades to replace the simple black ones already in place. I spotted these in Tuesday Morning and quickly began counting how many they had, hoping they had the 5 I needed. I can't tell you how many times I found only 3-4 matching shades and had to leave them behind. I couldn't wait to check out once I found exactly 5 on the shelf. While I was buying them ($3.99 each), the cashier asked me if I had had them on hold before and I told her I hadn't. Apparently they had just put them back on the floor only minutes before I got there because the lady who previously put them on hold never came back for them. Her loss is my gain!

One more time - BEFORE

AFTER!!!!

They aren't nearly as shiny as they look in this shot. I didn't have time to keep playing with the camera settings, so this will have to do. Now I only wish they'd had these shades in larger sizes for some of my other lamps!! :)

Blessings and happy decorating!

Linda

Tablescape Thursday: Bee-utiful Breakfast

2009-06-03T20:56:00.014-04:00

Try not to laugh at my tablescape title--for some reason I keep giving my tablescapes a name each week. What's up with that?!

I adore everything about the dishes in this week's post; I never thought I would say that about something my family eats food off of! I know many of you out there feel the same way. However, I've decided to go on a 'dish diet' for a while; I'll be using only those I have. I think it will challenge me, which is a good thing.

On to the reveal...Come on in and take a seat...I have a bee-utiful breakfast planned for us. (I just noticed that you can see the checked cushion on one of the chairs--oops!). Wait! What's that buzzing sound I hear? Do you hear it, too?

Please excuse our buzzy--I mean busy--little friends who have come for a visit. Have you spotted them yet? There are quite a few of them, but don't worry, they are more interested in the food.

Let's get a closer look. This is your seat. Breakfast will be ready shortly. Hey--my flatware is crooked. Speaking of flatware, since I can't afford the gorgeous Napoleon Bee flatware, I had to settle for my Gorham Melon Bud. I guess the buds keep with the theme, anyway.

Let me introduce you to some of our new friends. There are 5 in all inside the bowls. Aren't they sweet? OK, I never thought I'd say that about bees--I'm just sayin'!

I'm a little out of order here, but let's just roll with it...here's the centerpiece. So far our friends have been staying out of the daisies. I just found the salt and pepper shakers. Aren't they the ca-utest things you've ever seen?

Here's the mug. I like the shape and larger size. They are the perfect size for a large cup of coffee from my Keurig coffee maker. The little honeycomb pattern at the top matches the border on the plate and bowl. Too ca-ute! By the way, thanks to Thrifty Decor Chick for getting me hooked on the whole "ca-ute" thing!! Now I can't stop!Sorry for the glare. I pulled in the rosy pink goblets from last week's tablescape to tie into the pinkish red strawberries. I think they are Circleware. They match perfectly! I'm using this plate as the charger. It's made by Certified International for April Cornell. I like the soft, buttery yellow and the floral design. I could use these in a fall tablescape, I bet. It's so pretty, but I like this even more...

The matching salad plate is even more detailed. It's even prettier in person. You can't see how creamy the yellow is here. I love the scalloped edges on these plates as well.

The yellow looks bright in this shot, but it's really not. It looks like it matches the yellow in the bee, but it's much softer. Isn't the honeycomb pattern on the plate pretty? I also like the octagonal shape of the plate. They are made by Global Design Connections and have the name Kate Williams underneath. I couldn't find anything online about them. I found them at TJ and Homegoods, where else? Looks like one of our little friends has found something to eat for breakfast.

This shot is a little better of the inside of the bowl. The bees around the inside are feasting on a strawberry, some raspberries, and two different blue flowers.

I decided to mix in my Portmeirion Rose Bouquet tea pot and creamer. I haven't used them in a tablescape yet. I have some appetizer plates, a bowl, and a tray in this pattern. I never located the matching tea cup.

There are two different sized strawberry platters. This one will serve the muffins. See the little bee at the top? There were also canisters in various sizes, but I don't need them.

I absolutely adore these little guys!!
I decided to use one of the small platters to hold the sugar bowl. I can also use it for sauces or dressing. There are also some yellow beehive pieces that are part of this collection, but I opted not to get any of them--at least not yet. I saw a cookie jar, canisters, a creamer, and a few others. Oh so sweet, but I'm trying to exercise some spending control when it comes to dishes.While I was taking the pictures it kept going from overcast to sunny outside. It's always nice to have a little candlelight no matter the meal. Makes it seem more special.

One last thing--I used my Southern Living at Home vase that I've had for many years. It makes it so easy to arrange my flowers. Here I lifted up the flowers so you can see the insert. I would love to have the new vase design they have in white. This color is a soft green.

Hope you enjoyed today's tablescape. It was one of those days, so I threw it together in about 20 minutes. That also helped to keep it minimal. Ideally, I would love to have those beautiful drinking glasses with the bees on them that I regret passing up at TJ a few months ago and the Napoleon Bee pattern flatware, but that's not in the budget right now. :)

Thanks to our oh so lovely Susan for being such a gracious hostess each week. Visit her blog for more Tablescape Thursday posts as well as lots of other bee-utiful ideas.

Blezzings and Happy Decorating,

Linda

Tablescape Thursday: Sassy Chic

2009-05-27T21:00:00.002-04:00

Maybe it's a plate, a floral arrangement, a placemat or napkin--I'm sure many of you become inspired to create a tablescape centered around a single item. That's how this week's tablescape began for me. It's taken quite a while to assemble all the pieces together but I think it was worth the wait (hope you do, too!). I plan on having a few good girlfriends over soon to enjoy some food, fellowship, and fun--which is what I had in mind when I planned this tablescape.

Here is the inspiration piece:

I found 4 of these delicate beauties on clearance at Homegoods a few months ago for a $1 a piece. The bright pink hue makes them a little bit sassy, don't you think? That got me thinking...

I didn't want to put together something that was dainty or floral. I also knew that I wanted pink to be the accent color. A little more searching at Homegoods turned up something that was on the unexpected side...

Perfect!! I'm not one for animal prints; I like them, but they just don't fit into my decor style. This, however, was exactly what I was looking for to reflect the theme I had in mind. They could also be used as chargers. Chic, aren't they? They are aptly named "Zebra" from Roscher. Put them together and here's what you get...

Be sure to click on the picture to enlarge it to see the details. I decided to go with bare wood on my tabletop.

This table fits the personality of the friends I have in mind perfectly. As women, don't we all like to be a little sassy and chic sometimes? Yeah, I think we do! I used my old $2.50 "Pashmina" (ha!) scarf from Target for the runner.

I used my lead crystal goblets for water glasses. Did you notice how you can look right through the pink glass? (By the way, I haven't cleaned the pink goblets yet if you notice sticker bits on the bottoms.)

My other dilemma was what to put on top of the dinner plate. Finding bright pink plates (that aren't melamine) was a challenge, plus I think it would have been too much since I just wanted touches of pink. I pulled these out of my stockpile. They're from the Ambiance Collect by Aristocrat. Isn't the detailing pretty?

A closer look at the place setting. I used my square black chargers (Wal-Mart last fall) on top of round straw placemats with a pink border (Dollar Tree). I tied my black napkins with bright pink velvet ribbon as well as a zebra print ribbon. Then I added a little ornament letter for each person's first name ($1 bin at Michael's). This one's mine! They're great for my guests to take home.

This one's for my friend Amy. I also put a small candle in front of each setting.

I've used the flatware before in other settings. They were on Target clearance many months ago.

The centerpiece. It's not crooked, I promise. These dishes are also part of the "Zebra" Roscher line. I actually like these plates better, but I only bought a couple to use as serving pieces since I had already gotten the other plates. The metal pieces are Southern Living at Home planters that I've had for years. I think they still sell them. I normally use them to hold my napkins and my remotes. For parties, I've used them to hold silverware and other miscellaneous items. I love their versatility! I topped off the centerpiece with a pink mercury glass candleholder. I placed low floral arrangements of pink gerber daisies on either side so guest can still see each other.

A final view.

Hope you enjoyed today's table...now be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for lots more inspirational tablescapes!

Blessings and happy decorating!

Linda

Tablescape Thursday: A Seaside Escape

2009-05-20T15:49:00.010-04:00

After a month-long hiatus from tablescaping, I am finally back. Did you miss me? Just kiddin'! I had a lot of things going on, including spring break, a few trips out of town, helping some friends prepare their house for move-in, and some much needed time to be reinspired. I did some antiquing while on spring break and took lots of pictures with my camera. Unfortunately I can't find the little card I need to transfer the pictures, so you'll have to wait a bit longer. I refuse to buy another one when I know it's around here somewhere! Anyway, I'm glad to be back. I've enjoyed being a tablescape and Meta Monday spectator over the past month, though. What talent and creativity you ladies have!

Now that the warmer weather is here I am looking forward to sand between my toes, the smell of salt water in the air, and mouth watering seafood. Aren't you? That's where the inspiration for this week's tablescape came from.

Put on your flip flops, grab a frosty pina colada, and let's get started...

Even though my flash didn't open for this shot, I like the soft light. You might recognize some pieces from other blogger's tablescapes.

I absolutely love the sereness of the greenish blues in this tablescape. It is so mellow and calming. The overhead shot while standing on my bench. I almost went with a blue tablecloth, but I think I like the crispness of the white better. It helps the blues pop more. Anyone recognize this pretty girl? I had the salad plates and 4 bowls, but when I went back the dinner plates were gone. Well, it never hurts to keep checking because I recently found 8 of the dinner plates and 4 more bowls. I practically whooped right there in the store! These are my absolute favorites--even the salesperson remarked at how pretty they are. Enough about the plate...I really like the shades of blue and green in the placemat, don't you? I used my Lenox Shell flatware because it had shells...of course! I debated a few times purchasing some silverware with faux bamboo handles, but I don't like the feel of thinner flatware in my mouth. Is that weird? Maybe one day I'll find some stainless with bamboo handles.

I found these plates in TJM last month and snapped them up, along with 4 bowls (more on those later in the post). They are from Mesa Home. The raised design is lovely and so is the shade of blue.

Next I added this sand dollar plate from Kohl's. It would be perfect as a bread plate. This plate is more of a sandy color, while the salad plate is whiter, but somehow the blues pull them together, don't you think? Finally, I added this cute tidbit bowl from the same line as the sand dollar plate from Kohl's. I think it is perfect for a cup of soup. These were actually the first thing I purchased several months ago when I decided to put together a seaside tablescape. Aren't they the cutest?

The finished setting. Love it!!

The glass in front is lead crystal. Don't you love it when you find something beautiful for practically nothing? That was the case with these glasses. The starfish glasses I also purchased at Kohl's, with my Kohl's cash, so they were pretty much free! Love that even more! I think they are similar, if not the same, as the ones Susan has.

If only you could feel the softness of these napkins! I snapped these up from Target back in February after searching for ages for this exact shade. I got them to use in another tablescape, but they worked out perfectly here. I found little shell necklaces in the dollar bin at Michael's a while back and decided to use them as napkin "rings". They would be great to give to guests when you are through, too.

I added a bamboo placemat in the center for texture. I swiped the glass shell jar from the kid's bathroom (a future Meta Monday post), and added a few shells from our collection to spread around. The lantern is a beautiful, soft shade of blue and will be great to use outdoors as well. Finally, I used two starfish saucers as candleholders. More on those below.

A close-up of the lantern. FYI - the metal on top gets VERY hot so don't touch it. I wouldn't know because I did that or anything. ;)

Close-up of the shell apothecary jar.

Here are the two styles of bowls that match the salad plates you saw in my tablescape. They only had two of the handled bowls and three of the regular bowls so I bought them all. I thought about using them in the tablescape, but went with the smaller cup size bowls.

Here is the saucer I mentioned above with its matching teacup. I could only find two of these, so I'm hoping to stumble on a few more. They are made by Blue Sky and match this:
This little fellow is probably a covered dish but I will use it as a soup tureen as well. Can't you just smell the she-crab soup or lobster bisque? Y-U-M-M-Y!! I pulled out my ladle from my lion's head tureen to serve the soup. This was a Homegoods purchase.

