Spring Mantel!

It is officially spring here! The unusually warm weather has been awesome. It feels so good to walk outside without a coat and take long walks after supper. I love the Magnolia trees blooming and my cute, little daffodils. It's been hard to do anything inside because you just want to absorb every minute of the beautiful weather. I did manage to get a little spring decorating in.

I found this quote by Robin Williams, it just seemed so appropriate for spring!  

I have really been into aqua and green here lately. I am also a little obsessed with Ball jars. This one was my grandmother's and I love being able to display it.

We received the,green, ceramic pitcher as a wedding present. It was one of my favorite gifts and always reminds me of that day. The white pitcher was a Goodwill find (gotta love those).

And here is the finished mantel. It's simple, but makes me happy!

I am linking to the following parties: 

Goodwill Hunting

I woke up early this morning and headed to our local Goodwill for their 50% off sale. I must say I found some really cute decor items and  I found several tops, shorts and capris for my little girl. It's amazing the name brands that you can get for next to nothing. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment! I didn't include pictures of all of the clothes. And if you have never been to a Goodwill store on 50% off day you are missing out.

This little pitcher was $.25 after the 50% discount. I pictured a little plant in it or spring flower!

This is a small jelly jar (it is very itty bitty)! It was 50% off of $.25 and I actually got two of them.

Candle sticks ranging from $1.00 to $2.00! Have you seen the cute, little cake stands made from candle sticks. I am thinking about painting these and turning them into cake stands. 

I paid $1.25 for this tray! Isn't it gorgeous, I am not sure if I am going to paint it or leave it as?!?! 

Ok, this next find was one of my favorites! My little girl isn't quite old enough for this little grocery cart but I couldn't resist. I always see these metal carts ranging from $20 to $50. I got this cart for $2.00. I literally squealed when I saw this cutey. There is also a seat for her dolly to sit in.

I got his pillow for $1.00. I think I am going to use it for my out door furniture this summer. I liked the stripes! 

This pillow was also a $1.00, I just need to make a cover for it. It is way cheaper than going out an buying brand new pillows. 

So, there you have it! I hoped you enjoyed my Goodwill finds as much as I did. 

I am linking to the following blogs:

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

I am trying to get back into my blog and regular posts.  I have learned that if I want to have time to blog than my perfectionism is going to have to take a back seat. I try to always write the perfect post and have the perfectly edited pictures. I barely had enough time to do that before I had a baby and now I have even less time. I decided that I am just going to write my post and not re-read it over and over again. I blog to share my love for crafts and decor, I never claimed to be a journalist or photographer.  I can't remember the last project that I did and shared it with my bloggy friends and I am so proud that I am able to finally have a little project to post about.

You all know how much I love to decorate with silverware.  I found this idea on Pinterest for a fork easel.  These little guys were so easy to make and the possibilities for how they can be used are endless.  Here are some picture of some that I made. Basically, all you need are some good pliers and a towel to put over the metal when you bend the fork. 

You can dress up the fork with a ribbon and a charm.  I am going to give some of these easels away and put a picture of my little one in it. I love the one above my kitchen sink to put my rings on. I have found that the smaller forks are easier to bend. I also try to look for forks with a lot of character.  You can find old forks at just about any thrift store, I also found that The Dollar Tree has forks with a decorative handles. I personally like the old, vintage forks.


I am linking to:

The Shabby Creek Cottage
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/

House of Hepworths
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/

Coastal Charm
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2012/02/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no101.html

Guest Post: Warming Up a Large Space with Decor

I apologize about lack of blogging. I know you all understand how being a mom, working a full-time job and taking care of your home doesn't leave much time for blogging.  I really want to be better at keeping up with my posts.

To start off the New Year, I have the pleasure of introducing you to a guest post by Christina Johnson. She offers some very good tips to warming up your space. WE all have those rooms that we never know what to do with. I think you will find her suggestions very helpful. 

 Warm Up a Large Space with Décor

Article submitted by Christina Johnson

If you are a homeowner and are looking to add some warmth and charm to a large,cold room you are in luck. There are many design ideas that you can choose from that will take that once wide-open and uninviting space and transform it into a room that everyone will want to spend time in.

There are several ways to begin these types of projects, but the first and most important step is to take a moment and decide what you really want to accomplish. Will this room be the focal point of your home going forward? If so, you may want to consult with your family members before hand. You should also consider what you would like to use the room for; a large living room can be broken up into an entertainment area with your TV and media and another space can be for a workspace or library.

For example, if the room has windows on all sides, consider the windows as your focal point to begin dividing your space. You can place a couple of chairs and a table with a lamp in one area for those who like to read and place a computer desk and light fixture near another window to encourage use.

Characterize your spaces with unique touches like throw rugs, dividers or even the room’s own special design features. Beware of the size of your rugs if you choose to divide your room this way. They should be a minimum of 1/3 the size of the space. You don’t have to perfectly match each rug in the room but they do need to stand out as dividers of the space and be unique to each. Furniture when arranged in different seating areas will also create dividers.

Keep continuity in your wall color. If you apply different wall colors for each space, it will start to look cheesy and tacky. Remember, while you want your spaces to be different, you can achieve this task by incorporating pieces of artwork and furniture. Your wall color should be as neutral as possible and maybe a bit darker. Colors like chocolate, olive green and navy blue work well because when you apply dark colors to the walls, the room appears smaller.

Since you have such a large space, feel free to use large scaled pieces of furniture like a large sectional sofa to have for watching TV or an overstuffed chair that is perfect for curling up to read. If you use large pieces of furniture, try to stay clear of bright colors and patterns. Instead, opt for neutral colored furniture that matches your wall colors. You don't have to match the colors, but try to stay in the same family. You can then use your accessories like rugs, throw pillows and artwork to bring splashes of colors throughout the room and in each space.

Remain focused on the overall look of the entire room and don't focus on any one area. You should avoid any spaces that can be considered ‘wasted or empty’. The object of this project is to present a fully-functioning room with different spaces. For continuity, place a small stool or planter in any areas that look ‘empty’.

Select more textured pieces to accentuate your room rather than plain covered fabrics. Aim for rugs that are more plush and perhaps patterned as opposed to smooth and boring. This includes your wall coverings as well. You can easily distinguish one area of the room from another by simply adding a large framed picture on one wall to define the space and smaller framed pictures on an opposite wall to add depth.

Christina Johnson who works remotely for Elliman Prudential in the New York City Apartments and  Rentals market. She is using her journalism major to combine what she loves most, writing and her career. Her specialties include home decor design and DIY home improvement projects.