Still Seeing "RED"

We have a busy day ahead of us. Hubby is working out as I write, so I think I will take you through the next of the Valentine decor while I have a minute.

Let's hit the dining room.

All of the different holiday overflow of pictures have started ending up on the baker's rack.

I am still loving the garland that I made from the stiffened crocheted hearts my mom made me many years ago! I found the pattern for them in Country Living and she was so sweet to not only make a large set for me but each of my girls as well. When she made them for me, my taste was much more country. A few years ago I decided they needed an update so I simply glittered them and strung them on a pretty cord. They are perfect for my new tastes - glittery and gaudy - ha-ha!

So that is pretty much the dining room. I tried to use every bit of silver and red mercury glass I hadn't used anywhere else and keep it a bit more simple - at least simple for me.

We are off to Gainesville today. We will be seeing our oldest grand daughter receive her IB pin and then listening to her speak before the assembly as president of the student body. She is a beautiful young woman - inside and out - and we could not be more proud of her!

A few more rooms and some craft ideas to go. Stay tuned.

Got It Done....

...and I love it!

Here it is in its place of honor so why don't we see the rest of the family room while we are here.

Still one of my favorite crafts - chipboard letters from HL covered in glitter.

You can see one of my favorite Christmas presents in this picture - a beautiful family portrait of Jen, Elton & kids.

My dozen long-stemmed "poses". Starting to think I need to make an updated version of this as well with more recent pictures of the kids - but oh how I love those little faces!

So that is pretty much the family room. The entertainment unit is once again FULL of past Valentine photos but I spared you having to look at that again - it's a no-brainer that if it is a holiday, there WILL be photos in my house!

I have a few more craft ideas to get going on but that will be for another post. Stay tuned.

Finally!!

I am usually not a procrastinator - as a matter of fact, I am a kind of "do it yesterday" kind of gal. But, for whatever reason, I could not bring myself to take down Christmas - let alone get it all packed away. I bought some new stuff and thought that would do it but I just made a half-hearted attempt. And then, motivation rode in once again in the form of Pinterest!

If you are a reader of this blog, you know that I have become enamored of "pallet" signs. I have made them for Halloween, autumn, 4th of July and Easter. When I saw this, I saw it as my Valentine decorating jumping off spot - and that meant no more Christmas. It took 4 days to take it all down but I think that was because I was dusting and cleaning and then putting Valentines up right in its place. I started doing this a few years ago when I realized that as long as I had all of my red stuff out for Christmas, I might as well avail myself of it for Valentines too.

And so, I headed to Lowes to pick up some wood. I don't know why I didn't check the yard first as I had a few extra dog-ear slats lying around I could have used but these only cost me $2.16 so no big deal. I had almost everything else.

It was truly a matter of a few simple cuts. I knew this was going on my family room mantle so I wanted it tall and thin. I cut some narrow pieces of wood and glued and nailed them crosswise on the back to hold it all together.

Then, a quick coat of a dark stain and it was ready to paint. And boy, I almost felt guilty doing this one. All of the others I have made were so complicated with lots of lettering or patterns. This was one big heart - just as I wanted. I found lots of other ideas that incorporated words but this is the one that spoke to me. It was done in minutes!

I have several skeleton keys and was going to use one of them but have decided to make a quick trip to HL later today to buy one just a bit larger. I will have the finished product for you in my next blog.

But, to prove I really am decorated for the next holiday - no matter how far away it is - let's go through the living room today.

I changed some things up a bit this year but still have mostly my old favorites. I pretty much like red and white for Valentine's Day but will allow some pink and black to creep in here and there. Once again I tried to "cut back" and did leave a few things in the bins but by the time I took these pictures, I have to admit, a lot of it had found a home again. We will be going head first heart day very soon. Ran by my daughter's house the other day and as I was leaving my youngest grand daughter said, "Nana, when can I come to your house to make Valentine cookies - with LOTS of sprinkles?". There's a girl after my own heart. So much more to share. Stay tuned.

I Needed Motivation!

You may have guessed by now, but I am having  hard time saying good-bye to Christmas. This happens to me most years, but usually by now I am getting over it. My plan had been to DEFINITELY start taking down Christmas today but then I came up with 10 other things I had to do that would not permit me to start such a big project. Even the Valentine things that are already creeping into the stores hasn't done it this year.

But, I may be beginning to fold. We went to our favorite Shoppes at Wiregrass the other day and straight to my favorite store, Pottery Barn. I swear I could just move into that place. When the new catalog arrives at my mailbox, I am worse than a kid with this year's Christmas toy catalog!. I can't get enough of it!

And so, we headed there with the pretense that I was going to buy some new towels - that will be another post - but, I knew I would poke around to see what was on sale after Christmas also. Even though I do like to buy nice things after the holiday, if it is usable only for Christmas it has to be something really special because I already have so much. But, I am always looking for things that were left from Christmas that will work for other holidays and seasons through the year.

So this is what I left with. Can you see my vision?

Most of these goodies were Christmas items but I see them as Valentine's Day, St. Pat's Day, 4th of July and even autumn. I have had my eye on that large pot for awhile. It will probably be out in my house most of the year. I bought the larger of the the green mercury glass candle holders before Christmas, so now he has a friend. And who could pass up two more flameless candles at such a discount?

I did pull out my Valentine photos from last year and I have to admit I am beginning to get a bit excited about some new decor. I just have to bite the bullet. Maybe tomorrow. Tonight, as our temperatures are supposed to go into the 20s, I will light all of my Christmas lights and a fire in the fireplace and perhaps watch even one more Christmas movie before I bid farewell to such fond friends!

Keeping It Real...

...Christmas style. Let me start by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. Then let me say, I am not  much for New Year celebrations. Maybe I am just too tired from all of the December goings-on by then. We did used to watch the celebration from NYC and throw some confetti and bang lids, etc. at midnight but somehow that seems kind of silly these days with just hubby and me. And to tell the truth, we hardly ever stay awake to see the new year in any more.

And so, I don't have any fabulous posts about that but I have been enjoying the solitude of these days after Christmas to reflect on many things - some as silly as how much I love poinsettias. That's right. Even though I am not a tropical flower kind of girl, I have to be surrounded by poinsettias at this time of year.

And, I think I have posted before how I really don't like faux flowers or greenery - and yet, sometimes the silks work out better than the real thing.

So these are some of the silk poinsettias I have around the house this year. I can't tell you how many people actually reached out to check a few of these blooms to see if they were the real thing. The thing I like about them is that they can sit anywhere I want them - not just where conditions are optimum for ideal bloom. Most of the places where I want these plants are not ideal.

Here are a few of the poinsettias I have outdoors and they were happy where they were.

But, in all honesty, this is what most of the real ones are looking like right about now. Since I don't like tropical plants in my landscape, I don't plant these and they just get tossed as decorations come down so this doesn't bother me. I will continue to enjoy all of my "fauxs" until I take down decorations - probably at the first of next week. Until then, I will continue to reflect on all of the little things about Christmas that go by the wayside while we are so busy rushing around to get ready for the day. I have to remember to take time to stop and "smell the poinsettias". Stay tuned.