From Pastel to Pop!

Oopsie

Is it bad to still be posting Christmas pictures the week of Valentines Day? I hate it when I am scrolling and see that I said I was going to post this or that and then totally forgot about it! My mind...I'm concerned. That's all I'm saying...I'm concerned.

The colors are sooo much brighter and poppier in person. Yes. I said poppier. 

The elves got rowdy by New Year...

Traditional Christmas Eve Jammies opening 

Christmas snow.

Before / After

 I'll have to go back and see if I can find true "before" pictures. The mantel was brown when we moved in. We didn't waste any time painting that but it took awhile to figure out how we wanted to replace the tile/rock.

 

This wasn't an "easy" job. Removing the tile was tedious and difficult. However, it seemed easy as Brad moved on to getting the rock off the top. But ya'll know Brad- he gets it done! He gets it done right. 

 And here is the "after." We love love love it. I wish you could see the texture and variance of the stones in the picture. Some are marble. Some are black glass. Some are sea glass. The photos don't do it justice. (yes, I'm going to have to paint those tall candles...we're thinking of a crackled gold--but we can't get to Walmart today because of this ICE storm!!!)

A before close up...

and finally...a fireplace we love to go with a house we love!

Christmas in July

You know how the first Christmas in a new house is so exciting- I'm in that zone right now. I have a great banister that will need lots of garland and lots of "stuff" stuck in it. Luckily, I bought *lots* of garland at Hobby Lobby last year- dirt cheap- AFTER Christmas. I love it when that happens!

It's the "stuff" I need ideas for. I know clear twinkle lights are a given. What else though? I don't want fancy or fru fru. I want fun and bright, bold colors. Have you seen our house? It is bright, bold colors. I was thinking a candy theme possibly...I've been searching online but I haven't found "it." The decorating will begin in roughly 4.2 months. I gotta get this together.

Here are a couple more views. Don't you love how Spicy thought that top picture was all about him?

The Year Round Tree

I started a little project today- creating this picture tree. I keep the pencil tree up almost year round on the landing. I decorate it for Christmas but have just left it "plain" the rest of the year.

When I took the Christmas down this year I decided to move the pencil tree by the front door. Then I added all the picture frame ornaments I've collected thus far. What do you think?

Actually, I only want to hear from those that think it is fabulous and not at all "too Christmasy" because pine trees work year round in NC and family pictures are always lovely. If you disagree and think I should take it down now, well...no need to air those opinions because my mind is made up! I adore it. Yearround. At least until I get another wild hair...

Stealing Barbs Floor

This blog should have been written months ago. Seriously. Months ago.This is how it should have been written- last May.

My friend Barb has the best kitchen tile. Brad and I both always loved it and hoped to replicate it someday. Finally that day has come. From the first time we walked through this house we loved it- loved everything except the kitchen floor. It was ugly vinyl flooring. Yuck. Once we got serious about replacing it we started talking about Barb and Kevin's floor again. However, although Brad had laid tile in our last house (2 bathrooms and the kitchen) this project was going to be a little more advanced. Not only was this design on the diagonal but a two tone diagonal. I'm no math whiz but apparently diagonal means quite a bit more computations and cuts. So we pushed it off awhile longer. It was strategically planned for a weekend Brad would have a helper- not just any helper but the helper of all helpers- my dad.

After many hours (or days...hard to remember which) of blood, sweat, and tears the floor was finally finished. Finished and fabulous! I LOVE it. Here are a few pics of the process below. I will have to take a better "after picture" to post as well. This is by far some of Brad's best handywork. Sometimes a stolen idea is the best idea. Love it!

o

Finally, the Curtains

After the Spicy detour (posted below) I am ready to post pictures of our bedroom curtains. Normally curtains are not a big deal but we have lived in this house for 2 and a half years. And for 2 and a half years we have had empty curtain rods in our bedroom. I am slightly picky and also slightly frugal so I never seemed to find curtains that suited both my tastes and my budget. Last night I was browsing my favorite French store, Tar-get for some back to school deals and remembered an ad in their circular for curtains. Sure enough. They match our decor. They aren't a boring valance. I like them. And (most importantly) they were CHEAP!

So there you go. After 2 and a half years, we are finally moved in- complete with curtains.

Projects

After nearly 2 years I finally did something the with window I bought back in Claremore. I got it right before we moved. I mean RIGHT before...with boxes stacked everywhere I came home with this thing. Brad thought I was nuts. I had a vision though. I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. Finally, almost 2 years later I have it done. Of course it still isn't hung up...gotta go get a wire thing for that. But here is a pic. The center picture is my parents, the surrounding are pictures of their parents. I'm debating on where I will hang it.

Now many of you know about these ceilining tiles I have hung in the dining room...the ones my aunt Johnnie gave me that also came from that little Claremore store. Originally they came from a church in Pryor and are from the late 1800s. (or so they tell me anyway) Well....I painted one of them and I don't like it. So I've just been sitting on them awhile to see if I could come up with a good idea. I didn't. BUT my friend Gay did!!! She suggested taking it to the car wash and using the pressure washer to try to get off some of that new paint. Brilliant!!!

Now I know I will have volunteers lining up round the block, so let me just go ahead and put the offer out there, *who* would like to tackle that adventure with me??? ;)