Make a Shooting Star out of Christmas Lights

Yes, I am aware that Christmas is over. But, I made this shooting star for outside, and we love it. In fact, we love it so much, we are going to move it over our hot tub. Our tub is between two trees, and it can be a little dark out there in the evenings. So the hubs had the great idea of stringing it between 2 trees. Can't wait.

I even think I might pick up some more stars at Party City.

Star is from Party City, and wrapped with lights. There are 4 strands of lights that plug in to make the tail. The star is about 20" and the tails are about 17' long. It is really bright.

New Year's Top under $10

Found this amazing gold top at the Chico's Outlet, for under $10. I am ready for 2011, bring on the New Year. I love it so much, I may have to wear it for Valentine's Day.

Art - Hanging - Displaying

I love all art. All styles, all kinds. Always have. These vintage Jean Jansen Lithographs, were my husbands. They were done in 1968, and framed in the 1970's. Instead of hanging them horizontally, I hung them vertically for impact. The frames, are old, beat up, and falling apart. But that is part of their charm.

Tutu art. Enough said. Love it!!
Don't remember where this pic is from.

Graphic walls. Still make a great statement and truly love them. Again, sorry, not sure where this picture is from.

Chico's Outlet - Asymetrical Gold Sparkle Top

Loving this Chico's Additions Top I got at the outlet for less than $10. I have been wearing it almost non-stop.

Down with a belt and letting the asymetrical front show.

Love the hint of sparkle.

Or I can wear it tied up in the front. So comfy. Love it.

DIY Recovering Side Chair Damask Fabric

This is one of the office type spaces in my house. It is a left over room, after my daughter went to college. The desk is simply MDF covered in pleather, stacked on a file cabinet, with painted black legs that I got at Home Depot. The pattern from the pillows and idea board, were my daughters. She left them, and I decided to use them. The great photo is hers too.

Anyway, I had this ugly old desk chair, that we were using. It is in that weird paint that you can't sand off and paint over, or it will chip. So I decided to leave it. But hated it. So a quick trip to the fabric store, and a staple gun, and it is useable for now.

Before. Ugly.

After, much better. I simply found some similar fabric on sale for $2.50 per yard, bought one yard, and a remnant of that grean foam, and staple gunned my way to a new chair.

Projects, fun easy, and it makes me smile when I go in this room to work out. Or sit at the desk.

Jennifer Aniston Style

Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd are filming a new movie titled "Wanderlust", where they ditch it all and go live on a commune. This is a before they ditch shot.

I love the asymetrical jacket it is called the "Wayne". I love it. Now, to find the look in my budget.

Oh, and can't wait for the movie. Adore both actors.

Getting my fashion back!! Loving Chico's!!

Okay, so being a Mom isn't always that fashionable. I am sure I have embarassed my now College Student, more than once with my clothes choices over the years. Well, getting my mojo back so to speak.

Found this wonderful gray and silver glitter sweater at the Chico's outlet for under $20. Love it and love the bit of sparkle, perfect for working around the house, running errands, or a quick Holiday dinner.

Loving the belt I found at Goodwill for $4.99. Always looking for something great to sell online, at Goodwill, but this one, I kept.

Closer look, don't you love the hint of sparkle in this sweater. Oh, and it is super long too.

Ignore the chairs I am recovering in the background. They are still holding fabric swatches.

Fun outfit for running errands, searching for treasures to sell or whatever.

Jeans, Forever 21, $25.50, flats, Target, 12.50.

So, what are you bargin hunting? Are you getting back into fashion, or is it a passion? It was with me for years, and now it is again. Loving it.

Black Doors

I love these black doors. Do I dare paint the insides of my doors? Comtemplating.

Department 56 Christmas Houses

I have tons of Department 56 Christmas Houses. I decided this year to only put out the truly favorites, in small vignettes. This left at least 20 in the garage. Oops. I need to stop collecting.

This group is on my main desk in the family room. The cute green row house I carried all over San Francisco pregnant. If you are reading this Lauren, yep, pregnant with you.

I like to light them with colored lights. I prefer the glow. This one was given to me by my stepmother when I was still in college. I still remember how they had it hidden lit under the tree with a pillow, and my Yorkie Sandor, pulled off the pillow. It's a favorite.

No coincidence that these are on my wine/liquor cabinet. A brew house and wine cellar.

On my front room desk.

In my daughter's old room. The Emporium changes colors. These are for her to start her collection.

