Sunday, November 10, 2013

Vintage Christmas Finds

 Having a friend who runs estate sales could be a very bad thing for me.  Or it could be a good thing, I guess it just depends on who you ask.  This weekend they had a Christmas sale.  They buy all of the leftover stuff from the sales and decided to put all of the Christmas stuff together and do a Christmas sale.  I got lucky and found some great stuff!  I have been looking for these things and have big ideas for them.

 I love these electric candle holders.  Most of these are vintage and are in wonderful shape.  I have always loved how The Polka Dot Closet transformed hers and I want to do it too.  Now that I have a mantle, these will be perfect for it.  The possibilities are endless and I can't wait to get started transforming mine!
They had 5 bags of these bottle brush trees and as much as I would have liked to buy them all, I only bought one.  My friend said she would save any leftovers for me though.  I can't believe how hard it is to find these, at least around here, so I was happy to find these.  I already started bleaching them and am looking for lot's of ideas to use them in decorating and crafting.
 I have also been saving jars and this is the perfect idea.  The glitter, the white...it is all so beautiful and I am so excited to start creating some of my own.
These tart tins were a great find.  All shapes have 6 tins, so I have 36 altogether.  I can really get creative with these.  Ornaments, magnets, fun little baskets.  I see so many ideas and want to make them all!
 This little snowman sitting in this tart tin is too cute.  Definitely going to try and make this!
I got some great sheet music books so these trees will have to be made.  And see what they are sitting on-a tart tin!  Another great idea!
Vintage Christmas ornaments are one of my favorite things to find.  I don't really have any plans for them, I love them in in a glass bowl or in an apothecary jar.  I don't think that I will ever have enough!
 And my last find was this sweet vintage angel tree topper.  This is just like the angel that would sit on top of our Christmas tree when I was growing up.  Putting the angel on the top of the tree was always the best job.  I love that angel and want it for my own one day.  But for now, I found one of my own!  This is in the original package and was never used.  I paid $4 for it and the original price tag on it said $5.99.  I can't wait to put it on my tree this year!  I paid less than $20 for all of this stuff!

I won't be putting any of my Christmas decorations up until AFTER Thanksgiving.  I hate when people skip past Thanksgiving to Christmas, probably because I love Thanksgiving so much.  But once it is over, I am all about Christmas!

Linking up with:
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
ColoradoLady: Vintage Thingie Thursday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
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Sunday, November 3, 2013

Finally...I have a mantle!

 It's funny how you can take a break from something without meaning to.  That is kind of how October was for me.  I didn't mean to neglect my blog, it just sort of happened.  I found myself being asked by several different people if I would take their family pictures so every weekend in October consisted of taking the photos then editing the photos.  That left very little time for me to do much of anything else with my slow little computer.  But it was definitely worth it because I got to spend time with family and friends capturing this time in their lives! 
 One thing that I have never had in all the houses that I have lived in is a mantle.  Having one has been on my wish list for a very long time.  We thought about building a faux one but we really needed a fireplace to help heat our house this winter.  With oil heating, anything is better than paying $500 for half a tank of oil that only lasts a month or two.  We finally decided to bite the bullet and buy an electric fireplace.  I am so happy that we did!

 We ordered it online through Lowes and got free shipping, 10% off and interest free financing for 6 months.  Even better!  The picture on their site just doesn't do it justice, it is so much prettier in person!  It arrived on Halloween so Cody spent the evening putting it together.  He has been playing with the thermostat all weekend and I think he finally has it figured out.  This fireplace is going to be so nice to have this winter!
 Of course I am most excited about decorating it.  I have put together a few things on it for Thanksgiving but I don't have much.  I have big ideas for it and can't wait to decorate it for every season.
 So far it is really keeping our house nice and toasty.  It also makes our house feel extra cozy and homy.  I am so glad we finally got a fireplace.
 Here are a few pictures of my corner all decorated for fall.  This really is my favorite time of year for so many reasons!
 Do you think one can decorate with too many banners?  I hope not because I love making them!
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Sunday, September 22, 2013

