Thursday, December 21, 2017

Sweater Ornaments

At the very last minute I decided to decorate a small tree for my son's room. Instead of purchasing ornaments, I decided pull out my craft box and make my own.

I searched Pinterest for ideas, then came across a tutorial to make sweater gift tags.  Jessica, from the blog Zakka Life makes it even easier by sharing a sweater template you can download and print at home.

A great idea for leftover wallpaper samples!  But you could also use wrapping or scrapbook paper.
   
Proof that you can decorate for Christmas without spending a lot of money.  I hope this inspires you to gather your craft supplies and make some ornaments to adorn a package or decorate your tree!  Happy Holidays, friends!

*See more ideas to create with sample wallpaper here and here.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Natural Holiday Scent

 I like to make simmering pots all throughout the year, but I especially love how it makes the house smell great at Christmas.

There's no right or wrong recipe.  You can use whatever fruit or spices you have on hand, fill your pot with water and simmer on low. *Watch carefully and refill water as needed.

 For this mix I used: orange slices, cranberries, fresh rosemary, pomegranate and a 1/4 cup of star anise.

Star anise has a strong black licorice scent to me.  The aroma can be overwhelming.  Use less if you prefer!

 It also helps to add moisture back into the air.

Also, to store the mixture, I've kept it in refrigerator for days without it going bad.  Once the pot cools down completely, you can cover it and place it in the fridge.  Then add water and reheat it again.

It smells so wonderful.  I love to open the windows, let the fresh air in and scent my home naturally!  

Sunday, December 10, 2017

Tis The Season for Holiday Entertaining

  I love when my friends visit.  If I know in advance that they're stopping over, I like to put together something simple to eat.  It's also a good excuse to indulge in a few sweet treats.

The pastries are store bought.  The trick is to display them nicely. 

I garnished the desserts with rosemary and sage for fresh-holiday look.

Then topped the danish with cranberries to resemble a wreath.

Mini pies wrapped with ribbon inspired by Jenny Cookies.

Wood Ellis Stand is from Magnolia.  


I refuse to spend money on expensive tablecloths.  Instead I purchased 2 yards of inexpensive fabric and made one myself.  You can also cover your table with a pretty sheet found at a thrift store.

Also if you serve your treats warm, your guests will think they're homemade!!

A pitcher full of eucalyptus to add a little color to the table.


Merry Christmas!  Thank you for stopping by today.  

Friday, December 8, 2017

DIY Open Kitchen Shelving

I have always loved the appearance of open shelves in the kitchen.
  
Recently when I tackled my mini-kitchen makeover, I decided to incorporate the look.  The shelves were easy to assemble and a great way to add interest to this empty wall space, allowing me to display some of my pretty things.

I purchased a pine board from Home Depot and had it cut to size.  My tip: inspect the boards for damage and try to pick the straightest board you can find.  Originally I stained the shelves, but felt they looked too rustic.   I decided to sand them down and paint them white instead.   To seal the shelves, I used Minwax Polycrylic.


I had a hard time finding brackets that I liked.  Etsy to the rescue!  I was so happy to find the exact bracket style I wanted at a great price; hardware included!

Once I decided where I wanted to place the shelves, my husband measured and made sure everything was level before drilling the holes.

They're safely anchored into the studs.

As you can see, I couldn't wait to decorate them!
  
I have a small collection of pitchers that I wanted to display.   I played around with their placement until I was happy with the design.

Here's what they look like after I restyled them!  I wonder how designers make it look so effortless?  I've moved things around probably 10 times!



Most of the items you see here I've had, I shopped my house and shuffled decor from other rooms.

But I also took advantage of a couple Black Friday deals from Anthropologie and McGee & Co.

This ceramic salt cellar is from Crate & Barrel.

The berry box colander is from there too.

A bowl full of lemons to brighten these dreary winter days.




I love these ceramic egg crates.




My son is a huge basketball fan.  To get him interested in learning to cook more, I purchased a cookbook co-written by a former New York Knicks' power forward.

I'm so happy with the new look.  It makes our kitchen feel more up to date.