Playing with my toys

Thank you to anyone who came by and looked at my Year in Review post yesterday. It's kind of strange to know at least a few people have looked at my blog, I've always been a bit of a loner so I'm used to talking to myself! But thanks to all who came and saw, and particularly to those who left such nice encouraging comments.

Today is the last of my vacation, I go back to work Friday after the holiday, so this morning I drove 30 miles to check out a few used furniture stores in an adjoining county, in horrendous winds. Part of the time it was snowing sideways, but nothing laid on the ground, it was too windy for anything to land. So, all that and I found nothing, not one single item with even minor potential at a reasonable price. How disappointing, after the good clearance sale run I've been having this week! And when I got back, my wreath and doormat had blown several yards away and one of my patio cushions is nowhere to be found.

So, what is a girl to do but play with all her new toys? I picked up these caramel colored plates at Pier One (4 of them for less than $5), and I think they transform my new Christmas plates into a nice Fall table setting. Ugh, please ignore my flatware, it's old and ugly, plus I apparently knocked it off kilter before I took the picture. I have been looking at new flatware but I have not fallen in love just yet.


TJ Maxx had the black and white toile plates again, this time I got 4 big ones, so now I have 4 dinner and 1 salad in the same pattern and 2 salad in a totally different pattern. Plus I found the plate rack for $5.


I kind of like the mix and match look anyway. I have a white plate that is a perfect size to create a thin white band between the 2 plates.


My daughter laughed at my sparkly reindeer. I think she believes I've lost it.


Maybe I have. I can't fit any more ornaments on my tree, but that did not stop me from buying loads of them on clearance.


And I think it's time to admit I have a problem. Must.... stop.... buying.... SHINY STUFF!!

I can't help it, I got these 3 new shiny things (jar on left, jar in front, tree topper on right) for less than $6 each. That is a lot of sparkly goodness for not a lot of money. But I guess it's looking a little bit over the top. I promise to display it better next year. It would be great if I could get a mantel by then.


Well, that is enough for today, but I still have more stuff, plus I have some things on hold at Tuesday Morning (half off sale on clearance priced items Friday and Saturday).

Year in Review

Year in Review, originally uploaded by tracyleighb.

I wasn't planning to participate in Cindy's Year in Review party, but after looking through all the posts, I was inspired to do it. I just got the digital camera in August and have only been blogging for a few months so I don't quite have the hang of it yet, but here is what I have so far.

Happy New Year to All!

House Hole!!

They dug a hole, woo-hoo!! This photo may not look much different than previous ones I've taken, but everything has changed, because they have starting digging and that means I'm about 90 days away from moving into my brand new house!

I had a really good day today, despite getting called in to my office and not making it out until 4:30. I didn't get to go shop where I wanted to due to time constraints, so I am going to try and go tomorrow. But I shopped locally all morning and evening, hitting Pier One, TJ Maxx, Tuesday Morning, Ross and Michaels'. I will probably spend New Years Day sorting out my purchases and taking photos so I can pack everything up right away for the move.

I can't believe they started my house!

Birds

I had some iron birds on my Amazon wish list and my daughter Stephanie got me these fat little guys for Christmas. I think they are adorable. I will use them in the sunroom or on the deck at the new house.


Today I took my youngest daughter out shopping the sales and I found this perky little bird for 40% off his original $6 price tag. He got quite heavy in the bottom of my purse by the time we were finished, but he's worth it. I'm picturing him in the guest bath with the bird wallpaper.


Tomorrow I'm going thrift store shopping, wish me luck!

Couldn't Resist...

I don't know how many times I've kicked myself for not buying something that I really loved and knew was not going to be around for long. Inevitably, I go back and it's too late, it's gone. I went back to Target for a mercury glass acorn ornament, naturally it had sold. But I found more stuff! These pears I actually bought last night, and I have had the cloche since October (bought on sale at Michael's.) The gold tree in the back I bought at Marshalls yesterday at lunchtime.


Here are the dishes with the salad plate. They are just yummy, I loved them the minute I saw them:


I found lots of coordinating ornaments:

Today I found this glass jar on clearance, got it for $8. The ornaments are a rusty orange, not as red as they appear.


I found tiny mercury glass ornaments too:

A beautiful glass snowflake candle votive:


A mirrored mosaic ornament (this is very heavy for it's size, not sure where I'm going to hang it that I won't be afraid it will fall off and break... or kill someone!)


Here is the set of tiny mercury glass balls.

That is still not everything!

Christmas Clearance Sales

Christmas was really nice this year. We celebrated with my parents, my brothers and their families on Christmas Eve, and my parents always give me cash as well as a few nice gifts. I had to work on Friday after Christmas, but I went to Marshalls on my lunch hour and got a few nice things on clearance. This lovely little lady in red came with 2 of her sisters. I'm sure she feels a bit out of place among my more homey ornaments, but next year I'll find them an appropriate spot in the new house.

There were four pretty little sugar white pears.


A pair of velvety chocolate brown ornaments, one shown here with a mercury glass leaf from Target, where I went Friday night for more clearance shopping.



