Harrison Home

STENCILED BASKET TUTORIAL: WORLD MARKET KNOCKOFF

2012-03-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

In an ongoing effort to get organized this year, I was browsing through World Market the other day and saw a basket that was stenciled with the word "Organization" on it. It was so cute (sorry took a picture with my phone but can't download it, and they don't have a photo of it online!).. and of course I thought "I could totally make that!"

The basket I already had, but I did have to buy stencils because I have terrible writing, they were on sale at Hobby Lobby for a few dollars. After taping the letters on (I only had one "F" stencil so I had to wait for the first one to dry then add the next one!) I painted using white wall paint and a stencil brush. It was hard to get in between the weave so after the first coat I took off the stencil and using a small angled brush I filled in the spaces. Here is what I ended up with...

I decided to write "Stuff" on it because it really is going to be used for just that! I also didn't want to make it to specific like "Toys" so that I could move it around the house where needed. I am happy with how it turned out and plan to make another one for my office...any suggestions on what it could say?

{jen}

Linking this project to:

www.betweennapsontheporch.com

www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com

www.homestoriesatoz.com

www.52mantels.com

www.tatertotsandjello.com

www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

www.southernlovely.blogspot.com

www.atthepicketfence.com

www.itsoverflowing.com

www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com

www.stuff-and-nonsense.net

www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

www.daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com

www.everycreativeendeavor.com

www.fivedaysfiveways.com

www.homestoriesatoz.com

www.the36thavenue.com

Thank you to all the hosts!

(You can also find buttons to all the parties under my WEEKLY LINKY'S page above)

HOME SWEET....

2012-03-05T18:01:00.000-06:00

Sarah at the blog Home Sweet... has passed the Liebster Award to Harrison Home! You can check out her sweet home here...

Thank you Sarah for the recognition and kind words!

You can also view the blogs I had previously passed the Liebster Award to here.

{jen}

BAFFLED BY BOARD AND BATTEN

2012-03-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Is anyone else as hooked on board and batten as I am? I want it everywhere in my house! I am thinking about it in the master bedroom and have been "pinning" it all week! I can't decide if I want:

Floor to ceiling:

via

3/4 of the way up the wall:

via

A wider "block" style:

via

or a thinner straight line top to bottom:

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Do I want it just on the "bed wall" or all the walls? Hmmmmm..... opinions?

{jen}

GROCERIES: 5 STEP WOOD SIGN TUTORIAL

2012-02-27T13:10:00.001-06:00

Is it really Monday already.. where did the weekend go!? I thought I would have at least one finished project to show you, but STILL NOT DONE! Aggghhhh... I was busy taking care of a sick toddler though :( So instead I thought I would share with you a little craft I did a while ago... I was loving all the wooden signs I kept seeing on Pinterest and thought I would give it a try...

I bought a piece of cedar fencing from Home Depot (around $1.50)...

STEP 1:

I found a font I liked just in basic Microsoft Word and printed it out to the size I wanted (I used the "word art" tool). Then I cut out each individual letter and taped it onto the wood.

STEP 2:

Trace around all the letters

STEP 3:

I used black wall paint (it was all I had on hand!) and a small angled brush to paint the letters

STEP 4:

Sand each letter to give it a worn, aged look

STEP 5:

Trim the ends to the desired length using a hand saw so it will maintain the rough, unfinished edges. Then we hung it using picture hooks.

I still need to go over it with some polyurethane so the wood stays this color..I decided not to paint the wood first because I liked how the raw color tied to the finish on the table.

Super easy!

{jen}

Linking to:

www.betweennapsontheporch.com

www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com

www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com

www.homestoriesatoz.com

www.52mantels.com

www.tatertotsandjello.com

www.savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

www.southernlovely.blogspot.com

www.atthepicketfence.com

www.itsoverflowing.com

www.fingerprintsonthefridge.com

www.stuff-and-nonsense.net

www.frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

www.daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.com

www.everycreativeendeavor.com

www.fivedaysfiveways.com

www.homestoriesatoz.com

Thank you to all the hosts!

