Kiss Today Goodbye (And Point Me Toward Tomorrow!)

Whew! Time to review 2013......talk about a fast moving train!  So, without further ado....some highlights of this year.

One of my favorites was the little makeover to our front entry. Practical and pretty all wrapped into one....we entertain alot so we have put the coathooks to good use!

I also shared some of my favorite things. Like my Pottery Barn cow and....

...my scale collection.

I shared lots of photos of our patio redo.....from demo to done!

  

Our kitchen remodel finally was revealed. A year later and I still love oak cabinets turned white.

A little holiday decor......

One King' s Lane invited me to write about my favorite chair. 

And one last look at Christmas! 

Now it's time to turn toward the New Year. I have been working on a few projects that I look forward to sharing in the next weeks. I also have alot of hopes for starting many more throughout the year. One thing I plan on doing is a big purge and reorganization of our house....I will share the good, the bad, and the ugly of that along the way!

Thanks for stopping by throughout 2013.....looking forward to having you visit in 2014. What are your New Year's plans?

Jane

 

Amaze Me Monday

Make it Pretty Monday

Best DIY Projects 2013 - Southern Hospitality

Metamorphosis Monday

Wow Us Wednesday

A Stroll Thru Life

 

 

 

Snow! Snow! Snow!

Now that the whirlwind of  Christmas is slowing down, it has been nice to take a day to just putter around the house - slowly putting away some of the seasonal décor, relaxing,  etc.  Have you been doing the same thing?

We have had an excess of snow already this season, and now the weather report is calling for sub-zero temperatures next week!  Time to hunker down with a cozy blanket by the fire.

In the meantime, our dog is enjoying all the snow - but if we get anymore it will soon be over his head!

 

 

 

Hope you are keeping warm and enjoying the remainder of the Christmas season!  I will be back in a  day or two with a 2013 round-up.

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my readers! I am grateful every time you take a moment to stop by and read my humble, little blog.

And while some Christmas décor didn't get done, and I bought a dessert from the bakery instead of baking one myself, and a number of other things didn't happen this year, they are simply not what's important.  I will let go of the "if only"  because as Dr. Suess so wisely wrote:

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,

Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"

Hoping you all can "let go" of the "if only's" and enjoy the love of your family and friends.  Decorating and creating can wait for another day. Now it is time to celebrate life.

Merry Christmas to you all!  Jesus Christ is born this day! Alleluia!

Jane

It's Nearly Christmas!

Well, Christmas is practically upon us......how fast the season has flown by!!! I still have to do a bit of grocery shopping and pick up a few last minute things, but for the most part I am as ready as I'm going to be.  Looking forward to sitting back, relaxing, and enjoying the holiday magic!

 

We had an early extended family Christmas this past Saturday with my side.....31 in all! We had a nacho and margarita bar theme, so prep and clean up was a breeze and it was a big hit with young and old.

 

 

Butterscotch, our cat, was all decked out in his new Christmas collar and awaiting guests!

 

 

 

 

 

My kitchen table was sporting a Pottery Barn vase filled with candies and placed in an old Coke crate.  The Santa hats were a Christmas craft gone bad....but I haven't given up on the idea yet.  It will return (less droopy!) next year. Still, they are cute and will remain for the next few days.

 

 

 

Normally a pile of shoes like this would have me breaking out in a sweat and having an anxiety attack, but Saturday night it was a  symbol of all the love that was in our house!!! This, in fact, may be my favorite picture of the night!

Or.......

perhaps this picture is my favorite.  Some of the great nieces & nephews hanging out on the couch.  They are just the cutest!

Or......
this precious lady giving Santa a hug.  Love her!

And at the end of the evening, Butterscotch returned to his spot under the tree to dream of all the Christmas fun he had.

 

 

Merry Christmas to you all.  I hope the season brings you blessings to your soul and that you are able to spend it with your loved ones - in person or in spirit.

 

As always,

thanks for stopping by,

Jane

 

Christmas partying with:

 

Metamorphosis Monday



Amaze Me Monday
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Inspire Us Tuesdays
The Scoop

My Favorite Chair!

 

Hi everyone!

 

I was more than thrilled when One Kings Lane approached me to write about my favorite chair! Their décor tool, Home Decor Resource Guide, includes a fun and informative insight into a myriad of topics regarding chairs. From history to styles to fabric care - there is so much to learn from this guide and it really is invaluable if you are looking for that special piece to add to your home (or if you just want to learn more about something you already own.)_

 

I knew which chair I was going to write about as soon as they contacted me.  It is a comfy, upholstered chair in our den.  Made by Best Chair Company in Indiana, my club-styled chair is called Tyne and it is fabric #30105, a tapestry. I also am pretty psyched that it is made in the USA!

 

I looked high and low for just the right chair for this room until I found this one.  In fact, when I started my hunt I decided to shop like I had an unlimited budget to spend.  This was a great experiment that I have used again and again.....it helps me define what I really like, and from there I either have to find a similar item or, as in the case of this chair, I find exactly what I want with the right price tag.

The fabric is a beautiful golden tobacco color, and I just love the big floral print.  It has a bit of a lively attitude - a perfect foil to a room that can get a little serious. I think it goes well with the many woodtones in this room - from the desk to the floor.

The drapery panels came from Pier One clearance and they pick up the coral/orange in some of the flowers in the chair fabric. Unfortunately, the picture doesn't truly represent the color of the drapery - but take my word from it - it looks great!

