Pretty Foyer

When we first moved in over three years ago, there were so MANY things I wanted to change/fix/redo/undo. The colors in the house were too bland for my taste. The backsplash in the kitchen was just plain tacky. There were some seriously ugly light fixtures throughout, many of which resembled breasts for some odd reason. Not to mention a general lack of character and personality.

But the biggest change, the most sweeping change, was adding wallpaper to the foyer, downstairs and upstairs.

I love pictures on the wall, and I have a lot of family portraits. It was quite a feat getting these hung. It was downright scary putting nail holes in wallpaper!

When we were selecting wallpaper, I knew it would have to work with every room in the house, yet I didn't want things too matchy-matchy.

The light fixture you see was an Overstock find. The old one looked like a giant boob hanging from the ceiling. As for the bookshelf, it provides a good place for stuff. I do have to watch my love of stuff.

It's cold and dreary here this morning, but my front door says spring. This is the view for guests.

Inside looking out. Cold and dreary, like I said.

The foyer is tight, yet the wallpaper makes it feel much more open. Two things here: I want to paint the risers (rather, I want a professional painter to paint the risers); and I want a lovely mirror for the wall on the right. Haven't found the perfect one yet, though.

Said mirror would go here and reflect the bookshelf.

Lately, I've developed a penchant for canes. Maybe if I had to actually use one, I wouldn't like them so much. This umbrella stand I inherited from my MIL. For a while it was empty. I started out with three canes, but now I'm up to seven. There really are seven; one is hiding.

We planted five forsythia bushes this week, and I have fresh daffodils on my living room mantel. The calendar says spring. Now if Mother Nature would just get on board…

Happy Sunday!

Linking up with Savvy Southern Style!
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/03/wow-us-wednesdays-111.html

Details Matter

When I was growing up, my mother, brother, and I shared ONE TEENY-TINY bathroom. And let me just say it here: things got ugly. My two youngest daughters have their own small bathroom. And let me just say it here: things still get ugly, but only sometimes.

Recently, I decided to change out the hardware. The old is on the left. The new is on the right.

I just didn't care for the clunky, dark hardware, especially in such a light-hearted bathroom.

Things rarely go as planned around here. After installing all the hardware myself (not rocket science!), I ended up with this…

Yep. The pretty glass knob snapped off. So, I trekked to the mall on a Sunday. I hate the mall on weekends. Too many people. Too many cars.

They were nice at Anthropologie, however. I returned the broken piece no problem.

She's a cute little thing, and I love the orange and blue.

Goes well with the wall color and the tile.

Hope you're having a manageable Monday!

How Many Lamps Is Too Many Lamps?

My favorite room in our house is the living room. I painted it a pale yellow right after we moved in three-plus years ago, and it's bright and cheerful, and there are lots of pretty things here. There's a good bit of natural sunlight, too, which I love, but I also love lamplight. That cozy yellow glow from outside makes me feel all warm on the inside, especially as I pull up the driveway after a long day at work.

My newest lamp is from Country Curtains. I debated over whether or not to buy it. It was just after the holidays, and I did not need to spend any more money. But she proved irresistible.

This lamp was a gift when my hubby and I were married. I love her shape.

This one is gorgeous, too. She was a splurge a few years ago from one of my favorite home stores in town. The shade is so pretty, as is the finial. You can't see it here, but it matches the base of the lamp.

This one was inspired by a dear friend of mine. She LOVES these Tiffany lamps, and I decided the color would look nice against the white in this spot. It's beautiful at night!

This fashion model is from a local lighting store. She's an oldie but a goodie. She's also very adaptable, as she has lived in many spots. Notice the lovely shadow on the wall.

On a dreary, cold day like this one, a girl needs some lamplight.

And some fresh flowers.

How many lamps is too many lamps? When I posed this question to my husband, he said, "If you've got a dark corner, put a lamp in it."  I agree!

Have a great rest of the weekend.

A Very Stupid Day

This morning was dreary and cold and rainy and hideous, so I decided I would finally catch up on my blog. I took lots of pretty pictures of my living room with all the lights on and headed downstairs to my computer.

This is when the trouble started…

I tried to upload the new shots on Picasa Web, but realized everything was different. This is what happens when you neglect your blog for three months. I could NOT upload a thing. Every time I clicked and dragged, the pictures were huge, so HUGE that I couldn't see the "create album" button.

Ah, the joys of blogging.

So I downloaded some weird thingy, and it started spinning like mad and flicking through every picture on my computer. I panicked and clicked out of that quickly. If somehow the whole world ends up with a picture of me in a bathing suit, I sincerely apologize.

I was extremely irritated by this point, so I went to the kitchen for a snack. I took a few deep breaths and thought about how much I like my kitchen.

Later, I took my girls to horseback riding lessons and went to the gym. This calmed me down considerably.

Still, I really, really, REALLY wanted to create a new post, so I went back to Picasa Web and tried and tried and tried to no avail.

Finally, I ended up in here because this room makes me really happy. Except this room doesn't look like this anymore because I have long since taken down my fall decorations! Of course, I can't show you how the room looks TODAY because I am crazy and have forgotten how to use Picasa Web, or Picasa Web is crazy and they keep changing things.

So now what? Well, funny you should ask. If had my druthers, I'd say to heck with this very stupid day and go here. But I don't have my druthers.

And a nap is not that appealing for some reason.

By this afternoon things were getting dangerous, as in, I started seriously considering going to the paint store.

Not that kinda paint, although it is tempting.

Actually, I started thinking about painting the bathroom. Again. If I do paint this bathroom it will be the THIRD time I have painted this bathroom. Why? Because I keeping painting this bathroom the wrong color.

Finally, I ended up back at my computer. Picasa Web and I are still not getting along, but at least I blogged. Maybe that will make me feel better. Your sweet comments (and suggestions!) might help, too.

The Season of Love

Christmas is truly my favorite season. I love the lights, especially this time of year. I love the smells. I love the best excuse ever to overeat—Christmas cookies. I love the cards, even the ones with braggy Christmas letters inside. I love the brown boxes waiting on my porch. I love the silly anticipation of the Secret Snowflake party at work. I love the decorating. And I also love the reason for the season: the miracle of the virgin birth. 

Even though we rarely drink it, I love buying eggnog at the store. Of course, some weeks later I discover it behind a carton of juice and have to throw it out.

I love putting bows on things and lighting all the candles.

I love the frasier fir spray that really does smell like a fresh Christmas tree.

I love quirky decorations.

I love poinsettias.

I love red berries and greenery.

I love stockings.

I love glass Christmas balls.

I love glass candlesticks and my S-A-N-T-A letters.

I love Christmas movies. I also love the fact that I captured Will Ferrell's face like this.

I even love this wonky little tree.  He is a wonky thing, isn't he?

I love, love, love my dining room!

I love the view from our dining room window. I especially love the fact that my husband put the lights on this tree.

I love fresh greenery and flowers. I also love the touches of red in my dining room.

I love the fact that I bought this ribbon years and years ago and that I STILL use it every year.

I love Christmas cupcakes, another good reason for overeating.

I love putting sweets in the advent calendar. There is something highly rebellious in knowing that for the entire month of December my children eat candy before breakfast.

I love the bow around this duck's neck because I swore I would never be the sort of woman who tied a bow around a duck's neck, and now I am that woman.

I love this glittery angel.

I love that I asked my dogs to give me their I Love Christmas! faces and this is what I got.

And I love my blogger friends. Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up with...
http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2012/12/145th-table-top-tuesday.html
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