Holiday windowbox...

Yesterday I decided to spruce up the little windowbox Travis built under the kitchen window.   I have all of our garden herbs in it, but it needed a little holiday cheer.  Our local hardware store had free branches from the Christmas trees, so I snagged a few of them along with some fake berry branches and jingle bells that I had in my holiday box...

 I love how it bulked up this little window box without spending a dime...

Around the tudor...

With Travis working this turnaround schedule I seem to spend the majority of my time in the kitchen.  Not that I mind, I adore my little kitchen.  For such a small space it really is light and bright, and so easy to cook in!

Of course, the nicer the meal the more dishes you have to dirty!

I got my slipcovered chairs back from Lsslipcovers, and just like any other pieces they have done for me- they are divine!  I said the word "ball gown" for my vanity chair and they delivered!

Sara's gallery wall finally got painted.  Projects are at a slow pace right now, so getting this one wall done was the limit for the month...

I also traded in Mr.Darcy, my Mini Cooper, for Mr. Bingley, my new Mini Cooper.  I lease my vehicles because I love new cars and can't just live with one!  I upgraded to a bit larger car- the Countryman S.  It seats five, so it feels so much bigger!

Sara and I walked the Step Up for Down Syndrome this past weekend.  I love how aware she is of Down Syndrome and how confident she is in talking to others about what she is doing with her time now that she is out of public school.  She loves homeschooling and adores the classes she takes on Thursdays.

I did get a new rug for the living room- Dash & Albert rugs are my very favorite! I love how preppy this one looks...

Fall decorating is at a minimum this year.  Most of our attic things are still in storage, and we won't get to cleaning that out until Travis is back on a regular schedule.  So the kids and I picked out a mum and a few pumpkins and called it a day...

We are busy with classes, reading, painting signs and just being.  I don't really feel the need to change things around or shop- I'm just content to be here.  I am taking that as a sign that we are exactly where we need to be- wacky neighbors and all ;)

A present...

My mom is crafty.  I joke that I am not, but the truth is that while I may lack in crafty talent, I definitely inherited the drive to make things.   Thankfully my mom steps now and then to keep me from killing myself with the glue gun.   Last week she made me one of these:

Materials:
Glass builder block (I found mine at Lowes)
Drill bit for glass
Ribbon
Floral wire
hot glue gun
pine cones, greenery or whatever decorations you like
strand of lights

• Drill a hole into the back of the block.  There is a line going around it, we just drilled ours on the line.
• add your string of lights to the inside leaving the cord hanging out of the hole in the brick to plug in.
• wrap your ribbon around the block like you would on a package.  
• make a bow- we used burlap ribbon and it required some floral wire for the bow.
• put your bow to the top- secure it with a bit of hot glue- be careful not to lose your fingerprints...
• add your greenery, bits, bobbles, and such to the top- again with the glue gun...
• plug it in and ENJOY your light up package :)

Have fun and be careful with that glue gun...

Jen Rizzo

Our thankful table...

Yesterday was spent in our kitchen.  Travis and I dancing around each other as we worked on various dishes and kept a close eye on the bird.  I used many (if not all!) of Pioneer Woman's recipes- and she did not disappoint!

This vintage butcher scale corrals my cooking utensils...

I kept the table simple, using my Wedgewood Queensware china (ebay score!) and Pottery Barn flatware.  I love that the plates are a bit mismatched in size and show so much aging in them.   The goblets are from Southern Living at Home- and are fragile, so they barely get used once a year.  The napkins are a wonderfully durable linen and were bought on Etsy.  I use them year round, and they hold up very well.

Our table is a French antique that I purchased from a small antique store nearby.  I love that it has leaves that pull out of either side and that I can comfortably seat ten people around it.  Folded up it seats our six perfectly.  The chairs are from World Market.

I love that my PB pieces have that lovely tarnished/worn look even though they are "new"...

 The topiaries normally sit on our living room fireplace mantel.  I just popped them on top of a lovely burlap runner made by my cousin over at Sweet Tea & Linen.

I did use an "overflow table" for the kiddos ;)  Luckily I had this table out in the workshop that I had finished up earlier this month.  It's going to the market on December 7th.

My new slipcovers were installed the day before.  I am SO beyond excited at how they turned out, and plan on sharing the details and the lovely artist with you in another post.  Well worth the investment!

It was a lovely day spent with family and a roaring fire in the fireplace.

I am truly thankful.

Styling for a wedding...

I am styling a wedding today.  Think this...burlap, baby's breath, mason jars, green apples, vintage silver.

Image from Etsy...

Back later with lots of pictures!

Ever changing corner...

I have posted at least a dozen times about this little corner of our living room.  No matter what I do to it I am not happy with it.  You know that "it just doesn't feel right" thing?  Yeah, that.

So here it is as of two days ago.  This may be the longest it's stayed this way...

And right across from that little corner... these vintage house trim pieces I picked up at Round Top...

Don't get too attached...

Fall...

It's rainy today here in Texas.  We are supposed to be getting a front in....which in Texas weather speak means 92 degrees in September instead of 98.  Kind of hard to get into the fall decorating spirit when the only thing falling is your hair after walking outside into 100% humidity...

I'm not big into over the top fall/Halloween decorating, so this is my attempt at a fall mantel.  Some velvet pumpkins and my dad's old books- presto! Fall.

Someone please tell me about the glorious sweater weather you are having in your neck of the woods!

Christmas sparkle...

When we bought our watchmaker's cabinet we found a bunch of glass chandy pieces in one of the drawers.  Today I decided to clean them up and hang a few from the light fixture over the kitchen table...

Sometimes it's the little things ; o )

Christmas Mantel...

I have never been much for decorating our mantel.  I have a huge clock and two topiaries and that is pretty much it.....throw in some stockings at Christmas and it's decked out for the holidays.  I always admire other people's decorated mantels- I just never knew what to do with mine.  Then I met Lisa.

 Always being the one being asked to do decorating for others, I was super excited when Lisa offered to do our mantel for the holidays.  I was a bit nervous about it since I am not the traditional red/green Christmasy kind of girl.  I like decorations that look a bit more natural.  Turns out I was nervous for no reason- she picked up on my style immediately and nailed it.

Putting up the center piece...

Garlands....

I adore this lantern...and the gifts....and the bows....

Lisa wanted to add some height, so she incorporated  the branches

She brought everything she needed to install. all I had to do was snap pictures!

Jack tried to help.  And by "help" I mean "ate garland"

Here is the mantel all decorated up and decked out for the holidays!

I even got inspired to add a little of Lisa's inspiration to my front porch : o )

If you are interested in Lisa's work and would love some beautiful florals for your home, you can contact her at lisa.paul@comcast.net.  She is such a sweet person and SO talented- I loved working with her!