It's the Little Things!

 Apparently I will do almost anything to avoid having to vacuum. I will admit that it is one of my least favorite chores mostly because, when I have to use the "big machine", it hurts my back. I only pull out the plug-in Dyson when I am doing carpeting and that is what was on the docket for today. The rest of the time I use my cordless stick vacuum and it is so much lighter and can get so many other places but that doesn't mean I enjoy that either. But, I digress. Lol

In any case, instead of getting to work I decided today was the day for even more tweaks. If I keep this up my decor will be nowhere near where it was when I started. I will have "tweaked" everything to a new home. Lol

I did have to run back out yesterday...I REALLY did...and I had to go back to Target again. And so, I grabbed another one of these "throws" so both places could have one. For whatever reason I liked it here as well as in the bedroom which is where I wanted it to go.

And, since I had to go to HL, I grabbed some more of the pink "real feel" tulips and swapped out the flowers in this vase.

And I know you're saying "what did you do with the other pink flowers?" but, don't worry. I have a pretty vessel hanging on the wall right as you walk into the family room and all I had for it was some pussy willow branches...until now.

While I was at Target I took a quick look at Magnolia/Hearth & Hand again to make sure they hadn't put anything new out or that I hadn't missed anything the other day and this cutie caught my eye. Something about that little rustic looking vase spoke to me and I'm pretty sure it will stay out throughout the whole year in one place or another.

Since everything is already decorated, I just put it here because I like that it kind of goes with some of the other things already here but, now that I'm looking at this, I'm wondering if I should swap the places for the vase and the frame? Somehow the balance looks off???!

Yep, I like it better now. Somehow my eye now goes from one side to the other more easily. It's the little things. Lol

And then, since I had to run back to the grocery store, I grabbed these.

Usually this time of the year I grab tulips but they weren't looking too good and these roses not only look beautiful but they smell like roses. That doesn't happen often with the new roses so I am loving them. And, since I gave the stems a nice clip. they are opening up so much and just make a beautiful focal point here on the bar.

And then I did this. Since I have the candle lamp on the other side of the counter, this side looked a little dark so I grabbed the cordless lamp I found at Walmart awhile ago and brought it out here. It is still a bit too bright for me even though I have it on the lowest setting for warm light but I can live with it.

I definitely think it helps balance the light in this room and makes it cozy on these chilly days and nights.

I will say that by the time I had finished all of that I pretty much wasted  used the whole morning so, before I let myself come in here to visit with you, I did get the monster machine out and got the heavy vacuuming done-yay me! Lol

It's kind of dreary outside although it is NOT cold right now. It feels weird to think that so much of the country is under snow, sleet or ice while we are uncovering plants and turning the thermometer from heat back to A/C. We are predicted to get up into the 80s before dropping back to the 20s and 30s again. Mother Nature definitely has a warped sense of humor this year.

In any case, the next time I come back I promise to head forward with our tour. Until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

On To The Family Room

I'm spending the day catching up on all sorts of little things and keeping busy to distract me from the thought of heading back out to check out new arrivals in stores I missed yesterday. Lol Let's head into the family room-that is now minus the Christmas tree-and take a look around. This room is so much prettier once all of the timered candles come on but, since there are thirteen of them in this room, I just couldn't face turning them on for the pictures as that would mess up their timing and I would have all thirteen to reset this evening. I did light the candles that can be lit for you. Sorry.

I love this new cupid print. I really wish it could be in two places at once because I think it would also look pretty in the living room but, since I'm using a bit more of the classic and gold tones in here as well, I'm leaving it on the shelves for now.

And, I'm liking the "LOVE" much better now that it is gold.

It is probably no secret that I am not a huge Walmart fan and I truly only go when there is something there that I know I can't find anywhere else. And, since social media has gone so crazy and I watch so many reels of what all of the stores are putting out each serason, Walmart has definitely kicked their decor up a notch!

