It's the little things that make a house a home...

9 Months Later...

2011-12-05T23:07:00.000-08:00

Christmastime is here!

And I couldn't be more excited to enjoy all that December brings. Our family of five is busier than ever, and this month, just looking at the calendar is enough to wear me out! But the holiday season is well under way at our house and I can't resist the urge to share it all with you.

Nine months have passed since the last time I sat down to write a post...

(9 months!! Sheesh!)

And while I don't feel that I have to explain why I took a break from blogging, I do feel like I want to explain. There have been a lot of changes for my family, and even some changes just for me!

That post will have to wait though. There's so much holiday cheer to focus on right now, and the business of it all (so very busy!) means that it will, no doubt, fly by. 2012 will be here before we know it and there will be plenty of time to chat about my new ventures and what's been happening with us when the New Year rolls around.

That being said, I have a new post to share! It's just...not all here...on this blog.

It's over at Girl Power Hour.

Because I have been asked to be their new Home blogger!

My first post went live this morning and I would love it if you would check it out. I'm sharing my three favorite "go-to" gifts to make for family and friends for Christmas.

Here's a little peek to entice you:

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You know how the saying goes…'tis better to give, than to receive. I grew up hearing this, and it’s now what I strive to instill in my children as they grow up. The beauty of it is that, it’s true! I have three, favorite “go-to” gifts that I make during the holidays to give to family, friends, neighbors, my children’s teachers…anyone that holds a special place in our hearts. Simply put, they are Hot Chocolate, Pecans, and Candles. But, like almost everything at Christmastime, these are all dressed up!

The first, and most loved by my little ones: Peppermint Hot Chocolate.

It couldn’t be easier to make and it looks so pretty in a glass jar.

Mix together the hot cocoa powder of your choice, mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and crushed candy canes. Decorate the jar with pretty ribbon and the heating instructions, and you have a very sweet gift that will warm up your loved ones on a cold, wintry day!

To see the complete Peppermint Hot Chocolate recipe, click here.

To continue reading and see my two other favorite gifts to make, click here and head over to GirlPowerHour.com.

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And one last thing...

to those of you who have been here from the start, those of you who showed up while I was gone, and everyone in between...

thanks for sticking around and waiting!

It means the world to me.

* Thank you *

Green With Envy...

2011-03-14T10:23:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if it's because St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, or if it's the promise of spring that is so close, I can feel it...

but either way, I find lately that I am drawn to green in a way that I have never quite been before.

I have slowly, but steadily been adding the crisp color of apple green into my decor and I love the fresh feeling that it brings to spaces that are starting to feel a little ho-hum and boring, and I'm wondering if maybe green should make it's way into our home as a stronger statement.

For inspiration, I went to Houzz, and this is what I found:

Twenty photos that draw me in and make me crave green in a big, bad way.

From light and bright, to bold and intense, green has the ability to be
calm and relaxing or bold and energetic.

I could happily exist in any one of these spaces...

what about you?

All of this inspiration prompted me to put together a green mantle just in time for St. Patrick's Day. It isn't a holiday mantel, by any stretch of the imagination, but more of a subtle reminder.

And, as it turns out, a great way to bring a little bit of that promise of spring to the inside of our home!

L . O . V . E .

2011-02-15T14:41:00.000-08:00

Our Valentine's Day...in pictures...

Before the kids got home from school, I put out fresh flowers in colors of red, pink and coral...

And baked and frosted the pinkest cupcakes I could create!

As soon as they got home, they started going through all of their Valentine's from friends and classmates. So many cards and treats...

A present from Mom and Dad for our three little Valentine's...

On the menu for dinner:

Food that was pink, red, or heart shaped. Or a combination of them all!

Strawberry Hearts dipped in pink, Cherry yogurt...

and Heart shaped pizza...

We even drank pink milk...

The Hot Pink Cupcakes were the perfect Valentine's dessert...

The kids and I had a great time together!

The only thing missing was Will.

But, being an airline family, we're used to having to celebrate holidays after the fact.

We'll have our Valentine's Date Night this Saturday, and I can't wait!

I hope your Valentine's Day was just as fun, and more importantly, was filled with lots of

L . O . V . E .

Cabin Fever...

2011-01-20T14:22:00.000-08:00

My poor, little girl has been sick the past week and I feel terrible for her - it's so sad when your kids are sick. But on the bright side, we've had lots and lots of snuggle time. She wants mama right by her, which I don't mind doing at all when she's so under the weather. She's definitely feeling better today and is finally on the mend.

As a result, I have been in this house for 7 days straight - with the exception of a 1 hour break yesterday to run to the store.

I have got a serious case of cabin fever.

The house is clean, laundry is done, dishes are washed, so...

I'm painting!

~WOOHOO~

It's about darn time! It's been a while since I've picked up a paint brush and I've been wanting to tackle one wall in particular, so today was the day.

(Plus, I'm antsy and excited anyway...my niece is coming into this world tomorrow and it's pretty much all I can think about, so painting is a good distraction!)

The color is going from a little-too-vibrant-blue to a old favorite of mine that is cozy and warm and a beautiful backdrop color. But I'll fill you in on the details of that later.

I wanted to let you know that my friend, Teri, is having a Half-Off Sale in her Etsy Shop,

T's Etc.

I've had my eye on her Pearl Dangle and Chain for quite a while, so I splurged and got the set for a whopping $8.50!

Seriously.

And I couldn't resist the Bronze Beauty Necklace which only set me back $15.00.

So hurry on over!

There aren't many pieces left and these prices can't last for long!

Oh, and because she's super sweet, she's giving you all FREE SHIPPING on your orders.

Yep. Her idea.

Told you she was sweet.

Just enter the code "It's The Little Things" in your note at checkout and you won't have to pay a single cent for shipping.

Click here to be taken to T's Etc.

Happy Thursday to you!

And happy shopping!

Our New (to us) Farmhouse Table...

2011-01-12T14:07:00.000-08:00

The table is finished and I couldn't be happier!

I have to say...my husband is the man!

I ask for him to build for me, and he says "no". Time passes and I ask again, and he says "no". But, then...then...

after a little while longer, I ask one more time...

and he always (eventually) says "yes"!

;)

It works every time, and I'm telling you, he delivers!

I thought he would just glue together some 2 x 6's, clamp 'em up, rub on some stain and poly and call it good. How hard could building a plank style table top really be anyway? For him, not hard at all.

But he did so much more than just glue together some boards, and it definitely shows in the final product.

Here is where I left off on my last post...

After milling up the 2 x 6's so that they fit together perfectly, then mitering just the right amount of "groove" between the boards, he clamped them together and I patiently (or maybe not so patiently) waited over night for them to dry.

The first thing that needed to happen the next day was sanding the top so that it would be smooth. We didn't want to end up with wobbly plates and glasses perched on the table top. Sanding is always a boring, but necessary step for the girl that cannot wait to see how it's all going to turn out.

Except, he didn't sand it.

He went old school.

He got out his grandfather's planer and smoothed the entire table top
by hand...

M-hmm. Told you he was the man.

*love*

It took quite a bit longer than it would have with the palm sander, but it was so worth the wait.

We decided to go with Kona Stain. Our old kitchen table top was always at odds with the color that our circa 1995 kitchen cabinets have become (think orange oak), so we figured dark Kona was the best way to go...

It creates a perfect contrast between the stripes of the grain.

But my favorite parts are the spots where the hand planer skipped. They show up perfectly...

Finally it was time to start in with the polyurethane to seal it all up...

The weather here has been pretty darn cold, which has meant drying times that take way, way longer than we are used to...

We put on a total of four coats of poly. We felt good at three, but figured a fourth coat certainly couldn't hurt...

The new table top was attached to the table base the exact same way that the old one had been attached. Just a few screws from underneath the table...

I am so happy with it!

Here's a little side-by-side comparison...

I love a piece with some good ole' hand built character,
and this table has got it!

The only out of pocket cost for us was the purchase of eight 2 x 6's. The total was less than $40.00.

We also took liberties with the dimensions of the new table top. Starting from scratch meant that we got to do it our way. We made the overall dimensions larger than the original table had been - an inch wider on each side, and seven inches longer in length. It was a minor change that has made a big difference during dinner when we're all sitting down at the table together. A little more room for all of those plates, glasses and utensils to spread out.

So almost a year after finding my inspiration, I finally have my Farmhouse Table.

Thanks to my rockstar carpenter!
XO

Now...to do something about that I'm-not-quite-sure-what's-going-on-back-there-but-it's-definitely-looking-forgotten-and-neglected wall...

Off to shop the house for a new look!

P.S. I am linking this post to:

Between Naps On The Porch, The DIY Show Off, The Trendy Treehouse, Today's Creative Blog, Blue Cricket Design, The Shabby Nest, Beyond The Picket Fence, Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Remodelaholic, Tatertots and Jello, Funky Junk Interiors,

What We're Up To...

