New Year's Eve Vignette (or Partying Snowmen!)

Hello dear friends!

I hope you had a beautiful Christmas!

Have you taken your Christmas decorations down yet?  

I haven't, but I'm thinking I may begin tomorrow. 

I had the week off from work and

I really hate to wait until I'm back to work to take it all down.

Is it just me or have you noticed angry controversy on social media

about taking down the Christmas decorations?  

Who knew de-decorating could make people angry?

Anyway, I did put together a little something

for New Year's Eve.

At first I think my husband thought I was a little crazy

decorating for New Year's Eve,

but then I think he actually liked it.

It all started with the snowmen figurine.

I spotted it in Home Goods and when I realized

the snowmen were, in fact, New Year's Eve partying snowmen,

I had to have it!

My sister bought it for me as part of my Christmas gift.

That trio is just too cute!

Wishing you all the best in 2018!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Home Tour, Part 3

Well, here we are on the last part of my Christmas tour.

 

Today I'm sharing the Kitchen, Master Bedroom & middle Hallway.

It's funny, these photos reflect many changes we've made to our home. 

I have never shared those changes on the blog...yet.  

I really need to do an updated home tour.

Kitchen:

I love changing up the dishes in this cabinet.

Not the best photo below,

but this year I decided to give my window over

the sink a little something. 

My kitchen tree always

sits on the table in this nook.

Master Bedroom:

I like to add a little Christmas to the bedroom.

I'm so happy to have this tree in the bedroom.

At night, it's so pretty all lit up.

It gives me visions of sugarplums...

Hallway:

This tree sits in the hallway,

alongside our staircase.

I had no idea how I wanted to decorate it this year.

My sister suggested green since she noticed

I had some green glass balls in my stash.

So I went with it and decided black & white checked

ribbon would be a nice complement to the whole look.

I made the top hat tree topper because I couldn't

find a single topper I liked anywhere.

And there you have it!

The tour is complete.

I may be back to share a little more

décor if I survive the baking marathon

I'm about to take on!

Thanks for visiting me today.

Christmas Home Tour, Part 2

Thank you for your kind comments on Part 1 of the tour.

  

Shall we start right in with Part 2 today?

Here's the dining room & sitting room....

I'll try not to talk too much since I have quite a few photos today.

Dining Room: 

I have never used a lot color in these rooms before.

This is a first.

I usually go with silver, gold & white, but

this year I was determined to try red.

I never imagined how much I was going to love it!

I don't think I've shared my new mirror

and console table before. (below)

I rode home 2 1/2 hours with that mirror

resting against my head.

Oh the sacrifices we make for pretty things!

Sitting Room:

 

 This pencil tree from Michaels is a favorite!

Here's a close up of the tree:

Have a great day everyone!

Next up...

Kitchen & Master Bedroom

Christmas Home Tour, Part 1

Hello everyone, welcome!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Are you enjoying all the Christmas inspiration throughout blogland?  

I swear sometimes it makes me wish I had 10 houses to decorate!

I'm going to begin my home tour today in our living room.

I had fully intended on going with a pastel palette

for our living room this year.

However, as I was dreaming of pastel colored sugar plums,

my 16 year old son decided to tell me,

"I prefer traditional red & green for Christmas."

Whaaaat?

Well, suffice it to say, his words stuck in my head.

Since Christmas is all about family,

I thought it best not to disappoint and

this is what I came up with instead.

Santa and his elves....

How I love that ladder from Décor Steals!

Such a versatile piece & perfect for Santa's elves to climb.

Traditional red & green all the way! 

I'm not sure if you'll notice from years past, but my

living room used to have a huge entertainment center on

this wall (below) with lots of shelves for décor. 

It was a tough decision, but we decided

it was time for something new.  I love this new look 

and I don't even mind that I now have a lot less

space to add décor. 

My coffee table vignette: 

I will return with more of my 

Christmas Home Tour during the week.

Thanks for stopping by!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Halloween Tarts

I have always loved to bake,

but some days you just don't have the time

to make a complicated dessert.

Enter Chocolate Peanut Butter

Halloween Tarts....

These little pies really took no time at all to put together.