{you can also find all the links to the parties under my Weekly Linky tab at the top of the page}

TERRIFIC TABLESCAPES

2012-02-23T11:35:00.000-06:00

I love a beautiful tablescape.. I am just not that good at creating them, but I am really good at "pinning" them! So since I am still up to my eyeballs in "projects" with nothing to show for it yet (hopefully I will have something completed after this weekend!) I thought I would share with you some of my favorites..... wouldn't you love to be a guest at one of these dinner parties!

source

I think I have full blown spring fever!

Have a great weekend!

{jen}

BLOG HOP PARTY

2012-02-20T07:00:00.000-06:00

Have you linked up to the Blog Hop Party yet? I can't wait to sit down with a cup of coffee (or two) and find some new inspiring blogs...

I would love to hear about any great blogs you found too!

I will be back in a few days with some of the projects we have been working on around here.. but right now it is a HOT MESS! AHHHHHH...

{jen}

HOME vs. WARDROBE

2012-02-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

I was looking at my "pins" the other day and noticed similarities between my "fashion" and "for the home" boards... an obvious consistency with patterns and colors. Hmmm... I wonder which I go to first?

via

unknown

via

Which comes first for you....your wardrobe for your home, or your home for your wardrobe? Maybe you hadn't even noticed, but I bet if you look in your closet, or on your "fashion" and "for the home" Pinterest boards you will see the similarities!

HAPPY STYLING!

{jen}

LOVE, HEARTS, XOXO, BE MINE

2012-02-14T08:18:00.002-06:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

{Photo by K Lynne Photography}

xoxo,

{jen}

VALENTINE MANTEL: TAKE 2

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

My husbands 40th birthday party was last weekend, so I took down the Valentine's mantel I had done a couple weeks ago (click {here} to see it). I didn't want to mix the birthday decorations with Valentines, but when the party was over and it was time to put it back up I got to thinking.. I want to do something different, something that symbolizes Valentines Day rather than looks like Valentines Day (does that even make sense!?) So I went around my house collecting the photos that when you look at them you can "feel" the love of the people in them. I found all different size, shape and color frames and just started layering them onto the mantel. I LOVE (no pun intended) how it turned out, but I found that it was also the most difficult to photograph. Sure the frames and the layout and accessories are part of the design, but the real part is what you feel when you look at the actual photos.. yet will only the people that know them get that part of it? Hopefully I captured some of that emotion...

Have a LOVELY day!

{jen}

I am linking to these FABULOUS WEEKLY PARTIES and

Michelle Paige: Rockin' Valentine Link Party

Thistlewood Farm

Dear Lillie

Thank you to all the hosts!

SOME EYE CANDY FOR YOU: FLOWERS & FASHION

2012-02-10T16:00:00.000-06:00

There is no better accessory for a space than fresh flowers! Every year I look forward to my peonies blooming, then the lilacs and hydrangeas.. I love to cut some and use them around my home. But then I am so bummed when the die, I always say I will invent something that you can spray on real flowers when they look perfect so they will stay that way forever! Or maybe someone already has I don't know about it yet PLEASE let me know! (I know the other answer would be fake flowers but they just don't have the same affect for me)

Last week I found these beautiful roses at the grocery store. They ~~are~~ were the most perfect shade of champagne with a hint of pink lining the tips.....

and I tried perfectly pink potted flowers thinking they would last longer... Nope..

so instead I pin flowers on Pinterest....

(you can find all the sources for these photos on my "flowers" board here)

I could post pictures of flowers all day, but I have to go get ready for my other "job" which involves this...

Yep it's 4:00 p.m and I have to go get out of my pajamas now...

Have a great weekend!

{jen}

MY FIRST PIECE OF TRANSFERWARE!

2012-02-09T13:08:00.002-06:00

I am so excited.. I just got my very first piece of black & white transferware! I have been wanting to start collecting it for a while but was always intimidated... I guess because the black & white pattern is really hard to find I didn't even know where to start. My Gramma had a beautiful black & white transferware soup tureen that I have always coveted.. but I gotta start somewhere so this is my little plate my aunt found at a local antique shop...

isn't she pretty! Yeah!!

