Big boy room details

Good morning and happy weekend to all! I woke up this morning and we have had some widespread frost here this morning.....I could not believe the news reports predicting six inches of snow for parts of the East Coast. Not ready for that!

Today, I have some last details to share about my nephew's room redo. Here are a few pics of the finished product...

The lamp on the dresser came from IKEA. I love how it picks up the green in the room. I put it on a timer so it will turn on right before bedtime and turn off a few hours after the little guy drifts off to sleep. I LOVE timers.....once the holidays arrive, I probably ten timers working various holiday lights!!

My sis wanted to display Dominic's first shoes. I wish there was an updated version of the bronze baby shoes! We thought about putting them in a shadow box, but I could not find one deep enough for the shoes. Most of the shadow boxes I found in stores or online were only 1-2" deep. So, I decided to get a display box at the craft box and it looks great! I figured that it could be repurposed someday for something else as he gets older, too.

I also wanted to come up with a unique way to display his silver and pewter cups. I put cup hooks into the shelf above and hung them.

We have relatives in Norway that send the cutest hats and sweaters for the kids. I added a hook rail for his hats. The hook rails is from IKEA.

My sister also wanted to display my nephew's first pool floatie, since he spends a lot of time swimming with his dad in the summertime. I bought a shadow box designed for a doll at the craft store and cut off the arm parts.

I used my trusty can of kelly green spray paint and gave this globe stand an update.

One of my favorite things in the room is the paper lanterns. These come in a huge variety of colors and sizes....and they are inexpensive! They could be great decor for a party as well. I am thinking about using some for my daughter's future big girl room.

Hope you have a great weekend!

The Good Wife....a good show

Well, I have to be honest....I've been a much happier person since my shows started up about a month ago. I definitely have a full docket. Thursday is a busy night with Grey's, Private Practice and Project Runway. PR is ending soon, so that will relieve the pressure a bit. My husband and I are enjoying Modern Family. Thanks to our DVR, I'm able to tape the shows and watch them throughout the week so I don't O.D. on shows too quickly.

My favorite newest show is The Good Wife. It's a bit unusual for me, since it is one of the few shows that I have actually watched since the pilot.

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Or, maybe it was the second episode. Either way, it is a show I really like! Each episode covers a legal case and then there are the plot developments that are built throughout the season. They have great actors....I especially enjoy Alan Cummings, Chris Noth and Michael J. Fox. They also feature some up and coming actors....I've loved Mamie Gummer, who is the daughter of Meryl Streep. It's gotten some awards and nominations. My only beef is that it moved to Sunday nights, so lately it's been getting pushed back due to Sunday NFL and if I forget, I don't get all of it taped. : )

And if network TV fails me, there are Sex and the City reruns on the DVR.

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Those reruns are like a good friend you might not see in quite a long time, but with whom you have no problem picking back up.

Lamp update

I recently finished up a redo of my nephew's big boy room. The paint scheme in the room is orange and blues, with an accent color of green. We picked a grass green color and it looks great!

I did a ton of looking around for a lamp that would work. I checked out Target, IKEA, Homegoods.....no luck finding what I was looking for. So, I decided to take the lamp in the room and give it a little makeover.

I started with this....a perfectly good looking lamp base, but a bit vanilla for a kid's room.

I used a can of Valspar spray paint in gloss. The color was Kelly Green.

I took the lamp base to Target and picked up a drum shade that was the right size for the base. It was about $15.

I also bought a spool of matching green ribbon at the craft store for a few bucks.

I attached the ribbon onto the shade and used binder clips to hold it in place before gluing it. I heated up the glue gun and attached the ribbon. The key is.....a little bit goes a long way. If you try this, take your time! Hot glue lends little in the way of redos.

Of course, my little helper did his own version on a piece of paper....

And....the finished product....

There you go....exactly what I had in mind!

May link to these parties....
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show and Share Day at Just a Girl
Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life
Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles
Sunday Shake-up at Jacque's Soda Parlor
Fabulous Friday at Ohh Baby

Easy caramel corn

One of my holiday specialties is making homemade caramels. What's not to love about caramel? It could be one of the best flavors ever in my book. I learned how to make them by a few trial-and-error batches from a recipe I got in the newspaper.
More on that once the holidays arrive....it won't be long! As one of my gardening newsletters recently pointed out, only 88 days until January 1. Eeek!

So, I was overjoyed to find an easy recipe for homemade caramel corn in one of my magazines. With the hands-on time at 20 minutes and the whole recipe taking one hour, it looked good to me.