Burlap, Felt & Twine Creations

 Do you ever make something with the intention to sell it and just really want to keep it for yourself when it is all done?  That happened to me this weekend when I made this sweet little banner and wreath.  Plus they both go so perfectly on my old shabby door, like they were meant to hang there!  What do you think?
 This coming week at the college I work for is Homecoming.  One of the festivities is called Taste of the Harvest where wineries have samples of their wines, people bring goods to sell and there are a lot of other activities.  My mother-in-law is going to have a booth and I am going to sell a few of my things there.  This banner and wreath is going to be for sale...unless I end up just keeping it for myself!
 Of course I hope it sells so I can make some money, but if it doesn't, I know exactly where they will hang in my house!  I also made a few more banners of different kinds and if I have time, I might make a few more wreaths.
 I am loving the colors I used for these.  The chipboard shapes are a nice ivory color so I made felt roses using sandstone, white and antique white felt.  The pearls really make it perfect!
 I covered a wreath form in burlap and it is rustic and imperfect, but I love it!  These colors together make my heart happy.  They are simple but so crisp and beautiful.
 Maybe it will sell, maybe it won't.  Either way, I had fun making them and I would be happy either way!
My birthday was on Friday and it was a pretty good day.  Although I had to work, I had a fun day anyway.  My co-workers brought me coffee, muffins, chocolates, wine and took me to lunch.  Cody took me out to dinner and bought me this amazing bed set.  He knows me so well!  I absolutely love all things Paris and this bed set is so perfect for me.  Once I get my bedroom totally done, I will be sure to share it with you!

Have a great week!

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday
DWELLINGS: Amaze Me Monday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Le Chateau des Fleurs: Monday Link Party
The Dedicate House: Make it Pretty Monday
Cozy Little House: Tweak it Tuesday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday 
VMG206: Brag About It
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wednesday
Faith, Grace & Crafts: Pearls & Lace Thursday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style Party
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
Rooted  in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
Jennifer Rizzo: Fabulously Creative Friday
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
  The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
Obsessive & Creative: Craft Frenzy Friday
The Jenny Evolution: Friday Flash
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Sunday, September 15, 2013

Old Fashioned Sunday Dinner

Maybe it is because I am turning another year older this week.  Maybe it is because I recently saw the house that I grew up in and it made me really sad (more about that later).  Maybe it is the fact that Fall is on its way here and I always crave comfort foods this time of year.  Maybe I am just an old fashioned girl who likes tradition and carrying on things that those before me did.  I am not sure what it is, but I have been making sure that we have an old fashioned Sunday dinner for the past few weeks, just like we did when I was growing up!
 Tonight I made Moist Baked Buttermilk Chicken.  Tenders for me, thighs for Cody.  Of course Cody would prefer that I fry it, but I don't really like frying in the house and I am doing Weight Watchers and fried foods are too many points!  So far I have made meatloaf and a pork roast.  There are so many options as to what I can make...can't wait to explore them all!  Along with the chicken, I made mashed potatoes and gravy, brown sugar carrots and a nice rustic ciabatta bread.  I always make mashed potatoes and gravy, the flavor of the gravy just changes depending on the kind of protein I am making. 
 My grandma is a great cook and I picked up some tips from her that I would like to share with you.  I am sure some of you already do these things, but if you don't, you definitely should!  
  1. I save my bacon grease in a mug and use it when I need some fat and extra flavor.  I had 4 of these amazing vintage Snoopy mugs but somehow Cody lost all but this one.  I didn't want to lose this one so it is my bacon grease holder.  It stays in the fridge and comes in handy quite a lot.  Frying your pork chops in bacon grease is beyond amazing!
  2. When you drain your potatoes for mashed potatoes, save some of the water and use it in your gravy.  It really helps the flavor out a lot.
  3. Whether you wear an apron or not, throw a dish towel over your shoulder.  It is always right there when you need to wipe your hands, the counter or use it as a hot pad.  I always have a dish towel over my shoulder when I am in the kitchen!
  4. And last but not least, every Sunday dinner needs a dessert!

This lemon meringue pie isn't homemade, but it is amazing and it's the perfect dessert to finish off my old fashioned Sunday dinner.  Thank you Marie Callender for your amazing pies.  The crust tastes just like homemade.  I am going to learn to make homemade pie crust like the pros very soon and will be sure to share it with you!
This sweet little picture of handprints is of me and my brother's hands back in 1986.  Josh was 2 and I was 4 when my dad put sidewalks in around our house.  He let us put our handprints in this section in the front of the house so that we could see how much we grew over the years.  They sold that house about 7 years ago and it broke my heart.  That was the only house I lived in for the first 24 years of my life.  I always dreamed of my kids going to visit their grandparent's there someday and putting their hands in our ours to see how they measured up.  Miranda Lambert's song "The House That Built Me" is the perfect song when it comes to the house I grew up in.  The first time I heard it I bawled my eyes out...I could have written that song myself, down to the handprints on the front step! I went to a yard sale next door to it yesterday and I went into the yard to snap this picture.  Sadly, the people that bought it from us lost it and it is in horrible shape.  I started crying because the weeds are as tall as the house, the grass is dead and it isn't the house that I grew up in and loved.  I wish I could buy it.  I also wish I could take this piece of cement out of the sidewalk and keep it forever!

Linking up with:
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday
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Sunday, September 8, 2013

Fall Milk Can

 Oh how I wish I had a big, beautiful porch to decorate for each season.  Since I don't, I do my best to make my little front step look festive and welcoming.  My old milk can is the perfect vessel for some lovely fall foliage.
 Cody and I went to his work shop yesterday and the canal was loaded with cattails that were in perfect condition.  I grabbed some scissors and cut a bunch to take home.  I knew I could figure out a way to use them for fall decorating.
 I had also stopped by Michael's on Friday and picked up these pretty glittery silk flowers.  They were 99 cents each and I love the colors.  These came in handy too!
 The wired ribbon with pumpkins I had from last year and I didn't realize it until I put it all together, but the colors match perfectly.  This little milk can makeover was turning into quite a little happy accident of a project!
 This project only cost me about $3 and it makes such a bold statement.  My little front step is looking like it is ready for fall now!  I just need to find a cute pumpkin to set on my terracotta candle holder and it will be perfect.
Can I just tell you how happy I am that it is September?  Not only do I have a birthday in September, but I am loving the cooler weather and I can't wait for everything that fall brings!

Linking up with:
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sundays
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday 
Le Chateau des Fleurs: Monday Link Party
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cozy Little House: Tweak It Tuesday
Home Coming: The DIY'ers
Knick of Time Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
Tips & Tricks: Fall Crafting Edition
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style 
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
Rooted in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Jennifer Rizzo: Fabulously Creative Friday
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Sunday, August 25, 2013

An Old Window & a Gumball Machine

What does a window and a gumball machine have in common?  Nothing really, they are just two of my latest projects!  This weekend I was in the crafting mood so I completed a few projects.  The first one is this window.  I have a lot of these windows and Cody was like "why don't you make something with one of those!"  Okay, I will!

 I took some pages of vintage sheet music, hand-lettered LOVE in them and then burnt the torn edges a bit to make them look even better.  They are stuck on the window with double-sided tape.
 It is the perfect backdrop for my desk in the corner of my living room.  Lot's of natural light makes it the perfect spot to do many things.
 I created some burlap flowers and roses and hung them on some vintage lace.  The flowers have pearls in the center.
 I think I might have to make several of these with other pretty words.  It could really be changed up with the seasons.

