Thanksgiving Decor On the Cheap

I have a confession...I haven't really decorated for anything very much over the last couple of years.  It is mostly because I was just really busy and maybe a little lazy unmotivated.  This year though I had fun decking my house out for the fall which I think is my favorite season to get ready for.  Hands down, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I know most people don't feel this way but I love the low key atmosphere and the opportunity you have to get together with people whose company you enjoy good food.  My mouth is watering just thinking about the food.

With how long it's been, when I went down to pull out all of my fall decorations they almost seemed new to me.  I did make a couple of little changes just to lighten things up a bit but everything else was something that I already owned or got for free.  I love it when that happens which, I admit, is almost never for me.

I wanted to incorporate a little of the plaid that has been EVERYWHERE this year.  I've always loved plaid and I'm glad that the current design has finally caught up with my forward thinking.  Bwahahaha!  Joking.  But seriously, I do love it because I've always had a love for that preppy look.  Soooo, I sewed a few new pillow covers.  They really warmed up my space I think.

I had the cute cream flower pillow that I think I bought at Target a couple of years ago. I die over their pillow isle. The dark plaid was something I already had buried in my fabric stash...I have a fabric addiction, I admit it.  The material on these pillows is also really soft and makes you want to snuggle in with a good book.

I also did a few arrangements on some of the tables I have in my great room area.

 All of the gourds came from my moms garden.  She grows them every year and gave me a full grocery sack full.  Since they were free, they are a main piece in my table arrangements.  The ivy came inside from my patio table before it froze for the winter.  The pinecones are the cinnamon scented ones that I can't resist...they smell so good!  The dish they are all sitting in used to be an obnoxious yellow.  I spray painted it a cream color which is much more neutral.  I think the silver tray came from Tai Pan a couple of years ago too.

This tray is sitting on my kitchen table.  Again, there are quite a few gourds in this one and I added another ivy and some pine cones.  There are also a couple of pumpkins I covered in book pages forever ago...they are old but usable.  I love how everything is just spilling out of the wood container.  It kind of speaks to the bounty of the season I think.  Please ignore the 90's style table...working on that.

Finally, I did something very simple on the console in my entry way and it is probably my favorite just because it looks so clean.

There you go, simple and sweet.

The Always Be Thankful sign - I can't quite remember where I got it from.  The frame it is in used to be black and gold.  A little cream spray paint, and I like this look so much better! 

I love the reminder that this is the time of the year to be thankful for all of the blessings we have.  Although I see many wrongs in today's world, I find it best to focus rather on how richly blessed I truly am.  What have you done in your home this year to bring to mind all we have to be thankful for? 


Happy Tuesday!

Heather



Linking to:

Home Stories A to Z
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
The Turquoise Home

Piano Bench Recover

I had a problem.  An ugly piano bench cover.  I mean, really ugly...why did I ever think this looked ok?  I recovered this mossy green monster about 5 years ago when we got our new/old piano.  The piano has worked out well for us but the cover didn't quite jive with what I wanted in my music room/command station room as I like to call it.  I know that's a weird combination but I needed a place where I could keep all of our paperwork under control and we also needed a good place for our piano as our new home doesn't really have a good wall in the general area to place a piano.

All right, here is my cringe worthy reveal:

 

Pretty bad, huh?  Well I came up with a solution.  I went down to my fabric stash and was amazed at what I found.

Isn't this fun swirly pattern on a dark gray background so much fun?  Well I thought it was...and you have to admit is a huge improvement on the ugly green stuff.

 

 

All I did was pry out the old staples on the back of the padded board with a flat head screw driver.  Then I took this stapler and stretched my new fabric around the seat and stapled in place.  Gotta love the easiness of this project.

 

 

So much better!  I'm loving it again.  This piano was bought used.  I'm not sure how old it is but it came in great condition.  I know a big trend right now is to paint pianos.  I'm all for painting furniture, but this is something that will always stay its original color.  I love it just how it is even with all of its nicks and bangs.  Wow that sounds like a great life lesson...totally unintended.

 

Now the bench goes a bit better with the command station that I'm still working on to get it how I want.  It think I've gotten a pretty good start though.

 

 

It's so much easier to organize all of the paperwork that comes with a family of 6.  It is super convenient and right off of my kitchen so I can hear if chaos starts.  Believe me...that's important around here!

