I've found my dream house, well, one of them. I love so many different styles of homes, but it's no secret that historic homes have my heart. I've decided that this is the one that I'm buying, IF I win the mega millions in the next couple of days. The house is on the market for $500,000 and worth every cent of it in my opinion.
For those of you who don't know, my husband and I often go on self-guided tours of historic neighborhoods. I've always got my cellphone out and ready to jot down the addresses of any interesting looking residences that are listed for sale so I can check them out on the internet later.
As soon as I laid eyes on this house I knew that it was special (even if the location didn't look like it had half a million dollar homes). The house is old AND yellow--I have an affinity for yellow homes :-) However, not even my wildest imagination could have prepared me for all the gloriousness that was inside this sunny hued gem. But enough talk, allow me to show you my soon to be new home :-)
Isn't it nice? Wait until you step inside!
Now that's an entrance! I love how refined this home is.
Here's the living room. I even like the décor, although it isn't my style, the homeowners did a good job!
Lovely mix of old and new!
Lots of storage space!!! & It looks so elegant.
The Master bedroom
I would always relax by the fire with one of my books...how nice is that?
Master bathroom
Lots of space for the child's room. There is also a bathroom attached to this space as well.
And I could chill here all day long!
Back view of the home...gee wiz!
The Yard
I could easily go from room to room right from the balcony! Luv it!
And here is an original pic!
It goes without saying that I am in love with this house, with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and more chill space than I deserve, it would be more than suitable for all of my needs. I almost forgot, the master bathroom has a huge closet and even a washer and dryer of its own--say whattt? That's right up my alley. I've already memorized the address, now all I need to do is scope out the shops & restaurants in the area. Wish me luck, I definitely need to hit the lottery for this one. If you're interested in seeing more pictures google 338 W. Harrison Ave in Royal Oak MI. See this house has my name written all over it, literally!
Note: I actually changed things up a tad bit since I made this post, but my camera is acting weird, go figure. I will definitely have to have that fixed before the big day :-) 2 more days!!!
Christmastime is super exciting when you have a kid in the house, it becomes magical again. Because of that, we could hardly wait to get our Christmas décor up, let's take a look!
I picked up this garland from JoAnn Fabric's on Black Friday...aren't the little birdies darling?
Here's the right side of mantel
And the left...I'm aware that it looks like a lot is going on here, however, in person it doesn't come off that way :)
$2 garland! $1 for the greenery & $1 for the bows. The hubby actually helped me put all the little bows in their places...how sweet!
The tree
This year I decided to change out my ornaments. Previously, I coordinated my tree with the colors in my furniture, now I wanted something more traditional. I went for a muted old fashioned tree with ornaments reminiscent of yesteryear. I kept my magnolia clips as a nod to my family's hometown, Minden, LA.
Now on to the tablescape!
I've found that I really enjoy decorating my table. I wish that money were no object, I could come up with some pretty cool designs then. Originally, I wanted a 'White Christmas' theme, but that fell through pretty quickly. In the end I decided to decorate with things I already had (with the exception of my DYI trees). So what was the theme? 'Christmas in the Woods' (I just make this stuff up :-P). While I opted for more traditional colors in the living room area I knew that I wanted something earthy to give my table a natural feel. The color scheme ended up being gold, brown, and green.
For some reason even though I had abandoned my White Christmas idea I still wanted to incorporate my snow blanket--horrible, horrible idea. It ended up getting stuck to my garland, tearing apart, and causing me to waste precious time picking white fluff from my greenery--not the way I wanted to spend my time. Once that little mishap was behind me things went pretty smoothly, here's the final results:
I began by laying the garland in sort of a zig-zag. I then placed everything else around it.
I didn't want anything to be symmetrical, so each mate is placed a bit off from the other. See the trees from last week? I told you they worked well ;-)
If you follow my blog you've seen this lantern more than just once. My mom really made my day with this gift. It is the focal point for my Christmas table this year.
What are the woods without a little wildlife? I love the deer figurines that I see around lately, but they are a little too pricy for my budget. The solution? Dollar store ornaments, 2 for a $1. I then popped a few bulbs in my candle holder to match the plates and chargers and I was done.
I love my tablescape and I think it will look even better all lit up on Christmas evening. Until then I will enjoy it as is.
So that's that. My Christmas décor for 2015. The outside of our house is lit nightly in a Star Shower (the easy laser lights that are popping up all around town), but like I said, my camera is tripping :( If you have pictures of your festive décor I would love to see it. Until the next time guys. XO & have a happy and blessed holiday!!!
Sigh. My writing room. I was supposed to post on this a while back, I've even had a couple of people acquire about the illusive space that I refer to as my 'Romantic Writing Room'. The thing is, the room isn't done...by far. I feel like I've started this post and stopped a hundred times. But as another blogger I read would say, "Home wasn't built in a day." Getting my space the way I want it is a process, and I've matured enough not to rush it. Ok, so now that we have that out the way-- you have to listen to this song as you read this post, just pacify me, please ;-) Replace the word love with room and that's totally how I feel. I need a room of my own BAD, LOL!
Please don't get me wrong. I LOVE my fellas. I adore them. My heart beats for them. But there are times when I just don't want to hear sneakers screeching across the basketball floor on the T.V, or the sound of Hot Wheels dislodging from the station. It's times that I despise the roar of cars racing on the Velocity channel. And yes, there are even times when I can't take another moment of the Thomas the Train theme song.
I'm not a girly girl, by any means, but I need some 'lady space'. Sometimes I want nothing more than to chill, throw on some Erykah Badu (or whoever else I'm feeling at the moment), and burn my incense without people choking and claiming to be on death's door due to allergies. I want to sit silently in the dark as I burn my candles without anyone complaining that they need more light. I want to power up my computer and escape into the world of romance where the men say all the right things at all the right times. I want to read a book and pretend that I am the main character--the love interest. I want to daydream in peace.
Being the only woman in the house can be challenging. Few things give my son as much joy as blowing out a candle, and my hubby has a thing for opening curtains and completely destroying my ambiance. So when he agreed that I should have a space just for me, I was over the moon! The room was described as the library/study on the listing--but I refer to it as my romantic writing room :-)
If you read my 'about me' section then you already know that I am an aspiring romance author, well I'm a romance author aspiring to be published--that's more like it. The room serves as my retreat, an escape inside of my own home, somewhere just for ME. There are three walls of windows which is lovely since I'm a huge nature lover. I can honestly say that it's truly the best of both worlds!
I'm still in the process of decorating, but the goal was to keep the décor light and airy--a bit feminine (something I usually don't go for), reflective of romance I suppose. Here's what it looks like so far:
Remember when I painted these pieces a while back? Here they are in their home :) It's one of the first things you see when you enter the room.
This is the view as you walk into the room. I'm still looking for the perfect area rug. Usually I would purchase something just to have it done, but not this time. I have an idea of what I want and I don't want to settle.
These bins are where I store my son's toys ;-) I think it's functional without interrupting the feel of the room. This picture is a bit old though, I now have decorative pieces and pictures in the bare spaces. The top of the shelf is decorated differently also--or should I say decorated. This pic is from when I first purchased the shelf.
The table was gifted to me by a very close family friend (he gifted me a couple of awesome things when we moved). Originally I was going to paint it, however, the shabby chic look has worn on me. I also decided to go with two different style of drapes. I figured to do all printed ones would be too much in the space, so I paired it with gray sheers. I was happy with the end results, and trust me, the curtain process gave me a headache. There are 12 windows in just this one room.
The last pic is a bit old too, so this one is from tonight (can you see my snow blanket on the shelf? lol). I found this pretty bowl a couple of weeks ago and it goes well with the throw pillows on my couch :) Doesn't hurt that it was on clearance either.
Here's a close up of the bowl. I like it lots!
Since I had my camera out, I took a shot of this too, remember my lamp project? I still haven't found a shade for it :( Never mind, the Christmas snow decoration again. The candle holder on the right is my great-grandmother's and was gifted to me from my granny just last week. I have a matching set! :-)
Here's the cherub table to match!
My view most of the time when I'm writing. I usually have my candles going, so it's really nice. Real chill vibe.
This lantern my mom bought for me sits on my shelf, it's one of my favorite things in the room. It's currently a part of my Christmas tablescape, but its real home is in my writing room.
Pictures are something that means a lot to me--especially old ones. This pic of my granny in her younger years sits next to me as I write. I have a couple of my favorite fragrances there too, in case of a description emergency, lol.