Here's the recipe from Taste of Home:

1 cup peanut butter chips

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 package (3.9 oz) instant chocolate pudding mix

1 ¾ cups cold milk

1 package (6 count) individual graham cracker tart shells

Whipped topping

Optional:  Halloween candy, sprinkles, etc.

In the top of a double boiler over simmering water,

melt chips with oil, stirring until smooth.

(I used a Pyrex bowl on top of a pot of simmer water for my double boiler)

Remove top pan from water and cool for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk pudding and milk until thick.

Fold in peanut butter mixture.  Spoon into tart shells.

Chill for 15 minutes.

Top with dollop of whipped cream and decorate

as desired.

See now?

That was nice & simple...

and my husband & kids loved them!

Happy Halloween, friends!

Halloween Home

I've never been a huge Halloween decorator, 

but I am happy to add a little touch here & there.

So let's see what I've done this year.

Dining Room:

I have used these vintage looking pumpkin heads for many years now.

You may be sick of seeing them every year, 

but I love them, so they make a yearly appearance. 

The 3 tiered tray in the kitchen got some Halloween love, too!

Do you go all out for Halloween or

are you just a little here & there decorator like me?

When Home Goods Comes to Town

I have been waiting for years for a Home Goods to call my own.

On October 22, the wait will be over!

I will no longer have to travel 50 miles one way to get to a Home Goods.

We will finally have one locally.

I cannot tell you how happy this makes me!

In all honesty, the fact that we did not have a Home Goods store
locally has not made me a stranger to the store.

I would seek out  Home Goods on all my travels and vacations
hoping to find that one treasure (or 25) to bring home with me. 

My family knows the routine well.  It goes something like this:  

When my son has a baseball game 3 hours away...

 Me:   Do they have a Home Goods there?

When 11 family members go on a big vacation...

 Me:   Do they have a Home Goods there?

When my son wants to take a college tour... 

 Me:    Do they have a Home Goods there?

When my daughter wants to see a concert a few hours away...

 Me:  Do they have a Home Goods there?

So you get the idea.

My husband cannot fathom for the life of him,
why Home Goods has not asked me to cut the ribbon at the grand opening! 
(That one's a comedian, I tell ya)

He has lived in fear ever since the announcement was made
that we would be getting a store. 
Now neither rain, nor snow, nor heat, nor gloom of night 
shall deter me from going.
In other words, having one so close by could spell trouble.

So if all this causes us is a one way trip to the poor house,
I want to know...
Do they have a Home Goods there?

Have a super week, friends!

Pumpkins, Gourds & Leaves Tablescape

As so the calendar has turned over to October...

October is such a busy month for me.  

Lots of birthdays, anniversaries, etc.

I pretty much eat a whole lot of cake in October.  

My pants are not going to like it one bit!

I put together a simple fall tablescape.

I have to admit, I haven't tablescaped in quite some time,

so I'm a little rusty.

Everything here I've had for quite a few years.

I'm not sure I can even remember from where everything came.

Let's see....

The wicker place mats are from Pier 1

Silverware--??

Dinner plates, napkins & pumpkin cookie jar are all Better Homes & Gardens (Walmart)

The salad plates came from a pottery store in the Cleveland, OH area.

We were on vacation there;  I'll never remember the name of that store!

Something makes me think those little amber colors candle holders also

came from that same store.

The amber Park Lane glasses are from a local antique store.

I no sooner start enjoying my Fall decor

and what do I just realize?

It's October & time to start thinking

about decorating for Halloween!!

Are you getting ready for Halloween?

Fall 2017 Dining Room & Sitting Room

Hello!

I'm back with more of my Fall decor today.  

It looks like it's going to be a beautiful 

sunshiny week for us.  

As much as I prefer the cooler fall temperatures, 

I'm going to try to enjoy this last bit of warm Summer weather, 

knowing all too well, 

it'll be gone until next June at least.

I won't chat too much, just pictures...

Dining Room:  

Sitting Room: 

I may have done a little dance in the aisle

at Home Goods when I found that blue

pumpkin pillow.  I couldn't love it more!

Happy Fall to all!