If you'll excuse me, it's time for our seafood feast. We're having grilled tilapia in a Hawaiian marinade and cracker crust, roasted veggies, she-crab soup, rolls, and a salad tossed with steamed shrimp and ginger sesame dressing.

Can't wait to visit more tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch. Susan is our gracious hostess each week.

Blessings and Happy Decorating,

Linda

Tablescape Thursday: Lunch at the Trattoria

2009-04-08T21:15:00.005-04:00

A while back I posted a blue and yellow tablescape using my Fitz and Floyd "Mirabelle" bowls and salt and pepper shakers that I got for about $15 at TJ Maxx. You can see that tablescape here. As much as I liked that tablescape, I still wanted one that included more blue and yellow (a favorite).

Well, I have had my eye on some F&F plates that were on clearance at a department store for the past two months. Long story short, I waited for 2 months for these plates to go on a good enough sale to buy them. For once, I was very patient, checking on the plates whenever I was in this particular store. I ended up purchasing just 6 because the others had chips or other flubs on them. I didn't care for the bowls that came with the pattern because they were extremely shallow. Then one day I popped in to another one of these stores on the other side of town and they had 4 of the salad plates for the same price (my store didn't have them)--you know I HAD to get them. LOL! It's been about two months in the making, so...

Welcome to La Trattoria!

A trattoria (trah-tor-EE-uh) is a more casual Italian-style dining establishment. Today we are in what is supposed to be the formal dining room for a change of scenery. As you can see, there isn't any formal furniture to be had! LOL This set is the first dining set we had after we got married (that means it's almost 15 years old!), which ended up in here by default. A girl can dream, though. Maybe one of these days I will be able to convince hubby that we need some dining room furniture.

Take a seat (but please excuse the tablecloth; I ironed it and put it away, and there was no way I was re-ironing it!) I though the white tablecloth was a good anchor for the blue and yellow (and my yellow tablecloth is a soft yellow, which doesn't really go). I reused only the Mirabelle bowls and S&P, the flower/lemon arrangement, and the glasses from the original tablescape. I adore this placemat. I had the plates in mind when I bought them, even though I hadn't bought the plates yet. I'm so glad that they matched up well even though they were bought separately. Here's the F&F "Ricamo Trattoria" dinner plate. Think we'll have some chicken marsala, sauteed green beans, and roasted potatoes, along with some chardonnay (sorry, I don't do red wine). The salad plate. I'm not sure which way the pattern is supposed to go, but this works for me. Caesar salad will be served.

Our soup of the day is Pasta e Fagioli. The yellow in the bowl is slightly lighter, but it's hard to notice--plus, who wants everything to be perfectly matching? We're dining trattoria style, right?! Yea, I know I served you backwards, but that was the order I posted them. Sorry! You might remember these from the other b/y tablescape. I love the butterflies.

Remember the lion's head soup tureen I got for my birthday? I used one of the dinner plates to set it on to catch drips and such. I've since found out that there is a matching soup tureen for the Trattoria pattern and of all things, it has a bunny on top. Even though I didn't see it in either store, it is also on clearance and I can order it online. Oh so tempting!! I think hubby will think I've lost it.

The center of the table. Simple. Added my crystal candlesticks and I was done.

Hope you enjoyed your visit to La Trattoria! Please join us again soon.

By the way, here is a shot of the matching soup tureen:

Oh how I want this little beauty! And you wouldn't believe the clearance price if I told you.

Be sure to visit all the beautiful and creative tablescapes in blogland at our fantabulous hostess, Susan's blog.

Wishing you a happy and blessed Easter.

Linda

P.S. If you're looking for my Easter tablescape, go here.

"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you..." Matthew 28: 5-7

Meta Monday

2009-04-05T19:20:00.003-04:00

Just some simple things for my MM post this week. Check out Between Naps on the Porch for lots of incredible ideas by some of the most creative ladies around.

I finally found the perfect thing to use for tacks on my study bulletin board--magnets! I found them at OfficeMax, along with a bunch of other b/w stuff for my study.

I glued flat backed tacks onto the magnets with a glue gun. If I ever want to use them as magnets I can just remove the glue. Easy!

Ta-da! The finished product.

Another one. Cute!!

I wish I had taken a picture of the before on this one. I got this topiary on clearance for $3.00 at Marshall's because some of the sticks were loose under the ball, so it leaned to the right. I whipped out my trusty glue gun and glued them back in place. The pot was unpainted terra cotta. I just had to pretty her up to go in my study. I tied some black ribbon at the top and painted the pot white. Originally I planned to paint large checks on the pot, but I changed my mind and added dots instead. It still need something, so I went digging in my ribbon bag and found the perfect girly fluff to finish it off. Isn't she cute?

My last metamorphosis is my "Bunny on a Stick" post from Thursday (below). It's the same container I used for my Christmas arrangement.

Can't wait to visit all the other MM posts!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Visit This Blog--Because I Said So!!

2009-04-03T09:41:00.007-04:00

Some of you may remember a hilarious (and true!) ebay entry that ended up going viral around the Internet about a year and a half ago. It involved a lady named Dawn, the antics of some of her 6 children in the grocery store, and the inadvertent purchase of some Pokemon cards. If you've never read it, you'll find it here. I have been following her blog ever since I came across the story. If you've never read the ebay post or heard about it, you are in for a real treat. Apparently it was actually the second auction she had posted that had gained quite a bit of attention for its creativity and hilarious storytelling.

Fast forward to the present...after numerous television and radio interviews, speaking engagements, and lots more hilarious posts on her blog, she has just released her first book--Because I Said So...And other Tales from a Less-Than-Perfect Parent. You can find it here and here, as well as most local bookstores. I am looking forward to reading it, so I thought I would share with you this sure-to-be-hysterical read. What I like most about Dawn (besides her humorous outlook on life and her ability to somehow keep her sanity through it all) is how real she is about not-so-perfect parenting--who can't relate to that?!

So, there you have it. I'm certainly not paid to advertise or promote her blog or book, but I do hope you will appreciate the tip.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Linda

Bunny on a Stick

2009-04-02T09:13:00.004-04:00

I wish I had known about this sooner! I'm a day late to the party! That's no fun! I can't wait to check out everyone's creativity, though. I threw my arrangement together on Monday, after finally figuring out what I wanted to do. Here it is...

Some may remember this container from my Christmas centerpiece. I added some faux grass that I had, some pretty little tulips and a few little white flowers.

I like how the bunnies look like they have movement.

One more shot. Just hopping through to wish you a happy and blessed Easter!
Linda

An Easter Tablescape Thursday

2009-04-02T07:22:00.012-04:00

It's TT time! Let's jump right in!

Good morning! Welcome to my Easter tablescape. I can't wait to set this up again for Easter morning.

I've slowly been collecting items with this tablescape in mind. Some things I already had and others I scoured our favorite bargain stores to find. I got the idea for the birdcage centerpiece from a tablescape by our very own hostess, Susan. I believe it was her Ma Maison tablescape. I love how we can be inspired by others to come up with our own creative designs.

Let's get a little closer look now. I used the matching yellow tablecloth to these napkins. I love the cut-out detailing on them. I used my everyday juice glasses and added some cheap champagne glasses that I've had for probably 15 years. Thought they'd be good for Mimosas! The kids can have some sprite or something added to their orange juice, though!

I've had this tree topiary from Michael's for several years. See the little birdy perched on the top? I wish I had a second one now. The S/P shakers hopped over to greet you. Aren't they sweet? They were a $2.99 Marshall's find. I mixed and matched a S/P setting for each person.

My other inspiration were these Bordallo Pinheiro bunny plates. I used 2 green and 2 yellow in the tablescape today. I used these, along with the matching platter when I brought snacks to Bible Study yesterday and everyone oooh'd and aaah'd over them.

I waited and waited for these Cracker Barrell plates to go on sale, but they didn't, so I snapped them up before they were all gone. I only saw 2 out when I went, but the lady found a few more in the back--phew!

This close-up shows how the rim design has dimension. You can also see my light green placemats from Dollar Tree. They are supposed to be my grassy background.

No, my birdcage isn't crooked, I just didn't take this shot straight. My little green bunny has made yet another appearance. You can also see my cute little egg S/P shakers from CB.

I also purchased the matching egg cups that go with my plates. Should have thought to put an egg in them! You can also see a set of the CB S/P shakers better here. This set has an egg and a chick. The black spot is the beak. Should have taken a pic from the side so you could see the chicky better.

This is the raised bunny dish. Guess I rushed the pictures because I should have taken it from the side. Professional photographer I am not! One of my first photos up top shows the stand from the side. I kept debating on whether to get the yellow or green one.

Another view of the centerpiece. I'm not sure how well you can see it, but I put one my little white birds in a cloche with some matching flowers that I put on the outside of the birdcage. I put the other one in the cage, along with a tulip votive that matches the one on the left of the picture and two taller glass votives.

The closest CB only had 2 chicks so I also paired some of the eggs with my yellow S/P chicks from an egg plate set that I have. Tweet tweet!

Full view. Here you can see my Bordallo bunny platter. Love it! One thing that is missing since I took these shots last week is that I found some the Bordallo cabbage bowls on clearance and will add those to the top of the plates.

I have two of these little candy dishes that I added to the table. These usually sit on my baker's rack. The candy has since disappeared!

Be sure to stop by our lovely hostess Susan's blog for lots more tablescapes from our talented bloggers!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

31st Tablescape Thursday

2009-03-25T20:54:00.000-04:00

Thanks for popping by for Tablescape Thursday! When you're done, be sure to visit Susan's blog, Between Naps at the Porch, for more TT posts. We have lots of talented ladies (and some gentlemen!) in blogland.

There were several tablescapes I wanted to put together this week, but I finally picked one and decided the other two can wait for other weeks in the near future. I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with this week's tablescape, that is until I got my sister's birthday present in the mail! I used it as the main component of the centerpiece. I can't wait to use it! Come on in and take a seat. It's a chilly, overcast day...

Can you see my birthday present yet?

Here it is in all of its creamy white glory! Thanks, sis! It's a lion's head tureen from Sur La Table. The lions are on either side and on the handle of the lid. Does anyone know why there is a hole in the handle of the ladle? I'm clueless.

Just imagine opening the lid and finding some nice, steaming lobster bisque or clam chowder to warm you up one chilly evening. Now I'm making myself hungry!! I used two kitchen towels for a make-shift runner and added essential candlelight.

Here you can see on of the lion's heads. Isn't she purty?

I set out my red transferware. I decided to set the red and white off with a black placemat.

A closer look at the plate. I like how the black really frames and pops the plate pattern out. The image on the plate is so tranquil.

Here's the stamp on the back of the plate. I picked these up at TJ Maxx a few months ago for around $2.99 for each piece (I think the bread plates might have been $1.99 each). I really want to go back and find the tea cups and saucers now. Cross your fingers!!

You may remember these glasses from my black and white toile tablescape. These under-a-dollar beauties from Kohl's clearance go nicely to accentuate the black. I like the bubbles in the glass, too.

Wanted to show you one of my favorite pieces--this Southern Living at Home tray that is incredibly versatile. I love, love this piece and I've had it for probably 5-6 years. When I have a party or host Bunco night, I'll use my SL@H Rosedale planters for silverware and napkins and place them on the tray. Sometimes I'll put my cups or glasses on the tray. It used to hang on my kitchen wall at one point, as well. It's a heavy, substantial piece and I'm glad I bought it.

I'll bet some of you have these little birds from Michael's. Aren't they sweet? They are bidding you adieu.

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time...

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Let's Party--Toile Style!

2009-03-24T07:27:00.006-04:00

(In my best Paula Deen accent): It's time for Toile, ya'll! Yes, that rhymes, in case you didn't know how to pronounce it. Now you do!