I love the "skirtless" bottom of the chair so this beauty can show off her curvy legs! I especially like this style for smaller rooms because it helps give the illusion of space.

Thank you, One Kings Lane, for the opportunity to 'share my chair!' I truly do love it and it is my favorite chair in our home.  Be sure to check out One Kings Lane for more information on chairs and to shop their amazing sales.  You won't be disappointed - and their inventory is always changing!

 

As always....

thanks for stopping by,

 

Jane

 

Wow Us Wednesday

 

 





Christmas Comes to the Man Cave





Hi everyone!  Just checking in to show you some of the "man cave" décor this year.  We do a lot of entertaining this time of year, and the man cave is the main destination with it's three TV's, comfy furniture, and a bar that seats twelve or more!  (I keep telling ya folks - we are from Wisconsin!)

Anyway, I try to keep things somewhat rustic down there.  This year I picked up some wonderful vintage toys that I am using in my vignettes.  I added the awesome Tonka truck I won on EBay and the toy mailbox.  My dad was a mail carrier, so it is a sentimental piece for me.  (I have another vintage mailbox I used this Christmas you can see here.)

A closer shot of the truck.  I placed it on a tree round that my daughter received as a souvenir from a lumberjack show when she was little.  (in fact, one of the lumberjacks at the time was Sean Duffy, who appeared on one of the first seasons of the Real World and is now a WI State Senator).

 Hopefully I will have more of this room to show later!!!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

 

Inspire Me Tuesday

Make it Pretty Monday

 



PomPon Wreath

 Slow this runaway train down! Just can't believe we are a mere nine days away from Christmas - for someone who has been preparing since Dec. 26, 2012, I am at a loss as to why I am so far behind!!! Yikes!!!

Deep breath.  Ok. The other day I showed a glimpse of a pompon wreath I made for my daughter's bathroom and now I thought I would show you how easy it is to put together.  In fact, there is still time for you to make one - mine took about 45 minutes from start to finish!

Her bathroom is done is pink, black, and white - so traditional Christmas décor just looks kinda funny in that space.  I have made wreathes like this one years & years ago, so I knew how easy (and cheap!) it would be to make.

So.......I used a straw wreath form, a skein of pink yarn, scissors, and my trusty glue gun.  I wrapped the yarn around my left hand 40 times, slid it off, and secured it in the middle with a small piece of yarn.  (sorry! I didn't take a picture, but really, it is self-explanatory!) After I made like a gazillion of these, I cut through all the loopy ends and shazam! I had my own pompons! 

I then started on the inside of the wreath, gluing them tightly next to each other until I covered the entire wreath.  It is that easy! It took less than a skein of yarn to cover my wreath, so the entire cost was way under $10.

Once it was done, I thought it looked a little "blah" and needed a little pizzazz - so I found a $1.00 clip Christmas ornament at WalMart and simply clipped it into place.

 

 

Every girls bathroom needs a little sparkly zebra, don't you agree?

I really like how this turned out and it fits perfectly with her bathroom décor which you can see here.

 



 

 

 

On another note, today is my birthday and I am so lucky.........I get to have a root canal this afternoon! Say what?

Yep, that's how I am celebrating.  (I need to re-think my inner party animal, because I am SURE I should have planned something a bit more fun!)  Mr. Bluebird, Sweet Daughter, and I celebrated yesterday - and I have something wonderful to share with you AFTER the holidays from our shopping adventure.  So, I am okay with the root canal. I think.......

 

Hoping you survive the days before Christmas with a happy heart!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Jane

 

Amaze Me Mondays

Metamorphosis Monday

The DIY'ers

 

 

 



December Randoms

Happy Saturday everyone!

 

I have been in full Christmas mode today, finishing up some decorating and such.  Just wanted to pop up with a few random things that have me smiling today.

 



 

First, check out these adorable Santa bags from WalMart! Aren't they just the cutest? I have filled them up with some Christmas surprises for my great-nieces & nephews when they are here for our big family gathering next Saturday.  I am thinking about monogramming Santa's hat if time allows.

 

I filled my giant Ball jar with faux snow and a chalkware Santa.  I really like the simplicity of it. I have had the Vaillancourt Santa for years & years - he's actually part of a larger collection I have.  I don't put them all out every year like I used to - been toning it done a bit lately.

 

And last, I am making a pink pompon Christmas wreath for my daughter's bathroom.  It is super easy - I will show you how (and the finished wreath!) soon.  

That's it for my little check in today.  Hoping you are getting done what needs to get done and enjoying the process!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jane

Christmas Mantel

Sharing my Christmas mantel today.  I always need to find room for the father Christmas art from Kirkland's - I've had it for years now, and I just love the holiday feel it gives the room.  The stockings I made when our daughter was born - last year we added one for her boyfriend.  Although there may be trendier, prettier stockings out in the world today, I would never trade these in.  They are beautiful to me because of the many Christmas seasons they have been through! Family treasures and traditions - do you use those when you decorate for the holidays too?

 

 

I used a green garland with white lights, added a cranberry garland, and then filled in with green and red Christmas ornaments and green twirly picks to give it some movement and a fun element.  They I used various stars to complete the look.  I like to keep the mantel simple because I tend to have a lot of décor going around throughout the room.

 

 

Few things can rival a Christmas mantel in my book - so inviting and homey.  Just the way I like it at holiday time!

 

Thanks for stopping by

 

Jane