To make up for her shenanigans I will tell you an exciting story. On Monday I was perusing the Pier1 website and stumbled across this table on clearance for $180.

I have been searching for something to replace our dining table for months now.

My main issue with ours is the layout – notice how the legs are not at the corner, but set in slightly. This makes it extremely hard to fit two chairs on the sides. It irks me. I have been picturing a round wooden table for the space, but I was intrigued with the shape of the above-pictured table and I’m a sucker for a clearance sticker. I called our local store yesterday and found out they did, in fact, have only one in stock. And, since it was a floor model used for displays, she would sell it to me for 50% off the clearance price. Score!

I rushed out of work and skipped happily into the store. Unfortunately, in person the table was underwhelming. And it looked a little small to seat two on each side, so no problems were solved. I wandered around the store dejectedly for awhile and consoled myself by ogling these beauties:

Confetti Dinnerware. I’m a sucker for polka dots, and I’m pretty sure these match my kitchen curtains.

Cute little flower bowls

Scalloped serving bowl. This is stunning in person. They had it displayed with hand towels in it, and I think it would be lovely in a guest bathroom. Or, you know, anywhere in my house….

I jumped at this mug. Unfortunately it says “tea time,” and I will be consuming tea NO time soon.

It is oh so me, though.

I think I need these chalkboard jars. I want glass canisters to replace our current set, how cute would these be?!?

Glass candlesticks are always classy, in my opinion.

There. I feel better already. Hopefully the New Year will bring more successful bargain hunting

Cheers,

I am obsessed with this photo that originally appeared in the late Cottage Living (*tear*), posted by the lovely Marianne

Love all the rustic elements in this shot

These stockings are perfect, and I’m already planning on replicating them next year.

The Lettered Cottage has mastered the look:

Check out the tutorial for this cinnamon-stick candle

Burlap garland, a girl after my own heart!

And now, here is my finished product:

We have a tree skirt (an adorable quilted one from my mother), but I think I need to extend it That, or buy smaller presents.

Overall, I’m very happy with how it turned out. Our house feels calmer this year, something G always appreciates.

What’s your holiday style – bright and glam, neutral and home-y, or something in between?

Love,

So, I’m starting to think this arrangement on my dresser is pretty tired.

I received these purple allium stems for our wedding (I registered for a lot of home decor items……nevermind that we had no towels, these flowers were a MUST!). I still think it is a cool-looking flower, and am contemplating trying to grow them in our flower bed next season, but I think they may look a little strange in that vase. The scale is off, or something. Also, they are heavy and the vase is decidedly not. It makes dusting precarious. Luckily I don’t do it that often…..

I stumbled upon this project on Design*Sponge last week and was inspired:

I think this may be the solution to my problem! G, break out the tools. I’ll make sure we have three empty wine bottles

Don’t drink and drill,

However, I am already excited about our Christmas tree. We’ve had two Christmases in this house, and each year have purchased a live (though I guess technically dying….) tree. I love it. Yes, it does get sap all over my hands as I try to hold it straight while G positions it in the stand. And it does dump pine needles all over my (thankfully) wood floor. But the smell. The smell is divine. I make G decorate it with me to the sound of Sufjan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas while drinking eggnog. It’s a very Norman Rockwell moment.

Where am I going with this? Well, Homage (I’m picturing myself as Stephen Colbert addressing his “nation”), I need your help. Yes, it’s serious. Yesterday I mentioned the new look I am planning for our tree. It has come under some criticism. I won’t name names, but a certain former roommate of mine – her name may start with an “A” and possibly end with “lixxx” (spelling subject to interpretation) – thinks it may look strange. It has put a nasty cloud of doubt in my head, and I need some clarity.

Here is my concept: I want the tree to be more “neutral” and incorporate natural textures (metals, glass, burlap, linen). In the past it has seemed as though red and green exploded in that corner and didn’t really flow with the rest of the house. I like order, and the tree will be there for a month, so this is difficult for my type-A self. I have ornaments in gold, silver, bronze (all finishes from matte to glitter), and clear glass. I will use burlap ribbon and six-inch thick gold ribbon (sort of tulle-like) as garland. I will wrap the tree stand in burlap. Here are some inspiration photos:

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And will be wrapping gifts using brown craft paper, doilies, and colorful ribbons (maybe yarn):

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Okay, here is the question: will all that glimmer look strange next to the burlap? I have a lot of ornaments. We know what Alixxx thinks. Help a girl out!

Happy Saturday and GO HAWKS!!!!

What’s so great about it? Well, like everything at IKEA, it’s relatively inexpensive, plus it stores a TON. Here’s mine:

Clearly we’re very literary. Note the full set of encylopedias I stole from  my parents to fill it out. Does anyone even use those anymore? I’ll just say they’re vintage….

