It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We had our first snowfall here and it was just enough to make it seem like it really is the Christmas season. My home got a light dusting of Christmas, too. I didn't go overboard like I usually do, but here are my favorite areas: First, up: the living room:

I apologize for the lighting on the following pictures, but if I wait for a sunny day, these will never get posted. I should have taken them all at once because the lighting was really good for the ones in the living room. Oh well, lessons learned.

Second: Little vignette in the hallway:




















The Kitchen:
I love this window sill, but since we've added the screened porch, the light doesn't come through as much and it's not as spectacular as it once was with the sun shining through the blue bottles. It still makes me smile while doing dishes, though. I love that I have everything in my yard to clip -- the holly and pine, that is. Flowers are from Trader Joes.

Family room: I haven't really moved beyond this point with my decorations. Slowly, but surely!

Notice the shiplap on the wall. P.S. It's not "real" shiplap. Post about that to come. Well, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all just in case I don't get back here before that!

Linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday; click here

Happy Thanksgiving ..Grateful for so much!

So, my friend Cassie inspired me to share what I am grateful for. If you haven't read her blog, you must! It's one of my favorites. She is very talented: designing, painting and writing. I thought I had energy -- she blows me with her enthusiasm for life. Find her blog here.
And, I am grateful for ...

1. My family. They are the best and I'm sad that my two oldest live far from me. Well, my middle son is only 3 hours away, but still.
2. My beautiful and amazing new daughter-in-law. She is one special person and we are so happy to have her as part of our family.
3. That I will become a grandma next year. Woo hoo!
4. My new dog, Maisie. We adopted her from Turkey. and she is aMaising (get it?)

5. That we could hold a beautiful, meaningful and fun wedding in our back yard (you will see the results in future posts).
6. I am just plain grateful. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Screened Porch Reveal...only about 7 months later

I love, love, love my screened in porch. If you live in a hot, humid area (during the summer and sometimes fall and spring) and mosquitoes are abundant, it's a must for enjoying the outdoors. I practically lived out there this summer (when I wasn't working). I told you about a wicker set I found at an online yard sale for $50 -- cushions and all! Well, I spent about $300 to get them recovered and I couldn't be happier. They are exactly what I wanted.

I took my time looking for a table for out there and ended up buying one at the Habitat for Humanity Re-store for $100 and get this -- it's from restoration hardware! It had a broken leg and my handy husband fixed it. I coated it with a matte polyurethane and we were good to go! Bought the four chairs at Bed, Bath and Beyond on sale and I am still on the hunt for two chairs at the end. I have patience and I know I will find them.

I found this nifty bottle cap opener and collector at Home Goods. I painted the blue stripes to coordinate with my cushions.

This "side table" is actually a hamper I found at a consignment shop for $20. I spray painted it black to match the wicker and found a glass round top at a local hotel consignment dealer for $5. This place has everything from mirrors to paintings to lamps and, of course, round glass tops!

I'm now in the process of putting everything away for the winter so I will probably show it off again this summer when all my hydrangeas are in bloom. In the meantime, I'm linking to Metomorphis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch. Click here to join the party!

From Roadside to Back Porch: Old Hutch Transformation

It's been awhile. Between hosting a wedding in my backyard, touring colleges and trying to get my son ready for his junior year of high school, I've been busy. However, I wanted to show off a project I did before the wedding (don't worry...a post about the wedding -- maybe several posts) will be coming in the near future.

I walk/run every day, which allows me first dibs on roadside finds if I'm fast enough. I happened to be walking past a house when a guy was carrying out this old hutch to set it at the end of his driveway. I promptly told him to put it back and I would be back in 20 minutes to pick it up! I had a vision.

Ever since reading the wonderful blog, Between Naps on the Porch, I knew I wanted a hutch to hold all of my outside glassware (actually plasticware) and items for the grill. So, after coaxing my husband to help me load it into the truck, I went to work.

I sanded it and primed it and used exterior black paint to match my wicker -- exterior so it would stand up to the weather as it's not really meant to be outdoors. I figured even if it only lasts a few years, it was basically free!