Happy Thanksgiving. Candle in wine bottle!!

Remember the old candle in the wine bottle? Well I am starting one for this fall. I do have to admit, it has been a bit hard to find the drippy candles, as most are non drip. But, have found a few.

Happy Thanksgiving.

My turkey, in a bag in the oven. Yum.

Wow, great for watching Football

Could you imagine watching Football after your Thanksgiving meal on this? How about the fireplace, (I am sure it is gas), underneath? Wow, is all I can say. So where will you be watching your football, or your big black box? Enjoy.

I am sorry, I don't know where this picture is from. But, it is amazing.

Old Doors On Homes

I love old doors. I love the look of these on this house. They look like metal that has a great patina. I just want to touch them. Love this look.

Sorry, I don't know where this picture is from.

Wine Liquor Armoire Out of Old TV Cabinet DIY

Here's the before of our old TV cabinet. It was a catch all for everything. I decided to make it into a Liquor Cabinet. I sourced some Free, love Free, wine boxes from Trader Joe's, and then went to filling it up. Simple, fun easy. I also installed some tap lights under the wine glasses, (the old cable/vcr holder). It is perfect and we love it. Best of all we can close the doors and no one knows what is behind it. What are you waiting for?

After.

After.

Love the Free, Trader Joe's wine boxes.

Make one for yourself. Use an old night stand, dresser, or TV cabinet.

Controlling Cord Clutter

I hate looking at cord clutter. Don't you? Well on my desk I have 2 laptops, and a monitor. All of which create clutter. So, when digging thru my garage I found this old apple crate, and decided to use it to control my clutter. I love it. Best part, FREE. Yay.

Homemade Individual Chicken Pot Pies

I am so not a cook. However, I do make a mean pot pie. Simple really. Just poach some chicken or use leftovers, add 1 can undiluted Cream of Chicken Soup, and 1/2 bag of mixed veggies, (frozen). Then pop in a small crock, and put some pie crust on top and bake until golden brown. Yum, and you can control the carbs and calories. Oh, and the yummy tomato and mozzarella salad with basil and balsamic vinaigrette is a great accompaniment.

Even more fun, the crock is from the Dollar Store, as is the Square Plate.

Wine Riddling Rack

The hubs and I are doing a wine room. Right now it is just a large space with halfway taped and textured walls in the garage. Ok, we need to get working on it, but he has been making both a red and white wine, and well, we just haven't felt like working on it. I was surfing over at Purestylehome.blogspot.com, and saw this great picture from Elle Decor, and it has spurred me on. I love, want, must have a riddling rack. Look how great it looks in this dining room. Must have one. Now, to find one in budget, or to try and make? Hmmmm.

Costco Lights

When cruising Costco and sampling food you would never buy, (you know you do it). The hubs and I ran across these lights for under $35. Had to have them. He put them up in record time. They look amazing, in our 1947 house, with our gray/green cabinets and wall. The cabinets look white in the pic, but are really gray/green.



The before lights, he got them down too fast for a pic.

Lighted Halloween Houses

I collect lighted houses. Both Halloween, and Christmas. I put my lighted houses down the middle of my farm table. Makes eating fun for the month. What do you collect?

"Garbage Can Nachos"

Nachos and Red Wine. So before our Sunday Night Mad Men, the Hubs and I decided to have Nachos and Wine. Nachos are a favorite food of mine, and he indulges me once in awhile.

So he calls them "Garbage Can Nachos". Truthfully, we had homemade pinto beans, that we heated and smashed, homemade guacamole, and fresh cilantro, green chilies, jalapenos, and grilled a steak for the top, rare for him, done for me. It was yummy. What is a favorite food that you love to cook?

Re-doing a Home Office -- Concrete Desk

We started with rearranging the furniture, but left the desk as this room is a strange small size. It is 6' wide by 8' long. So not alot of options. Also, I should open the window, but the desk looks out onto 3/4 of an acre and has a beautiful view.

This is the room without the flash. The curtains aren't as bright as they seem in the above picture, they really are a nice neutral gray.

There is a bathroom off the office that you can see on the left. We moved the antique armoire, and the shelves.

I have not shown the behind view, where the armoire came from, as we stacked all the accessories there. Now for that brown chair. Hmm, do I recover it? Buy a black one? I would prefer he have a more regular type chair, however, he likes the rolling kind, and he is the one that sits at the desk for hours at a time. So, any suggestions? Help.