2011-01-06T20:35:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning thinking that it was going to be a normal, routine day.

But lucky for me, it turned out to be the day that this...

would become this...

Isn't she a beauty?

Way back in March of last year, Ali from Little Bits Of Bliss posted pictures from her ugly-table-turned-farmhouse-table project, and for me...

it was love at first sight!

I immediately posted it to my Tumblr and kept it in the back of my mind waiting for the perfect moment to propose the table makeover to Will.

Luckily, he was totally game and on board with the idea!
(I needed him to build the top for me.)

We bought our kitchen table back in March of 1999, the same year that we got married. It has stood up to 5 moves and 3 kids (and all that they can dish out) over the past 12 years, so it only seems right that she gets a makeover.

She's definitely earned it!

Off came the top...

Then a quick sponge bath with TSP to remove all of the grease and grime
(thank you, children)...

Then bye-bye blue, hello crisp, clean white.

I used the same paint that the Board and Batten is painted in, which is the same as all of the trim throughout our house. I wanted the legs to be white anyway, but most of all, I wanted to use what I already had and I have plenty of this sitting around...

I still need to put on a second (maybe even a third) coat of paint, but with the top off, it's such an easy job...

The new farmhouse table top is currently out in the garage where it's all clamped up and the glue is drying...

Tomorrow we will put on a coat or two of stain, some poly to seal it up, and then once that is dry we can bring it in the house.

I cannot wait to see our "new" table!

So that's project #1 for 2011.

So far, so good!

A Brand New Year...

2011-01-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

This is what we woke up to on this 1st day of 2011...

*absolutely breathtaking*

A gorgeous beginning to a brand new year!

We're down to a day and a half of rest and relaxation before the kids are back in school and life returns to its daily grind.

The only thing on our agenda: to enjoy it.

Happy New Year, everyone!

~ Here's to a great 2011 ~

Signing Off Until The New Year...

2010-12-22T21:10:00.000-08:00

(This is one of my favorite Christmas photos - found via Tumblr)

Our house is filled with the sounds of Christmas music, little voices, laughter, its fair share of chaos and arguing (from those same little voices), and through it all, I hear happiness and love.

My kids are on Winter Break, my heart is full, and Christmas is almost here.

These days, at any given moment, our home looks like this...

...the coffee table pushed up against the couch to make room for sleeping bags and pillows, three kids and a dog in full rest-and-relaxation mode, and an assortment of toys, remote controls and princess dresses scattered around the floor.

On a daily basis we mix and sift and crack eggs and measure spices, and make a big, huge mess in the kitchen. While the cookies bake and I clean up (in preparation for the next batch), the kids take a break, and Classic Christmas movies play on the television. I can't help but think that these days, and these memories that we're making, are the kind that my kids will reminisce about when they are older. The same way that days just like these became my memories when I was little...

I want nothing more than to remember these moments with them, for the rest of my life.

I am so thankful that I get to call these little ones mine.
And so very thankful for their Daddy.

We've spent hours and hours in the kitchen creating all kinds of Christmas treats...

Our annual Gingerbread House decorating has taken place and the kids are quite proud of their work. We gave them carte blanche - the gingerbread house was theirs to become whatever their little 9, 7 and 4 year old hearts desired...

Our family's holiday festivities begin the morning of Christmas Eve and carry through into the following week. It will be a busy, fun-filled stretch of days that are going to fly by...

The goal this year: to be fully present and enjoy the moments as they happen.

After all, these kids of ours are growing up way too fast.

And they're only little for so long.

Which leads me to this - a post from Clover Lane called:

Just A Reminder: Don't Miss The Sparkly Eyes

I'm going to make sure that I don't miss any of it.

And if you haven't seen this, it is definitely worth reading:

My Heart Grew Three Sizes And Now I Have An Enlarged Heart. WORTH IT.

from The Bloggess

An incredible act of kindness that resulted in strangers helping strangers.

All I can say is, the tears were flowing! And that people are good.

...............................................................

This holiday season,

from our home to yours,

we wish you a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year!

~ See you in 2011 ~

A Gift Exchange For The Little Ones...

2010-12-21T18:30:00.000-08:00

December 22nd is Ellison's last day of preschool before Christmas, and all of the kids in her class are bringing in presents to have their own little gift exchange.

Cute, right!

The guidelines for us parents were simple:

One small gift for each of the other 17 children in the class - cookies, a candy cane, a little something from the dollar store...

Just nothing expensive, and most importantly (and emphasized), something small.

So, off to the Target Dollar Bins we went,

and found these...

Little stocking caps in turquoise and lime green.

Love them.

And for only $1.00 a piece.

Love them even more!

Yes, the tag says "boy hat", but to that I say "whatever".

For boys or for girls, I think they're super cute. I love the color combo and, in my opinion, stripes are always adorable on kids!

Luckily, they had more than enough of them, so I grabbed our 17 hats and we high-tailed it out of there (it's crazy at Target right now).

When we got home, I dug through my stash of Christmas and birthday gift wrap supplies and had just enough bags and ribbon to make it work without having to spend anymore money...

I used self-adhesive labels that I was able to customize online and print here at home, then attached them to blank 2" x 4" gift tags. Since the gift inside is a stocking cap, I decided to have the tags say "Baby, it's cold outside!" on one side, and "Hoping you stay warm and cozy this winter" on the other side...

I tied the tag on with red and white ribbon...
(I love turquoise and red together, so any excuse to marry the two, works for me!)

...and 17 bags later, called it a day!

I'm hoping the parents will appreciate the practically of a stocking cap (and its lack of sugar content), and I'm really hoping that the kids will get a kick out of seeing themselves all wearing the same hat!

:)

And it only cost me $17.00, plus a little tax.

Perfect for this Preschool Gift Exchange!

P.S. I am posting this at:

The Girl Creative, Blue Cricket Design, The Thrifty Home,

Cookie Monster...

2010-12-18T19:17:00.000-08:00

Chocolate Crinkles...

check!

Peanut Butter Blossoms...

check!

Pecan Puffs...

check!

The kids are officially on Winter Break and Christmas is a mere 7 days away!

Are you ready?

The Gift Of Peppermint Hot Chocolate...

2010-12-17T07:22:00.000-08:00

Every October when it starts to get cold outside, I make our family a big batch of "homemade" Peppermint Hot Chocolate. Or maybe I should call it, semi-homemade, because all of the ingredients are readily available and take minimal effort to put together. But combined, they create a cup of yummy, warm, chocolatey deliciousness!

I simply combine regular and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and peppermints (or candy canes) that I unwrap, put into a big zip-lock bag and crush with the flat side of our metal meat tenderizer. Unwrapping all of the peppermints is the most time consuming step of this whole process, so if you have time for that, then you're good to go!

There isn't much of a recipe to follow here. You just want to make sure that you have enough peppermint and chocolate chips in there that you get a good amount in every scoop...

I put it all in the jar and then add powdered hot chocolate mix. Nothing fancy or gourmet necessary. When you mix it all with hot water or warm milk, the chocolate chips and marshmallows melt to make a rich taste, and the peppermint adds the perfect hit of flavor...

When it's all mixed and ready to enjoy, just make it the same way that you make instant hot cocoa. Fill the mug up 1/4 to 1/2 way with the mix (depending on what your sweet tooth prefers) and then fill the mug with boiling water or warm milk. Stir until all of the marshmallows and chocolate chips are melted. When you get to the bottom of the mug, you'll be left with some chunks of melting peppermint - my kids' favorite part!

I made a big jar for my best friend and her family this year, tied it with a bright red ribbon and hung a few jingle bells on it...

And this year, the kids and I decided that this would make the perfect gift for our teacher's and their families over Winter Break and all season long...

For a prettier presentation, I added more crushed peppermint and chocolate chips on top...

I love how it looks when you open the jar!

My kids are obsessed with this hot chocolate, and if I am being totally honest,
so am I!

*For the adults, a dash of Amaretto is really yummy, and Peppermint Schnapps does the trick as well!*

The kids delivered the gifts to their teacher's yesterday and I am told that they received rave reviews. Hopefully, along with their families, they enjoyed a cup last night!

This also makes a wonderful gift for friends and neighbors, as a hostess gift, and even as a gift from your child to their friends.

Easy, inexpensive, and so, so yummy!

~ Enjoy ~

P.S. I bought the jars at Fred Meyer, but I know that Target sells them as well. I was able to buy them for $5 a piece, on sale. Not bad, if you ask me!

:)

P.S.S. I am posting this at:
Tatertots and Jello, Remodelaholic, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Beyond The Picket Fence, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different...Act Normal, The Girl Creative, Blue Cricket Design, The Thrifty Home,

Christmas Cookies...