Here it is before. I meant to snap a photo of it with the glass doors on it, but I forgot!

I told a scrap piece of bead board (from our porch ceiling) and attached it to the back. I wanted it to pop against the black and tie in the color from my cushions. This blue paint did the job!

And, here it is...tah dah!!

I'm linking this to Metamorphis Monday on the very blog I told you about...Between Naps on the Porch! Click here to join the party!

Bridal Shower Tea Party

Just last weekend, I hosted a bridal shower tea party for my future daughter-in-law. It was so much fun to plan and even more fun having it!! I tried some new recipes and with the help of one of her lovely bridesmaids, we actually pulled it off. Here are the results (I bet you'll be hungry after reading this!).

 Invites designed by my sister and me.

Everyone got to choose their own tea cup to keep! I've been collecting them for more than 30 years (time to purge!!)

Fun little game. Winner got to keep the pitcher and candy.

I designed these letters and created the tea caddy from an old toolbox.

I created the cake/cookie plates from candlesticks and dishes. Collected a bunch of vintage plates just for this shower. I love them!

Teabag shortbread cookies dipped in dark mint chocolate!

Apple and puff pastry roses...hard to make, but oh, aren't they pretty?!

Lemon curd blossoms. 

Easy as pie!

Lots of goodies!

The bride-to-be and me  (in our party hats!)

Linking to Make it Pretty Monday at  the Dedicated House. Visit here.

Coming along slowly, but surely ...

Our screened in porch is structurally finished. We just need to add the screen and the screen door and I'll be able to unload all of the wicker stacked up in my family room (not that a screen will protect it from the elements, but it will cause a lot of dust so the less the better.)

I'm super excited to get to work on a few projects for the porch. Namely, a hutch that I plan on transforming with paint and some beadboard.
Speaking of projects, I'm starting to get ready for my future daughter-in-law's bridal shower, which myself and her maid of honor are hosting. We're having a tea party and I've been living on Pinterest -- so many ideas!! And those ideas give me my own ideas -- so much fun. The first project is to transform the old toolbox (right) into
a tea caddy. Working on that today.
Check back soon for a reveal !


SaveSave

Unbelieveable Yard Sale Finds

I have had great luck this year with yard/estate sales. Bargains beyond belief!

First, an older lighthouse bed and breakfast in my neighborhood had an estate sale. I can't believe the buys that I got! These people just wanted everything gone so prices were $1-$5 on most items (most of the furniture was gone when I discovered the sale). Above, a whole truckload of goods. Old handmade toolboxes, an antique tractor wheel, a bench, heavy ceramic planters, tools...

We also bought this boat for $5; we are going to turn it into a drink station for the wedding (and maybe a planter after the wedding).

I have visions of making this wagon wheel into a table.

I also got these adorable (one solid brass) lanterns for $1 each...I have no clue what I will do with them -- they are none working, but maybe candle holders? Just decoration?

Finally, I got a whole wicker set at a different sale -- settee, coffee table, end table, rocker and chair -- for $50! And, it's beautiful wicker. Oh, and she threw in all of the cushions. It is stacked in my family room (the porch isn't finished yet). Since I spent so little, I elected to splurge and have them professional re-covered .... you will see them in an upcoming post.That's all for now!

New Year, New News!!

Is anyone still out there? Readers, I think I am back. I have so much to tell you and so many projects going on it's just crazy. Believe me, I have so much to post!!

So...what is going on? Well, my oldest is getting married this spring -- in my backyard! There will be fun posts coming up. So, of course, in order to prepare for the festivities we are doing major renovations. A screened in porch, a patio, landscaping, painting! Nothing like having a wedding to get you moving! We got the patio and porch floor poured and it's stamped concrete! Cool stuff -- looks like slate. Above, this is before they added the dark stain and coating. For some reason I didn't take final photos, but you'll be able to see it in update photos.

So, here's how far we are with the porch...just the framing and trim so far (yes, I know winter is here, but contractors have failed to show up). So, looks like we'll be building over the winter.

Next blog...some amazing yard sale finds. Stay tuned!