 

Happy Tuesday!

 

Heather

 

 

 

Linking to:

 

A2Z

Sand and Sisal

DIY Showoff







Casters Make Everything Better

So the last little bit has been busy even though I have converted from being in a full time healthcare career to a full time stay at home mom.  By the way, I love it!  As I mentioned in my post at the beginning of September, I have been trying to get a Handmade Jewelry Business up and running.

On top of that, and the general chaos of running a house with 4 boys, I am trying to do all of the catch up associated to moving into a new home. You know, all of the decorating and completing projects that were on hold due to my full time, out of the home, job.  It is sooo much fun to have a blank slate for new idea though.  I love it - my husband HATES it.  Couldn't be because his honey do list grows?

Even simple little projects have escaped me for awhile.  For example...the family that owned our home previous to us had four little girls.  My boys are still sleeping in beautiful lavendar and pink rooms.  My six year old is offended that this is what he has to endure.  Jeesh!  Don't worry...I have plans for their spaces.

One of the simple little projects that I did (took me all of 10 min.) is complete.  Here's a hint of what it involved.  Casters.  I love these little things.  When you put something on wheels it just makes it a little bit more.;)  I had bought my youngest two a little open book shelf from Walmart.  Eventually, it will be incorporated into the new decor although it doesn't look bad against the pink walls right now - kidding.  The problem was, the book shelf when put between their two beds sat directly over the only register in their room.  Uuugh!  So I put casters on the bookshelf to elevate it and make it a bit more mobile.

And yes, I was washing the sheets when I decided to take these photos so just try to ignore all of the junk you see in them.  If you are like me, it just helps to know that everyone is human and they actually have to do laundry.  This was a simple matter of screwing the casters in place with a power drill.  I didn't even drill pilot holes.  Gasp!

See how this makes it so the bookshelf/bedside table clears the vent?  My mad plan worked perfectly!

And tada!  It is finished, elevated, and moveable.  Now to just convince my boys not to push it down the hall like a skate board.  The fun never ends around here!

Whoops, almost forgot.  The total cost for this was about $50.  That includes the book shelf and all of the casters.  Not my cheapest project but cheaper than most bedside tables.  Plus, there is more storage for all the toys.

Happy Wednesday!

Heather

Priorities Matter

Hi all!  I can't believe it has been over 3 years since I put anything up on my wee little blog.  In those three years, I went from working part-time at a home health company to a full time position as a Director of Nursing for the same home health business and my commute went from 5 minutes to 45 minutes each way.  I loved my job but with 4 boys and all of their activities...life became all consuming.  After about 1 1/2 years of doing this, I decided to take another position as an Executive Director for a large national assisted living company.  It was closer to home, but MUCH more stressful.       This was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life.  It was however, very rewarding as I really grew to appreciate the elderly and the daily service I could provide for them.  I loved the residents and the way they touched my life.  After a little over a year, however, I knew that it was time for a priority check.  After much prayer and consideration, my husband and I both decided it was time for me to be home more.  We took a large leap of faith when we gave up the salary I made which definitely made our lives more comfortable.  We also purchase a new home in May that, go figure, had a higher mortgage.  Talk about bad timing on our part.

I love being home with my kiddos and just being there for them.  My mom was there for me when I was entering into the stage in life they are and it was invaluable.  It is a huge joy to be more involved with them and all of their activities whereas before it was a huge chore just to do their night time routine with them.  I was missing out on sooooo much.  There have been sacrifices.  My gel nails and toes are gone.  I no longer eat out for lunch every day.  We treat ourselves to dinner just once a week.  Plus, my clothing allowance has been drastically cut...sigh.  It is so worth it for our family.  I finally feel like I am on top of things!  For the last 3 years I have just been running to keep up the best that I could and not feeling like I accomplished anything well.

Another perk is that I am back to doing all of my fun stuff around the house and am making a stab at starting a stamped metal jewelry and home décor business.  My hope is it gives me just enough to afford all of those soccer enrollements, piano lessons, cello lessons and the latest is a request to learn parkour from my 10 year old.  I hope he doesn't die at an early age.  I am excited to see where things are going to head in this great life of mine.  At lease I know I am where I feel I need to be...that's a great thing.

Here's just a little sample of the type of jewelry I am selling.  Happy hump day!