Geometric Pillow Patterns

I am trying to find pillow patterns for a client and found this great etsy shop, pop of color. Love her combo ideas but still can't decide. Might just have to wing it at the store tomorrow.

Chandlier Lingo

I have been purchasing a craaaazzzzy amount of lighting fixtures recently I know speak "chandelier." I knew most of the lingo but I finally got to use the word "bobeche." So fun. give it a go. 

Thought I share some chandelier blueprints to help you out the next time you are chandelier shopping. Enjoy.

 

A day in the life of a Home Stager

YUUUP! and it doesn't include actual stagings with the scratches and falls of the job, client consults, . Kids carpool lane, proposal write-ups almost nightly and more. But you gotta love it.

Idlewood Electric - More Than Just Bulbs

Today was a fun day. No clients in tow, I went light fixture shopping. Love my odd frozen wink!

Well, I had to find 2 matching ceiling fixtures for a kitchen staging, that was easy, I always wanted a globe fixture for my house, haven't had the change to purchase it for me, so I got to purchase it for a model home property. YEAH!!! I picked out 2 that will be hung above a massive kitchen island. LOVE!!!

GUESS how much....$360!! I know, on sale! AND THEY ARE BIG!!!!

Okay, that was easy. Then, I needed a foyer chandelier for the entrance. Again, totally bought something I have had my eyes on for months and was waiting to either buy it for me or simply waiting for the perfect Home Design project that it would feel at home in. Here is my inspiration picture.

And this is the one I found ON SALE, and get this, this company (FOR FREE-at no additional charge) will stain, antique, or paint the body. So I requested it get "aged" a bit. Check it out.

Don't you love.
Now, if you are wondering why I am not showing the actual pics from the store, CAUSE it is ceiling madness there, or as I like to think--a constellation of chands heaven!! Pictures don't do the chandeliers justice because each chandelier is inches away from the next.Check out this pic. below.

RIGHT!!! you can't tell where one chandelier ends and the other begins (of course in person it is heavenly!!)
That is one reason why I love this store. The carry hundreds and hundreds of fixtures.
Only negative, you might leave with a little kink in your neck from the permanent position of always looking up :) but totally worth it.

Holiday Decor Tips On A Budget

The Holidays are a time of spending too much money on presents for family and friends.

Don't you feel the money slipping out of your wallet during the month of December. I swear.
 I was at Toys R' Us and when the total cost rang up, the cashier looked at me, I looked at him, and we just looked at each other. He asked, "would you like to pay for it?" I replied, "No."

Well, needless to say I did spend money and sadly, not finished with the shopping.

BUT! Luckily, 2 days later my kids were playing rough and broke our family room flat screen T.V.

Why "lucky?" Because, of course, I turned this into a teachable moment and explained to them (after some screaming and hard core time outs) that Santa just cannot fulfill his promise of their lists with behavior like this. They nodded their heads (with tears) in agreement. SO, mommy gets to return some presents for the kids and daddy is getting a new Flat Screen. Of course, no T.V. will be bought until after Santa comes and leaves a letter under the tree about this situation. But, REMEMBER, when life gives you lemons....

Well, had the T.V. not been involved, I would be back to my original paragraph of spending too much on presents for family and friends. Which brings me back to this post about Holiday Decor Tips On A Budget.

Here are some ideas for different areas of your home:

The most important part of the holiday decor besides the tree is your Tablescape. We all know that those centerpieces can take your holiday dinner from blah to YUMMO. But again, you won't see me heading to the florist to spend a Benjamin Franklin. OH no. I look around the house for something I already have. A couple options include:

 THE CENTERPIECE THIS HOLIDAY

1: Using those tree stumps as candle holders. Place A LOT, I mean, like 20 with different height candles. Beautiful, romantic, calming, and CHEAP. Here is that tip on video.

Pinterest

2: Cut pieces of sprigs off your fresh tree. These can be placed in vases, in the napkin holder rings or spread throughout the table.

Southern Living

3: Instead of placing your holiday village on the mantel or under the tree, try the centerpeice.

Source Unkown

DISPLAYING THOSE CHRISTMAS CARDS

You know the ones I'm taking about

1: One year I had a grapevine wreath sitting in the garage FOREVER. So I spray painted it red. Then tied a green ribbon to the back to hang behind our front door. Then I spray painted 100 cloths pins from the dollar store. 100 in a bag for a $1.00. As the cards arrived they were clipped on to the wreath. 

Home With Keki

 2: Easy and simple, cut long pieces of holiday ribbon and tie them to the back of your cabinets, wrapping your cabinet. You can use kitchen cabinets, China Cabinets or even an entire door. 

Pinterest

3: A couple years ago I had garland on our staircase railing. As the cards arrived, they were intertwined into the garland. I found a similiar idea on pinterest that hung it from the garland. Either way works.

 

Well, just know that decorating your house for the holidays does not have to be as costly as buying those gifts (at least before the returns happened cause of cracked screens). In fact, decorating your home can and should be FREE, if you use what you own. So don't forget, Reuse, Repurpose, Redecor your space!!

Holiday D.I.Y Project for your Tablescape

Here is a tip I provided for 30SecondMom

Every year when we buy our holiday tree, the staff saws off the bottom of the tree stump. They do this for every tree that leaves the lot to ensure a fresh cut so the tree can absorb water and stay fresher, longer. This means an easy and economical D.I.Y project for me. I head behind the counter and with a little holiday smile I ask, "May I have the tree stumps on the floor?" Like magic, I have fabulous wine coasters or place-card settings for our holiday party - for free! It adds such a nice touch to the holiday table. This year, I'm setting my candles on them. Check out my video to see how!

Tree Trimming Party For Your Family (kids mostly)

Seven years ago I began a new tradition for my little family. On the First of December we would kick off the holiday season by getting our fresh cut tree. We brought the tree hom and during the process of getting the lights on, having the baby trying to knock it over and daddy stressed about tangled lights, I almost screamed! No way could we decorate this tree, breastfeed, cook, etc, and stay sane. So, I picked up the phone and called my parents, my Aunt Mary and Uncle Pancho, and my in-laws. They came over and began to decorate the tree. Well, that was easy. BUT of course I felt that I needed to feed them, so I hopped into the kitchen to put together a little warm dinner.

The tree was done, the lights were up, and we ended the night around the table with a festive holiday family cheer. Most importantly, my son, only 1 at the time, began to experience the season of family and holidays without having to wait until December 24th.

Well, we continued this tradition every year. Picking up a tree and simply setting it in place. The boys would play and get all excited decorating the house while I began cooking in the kitchen for the arrival of our family to place the ornaments on the tree later that evening. What can make the tree-trimming party even more memorable, is to use ornaments with a story and memories. All our ornaments have a story. I try to get the boys a new ornament that represents them for that year. A trip, a sport, a toy, anything that provides a story of what they experienced that year. I try to remember to add the year on the ornament in permanent marker.

Here we are this year decorating the tree. Now, remember, in 24 days I spend the whole day in the kitchen cooking, so I try not to go over board with the tablescape and the dinner this night. It was a simple dinner with homemade mashed potatoes, roasted chicken, asparagus and a caprese salad. Dessert kind of sucked this year cause I thought it would be brought (hint hint) so we just threw some cut-up fruit and ice cream together last minute. So remember, don't wait till the 24th to get the family together for celebrate Christmas, have them over sooner to help keep your holiday cheer up!!

Tree is ready

Every Tree-trimming party they decorate their gingerbread house in p.j's.

Simple table for the event

Kids couldn't wait for everyone

They have arrived to trim the tree