Happy New Year!

 I'm actually back sooner than I thought I would be. Today is the first year of 2025 and it looks like I will get at least one more day of quiet and relaxation. The dogs are still with me. Daughter #3 and her family will be heading home from Charleston today but I'm not sure how early a start they will get and that will affect whether the dogs go home tonight or are here for another. I usually start taking down Christmas today but, truth be told, I'm not quite ready for it to go just yet and, even if I was, trying to do all of that with my furry friends attached to my side just makes things a bit more "interesting".  And so, I started thinking about what I would like to do today. I have my last three "My Story" articles to do so that is on the list but then I also started thinking about my Valentine's Day decor.

In a perfect world, I would change up a lot but, I don't really have the mental energy needed to come up with that much new design as well as the funds-everything is expensive today and I don't see any reason not to use what I have. I usually try to add a few new things each decor swap and that in turn mixes things up a bit as I have to find new places for misplaced items. But, you all know that Valentine's Day has always been a hard one for me. Hearts aren't necessarily my favorite shape and reds and pinks aren't my favorite colors. I could go a bit more neutral but that would mean replacing A LOT and that takes me back to the beginning of this tale...and so, I do what I do every year. I hit Pinterest.

And, as with every year in the past, the things I find that I like I have already made in some form over my many years of crafting. What I wouldn't give for a new idea-or better yet, to come up with a new idea of my own but, so far that isn't happening.

I found a few things that I might be able to play with but, just how many standing or hanging hearts can any one room have? Lol

Last year I made one of the $Tree faux tile hearts with the open middle and, I must admit, I actually really love it.

So, I found a slight variation today. The tile is cut smaller and the background heart shows. It is really very similar but, I think I could use different colors and papers of my choosing and come up with something I like. Then, once I find where it might go, I can decide whether it will hang or stand.

I was also drawn to this heart but, again, how many hearts????

I like the vintage display I made for Halloween...

So I'm thinking that if I can find a small red or pink bottle brush tree I might try another of these vintage displays. I'm not a fan of that folded medallion thingy so I think a little tree would look cute.

And then I got thinking of the large space on my living room wall that I will once again have to deal with when the Santa comes down.

I spoke to interior designer daughter #1 and she said the lamp could definitely get moved over but I'm thinking I will try to use the picture I usually have by the kitchen hutch in that living room spot for Valentine's...

...and then move this into the kitchen because I don't like the way the back reflects in the mirror where it has been.

So, that is where I am right now...thinking about Valentine's Day and wanting to get started at the same time as I am not ready to do that just yet. This is kind of where I am every time a swap is about to happen-although, I will be more than ready to swap out the reds and pinks for the greens of St. Patrick's Day next!

I'm off to do a few small things before I settle in once again for what will probably be my last day of rest. Lol Stay safe and stay tuned.