I'm excited about today's Toile Party, hosted by the Pretty Organizer at Pretty Organized Palace. If you like Toile, or just want to see how others use it in their homes, be sure to visit her party for lots of links to other Toile lovers in the blogosphere.

Let's get this party started!

For those who don't know, my kitchen is black and white. That's pretty much how I fell into Toile. I saw the fabric somewhere and the lightbulb went off. I had been stressing about how I would decorate my new kitchen almost 8 years ago. Since I didn't get to pick the counters or cabinets, I had to work with what I had. The plates match my kitchen valances perfectly.

There are five plates in all over my large pass-through wall to the family room.

A full shot of all five plates.

The fabric that started it all for me...Waverly Country Life. I ordered the curtains online, but they ended up being back-ordered for months (guess a lot of people jumped on the Toile train at the same time!). Eventually, the lady who owned the store offered to make the exact same valances since she had the fabric, so I agreed. She did a wonderful job; the fabric is on both sides of the valances and are very well made. They were well worth the money we spent on them. Right now I'm debating adding some type of trim and putting up smaller rods so they can hang down a little further, using the top opening on the fabric.

A close-up of the fabric. Isn't she lovely?!

Over my sink.

This fabric is in my family room. Somehow I have roosters in my kitchen, but rooster Toile in my family room--go figure!

A shot of part of the family room. I used to have a yellow floral couch and brick red chair, which is how the curtains ended up in here. They were never supposed to be permanent. As you can see, they are really a cafe' length. I recently started opening them up, but that makes them look more obviously like cafe' curtains. My plan is to get full length curtains in here. My windows are so high up that the curtains are going to cost a small fortune, which is why we haven't gotten them yet. I think I found some I like, though.

I don't know if this would be considered Toile or not, but it reminded me of it. These are in my hall bath upstairs.

I use this bag to hold my Bible study stuff. It goes with me to class every week. It was very inexpensive, but it's held up for several years just fine.

Does transferware count as Toile? It just looks like Toile, doesn't it? I think this is Royal Stafford.

Some more Country Life Toile in the kitchen.

This organizer used to be in the kitchen, but now it sits as the lone touch of Toile in my study.

Happy Toile Day!

Linda

A Different Kind of Meta Monday

2009-03-23T13:16:00.007-04:00

I'm writing this as I look out my front window, watching some beautiful little finches hanging out in the Lorapetalum bush (aka Chinese Fringe Flower) outside my window. I can also see that there is a nest perched on some of the branches; not sure if there are eggs in there or not. Guess I'll have to take a peek later.

Now for my "different" Met Monday post, which comes compliments of my hubby. His "surprise" was revealed Saturday morning and lasted until Sunday night, which was waaay too long for my liking. He's the one who told me to post this for Meta Monday.

BEFORE

I didn't have time to find a picture that showed the house on a normal day, so this one from last month will have to do.

AFTER

Isn't this a welcoming sight to wake up to? I even saw one of my neighbors walk by with her dog and start laughing. Cars creeped past the house, people pointed as they walked by. Just great!

The good news is that my birthday isn't until Wednesday, so I have a few more days in my 30's.

My dogfreaked out when she saw them, so we took her outside to check it all out. She had her tail tucked between her legs and was shaking until she realized they weren't real. Too funny!

Now I'm just glad those pesky birds are gone!

He redeemed himself a little bit with a big surprise party Saturday evening. Even so, paybacks are coming...

Linda

Join Me @ the Toile Party

2009-03-20T09:33:00.015-04:00

Do you drool or get giddy at the sight of toile? Do you know the correct pronounciation of toile or its background? Do you have at least a touch of toile in most of your living spaces? If so, repeat after me: I am a Toile-aholic. In that case, join the rest of us for the Toile Party on Tuesday, March 24th, at Pretty Organizer's blog. Here's a little toile for inspiration:

Waverly Country Life bedding in Wedgewood. Don't you just want to stay in this room all day?

OH--MY--GOODNESS!!! I want these so badly!! Chocolate bunny toile plates? That's two of my favorite things combined in one (OK, so this chocolate isn't edible). **sigh** It's just not meant to be...$82.00 for 4 plates is not in my future. *sniff sniff* These plates also come in several other colors. I am also sooo loving the chocolate topiary.

These are a little more up my price alley. Can you believe these are paper plates? Found them on Amazon, but they were out of stock. Bummer!

Simply gorgeous. Louis XVI white washed chair with blue toile--divine. Even Fido and Fluffy can get decked out in toile.

There are so many different toile patterns that can be used in the nursery to match any color scheme. Too bad I didn't "get into" toile until my kids were older.

I love this bag! It can be usedas a carry-all, a bookbag, or a diaper bag.

Garden in style in these lovely boots--if you don't mind getting them dirty!

You can muck out the stalls and still look good doing it. Even I wouldn't mind doing that chore in these...well...maybe.

I found these handmade towels on ebay. Just adorable.

Do they make these dresses in my size??

Love, love this pattern. It would be great in a child's room.

Finally--a dress in grown-up sizes! Add a pretty hat and you're ready to do lunch this summer.

Seen enough? If not, I'll see you on Tuesday at the Toile Party @ Pretty Organized Palace.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Happy 30th Tablescape Thursday!

2009-03-19T09:37:00.008-04:00

Ever wonder why some of your quickest tablescapes are your favorites? Maybe it's because you don't over-think it or over-do it. That was the case for me this week. I didn't have a lot of time, so I put this one together quickly. It probably helps that I got the bargain of the century on the bowls and S/P shakers (under $15!!). I also love the color scheme. Let's get started...The color scheme is blue and yellow (love, love that!). I filled my glass jar with lemons and yellow flowers for the centerpiece. I think it's simple and beautiful, don't you? The only other pieces I added to the center are the S/P shakers, 2 small glass votives and a vintage cobalt glass vase. I've seen the vase on some other posts; it was made by Maryland Glass Co. This was my mother's piece, which she passed on to me a few years ago. It's grown on me.

A welcoming view. Come on over for lunch. We'll be serving french onion soup, a light mixed greens salad with strawberries, and chicken salad sandwiches on croissants.

I used my Dollar Tree blue placemats and everyday Gorham Melon Bud stainless, adding a Roscher "Giselle" dinner plate as a base. I like these plates because they can be used for for anything from an Italian tablescape to an Asian one. My hubby likes these plates, too. Maybe it's the square shape?! I added my Dollar Tree glasses with the soft yellow napkin and ring.

I added a Tabletops Gallery salad plate in "Navy Blue" and then my latest steal--Fitz & Floyd "Mirabelle" soup/cereal bowls. Aren't they gorgeous? They were $2.99 (yes, you read that right!) at TJ Maxx. Can you believe it? I almost let out a "Who-hoo" right there in the store. ;)

This shot came out a little dark.

Here is a close-up of the Maryland Glass vase. I think it's supposed to be a violin.

Don't you just love the little butterflies on the S/P shakers? They were also $2.50 a piece. There were also a few platters and serving bowls priced at $9.99 and $12.99. I must have been crazy not to buy those, too. The problem is that I found some other F&F pieces in other patterns that I wanted, so I just couldn't buy everything. TJ must have gotten a big shipment of the F&F recently. You better hurry to check your local TJM.

I purchased these napkins a while back for Easter. The cutwork is beautiful. I need to find the matching tablecloth, but it might be too late.

An overhead view. I take this shot while standing on my bench, in case you were wondering if I'm part Tinkerbell or somthing. ;) I had two more napkins so I used them across the center of the table to tie everything together.

Hope you enjoyed today's tablescape as much as I did. Thanks, as always, to our wonderfully creative hostess Susan. Be sure to check out all the other talented posters on her blog at Between Naps on the Porch.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Welcome to Another Meta Monday!

2009-03-16T07:45:00.006-04:00

Today's Meta Monday post is part of my ongoing study re-do. It's a simple one, but it makes quite a difference, I think.

Here's the study after I painted the desk. I still don't have my bookshelf at the end of the desk in this shot. See the wall? It's a mish-mash of degrees, commissions, awards, and photos. It's also not working anymore with the newly painted desk and bookshelf.

After...I removed some of the plaques, added a bulletin board and rearranged everything after spray painting all the frames black. I also added a new black shelf (clearance at TJ Maxx for $10).

Here's a closer look at one side of the wall.

Now the other side.

Just couldn't figure out where to put my last name letter, so this is where it ended up.Finally, a shot of the bulletin board. I really want something with more molding around it, but this will work for now. I put little letter stickers with my initials on them over some flat tacks. Cute. Can you see what's up on the computer screen? Why, it's Between Naps on the Porch! Go check out Susan's wonderful blog to see tons more Meta Monday posts. You'll be glad you did.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Tablescape Thursday - Wearing O' the Green!

2009-03-12T13:39:00.008-04:00

Happy Tablescape Thursday! Sorry I'm a little late to the party! My husband would say "what's new?" LOL

Since St. Paddy's Day is just around the corner, and being Irish and all, I decided to go with the obvious theme.

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And the rains fall soft upon your fields

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~ An Irish Blessing

Let's take a look, shall we?

I meant to take another full table shot because I accidentally left the bag of stones on the table. Oops! Look--little bunny joined in the fun again. See the little green glass "rocks" I spread around?

One of the place settings.

I used my silver chargers and wedding china (Noritake Lyndenwood). Unfortunately the pattern was discontinued many years ago, so I just have 8 settings. The rim is silver and the green is a lighter, almost blue-green. I placed a darker green napkin in between layers.

I placed an adorable green glass tealight holder on top. I made the flower pots by taking mini terra cotta pots and filling them with moss and placing a single flower stem (I think it's a Hydrangea) in each. They reminded me of shamrocks a little (try squinting). ;)

Here's what the tealight holder looks like alone. I used my Gorham Shell stainless (notice the shell matches the shell design in the plate.

Got this beauty at TJ Maxx. Isn't she lovely? I love the soft light that flickers from it.

I just had to include my mini shamrock tea set. Isn't it adorable?
Here's my touch of whimsy--hubby's spot gets a piece of the Boston Garden from when the tore it down (don't ask how we got that!) with an autographed card of his all-time Celtics player, Larry Byrd. Hey, you don't get any more Irish than a team named the Celtics! A close look at the centerpiece. I put a basket filled with fake grass and more green hydrangeas on top of one of my upside down Southern Living at Home metal planters. I hung this cute little plaque with a lovely Irish saying on it to finish it off.

You've seen this runner before--love it!

And here is my prayer for all my friends in bloggerland...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Linda

Welcome to Another Metamorphosis Monday

2009-03-08T20:57:00.013-04:00

I wasn't able to participate in the last Met Monday because we've been so busy working on different projects and just dealing with our crazy schedules that I haven't had much in the way of completed or nearly-completed projects to post. Needless to say, these Met Mondays get me motivated to keep working on the projects we have planned!

This week I have an update of a previous MM post--which is still a work in progress--and a new project that had a crazy deadline (but is just about finished). Which one should I start with?? How about the update...

Remember the desk in my study that I spray painted black? Well, I've been busy wielding that spray paint can around on everything I can think of. Well, not really everything, but hubby did ask if there is anything I'm not going to paint. LOL! Anyway, I decided on a "look" for the study from the cover of a Ballard catalog. I knew I'd have to recreate it on the cheap, which is why I painted the desk. A light bulb went on and I realized that a short bookcase in the bonus room might be the perfect size to give me the same look as the desk with the built-in bookcase in the catalog. I measured it and wouldn't you know--it was the exact same height and width as my desk. What are the odds? Now it was time to get busy... Here she is at the beginning--your typical cheap-o bookcase with one shelf. Here I had taken out the shelf to spray it and had started spraying the bottom of the bookcase.

Here's how she turned out. I like to use a satin black so it is more of a matte finish. I have hubby's teaching books (he's working on a Master's in Education for when her retires from the military) and some little chotzkes. The little rock on the bottom shelf is actually a piece of the Berlin Wall my dad brought home from a trip to Germany right after the Wall came down. Neat!

Here's how she matches up to the desk. It makes the desk feel wider now. Hey, is that my blog on the screen? That wasn't planned! I've been painting all the picture frames in the study as well, and I added a bulletin board that I also painted black. You can catch a peak here. When I finish redoing the wall I'll share it here, of course!

Now for the crazy, 48-hour project. My wonderful hubby decided to buy me a new washer and dryer, he says it's for my upcoming birthday (a big one, don't remind me) but I think he's joking??!! Anyway, we basically had 48 hours to empty out the laundry room paint it, and put in new flooring. I decided to paint when I realized that this is probably going to be my last chance to do it once the new W/D were put in. I used the same color that is in the kitchen, since the laundry room is directly behind the kitchen.

Before

After. I want something else to hang my mops and brooms on--any suggestions? My aprons and bag holder hang on a rooster rack my mom gave me. I think I will put up a black and white checked valance to go with the kitchen.

Directly across from the pictures above. See the leftover kitchen paint? We ended up having to get another gallon because these textured walls (I call them smooshed popcorn) really suck up paint. We also removed a wire shelf that ran across the length of the wall. Ick.

After... Ta-da! I love, love, love my new W/D. We've been joking that we need to name them. Any suggestions? How about George and Jane (like the Jetsons, since they are so space-age)--tee hee! Can you see the vinyl floor tiles we put in? They are peel and stick and are similar (a little lighter) than our kitchen tile so it transitions well. We are planning to buy a cabinet to put over the deep sink, which is next to the washer (where the plastic container of dog food is). We decided against shelves above the W/D since they will be kind of high and hard to reach. We may change our minds in the future, though.

Before...from the window side toward the doorway. Can you see that my dryer is missing its handle? Can you say ANCIENT?!

After...I had the shelf sitting around so I decided to use it in here. I haven't decided exactly what to put on it yet. I will keep my eyes peeled for a few pretty pictures to put up behind the washer and dryer. In case you are wondering--the W/D are GE Profile in champagne. I was amazed that hubby paid the extra money for the color.

Floor before. ICK, YUCK, BLECH!! This is also what used to be on our kitchen floor before we tiled. It shows everything and dings so easily. Hated it!

Floor after...not too bad for peel and stick, I think.
Another look. Should make me want to do more laundry, right? Well, maybe not (hubby is mesmorized by them so maybe HE should do the laundry!). The good news is that I can certainly fit more in so I can get it over with quicker-bonus!

Anyway, hope you liked the transformations. I'm excited to visit all the other wonderful MM posts. Be sure to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see lots more of these Met Monday transformations.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Tablescape Thursday

2009-03-04T16:40:00.011-05:00

Like many of you, here's how my week started:

Brrrr....

So, I decided to bump up a tablescape I had planned for another time in hopes that the warm weather predicted for this weekend (around 70 degrees!) comes to fruition.

My inspiration was a piece of fabric I bought on clearance at Hancock Fabrics 3 weeks ago. It wasn't large enough to make a tablecloth from, so I decided to use it as an overlay. This was a fun one to put together. Hope you like it as much as I do.

Here's a little peek.

Full side view. You should be able to click on the picture to enlarge it. The colors are so inviting and summery.

The colors in the fabric are pink, fuschia, lime green, and white. I also added a bit of orange (in the candleholder and on the flower pail).

Another view of the centerpiece. I used some lime Gerbera daisies I had in my craft supplies, some dollar tree candleholders and pails, two cute little white birds I found at Michaels for 40% off of $2.99 and a white bird figure I already had. I used a bright pink scarf I found in the dollar bin at Target for $2.50. It said pashmina on it, but I don't think it is.;)

I love the little knobby candleholders. I found a set of six in bright colors at Ross for around $5. They'll be great to use all summer.

I used a fun little melamine dollar store plate as a charger, along with my everyday flatware (Gorham Melon Bud). Isn't is adorable?

Then, I layered on a lime green plate (also Dollar Tree). I really like the color! The napkins are actually dishcloths I got in the dollar bin at Target before Valentine's Day. They are doing double duty here. I tell you how I made the napkin rings at then end of my post.

Since it's a warm weather tablescape, I thought some ice cream would make an appropriate dessert. Yum!

Another view. I can't wait to sit down.

I love these cute little Dollar Tree pails. I got the pink and lime green candles there, too. Who knew that inexpensive could be so cute!?

You can see a close-up of the tablecloth here; my intention was to show you how I made those cute napkin rings. You could use almost anything (a covered or painted paper towel roll cut down would work, too), but I used some clear shower hooks that I saved from many moons ago. The Gerbera Daisy has a clip on it (but you could glue one to the ring, as well). I got the clips for .99 at Michael's.

My daughter has even asked to use this tablescape for her 9th birthday in June! I hope you enjoyed viewing it as much as I did putting it together.

Don't forget to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more beautiful and creative tablescapes. Thanks for being our hostess for this fun adventure every week!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Tablescape Thursday

2009-02-26T07:29:00.007-05:00

Sorry I'm a little late to the party this morning, ladies! Suffice it to say that I've had a crazy week--emotionally and physically. We found out last week that the military was going to relocate us to Savannah, GA. Then, this week a job came up here and my husband decided it was best for our family to take it, so now we aren't moving. Savannah would have been beautiful, but once you have kids, everything changes. We just didn't want to uproot them again in 3 years, especially with one who will be in the middle of high school. I'm sure some of you out there can relate. One day we will make it down to Savannah to visit, though!

Anyway, for the past week we've been painting, cleaning, replacing, etc., to prepare for the move, so we've been pre-occupied. I threw together a last-minute tablescape yesterday, so I hope you like it.

Ten Minutes to a Lunch Tablescape...

The finished tablescape. It's fun to shop the house for items to use in the tablescape. The sun makes it a little hard to see, but if you enlarge the picture you should be able to see more detail.

Go ahead, take your seat...

An view from the top. You can see I've used my brass chargers and white everyday French Countryside dinner plate as a backdrop for the salad plate.

I love, love, love these plates. I found them at Dillards on clearance about a month or so ago for around $1.25 each. They are from the Paula Deen line (love her!). I purchased 6 in the light green and 6 more in the light blue. Aren't they the cutest? Just realized this pic is sideways--oops!

I'm a little out of order because I'm rushing to finish this. I used my Lenox Madison crystal. The rim is silver, so it doesn't match the bronze, but you won't tell, will you?

This is another clearance purchase from Dillard's. I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of this runner. I thought it provided a nice backdrop for the salad plates by mixing the dots with the floral. It also inspired me to go with a little bit of a garden theme.

An artsy view--just experimenting. The bowls are Gibson.

Centerpiece. I grabbed one of my topiaries and some some finial type pieces I use as bookends. Simple and not overdone. My Lenox Shell stainless flatware mimics the design in the charger. I don't have gold flatware, so this will do.

A view from overhead. There you have it--10 minutes to a tablescape. Little bunny bids you a good day.

Hope you had fun! Thanks for visiting--now go visit more tablescapes in blogland by visiting Susan's blog at Between Naps on the Porch.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday

2009-02-18T22:22:00.012-05:00

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday, hosted by the lovely Ms. Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. When you through here, be sure to mosey on back to Susan's blog for lots of beautiful tablescapes--you'll be glad you did!

My inspiration for this week's theme is the lovely almost-robin's egg blue dishes I discovered in January at TJ Maxx. Right now these are my absolute favorite dishes. I decided to name my tablescape "Hurry up Spring!" Hope you like it...

Take a seat...lunch will be served shortly. What are we having, you ask? We'll start with spinach salad with apples, mandarin oranges and Craisins, topped off with a Raspberry-Walnut vinaigrette. For an entree we'll have basil parmesan chicken with roasted new potatoes and ginger carrots. Finally, for dessert we'll enjoy some strawberry ice cream. Yum!
This was the only side view of the table and I think my flash didn't open. I wish it wasn't so dark!

I found three of these cuties in different poses in the same shade of blue. Isn't she the cutest? I think she's ready for spring, too!

A close-up of the place setting. I had a hard time finding placemats to match the plates because I wanted a pattern instead of a solid. I finally stumbled upon these April Cornell beauties for $1.99. If you look closely, you'll see the same robin's egg blue is on the placemats. I didn't find matching napkins, but I hope to (don't you love the pattern?). I had to use plain white ones instead. Guess they tie into the dinner plate.

I got the matching bowls. I went back to get the dinner plates, but they were already gone!

Isn't she beautiful? I like the center detail and almost reddish brushes around the edges. I thought they went well with my bronze colored chargers.

I used my everyday Mikasa French Country dinner plates. So versatile! They echo the curves in the charger, too.

I wish I could find these chargers in silver or other colors. Thought you might like to see the placemat close-up, as well as the silverware and glasses. I used my everyday stainless, which is Gorham Melon Bud (they were so pretty my parents bought the same ones!). I like the weight they have to them. The glasses are also my everyday ware. I don't remember who makes them, but I like the squareness of them.

I'm so glad I bought 2 matching bowls. The sterling tongues were a wedding gift.
Before I forget, here are the napkin rings. No robin's egg blue in there, but somehow they still worked.

The shade of blue of my Southern Living at Home tidbit bowls was slightly darker, but who wants everything to be exactly the same color? This will hold the dressing. I'll let you in a little secret...I couldn't find a tablecloth in the shade I wanted, and I didn't want to use white. So what did I do? I used a shower curtain that was in the clearance aisle. You really can't even tell! Shhh

On to the centerpiece...I used one of my cake plates and placed a lead crystal vase with (gasp!) fake creamy white roses. They are actually pretty good fakes. It is flanked on either side by unmatching mercury glass candlesticks.

A closer look at one of the candesticks. I placed a matching blue Root candle inside.

Another one of my feathered friends. Can't you hear her chirping a pretty little tune?

The other candlestick. Can you believe I paid $5 on clearance for these? Christmas left-overs, perhaps? Our little friend has turned her tail feathers to us. Oops! One final look at spring before we return to the reality that is winter. It was nice while it lasted.

Thanks for joining me...now don't forget to visit all the other wonderful tablescapes over at Between Naps on the Porch!

Happy Decorating and Blessings,

Linda

A Truly Inspiring Blog

2009-02-17T16:39:00.006-05:00

Ladies,
I wanted to share a blog that I just discovered and thought you might love as well; it's author Jeanne Winter's personal blog, found at: http://jeannewinters.blogspot.com/
Jeanne has a book entitled "Inspirational Home: Simple Ideas for Uplifting Decor and Craft", which not only has wonderful ideas, but also beautiful eye candy.

If you've been to a Hallmark Gold Crown store recently, you may have even spied her beautiful gift line, called Simply Inspiring. To top it off, this busy lady also has some oh-so-cute prints on etsy at http://www.jeannewinters.etsy.com/

OK, I know this sounds like a plug, but it's not. I know that many of you lovely ladies love the Lord as much as I do, so when I found her blog I knew you would love her blog, too, because it features, as she says on her website, "creative ideas to infuse your home, celebrations and life with reflections of your faith."

As if that should entice you to want to visit her blog, she's also hosting a wonderful giveaway. You have until February 27th to enter. OK, I had a little motivation in telling you about her blog, but I was going to tell you about it anyway--promise!

Now go check it out--you'll feel blessed for it. I know I did!

Blessings and Happy Decorating!

Linda

Met Monday

2009-02-15T20:28:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to share my latest Met Monday post with you ladies! I tend to think about doing certain projects for a long period of time before actually doing them. I guess it's the perfectionist in me...okay, and a little procrastination mixed in as well. This metamorphosis was much needed and I think it gives the room (and piece of furniture) new life. The best part is that it worked out great, was inexpensive, and was so simple! For those of you who are unsure or afraid to mess up, I encourage you to go ahead with your ideas and plans for decorating--you'll be glad you did!

