That's chalkboard paint on the walls behind the tree so please ignore the chalk drawings.
Now I'm off to look up how to make a paper airplane. Supposedly, daddy and grandpa have really mastered this skill and I'm lacking.
Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label decorating. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Bring on Christmas!
I always love to see how other people decorate their homes for the holidays. Plus, it's always fun to look back and see how I decorated our home in year's past.
I love this Christmas tree more and more every year. This is our third year with this particular tree (Wow, doesn't seem that long ago) and it's so much easier than our last tree. It's tall (9 foot) and VERY skinny. Our last tree was 7 1/2 feet, but it was huge, and the branches went all the way to the floor which really left no room for the presents. This one is pre-lit and I'll never go back to strings of lights, ever.
The Boys' Tree
Poor little Charle Brown tree. Owen decorated it all by himself. I think Jack was napping. We just leave the lights on it and store it assembled in the attic. He has ornaments specifically purchased for their tree, but he found some in other places around the house. He's like a little scavenger decorator.
That's chalkboard paint on the walls behind the tree so please ignore the chalk drawings.
Over the kitchen sink.
Yes, I'm a freak and very seldom open the blinds.
Now I'm off to look up how to make a paper airplane. Supposedly, daddy and grandpa have really mastered this skill and I'm lacking.
That's chalkboard paint on the walls behind the tree so please ignore the chalk drawings.
Now I'm off to look up how to make a paper airplane. Supposedly, daddy and grandpa have really mastered this skill and I'm lacking.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Halloween Decor
Monday, June 16, 2008
Shower Completed (OK, it was months ago!)
I never did show the completed pictures of the master bathroom shower and tile project we completed months ago. See? I've moved on to other things or else I'm trying to block it out of my mind entirely.
Tommy has always installed the floor tile in every house we've lived in and we usually opted to pay someone to lay the tile for the showers. For the first big tile shower project, I think he did a great job!
Here's the little helper again today...still wearing his construction hat and waiting for another project to commence.
I never did show the completed pictures of the master bathroom shower and tile project we completed months ago. See? I've moved on to other things or else I'm trying to block it out of my mind entirely.
Tommy has always installed the floor tile in every house we've lived in and we usually opted to pay someone to lay the tile for the showers. For the first big tile shower project, I think he did a great job!
Here's the little helper again today...still wearing his construction hat and waiting for another project to commence.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Progress=Chaos
Since we didn't build this home from the ground up, there are things we've decided we can't live without. Even though it was a newly constructed home and Tommy did in fact oversee it's construction, we had some parameters we had to deal with since it isn't considered a "custom" home.
We have pretty much always had a tile shower in every home we've lived in. We decided this one shouldn't be an exception. I'm not a huge fan of progress "in progress." In fact, anyone who knows me well will attest that I don't function well in chaos...at all.
Nevertheless, Tommy decided to rip out the fiberglass shower and start tiling. I snuck in to take these pictures before he even finished installing the backer board.
He has plenty of help so it shouldn't take long at all. That is, if I can keep him off that four wheeler long enough to finish the job!
Since we didn't build this home from the ground up, there are things we've decided we can't live without. Even though it was a newly constructed home and Tommy did in fact oversee it's construction, we had some parameters we had to deal with since it isn't considered a "custom" home.
We have pretty much always had a tile shower in every home we've lived in. We decided this one shouldn't be an exception. I'm not a huge fan of progress "in progress." In fact, anyone who knows me well will attest that I don't function well in chaos...at all.
Nevertheless, Tommy decided to rip out the fiberglass shower and start tiling. I snuck in to take these pictures before he even finished installing the backer board.
He has plenty of help so it shouldn't take long at all. That is, if I can keep him off that four wheeler long enough to finish the job!
Monday, October 23, 2006
How boring is a blog without photos? I think I was trying to answer that question the last month or two! This blog has gotten pretty boring! I'm the first to admit while browsing blogs, I tend to skip a few of the all text posts if I'm in a hurry. Bad...shouldn't do that!
So, finally the placemat purse I completed in sewing class.
One placemat $1.50
1 yard trim $2.49
1 set handles $3.99
embellishment $3.99
For a grand total of $11.97! This week, we are making a pillow. I'm looking forward to that!
Next up, a picture of my favorite corner in my house!
I grew up in a house with a fireplace. I can't recall how many fires my dad actually made, but it wasn't many! I think my mom and dad were too worried the carpet in front of the fireplace would catch fire. I seem to remember them keeping a scrap of carpet in the hall closet just for laying on the floor when we did have a fire. However, my fondest memories are standing in front of the fire at my granny's house. Having contests with my cousins to see who could actually stay there the longest. Then, going to sit down on your warm toasty butt when you finally decided you couldn't stand it any longer. My cousin Eddie once melted his parachute pants in front of the fire at my granny's. Yeah, he won...that time.
Of the four homes we've owned, only two of them had fireplaces. Funny, they are the two we didn't actually build from the ground-up. Fireplaces bring back such fond memories and I can't wait until winter so we can enjoy this one.
So, finally the placemat purse I completed in sewing class.
1 yard trim $2.49
1 set handles $3.99
embellishment $3.99
For a grand total of $11.97! This week, we are making a pillow. I'm looking forward to that!
Next up, a picture of my favorite corner in my house!
I grew up in a house with a fireplace. I can't recall how many fires my dad actually made, but it wasn't many! I think my mom and dad were too worried the carpet in front of the fireplace would catch fire. I seem to remember them keeping a scrap of carpet in the hall closet just for laying on the floor when we did have a fire. However, my fondest memories are standing in front of the fire at my granny's house. Having contests with my cousins to see who could actually stay there the longest. Then, going to sit down on your warm toasty butt when you finally decided you couldn't stand it any longer. My cousin Eddie once melted his parachute pants in front of the fire at my granny's. Yeah, he won...that time.
Of the four homes we've owned, only two of them had fireplaces. Funny, they are the two we didn't actually build from the ground-up. Fireplaces bring back such fond memories and I can't wait until winter so we can enjoy this one.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Finally getting around to putting the finishing touches on the boy's rooms. I've been scouring the Internet for some art for Owen's room to match his bedding. Today, I went to a local craft show and found a very creative lady who sells children's artwork. She covers her canvas in material and paints right on top of the fabric. The results are fantastic. I special ordered a robot painting for Owen's room which should arrive in a couple of weeks.
Jack's room is decorated in a cowboy theme. I purchased five yards of this fabric last year with plans for using it in Owen's big boy bedroom. Now, it's going to serve another purpose. I'm working on it. Slowly but surely.
Being at the craft show really made me miss doing something creative. I'm planning on making something for Owen's birthday this year like I made the quilt last year. I would like each child to have something handmade each year for their birthdays.
And now, just because I can...pictures of the boys.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Organization Monday-Revisited
In an effort to become more organized or back to my anal retentive, everything just-so Virgo perfectionist ways (AKA-the way I was before becoming a mom) I am organizing all areas of this house. So as not to become too overwhelmed, baby steps are necessary.
Thus we have today's topic...Junk Drawer Organization.
I can't believe I'm about to show the Internet my drawers.
BEFORE
As you can see, the junk drawer already has a nifty "Junk Drawer Organizer" available at most department stores and plastic bins. The problem is some things just don't belong (balloons from Owen's party two months ago, for one).
AFTER
Ahhh, much better!
In an effort to become more organized or back to my anal retentive, everything just-so Virgo perfectionist ways (AKA-the way I was before becoming a mom) I am organizing all areas of this house. So as not to become too overwhelmed, baby steps are necessary.
Thus we have today's topic...Junk Drawer Organization.
I can't believe I'm about to show the Internet my drawers.
BEFORE
As you can see, the junk drawer already has a nifty "Junk Drawer Organizer" available at most department stores and plastic bins. The problem is some things just don't belong (balloons from Owen's party two months ago, for one).
AFTER
Ahhh, much better!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
No Longer Lazy
Our Christmas tree which we have owned for 10 years. I still remember how beautiful it was when we put it in our first house together. It was a pretty expensive Christmas tree at the time but we lucked out and bought it at Michael's (back before they caught on that using a 50% coupon on Christmas trees isn't such a good idea...for them). It's extremely difficult to get a good picture of this tree because it is so tall and reaches all the way to the floor. Presents won't fit under it just around it. Notice I haven't wrapped any presents?
The gingerbread house was completed last night. No help from my family was even offered. All Owen wanted to do was watch and eat the candy.
Our Christmas tree which we have owned for 10 years. I still remember how beautiful it was when we put it in our first house together. It was a pretty expensive Christmas tree at the time but we lucked out and bought it at Michael's (back before they caught on that using a 50% coupon on Christmas trees isn't such a good idea...for them). It's extremely difficult to get a good picture of this tree because it is so tall and reaches all the way to the floor. Presents won't fit under it just around it. Notice I haven't wrapped any presents?
The gingerbread house was completed last night. No help from my family was even offered. All Owen wanted to do was watch and eat the candy.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Monkey Party Update
The monkey party was a great success, I am happy to say. There were 35 people here and it really wasn't that bad. Owen wasn't overwhelmed at all.