2010-12-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

I cannot wait to start making Christmas Cookies!

Which is kind of odd, because as I have said before, I am not the baker in the family.

But how can a girl resist when there are so many great recipes and beautiful cookies to be made!

All of these came from Taste Of Home and I want to try my hand at all of them!

And even though this recipe isn't for a cookie, or require baking (score!), I want to try this one too...

Frozen Hot Chocolate

Yum!

I have promised myself (and Will) that I won't start any new projects (baking is definitely a project for me and the kitchen bears the brunt of it) until I am finished decorating for Christmas and all of the empty bins are out of the garage (ie: the workshop) and back under the house.

I am thiiiiis close to being done, and then the baking is on!

Have you started your Christmas Cookie baking yet?

Our Living Room Mantel - Christmas 2010...

2010-11-30T14:22:00.000-08:00

I had only one objective for this years Living Room Christmas Mantel...

keep the grapevine garland that I used for my Thanksgiving Mantel up on the fireplace, and incorporate it into the design.

That's it.

For one, I like it there. I like that it gives a whole new dimension to the fireplace, on top of being natural and rustic. But my other reason (which is probably the real reason) is that it was such a pain to get up there in the first place that I need to keep it up as long as I can and make all of the effort that Owen and I put into getting it to stay in place, worth it!

Luckily, it was easy to incorporate, and I think it worked out wonderfully...

The grapevine garland was the perfect (and obvious) place to hang Christmas balls - in red and silver to match our Christmas tree on the other side of the room...

The rest of the mantle came together easily, using just a few simple items:

a recycled glass bowl to hold red glass balls and pinecones...

large lanterns to hold red candles and a bit of faux snow...

(the best faux snow I have found, in fact!)

another swag of cedar garland (see, I told you I couldn't resist!) and some twinkling lights...

a basket of cozy blankets, which are a must in our house...

my birch logs...

an inexpensive cedar wreath (just $8 - seriously!) hung with some sturdy indoor/outdoor ribbon...

and the "Christmas" sign that I made a few years back...

...was all it took to create this Christmas mantel.

The ottoman sitting in front of the fireplace came with our sectional that we purchased for the Family Room this past summer, but I'm not big on "sets" and like to break them up as much as I can. So the ottoman sits here. Unfortunately, we don't ever use this fireplace - it has a glass front that gets really, really hot and with three kids and a puppy running around, I'd rather not take the chance at someone brushing against it and getting burned.

But this way actually works out quite well. The ottoman gets used in the Living Room, in that spot, way more than I thought it would, which is great...

...but I'm thinking this just might be the perfect perch for the kids...

it's time to snap some Christmas pictures!

:)

Happy Holidays!

P.S. I am posting this at:

Layla's Holiday Home Mantel Party, Today's Creative Blog, The DIY Show Off, Blue Cricket Design, My Backyard Eden, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Beyond The Picket Fence, Funky Junk Interiors, Tatertots and Jello, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, The Shabby Nest, Finding Fabulous, Thrifty Decor Chick,

Our Family Room Mantel - Christmas 2010...

2010-11-30T11:09:00.000-08:00

The goal this year was:

1. Use what I have (as much as possible).

2. Keep it fun, colorful, and whimsical for the kids.

3. Make it glow.

4. Bring the outdoors in.

Did I achieve all of my goals?

I think so! And I love it.

And so do the kids, which is what really makes me happy!

I started with cedar garland. I cannot resist cedar at Christmas time. Cannot. It makes its way into our home every holiday season. I love how it looks, how it smells and how it ages over the month of December.
(Live greenery can be such a mess, but in my opinion, cedar is one of the least messy of all the evergreens!)

I buy it at Costco or at Fred Meyer, which sells 15' lengths for $14.99.

(This was my one purchase for this mantel. A must-have at a darn good price, if you ask me!)

Then I added a single strand of C-7 Christmas lights.

Want your mantel to glow? Use C-7's. You will not be disappointed!

Then I added some bead garland to add more pops of red into the overall look...

I bought this Advent Calendar last year at one of our local Holiday Bazaar's. It is made to stand on a table, but I wanted it to stay out of reach from little hands, so I added a sawtooth hanger on the back and hung it up here...

Next...the hanging ornaments.

My absolute favorite part!

I just used thin gift wrapping ribbon, looped through the top of each ornament. Then I used small, white thumbtacks to secure the ribbon to the ceiling...

The ornaments are shatterproof (ie: plastic), so if something should happen and they were to fall, I don't have to worry about broken glass across the hearth and wood floor...

I finished it off with my ribbon wrapped candles, and the J O Y sign that I made last year, to sneak in a little bit of that fresh lime green color...

and last, but certainly not least, our spot for the kids to put their letters to Santa...

My mother-in-law made our stockings for us year's ago, and as we added kids, she made more stockings. They are the perfect colors and fit in beautifully every Christmas...

The kids were in charge of the tree in the Family Room this year, and I love how it all looks together...

And there you have it...

Our inexpensive-use-what-you've-got-colorful-whimsical-glowing-cedar-loving-Christmas mantel.

Whew!

Now...time to sit down on our cozy couch with a mug of hot chocolate and a magazine, and enjoy it.

Happy Holidays!

P.S. I am posting this at:

Layla's Holiday Home Mantel Party, Today's Creative Blog, The DIY Show Off, Blue Cricket Design, My Backyard Eden, Somewhat Simple, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Beyond The Picket Fence, Funky Junk Interiors, Tatertots and Jello, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, The Shabby Nest, Finding Fabulous, Thrifty Decor Chick,

That's A Wrap...

2010-11-29T13:32:00.000-08:00

I've been working on my mantels for the past few days - putting a holiday twist on the main focal points of our family room and living room. For the most part, I am using what I have and, patiently, going with the flow. I didn't have a plan or direction that I was aiming in, at all. I just knew that I wanted it to be...

festive, colorful and whimsical.

So far, so good!

But my plain Jane white candles just weren't cutting it for me.

Luckily, all it took was a little of this...

Inexpensive sheer, wired ribbon and some of that indoor/outdoor ribbon that you can get, well...everywhere right now. I had both sitting in a bin from last Christmas and it turned out to be just what I needed for my candles this year.

A little wrap, and they take on a whole new custom look that fits perfectly with my Christmas decor this year...

So easy.

Too easy, really!

Which is just how I like it!

P.S. I am posting this at:

Between Naps On The Porch, Making The World Cuter, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Girl Creative, Keeping It Simple, Cottage Instincts,

Feeling Inspired...

2010-11-27T13:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas time is here...

and with it comes an endless amount of shared inspiration!

These are just a few of my favorites over the past few days:

from Alice Lane Home, a gorgeous Holiday mantel...

From PK at Room Remix, an entire post dedicated to decorating with Christmas ornaments...

(lots of great ideas and beautiful pictures!)

From Mod Podge Rocks, an awesome DIY big, box Advent Calendar...

(my kids would flip out if this was what they had to look forward to for 25 days in December!)

From Eighteen25, super cute Christmas Subway Art (which I have already printed and put up in a frame!) along with an adorable Christmas banner...

From Martha Stewart, Mulling Sachets...

(These are definitely on my T0-Do list!)

And from My Sweet Savannah, DIY ornaments using Scrabble letters...

...........................................................................................

The kids and I are in full decorating mode, with plenty of Christmas music and hot chocolate to keep us going strong.

How is your Christmas home coming along?

Giving Thanks...

2010-11-25T07:55:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Day is here and I couldn't be happier!

Why?

Because Will is home.

The five of us get to be together today, and for that I am so very grateful. Being married to an airline pilot, I'm lucky to have him home for any of the holidays, but for the big one's, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am especially grateful when we get to share them with him.

Our day will start with our traditional Thanksgiving breakfast, the Macy's Day parade, lots of cooking and baking, then heading over to my parents house to spend the day with them. We'll finish off the evening with Will's family, then come back home for some fun and games.

And to top off the excitement and anticipation...it snowed while we were sleeping. So we have a fresh coat of white covering the landscape. It couldn't be more beautiful outside of our windows.

Whatever your day may hold, I hope that you enjoy yourself. And remember...

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

~ Frederick Koenig

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

image courtesy of Craftily Ever After

DIY - Flurries In A Hurry Garland...

2010-11-23T19:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the latest Land Of Nod catalog came in the mail. I love The Land Of Nod. But this time of year, my kids are all about it!

When the catalog comes, I have to quickly flip through it before they get their little hands on it, never to be seen again.

As I was flipping, this page caught my attention...

More specifically, the snowflake garland.

In our house, paper snowflakes are created from the first frost until the first signs of Spring. We must make hundreds of them (seriously!) from Fall through Winter.