BEFORE

OK, let's begin with the before shot:
We've had this oak desk for about 10 years. It's not really my style, but we needed something for our computer and it wasn't too expensive. It's solid oak, no press board or particle board anywhere. Why sell it or donate it when it's perfectly good, right? Other than a few scratches and marker stains from the kids, it was in great condition.

Here's a better shot. The drawer front opens to reveal a slide out for the keyboard (I'd already removed it in this picture). I began by sanding the wood lightly and then wiping it down. I decided to use Krylon spray paint in black satin because I didn't want a glossy finish. I ended up using 2 cans because of all the little hidden spots in between the spindles, plus I ended up going over the sides underneath since you can see those if you happened to be sitting on the floor. (I'm sure we'd be the only ones who would ever see that, but the perfectionist in me was coming out again!) LOL

THE REVEAL

I should have taken a picture before I put everything back on the desk, but I was so excited to see how it would look that I didn't remember to take one. Notice the chair and its cover? I'll discuss that a little further down. I painted the wall about 3 years ago. The color is called Sisal, I think. I'm going to redecorate the wall next to the desk. I want to add some black shelves (similar to those in Rhoda's office nook over at the Southern Hospitality blog).

OK, please excuse the mouse pad; we desperately need a new one! That one is what's left of one that doubled as a notepad. The paper is all gone, but the pad is still there with scribbles all over it. One of these days I'll remember to buy a new one! Anyway, you can see the finish a little better in this shot.

A shot from behind the desk. The old desk position was flush against the wall on the right. I hate when all the furniture is pushed up against the wall, so a change was necessary. The cherry rocker has seen better days and keeps getting moved from room to room. I rocked both kids in it but it was never comfortable. I think it will find its way to a yard sale in the near future! Notice the broken speaker on the right? I have to glue the the foot piece back on. Oops!

I took some sandpaper to some of the edges to create wear. Hubby asked if we needed to do some touch ups when he saw it - LOL!! I like the desk so much better now. Again, ignore the broken speaker! :)

Hopefully I won't offend anyone, but here is the ugly chair I got for a steal at Homegoods last month. I paid $36 for it. I knew I could get a cover for it and it was just the style I was looking for.

Another shot of the chair. You saw the creamy-beige slipcover above. It's too short!! I wasn't going to leave it plain anyway, so I think I'm going to find some pretty fabric that will tie into the black and beige in the room and add it to the bottom. Then, I'll add some fringe pieces to hide where the two fabrics meet up and have a completed new chair. Has anyone done this before or have any other suggestions? I'm a glue gun and no-sew girl, so whatever I do will have to be simple.

One more Met Monday study project:

I love this clock. We initially bought it to go in my daughter's nursery almost 9 years ago. I loved that room! It was a garden theme, with yellow walls and a garden border that went around the bottom of the wall, above the floor molding. Maybe I can scan pictures of her nursery someday for another MM post. We moved about a year after she was born, but the clock went into her new builder-beige room. When I painted her room lavendar, the clock got moved to the guest room, but it didn't really match that room, either. There it has hung--until now! I liked the face, so I decided to spray paint over the blue and yellow portion (the reason I bought the clock in the first place!). I taped it off and used some leftover glossy black spray paint my husband had in the garage. I even sprayed the pendulum and then scratched it up a little to age it.

Now I finally have a clock in the study--and something else to tie in with the black desk. The little pendulum moves back and forth. Can you tell it's in mid-swing here?

A closer shot. There's a funny glare on it, so ignore that. I very lightly sanded over the black numbers so they were a little more aged, and then I was done. The cost of this project? FREE!! That's hubby's favorite kind! LOL I think I'm going to see if I can find some kind of rub on images or wording to add to it in the future to give it some whimsy.

Today you got two and a 1/2 MM projects in one--what a bargain! Maybe next time I'll have the other 1/2 (the chair) finished to share.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to go by our wonderful host, Susan's blog at Between Naps on the Porch for lots of great MM projects and ideas.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

French Tablescape

2009-02-12T11:23:00.012-05:00

Sorry I'm late posting this! I've had a little one home sick the last 2 days, so I've been pre-occupied! I also have to get used to Thursdays instead of Tuesdays!

My kitchen, with it's black and white color scheme, was my inspiration for this week's tablescape. Some of the plates I used usually hang on my kitchen wall, above the large pass-through. I never even paid attention to the manufacturers until now. I love toile, and the plates matched my curtains, so that's the only reason I bought them--for the wall! Guess I can pull them down and use them now. LOL! On to the tablescape...

Welcome to my little Bistro! Take a seat and make yourself at home. Lunch will be served shortly...
Please check out the board for today's menu. OK, I totally fudged the menu (is Coq de Vin a real dish?).
A closer look at Msr. Francois. He's been my kitchen buddy for several years now. If only he could cook, too! Since everyone seems to be naming their pigs, I had to, too!

A delicious lunch in Paris with a view of the Eiffel Tower--can't beat that! LOL!

Here's how I put together the place setting...starting with the textured black placemat and a black linen napkin. More on the silverware in a moment.

Next, I added my silver charger. Don't you love black and silver together?

A look at the full place setting. I layered the black and white plates. I absolutely love the goblets. I found those at Kohl's on clearance for under a dollar. The smokey gray-black goes perfectly.

The dinner plate that is usually hanging in the kitchen.

Next, I added a salad plate that is also usually hanging on the wall (there are 5 grouped together). Is this considered transferware?

I found the silverware on clearance at Target a while back for 64 cents each. The handles are a pearly gray, darker than the photo shows.

This the back of the dinner plate. Isn't it pretty for the back of a plate?

This is the back of the salad plate.

A full view.

I moved one of the chairs out of the way and moved the bench that sits along the wall behind the chair on the left to the table.

This shot isn't the greatest, but I used smokey black glass tealight holders and silver Eiffel Tower (Target) that is going to go in my study, along with Msr. Francois.

A side view. I really wanted to keep things simple.

I hope you enjoyed your lunch in Paris!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Beautiful Things

2009-02-11T11:13:00.008-05:00

I admit it--I like beautiful things. I feel very calm and peaceful when I'm in a place of beauty. This could be garden, the ocean, even a beautiful room. Today I decided to go on a hunt for some lovely and beautiful things...happy things. I found some at the Lenox site. Enjoy!

This adorable and oh so pretty set of Lenox Peeps Salt and Pepper shakers is $30. I love the pastel colors.
How about these adorable little shakers? The nesting bowl and set two sets of shakers are a steal at $12.95! Don't everyone go out and buy these at once!

There's nothing like some bright, cheery colors to lift your mood. This set of 3 Fenton fiberglass easter eggs is $19.95.

You can't help but love these Peeps figures. Includes personalization for $24.95. The only problem is deciding which one to choose! Too cute!

How about this diorama egg. It reminds me of the sugar eggs we got as kids. $30

A bit pricey at $64, but this Valentine Tree is equisite. My favorite ornament is the little cherub.

Hope you enjoyed our little trip to the Lenox online store.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Valentine's Day Tablescape

2009-02-04T22:00:00.001-05:00

I haven't really tablescaped before, so I thought I'd give it try. With Valentine's Day coming up, I decided it was the perfect occasion to test it out. I actually put this one together and took pictures about a week before the one I posted last week. I've been waiting to post this one for several weeks!

I used some items from around the house, shopped the Dollar Tree, Kohl's, Target, Walmart, Garden Ridge, Michael's, and a few discount stores (TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's). I got some really great ideas for some tablescapes and didn't realize how much you could actually like dishes! I did purchase enough things to put together a few tablescapes, so I'm really looking forward to it. I love it when I can find an outlet for my need to be creative!

Ready? Let's take a look...

A side view of the table. Since I don't have real dining room furniture (still dreaming...), I used the kitchen. I got it almost 8 years ago and I still love it. It's Jackson's Landing by Kincaid. It goes well with my French country kitchen. The tabletop is a beautiful reddish maple. Very versatile. Anyway, I bought the sparkly hanging hearts from Michael's a few weeks ago, and wasn't sure how to use them; I finally decided to hang them them from the chandelier, tying one to another so they cascaded down a bit. To set the table, I started with one of my plain white tablecloths. Then, I layered on a red and white striped runner I got for $7.99. I like the bead detail on the ends. I had trouble finding placemats that weren't too busy or the wrong color red. I finally found some simple white ones with a red outline at Dollar Tree (whopee!); I can get a lot of use out of them. You can see the placemat at the top edge of the picture. You can get a closer look in one of the pictures below. For the centerpiece I used a large mercury glass candle holder that I found in the Christmas clearance section at Ross. It has little bits of red under the silver. The best part is that I only paid $3! I borrowed the three flower pots from my kitchen window sill (free! I love it!), placing one atop the candle holder. Then I added crystal candlesticks with white tapers that were a wedding present from a friend more than 14 years ago (have to say I've gotten quite a bit of use out of them).

Next, I made up the placesettings. I used my simple silver chargers, added my white everyday dishes (Mikasa French Countryside), sparkly red heart plates from Target (they are actually made of melamine), and a crystal salad bowl with a rose pattern (don't remember much about them; My parents gave them to me years ago, along with salad plates). I purchased the napkins for $4.99/4 @ Marshall's. I wanted to add some touches of pink to the setting, so I tied on a pink ribbon and some tiny pink flowers that were in one of my craft drawers. I had some heart dessert cups in my cabinet, so I added those to the side of the setting.

Now it was time for filler. These items were all purchased at Michael's a few weeks ago. I placed several heart frames with our family's pictures in them around the center, along with 2 sweet metal boxes. I also decided that I needed more candlelight, so I pulled out my candle box and found four small glass votives. I dressed them up with red ribbon (again, from my craft drawers).

To finish everything off, I found the cutest silver placeholders in the wedding section, so I wrote each of our names (adding hearts to the loopy letters, of course!). These placeholders will get a lot of use; I can use my scrapping supplies to come up with lots of cute ideas. I think they were on sale for a dollar a piece.

I haven't decided on the meal yet. I am certainly open to suggestions! Be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch to see lots more fun tablescapes! As always, thanks to everyone's favorite hostess, Ms. Susan!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Metamorphosis Monday #3

2009-02-01T21:59:00.009-05:00

Welcome to Metamorphosis Monday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Be sure to check out her blog for links to lots of amazing MM transformations. Well, for those who visited last week, you saw that we were in the midst of a master bath redo. Or actually a "do" since we never really did anything to our bathroom after we moved in almost 8 years ago. Now, we are just about done. I say just about because there are still a few little things we have to purchase. I have to say that the bath has come out really fantastic and we are both regretting that we didn't do this years ago.

Are you ready? Let's take a quick peek at the before:

Boring!!
Ho-hum!

Blah!

Ahhhh...so much warmer and inviting! Guess who won the mirror discussion? And guess who said I was completely right?! Next to the tub, I put a fluffy towel, some of my favorite lotions and sprays, and some scrubbers in a Southern Living @ Home piece I wasn't even using. There is also a candle next to it, but it didn't make into this shot.

Niche. I still haven't decided what to put in this area so I put my apothecary jar. Maybe a taller jar would look better? Any suggestions? My old stool is still there. I may recover it or get a new one in the future.

Added a topiary I had over on this side. Not sure if it will stay; I just wanted something to put in the space for now.

Above the commode. There is still a bunch of wall space above the picture, so I will have to find something small and architectural to put above it. More candles...you can never have too many!

Found this print to put above the towel rack. I really wanted a relaxing, spa-type feel in the bathroom, so little reminders like this are nice. It says, "Make time for the quiet moments as God whispers and the world is loud." Amen!

Another shot including the double towel rack.

Above the spa tub. I bought the hanging candle sconces a few months ago for the bathroom, not knowing we would end up doing the bathroom. They worked out great! I thought little black accents were nice. I found the little word plaques at Garden Ridge for $6 a piece. Little reminders.

A better shot of the tub/bay area. Love the valances! And they match my bedroom curtains, so it makes for a nice flow.

Hubby's side of the bathroom. I'll go ahead and warn you that you can see my unmade bed in the corner of the picture and my closet in the mirror...ugh!