And this date night shot sits on my shelf (my grandparents are the middle couple) <3
I love this little plate. Not sure what it is supposed to be used for, but I use it to hold my rings and other small items until I get around to putting them where they belong :-P
And what do we have here? A little visitor attempting to infiltrate my space as we speak :-D
It goes without saying that my fellas are always welcome. The outdoorsy feel of the room makes it much too special to keep it all to myself. Nevertheless, when they're engulfed in their 'guy stuff' I now have somewhere to sneak off to...and did I mention that my husband has a man room? He has a man room complete with model cars stored in a display case and a fire engine red entertainment center--so I don't feel so bad about having my space. I think it's only fair that I have my own retreat ;-)
There is still a lot of things to tackle, more than I care to even think about. I have a huge wall of blank space that's just begging for some art and I have yet to find a lot of what I want. But it will all come together in time. I'm just thankful to have my space, it gets the job done. Until the next time guys. XO!
Hey Guys! Here's another Christmas DYI. Want some mini trees for your tabletop or mantel? They're surprisingly easy to make! On a random trip to the dollar store I picked up a couple of cone shaped foams; at the time I had no idea how I would use them, but I knew they looked a lot like trees and it's the Christmas season, hooray! Once I decided on a natural/woodsy theme for my table décor, I decided to do a simple moss tree. For this project you will need:
Cone shaped foam
Floral Moss
A base
Hot glue gun
Hot glue
Here's the materials I used.
A few things, because I wanted my cone to look like a tree I opted for Floral Moss instead of Spanish Moss. Floral Moss looks more green while Spanish Moss appears dry and brown. You can probably decorate these foams with just about anything (beads, lace, flowers, candy, etc.), the key is just to try it and have fun.
Also, I used a simple candlestick as my base. I imagine a tin, small planter, or even a gift box would also work well. I went with the candlestick because I thought it would add a bit of simple elegance. If you decide to use a candlestick, remember that it can be painted to offer a different look... gotta love those possibilities ;-)
Because this project is so simple it feels silly to write steps, so I'll omit them. Simply cover the foam in a bit of hot glue and add the moss by pressing it into the glue. Although the mini trees are easy to make, it can be very time consuming. You want to make sure that none of the foam is showing beneath your moss--in my case that meant adding several layers.
It goes without saying to be careful. Hot glue burns like the dickens on your skin! The moss isn't pretty on your hot glue gun either. If you have more than one gun use the one that you don't mind having pieces of moss stuck to for all of eternity. Once you're done applying the moss, simply dab a bit of hot glue on the base as well as the middle of the cone and hold it in place for a few seconds until it sticks.
And Wahla!
Here's the finished product:
Even though I made these trees for Christmas I think they could be used anytime of the year. Ball shaped foams may also work well if you're going for a topiary feel.
I really like the way my mini trees turned out and my husband likes them even more than I do! In the next week or so I'll show you how I used them in my tablescape, be sure to check back in ;-) These may not look like much now, but they compliment the rest of the décor extremely well if I say so myself.
I think a set of these guys would also make excellent gifts. Can you imagine these in a beautiful box? :-)
If you decide to experiment with mini trees I'd love to see your results. Leave a picture in the comment section or just tell me what you think about the ones here.
Christmastime is here again and I'm in the full swing of things. This past weekend my family totally Christmasfied our house! In the next couple of weeks I'll talk more about our holiday décor, but for right now I'd like to give you the inside scoop on how to make a cheap & super cute door wreath.
As always, this time of year snuck up on me (as if I haven't known for a whole year that it would be Christmas time again). My plan was to have a HUGE door wreath with all types of holiday goodness crafted by my mom. Unfortunately, it just wasn't in the budget to get all the things I would have needed to make my vision a reality.
So rather than wallow in irritation, I decided to make my very own cheap wreath to display. By the way, you can get everything that you need for this wreath at the dollar store if you're feeling frugal (I'm always feeling frugal). *YAY!*
Here's what you'll need:
3 small foam wreaths
2 9ft (thick) ribbons
1 roll of skinny ribbon
1 Christmas ornament
Hot glue gun
Hot glue sticks
Scissors
Because pictures are worth a thousand words ;-)
Start by taking one of the wreaths and wrapping the thick ribbon around it until it is fully covered. I find it to be easiest if you start with a dab of hot glue to keep the ribbon nice and secure as you wrap.
Once all three of your wreaths are wrapped to your liking tie them together with the smaller ribbon.
I decided to use a really pretty printed burlap and a red velvet ribbon for contrast. I love the way they look together, but be warned, different ribbons may be more difficult to work with. The burlap was much easier to wrap than the velvet (it was stiff).