{jen}

SHOCKED & SPEECHLESS, HUMBLED & HONORED

2012-02-08T09:06:00.000-06:00

This morning I woke up to find my Faux Fireplace as a top 12 finalist in the WhisperWood Cottage 1st Project of the Year Party! The contest is for a feature in Cottages & Bungalows magazine!!

First I was shocked...

then I realized I needed to breathe....

tried to call my husband (since he did "help" with the project!)...

but I was speechless (strange for a blogger right?)...

then I saw all the other awesome entries and was so humbled.

THANK YOU, I AM HONORED!

Now go check out all the incredible entries over at WhisperWood Cottage!

{jen}

A FRESH NEW LOOK: MIXING COLOR AND PATTERN

2012-02-06T23:55:00.001-06:00

The holiday decorations are long put away and even though the groundhog says six more weeks of winter, spring is finding it's way into this house! I was eager to jump on the color bandwagon this year.. it is not my typical go to for decorating so it took me a bit longer to get it right, but I am LOVING it!! So get the kids off to school, the baby down for a nap, pour yourself a cup of coffee and make yourself comfortable...

{the family room}

[I made a few new pillows for the family room, I started with the tangerine and white geometric pillow that I fell in love with at Target and knew I had to use it...]

[With Target pillow in hand, I went to the fabric store and found the stripe and tan/blue geometric fabric in the remnant bin! I made a 16x26 lumbar pillow with the stripe on one side and geometric on the other]

[The other pillows were just moved around from different rooms]

[This cute little blue velvet ottoman was another great Target find. I am using it as a side table next to the chair beside the faux fireplace.]

[I also used the stripe fabric for a smaller pillow on the chair, I added the geometric fabric as piping around the edges]

[The wreath was one of my favorite Christmas gifts. I couldn't wait to put it on the mantel!]

[The bins were plain white from Ikea, I printed the letters onto transfer paper and ironed them on. They are in a console I also got as a gift that I put in the empty spot the Christmas tree left.]

{the breakfast room}

[The kitchen got some new drapes from West Elm, and the wicker basket used to be in front of the faux fireplace. I also framed some of my Gramma's handwritten recipes. My three year old thought that was a great idea and added his artwork too! I love it how it turned out!]

[Another framed recipe on the other side of the patio door]

[Good fresh flowers are hard to come by in the Midwest this time of year, so I couldn't pass up these beauties at the grocery store the other day! I just added some boxwood clippings from my back yard to fill the vase]

[The cabinet in the kitchen also got a re-work, the white dinnerware was always in there but I rearranged it, and added some of my Gramma's antique silver tea sets and glass decanters. I love how they sparkle in the light]

{the dining room}

[The dining room console got a new look with another of my favorite Christmas gifts, the tall glass cake stand with a glass bird on the top is filled with more of my Gramma's old recipes]

[The clock that was on the mantel for Christmas was moved into the dining room. It was from a retail sample sale years ago that I paid $1 for...I definitely got my money's worth, this clock has been used in so many different spots!]

{the living room}

[The little table in the entryway was given an update with a worn grey wire cloche and a silver clock that has also been many places in our home...I am told I have a thing with clocks and mirrors!?]

[The living room is next on the to do list. I have fabric picked out for pillows and drapes, even though I swore I would never make drapes again! The big addition to the living room/hallway are the stripes that run from the front to back of the house] (for the painting stripes tutorial click here)

Thanks for stopping by, now it's time for that second cup of coffee because there is a lot more to see at these FUN WEEKLY PARTIES as well as:

www.jenniferrizzo.com

Nutmeg Place

{jen}

FEBRUARY: THE "LOVELIEST" MONTH OF THE YEAR

2012-02-01T08:35:00.000-06:00

Since it is officially February and Valentine's Day is just around the corner (in case you haven't noticed all the Valentine blog posts and pins on Pinterest!) I thought I would share with you some of my favorite projects from around the web...

[I love that the heart is an unexpected color!]

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[I love the lights intertwined in this garland.. This was the inspiration for my mantel (which you can see here) but turns out finding lights with white strings after Christmas is impossible!]

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[A quote from my favorite book I read to my son!]

