Valentines in the Foyer

Well, I just couldn't stop myself!  Even after I said I wasn't going to do it this year, I just had to break out the Valentines decor.  Blame it all on the mirror okay, my NEW mirror that is! 

I just recently added this new larger mirror to my foyer and moved this old cabinet back into the foyer again.  After seeing how dark it all looked I decided I needed a pop of color.  

And what better color to pop then RED right?

So, I pulled out all of my old Valentine tricks and decided what I wanted to use.

I knew I just had to use my sweet lil cherubs!

I love how dreamy they look!

There's also something about a bouquet of roses and carnations that just speaks Valentines to me.

The new mirror even got a Valentine topper of it's own.

And on the other side of the foyer by the front door I added a few welcoming hearts.

Truth be known, I had to move this welcome sign inside because the wind keeps blowing it over on the porch outside.   Oh, look!  Do you see one of my sweeties down there in the corner looking in?  I think she wants a little lov'in too!

Well I am off today and getting out and about to look for some other bright colors to brighten up this spot after the Valentine's decor comes down.  I'm thinking a new lamp, maybe more greenery in larger deco jars, and a statement piece of some sort.  Oh, what fun!

Thanks for joining me today for

Tabletop Tuesday

It's always so nice to hear from you!

I hope you also have a great day! 

My New Everyday Mantle Decor

Yay! I finally finished up a little project I've been working on.  It's just an itty bitty thing, but it's one of those things that I've been wanting to complete since taking down all the Christmas decor from my mantle.

Here's how my mantle has looked for the past several weeks.  Leaves a lot to be desired, doesn't it?  I just haven't really felt like doing much holiday mantle decorating this year.   But I have been very interested in finding an everyday look for the mantle.  

The first thing I knew I wanted was to replace a wreath back on the mirror.  I like the way the one I had there during Christmas looked and so I decided to replace it.  I was very excited when I found this faux Moss wreath at Carolina Pottery.

I knew it would make the perfect starting point for the wreath I wanted to make.

I have wanted a Boxwood wreath for sometime but have not wanted to pay what they cost premade.  So last week when I found these branches on sale at Hobby Lobby for half off I was thrilled.

 I got out my hot glue gun and a few wire tacks and I was good to go.

It was a bit of a challenge as my hot glue was so hot it would melt the stems I was trying to glue down.

Finally after using more of my metal floral picks I was almost done.  Oh, and there's the cute little harlequin napkin holder I picked up on sale last week from my shopping trip to Hobby Lobby.  

 Then it was time to hang it on the mirror.

I am sure it could use alot more greenery but it's enough for me.   For now, I'd like to show you the rest of the mantle decor.

 Did you figure out what this item to the left is yet?

 Yep!  It's a mantle clock I found at Hobby Lobby too.  Isn't it cute?  I just loved how it had that shabby look and best of all was on the clearance isle.  They have the best markdown deals, don't they!

I still need to add a battery to the little clock, so for now it's perpetually 10:05.  LOL!

And the green ceramic pieces I showed you bits of were vases.

 I found two of them also on the clearance isle at Hobby Lobby.

Then I filled them with this simple grass greenery that was also on sale when I was there.

I almost didn't buy them because I realized when I got to the counter they were not actually the same size.  I was so bummed out but decided to try them anyway.

I am glad I did because I have been able to successfully use vintage books to balance out the height of each of them.

Are you ready to see a full reveal of the mantle?

Here it is!  I am pretty pleased with it so far.  I am sure the lanterns and plates will most likely disappear in the summer to lighten things up but I am loving them here for now.

 Please ignore the little white dots on the wall behind my floral arrangements.  I still need to repaint the walls from where I had the sconces hung and patched.  Ooops!

 It sure feels good to have a look I can live with for awhile on here again instead of a big empty space.

Thanks for visiting my living room today and for taking a peek at my new everyday fireplace mantle decor.  

I am joining BNOTP for Metamorphosis Monday today.

Sometimes change is good!

Have a great week everyone!

Time to Rise and Shine!

Good Morning!  Rise and shine sleepyhead!  That's what I used to wake up too every morning as a child and teenager.  Well almost every morning, to be completely honest, there were lot's of mornings when my mother would just yell from the door...time to rise and shine!  