3. Take the decorative ornament and glue it where desired. That's it, you're done!
Originally, I was going to glue the ornament directly to my velvet wreath. However, I decided to use my last bit of printed burlap to stretch across the middle and tie it all together. Well, what do you think? :-)
This project was so super easy, and the finished product looks really nice on the door. Although this isn't the illuminated, winter glory that my mom would have created, it is a nice alternative and now my door doesn't have to be nakey.
If you decide to make a similar wreath I'd love to see your creations. Leave a pic in the comments or just say hi. Until the next time...XO!
A fellow blogger (that I enjoy reading) decided to make a post on ten things that she's thankful for (you can see her blog--Dressing Our Nest here). Needless to say, I thought that it was a pretty cool idea. Apparently, thankful post are a thing right now, so I figured I'd go ahead and throw my hat into the ring. Why not? With Thanksgiving just a day away, it's the perfect time to reflect. So here's my list of ten things that I am incredibly thankful for.
1. My family.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my family. I am blessed to have people around me that love & support me, & have my best interest at heart. The women in my life are my guardian angels--always going above and beyond. My son gives me my fair share of giggles and kisses, and my husband is truly dedicated to our family and enriching our lives. Honestly, I hit the family jackpot--if I do say so myself ;-)
My granny, my mom, and I enjoying ourselves in good ol' San Juan.
2. My Friends. Whether I talk to my friends everyday or not, we can always pick right up from where we left off. I am fortunate to have people in my life that "get me" and my many quirks. They will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Friendship is like wetting your pants, everyone can see it, but only you feel the true warmth, lol :-P (and yes I included my mom and husband in the pics because they are two of my very best friends).
3. My Health. Its one of those things that can sometimes be overlooked, but I am extremely thankful for my health--and the health of those that I love. Being equip with reasonable strength, in my right mind, and being able to do for myself is priceless. I DO NOT take it for granted.
Throwback. Chasing my little guy around the park.
4. My Home. Even after all of our renovations my house still needs a ton of work. Everywhere my eyes land I can pinpoint something that needs to be fixed, but it beats the heck out of being out on the streets! God blessed us to be able to become homeowners last year and honestly it's been a trying ride. However, at the end of the day I have someplace to call my own and my son absolutely loves the space, so it's all good!
Home Sweet Home!
5. Music. It's the soundtrack to our lives. Music has gotten me through some pretty tough times as well as set the tone for some pretty amazing ones. Without music I would be lost! There is nothing quite like the joy I feel when I discover a "new to me" tune or simply jam to some of my old favorites. The feeling is glorious.
I Miss You is one of my all time favorites!
6. A Clean House. I can't relax until my house is clean, so for me a clean house represents peace & who doesn't like a little peace of mind?
My son enjoying his Kindle after a fresh house cleaning.
7. A Hot Shower. Is there anything better? If there is then I truly don't deserve it. The aroma of the shower gel, the feel of the water massaging your body, the idea of being clean...it's all so intoxicating. I have a sneaky suspicion that hot showers come straight from heaven ;-)
Simply magnificent...maybe one day...*sigh*
8. Trips. It's always nice to get away and experience something new. There's nothing better than your only responsibility being to have fun for a couple of days. As equally as good as the trip is the excitement leading up to it. Knowing that you will be able to "peace out" the job for a few days is a treat all of its own.
Hiking through the rainforest. There's nothing like new experiences :-) & I love building fond memories.
9. Pictures. I loved them before they were hot. Before Facebook, before Instagram, it was just me and my disposable camera. To me, pictures are sort of like time capsules. They capture a moment, a memory, a feeling. I'm not sure there are many things (if any) that bring to the table what pictures do. I am without a doubt a stone cold fan.
A old Father's Day Collage, and YES I print my pics!
10. MeTime. Whether I am quietly sitting with a book, writing my own novel, listening to music, doing arts and crafts, or spending a meaningful moment with someone that I enjoy, my "me time" is something that I TRULY look forward to. It's not often that I get to do what I want--the responsibilities of adulthood often dictate my day. So those rare moments that what I do is solely up to discretion is magical, and I couldn't be more thankful for them.
For my 30th I had the ultimate 'me time' experience at the Wickwood Inn. I did nothing but read, write, and sip wine in front of the fire on the cold winter's day. Go here to see more of their rooms.
So there you have it, ten things that I am extremely grateful for. With so much going on in the world and in our personal lives, sometimes it's nice to just take a moment and reflect on the many things that we have to be grateful for--big and small. I could have easily made this list go on and on--and that, I believe, is a blessing. So now it's your turn, what are some of the things that you're thankful for?