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[Definitely going to do this on my chalkboard wall!]

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[So pretty for your front door or hanging over a mirror!]

source

xoxo,

{jen}

LOVE IS IN THE AIR

2012-01-30T08:46:00.001-06:00

I finally got a chance to do some Valentine decorating..It isn't a "holiday" I typically decorate for, but I guess living in a house of all boys makes me look for any excuse to use pink in my decor..(well I do have a female dog, but aren't dogs color blind?!) Here are a few pics of the mantel...

I made the wreath by following a great tutorial from ddzine you can find here. Basically I formed a heart using a wire hanger, then threaded the burlap through until it was full. Super easy!

I was going to put a valentine silhouette or quote in this frame, but then I thought what says love more than a silhouette of your child!

For the pink flower balls I used the same technique you would to make fabric flowers but used streamers instead. I bought a round foam ball and streamers from the craft store, then made a TON of paper roses and hot glued them to the foam ball. I love the little punch of pink they bring to the mantel.

I am still loving banners on the mantel.. any excuse I get to make one I will! For this one I bought a package of paper heart shaped doilies from the craft store for .75 cents, folded them in half to give them more dimension and strung them reversing direction every so often.

Have a LOVELY day!

{jen}

LINKING TO:

Thursdays Are Your Days

Inspiration Friday

It's Overflowing

Feature Yourself Friday

Fridays Unfolded

Feathered Nest Friday

Days of Chalk and Chocolate

Everybody's Creative Endeavor

Feature Friday Free For All

Home Stories A to Z

Weekend Wrap Up

Michelle Paige: Rockin' Valentine Link Party

Thistlewood Farm

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

2012-01-27T22:44:00.002-06:00

Last week was a big birthday celebration at our house...my little guy turned three and my husband turned forty.. on the same day! We had a planes, trains and automobiles themed party and I had a lot of fun decorating the mantel and a few spots around the house. I thought using toys for decoration was a brilliant idea... my son on the other hand did not feel the same and kept taking them down! Here are a few photos from the party...

Have a great weekend!

{jen}

Linking to:

French Country Cottage

At The Picket Fence

Every Creative Endeavor Fingerprints on the Fridge

Stuff and Nonsense

52 Mantels

LIEBSTER AWARD

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-06:00

I am so honored to have been given the Liebster Blog Award from DeeDee at ddzine!

This award is given to a blogger with less than 200 followers and is a fantastic way to promote and encourage new friendships within the blogging community. DeeDee was so kind to pass this on to me, and now I get the opportunity to pass it along to five other bloggers! This is how it works:

1. Post the award on your blog.

2. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.

3. Reveal your 5 picks for the award and let them know.

4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people in the blogosphere... other bloggers.

5. Finally, the best rule of all, have fun and spread the love!

Before I reveal the five bloggers I am so excited to pass this award on to, here is just a peak at the beautiful home DeeDee and her husband have been remodeling.. be sure to head over to ddzine to see more of her home and fabulous blog! Thank you DeeDee!!

I am speading the Liebster Award to the following bloggers:

Jen at Migonis Home

In addition to beautifully remodeling her home, she puts together some amazing tablescapes!

Sisters Reba and Eldarose at Re-Invented Style

Two very sweet sisters that are doing an amazing job remodeling a home and writing a wonderful blog about it!

Courtney at Courtney Lane

An interior design student that shares the most inspiring photos on her blog, it's like eye candy!

Barbara and Alicia at A Mother and A Daughter

Love that they blog together about design, fashion and their beautiful family!

Laura at Top This Top That

She shares amazing furniture makeovers, awesome accessorizing ideas, and beautiful holiday inspiration!

Please stop over and become a friend of these wonderful bloggers!

{jen}

TUESDAY'S TOPIC

2012-01-24T07:43:00.000-06:00

Like many of you, I have spent the past few weeks filling the voids that taking down the Christmas decorations left. Of course I can't just put back what was there before the hoildays, I have to try something different! Here are a few of my favorite photos from Pinterest that are great inspiration for using accessories, and I will hopefully have photos of what I have done soon...

[I love the mix of metal and wicker]

via

[ This photo shows how to perfectly mix accessories into a bookcase, love the horizontal and vertical stacking of the books]

via

[The perfectly random display of this bookcase is beautiful, and love the color of the book spines]

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[I love the way the plates are displayed on the shelves, and the mix of materials]

via

[I have been drawn to cloches and terrariums lately, I love the unexpected displays in them]

via

[When in doubt beautiful books are always a good filler, and another good exmple of a cloche]

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[Love the stack of suitcases and the color they bring to the display (how about a vintage Louis Vuitton!]

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[And if you live somewhere warm enough this time of year to be outside, this is a beautiful vignette]

via

{Jen}

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MANIC MONDAY

2012-01-23T09:34:00.001-06:00

It has been a crazy week around here, two birthday celebrations (my husband turned the big 40 and my son turned 3.. on the same day!!) My Mom is in town for the birthdays, and it snowed ALOT! So none the less, I didn't get any projects done last week other than birthday stuff (which I hope to share with you later this week). I also am going to change "Pin Pic" of the week to Tuesdays, so I will have a new topic for that tomorrow... in the mean time a little quote that sums up when my Mom, Sister and I get together!

via Pinterest

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FARMHOUSE MEETS MODERN: INSPIRATION FOR THE BREAKFAST ROOM

2012-01-18T10:02:00.000-06:00

One of the things on our "want" list is a new table/chairs for the breakfast area. Our current set ("set" being part of the problem) we purchased over ten years ago, and although it is nice and has held up beautifully, it just isn't our style anymore. I'm thinking farmhouse meets modern, mix and match...I have been scouring the Internet and design magazines for inspiration and here are a few I love:

[LOVE the farmhouse table with upholstered chairs (note the nail head trim!)]

via (Pinterest)

[The mix of benches with chairs at each end]

via (Pinterest)

[But also drawn to farmhouse style table with modern chairs!]

via (Pinterest)

[How cute are these scalloped slipcovers with piping!]

via

Maybe this is why I have had the same table and chairs for over 10 years! I can't make up my mind!

Happy Hump Day!

{jen}

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"PIN PIC" OF THE WEEK

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Last week I found myself drawn to all the photos with bright pops of color in them... although I know it won't work in my house, I still love to live vicariously through the beautiful photographs! I think I am going to need a second home, maybe somewhere warmer!? Here are a few of my faves from Pinterest...

source

source unknown

Happy Monday!

{jen}

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HALLWAY: BEFORE AND AFTER

2012-01-13T13:34:00.005-06:00

Last Sunday I was sitting on the sofa (rare for me), bored (even more rare), when I noticed the walls in the hallway leading from the front to the back of the house. Bare and boring, yet an area that sits right in the middle of the first floor of our house. How was it overlooked for so long!?! So down to the basement I went...found some Frog tape, paint, and a laser level, and this is what transpired.... (the photos are not the best, it was a challenge to get a decent angle to photograph from!)

BEFORE:

(the walls color is Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore, although it looks a lot lighter in the pictures then it really is)

hallway view from the family room in the back of the house

view from the family room to the front door

yep...stripes

I used a laser level to make a straight line then taped it.. then I used a traditional level after the tape was up to double check the lines were straight

first coat of White Dove by Benjamin Moore (can you hear the Jeopardy song right now, I have no patience waiting for paint to dry!)

AFTER:

I like the combo of the stripes with the floral wallpaper

ahhh.... much better!

{jen}

Linking to:

The Delectable Home
Thrifty Decor Chick

Five Days 5 Ways
52 Mantels
It's Overflowing
Home Stories A to Z
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Weekend Wrap Up at Tatertots and Jello

Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Feature Yourself Friday at Fingerprints on the Fridge
Everybody's Creative Endeavor at Every Creative Endeavor
Show and Share at Southern Lovely

Days of Chalk and Chocolate

PROJECT: THE PROJECT ROOM

2012-01-12T20:45:00.000-06:00

The more I do projects around the house, the more I create chaos! For example, I am working on a sewing project for the kitchen, yet all of the materials needed are now in the dining room so I can't complete my dining room project! I am in desperate need of a "project room". We have two guest rooms in our house, and in the 7 years we have lived here I can remember only one time when both rooms were used at the same time. So one is going to become my project room... off to Pinterest I go in search of ideas for the new space! Here are a few inspiration photos:

source

LOVE the wall cubbies and project table in the middle of the room...

