Do People Really Decorate For Valentines?

I can't tell you how many times I have heard this question from my coworkers lately!  It seems to resurface every few days as we are tweaking, revamping and discussing our Valentines displays and sales.  Each time, I am always taken by surprise with this question.   Because in my head I am screaming of course they do you fool, it's Valentines Day for crying out loud! But outwardly, I am admitting, well, sure they do, maybe just not quite as much as for other holidays.

I definitely fall into the not as much as other holidays category.  But....after having the weekend off, and a little more time to get inspired and be inspired, I decided to pull out a little of my Valentines decor.  One thing I love about Valentines day is that I typically like to use this holiday as a time to explore my creative side.  This year I didn't do a lot of that.   I did however pull out a few things I created from last year and I did use one of them in a new way this year.  So, I would say that counts as being a little creative right?

Here is an old topiary stand that I have had for quite some time that used to have Ivy all over it that I removed last year.

And here is a close up of my old topiary today.  I added some glittery hearts that I bought from the dollar tree last year that I used on another Valentines display shown here.   

This year I decided they would be easier to use on the topiary instead.  The glitter hearts are simply strung on heavy fishing wire that was easily poked through the foam.  Then you just wind the wired hearts around the form.  How easy is that?

My thinking was that I wanted to create a Valentines display for the table by my front door.

The candle and greenery are constants out here.

Then I added a red polka dot bow to my faux ivy.  Sorry ladies, I just can't do real Ivy.  I would really prefer live Ivy and have tried, but seem to have such troubles growing Ivy in a pot.  I have no trouble however with growing Ivy all over the yard outside though.

It's just a small touch of Valenitines....

...to compliment the sign on my door.

I bought this door sign from the after season clearance sales at Kohls.  I tend to think Valentines is one of those holidays where people really do not like to spend too much on decorating.  I know I usually don't and look for the after season sales.  What do you think?

I do love how this red just pops right off of my black door!

After putting up some decorations outside I decided I just didn't want to stop there.   So, I did what I said I wasn't going to do and moved inside to the fireplace mantle.  I just had to see how my sweet little cupid angels would look on my new clock.

Aren't they just so sweet looking?

I think so!  I just love these!  Yep!  It's still 10:05 at our house.  LOL!

Then, I decided to just go ahead and bring out the garland I made for my mantle last year too.  You can see that post here as well.

This was one of the best (fun) and easiest projects I have done is some time.

All of the graphics used here were from The Graphics Fairy.

After the garland was hung, I was done!  

Well, kinda done.  I hope to be back later this week to share my Valentines tablescape with you.  I've only got time to do one this year but will try and share links to the three that I did last year.  That's right, I did say three.  So, if your like me and looking for a little inspiration at times be sure and stop back by later this week. 

Thanks for visiting today.  I am joining the following parties today.

Seasonal Sunday

Metamorphosis Monday

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Following with the Linky widget

Whew! I really don't know what I am doing here but am adding the "linky" follower widget to my blog because I have a few of you who are not on blogger that I want to keep following.   I hear some of you may fall off of my google friend connect grid.   So, in order to keep up with you I am jumping into this whole new way to follow.  I am assuming in order to follow you I needed to sign up too right?

One thing is for sure.  If you blog, facebook, pinterest, or use any other social media networking you had better be prepared to keep up with the ever changing cyberworld.  I admit I am often so far behind and usually rely on others to help me keep up.  Thanks yall!

My thoughts about blogging are...
Blogging is fun, but it is more of an experiment in "dabbling" in creative expression for me, then a way of life.  I'll never be a serious or big blogger and I am obviously not really striving to do so.  I've often thought about quitting when I get to taking it too seriously. The down side of blogging is that I've had my share of negative feelings of not measuring up, not being creative enough, popular enough and so forth.  Occasionally, jealousy creeps up too when I see so many bloggers talking about the number of followers they have and all the giveaways they offer when reaching these milestones.  Because, who doesn't want to be popular?  But then the reality of who I am returns and I get over it all.  Yes, I would love to have more followers but I figure if your interested you will follow, as I follow those I am interested in.  I know there are others out there who are like me who follow a wide range of bloggers.  Then there are those who only follow certain genres, or who only follow but never comment or who only look at blogs occasionally.  I've said it before and will say it again, it sure is a wide, wide world out there!

I am still here chugging away here because I enjoy seeing and learning new things.  I enjoy sharing it all, no matter how popular or unpopular it is, because it let's me express myself.   And finally, the coolest part of it all is that I have gotten to meet a few of you out there in the world whom I would have never known.  You may be only someone I know online but you are real to me and so am I.
So, if there are any of you out there who are inclined to do so, you may now also follow me on Linky.

I am enjoying a lovely (whole) weekend off .  Hope you have a great weekend too!
See ya!

Dreaming of Soup and Crackers

When you are on an ever changing schedule as I am, you have to be flexible.  Luckily for me, I am married to someone who is also very flexible.  He's not only flexible ladies, he is pretty darn helpful around the kitchen as well.  He will make several meals each week and have everything ready for me when I come home from work.   As wonderful as this is, and it really, really, is, no kidding!  There are times when you just have to leave a few hints around for our guys, right?

Hints like this!

What do you think?  Is this a clear, out and out hint or what?

Can you tell that I really want soup here?  I thought so!

I am sure he will get it, just not so sure he will play along with my shenanigans.  

You see, I love soup!  I really do!  The Mr. not so much.  He's okay with it, but he doesn't like it the way I do.  It would certainly not be his first choice for a meal.  It's not that he only like's homemade soup or anything like that either. It's just that he kinda thinks of soup as "only" a cold weather meal.  It has to be really, really cold for him to agree that soup sounds good for supper.  Unfortunately for me, it has been anything but cold here lately.

I added this little cloche on here to see if maybe that will help set the mood for him.  Kinda looks like snowballs, right?  Sure it does!

Okay, I know it's a stretch but let's just see what happens.  Have you ever tried these to bag soups from Bear Creek?  They are wonderful!

Meanwhile, I'd like to show you my tablescape because I have been wanting to share these bowls with you for some time now in a setting.  I bought these from GW last year or maybe it was 2 years ago.  Anyway, I can't believe it's taken me this long to do a setting with them.

Aren't they pretty neat?  I just love how they have an extra little area on the side for crackers.

They are made of pottery and have a white cast with brown specks that vary on each piece.

Here is what is imprinted on the back.  I looked this up when I first brought them home and was pleased to see that Robert Weiss does have some pieces that are collectibles.  I don't know if these are worth much or not but I do know they are worth more then I paid.  I consider them quite a find not just because of the signature but because I just love how unique they are.

 I added these small brown recycled product dishes underneath to catch any spills.

Then I tied my napkin together with what I thought looked like a soup spoon from my silver collection.  I inherited several of this size spoons along with the rest of the set from my inlaws.  I have never been sure of what they are and am hoping some of you will be able to fill me in.  I wonder if maybe they are serving spoons but look too short to be serving spoons though I have used them for dips and sauce serving spoons before.  The roundness of them though makes me wonder if they are really soup spoons though. Please, please,please comment if you know!

My grandmothers glasses with the gold trim are some of my favorite drinkware.

As luck would have it, that old groundhog saw his shadow today.  Maybe I will get to eat my soup and crackers pretty soon after all.  I hope you enjoyed my simple winter setting, and I am hoping I will get to enjoy it too!  (Wink-Wink)

If you enjoyed this post, be sure and check out all the other beautiful and stunning settings over at

Tablescape Thursday.

Thanks for visiting today.  Hope you have a wonderful 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!

Thank You!!!

I want to sincerely thank each of you for your wonderful words of wisdom and compassion!  My time online is so limited these days, so I am sending a great big group "HUG" and "Thank You" to all of you right here on my blog.

(from eons.com)

  I really appreciate the encouragement and the camaraderie from you who so clearly could also relate.  I am glad you also enjoyed the analogy I used.  I am sure there are die hard sailors out there who are probably gawking in disgust at my feeble attempt in using sailing terms, but hey, I try!  Whateva right?

Speaking of Whateva!  That's how I'm feeling right about now.  I've somewhat recouped from having the wind stolen out of my sails, but am still feeling like I'm hanging out over the edge about this situation.  The good news is, I've got a whole crew that also feels the same way, and we are not about to throw off the race as of yet!  

It's very comforting to know there are others who also are feeling the same as me in my personal/professional life about this situation.  It's even nicer knowing there are beautiful people like you out there in cyber world whom I've never met who also share in the trials and tribulations of this often very competitive race.  God bless you!!! 

As for finding comfort, I did call my Mom.  She knew exactly what to say, as always.  I love her!  I also finally pulled it together and headed straight for two of my favorite stores, Carolina Pottery and Hobby Lobby.  Thankfully it was a successful retail therapy adventure as I really did'nt need to strike out that day.   Here's a sneak peek at a few things I picked up for something I am working on.

Pretty interesting close ups, huh?  Heh heh!

Sorry to be such a tease but you'll have to come back for the reveal.  I am hoping I can put it all together soon.

My deepest thanks again Yall!

Hope you each have a beautiful Friday!