This gumball machine isn't the same one that you see in the pictures above.  This one is a small one, it is a Jelly Belly machine.  I scraped off the picture that was on the glass part and then spray painted it white.  I sanded it a bit and added some pearls to the bowl.  That was a few weeks ago.  This weekend I embellished it and made it look even prettier!
 Going through my vintage jewelry collection, I found lots of fun things to use to make it perfect.  Pearls on the top and diamonds on the bottom.  I just love how it turned out!
 I could seriously spend hours going through all that jewelry.  By the time I am done, my finger tips are so dirty but it is worth it to see all of the fun pieces.
So now you see what old windows and gumball machines have in common...they were a big part of my weekend!

Linking up with:
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday
Sunday View: Inspired Sunday
Boogieboard Cottage: Masterpiece Monday
Dwellings: Amaze Me Monday
Le Chateau de Fleurs: Monday Linky Party
The Dedicated House: Make it Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Cozy Little House: Tweak it Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life: Inspire Me Tuesday
  Knick of Time Tuesday
JoJo & Eloise: Project Inspired
VMG206: Brag About It
Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday
Ivy & Elephants: What's It Wednesday
The Style Sisters: Centerpiece Wednesday
Lavender Garden Cottage: Cottage Style Party
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs Olson: Share Your Cup Thursday
Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wednesday
ColoradoLady: Vintage Thingies Thursday 
The Vintage Farmhouse: Creative Things Thursday
Rooted in Thyme: Simple & Sweet Friday
Common Ground: Be Inspired
The Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday
Jennifer Rizzo: Fabulously Creative Friday
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Sunday, August 11, 2013

My Paris Bathroom

 I thought it was time to show you my Paris bathroom.  So here is a little tour for you.  There are a lot of pictures!  It is so much fun finding new things to put in here.  This bathroom is huge...it would be even better if it had a large garden tub with jets.  Maybe someday.  Enjoy the tour!

 The vanity holds my jewelry and has a large mirror with lots of light. 

 My favorite white shelf is above the toilet and holds a few Eiffel Towers up top and down below.
 The main colors are red, black and white. 
 I put my new table in here and it fits perfectly.  Still haven't decided if I am painting it or leaving it stained.
 The sink has a cabinet mirror above it.  I hung my Eiffel Tower shower curtain down below to hide the storage area under the counter.

 My grandma gave me these wall sconces and they were bright gold-yuck!  A coat of black spray paint completely turns them into something great!  My Eiffel Tower candles fit perfectly in them.
 I got this Eiffel Tower wine rack from a friend.  She had this in college and I always loved it.  When she had it in her yard sale last year, I snatched it up really fast!
 This vanity chair is covered by my Eiffel Tower pillowcase.  I love my Eiffel Tower sheets but they are full size and my bed is queen size so I save them and used them in other ways.  The Fleur de Lis bucket holds hair brushes.
 I got this Paris rug from Shopko.  It's perfect for my bathroom!
 This clock came from Ross.  The frame was gold so I painted it black and it looks so much better!
 This cream colored hook holds a Paris Christmas ornament that I got from Kohl's!
 I made this Paris banner a few years ago and I still love it!
 Some more of my Eiffel Tower collection.  The one in the middle is another Christmas ornament from Kohls. 
 Two glass Eiffel Tower bottles, one from my mom and one from World Market.  The Paris sign is from Ross.
 Excuse the dusty mirror and pay attention to the Eiffel Towers.  The bottle holds white hot chocolate mix and the one in the cloche is yet another Christmas ornament from Kohls.
 I decorated the top of the table with a piece of sheet music, a black hurricane base and some more little Eiffel Towers.
 This little peg board came from Ross.  The roses are bouquets from a friend's wedding.
 I found this scarf at a thrift store.  Although it has yellows in it, I thought it would be perfect in my bathroom somehow.  I needed a window treatment and this worked out great for that purpose.
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