I had started with just one set of 4 dinner plates from Target in the Snowfall Splendor pattern, but they were a little more than I wanted to spend so I didn't originally buy any other pieces. On clearance, everything was 50% off, so I bought another full set of plates, 2 sets of salad plates, and 4 each of the cups and bowls. So I have enough to set the table for 4 with full settings, and also extra plates if I have more than 4 for dinner.


I love the metal filigree leaves, I got 3 different kinds. What I really love about the dinnerware pattern is that it is not Christmas themed, so I will probably use it throughout the winter season. Next year if I have Thanksgiving at my house, I can use it then. I bought multiple other things at Target on clearance, here is a pretty brown glass bird that holds a candle. He's sitting on top of a short silver candle pillar that matches the tall one behind it, and there is a mercury glass one on the right, all bought on clearance at Target.

There is more, but I'll save it for later. And I still have money left to spend!

Pre-Construction Meeting

On Tuesday I met with my construction manager, Wes, to talk about my new house. He's about 7 ft tall, no kidding. He was also friendly and very reassuring. He and the sales manager went through all my options with me and seemed genuinely interested in making sure I was completely satisfied with everything. They were hoping to break ground on FRIDAY, however the weather did not cooperate, so hopefully it will happen Monday or Tuesday this week. My house will be done within 90 to 105 days, so late March or early April. I'm really excited to see it built, and I will be taking pictures regularly and tracking the construction.

I keep thinking of all the things I want to do to decorate it. I love wallpaper, and I'm really glad it's making a comeback. I would like to use it in some of the small spaces and on accent walls. Here are some ideas I'm thinking about. First floor powder room - I love this watery blue with the twigs and birds, it is fresh and would look nice with some taupe or brown towels and the brushed nickel towel bars and fixtures:


Here is an option I'm considering for my walk-in closet, depending what color I paint the bedroom (still waffling on that). I love it when closets look like their own little room, and this will be pretty with the brown carpeting and crisp white molding:


This one will be really beautiful as an accent wall in the living room, behind the TV armoire or maybe the desk. I love the warm color, subtle pattern and depth:


Usually I dread the winter months after the holidays are over; I hate the cold and dark and it seems forever til Spring comes along. But I'm so excited about seeing my house built, going by every day and seeing the progress, that I just can barely wait to get started.

Cookie Day!

Yesterday I picked up my daughter from college (6 hour drive in freezing rain, a bit sketchy), so now she is officially "home for the holidays!" We have a nice Christmasy inch or so on the ground today though, which is pretty and no longer hazardous, so that is good. Today I had off work, so we baked, and baked, and baked.

Coconut macaroons:


Sour Cream:


Peanut Butter Kisses:


Also, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, peppermint patty chip, and fudge. Oh, and also truffles, but they are still chilling. Tomorrow night my youngest daughter is having some friends over to bake cupcakes for Friday, the last day of school before Christmas break, so my kitchen is getting quite a workout.

I am so ready for Christmas!

Backsplash

I love this polished tin backsplash for the new house. I think it will go well with the dark cherry cabinets, black appliances and my dark countertops (sample underneath). I think it is pretty reasonable to have this done, just a couple hundred dollars. I won't get it done immediately, I have too many other practical things to buy like a washer, dryer, fridge, etc, but it's something to plan for eventually.

My countertop finish:

I'm also loving this switchplate style, not for the kitchen but possibly for the bedroom:

Mini Tour

Here is a little mini tour of my apartment decorated for Christmas. Come right in my tiny foyer and into my living room. My mom made all the little Christmas pillows on the chair.

I have my sofa table set up with goodies and my Christmas cards. The cookie jar is getting low, but luckily I just got a nice box of cookies from Aunt Lynne and Uncle Dennis in San Francisco.


I have the table all set for dinner. The big snowman on the shelf was made by my sister in law, Andrea. The little guy next to him was made by my former neighbor Joy. She has a shop at the flea market. I made the dolls and also the quilt on the shelf. It's not very well made, I haven't had much practice and I didn't even finish off the edges, but I still kind of like it. The quilt on the sofa was a gift from my mom, but she didn't make it.

Here is a cozy spot by the tree where I usually sit and surf on my laptop. I won't show you the desk in the back of the room, it's usually pretty cluttery.

Well, that is the main living area. We are getting ready to move to our new house, so my bedroom is full of boxes. My daughter Amanda is away at college so hers is pretty bare, and that just leaves Danielle's. Oh, would you like to see it? That is rather brave...


This is "home decor" for 17-year olds:


Well, now you've seen it all!

Thanks for coming by!

Robins Egg Blue

I have been thinking very hard about what color to paint the master bedroom in my new house, and I could not come up with anything that appealed to me, until I saw this quilt in Walmart last night. I'm not sure if the photo does it justice, it is a pretty robins egg blue and cream, and I'm now sold on this color scheme. It's soft and relaxing and clean-looking, perfect for a restful retreat.

The wall color in the photo does not really match the actual color of this quilt, in person it was definitely the teensiest bit greenish. I think I will have to buy this, but not until after Christmas.

Tree is DONE!

We finished our tree:


Here are some of my ornaments. About 95% of what is on the tree is homemade, either by me or the kids. This one I picked up at a craft show:

I made the penguin. Hey, I never said I made GREAT ornaments:

This one came from Aunt Lynne and Uncle Dennis 2 years ago:

Here is my little girl putting up the last of the ornaments: