Master Bedroom

Lately, I have been working on my bedroom.  I love my new Parachute bedding.  I bought the Venice set in white with the percale fabric.  It really does feel luxurious, it feels cool and crisp.  It's just super cozy.  I do have to admit the wrinkles kind of annoy me but I think if you get the sateen fabric it probably wont wrinkle so much but it may not be as cozy.  I think I will just get used to the wrinkles eventually.  I need to concentrate on blinds or curtains this weekend, maybe both. 

I picked up this tray/platter with gold arrows from Target yesterday, only $7, score. 

Teenager crashing my new cozy bedding. 

 

Happy Weekend Lovelies!

Scenes From My Weekend

Holy Mother of God is this Peppermint Bark gelato good.  I am a huge fan of the Mediterrean Mint and the Sea Salt Caramel and when I saw this special holiday flavor I had to have it.  It is so creamy and delicious, I can't even tell you.  I bought two and gave one to my sister, let's just say this is so good I tried to take back the one I gave to my sister.   I wonder if you can order it by the case?

I made chocolate chip cookies. 

Started wrapping presents.  I made the tags out of an old little calendar I had.

 

Also, the tree is up and ready for Santa.  I really wanted white lights but the kids wanted colored.  I should have put my foot down on the colored lights.

Happy Cyber Monday

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I wouldn't mind spending my day shopping online from this space.  I love the light floors and white walls.

My holiday weekend was so nice, spending time with family and friends is just what I needed.  I forgot to take pictures of our Thanksgiving feast, I was too busy cooking and drinking wine.  I did however, manage to get a picture of breakfast, my Publix Pilgrims and homemade applesauce in the slow cooker. 

6 Cortland apples, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup of sugar
sprinkle enough cinnamon on top to cover the apples

Bonus, it makes your house smell great too. 

Cook in the slow cooker on high for about 5 hours or low for about 8, you can tell when the apples are completely soft.  You can mash it with a potato masher or use an immersion hand blender to mix it up if you don't like chunks. 

Hello Winter!

The first snowfall is so crisp and clean.  It reminds of the beauty that is all around us. 

 

Oops....I forgot to bring in the furniture off the deck. 

Words of Wisdom

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Well, things have been happening around here, I had to make a very difficult decision.  I decided to sell my home, our home.  I love this house, we built it with the intention of raising our children here, hosting holidays for our grandchildren and retiring with the neighbors we adore, but things change.  Life changes in ways you can't ever imagine and I've learned adapting and being flexible is the best approach.   Now that I am a single parent the house has just become too much for me to take care financially and physically.

I have been struggling with this decision for quite a while but something just clicked in my head and I knew it was time.  My children are sad but old enough to understand.  They see the hours I spend working just to get by and realize that at this point in our lives the home just isn't worth all of the struggles. 

I feel like this huge burden has been lifted off my shoulders, like I am discovering a new sense of freedom.  I put the house up for sale and within two weeks I had a really great offer.  I just know it was meant to be, the timing is right for us.

Now it's decision time, do I buy a house I can redo and make my own or do I buy a move in ready house?  I really want to redo a house but I need to take my time and be smart.  That is what is so awesome right now, having options. 

My Home

Good Morning Fall

Ethan, why so serious?

 

Around Here Lately

I love fall, the trees, the clothes, the food.  

A View From My Couch

Happy Easter!

Enjoying a beautiful day.

Table Lamps in the Kitchen?

Do you have that one friend whose house always looks perfectly pulled together?  Well, I was at my dear friend Roger's house this weekend and I all of sudden I noticed he has 3 lamps in his kitchen.  His kitchen isn't very big but it is cozy and perfectly accessorized, just like the rest of his home.  I on the other hand, have such a hard time accessorizing, I either do too much or too little.  I really do believe that accessorizing is the hardest part of decorating a space.  Accessories are what personalize your space, they reflect your personality which is probably why it is so difficult to get it right. 

 

My new lamp

 

I think table lamps in the kitchen make it so warm, plus the indirect lighting is much nicer then the harsh overhead lights.  I prefer the table lamps on the counters instead of the kitchen island.  Lamps on the island look beautiful and make the island look more like furniture but in our house lamps on the island would never last.  They would be toast. 



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DIY Fabric Roller Shades

I came across this DIY fabric covered roller shades on A Well Dressed Home.  I was totally surprised how easy they look to make, how reasonable they are and how simply beautiful they look.   Of course, I'll take the whole kitchen please. 


These DIY Shades on Cottage and Vine look awesome too with easy step by step directions. 



I have been thinking about this Striped Cordless Roman shade from Pottery Barn.  It is so clean and classic looking but at $249.00 for one, I think I can get the same look by making my own fabric roller shade.  I think I will try to make my own and see what happens.  I'm not very good at DIY stuff but I have 5 windows in the kitchen alone so it would be well worth it for me to finally purchase the ever popular glue gun. 



Now I just need to find the perfect fabric...

Work in Progress

I started painting my kitchen white, not just any white, Benjamin Moore Super White.  Remember my inspiration? It is such a dramatic change. The room looks bigger, fresher. However, I am a bit nervous. I'm not sure what I was thinking having a 14 year old and two 12 year olds. I have become the wall police. I never realized how much they touch the walls. The walls are so white and bright they make my awful linoleum floor look really dull and dirty. I just want to have the room finished so I can an idea what it will really look like.  Also, I can't decide if I should do my family room the same color?  I think I will to get a unified look.  In addition, the wood trim looks a lot better against the white but I kind of want to paint it white too.  Man, once you start a project it can make the home improvement process never ending. . .

My Family Room

My main goal for the next couple months is to transform my family into a room that is modern, stylish and comfortable. The room is still the beige color it was when the home was built 12 years ago. I still don't have window treatments and the fireplace is dated. Also, the room is long and I'm not sure how to layout the furniture and tv. Since I really don't know where to start and my funds are very limited, I decided to first paint my cabinet black. The color is "Blackjack" by Benjamin Moore.

The picture is bad because I lost the light in the evening.

A View My Window

I remember reading something once, which I believe was from Mr. Nate Berkus, that you should decorate your room with colors that compliment the view.  The idea of using the colors from your view as the color palette for your room. I want to embrace this idea, however, the colors obviously change from season to season but I think I am most fond of the cool winter colors.  I love the white with blue, grey and brown hues and just a pop of green. 

My family room needs help.  It is outdated, doesn't have a window treatment, the walls are still the builder beige color, the carpet is old and cheap.  We have been in this home 12 years now and it is definitely time for a change.  I never painted this room because I could never decide on a color, I am afraid to commit, but I am ready now.  I'm ready to take the plunge and make some decisions.  I have an extremely tight budget and I'm not sure were to begin but I think if I take things slow and get lots of inspiration/ help I will be OK and the room will look great.