I am happy to make them and I got lucky enough to have a child that, quite possibly, likes making them even more than I do. That's my Owen!

The colorful snowflake garland from The Land Of Nod, called "Flurries In A Hurry" (cute, right?) is made of felt...

...but who needs felt when you have construction paper? On hand. Ready to use.

Since today was a Snow Day and the kids were home from school, Owen and I got to work right away...

19 snowflakes later, we had our own festive garland!

And I love it!

I used regular string and thumb tacks to attach it to the ceiling - one on each end of the string, and one in the middle...

Every year, we always do white snowflakes, but with these,
it feels like a party in here!

So, not only is that more than $30.00 saved, but we didn't have to wait for it to be delivered, and...

the best part was listening to Owen point out all of his creations tonight during dinner, as we dined under a canopy of colorful snowflakes...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Happy Holidays!

P.S. I am linking to:

Between Naps On The Porch, Sumo's Sweet Stuff, The Girl Creative, Today's Creative Blog, Blue Cricket Design, The Thrifty Home, My Backyard Eden, The Trendy Treehouse, These Creative Juices, Someday Crafts, The Shabby Chic Cottage, The Shabby Nest, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different...Act Normal,

A Perfect Day For Sugared Pecans...

2010-11-22T13:34:00.000-08:00

Today we woke up to snow...

It actually started snowing yesterday, but it wasn't until this morning that it started accumulating. Shockingly, school wasn't cancelled, or even delayed. But I have to be honest...I wish it had been. We so rarely get snow and I can only imagine how anxious the boys must be, sitting patiently in their classrooms at school, to get home so they can get out there and start making snowballs and sleding down the hills.

With or without her brothers, Ellison is having a blast out there!

She goes out until she's too cold to stand it anymore, then comes inside to warm up. As soon as she's warm and her coat, hat and gloves are dry, she's back out again!

You've got to take advantage of it while you've got it, around here!

:)

For me, a snow day is the perfect excuse to be in the kitchen making something yummy. And this time of year, it's all about the Sugared Pecans...

I got the recipe years ago from a good friend in Arizona, and I always make them for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Wrapped up in a pretty bag, they make a great gift for friends and neighbors.

Sugared Pecans

....................................................................

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter
2 egg whites
1 lb. of pecans
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

....................................................................

Directions:

Melt butter and spread in a jelly roll pan (or cookie sheet). Mix all other ingredients together in a large bowl, then spread in the pan making sure that the pecans are spread out flat. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour or until dry. Stir the pecans every 10 minutes during cooking so that the sugar mixture coats the pecans well. Be sure not to overcook them or they will taste burned. As soon as they look dry, remove from oven. Cool and store in an air tight container.

....................................................................

Enjoy!

P.S. I am linking this post to:

Someday Crafts, Blue Cricket Design, The Thrifty Home, Funky Junk Interiors, Be Different...Act Normal,

Windstorms, and Power Outages, and Earthquakes! Oh My!

2010-11-16T10:21:00.000-08:00

We've had it all over the past 18 hours!

The wind was absolutely unreal last night and caused power outages all over Western Washington...

Luckily, we were spared from that, but other parts of Tacoma were not, and as a result our school district made the decision for a 2 hour late start.

So the boys are still at home with me, having a super fun and totally out of the ordinary, Tuesday morning.

Currently they are singing their hearts out playing Rock Band - Bon Jovi being the artist of choice this morning.

:)

And then, as if the crazy storm wasn't enough, we had an earthquake.

Seriously.

It was short and sweet for us, with the epicenter being down in Mossyrock, WA...

But for me, an earthquake is an earthquake. Unnerving, at best.

So, needless to say, my morning is not turning out as planned. My To-Do list will have to wait.

But it's ok. I'll take it.

It's more fun to hang out and play with the kids anyway.

...............................................

I hope that you are having a wonderful Tuesday!

For The Locals - Holiday Boutique...

2010-11-15T04:00:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is just 9 days away, which means that Craft Fairs and Holiday Bazaar's are in full swing.

This coming weekend is no exception!

One of my best friends from high school, Teri, has come out to visit and is throwing her own

Holiday Boutique

along with her mom, sisters and some very talented friends.

Items will include necklaces, bracelets, earrings, watches, handbags, wallets, women's and children's hair accessories, children's dress up clothes and costumes, holiday home decor and gifts, like wreaths, table runners, countdown blocks, and gifts for teacher's and neighbors.

They are also hosting a bake sale and all of the proceeds will go to benefit the "Clean and Sober House".
(CleanAndFreeHousing.org)

If you would like to attend, details are as follows:

Address:
4137 SW 321st St, Federal Way, WA 98023

Hours:
Thursday & Friday, Nov. 18th & 19th, from 12pm to 8pm
Saturday, Nov. 20th, from 10am to 7pm

Here is a tiny sneak peek at some of the goods...

From Teri at T's Etc...

From Analisa at Hair Blingz And Cute Things...

and...

From Mandy at A Girl's Must Haves...

I'll be there for sure, checking everything out and seeing what I can get crossed off of my Christmas shopping list.

Maybe I'll see you there!

:)

The best part is that this fits hand-in-hand with my promise to buy handmade this year.

Speaking of which, have you checked out all of the links that have been added to our...

Lots of good stuff!

Be sure to check it out, and if you sell your own handmade items, feel free to add your link.

Click here for all of the details.

Happy Shopping!

Grown-Up Grilled Cheese...

2010-11-13T10:01:00.000-08:00

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Actually, I'm not a fan at all.

Bread, butter and cheddar cheese all put together is not what I crave. Ever.

But when I saw this story in a recent issue of Martha Stewart magazine, I was definitely tempted. I could do Grown-Up Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, for sure.

They are, as follows:

Gruyere, Prosciutto, Arugula, and Tomato on White...

*Yum!*

Fontina, Harissa, and Pear on Rye...

Gruyere, Apple, and Sage on Rye...

Cheddar, Dijon Mustard, Bacon, Tomatoes, Avocado, and Pepper on Sourdough...

Gruyere, Red Onion, Prosciutto, and Pepper on Rye...

Cheddar, Jalapeno, and Cilantro on White...

Gruyere, Oil-Packed Sardines, Peppadew Peppers, and Arugula on Rye...

Cheddar, Cherry Preserves, and Basil on White...

Fontina, Oil-Packed Tuna, and Relish on White...

Cheddar, Bacon, and Pickles on Sourdough...

Mmmmm...

It all sounds (and looks) like really, yummy comfort food. And it's cold and rainy here today, which makes it a perfect day for a steaming cup of hot soup and a tasty, melted sandwich.

The only problem is...how to choose which sandwich to make first!

On This Day, We Honor Our Veterans...

2010-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

From the five of us, to all that have served...

THANK YOU

We owe you our Freedom and our way of life, and for that, we are eternally grateful!

Handmade Holiday Shopping Guide - Calling All Handmade Sellers...

2010-11-10T23:04:00.000-08:00

I don't know where this year has gone, or how it managed to fly by so darn fast, but December 25th is right around the corner and will be here before we know it.

(Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?)

This Christmas I am making it my personal goal to buy gifts for my friends and family that are handmade, in hopes of cutting out the big-box stores as much as I can.

Don't get me wrong...I love Target just as much as the next girl! But when it comes to giving gifts, I would much rather be inspired browsing Etsy, than strolling through crowded aisles of mass produced products.

You may or may not know that Will and I are Handmade sellers ourselves. We have an Etsy Shop where we sell Custom Built Reproduction Antique Riddling Racks...

They come in three finishes:

and each one is handmade, board by board.

It is a tedious process, but it's a labor of love and we're proud of every one that we ship off! And we're certain that all of the other Handmade sellers out there feel the same way about their own products.

So in an effort to make this years shopping easier on myself (and any of you that would like to go the handmade route this year, too), I am hoping that you will help me assemble a...

Handmade Holiday Shopping Guide

I am counting on you to make this a success. Feel free to add the link to your Etsy Shop or website and give a brief description of what people can expect to find when they visit your site.

I will keep the list open through Christmas Eve, so start spreading the word!

Let your friends and family know that this is a chance for a little free advertising!

Because everyone likes free.

:)

**I reserve the right to delete any link that does not sell handmade items. I will also delete any links that I consider inappropriate and not in line with the content that I post on my blog. This is a family blog...let's keep it clean!**

So what are you waiting for?

Start linking up!

And if you are participating, please feel free to spread the word and take a button to place on your blog or website. The more the merrier!

<center><a href=" http://itsthelittlethingsthatmakeahouseahome.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-shopping-guide-calling-all.html " target="_blank"></a></center>

I cannot wait to see what you have to show us!

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Our "Give Thanks" Mantel & The Thankful Garland...