I already had this sconce (part of a set of two) elsewhere in the house. They have traveled through several parts of the house. I thought it looked good in this spot. I put a black and white photo of my son from the beach (it's one of my favorites) in a silver frame that I already had to sit nicely in the space below. I have good memories of the vacation that went with this photo, and it was taken at our favorite beach.

We decided to only do the floor if we don't transfer this summer. I still have to find new rugs (do I try to match the walls or go white? Help!). I also haven't found any accessories that I like (toothbrush holder, cup, etc.). A few more odds 'n ends and I'm done!

The best part is that I finally love walking into my bathroom!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Show-and-Tell Friday

2009-01-30T15:08:00.006-05:00

Welcome to my first Show-and-Tell Friday, hosted by Kellishouse. Be sure to visit her blog for lots more interesting Show-and-Tell stories and items.

This is my living room coffee table. I like how the items can be switched out. I've only changed it a few times, settling on the current configuration. Let's check out the contents...

(sorry for the glare off the glass) I have a relatively large collection of political buttons that were passed down to me when my Great Aunt passed away a couple of years ago. I remember staring at them for long periods of time whenever I would visit my Great Aunt and Uncle's house as a child. Maybe that's why I ended up with them! She collected from across party lines, which I am going to try to continue to do.

Some more recent ones I've collected. My mom volunteers in her state for a political party, so she also collects them for me.

There are some interesting ones here--people I'd never heard of. They are called "also rans" and are usually worth more than those who were elected. I like the coon hat tag and Landon sunflower.

A closer look at some of the pins. When I was taking pictures I noticed that the pins could really use some straightening; I think the kids have been messing around with them.

Most of these belonged to my Aunt as well. The Reagan & Bush pin was mine. The Obama button and sticker I got for free online. Do you see the little gold donkey pin? I also have a gold elephant one just like it.

I could have spaced the pins out more between the four drawers, but I really liked the shells that my husband's grandmother gave us (she collected them over the years, I think), along with some of the ones we've gathered with the kids. Up in the top right corner is a vertebrate from (we think) a shark. The kids found a couple of them when we went to the beach at Fort Story in Virginia Beach. Sentimental, I guess!

Hopefully you can click on the pics to open them and get a closer look. I would have liked to have taken better pics but my camera battery was dying, so I had to be quick!

Hope you enjoyed my collections. I love them both and they mean a lot to me.

Blessings,

Linda

My First Official Tablescape Tuesday!!

2009-01-26T19:45:00.007-05:00

Welcome to my first Tablescape Tuesday! I hope you enjoy the festivities! Be sure to visit all the other wonderful TT blog posts by going to Between Naps on the Porch. Thanks to our wonderful hostess, Susan, for pulling it all together each week!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Monday, January 26th is the first day of Chinese New Year

We have some friends that adopted a little girl from China so the kids have taken a special interest in all things Chinese. I thought that Chinese New Year would be a great opportunity to learn about the holiday and its traditions...and set a fun tablescape, too! It's the Year of the Ox, but since I don't have any oxen figures laying around (haha), I decided to add one of my roosters for the centerpiece. Bet you can't guess what year I was born in! Yep, the Year of the Rooster! How appropriate!

Come on in and take a seat. Tonight we'll be serving chicken egg rolls with sweet & sour sauce, Pad Thai noodles, orange chicken over Jasmine rice, and an Asian medley of vegetables.

I ran an inexpensive red runner down the center and used bamboo placemats. Then, I added a black square charger and red square plate on top (both Walmart). To finish it off, I added a chinese pattern plate and bowl from Pier 1 (a big bargain). They have a couple of red butterflies on them that are so cute. I already had some black chopsticks, which I think look really nice and tie in with the black charger and napkin (for some reason the napkin looks blue, but it's not). The kids had fun helping me fold the napkins into fans. I got the goblets at Dollar Tree a while back to go with another tablescape, but decided they would help pull in more of the blue from the little plates. For a little extra touch, I placed a fan next to each setting (love the red pouch!) that I happened upon in Dollar Tree.
Care for an chicken egg roll and some sweet and sour sauce? Yum!

Another angle of the table and centerpiece. I added some votives to some square glass candleholders and a mini white pitcher with some dragon favors. The kids decided to make an origami cat for each person to put above their place setting. Another view of the centerpiece. I added another little pitcher with strawberry sticks called Pockys (they turned out to be Japanese--oops!) that were delicious. I got them in the Asian section at Walmart--you will love them!

I also added an orange to each setting for wealth, luck and abundant happiness, as well as one of my ivory Lenox elephants for good luck. You can also get a closer look at one of the origami cats.

I got these paper lanterns at Party City for next to nothing. I can reuse them next year or for another occasion.
Next to both of the kid's settings I placed their drums. These were given to them a few years ago by another couple who also adopted from China. They brought these back when they brought their little girl back home to Virginia. I'm amazed the kids haven't destroyed them.
Of course, no Chinese meal is complete without some fortune cookies! I had no idea that Walmart carried them, but they do! Once again, check the Asian foods section. My original plan for dessert was cream cheese wontons (frozen section), but they were out of them. Try them heated and drizzled with a little chocolate syrup--DELISH!

Finally, after I was done cleaning up I placed my folded runner over the back of one of the chairs. I had an idea that came too late--I could have placed one like this on each chair. Oh well, maybe next year!Hope you enjoyed my first official TT. Next week we'll be getting ready for Valentine's Day. Hope you join me!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

P.S. It's fun to look up your Chinese Astrological animal you are according to the year you were born. Check out this site to see what you are.

Time for Metamorphosis Monday #2

2009-01-23T15:26:00.020-05:00

Welcome to the second MM! I had a great time checking out everyone's posts last week for the first MM. What fun! Thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting these wonderful Met Mondays! You'll find lots more links to MM postings on her blog. I wasn't sure I was going to participate this week since we haven't gotten as far as I would have liked on the bath re-do, but hopefully we'll complete most of it in the next week and you can finished pics next time.

Obviously, my MM for this week is still a work in progress. Last week we started work on our master bathroom. I have to admit that other than throwing up some blinds, sheers, and a few pictures here and there, I've never touched my bathroom in this house. I guess it's sort of a hidden area of the house that people don't see very often, so it wasn't a top priority. Now that we may be moving next summer, we realized it is an important room in potentially selling our home. So, after almost 8 years in our house, we started working on the master bath. Doesn't that make so much sense?? LOL

After I painted the bathroom the other day, I wondered why we waited so long?! Already it looks so much better and cozier. The color I picked out is called "Sand" by Valspar. It's the first time I've used their paint, and it seemed to go on fine and be true to shade. I typically use Behr paints. I'm still working on my accent color for the room, but I'm leaning toward red. My bedroom colors incorporate golden yellow, red, darker sage green and a touch of blue. My comforter is a golden yellow with a little floral and butterflies (Waverly) and has a small checked bed skirt with similar colors. Since my set was discontinued before I could purchase the matching curtains, I put up some larger check curtains that matched the colors in the set. They work well. I'm thinking of getting the matching valance to use on the 3 windows in the bathroom. There is a picture of the valance further down in my post.

Before. My side of the bathroom, directly across from the bathroom door. To the right you see a niche (wish it had lighting) and to the left is the bay window with spa tub underneath. The surround is huge around the tub, which kind of bugs me. Can't change it, so I gotta work with it.

After. I wish you could see how much darker this color is than the picture shows. We really like the new color.Before. Just beyond the niche is the door to the shower and commode. It's a small area.
After.
Before. Door to the bathroom and hubby's sink area. See how boring this bone color looks? Ugh!

After. Sorry about the light glare. I'll make sure to take pictures of the bathroom during the day without the light on next time!

After. The bay window over the tub. This is getting closer to the actual color. It's a bit darker than this. What would you put on the wall above the valances? Anything?

At this point, we have also replaced the ugly strip "bubble lights" that came with the home. You know the kind--the chrome strip with 5-6 large round bulbs. We also changed out the cabinet handles with the same brushed nickel knobs we used in the kitchen.

Here is the valance I want to use. I'll probably add some rope trim.

We pulled out all the typical plain chrome fixtures (towel rods, toilet tissue holder) and picked out some brushed nickel ones by Moen. I am thinking about going a little Tuscan for this bathroom. I wanted to use darker fixtures but hubby didn't want to since the extra cost doesn't make sense when we are probably moving. He's probably right (this time anyway!).;)

I have plans to replace the mirror slabs with framed mirrors. I found some beautiful ones that were reasonably priced at Garden Ridge the other week. I have to determine the size I want to use and then pick out the mirrors; they'll have a silver finish of some kind and I'm going square for the shape. Hubby and I have been going back and forth on the mirror issue, but I'm sure you agree that decorative mirrors will really make the bathroom.

Something kind of like this, perhaps?

Also, I have picked out a few other pieces I'd like to use in the bathroom.

I like the little detail on this stool. Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I like this scroll for the wall behind the commode. I've been looking for something similar, but haven't found anything I liked. This one is a little too pricey. Any suggestions? What would you put above it? A picture of some sort? That's another dilemma - - artwork. I'm at a loss, so suggestions are welcome.

Around the tub I could put a metal basket with rolled towels, and some candles and either glass apothecary jars or small canisters like this:

Aren't these gorgeous? I especially love the stand. A few months ago I bought some hanging candleholder similar to the ones I have in my kitchen. I plan to hang them in on either side of the center window of the bay, just as I did in the kitchen.

What about something similar to this for the bath accessories? Or should I use some kind of red for this as well? Ugh! Decisions!

Finally, I'm debating on towel/rug color. I think I'm leaning toward white. AHHH...big, white fluffy towels! We'll probably put down some kind of vinyl flooring that looks like beige tile over the current white vinyl. We used some in the powder room downstairs and it actually looks like tile until you stand on it.

Although my caterpillar isn't completely out of its cocoon yet, it's working its way out and will hopefully have morphed into a butterfly by next week! Thanks for sharing with me.

Happy Decorating!

Linda

P.S. I can't wait to share my Tablescape Tuesday with you tomorrow! It'll be my first!

Shopping Trip

2009-01-22T09:17:00.014-05:00

Recently I was in Stein-Mart and realized that there were so many wonderful and unique items for the tabletop and home that I wanted to share with you. I decided to whip out my phone and covertly take pictures of items that struck me. For those of you who don't have a Stein-Mart, they carry clothes and accessories, plus some homegoods (no cookware, appliances, etc.). I get more compliments on the clothes I get there than from anywhere else; they just offer more unique and pretty clothing than your average department store.

On with the shopping trip (I bought nothing, by the way! I behaved, which was not easy in this store!)...

These cute little plates were acrylic. They also had them in shades of peach and green. Wouldn't they be cute for a spring or summer luncheon? At $2.99 each you can buy lots of them. My favorite part is that they don't look acrylic.

The colors on this Fitz and Floyd soup tureen are beautiful. I can't remember the price on this piece--possibly $69 or $129.

These trays would make great handled chargers. $9.99 each.

These are egrets. You can see them where I live hanging around marshy areas. These ones were hanging around the bath section. Large - $39; small $29. They were quite pretty in person. They would be perfect in my parent's bathroom.

More feathered friends. These were only $9.99 a piece. The greenish hue and glaze are pretty.

This set of salad plates were reduced to $11.49, plus an additional 20% off.

This cute guy was around $10. I love the shade of blue and I'm partial to elephants. I have some dishes in this color that I'll be using in a tablescape soon. I just haven't found the right accent plates.

This was one of my favorite finds of the trip. It's a Fitz & Floyd lidded chowder bowl. The pattern is called Seaboard. I wish I could remember the exact price ($29??). I know it was much lower than the $50 listed on the F&F site. I adore this pattern! Can't you just see a seafood feast set in front of you in a beautiful coastal setting? Of course, you'll have to serve the chowder from this beauty...

