I'm on countdown...

...until I can put up Christmas decorations!!!

I know, I just blogged about my fall crafts two posts above.  And I actually have one more project to do for my family room for that fall feeling, which I will really enjoy all the way until Thanksgiving.  But the day after Thanksgiving (only the BEST shopping day EVER) it's all about Christmas for me!!!

Christmas is all about two themes for me.  Snowmen in my living room and nutcrackers everywhere else!!!  Every year I add a nutcracker or two to my collection.  I started collecting them in elementary school when my big brother gave me one for Christmas.  Then my friend in Jr. High got me another one.  My husband has added to my collection over the years.  So have my friends.  I have a nutcracker table runner.  I have nutcracker candles.  I have a nutcracker soap dispenser for the kitchen.  The one thing I don't have??  Would you believe plates?!

Until this year!!!  Behold these lovely plates: 

Aren't they lovely?!  According the their web site, Cost Plus World Market is going to carry them this year.  I'm thinking I need at least two sets, but I'd love to have three so I have a full 12 plates.  I plan to start stalking calling them soon to see when they plan to have them in.  These are exactly what I've been looking for for a couple of years now!

The Living Room

So this is, for the most part, my finished living room.  Some of the things that changed are the sconces.  This room, when we lived in CA, had much more beach-y feel.  White sconces, light wood tones, and more Americana decor.  I was able to re-purpose all of the decor, which was a huge plus.  I bought brushed bronze spray paint at my local Home Depot.  Mike took the glass out of the frame and we simply spray painted about 3 coats to get a nice even finish.  I left the shelf in here that I usually use with my living room set - I felt the frame for the artwork was a close enough match.  There was no place for my china hutch in the dining room, so it now acts as a book case.  I haven't quite got the accessories right there yet, but it's stained the same finish as the shelf, so it works nicely.  And that corner seems as if it was made for that piece because it fits perfectly!

OK, the curtains aren't working for me.  I originally bought them as a room divider (my office is in the back portion of this room, in what should be the formal dining room - who uses a formal dining room?!) and I like that, but I had mossy green curtains in here when the brown sectional was in this room.  Mossy green and red sofas are just not a good combination!  Believe it or not, Walmart has some beautiful red drapes that lined with some insulating material (because this room gets quite toasty in the summer with the morning sun, ugh...).  They're $22 a panel, and I probably need 4 panels, but they're perfect for this room and so I just need to save up for them.  I have the matching drapes in the office (er, that's another blog) so it would really pull the two rooms together - which is good for reasons I'll go into another time.
A different angle.  It's so funny that I can tell you where each of the pieces in this room came from, and how they've worked in every house I've had, even when the color schemes were completely different.  

I really feel it's important to decorate with pieces that you will love for long term, not just what's popular at the moment.  These red sofa's are a perfect example.  I love red.  Every home I've lived in has had something red in it.  But when it came time to buy new sofa's, I originally wanted a soft aqua.  I had seen a beautiful sofa at a furniture store that was going out of business and I was hopeful that it would be at a price I could afford.  It wasn't (seriously, who spends $2200 on clearance for a sofa that they're going to let their kids breathe on...not me...).  So when I bought these MUCH more affordable pieces ($400 for the set) I almost picked out a similar color in the micro suede.  But then I really thought about it.  Yes, at the time, my living room done in black and white, and the aqua would have looked beautiful.  Except these sofa's were for my family room, not my living room.  Which meant they had to be in a kid friendly fabric (aka, micro suede) and a color that didn't show dirt the moment the kids walked into the room (uh huh, that wouldn't be aqua).  And then I really thought about how they would work in my house.  They were replacing denim slip covered sofas, which I had originally thought about doing these sofa's in.  But that was just a little too casual.  And then I saw the lipstick red.  It called to me.  And three years later, I love the color as much as I did when they first arrived, even though my color scheme and accessories have changed quite a bit.  So I know the red was a great color choice for me - even though my mom would never agree! :)

Fall Updates

Recently, I came across a neat web site.  I say neat, because they have some beautifully decorated rooms and accessories.  But more than just a little out of my budget.  So when I came across these and I could see them in my den I knew they were exactly what I was looking for.  The thing that got me was that they are $125.  EACH.  Oh my.  So, while my friend Miranda was out visiting, I decided to hit my local craft store (and I introduced her to Hobby Lobby - who doesn't love Hobby Lobby?!)  

So, here are our creations!

Miranda did the white pumpkin and I did the orange.  I ran out of the crystals, so I plan to rub back this week and pick some up because I really think it needs one more pumpkin (I like groupings of three) and my pumpkin needs more twirly vines, but overall, I love how they turned out!

It's Was a BUSY Summer!

So, have you been hearing crickets when you come to my site?  Yes, it's been a quiet summer.  Not for lack of decorating!  Not because my life is quiet!  Quite the opposite in fact.  There's never a dull moment with a family of 6.

So first of all, my camera died a most untimely death.  Right before we left for vacation (of course).  So I've been taking shots here and there with my cell phone, but really, they just don't do anything justice.  So, I broke down a couple of weeks ago when my daughter was getting ready to go to a dance, and bought a new one.  So more photo's should be posted soon.

And decorating wise, what have I been up to you might ask?
  • finally selected a paint color for interior.  Pecan Sandi.  Yes, if you visited my home back in CA, it's the exact same color.  Because sometimes, the first color you choose is just the best color choice - I'll make sure to post a few pictures of some of the swatches on the wall that didn't work.
  • tore down the hideous grape border in the kitchen
  • but up new curtain rods in the den
  • switched the den furniture with the living room furniture
  • FINALLY got the boys rooms in some semblance of order - still looking for the right rug and artwork, but it's a vast improvement
  • got the dining room, living room, and den painted
  • made some new fall decorations
  • hung curtains
  • and I'm sure there's a few more things I'll remember later...
Pictures to come soon!!