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or open shelving and drawers?

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shelving and storage in the closet! could I really be this organized?!

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a chalkboard wall for random ideas and drawings! love the sconces too

hmmmmm........

[jen]

"PIN PIC" OF THE WEEK

2012-01-09T18:27:00.004-06:00

I am officially addicted to Pinterest. Go ahead admit it you are too! So I thought I would do a weekly post of my favorite pin of the week. I haven't figured out yet what day to post it on, so this week Monday seems to be the winner, or how many to pick, maybe just one pin, maybe three? Just going to play around with it and see what it becomes!
P.S. if you are not on Pinterest yet you are definitely missing out on some serious inspiration! You can click on the "Follow me on Pinterest" button to the right of this post and check it out!

This weeks pic is from French Country Cottage

Doesn't the beauty of this outdoor setting make you want to sit and have a glass of wine and good conversation! I have to live vicariously through this photo since we are in the Midwest and have a looooong time before we can enjoy anything outdoors other than the snow...And I think I have officially decided on one "pin pic" for the week because that was really hard to choose!!

{jen}

Faux Fireplace Part II

2012-01-06T10:19:00.019-06:00

Last month I did a post about building a faux fireplace (which you can see here if you missed it). I LOVE how it turned out, but always felt like something was missing (other than the fire!)... and then I saw this beautiful fireplace by ddzine :

and I fell in love with the detail above the mantel. So I went back to my husband to enlist his help in another "quick" project. To my advantage DeeDee of ddzine is my sister-in-law, so I shamelessly used the "wow, look what your brother built!.." approach and off to Home Depot we went! (so maybe it didn't go quite that easy, but his brother is seriously talented, you can see a lot more of their home remodel here). A few more pieces of wood, $23, and a couple hours later it was done!

Before (all the bare wall space was driving me crazy)

6 pieces of wood...

and some paint...

Project faux fireplace complete!... until I saw this picture on Pinterest...

source

wood stacked in the faux fireplace.. YES PLEASE! Hmmmm... can you hear the wheels turning already!

{jen}

Linking to:

Five Days 5 Ways
SHOW AND TELL PARTY at Mrs Hines Class
IT'S OVERFLOWING WITH CREATIVITY at It's Overflowing * AND A GREAT GIVEAWAY FOR CUTTING EDGE STENCIL! A $50 VALUE!!
FEATHERED NEST FRIDAYS at French Country Cottage

THURSDAYS ARE YOUR DAYS at 52 Mantels

METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY at Between Naps on the Porch

TUESDAYS TREASURES at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

WEEKEND WRAP UP PARTY at Tatertots and Jello

INSPIRATION FRIDAY at At The Picket Fence

FRIDAYS UNFOLDED at Stuff and Nonsence

DEBBIEDOOS NEWBIE PARTY at Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing

2012 "TO DO" LIST and PINTEREST INSPIRATION PHOTOS

2012-01-02T01:39:00.000-06:00

It's a new year, and of course time for new projects! WOOHOO!! A few of the items on my "TO DO" list this year are:

* Kitchen: Beadboard backsplash and staggering height of cabinets

* Build a farmhouse table

* Re-do guest bath (well, really do for the first time!)

* Create a backyard lounge area: firepit, seating

* Adding to the "fireplace"

Plus many smaller projects, but it's really late and that's all I can think of right now! So here are a few inspiration photos via Pinterest (you can see more by clicking on the "follow me on Pinterest" button on the right of this page).

Love the beadboard and the grey/white combo

Or maybe all white?

Love the staggered height of the cabinets - via My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Still loving the grey/white combo and the acrylic chairs to go with my soon to be built farmhouse table

Like the metal legs.. modern take on farmhouse table

Maybe a stencil for the bathroom?

Love the detail above the fireplace - via ddzine

Loose the movie screen, insert firepit?

So many ideas and only 363 days left to do them! Got to get some sleep, starting early tomorrow!

Jen

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-12-31T21:51:00.000-06:00

Wishing you a year filled with health and happiness!

My Top 3 Favorite Products of 2011

2011-12-30T14:26:00.001-06:00

The theme going around the blogs seems to be favorite posts, favorite projects etc...so going along with that idea I thought I would share with you my 3 favorite products of 2011 and a few photos of projects I did with them...

#1 - Gloss white spray paint

[The reindeer was orignally bright gold and now is a crisp, bright white]

[Harry and I painted a ton of ornaments for our advent calendar. This is one of them that used to be gold also]

[And the NOEL stocking holder that also used to be gold is now a crisp, bright white]

#2 - Burlap fabric

[Stockings made out of burlap and silk/quilted fabric with grosgrain ribbon and buttons that can be changed out]

[On the Christmas tree as bows and even the tree topper which you can see more of here]

[An accent pillow I made out of burlap was given a couple ruffles of jersey material and a grosgrain bow]

#3 - Decorative edger (by EK)

[Each chair in the dining room got a cardstock cone filled with boxwood clippings from my back yard, and a tag finished with the edger and reindeer names. I also made all the gift tags like this but forgot to take pics before they were all opened!]

[Love the banner that I made from a Jennifer Rizzo.com tutorial you can find here]

I already have ideas for these and some other fun products for 2012 and will share along the way!

* I will be linking to:

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Weekend Wrap Up Party at Tatertots and Jello

Jen

The BEST Broccoli EVER!!!

2011-12-28T15:59:00.002-06:00

I had to share this super easy recipe that you know is delicious when your husband says "you didn't make enough broccoli"! I found the recipe (and picture) on Pinterest (you can find it by clicking on the "Pinterest" button on the right side of this blog, it is under the mmmmm...section!) It is a Barefoot Contessa recipe called Parmesan-Roasted Broccoli.

SERIOUSLY, YOU MUST TRY IT!

Enjoy!

xoxo
Jen

Thank You!

2011-12-20T09:34:00.000-06:00

A big thank you to Julia at Hooked on Houses for featuring our home in 20 Very Merry Rooms Decked Out for Christmas! And to DeeDee at ddzine for the sweet introduction!!

Also, I will be linking today to Tuesday's Treasures over at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia...

xoxo,
Jen

A mantel for the stockings please?

2011-12-19T00:01:00.009-06:00

So I am kind of known in my family for coming up with ideas that they say can not be done.. but really they should know better by now, saying that makes me even more determined to do it! So one day not to long ago the following conversation occured.. and it went something like this...

(Me) "I need a mantel to put our Christmas stockings on..."

(Husband) "Well we don't have a fireplace so put them on the stair railing or something..."

(Me) "I know that, I was thinking you could just build me one.."

(Husband) silence, and a look of oh, no..here we go again...

One weekend, one call to my Dad for "assistance", and a few trips to Home Depot later....

"Alright I got the wood you wanted, now what?"

"Yes you heard right, a "fireplace", yep right there!"

I always forget to take more "during" photos...

The final product, and I LOVE IT!!! It was so much fun decorating for the holidays, and it really "warms" up the room (no pun intended)!

Linking to:

Thursdays Are Your Days at 52 Mantels

Thrifty Decor Chick - Before and After Party

Jen

Parties, parties and more parties!!!

2011-12-13T09:52:00.000-06:00

I am linking today to www.theinspiredroom.net for the 2011 Holiday Home Tour. What better way to see the beautiful holiday decor around the country than from the comfort of your own home! Maybe you are still in your pj's, drinking a cup of hot chocolate (if you haven't had Williams-Sonoma hot chocolate you are missing something magical!) curled up under a blanket with the fire going...ohhhh I wish it would snow! ENJOY....

Holiday Home Tour!

2011-12-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

Don't miss the virtual Holiday Home Tour hosted by Jennifer Rizzo.....If you haven't been following be sure to check out the beautiful homes she has featured all week, as well as the link party open house starting December 12th! .

Time to party!!

2011-12-09T08:00:00.021-06:00

I absolutely love decorating for the holidays.. especially Christmas! So here are a few shots of our holiday home. The theme this year was natural and re purposed...I tried (although not 100% successful) not to purchase anything new this year. I hope you enjoy this view into our home as much as we enjoyed creating it!

LINKING TO: (Don't be late to the party!)

french country cottage
thriftydecorchick
theinspiredroom
hookedonhouses
southernhospitality
homestoriesatoz
myuncommonsliceofsuburbia

So what are you waiting for it's cold out there! Come on in.....

Our living and dining rooms are the first ones you see when you enter our home. I was debating about putting ornaments on the little tree in here, but I decided I liked the simplicity of the tree in a basket. I added the faux fur on the chairs to give the leather warmth..

Harrison loved the little paper mache reindeer at the craft store, but the bright gold color was definitely not going to work, so I painted it gloss white and gave it a little burlap bow for some texture.

I kept the dining room simple with natural elements like the sticks in the urn draped with vintage inspired garland and extra large marshmallows filling my Gramma's old cookie jar...

Harry and I spent a fun afternoon creating these little snow globes out of mason jars!

Leading down the hall past the powder room....

....and into the family room where our main tree is this year. I love having it in a room where we spend most of our time. My Gramma had given me an ornament from all over the world every year since I was born. It is always so special to put them on the tree each year, and I have started that tradition for my son and husband too, so they put there own ornaments up each year. But I also like to add a different element to the tree and as this year was "natural" I decided to add some burlap, twigs, feathers, some sparkle with silver beeded garland, and a moss covered letter "B" for our tree topper. I think this is my favorite tree so far!

I continued the natural theme under the tree by just using some burlap fabric as a tree skirt and softening it up with a fur throw on top of it.

This is the first year I have had a mantel to decorate and it was soooo much fun creating it! I had a "stocking making party" this year and a few of us made new stockings for our families. I made ours out of burlap and silk for the girls (well me and my dog, I am outnumbered as far as humans go!) and burlap and a quilted fabric for the boys. I also found in my basement a NOEL stocking hanger I used years ago in my old house but it was also bright gold so I painted it gloss white.

And lastly a view of the front of our house.. the only thing missing is the snow!!! Each window has a little candle light in it also that I make my husband plug in when I work at night so I can see it when I get home! He huffs about having to plug in 9 little lights but I think he secretly likes it too when he pulls up the driveway!!

Thanks for stopping by, and may you have a wonderful holiday season!

xoxo,
Jen

Spooooky!

2011-10-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

It's feeling a little spooky outside! Seriously, it is... raining, overcast, wind blowing and coooold...LOVE IT!
What better time to share some photos of our Halloween decor!

Have a great day! Check back soon for pics from our beach vacation!

Jen

Some outdoor fall decorating

2011-10-05T08:00:00.016-05:00

I was once asked what my favorite day of the year was...No not Christmas or my birthday... it is that first day you walk outside and it smells and feels like fall....LOVE IT! You know how people get special outfits for Christmas... I get one for this day! Acutually, I am quite opinionated in regards to the weather...I think that seasons should be what they are supposed to be..for example, it should not be warm in winter, it should not snow in May, nor should it be 80 in October. Kind of along the same lines as once football season starts baseball needs to end..but I digress.. Just a few pics to get the season started!

xoxo,

Jen

Welcome, "bits and pieces" and some fall decorating

2011-09-28T16:14:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our blog! And by "our" I am referring to myself, my husband, our two year old and our dog... although I have a funny feeling that I will be the one writing it (maybe the dog? definitely not the husband!) I plan on sharing "bits and pieces" (try saying that with an English accent, sounds so much better!) of our day to day life in not so simple suburbia. So here it goes with my first attempt at posting...

Harrison and I have been busy doing some fall decorating....OK so really I have been decorating and Harry has been wondering why I spend so much time perfecting pine cone placement! If it were up to him the floor would be the perfect spot! Here are a few pics and once I have more time and practice photographing and editing I will post more.. I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I am excited to write it!

Have a wonderful Wednesday! Jen