Here is a a better view of the top. We painted a darker shade of yellow behind the shelf to highlight it. Also, because G LOVES painting stripes. Yes, that is G’s guitar that I stole and decoupaged. Don’t feel bad for him, he has replaced it several times over…

I knew I must have it when I saw this image in Domino magazine (I love how it’s used as a room divider. Yes, that is the technical term):

Here are some other images I’ve stumbled upon:

Pretty in {front of} pink {source}

Lovely in a feminine office

Featured on Design*Sponge

I wish I could figure out how they hung the picture….{source}

Where do you keep all of your treasures? {Don’t worry, we’re not into theft….}

Love,

Hello, lovelies! I apologize for the tardiness of this post. It’s all I can do to get through the day – it’s so bad, I’ve been sleeping in my car at lunch. Yes, I’m that girl. Feel free to point and laugh, I’m too exhausted to do anything about it.

Anyway. G and I desperately need a sofa update. If I wasn’t sure before, spending three days on it this week has erased all doubt. Behold my sad, slipcovered mess:

We have been the proud owners of this piece for over four years; G’s parent’s generously donated it to us after our wedding so that our apartment wouldn’t be completely empty. It has served us well, but has obviously seen better days. So what’s the hold-up? Well. We are stuck in a battle of form (K) vs. function (G) vs. cost (Both. We are cheap, I admit it. Plus, our hopefully soon-not-to-be-hypothetical children will likely dump juice all over it. Or worse). I won’t even tell you how long it took us to find the man-chair. The perfect sofa is proving to be my decor holy-grail.

Here is my dream piece – the Milo Sofa from Anthro.

Everything about it is perfect…..except the price. That, and G doesn’t think it looks comfortable AT. ALL. (Though I don’t know why he cares – he resides full-time in the aforementioned man-chair). I was going to put together a selection of knock-offs, but I can’t find them. Help! Find me a sofa, I beg of you. This one needs to be put out of its misery. (And, let’s face it, so do I).

Hope your lounging spot is plush,

******************

Act 1: Decor Inspiration

What can I say? I can’t get enough of fall decor! Fall is my most favorite season – crisp, cool air that requires blankets, and sweaters, and sweatpants (oh, sweatpants. Is there anything better?), beautiful foliage, cider, I could go on and on. But don’t worry, I won’t.

However, there is one aspect of fall that never fails to make me feel inadequate: the time honored tradition of carving pumpkins. The inside is gross and obviously I’m not good at it. Let’s recall last year’s attempt one more time:

That’s why I was thrilled to stumble upon these no-carve pumpkin decorating projects during my never-ending quest for decor inspiration!

Ribbon pumpkins from Good Housekeeping:

Boo!

Modge podge leaves

Sequined pumpkins (unsure of source)

Painted pumpkins

Turn them into a wreath

However, some people love the glow of candles in carved pumpkins. I guess I can’t blame you, but please,  keep it understated like J’s fall decor:

(Just kidding, this isn’t really her house……)

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Act 2: True Life – K’s Fall Decor

And now, because I know you are on the edge of your seats, I will take you on a tour of my fall decor. You’re welcome.

Here is G’s piano, all decked out for autumn:

My mother gave me this lovely wreath.

And I added ribbon to this pumpkin. I know, I’m super crafty.

The dish on the dining room table is one of my favorite things.

My mother made cute pillows to dress up my church pew. She shares my love for throw pillows

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Act 3: A DIY Project

The following project was inspired by necessity. The lovely wreath pictured above was meant to grace my front door. Unfortunately, it was a little too wide for the storm door to close. So I headed to Michael’s and created this:

using beaded garland, burlap ribbon, orange grosgrain ribbon leftover from a package from a beloved local boutique, and my favorite Christmas ornament. I didn’t take any progress shots as I was too busy corralling the beads. Bend the garland into a circle, lay each circle on top of the others, and wrap the beaded wire around all layers to hold it together. Wrap the burlap ribbon and hot glue to the back. Voila!

***********************

There you have it, the longest post ever! Based on your enthusiastic applause, there may be an encore

Love,

Oh, do I have some big news for you!!! You may want to sit down (since I know most of you surf the internet standing up…..)

My quest for a fancy mirror is OVER!

That’s right, lovelies. I have found it! Here’s how it went down: On Saturday morning I had the urge to decorate. So I decided to peruse the local second-hand stores to see if I could find something, ANYTHING that I could transform. The first stop was a bust, and I desperately needed caffeine, but I convinced myself to carry on (now I hear Tim Gunn…..) I found her in the “home goods” (I’ll go ahead and use that term loosely) section of Goodwill, buried under a pile of “artwork.” Only the edge was visible, but I had a feeling. Some would call it love at first sight.