I love Pottery Barn but the closest one to me would be in Tampa or Jacksonville and not a trip that I make on my own any more. Still, there are some things from there that speak to me and I will order them and not look for knock-offs. That being said, if something is a simple piece of seasonal decor and comes close to the PB look, I am OK with it. And so, I do find myself in Walmart-mostly for the things they carry from Texas House but these metal entwined hearts are just a simple Walmart thing and I love them. HL has some similar but theirs are wood and only two hearts...and they just don't pop like these do. They are heavy and shiny and fill in all of the "feels". It's kind of silly how something so small can make me so happy but they do.

This is the garland I made out of the many hearts my mom crocheted for me many, many years ago. I saw a picture in Country Living where these hearts were hung all over the edges of shelves on a country style hutch which is what I had back then and asked her if she could duplicate them for me-I think the magazine had the patterns included. I know those things took her forever to do and I loved them and used them every year until, I was no longer so country and I got rid of that hutch. I didn't want to not use them any more but I really didn't have anywhere else for them to hang so I decided to glitter them up in red, silver and crystal and string them together for a garland. I still love them and they pull in the glitter of the X and O on the mantle.

Extra pictures on these shelves...

...and a few in the corner. I also added the vase I bought testerday and some flowers I had. The flowers aren't necessarily what I would have chosen if I had gone out looking for them but they do add a bit of pink to play off of the frames so I am OK with it. I think it also helps to soften up this corner full of very straight lines.

I honestly thought I wouldn't use this this year in my attempt to simplify but we made that rag heart in Girl Scouts and I just couldn't not. Lol

And, of course, the things that are on the table next to my chair.

The bouquet of "poses" that my grands and I made so many years ago to give as gifts to family. This is still one of the most viewed images on my sight and I still love it so much...and those sweet faces!

And a quick shot of what it looks like at night so you can see some of the candles. I just realized that I took this before I moved some things but you can still get an idea. Lol

So that is it for the family room this year. I still have a bit more to share so I will be back but until then, stay safe and stay tuned.

The Price of Health Care-LOL

 I know the price of health care is high but boy was I shocked when, after self diagnosing a bad case of "cabin fever" for myself I saw the price of the "cure". Usually, I am happy to have cabin fever. I love being home and can occupy myself for days on end without ever thinking of leaving the house. But, I am blaming Mother Nature for this one. Even though it is still getting quite chilly, the sun has been shining so brightly all day long without a cloud in the sky and she forced me into thinking that it HAS to be spring. And, this "urge" usually hits me right at the beginning of spring every year. I just have to have some new treasure. It doesn't have to be big-just something that might set me off on one of my "moving things around" binges.

And so, since I knew I had other errands to run today I also knew I would have to stop at Target...and stop I did...for a LONG time. And oh the price of curing cabin fever. And, let me preface this by saying, at one point in the trip there was a lot more in my cart. Thankfully, some of it went back on the shelves but I'm not promising anything if it's all still there the next time I go back.

After all of my shopping and then coming home and putting all of the plants back outside because the temps are going to be OK for a few days and then watering it all, doing some laundry and changing some sheets, I am too tired to begin a serious plan for where everything will find a home so for now, this is where some of it went just for pictures.

When I photographed the sunroom the other day I realized that I needed one more Valentine pillow. I have kind of been looking but not really seeing anything I like and it's too late to order one this year so when I spied this, I grabbed it. I thought it was going to be that flimsier fabric but this is a nice kind of velveteen and the eyelet lace around the edge is sturdy. It is definitely a traditional Valentine's Day statement and I like it here.

The throw is VERY thin. It is from the $ Spot. I actually got it to toss over the bench in my bedroom because no one would actually use it as a throw but, I kind of like it here next to the pillow so we will see where it lands for good tomorrow.

When I bought the first heart shaped ramekins, I told you I wished I had bought more so.....

And then after seeing the dark wood heart cutting board on a blog, I knew if I ever saw them at my store I would grab that as well-which I did. Not sure it will stay here but here it is for pictures.

I also grabbed a few other things that I have seen on social media. I loved that fluted vase so much I grabbed two-one for me and one for my daughter's birthday. I also got the long ceramic tray and candle for her as I'm putting together a basket with things in that color tone and spring-like. Then, I grabbed the framed picture. I think I will be able to use it for St. Pat's, spring, Easter and maybe even summer.