2010-11-09T14:53:00.000-08:00

This year's Thanksgiving mantel is all about Giving Thanks. Spelled out in fun, pretty, white letters it is a constant reminder to be mindful of all that we have...

I made the sign out of leftover cedar planks that I used to make our friends' wedding sign back in July. Four planks, a little wood glue, two strips of wood for the back of the sign, and two nails for each plank was all it took. Then I used hemp rope and punch-out cardboard letters that I then spray painted Heirloom White...

Since the letters are only attached to the rope, it leaves me free to change out the sign to say whatever I please. And I like having the option to change my mind!

:)

On the mantel I tried to stay as close to nature as possible - both real and faux.

Real moss, faux acorns, real Indian Corn, faux moss balls, real wheat and pumpkins. It all works together to create a natural mantel scape...

The real moss is a bit messy, but I absolutely love it! It is the exact color of green that I was looking for and it is so pretty and delicate...

While browsing for inspiration, I found a beautifully decorated mantle and hearth that had a chest sitting in front of it. I loved how it brought the whole theme together and kept the mantle from feeling like it was floating. Since our fireplace sticks out so far from the wall and does not have a raised hearth, it sometimes feels like the decor is floating at eye level.

Coincidentally, I still have this ochre colored chest that was left here by the previous owners. I love the color this time of year and it was the perfect width to hold a couple of medium sized pumpkins, a bundle of birch logs and some Indian corn...

But my absolute favorite part of this year's mantel is the Thankful Garland.

I saw Melissa post about it and I was instantly hooked! The idea belongs to Jen from Tatertos and Jello. You can see her Thankful Garland and her How-To, here.

Just like Jen, I used grapevine garland. It was about $12 at JoAnne's Etc and it comes rolled up like a wreath. I'm not going to fool you and say it was a breeze to put up. It was NOT! There were a few times that I was ready to give up because wrestling with it just seemed pointless. It was wound pretty tightly and did not want to stretch out at all, so if I hadn't had Owen here to help me, I would probably still be fighting with it! But don't give up. Trust me, eventually...you will win!

To make the leaves, I used two different leaf stencils and some Autumn inspired scrapbooking paper that I also got at JoAnne's. It was half off, so I got the whole big book of different paper patterns for just $9.oo.

Tracing, then cutting out all of the leaves was tedious, but it was definitely worth it...

And it has been fun taking turns writing down what we are Thankful for.

I tied the leaves on by using a hole punch near the stem and then using a small length of the same hemp rope that I used on the sign. Nothing fussy or fancy. Just a simple knot at the top lets the leaves hang loose and sway when someone walks by...

I have to say, this is my favorite mantel yet!

Probably because my family was involved in making it come to life. And what could be better than a pretty focal point that is also interactive. We can add leaves to our Thankful Garland all month long...

Thanksgiving is fast approaching.

Are you ready?

P.S. I am linking this to:
Funky Junk Interiors, Today's Creative Blog, Between Naps On The Porch, It's So Very Cheri, The Girl Creative, Skip To My Lou, Tools Are For Women Too, The Trendy Treehouse, The Thrifty Home, My Backyard Eden, Blue Cricket Design, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Beyond The Picket Fence, Somewhat Simple, Life As Lori, House of Hepworths, Just A Girl, Remodelaholic, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Simply Sweet Home, Tatertots and Jello, I Am Only 1 Woman, It's A Hodgepodge Life, Fingerprints On The Fridge, Be Different...Act Normal,

Remember Our "Free Stuff" Door?

2010-11-07T13:57:00.000-08:00

Remember way, way back, when I first posted about the awesome, old door that we found on the side of the road?

If not, I don't blame you. It was way back in March, but I'll give you a quick abbreviated rundown to catch you up...

Last March I was lucky enough to spot a "Free Stuff" pile just outside of our neighborhood. And in it, was a solid wood, 8 panel door.

I thought it was perfect.

Will thought I was crazy.

But he knew if he didn't help me load it into the car that I would do whatever it took to get it in there myself. So, reluctantly, he helped me load the door, and it became mine!

You can read all about it, along with my original plan for the door, here:
"Look What I Found"

But before I made any final decisions on how to transform it, I wanted to see what all of you thought about how the door should be used. You all are an opinionated bunch (which is exactly what I was hoping for) and, in the end, you made the decision an easy one for me!

You can read all about that here:
"Your Opinions On The Door"

So what did we end up doing with it?

Well, here she is...

Not only did we cut out the top four panels and replace them with glass, but we turned it into a Dutch Door and I could not be happier with the end result!

The process was a bit tricky. We weren't entirely sure how well the door would hold up to cutting out panels and sawing it in half, but luckily for us, it was in great condition.

The first step was to cut out the panels...

So far, so good!

Next, we sawed the door in half to create our Dutch Door...

and added a new doorknob...

Then we added a ledge onto the bottom half of the door. The original door was a few inches shorter than the doors in our house, so we had to fill that gap. Nothing a simple 2x4 couldn't fix...

Originally, we thought we would use plexiglass to create the windows in the top half of the door. But the more we thought about it, the more we felt like it could (and should) be a bit classier, maybe a little more permanent than that. We knew that we could find a piece of glass that not only suited our aesthetic, but one that would make the door that much more unique.

We headed to Tacoma and found the coolest glass shop. Our heads were spinning with all of the ideas that were floating through our heads. They had glass in shades and textures that we never could have imagined. Beautiful!

My only requirements for the glass we chose were that it let every bit of possible light through, and that it would have texture so that the picture we saw in the laundry room would be scattered and diffused. No need for our guests to see "Mt. Laundrius", as the boys so affectionately call it!

We settled on a piece of glass called "Falling Rain". You get the picture - a little streaky and bubbly. But since I would rather think outside of the box than stay inside it, I decided to flip the glass sideways so that the streaks run from side to side, instead of top to bottom. I have to say, the little, old man at the glass shop looked at me like I was crazy, but...ultimately, the customer is always right. Right?

The glass fit perfectly and we held it in place with a bead of silicone...

Will cut strips of wood to frame in and secure the glass on the back side of the door...

The stain that we used for the glass trim is also what we ended up using for the ledge on the bottom half of the door...

We also repositioned a small piece of hardware that was on the door when we first picked it up. I have no idea what it was used for, but it's old and aged and I like it...

I was giddy when it was all said and done!

And 8 months later...I still am!

It lets light into our hallway, which was what I had always wanted. What is the point of having a window in a bright, light-filled laundry room if you never, ever see it anyway?

Now, we see the light!

I definitely owe Will a big, huge Thank You for helping me make this happen!

And, for the record, he loves it too. I knew he would!

:)

Have you found any cool "Free Stuff" lately?

P.S. I am posting this over at:

Funky Junk Interiors, Tatertots & Jello, The Shabby Nest, Finding Fabulous,
Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, I Am Only 1 Woman, Life As Lori, Beyond The Picket Fence, Tales From Bloggeritaville, The Girl Creative, Cottage Instincts, It's So Very Cheri, Between Naps On The Porch, Keeping It Simple, The DIY Show Off, Tools Are For Women Too, Trendy Treehouse, The Thrifty Home, My Backyard Eden, Coastal Charm, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Somewhat Simple, House of Hepworths, Just A Girl, Remodelaholic, Simply Sweet Home, It's A Hodgepodge Life, Fingerprints On The Fridge, Be Different...Act Normal,

A Visual Reminder...

2010-11-03T18:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek of a little something that I made this afternoon to sit up on our living room mantel.

This year "Give Thanks" is our theme, and spelled out, it will be a visual daily reminder to be grateful for all that we have.

Most importantly, each other.

I cannot wait to show you how it's all coming together and the one thing that has me most excited!

Blank Canvas...

2010-11-02T15:18:00.000-07:00

Ahh...

Halloween has been packed up and put away for another year,

and the spirit of Giving Thanks is well on it's way.

I love a big, blank canvas...

it's full of possibilities!

:)

Trick-Or-Treat...

2010-11-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

The best part about Trick-Or-Treating last night?

It didn't rain!

You'd never know it from all the rain today, but we lucked out and had a really great night!

We had to wait for Will to get home from the airport before heading out into the neighborhood, so the kids set up a table, three chairs and the candy bucket...

and had a good time passing out candy and checking out all the kids in their fun costumes!

Ellison took her job very seriously, asking kids how they were doing and telling them how cute they looked...

It was pretty adorable!

The boys' costumes came with scary masks, but they were very kind and decided not to wear them while they passed out candy. That way they wouldn't scare any of the little kids.

Sweet boys!

BOO!

Ellison anxiously awaiting the arrival of more kids.

And then finally, Dad was home and it was their turn to go Trick-Or-Treating!

First, Grandma's house...

where they were spoiled with goody bags!

A few more stops...

and then back home...

to our Hot Dog...