Here she is, the current object of my obsession:

What, you don’t swoon over gilded gold? I admit, neither do I, but I had a vision. I knew I could turn this:

and this:

into THIS:

Here she is up close:

You can’t get enough? Neither can I……

The ingredients:

White spray paint

Leftover grey paint we used on the ceiling

Spray laquer

Approximately 3 hours of my Saturday afternoon

The mirror was the most expensive part, at a whopping $10.38. Thanks, Goodwill!

How about you – are you into second-hand shopping? Have any treasures made their way to your home? We know J has been bitten by the Craigslist bug, do you have any transformations to share?

Don’t inhale too many fumes,

Here are the steps I took to make this:

Look like this:

First, borrow your husband’s sander. Thankfully A. is a handy sort of fellow who has tools and such. I was very proud that I sanded this bad-boy by myself, but if I had had to do it with a little scrap of sandpaper and no electricity, it probably wouldn’t have happenend. (See look – those are my fingers. I did do it myself!)

After thoroughly sanding and wiping it down, prime your piece of furniture.

After a coat or two of primer, paint it black! Or red! Or whatever! (And no, those are not my arms. I did not beef up and get all hairy while doing this project.)

After all the paint dries, measure and cut wallpaper or some kind of pretty paper to fit the back panels. K’s gracious gift of yellow paisley wallpaper was just what I was looking for. To adhere it to the wood, just soak it in water, gently fold the piece in half, touch the backs together to activate the gooey-ness, and slap it on your furniture. Carefully, of course.

Wipe out all the wrinkles and let it dry.

Then, haul it into your house and set things on it.

Clearly, I don’t have enough knick knacks. But, I do love it. And I’m glad I did it myself. And, if you know me at all, you’re realize that if I can do it, anyone can!

Hungering for more? Here are some other great before and afters:

From Centsational Girl

and this great headboard turned message board

Kristin’s amazing dresser makeover

Happy sanding!

Instead, you will be treated to some titillating photos of our bedrooms   This is what you see when you enter mine (K):

Here is the view to your left. I purchased the chest at a secondhand store. It used to be a toy chest, but I painted it black and modge-podged scrapbook paper over the line of teddy bears carved into the side. (It felt wrong to cover them up….I pictured a grandfather lovingly carving them years ago….but teddy bears don’t really go with the rest of the decor….)

And then you look to your right. Our bedroom used to be two rooms, but at some point a former owner knocked down the wall. It’ s a good thing they did – our queen sized bed takes up the ENTIRE right half! Mom, if you’re reading this, no I don’t iron our sheets.

I love elaborate throw pillows, much to G’s chagrin.

And I HAD TO HAVE these new lamps from Target. I may or may not have driven to multiple stores to purchase them in time for this photo shoot….

I love all of the quirky details in our old house. For instance, this built in…..

….and our crown molding. My coworker suggested we paint our ceiling a darker shade of grey than our walls, and I’m glad he did. The walls and ceiling were khaki-colored before, so we would have had to paint the ceiling anyway (don’t feel too bad for G).

And there you have it, my bedroom in all of its glory. You should feel privileged – the tour doesn’t stop here very often as it is usually a MESS. I won’t even tell you how long it took me to clean it for these photos. Remember this?

*****

Now I’m going to show you our master bedroom, but try not to compare it to the beautiful pictures of K’s luxurious pad. We have officially been in our home a little over a year now, and I am still suffeirng from severe lack-of-furniture-and-excess-of-blank-wall syndrome in here.

With no headboard, I hung a couple of my paintings above the bed to balance the height of the wall and vaulted ceiling.

I’m feeling sort of confessional today, so would you like to see the rest of the room? Go ahead and judge me, it’s okay.

This is A’s nightstand (our only nightstand) and the pile of junk and wires that sits next to it. High style.

This is what we look at when we lie in bed:

This is the too-tiny mirror that faces you when you walk in the door:

And this is the too-tiny cage that Murray outgrew. We now pile unmatched socks on it:

That’s the hard, frumpy truth about our master bedroom, folks. Now….help me? Please?

Instead of the tiny mirror, I want this guy:

Pretty, isnt’ it? I think it would do quite nicely. And I think that angle would do good things for my self-esteem. Now…if only it cost less. A lot less. A lot lot less.

And, I would love something like this, maybe for the little nook on my side of the bed by the dresser, or in the corner next to my imaginary standing wall mirror:

What else do you think I could do with this room? I’m open for suggestions! Unfortunately, until my proverbial ship comes in, I might have to just get by with piles of books/socks on cages, but I would love to hear your ideas on how to spend my imaginary money! Hopefully, piece by piece, we can finish this room. It’s an Homage work-in-progress, for sure.

Happy Fantasizing,

and