The M&Ms are for the Valentine goodies and then I grabbed that scalloped board for spring/Easter. It may just go on the kitchen counters or it may be the base of a craft...we shall see.

So now that I am feeling so much better with my Target cure, I am off to make my soup and settle in. Not sure what tomorrow will bring but I'll see you again soon. Stay safe and stay tuned.

SUNNY Sunroom

 Let's head into the sunroom today. It is still really COLD outside but the sun is shining so brightly that it is just beautiful-and, a bit misleading because I thought I could go out there and get some gardening done but, for this Florida girl, that turned out to be a big NO. I'm sure I could have done it with the correct clothing but, I am spoiled. I have a hard time doing anything with more outerwear than a light sweater. And so, I am inside and thought we could see the sunroom. Remember, things stay simple in here and that bright sun is making it almost impossible to photograph.

I made this hanger a few years back. It has drywall compound piped around the edge of the heart so it stands out a bit but I wasn't happy with the way it looked so I used some silver glitter. The cardstock came already glittered so I felt like it needed the balance. And then the "messy bow" isn't all that wonderful either. I actually almost scrapped the whole thing but I needed something to hang in here so here it hangs. Lol 

I like this simple craft that my grands and I did one year. All we did was to cut different sized hearts out of Con-Tact paper and apply them anywhere we wanted on a glass candle holder. This one has the hearts around the bottom while others are scattered all over the glass. Then we sprayed them with red frosted glass paint-which I'm not even sure you can still buy-and when the paint was dry, we peeled off the hearts. These simple things look so pretty when they are lit.

The Christmas cactus was a bit slow in blooming this year but it is happening now so as long as it is red, it is safe for a bit. Lol

I made these small pallet signs for family and friends a number of years ago. I had recently replaced a number of my fence slats and I had all that wood just waiting to be used. I made it kind of simple because I wanted it to be able to be hung outside if needed, but mine has never made it that far.

And then, there are yet more Valentine photos. I absolutely love looking at each and every one of these as I put them out and anytime I casually browse by. I love remembering every event that went with each picture and I am amazed that so many years have passed in between...where have they gone?

The other end of the sunroom just has some vases with pink flowers and hearts but also a lot of other stuff still piled up waiting for attention so you will just have to take my word for that. Lol

Not sure when I will be back. I have a few things on the calendar tomorrow-one of which will be a stop at Publix because I am craving a big pot of my favorite Martha Stewart vegetable vermicelli soup. If it wasn't already well into the day, I would get presentable and head to the store today but it will happen tomorrow! Stay safe and stay tuned.

No Going Back Now!

 When we last "spoke" on Saturday, I was planning on enjoying my LAST night with this year's tree...until I woke up on Sunday to a COLD, RAINY, DREARY day that wasn't supposed to get any better and I knew that I needed the twinkle of my tree one more day. And so, this is what I did yesterday...

I was pretty proud of myself because I usually just use a Duralog when I want a fire. I love a real fire but I am not crazy about stoking it all day and usually only need it for a few hours in the evening so I'm better with "no fuss, no muss" but, it was cold and I had some firewood handy so I went for the real thing...and it was beautiful and just what I needed on such a day.

Of course I chuckle when I look in this direction because not only do we have Valentine decorations but the tree is still there! Never in all of my life have I ever had a tree up this long but I think the reason is that in the past I have had colored lights-which I loved and was sad to say good-bye to until the ease of putting this tree up sank in...and I was good. This tree can go to colors but they are more of the LED colors and not my favorite so I have kept it set on clear twinkle and I am in love. I truly didn't want to take it down-and it might still be up-except that I am such a seasonal decor person that I just couldn't do it any longer.

 And so, when I woke up this morning and had my first cup of coffee, I headed my still bathrobed self into the family room and started taking it down. That is what I always have to do to get myself motivated and knowing that I can not change my mind again. Lol I got this far and was feeling sad but I knew there was now no turning back.

Luckily, it doesn't take anywhere near as long to take the tree down as it does to put it up so it is all down now and the furniture is moved back where it belongs. The hardest part of the takedown was just lifting the pieces of the tree-that thing is HEAVY.