It's hard to get excited about rising and shining when the weather is so dreary outside.  It sure has been quite overcast, drizzly and foggy lately!  Luckily for me I am off to work and will not be looking at this dreary day for long.  That's one advantage of being inside a building for an 8 hour stretch, wouldn't you agree? For someone like me who loves being outside it's great to have an excuse for being stuck inside on a day like this.   Hey, you gotta look for the positives in life friends, always!

Speaking of positives, I thought I'd share a little kitchen vignette that I set up in the kitchen with my cheery and colorful rooster.  After I took the Christmas tree down in the kitchen I decided to put my black desk back in the kitchen instead of the painted fruit table.  I like how the black coordinates with my dining table and stools and provides a great background for bright colors to bounce off of.

After bringing my colorful rooster back out I decided to stay with the whole rooster theme and keep going with it.  So, out came the little salt and pepper shaker I got from Cracker Barrel last year. 

Now, I know I'm jumping the gun a bit here with the spring flowers but I just couldn't help myself.   A big bonus is they have been especially cheery to see every morning with  all this dreary weather and I really needed some height here in my vignette.  Lesson learned, just because it's cold and dreary outside doesn't mean it has to be that way inside.

Checked napkins in a basket and stacks of dishes and I was just about done.  Very country huh?

I love seeing stacks of dishes sitting out, do you?  I especially love it when the dishes are interesting and colorful too.  I wish I had one of those cute little willow and wire chargers to sit this on but just can't quite talk myself into spending what those things cost.  Please someone let me know if you ever see them go on sale anywhere.

 These rooster dishes are from Fitz and Floyd purchased at TJ Maxx.

And because I had a cute little cubby hole and more dishes small enough to fit in there I added them too.

Nice and bright and cheery!

Cock-a-doodle-do!  Rise and shine Yall!

I am joining Marty today for a very special 

Tabletop Tuesday.

She is celebrating her 100th linky party.  I am very happy to be able to attend and have already been checking out a few fabulous vignettes.  I can't wait to get back home tonight to check out more for lot's of beautiful decorating inspiration.  I sure could use it!

Congratulations Marty and Thank you for hosting such a wonderfully inspiring party every week!

Hope you all have a beautiful day whatever the weather is in your neck of the woods.

Thanks for stopping by!

Fall Mantle 2011

Yay!  We definitely have cooler weather today! How about you?  Fall has finally arrived and I sure hope it hangs around for awhile.  Yesterday, I showed you a few fall arrangements I've been working on and I'm still at it today.   I also went to Michaels yesterday and came home with several fall picks of all kinds.  I'll be working on revamping my fall wreaths today.  I just love when I get an inspiring idea, don't you?  But you'll have to come back to see that later.  Today I'm showing you my fall mantle.

I do apologize for the photos y'all!  I am back to using my camera.  I was using the Mr's yesterday because I'm having a few issues with mine, but he has his with him this morning so this is all I got.  If you read yesterday's post you know that I'm feeling very streamline with my decor this year.  

I worked on this mantle for several hours the other day, only to pull much of it right back off.  I think it has to do with where this mantle is in our room (centered on the long side wall) that makes me want to back off of putting too much on it.  It just overwhelms me when it's too much.  Since this is the only den we have, I've got to be able to sit in there without cringing so this is as heavy as it gets. Well, for this year anyway!  :))

I used these black and white plates last year and absolutely loved it so I knew they were coming back this year.

I found these adorable checked pumpkins in the Target dollar isle last year after another blogger showed some she had purchased.  The orange pumpkin with leaves was part of a three pack from Ross? or Marshall's?  The small filigree pumpkins were from Hobby Lobby.

I just recently purchased four of these lanterns on clearance from Lowe's for $1.50 each.  Can you believe that?  I know crazy!  I wanted to buy a whole pallet of them.  LOL!  Anywho, here's a few of the picks that I purchased yesterday from Michaels.  One is a glittery leaf pick and the other is pumpkin and pine cones.

I added a few older small leaves I had and ribbon to my candle sconces.

The other side is basically the same except for the filigree pumpkin is a different color.

Well that's my 2011 fall mantle!

Hop on over and check out more

Fall Mantles at the It's Fall Yall Party.

I'm really getting in the fall spirit now and loving this cooler weather.

What a blessing!

Thanks for stopping by today!