I love the whimsy of this collection. Again, I can't remember the price (sorry) but it might have been $129. Either way, it's still well below the $169 listed on the F&F site. This adorable fellow was on clearance. I think he was $14 plus 20% off. Keeping with the dog theme...

This picture was quite large so $129 seemed reasonable. Here's a close-up:

I couldn't get the frame and the picture together when I get up close on my phone.

I was drawn to this picture. Isn't it sweet? It would be pretty in my guest room or hall bath. I believe it was $49.

I have always loved this picture. I have something similar in my bedroom, except this one is a bit bigger. I think it was $69. I like the frame, too. My mom has this picture as well. She paid a whole lot more for hers...shhh...don't tell her!

Let's finish up with some whimsy...

I'm not sure if these are supposed to be planters or just a whimsical decoration. I thought they would be adorable in the garden or on the front porch. You could set a pot inside the top of the book with some colorful spring flowers. These make me wish for spring.

My personal favorite. Bright colors to help beat the winter blahs!! Never checked the price on these, but I'm betting around $25.

Finally...

These cute "purses" had lids that lifted off by the handle. Too cute! They would be cute in a girly tablescape. I guess you could use them as a cookie jar, too. I'm not sure what their purpose is, but they make a cute, whimsical decoration.
One more design. The pinkish color is actually much more purple. These cuties were $24.99.

Well, I hope you enjoyed shopping with me today. It was fun!

Happy Decorating!
Linda

Tablescape Dreaming

2009-01-20T09:15:00.000-05:00

Since I'm still working on the finishing touches of some tablescapes, and I'm waiting another 2 weeks to share my Valentine tablescape, I'm reposting my tablescape related post from Saturday. I'm looking forward to sharing what I'm working on with you next week. Be sure to check out lots of beautiful and creative tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch. Susan, thanks for being the hostess with the mostest!

I'm sure many of you have visited sites like Horchow.com to drool over their beautiful home goods. I took a visit recently and especially enjoyed dreaming up tablescapes for their gorgeous china offerings. oooo la la! Here's a few that I was particularly drawn to, along with some tablescaping ideas to go along with them...

A Black and White Table

I love black and white (and blue and white, for that matter). My kitchen is black and white (it wasn't my choice, but it has really grown on me). This Black Willow dinnerware is lovely. I would use the dinner plate and bowl from this collection. Adding...
...this French Farm rooster salad plate. I also adore this charger. It's hard to see, but it has handles. Wouldn't it be great for a large dinner party where guests could sit throughout the house? I also love this pattern for my own kitchen. The design would go beautifully white my white Mikasa French Countryside plates. Next, I would add...
Love, love, love these napkins. Can't you just see a beautiful monogrammed initial of your last name? I would also use a matching tablecloth. As part of the tablescape, I would use...

...this pretty black and white rooster. Just a splash of red for color. She's perty, huh?

Now how about some color?

A Tuscan Feast

Red and golden yellow is one of my favorite color combinations. I've used it in my family room and bedroom. It's just so warm and inviting to me. How'd you like to dine on some delicious italian pasta on these dishes? Food always tastes better when it's on something as beautiful as this! What would I serve my dinner in you ask? This bowl and platter could be quite versatile. The design is decidedly Tuscan.
What goes better with Italian cuisine than Medici flatware? I like the "ballooning" on the handle. Simple yet elegant.

If we're serving Italian, we have to drink wine. I like the subtle fluting at the top of this glass. I found this one onthe Italian Wine Merchant site.

Beautful food...beautiful dishes...beautiful flatware...beautiful table linens are a must. I love this combination of golden mustardy yellow and robust red. Monogramming is a tasteful touch. I like the idea of keeping the linens simple so the dinnerware and serving pieces make the statement. I'm not into things that are 'too busy'. A Southern Living at Home find -- Kensington Hurricanes. I think they would go perfectly with our Tuscan dinner, don't you? I can just see the romantic dinner by the candlelight of these hurricanes.
I found this rustic looking platter/charger in the Southern Living at Home catalog. I love its versatility; dress it up or down depending on how you want to use it. This would make a gorgeous charger.Finally...you can't have a Tuscan theme without a rooster. Yes, I do have a 'thing' for roosters! I like the rusticness of this one. I found it on the Accents of Salada site.

This was fun, don't you think? Can't wait to go 'shopping' with you all again!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

First Metamorphosis Monday

2009-01-18T21:51:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the first Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting MM. Check out her blog for more great makeovers and decorating ideas from other blogsters. She's very talented and has lots of beautful ideas on her blog!

Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures of our rooms before they were transformed, so I'm starting with one room I know I took pictures of while we were overhauling--the kitchen.

Our remodel was exactly two years ago. We bought our house new in 2001, so it was about 6 years old when we finally decided to do some work in the kitchen. When we bought the house, I didn't get to pick out my cabinets or countertops because we got the house when things fell through for the original buyer. I probably wouldn't have chosen white cabinets and black countertops at the time, but it grew on me as I decided on toile curtains and roosters for my theme. I really like French Country design (and English country, too).

Here's a sort-of before picture. We were laying out some of the tile to figure out the best way to have to cut the least number of tiles since we have so many angles in the kitchen.

After much searching, we found Italian tile that was exactly what we were looking for. We ordered the matching smaller tiles, along with a few accent tiles for the backsplash. Our friend is a builder/remodeler so we got a great deal on the tile!

The original flooring was builder grade white vinyl, which drove me crazy! I had to clean it quite frequently because it showed every scuff mark and piece of dirt. Once we had the tile ordered, we took a sample with us to Lowes and Home Depot to pick out paint color. I prefer to use Behr paint since I've had so much success with it in the past, and it's usually highly rated in Consumer Reports Magazine. I chose a beige color that works well with the tile.

Here is what the tile looks like. We enlisted the help of several of my husband's friends, who helped at various stages of the project. We ripped out the old flooring and put down backer board over the subflooring. I even helped with the nailing! The tiling process took several days mainly because the tile was very thick.

We made several trips up to home improvement centers to rent equipment. We finally found better success with the mack-daddy tile cutter. My poor hubby had lots of nicks on his poor fingers, even though he did wear gloves most of the time.

Yes, I even helped. Here I am setting some of the spacers.

After the tiles were all in place, we were ready to grout. Cleaning off the excess grout and getting the right height between each tile was a tedious process. We didn't want the grout all the way up to the top of the tile, which would have been easier, but we liked the look of it better not having it level with the top of the tile. At some point we sealed the grout with spray sealer and all that was left was to put the shoe molding back in place.

On to the backsplash! This didn't require nearly as many cuts and was easier to work with in that area. I did the majority of the work on the backsplash. It was a much easier and more enjoyable part of the project. Here's hubby sanding the wall before we added the tiles.Next, I painted the walls--yes, AFTER I tiled the floor. I didn't know how messy the tiling would be, plus we weren't sure how far up/out the backsplash tiles were going to go on the wall.

You can sort-of see the color here.

To complete the kitchen, we replaced the white appliances with stainless steel ones and had a friend who does carpentry and owns a mirror and glass business make 4 new cabinet doors with glass in them. The kind of cabinets we have can't be cut to add glass, so having them handmade was a great and less costly alternative.
I love my little pig! Another thing we replaced were the cabinet knobs and handles. We used brushed nickel to match the stainless.
A view across the kitchen from the eat-in area towards the dining room (pantry is just beyond the wall with the stove.

A view from the pantry/dining room area towards the eat-in area. You can see my baker's rack by the window. I've since moved it to the wall directly across from it. I also added a double bench with black legs and rush seating. It's a favorite for me. I got it on clearance at JC Penney. This is one that is simlilar (minus the red cushion):

The only thing we didn't do, although we considered it, was to replace the countertops with granite. Now that there's a chance we are relocating next summer, that's not going to happen.

I wish I had current picture of the kitchen with more details for you.

Overall, I am quite happy with the kitchen makeover. Hopefully we'll have some master bathroom renovation pictures to show on the next Metamorphosis Monday. We're hoping to get started this week. It's long overdue!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

I'm in Love!

2009-01-16T15:34:00.000-05:00

Is it wrong to love your coffeemaker?! I just love, love, love my Christmas present from hubby. Only problem is that I think hubby loves it almost as much as I do! Well, it's not really a problem...although his increase in coffee consumption just might become one! LOL! The Keurig brews up any coffee I choose in under a minute. Because it only makes a cup at a time we don't have wasted pots of coffee--or a coffee pot and messy filter to clean. Hallelujah! The Keurig uses little K-cups that you pop in, pull the handle down, and 30 seconds later you magically (in my little imagination) have freshly brewed coffee. Absolutely no clean-up, unless you count popping the K-cup back out and throwing it in the trashcan (no leaking, by the way!).

30 seconds is up! Yea! It's ready!

Here are some of the K-cups. My personal favorites are Green Mountain Coffee and Carabou Coffee. We just bought some decaf to try so we can have a cup in the evening on ocassion; that was hubby's idea. There are tons of different K-cup brands, coffee types, and intensities to try out. There are also teas and hot cocoas (including Ghiradelli). Each box comes with 18 cups and costs around $10.Now it's time to add a little fat free french vanilla creamer and some Splenda. Mmmmm...

Wishing you warmth (it's 22 degrees here, which is out of character for this area). Brrrr...

Blessings,

Linda

Ho Ho Ho!

2008-12-20T18:32:00.001-05:00

We visited downtown Portsmouth on Friday evening to eat some yummy dinner (Amore' is wonderful!) and take in a local Christmas attraction. For many years Colman's Nursery featured a spectacular collection of Christmas decorations and animations; it was a local landmark. When the nursery shuttered its doors several years ago, the city bought up most of the decorations. Each year they set up the displays at the old courthouse as well as some of the local shopfronts. Kids young and old enjoy the fun. My kids took a ride on some Welsh ponies, got their faces and hands painted, listened to a barbershop quartet as well as a singing santa, and took in all the wonderful displays. What fun we had!

My son thought it would be fun to pretend to hunt the deer. Mama didn't think it was so amusing...

The woodland display was adorable. They had every animal you could think of.

Princess K had fun checking off the seek-and-find list. She found everything on the list! Part of the huge candy shop display is behind her.

The center of this room featured a life-size sleigh, featuring Santa and his reindeer. Wish I could have hopped on for a ride!

A dancing couple in the snow baby display. It was one of my favorite displays.

A picture with the singing Santa. I have to say that he actually could sing very well! This is one of the pictures on the Christmas cards I had made today. I decided that I wasn't going to send out any cards this year, but changed my mind.

Little Man and Princess K warming themselves by the "fire". Nevermind that it was almost 60 degrees yesterday. It's freezing today, of course!

Santa is catching up on his zzzz's until December 24th. I loved how Santa's comforter moved up and down with his breathing! I've always wanted a santa that does that for my own collection...

Christmas wouldn't be complete without some carolers. Fa la la la la la la la la...

Princess K liked this display that featured a skater who lost his footing.

An old fashioned Christmas...

Little Man jumping down from his pony ride. My camera didn't like the darkness very much.

Just loved that snow baby display. They were so sweet!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! May God richly bless you in the coming year!

Linda

Trim-the-Tree Thursday (a day late!)

2008-12-19T12:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks again to The Southern Hostess for sponsoring our wonderful Trim-the-Tree Thursdays. Check out her blog for more linkys to other participant's blogs.

Thought I'd share a few more decorations I have stashed around the house, and the cookie adventure my daughter and I shared last night. We'll be baking lots more tonight and tomorrow. It's so much fun to have a baking partner now. She has her own apron and enjoys learning how to cook and bake with mom. It's a great bonding experience--plus you get to enjoy the goodies together when you're finished!

Remember the mantle? I only had 3 matching stockings because I bought them when my son was little. My husband still has a stocking that was knitted for him when he was 5. It has 1976 knitting right into it. It's hard to fit anything into it, but I always put it out anyway. Didn't think to take a picture of it, though. It's sitting in the basket in front of the fireplace. I finally found some new stockings (Stein-Mart) that were 50% off ($5 each). The red ones say "joy" and the green ones say "love".