Easy Caramel Corn

Nonstick cooking spray
3T canola or vegetable oil
1/4c popcorn kernels
6T unsalted butter, cut into piece
1/3c packed light brown sugar
3T light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the popcorn kernels, cover and cook, shaking the saucepan constantly once the kernels begin to pop, until there is a 2-3 second interval between pops, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

In a medium saucepan, combine the butter, sugar and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the mixture bubbles and lightens in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla and salt. Pour over the cooked popcorn and with rubber spatula, toss to coat.

Spread popcorn mixture on the prepared baking sheet and bake, tossing once, until deep amber, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven, toss and let cool on baking sheet. (The popcorn will crisp as it cools)

Makes 6 cups. Will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Enjoy!

I lack project focus

I feel I must make a confession....

I have been struck with a complete and total loss of focus when it comes to crafting and home decor projects. I tried to tally up the number of projects that I have "in the works" right now. This would include one old chair that has been sanded and painted....but the cushion has not been redone yet. So, I have an unfinished chair sitting out. Mind you, no one can sit in it. I also have fabric for two projects ready to go....but have not done them.

Much of this is tied up in frugality. My husband is on leave from his job to take a break from teaching and see if he is happy trying something else. Experimental career is not a paying experimental career yet, so my fundage for craft/home dec/gardening has been curtailed a bit. Bah.

In an effort to rein in my costs, I've tried to put a hold on buying materials for new craft/dec projects until I finish the ones I have started. Good system, right?

I seem to have a problem at times with my lack of focus when it comes to doing tasks around the house or at school. I'll start one thing on my list....then see another that is equally as important....and decide to do that one. Right then and there. That first task? I'll get back to it...and I usually do. Eventually. Why can I not focus on ONE thing at a time???

But I digress. The chair needs just one measly yard of fabric to be finished. So, I guess I should buy it and be done with that project.

Then...I won't buy anything new until I've finished the other projects, too. : )

Anyone feeling me out there?

Bits of fall

Fall has certainly arrived and that hold true in our home...I've been adding some pieces of fall decor here and there.

I posted about my fall porch pots last week. I'm loving the ornamental cabbage, mums and pansies.

We went to the pumpkin farm last weekend and I picked up some indian corn. I tied a few of them around our lamppost with some twine. Props go out to my husband, who picked these out while I corraled the kids through the bakery area for the best apple cider donuts EVER.

I've added a few new fall accents to our mantel as well. The pumpkin is a little rustic/crafty for me (maybe a partial paint job would help?), but it's super fun since it lights up orange on the inside and the kids love it. The sunflowers are from the garden.

Again, I can't seem to get enough of the indian corn this year. I like these displayed in a glass vase and glasses.

These seed heads were cut from my black-eyed susans. I love to cut seed heads from plants for the winter months and these add a nice shape and texture...ornamental grass seed heads are great for this. Stay tuned!

The mantel has a few candles, so here it is with the candles lit.

I installed this light fixture about eighteen months ago. Not only do the love the shape and the style, I really love decorating it for the season. That would include hanging decor for birthday parties. : ) For fall, I added a garland of autumn leaves.

Hope you are enjoying adding some autumn flavor to your surroundings. : )

May link to these parties....
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show and Share Day at Just a Girl
Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life
Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles
Sunday Shake-up at Jacque's Soda Parlor
Fabulous Friday at Ohh Baby

Toasty toes

I decided after last winter--which was fairly snowy--that it was high time I bought myself some proper snow boots. Having small children, I get to go out in the snow while they play. Which is fun sometimes, but not so much fun if your toes are freezing.

To keep my feet dry, I wear my rain boots....since I don't have proper snow boots. My rain boots--though super cute--offer little nothing in the way of warmth for my tootsies.

My dream snow boots look something like this....


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Well....those are not quite in the budget this year.

So, I was really excited to find these in the boot aisle at Target a few weeks ago.

A genius idea! They are thicker socks for inside your rain boots! Eureka. I bought them and tried them on. They look like a big fleecy boot....

And here is what they look like with my rain boots on. Not bad!

Here's to toasty toes and lots of fun with my kiddies outside this winter!

What's in bloom?

Not much going on in the garden right now.....annuals are still going strong. Some perennials--like the hostas, lilies and hibiscus--are throwing in the towel, yellowing up and then turning brown.
So, it makes it nice when a few plants decide to show off this late in the game.

First up, my new mums. I planted these last fall and they are called 'Mammoth Mums.' I have to say...they have certainly lived up to their name. I planted one plant and it's easily 2-3 feet across. There are loads of blooms! They were bred in Minnesota and are considered a "perennial" mum....garden mums have been taken off the perennial list since they don't reliably rebloom.

I added a new herb to my herb garden this summer....pineapple sage. It is getting huge and has a really pleasing pineapple smell. Really fun for fruit salad. I was shocked to see bright red booms emerging in the last few weeks! I did read in Better Homes and Gardens recently that it is a late bloomer.

It's certainly been lifting my spirits these days as some of the other garden plants are fading.

Hope you are having a great week!

Linking to...
Flaunt Your Flowers at Tootsie Time

In {her} shoes....guest posting at Crayon Freckles

Here's to another week....let's hope it's a good one!

Today, I am guest posting over at Crayon Freckles. I love Andie's blog...it's great to connect with other moms in the blog world! She posts about mom adventures and house projects, as well as hosting a link party on Tuesdays, Tip Toe Thru Tuesday. She has a series every Monday called In {her} shoes, where she features a mom and her take on motherhood.

I was so honored to be asked to guest post! You can check it out here...


I hope you enjoy a little stroll in my shoes. : )

Big boy room reveal

Have you ever had one of those home projects that takes a long time to complete? Yeah, I just crossed one of those of the list.

But....I'm beyond excited about it!

I just finished up the redo of my nephew's bedroom. We started on it in the spring and now it's all done! Between my two kids, my awesome sister's two kids, my job and our busy schedules, we managed to get it done in six months. : )

It was worth it!

Here are a few before pictures....

It was a nice, roomy space. The bed needed to stay in the same spot and all of the furniture, window treatments and artwork (love the artwork!!) stayed as well.

And....the after.....

I am over the moon about how it all turned out and most importantly, my sweet little nephew is, too! I'll post about some of the details next week!

May link to these parties....
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show and Share Day at Just a Girl
Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life
Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles
Sunday Shake-up at Jacque's Soda Parlor
Fabulous Friday at Ohh Baby

Article at Addicted2Decorating

Hello, friends.....I hope everyone is having a great week. It has been a long one here! I will be so excited to see Friday evening arrive. : ) We are having a beautiful stretch of weather here in southwestern Ohio and it looks to be sticking until mid-next week. Nothing like upper 70s and sunny!

I had some great news today and I am so excited about it! I've followed a blog called Addicted2Decorating for a while now and I love Kristi's posts, projects and pictures. She also hosts a weekly link party entitled "Addicts (not so) Anonymous"....the title makes me giggle each week!

Lately, she has been publishing articles from contributors and her latest feature is by yours truly!! Here is the link...click here!

Happy weekend....: )

Fall porch pots

The end of the summer is a bittersweet time....and not just for the garden-hearted. I know I'm sad to see summer go, but I always enjoy autumn so much! The landscape takes on a whole new look....the colors and seed heads on ornamental grasses. Plus, it's the garden's last gasp before the deadness of winter. I tell you, pretty Christmas deco/lights gets me through to the new year and then it's depresso-time.

I gave the pots on my front step a little fall face-lift this week. I started with this..... I had pulled out the summer annuals that had petered out. 

The reddish leafy plant is left over from the summer planting. I bought the ornamental peppers and put them in there, but I was not loving how the reds didn't complement. So, I decided to move the peppers into their own pot. I've had the dark purple ornamental peppers, but this is my first time with the colored ones and I like them!

I was left with the red leafy plant all by itself.

I purchased a huge pot of ornamental cabbage at the grocery store...three plants for $12.99. Good deal! I also picked up some small mums and some pansies.

I cannot wait to see it all once it grows in and blooms. The mums are yellow and the pansies are red and yellow. The cabbage will turn white in the center as it cools. I'm hoping I can keep the cabbages and work them into a Christmas arrangement with greenery and pine boughs. I found some small white pumpkins at a roadside produce stand and I'm hoping they will pick up the white that will come into the middle of the cabbages.

Each year, the pansies get prettier and prettier with the colors and varieties that come out.

Each year, I do try to choose the complementary foliage plants in my pots to be something that will transition into fall. Although these red ones were not my favorite, they turned out all right. Next year, I'm thinking dark maroons, burgundy, hot pink and lime green for the summer. There were some hot black pansies out this fall that would look great with pink mums.  Maybe those dark ornamental peppers!

Put together with my fall wreath, we are ready to bring on fall!

May link to these parties....
Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Show and Share Day at Just a Girl
Simply Creations Link Party at Simple Home Life
Addicts (not so) Anonymous Addicted to Decorating
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
Project Parade at The DIY Showoff
Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
Tip-Toe Thru Tuesday at Crayon Freckles
Sunday Shake-up at Jacque's Soda Parlor
Fabulous Friday at Ohh Baby