And, one last thing to show you today before we head back to our tour in the next day or two...

Yep. I'm still on this. Somehow in shopping the house for other things, I have unearthed a bit more gold than I ever realized that I had. I bought this beautiful tray years ago in a boutique no longer here in town. It was made in Italy and it is another of those things that spoke to me. I have used it in so many rooms of my house and I thought I would give it a try here. I like it but I still don't think I'm there. Not sure I like the tray and the doily-maybe the flower bucket would be better on the tray and forget about the doily?

We might have a winner-as soon as I go back and center the bucket on the tray. Lol This could be why I don't totally redecorate every year. This should be easy but.....!!!!

So, except for a stocking bucket hanging in the sunroom-that daughter #1 found when she was here the other day-everything else "Christmas" is now officially down and I am Valentine's ready-although I will admit that I'm already chomping at the bit to get out St. Pat's. No wonder time seems to go so quickly in my house. Stay safe and stay tuned.

Painting the Town Red

 I have been busy doing some small tweaks which I will share with you later but first, let's head into the dining room to check out this year's decor. I think it is pretty close to what it was last year with the possible exception of the centerpiece now having roses instead of tulips. I love tulips but there were even too many for me. Lol

Is the old expression "I'd rather be lucky than smart"? Well, if so, that describes me perfectly. For some reason I woke up the other night and suddenly remembered that when I was doing my Valentine decorating, I might have forgotten the area under this console table. As so, I hurried out to check and, yes indeed, I did forget it and it was still decked out for Christmas. But, lucky for me it was decorated with greenery and red frosted berries which I have no more problem leaving up for this decor than I do having the poinsettias out front. And, honestly, I have no idea what else I would have had to fill that large space so LUCKY me! Lol

So that is pretty much the dining room for this year. If I have time/ideas for any tweaks in this room, it would definitely need to be for the shelves. I just had a large niche there for many, many years-which I requested when we had the built-ins added. There was a mirror for much of that time and then small decor pieces but I had trouble finding ways to decorate that I liked so, when the gang was here one day doing things on my list for my birthday, I asked about adding shelving and my son-in-law got right on that. And now, here I am still having trouble decorating this area. Maybe I should have gone with just two shelves? Anyway, if I come up with something, you'll be the first to know.

Let's look at a few tweaks that have happened since you were here last. First....was there ever any doubt?

This looks so much better again! And, I find it somewhat meditative doing this painting. The heavy gold embroidery around the Xs and Os made it easy to guide the brush so it wasn't anywhere near as tedious as I expected. I actually had to stop myself from repainting the "pinkish word LOVE". It would have been a bit more difficult because some of the message runs over the letters. I thought I could probably get them back with a brown Sharpie but then I thought I might have to go over every word on there and stopped myself before heading down that rabbit hole. This is where it is for now but not making any promises I still won't try. Lol

And that little pitcher on the kitchen shelf just had the wrong color roses painted on it...

...so now we're here and I might be getting closer.

The goal was to not have to buy anything new so I just started opening up cupboards and boy did I find some treasures! This little mercury glass vessel is, I think, a taper candle holder that I got at PB many years ago...not sure if I ever used it. But, with some little roses cut off of a faux bush I had sitting around, I think it does just what I wanted-plus, it gives it a bit more height so the balance is better. And, I got rid of the timered candle. As much as I love the bit of glow it provides in that area of the kitchen, the brass base was fighting with the silver of the mercury glass and, honestly, there is a "rule of

three" for a reason. It is just easier on the eye.

And then I came across this cute little gold leafed marble ring tray gifted me by my grands one Valentine's Day. I always have it out in my bedroom but, since it is not only gold but heart shaped, I decided to do a bit of a swap out here and I like it. I am still fighting the urge to add MORE but I am trying to keep it simple.

So that is where I am right now. I am heading into the family room to light a fire, pour a glass of wine and sit by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree one LAST time...tomorrow it comes down!

Don't have much on the calendar for next week and it is probably going to be too chilly to do much outside so I'm hoping to be back and move on with our tour. Stay safe and stay tuned.