Scout!

I hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

..........................................................................

That being said, can you believe that it is November already?

Where has the year gone?

But I can't say that I'm entirely disappointed.

I hear turkey and cranberries calling my name.

:)

Happy Halloween...

2010-10-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

This years objective for Halloween:

make it Spooky, but not Scary.

This was the first year that the boys begged me to go scary with the decor. But with a 4 year old little girl, I just can't do scary.

The compromise: Skulls and Spiders with emphasis on Trick-Or-Treating!

The boys are happy because they are way into the skulls, but Ellison is happy too because none of it is scary enough to be nightmare-inducing!

And that makes Mama very happy!

:)

First, I needed a few candle holders. I lucked out when our local thrift store had these...

A few coats of glossy, black spray paint later and they were perfect for my Halloween mantle...

I found this spidery runner and laid it down first...

Added a few skulls (the boys love this one the most!)...

A free printable from The Graphics Fairy - LOVE her!

And four cute, little bottles with skull stoppers from TJ Maxx...

Some candy corn for color and to reinforce the "Trick-Or-Treat" theme...

A little bit of Spanish Moss here and there...

Candles and Spiders...

And the coolest glittery, black paper chandeliers from Martha Stewart and JoAnne Etc...

I hung one on each side of the mantle...

And Halloween just wouldn't be complete without a few stray crows...

A little more orange, by way of a framed greeting card...

and a Jack-O-Lantern...

And it all comes together to make a slightly-Spooky-but-not-Scary Halloween mantle!

The skeletons found themselves placed around the house, which the kids (and Will too!) love moving into different poses! This one is by Martha Stewart from JoAnne's...

love him - he's a keeper!

Some sticky spiders...

and spider webs...

were just enough to make the house feel ready for Halloween!

It was fun to have the kids fully involved in it this year. Here is how Ellison decorated when we first open up our Halloween boxes...

She was super proud of herself!

:)

And Mummy Pizza's were a huge hit!

Will and I got lucky this year - my best friend hosted a Costume Party on Friday night and it was SO much fun!

Here are a few of us girls...

(my BFF - Medusa)

And now it's dark and the kids are chomping at the bit to get out there and start ringing doorbells!

Off to Trick-Or-Treat!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Be safe!

P.S. I am linking to:

The Inspired Room, Just A Girl, Tatertots & Jello

A Subtle Reminder...

2010-10-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

Because it is the little things that make a house a home...

I had been wanting to put this saying above the doors in our hallway for quite a while, and I knew that Eileen (the one and only "Leen The Graphics Queen") was just the girl to help me do it!

She was able to match the font in the header of my blog perfectly, and sized it exactly how I asked her to...

Now, I would love to say that I was cool as a cucumber while putting it up, but in all reality, I was super nervous that I was going to mess it all up. Luckily, Eileen sends clear and precise instructions with her decals, so it certainly wasn't that I didn't have the "tools" necessary to do it correctly. For me, it was that I had chosen the font that I love - thin and scripty and, most importantly, believably hand painted. But these three things were also what could have led me to mess the whole thing up!

Thank goodness that my nerves didn't get the best of me!

I *love* it!

What I love most about the decal:

1. It has a matte finish, so it doesn't show the texture of the wall underneath it.

2. It is super thin vinyl. I was really surprised when I opened the cute, little box from Eileen and saw the material. This is not your average, store bought decal!

Which leads me to...

3. Thanks to #1 and #2, it really, truly looks like it is hand-painted! Which would not be out of the ordinary for me in my home. Before now, I always hand-painted my words and quotes directly onto the wall or a sign. But let me tell you, those days are gone!

Buh-bye!

I will happily say that I no longer have an aversion to vinyl wall decals...as long as they are from Eileen.

:)

I am so glad that this is the saying that I chose for this space. I love that it has more than one meaning for us, that it sits in the center of our home and that it is a daily reminder to keep in mind what is really important.

A huge Thank You to Eileen for creating exactly what I had imagined!

You're the best! XO

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Do you have a favorite saying that you would like to put up in your home?

Be sure to check out Leen The Graphics Queen's website and blog.

You will not be disappointed!

P.S. If you become a fan of the "Leen The Graphics Queen" Facebook Fan Page, you are eligible to receive a 10% discount on your order! Check it out Here!

Girls Weekend...

2010-10-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

My best friend, Kelly, and I have been planning a Girl's Weekend for......ever!

At least, it felt like forever.

(It's been 8 years in the making!)

But the first weekend of September, we had luck on our side. With only four days notice, the stars and planets aligned and we miraculously got the chance to leave our kiddos at home with our husbands and take off for some much needed rest and relaxation.

And shopping.

:)

We spent that Friday morning doing our everyday Mom duties, but the moment the kids were safe and sound at school, we hit the road.

Destination: Pacific Beach, WA

More specifically, The Coastal Nest.

We had a great time!

I could go into all of the details of the cottage, but really, the photos speak for themselves.

First, a quick rundown of the spaces:

The Living Room:

The Kitchen:

The Dining Area:

Bedroom #1:

Bedroom #2:

And The Bathroom:

The Coastal Nest is certainly quaint and cozy!

But what makes this cottage so adorable and comfortable, is Lisa's obvious eye for details and decor.

Take a look to see just what I mean...

(Click on the photo to be taken to the Coastal Nest Facebook Page, and let Lisa know that Karla from ITLT sent you!)

The moment that Kelly and I walked in, I knew I would be stealing some of Lisa's ideas and using them in my own home.

The cottage is brimming with inspiration!

To see all of the details of the Coastal Nest, check out Lisa's blog at:

Coastal-Nest.blogspot.com

And if you are interested in staying at the Cottage, Click Here for rates and availability.

....................................................................

Many thanks to Lisa for letting us stay at the Coastal Nest on such short notice!

You have a sweet little spot there!

XO

Corn Husk Wreaths...

2010-10-03T02:00:00.000-07:00

I have found a new Fall interest this year.

Corn Husk Wreaths

I don't think I have ever seen these before, but while browsing Etsy I stumbled upon these from

The Keepers' House

I think they are beautiful...

She added the tassels from the stalks on this one...

So pretty!

And priced between just $15 and $25, they look well worth the money!

But...me being me, I started thinking...

Could I just make one myself?

Then good ole' Google led me to Suzanne...

A full post, complete with a How-To!

You have got to check out her tips on making your own. She gives clear step-by-step instructions and tells you exactly where to buy husks this time of year.

Thank you, Suzanne!

Martha has a tutorial for her version of a Harvest Wreath...

I like hers too!

But I gotta' say, I think I like the untamed version from The Keepers' House better...

So when it comes to seasonal wreaths, where do you stand?

Easier to buy pre-made? Or worth the effort of DIY?

Blogger Bookmark...

2010-10-02T07:02:00.000-07:00

Last month I was contacted by MyHomeIdeas.com and asked if I would like to be part of a new feature on their site called "Blogger Bookmarks". It sounded like fun and a good opportunity, so I, of course, said yes. After answering a list of questions and picking out my favorite MyHomeIdeas Stories, our Blogger Bookmark is up! I love how they put it all together!

Click Here to check out our feature!

And many thanks to MyHomeIdeas.com

October 1st...

2010-10-01T18:15:00.000-07:00

It's official...

My Halloween decorating can now begin!

I know, I know - there are plenty of you die-hard-Halloweener's...

or...

Halloweenies...

Halloweenettes...

Hmm?

(MOVING ON!)

...who started decorating as soon as Fall arrived, but I typically like to keep my seasons and holidays separate, giving them each their own space to express themselves.

But as of today, the ghost and goblins can make their way out of the cellar and into the house!

While browsing Better Homes & Gardens I found some great ideas that I will definitely be incorporating this year.

These gourds are not only pretty, but functional too! Can't beat that...

And every house should be home to a few crows and cobwebs...

Or maybe, a lot of cobwebs!

My kids would LOVE to have a webby, spidery chandelier like this one!

And it's just not Halloween without the bats...

Remember our colony of bats from last Halloween?

The effort was definitely worth the end result!

And I love this idea!

This particular tree is painted on, but lucky for us, Eileen has some fabulous trees in her shop that would work perfectly for this. Hit up the dollar store for a bunch of crows and you've got yourself a display that will *WOW* anyone that walks in your door!

These last two ideas are about as simple as it gets.

If your kids are anything like mine, they love seeing themselves all framed up!

Make it a little creepy and crawly and they'll love it even more...

How about a new use for all of those Mason jars you have sitting around?

With a little black construction paper and some masking tape, you can make yourself a mummy...

Cute, right?

I'm thinking this is the perfect craft for the kids.

So what about you?

Has your Halloween decorating commenced?

I'm always up for fresh, new ideas, so if you have any that you would like to share, I'm all ears!