They match my ribbon perfectly, don't you think?

Lot of photos of the kids from past Christmases on shelves and little places here and there.

A new addition this year. I found these little retro-looking snow kids at Cracker Barrell. They are fluffy, too!

I set out my table for Christmas. I used silver chargers, Nikko Christmastime plates, Lenox Shell silverware, and Lenox green goblets. I may add the matching Nikko wine stems and a salad plate.

I like to put out photos from past Christmases. The kids like remembering the Christmas each was taken or enjoy seeing themselves as wee ones. How they remember certain presents, I'll never know. I can't remember what I wore to church on Sunday!

On a whim, I took an extra frame I had left over and used scrapbook paper and a sticker to cover the mat. Then I glued mini plastic red ornaments (cut off the loop) to a red pipe cleaner. Glue gunned the pipe cleaner to the back of the frame. Easy! So many options as to what you could glue on.

My favorite red and yellow checked chair is decked out with HOPE. I found this pillow at Stein- Mart and knew it would be perfect on this chair. I may keep it out all year! It's a nice reminder of what our Savior brings to us every day of the year.

I love this sentiment, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments which take our breath away."

Now it's time for a little baking...

Here Princess K is rolling out the dough. Just realized she forgot to put on her apron...

Pressing the reindeer cookie cutter into the dough.

Voile'! Chocolate reindeer cookies!

We cheated a bit to make these. I found an cute little kit for $5.99 at Target; it even came with an adorable reindeer cookie cutter. It was simple for Princess K to use. The cookies taste similar to chocolate pancakes, if you've even tried those. Yum! These would also make cute ornaments.

Can't wait to bake some more with you tonight Princess K!

Hope you are enjoying a blessed Christmastime!

Linda

Stained Glass Windows Recipe

2008-12-17T20:56:00.000-05:00

Welcome! If you're visiting from the Holiday Recipe Bazaar at the Internet Cafe', grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!

My husband's grandmother used to make Stained Glass Windows candy for family every year. She would send us a batch every Christmas. Now that she can no longer see to cook them, I make sure that I make a few batches for my family. We look forward to them every year.

Essentially, they are marshmallow fudge--only better! The colored marsmallows are flavored, which tastes sooo good with the chocolate. The best part is that it's really quick and easy.

Obviously, they are called Stained Glass Windows because of the multi-colored pastel marshmallows. I don't have pictures to post because the commissary was out of them; Most grocery stores carry them, though. I'll post pictures as soon as we get the marshmallows on Friday!

STAINED GLASS WINDOWS CANDY

Ingredients

3 cups (18 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips (can use milk-chocolate chips if you prefer)
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Dash salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups colored miniature marshmallows (I think they are fruit flavored)

Instructions
In heavy saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with sweetened condensed milk and salt. Remove from heat; Stir in butter and vanilla. Fold in marshmallows. Spread evenly into wax paper lined 8- or 9-inch square pan. **Tip: Wait for about 10 minutes to add the marshmallows so they don't melt into the chocolate; The idea is to have the marshmallows stay whole. Be sure to add before the chocolate mixture hardens!!

Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge onto cutting board, peel off paper and cut into squares. Store tightly covered in refrigerator.

I'm salivating just thinking about them...

Update! I've got another delicious recipe for you. This is great to bring to parties, Bunco, etc. It also looks pretty when it comes out of the oven. Simple but elegant! You have to try it!

Crescent Wrapped Apricot Brie

INGREDIENTS:

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 round (8 oz) Brie cheese
1 egg, beaten
jar of apricot preserves

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350°F.Unroll dough; separate crosswise into 2 sections. Pat dough and firmly press perforations to seal, forming 2 squares.
Place 1 square on ungreased cookie sheet. Place cheese on center of dough. Top with apricot preserves.
Optional: Use a small cookie or canapé cutter to cut 1 shape from each corner of remaining square; set cutouts aside.
Place remaining square on top of cheese and apricots. Press dough evenly around cheese; fold bottom edges over top edges. Gently stretch dough evenly around cheese; press to seal completely.
Brush with beaten egg. Top with cutouts; brush with additional beaten egg.
Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Serve warm with crackers of your choice.

Blessings,
Linda

Christmas Tour of Homes Welcome!

2008-12-15T09:36:00.000-05:00

If you're visiting from Boo Mama's Christmas Tour of Homes, welcome!! I've participated in a few of these fun gatherings recently, so I figured it might just be easier for you to scroll down through my posts to see my decorations. Maybe someday hubby will buy my dream camera for me so I can actually take some decent photos!! Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the tour.

Blessings,
Linda

Trim-the-Tree Thursday

2008-12-09T19:44:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my trim-the-tree Thursday blog! Thanks to The Southern Hostess for hosting. Check out her blog to see lots more decorations!

Tomorrow night is our Sunday school class Christmas party at our house. We'll have around 36 people here. As you can imagine, I've been doing a lot of cleaning and last minute decorating. Sorry I didn't post earlier today; Besides cleaning, I'm battling a head cold/sore throat/laryngitis thing. I'm praying I will be well enough to sing in our Christmas program on Sunday night.

My husband and I bought this Santa many years ago (I think it was my son's first Christmas, so it was about 12 years ago). It stands a little over 3 feet tall. He stands in the foyer next to the tall chest. An old santa decoration from the 50's-60's on the kid's tree.

Another old santa on the kid's tree.

This is the kid's Christmas tree. I used to put it in the family room, but this year I decided to put it in the study. The study usually gets neglected this time of year, so I thought it was time I changed that. The ornaments on this tree are some old ones from when I was a kid, some vintage 60-7o's santas, and lots of ornaments the kids have made or we've bought for the kids over the years. I got this festive little picture at Target (Tarje'). It is above my piano with the nativity just below it.

My candy/gingerbread kitchen tree. One of my favorites. I use one of my alpine trees for this one.

One of the decorations on the candy tree. See the little spoon on top of the plate?

Piggy cookie. I think I got this at Dollar Tree several years ago. I'm not positive, though. It could have been from the Carolina Pottery place near my parent's house.

Here is the kitchen window. It's always hard to get a picture of this area of the kitchen because of the light over the island.

I bought this Grinch tree at the Lenox outlet in Myrtle Beach last summer for $20. I got the last one in the store (the cashier was hoping no one would buy it so he could). It retails for $80 so I think I got a phenomenal buy. It is adorable. Do you see Cindy Lu Who? What about the Grinch?

Full view of the Grinch tree.

Front door wreath. I started with a pine wreath with berries that I purchased at Michael's. I added some clementine oranges that I decorated with cloves. I added faux lemons, feathers, and some dried out magnolia centers (love those). I just added the two seed pods sticking out near the top. My daughter picked those up on a nature walk yesterday and brought them home to me. I was going for a Williamsburg type feel in this wreath. It also smells wonderful everytime I open the door!

This is my metal topiary. I wrapped garland and lights around it and added a few strands of berry garland and put some gold berries poking out of the top. I also added some gold fruit at the bottom that I've had for years. Reuse I say!

This vignette is on the top of my television armoire in the family room. The little church is actually a tealight holder. The alpine tree is the smallest of a set of three that I have. I kept it simple. I like to write a verse on the tile and change it out every so often. This particular one is from the Christmas story in Matthew.

Here are some closer pics of my favorite nativity. I bought it at Costco (I think) around 10 years ago. I added the angels the following year. There were never any other pieces that I know of. I love how it looks like Lladro (without the price!) The pieces are actually larger than most.

I forgot which blogger I got the idea from, but I added a strand of lights under a runner and it really looks pretty in the evening. Thanks for the idea!

Two of the four angels/cherubs worshipping the newborn King.

Joseph. I just think he's lovely.

Mary is exquisite.

Blessings and happy decorating!

Linda

Unusual Decorations

2008-12-09T19:39:00.001-05:00

This is what I found under the tree the other day, compliments of my 8-year-old daughter...

I guess they were waiting for Santa??! I particularly like the one without any feet; I suppose she wants some for Christmas! At least they had their jammies on!!

Blessings,

Linda

One more thing!

2008-12-04T07:23:00.000-05:00

I put this centerpiece on my other blog last week, so I almost forgot to add it here. I made it for kitchen island; I also made a smaller version for my mom. I got the tin container at Marshall's and everything else at Michael's (with a coupon!). It ended up costing me less than $20. I think it's so cute!

My First Trim-the-Tree Thursday!

2008-12-03T20:56:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the Southern Hostess for hosting Trim-the-Tree Thursdays! Check out her blog for more beautiful decorations from other participants! I'm soo excited to see everyone's decorations and share my own. I'm still working on a few small trees that I put around the house, like my candy kitchen tree that stands in the corner, and my snowman tree. It's such a relief to be so close to being done! As you can see from my pictures, I have a 'thing' for Santas. It used to be snowmen, but somehow it evolved in the past 3 or 4 years into Santas. Can't get enough of them--especially really old ones! Hubby calls my vintage collection of Santas the "ugly Santas". I don't care; I heart them all!

Here's my favorite (he's a Coke Santa from the 60's or early 70's):

Here's my other favorite (he's a Pepsi Santa):

Here are some shots from around the house. My kitchen is black and white so that's why I made the white tree you see below. I glued black ribbon to tiny silver candy molds to hang them and used both black and toile ribbon to make the bows. My curtains are a black and white toile (but that's for another time).

The mantle in the family room:

The foyer area across from the stairs:

Close-up of the garland on the stairs:

The stairs (I am sooo not a bow maker!):

My camera doesn't take the best shots anymore (or maybe it's me?! LOL), but hopefully you'll get a good idea anyway. I used a pretty green ribbon this year and expanded my use of magnolias. It's a southern thing, I suppose! Here are some shots of my main tree in the living room. The decorations are a mix of things I love or are special gifts from friends. I have probably a dozen or more Lenox ornaments that I've collected, lots of angels, even some funny ones (if you've seen A Christmas Story, then you'll recognize some ornaments below; We LOVE that movie).

This bunny is heavy and has a little bit of sparkle. Pretty in person:

One of my favorite Lenox ornaments. I have a similar one with an angel inside:

The tree. I still can't get a good shot of it to show how pretty it is.

I'll post some more pics next time! Hope you enjoyed them!

Happy Decorating!

Linda

Still Decorating!

2008-12-03T11:26:00.001-05:00

I'm sooo ready for all of these boxes and containers to go back up into the storage area! My goal is to finish today so I can spend more of my time focusing on the true reason for Christmas...and spending more time with my family! It's been a little crazy around here because I'm at church several more evenings a week right now for our Christmas program rehearsals. I'm so thankful that my shopping was done almost two weeks ago! That includes wrapping! Who-hoo! I think I'm going to try to meet that goal every year now! I did find time to snap a few photos of the house as it progresses. Are you one of those people that puts all your decorations out and then periodically move some things around later? I do! It takes so long to put everything out, first of all, because I have a lot of stuff, and secondly, I agonize over where to put it and how to place it. Hope I'm not the only one who does that!

One thing I've noticed is that I have A LOT of santas. Wow! I had no idea. I just kept unwrapping one after the other; I won't be buying any this year, that's for sure. I think I have enough...unless I see one I just can't resist, of course!

If anyone can help me out by telling me how to post multiple pictures without having them all appear above my text, please let me know. I haven't ever posted more than one before. For now they are on my sidebar.

Thanks a bunch!

Happy Christmas Decorating!

Linda

P.S. The tree at the top is in my dining room.

P.P.S. Thanks to CeeKay for helping me figure out how to post the text and pictures together!

My New Blog!

2008-11-30T21:06:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my new blog! One of my favorite things to do is decorate and get ideas from magazines, television, and other websites and blogs about decorating. It's so nice to "visit" other blogger's homes on the 'net and share in our love for all things decorating, design, and decor! I will post and describe my Christmas decorations in the next few days. See you then!

Until the next time! Happy Decorating!

Linda