decorating for the holidays

I just finished decorating I wanted branches as a christmas tree. I've had all my traditional decorating done. Not sure what I think of the tree so far. I think next year I will not use white lights AND I will buy these antique looking-oversized ornaments from Target...after Christmas. Here's the process.

idea boards

I've always loved the clean look of ideas boards, but I haven't been sure how to pull this off! I started copy-pasting into a pages document. Here is the result. It worked real nice and after I had all the pics in order I locked the pics into a group. The only problem I came across is that you can't just save the idea board ...it saves the whole document. I had to then just take a picture of the screen and save it that way. I really have to figure out how to use adobe photo shop! Boo!

prints

I saw a print from the blog in Life in the Fun Lane and looked up the name of the print. That led me to etsy and to search through prints. I do love prints in general. This is one of my favs. I would love to put this in my kitchen on my ladder shelves.

grain sacks and linen pillows

I'm in love with these pillows right now.

white wire baskets and organizer

Still looking to redesign my office/craft room into a shabby chic paradise. I like this wicker basket and they have it in off white too.Plus they have a filing shelving in this as well. WooHoo!

Gold Mirrors

I've been looking for something super trendy and modern for our guest bathroom. Ballard design has some great mirrors for decorating. I love mirrors in my house. I've got to be careful though, because Zack starts feeling like he lives in a dressing room or crazy fun house at the the circus. Every time he turns around I've hung another mirror. This might be the last one I get to hang for awhile. :)

white off white pillows

POSH BATHROOMS

bathroom hardware and master baths

SPA SHOWER LOOK


WHITE CABINET WITH WALLPAPER DECAL

HOOKS INSTEAD OF TOWEL RACKS

I've been looking at pics on flickr to see what new and up and coming in bathroom design. I've been trying to decide if I want to try to take out our bath tub and put in a tiled shower instead.

I've also decided that we need to put new hardware in the master bathroom. Thinking of putting in some hooks near the shower instead of towel racks. It seems like new bathrooms are starting to look less and less like a bathroom and more like a posh spa. I've noticed that you see less practical items and more items that make it look like more like just a room. Here are some of the pictures I've found of items I like.

Bathroom/kitchen window curtains

Been looking at window curtains. Specifically for the windows in my bedroom...but as I've done some curtain searching...I've also decided that I would like curtains for two of the bathrooms in my house.

I'm wanting Shabby Chic for the pink touil guest bath room and some more stark white curtains for the master bathroom window. Here's a pic or what I'm looking for in the master bath.

pillows

from pier 1

from calicocorners.com


I've been in re-decorating mode. I find that I start in one room and slowly move things around the house until I find a place for them. And no room ever really gets completed. I work on a room until I feel like I've got nothing else creative to do in there for awhile or am stuck with what to do next.

Lately, I've been looking at pillows. It started because I've been looking at decorative pillows to put on my bed, so that I can finish off the bed. I bought a uphostered bed which is a bit off white. And the bedding I got from Anthropologie, is stark white. So there is a bit of a clash. I'm trying to make it look like I did it on purpose. Hence, I'm looking for some cute textured pillows that are cream and white to mix and match.

As I started doing this, I realized that if I changed the pillows down in the family room...I would feel like the room looked much more perky. I found this site that supposedly sells fabric at cheap deals and I found a lot of pillows I like at Pier 1. Here's what i found.

Dear Dave Ramsey

Zack is on a Dave Ramsey budget. He's great at it! And now that we are married and I'm on it too. Not because I have to, but because it's a good idea and I want to be on the same page as my dear husband. Am I cutting up my credit cards? Not yet. I don't want to go THAT far! But I am choosing to put them away for awhile. It will be a good practice, to be so aware of how I spend my money.
My only problem is the envelopes and booklet Dave gives you for your budget! So blah, blah, blah BORING! These pics are my attempt at spicing up budgeting.

Once again, I feel like I need to write to someone and tell them my so fun ideas! I know that Dave might have a plan in making his cash booklet so bland and boring....don't want to be extravagent with an item that is suppose to scream frugality, but I think a little pizzaz might encourage other women to try out a budget!

Zack and I have some ideas about how we could get some plastic envelopes and do something a bit more trendy than my 7th grade looking 3 ring binder set. :) But this is my first attempt. Don't worry Dave, I've got some great ideas coming down the pike! I mean what girl can say no to colorful plastic folders and vinyle lettering?!

Dave, I could help you make millions!

Oh, oh yeah...I think you already do! whoops!

Books I would like to read

I've been on a kick about reading lately. I kind of got tired of reading when I had to read all of these books for work. I find in my stubbornness, I just want to read what I want to read on not what others suggestions are for my own growth. I figure at 32 I have more of a sense on what I NEED to read and what I want to READ.

I'm almost done with my New Staff Training and am so excited that I will soon be able to read what ever I want.

I've decided to possibly do a Beth Moore study. Read books of the Bible, but do it more in a seminary format, read all the books by Henry Cloud I've been dying to read, and read beautiful biographies.

This summer will be full of fun reading and journaling about my fun reads. My problem is, I like to read for fun. It's an outlet for me, an escape even. I love to read about people's stories and hear how they have grown or figured out how life works.

Blog world

I find this blog world hard to figure out. I guess that seems funny to me, because I have to use computers so much. Overall, I'm a pretty proficient person at computers and assume I can figure out how to do some new command on a computer, but blogs seems to confuse me a bit. Or, At least few things.

I'm not sure how to find other blogs that I would want to follow, how to add widgets, or how to put a list of people I'm following on my page. These all might see like easy tasks to you bloggers, but I find it very confusing.

Could someone give me a blog set up lesson?

Jessica

a new craft for me?

I have a bunch of friends who have just had babies. And I found this super cute idea from Jennifer Oberheide Stumbaugh's FB page. So cute...I may have to steal her idea. SOOOOO CUTE! Look out friends who have babies, this cute onsie may be coming your way!

bedding I'm dying to sleep IN!

So, I love love love this beautiful bedding from Anthropologie and am convinced I NEED to work for this company some day. NOTE: NEED not WANT! :) I want the white queen size duvet which is not available until May 5th. May 5th, mark it on your calendars as the day I order my favorite bedding. I tried to even con Zack into believing that I would make the bed everyday because it so beautiful looking and would just make me want to make the bed if I had this cloth on the bed. He didn't buy it, but it did make him laugh at how absolutely enthralled I got with this bedding.

What do you think? Isn't it wonderfully beautiful?

matryoshka's on the move

Have you seen these Russian dolls all around? My friend Jayne` gave me a key cover for my new house key. Love it! And I have a pencil holder that has these cute Russian dolls painted on to the side. Funny enough, Zack is thinks these dolls are creepy. I think it's a fun new trend! :)

Chandelier anyone?

I saw this Chandelier and loved it from a distance! I've been starting to think how I can decorate Zack's house, or my future house, a bit differently.

Hope Zack likes a bit of glitz ;) I found this on Horchow.com