Happy October!

All photos courtesy of BHG.com

Loving These Ideas For Fall...

2010-09-14T19:26:00.000-07:00

Outside...

And inside...

Simple, yet striking.

~Fall is in the air!~

Photos courtesy of BHG.com

Winner Of The BULX Giveaway...

2010-09-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

Time to announce the winner!

With 23 entries in her name, the odds were highly stacked in her favor and it looks like all of her effort paid off...

Congratulations, Michaela Hoenigman!

You have $150 sitting in your BULX account just begging to be spent!

:)

Do us a favor?

Let us know what you get!

I can't wait to see what you end up buying with your $150 gift certificate.

To those who joined in on the fun, thanks for playing along!

And a big, huge Thank You goes out to Matt and the awesome crew at BULX!

You guys ROCK!

XO

Last Day...

2010-09-13T07:05:00.000-07:00

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Today is your last chance to enter the awesome giveaway from BULX!

The winner will receive a $150 gift certificate to use as they please at BULX.com.

Want the quick details?

Think of BULX as an online Outlet Store filled with high-end home improvement products - sinks, faucets, toilets, flooring, art, furniture...the list goes on and on.

The best part...75% off of regular prices.

I LOVE a good deal! How about you?

Our friends at BULX have been kind enough to give you an unlimited number of entries if you want them. You just have to go out and get them!

Here's how to enter:

1. Leave a comment here on this Giveaway post - 1 entry

2. Send BULX an @ message on Twitter - 2 entries

3. Leave a comment on the BULX Facebook Page - 3 entries

4. Post a photo of the item you most want to replace in your kitchen or bathroom on the BULX Facebook Page - 5 entries

5. Post about this Giveaway on your own Blog, Facebook, or Twitter and come back here to leave a comment with a link to each - 10 entries each

6. Invite your friends to BULX (see how here) - one entry for each friend invited - this is where the sky is the limit - the more you invite, the more entries you receive!

And be sure to let them know you are visiting from It's The Little Things...
(ITLT for short!)

Click here to be taken to the original post for the giveaway from last Monday, where you will find more info about BULX and a quick video!

The winner will be chosen randomly and announced tomorrow, September 14th.

So enter, enter, enter!

And hopefully you will win!

It's Time...

2010-09-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

Up until two days ago, I was fine with putting off decorating for Fall just a bit longer. Our Summer was fun and crazy busy and a little too short for some of us up here in the Pacific Northwest.

The past few days have given us quite a bit of rain, the kids are all back in school, orange mums are blooming in the garden, and Pumpkin Spice Lattes have returned.
(YAY!)

But despite all of that, I was still going to hold off on Fall.

Until I saw this...

M-hmmm. I know. It's perfection.

So, thanks to Michelle, my fall decorating has now begun.

What about you?
Are you settling into Fall or hanging onto Summer while you can?

My Clearance Tray - Three Ways...

2010-09-07T21:21:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back, I was lucky enough to catch a great clearance sale. I happened to be at Target, browsing and looking for inspiration when I realized that they were rearranging merchandise and putting out their 75% Off signs.

Nice!

They only had a few of these...
A Photo Serving Tray - originally priced at $19.99, but marked down to $4.98.

SOLD!

I knew immediately that I would not be using it for photos, so as soon as I got home, I removed the entire back piece and pulled out the matting. I was left with this...

The perfect blank slate to make it my own!

Over the next couple of weeks I found 3 different placemats to use inside my serving tray - all three within the same neutral color family and all three with lots of texture and interest.

The one on the left came from Fred Meyer for less than $1.00 (can't beat that!) and the others came from Target...

This seagrass one was a no-brainer...

This one was the right color and I loved the embroidered pattern...

And this one, well...I just can't resist stripes...

A quick test run to make sure I actually liked each one in the tray...

Yep - good to go!

I removed the entire back (again), not where the photos would be inserted, but the entire back...

Fourteen teeny-tiny screws later...

finally!

I used the back as my template and used a pen to trace the shape right onto the placemat...

Perfect fit!

Onto the next, using the same process...

It wasn't until after I had drawn the lines that I realized that this placemat was lined. And suddenly I was nervous that without the lining the stitching would all fall out as I cut out the shape...

(Note: I do not sew. I know nothing about fabric and thread and whatever else goes into it. So if this "worry" of mine sounds ridiculous to you, it probably was.)

I used extreme caution with this fabric (whether it was necessary or not) and, luckily, the thread all stayed in tact...

Pretty!

Two down, one to go...

I have to admit, I did feel a little bit guilty cutting up three
brand new, perfectly good placemats...

But I got over it!

I loved how they were turning out...

Now the fun part...accessorizing!

A beachy look for the seagrass...

For the golden embroidery - a touch of nature.

I love how the green Jade plant and the green mussel shells play with the yellow.

And with the stripes - some fun for the kiddos!

Some brain teasers, wooden tic-tac-toe pieces, and lollipops...

And that's my clearance tray - three ways!

The best, BEST part...I can change it as often as I like! And the options are limitless.

This is a Made-for-Karla accessory right here.

:)

My only regret...that I didn't buy more of them when I had the chance!

I think this would make a great gift for someone, personalized to their style and decor.

I'll just have to be on the lookout for more!

P.S. I am linking to:

Metamorphosis Monday, Get Your Craft On, Just Something I Whipped Up, Show & Tell, Before & After Party, Make It Yours, Works For Me Wednesday,

BULX - New Sponsor And A Giveaway...

2010-09-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

***This Giveaway is now Closed***

Our newest Sponsor's mission is simple:

they want you to love your home.

And they want you to do it at a price that you can afford.

(Music to my ears!)

That is why BULX is the internet's best source for luxury home improvements at private sale prices. Think of BULX as an online outlet store for all of the coolest sinks, faucets, toilets, flooring, and moldings on the market.

For the amount of money you might spend on low- to mid-range fixtures at one of the large national retail stores, you can upgrade your home with top-quality, stylish products. All of the products BULX offers have been hand-selected based specifically on its timeless design and high-quality production.

Still not convinced?

Here is a cool video that Matt put together about BULX...

So if you have been thinking about upgrading that dingy bathroom (goodbye, pink sink!) or your outdated kitchen lately, BULX is the only way to go!

Here is how it works:

Starting each weekday at noon, a new 4-day sale begins for a new line of products. But once the sale is over, or once a product has sold out - those deals are gone for good!

So if you love it, you better grab it!

Here is a sample of the products that will be on sale this week...

As if their prices weren't good enough already (most products are offered at 75% off of retail!) BULX is giving away a $150 Gift Certificate to one lucky reader of It's The Little Things...

Did you see that?

$150 to spend as you wish!

Matt has put together a list of ways that you can enter, and as you will see, you can go as little or as big as you want - the sky is the limit on how many times you can enter. It all comes down to how badly you want it!

Just follow these rules to enter:

1. Leave a comment here on this Giveaway post - 1 entry

2. Send BULX an @ message on Twitter - 2 entries

3. Leave a comment on the BULX Facebook Page - 3 entries

4. Post a photo of the item you most want to replace in your kitchen or bathroom on the BULX Facebook Page - 5 entries

5. Post about this Giveaway on your own Blog, Facebook, or Twitter and come back here to leave a comment with a link to each - 10 entries each

6. Invite your friends to BULX (see how here) - one entry for each friend invited - this is where the sky is the limit - the more you invite, the more entries you receive!

And be sure to let them know you are visiting from It's The Little Things...
(ITLT for short!)

So...how may entries will you have?

:)

In order to qualify to win, you must have an active BULX account. It is completely free to sign up (Will and I each joined!) and membership will give you access to some of the most incredible home improvement deals on the web! And I highly recommend signing up to receive their emails - they are always fun to look at!

Our friends at BULX will be tallying up the entries and selecting a random winner in exactly one week. That means you can continue to enter through September 13th at midnight.

I wish you all the best of luck and I cannot wait to see who wins!

And many, many thanks to Matt and the BULX team for Sponsoring such a fantastic Giveaway!

Back In Business...

2010-09-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

The first day of school came and went without a hitch!

The boys arrived at school with an apple in hand for each of their teachers...

We now have a 3rd grader, a 1st grader and our "baby" is in Preschool 5 days a week.

How did that happen?

I know it's so cliche to say, but seriously...they grow up so fast!

Of course, before sending them off to school on September 2nd, pictures had to be taken, and the morning wouldn't have been complete without a few silly shots to make everyone laugh...

Thankfully, they love their teachers! That always makes it easier on them...
and on me!

We're smack dab in the middle of the 3 day Labor Day weekend, but on Tuesday we will finally be able to settle into a school routine.

I'm looking forward to it!

:)

.............................................................................