I did manage to make two monkey cakes, one for Owen to destroy and one for everyone else to eat. I made Owen's just plain old white cake from the box. The large monkey cake is a banana cake (recipe from MS Kids) and it was extremely yummy.
I was worried that we wouldn't have enough cake to feed 30+ people so I made cupcakes. I saw these over on Myra's Blog a few months back and knew they'd be perfect for our party.
Fresh flowers are a must for every party. I didn't get any pictures with the digital camera of the cake table but it was pretty much decorated exactly like the monkey party in MS Kids. I even hung one of Owen's monkeys from the chandelier.
Caution: Not for the faint of heart.
Before
After
Friday, October 21, 2005
Bunco
I spent the day (after quilting class) preparing for Bunco. It was my month to host and I decided a Halloween theme was best. Any excuse to decorate for Halloween... I had to buy three flower bunches to make the centerpiece. After some investigation, I found that the "mini pumpkins" I bought are actually Turkish Orange Eggplant. They were so cute I couldn't resist buying them and adding them to the arrangement.
On the menu: Taco Salad and all the fixings, Velveeta Sausage Dip, brownies, Halloween cupcakes, and Candy Corn Fudge. I stuffed little plastic cauldrons with snack mix since everybody loves to snack while they play.
The recipe for Candy Corn Fudge was found in Pillsb*ry's Haloween Recipe Booklet (found near the cash register at most grocery stores). I googled it and it can also be found here. For a more intense orange color, use 1/4 teaspoon orange paste icing color in place of the liquid yellow and red food colors called for in the online recipe. I made it the night before and it kept nicely in the refrigerator until time for the party.
Sadly, I didn't win anything except dirty dishes to clean up after everyone was gone. My sister graciously stayed to help clean up and lent me her cupcake stand.
I spent the day (after quilting class) preparing for Bunco. It was my month to host and I decided a Halloween theme was best. Any excuse to decorate for Halloween... I had to buy three flower bunches to make the centerpiece. After some investigation, I found that the "mini pumpkins" I bought are actually Turkish Orange Eggplant. They were so cute I couldn't resist buying them and adding them to the arrangement.
On the menu: Taco Salad and all the fixings, Velveeta Sausage Dip, brownies, Halloween cupcakes, and Candy Corn Fudge. I stuffed little plastic cauldrons with snack mix since everybody loves to snack while they play.
The recipe for Candy Corn Fudge was found in Pillsb*ry's Haloween Recipe Booklet (found near the cash register at most grocery stores). I googled it and it can also be found here. For a more intense orange color, use 1/4 teaspoon orange paste icing color in place of the liquid yellow and red food colors called for in the online recipe. I made it the night before and it kept nicely in the refrigerator until time for the party.
Sadly, I didn't win anything except dirty dishes to clean up after everyone was gone. My sister graciously stayed to help clean up and lent me her cupcake stand.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Organization Monday Week 3
Definitely a work in progress. The shelves are not exactly the way that I want them but I can't find the exact tins/baskets I am looking for to fill in the gaps. I love the baskets on the top shelf. I just bought the white lunchpail on the middle shelf last week and I already have an idea for it.
Close up of the desk area. It isn't normally this neat. Of course, a room isn't complete unless there is a frog close by.
Hanging over my desk is this sweet picture I bought at a little gallery in San Antonio. I adore it because it reminds me of a time when I was pretty much independent for the first time.
Definitely a work in progress. The shelves are not exactly the way that I want them but I can't find the exact tins/baskets I am looking for to fill in the gaps. I love the baskets on the top shelf. I just bought the white lunchpail on the middle shelf last week and I already have an idea for it.
Close up of the desk area. It isn't normally this neat. Of course, a room isn't complete unless there is a frog close by.
Hanging over my desk is this sweet picture I bought at a little gallery in San Antonio. I adore it because it reminds me of a time when I was pretty much independent for the first time.
Monday, December 08, 2003
The Christmas tree is up! Not everything is out and decorated...most of it is still boxed. I think this will do for this year. Tommy's family is coming over on Christmas Eve and then it's my sister's house on Christmas.
On a sad note, my laptop keyboard is giving me fits. The a, z, q, and tab keys will not work. I called up the little guy at Best Buy and he said to bring it in. I can't imagine it all of a sudden not working but who knows. I just want it fixed. For once, the extended warranty really is going to pay off.
On a sad note, my laptop keyboard is giving me fits. The a, z, q, and tab keys will not work. I called up the little guy at Best Buy and he said to bring it in. I can't imagine it all of a sudden not working but who knows. I just want it fixed. For once, the extended warranty really is going to pay off.
