Manor Monday {Recycling Christmas}

Last week the Christmas decorations were sorted though and packed away. 

I decided to take a few of the natural elements and repurpose them around the house. 

The dried hydrangea from the Living Room tree have found a new home arranged in a pair of silver bowls and perched atop the Dining Toom buffet. These bowls originally sat on the head table at our wedding reception and I love having them out on display. 

The two Trader Joes boxwood wreathes dried nicely. I relocated the one over the kitchen sink to our sparcely decorated master bedroom and left the second one still hanging in the foyer. 

Despite their "preserved" state, I like having pops a greenery in the house during the frigid winter month. And it is always nice to breath life into old objects. 

Happy Monday! 

Want it Wednesday {Pink & Pretties}

This morning it is -30 with the windchill and quite truthfully this post should just be pictures of sunshine and pool time...what I really want right about now. But alas Mother Nature I am not so I'll stick to coveting pretty fabrics and shiny objects.

lamp/ pillows/ monogram/ bedding/ bowl

Now that all the Christmas decorations are packed away, a few accessories have shuffled around the house including our current master bedroom lamps. Since the master is part of our 2015 goals, I went ahead and grabbed a pair of the lamps above to replace the ones now in the family room.

The living room is crying out for the addition of the pink and navy chinoiserie pillows I stumbled upon at pinterest. If anyone knows the source please let me know!!!

And speaking of chinoiserie, I was shocked to see this fab bedding set at Pottery Barn Kids. If we hadn't just finished up Belle's room in July I would be snatching this up in a heartbeat. 

The Allison Evan's oyster bowl has been on my list for a couple years and I've got the perfect spot for it on my family room coffee table.

I finally remembered to grab a second wreath hook for the mudroom door back in November. Now that the Burlap santa is packed away, I need to get my hands on one of these wooden monograms to look at when entering from the garage.

With that I'm off to start the day. The littles are home from school due to the cold. We have a heated game of boys vs. girls monopoly to finish up while keeping warm with a pancake breakfast to mark peanut's Name Day. Stay warm everyone!

Time for Action {2015 Home Goals}

Happy New Year all! 2015 is shaping up to be quite a busy and exciting year for our family. As of now we have seven vacations on the books; some of them family trips and others fun getaways for Hubby & me. In addition we've carved out time for each of us to enjoy "date nights" weekly with one of the older two kiddos along with the vow to go out together twice a week (lunch date plus a Saturday night outing).

On the hone front, 2015 is game on. Over the past 2 years we've made quite a few improvements to the house and its overall function. This year it is time to finally tackle some of the main design decisions that have been hanging over our heads. I've finally learned to trust my gut when it comes to what I like in design, so there is no longer the need for continual redesign....we are all warmed up and ready to go.

A brief rundown of our 2015 house goals include:

• Completing several remaining 2014 goals. We got a good start on the basement, but still don't have a clear enough vision of how we want the space to function. As for the garage and closets they still need a good organizing.
• Master suite zushing: the bedroom is going to get a complete overhaul along with some cosmetic updates for the bath & a few additions to the master closet. We've hemmed and hawed over this space for nearly 5 years. It is time for action.
• Drapery dilemas solved: I've gone back and forth countless times over window treatments in the living room and kitchen...it is time to make a decision and stick to it.
• Purchase dining room chairs. In February it will be one year ago that I scored my dream dining table for $250 on craigslist...time to find that beauty some lovely chairs to accompany her.

Christmas Tour 2014

With just under two weeks to go until Christmas day, I wanted to take a minute to share our home in its season's best. I abandoned the traditional red and gold of past Christmases and I am in love with the results. 

In the foyer it is simple and classic: greenery, white lights & cream satin bows. This year's major DIY project was stripping the foyer wallpaper, painting the walls BM Classic Grey along with updating the staircase treads, risers & spindles. It is now the perfect backdrop for our Holiday decor. 

Most nights you will find me in the Living Room soaking in all its goodness. The tree is done in preppy green/blue/grey plaid with pink bulbs & dried hydrangeas. I wish I was a better photographer so I could capture the feel of the room adequately.

The Dining Room flows off the Living Room and is dressed with greenery, white lights, and lime green/blue satin ribbon. 

In Hubby's office two red berry wreathes dress up the bookcase bar. 

This little vignette over my kitchen sink brings me so much joy. A few paperwhite bulbs and a $10 Trader Joe's boxwood wreath was all it took. 

A collection of apocathary jars house all the making for a festive mug of cocoa, while our collection of gingerbread houses add a touch of whimsy.

In the family room robin's egg blue and celadon ribbon accent our family tree and fireplace garland. The nontraditional color scheme is fun and sets off the red accents in our ornaments beautifully.

Throughout the house I have our past Christmas cards and Santa photos on display. I often find the littles roaming the house with a photo or two in hand. 

Finally, each of our sugarplums have been spending the nights falling asleep to the twinkle of lights from their own Christmas trees. 

I'll be back again soon with an outdoor tour. I'm just waiting for some snow to fall...after all nothing is better than a white Christmas!

Gingerbread House 2014 {Family Edition}

Decorating a gingerbread house is a tradition Hubby first began with Belle when she was 22 months old. Every Christmas since he has taken on the responsibility of coordinating this beloved tradition. And every year the littles grow more and more excited about decorating. In fact this year when they opened the note in the Advent house they were chomping at the bit to get started asap. After a full day at school. homework, dinner, baths & pjs the time finally arrived. 

This year there was much discussion as to where and how each decoration was to be placed. Belle handled the left side of the house, the Boys addressed the right & Hubby bounced back and forth between the two. I tried my best to stick to the photojournalist role, but the control freak/ decorating addict in me did surface a few times.

 Belle could have spent the entire evening crafting various candy flowers to embellish the facade, but the hour we reserved for decorating quickly drew to a close. As in years past, Hubby gathered up the littles (including Finley at the request of Peanut) for a commemorative shot of the masterpiece and its creators.

Afterwards there was a very brief attempt at a school night sleep over in M's room lasting all of 4 minutes. Once the excitement wore off, everyone made it back to his/her regular sleeping arrangements and visions of sugar plums soon danced in their heads.

And little do they know that yet another fun gingerbread night is in store for them. I can not wait to see their faces when they learn that they have the opportunity to each decorate their own house later this week. So our gingerbread journey continues.

Welcome Autumn!

Today is the first day of fall, the season that I have called my favorite since childhood. 

A claim I based mainly on the fact that my birthday is in October... solid logic for a 6 year old.  I have since grown to love Autumn. The air becomes crisp, flavors more bold, and our schedule a little bit calmer.

Over time I've also come to favor a more natural nod to the season. A simple fur blanket tossed over the wicker basket in the foyer, leopard print pillows in the family room, and hues of yellow, orange, brown & rust peppered around the house in organic forms.

 

I am looking forward to grabbing a few neutral-toned pumpkins and potted mums to round out this years decorations and letting the glittered pumpkins & faux leave garland sit this year out.

One thing I am not willing to go without though is Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea. The tin sits out on our kitchen counter adding a pop of auburn color & easy access to the yumminess inside. 

With a cup of tea in hand, I am ready to welcome the changing season. After all Fall means longalls & brown gingham,

comfy sweaters with fluffy accessories,

and football!!!