Be sure to check back in tomorrow! We have an awesome giveaway starting from one of our newest sponsors, and I promise you, you are going to want to do whatever it takes to enter!

Happy Sunday, Everyone!

Winner Of The Ruffles & Cream Giveaway...

2010-08-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who entered to win the $50 Gift Certificate in the

Ruffles & Cream Giveaway!

The lucky winner

as determined by Random.org is...

Aubrey from Little Bits Of Life

CONGRATULATIONS, Aubrey!

For the rest of us...check out these pictures that I found on Aubrey's blog of the birthday party that she recently threw for her 5 year old daughter.

She calls it the "Pinkalicious Birthday Bash"...

If that doesn't scream "Ellison", I don't know what does!

I think I've just found my inspiration for her next birthday.

..............................................................................

We're off to enjoy a day of summer sun!

Packing up the kids and heading up to Boulder Lake with my Dad, brother and sister-in-law to go hiking.

Happy Saturday, everyone!

BULX - New Sponsor & A Video...

2010-08-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

I'm just a little excited about our newest sponsor here at It's The Little Things...

(I say that thick with sarcasm because I am just about as excited as I could be!)

There will be a full introductory post and a giveaway next week, but for now, check this out:

Just imagine the possibilities!

My mind is racing...

............................................................................................

To check out BULX for yourself...

The website:
BULX.com

The blog:
bulx.com/blog

On Twitter:
twitter.com/Matt_BULX

And on Facebook:
facebook.com/BULXhome

Happy shopping!

Lighter & Brighter...

2010-08-12T20:45:00.000-07:00

Progress on the bathroom makeover is s-l-o-w going, at best!

Projects normally happen at a pretty rapid pace around here, but this summer has been different.

With Will flying up in Anchorage so much, and the kids home on summer break, it means projects fall by the wayside and summer fun takes a front seat.

And I'm not complaining! That's exactly as it should be!

(The summer fun, I mean. Not about Will being gone so much. We miss him!)

But I have been wanting to give the bathroom across from our kitchen a makeover for quite some time now, and when I finally convinced Will to cut some wood for me, I had to jump on the opportunity!

The goal:

To make this bathroom fit in with the part of the house that it is most closely connected to - the Family Room and Kitchen. If you have read my blog for any length of time, you probably know that quite a while back we gave our Family Room and Kitchen a big makeover by adding Board & Batten throughout the entire space. A decision that I don't regret and have yet to grow tired of.

The bathroom across from our kitchen has spent the past few years looking like this...

I wouldn't say it's terrible, but just not very special either.

This teeny, tiny 3 & 1/2 by 7 & 1/2 foot space receives no natural light whatsoever.

Not a bit.

If I had my way, a Solatube would find it's way into the ceiling, but Will assures me that this won't be happening anytime soon.

(Bummer!)

So, to tie this bathroom to the Family Room and Kitchen and bring in the feeling of "light & bright", we put up more Board & Batten...

Here is the Before:

And the...Almost-After:

(like I said, this summer has kept projects from happening quickly! It's not quite done.)

One of my favorite parts of this B&B treatment is that we added something at the back that is perfect for this space. You can't even tell that it's there currently, but once the space is painted and decorated, it will be the perfect addition to make the space more functional.

Can you tell what it is?

It's a shelf at the back, integrated right into the B&B!

A simple 6 &1/2" shelf is just what I need for propping up a frame or two, a scented reed diffuser and a few pieces of decor to bring the room together...

We just ran a piece of trim in front of the shelf, that perfectly matches the rest of the trim and it blends in seamlessly.

I love it and I cannot wait to decorate!

But first, the B&B needs a 2nd coat of paint as well as all of the existing trim and the door.

I'll finish it all one of these days.

If nothing else, school starts in 3 weeks and the projects can commence!

The passion for decorating is a pretty big motivator and I can't do that until everything else is finished.

Stay tuned...

**To see our take on Board & Batten and how we do it, click here.**

*And to see the follow-up to that post, click here.*

.....................................................................................................................

Don't forget...

Friday is your last chance to enter the giveaway for the

$50 Gift Certificate

to

Ruffles & Cream

Click Here to check out all of the details.

Ruffles & Cream - New Sponsor & A Giveaway...

2010-08-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

**This Giveaway is now CLOSED and is no longer accepting entries.**

.......................................................................................

It's time for a giveaway!

But first, an introduction.

Please welcome our newest sponsor here at It's The Little Things...

Ruffles & Cream

A Childrens Boutique For Life's Little Luxuries

This chic childrens boutique was founded in 2009 with the goal of finding the best and most unique products for you child. From beautiful nursery and childrens furniture to bedding and decorating accessories to the sweetest and most chic baby and toddler fashions.

You are sure to find something special for the little one's in your life.

Know a special someone with a birthday coming up?

Check out their

Birthday Boutique

There's some serious cuteness going on in there!

Here is just a small sampling of what you will find when you visit

Ruffles & Cream

(Hello, Gorgeous!! I want a bed that pretty!)

FYI:

Ruffles & Cream will be running new sales every week through the holidays, featuring several of their vendors each month and offering special prices, savings and Free Shipping* to their customers. Sign up for their newsletter to be the first to know about New Arrivals, Special Offers and Sales!

Ready for the details of the giveaway?

Ruffles & Cream is generously giving one lucky winner a

$50 Gift Certificate

to use in their online boutique!

Lucky for you, you've got 4 chances to win:

1. Visit Ruffles & Cream and find your favorite item. Come back here and leave me a comment telling me which item that is.

2. Head over to the Ruffles & Cream Facebook Fan Page and click "Like". Then head back here and leave a comment letting me know that you like them.

3. Follow Ruffles & Cream on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/RufflesandCream
then leave me a comment.

4. Post about the giveaway on your own blog, or on your Facebook. Once again, come back and leave me a comment with the link to your post.

**Each comment will be counted as one entry, so if you qualify to enter more than once be sure that you are submitting individual comments for each entry.**

This giveaway will run from Monday, August 8th through Friday, August 13th at midnight (PST). I will announce the winner on Saturday, August 14th.

Good luck to you all!

And happy shopping!

*Please visit Ruffles & Cream for details on Free Shipping!

25 Days...

2010-08-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

That's how many days we have left before the kids go back to school!

We've been busy, busy, busy.

This has definitely been our most fun summer to date!

As I type this, I am surrounded by four boys, ages 6, 7, 8 and 9, who are on day two of their

"Guys Night".

(So cute!! But I'll never tell them that I said that!)

The boys invited their best friends over for a slumber party last night. Ellison stayed at my parents' house, Will is on a trip and I have been staying out of their way letting boys be boys.

Right now...they're playing hide and seek in the house (thanks to the rain). They're loud and fast and the house is full of non-stop laughing!

Ahhh, to be a kid again...

25 days and counting!

...........................................................................................

I've got a project I'm working on, but I'll admit, it's been slow going. It has been harder than expected to get the big things done with three kids at home, Will based in Anchorage, and all of our summer activities that have been happening. But I am anxious to get it completed! It's happening in the half bathroom across from our kitchen and it's taking on the look of my favorite room in our house.

Can you guess what it is?

.............................................................................................

And I'll give you a little head's up...

we have a new Sponsor here at It's The Little Things...

Did you notice the adorable new button up there on the left?

I'll tell you all about them in a post that's coming up.

You won't want to miss it because, as always, it comes with a giveaway!!

See you back here tomorrow.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Tiffany Burke Photography...

2010-07-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Here is just a small sampling of the photos that Tiffany Burke took for our friends, Kelly & Cherisse, on their wedding day.

Tiffany makes me wish that Will and I could do our big day all over again, just so that she could capture it all for us!

Enjoy the photos...

So pretty.

And so Kelly & Cherisse!

She captured them perfectly.

.......................................................................................

A bit of info for the locals:

Tiffany is based up in Bellingham, but she travels to take photos! Yep, even all the way down here. Our friends' wedding was in Puyallup. So don't hesitate to send her an email if you're interested!

Click on the links to check out her website and her Facebook Fan Page where you can see much more of her beautiful work.

Stella & Dot Sample Sale...

2010-07-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

Hurry, Ladies!

Janell over at Isabella & Max Rooms is having a Stella & Dot Sample Sale and the items are flying off the shelves!

And why wouldn't they?

Not only are they so pretty, but you'll get them for 70% off their original prices!

Go check out what she's got left!

And if you missed your chance, let her know. Maybe we can convince her to do this every season before the new collections come out!

:)

Click here to see the sale!
............................................................................

Summer is keeping us busy around here!

We're having a good time and the weather has been playing nice and actually cooperating.

Thank goodness for that!

Oh! And I got the go ahead from the photographer to show you more of the photos from our friends' wedding! So I'll be posting those shortly.

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

XO