Spring is here!

The weather has been great in North Carolina. So great, in fact, that we decided to purchase a patio set and grill!

This is our first summer in the new house, so the patio set was a big decision. I had in mind something very specific: aluminum, neutral, stylish, no glass top, and seating for 6 while fitting on our patio. But everything that fit my requirements in appearance didn't fit our budget requirement. One way or another, something would have to be sacrificed; I wouldn't be able to have it all.

I looked at several patio sets on my own before Chad and I went to Home Depot. He spotted a Martha Stewart patio set that he said would be perfect. It fit the budget, was neutral, and had seating for 6. The best part was the shape. We loved the hexagon for our patio. The only drawbacks were a glass top and it was made of steel instead of aluminum.

Two weeks went by before we made a decision. And we decided to go for it. We also got a new Weber grill. Now we can enjoy our backyard for our first summer in the house!

 

 

This cookie jar is a hoot!

I spotted this cookie/cracker jar at Anthropologie:

I love it's vintage, kitschy appearance. It reminds me of sweet grandmothers. And the colors would go perfectly in our kitchen!

And though I have no need or use for them, I also love the colors of these Anthropologie bowls:

Speaking of the dining room...

I haven't yet posted pictures of those West Elm plates I was contemplating.

Shortly after that blog post, I ordered the plates. They were perfect!

I decided against hanging the plates on the wall, and put them on the existing black shelves instead. My mom also found some great white vases at a local store. The cut-out detail reminds me of tree branches.

One of these days, we will paint those shelves the same red as the wall. Until then, we're pretty happy with the way the dining room is turning out!

Questions

I like this table runner from Williams-Sonoma:

But will it go with my dining room?

Is the runner white or ivory?

Would it be too much red? 

Christmas recap

Christmas is over, and it's time to pack everything up. But first, I have to mention some Christmas items that really made me smile.

Each year when we decorate for Christmas, I come across these Mr. and Mrs. Claus candle holders in my tote. I always place them on the window sill above the kitchen sink.

My mom tells me that they came from Hallmark. They've been around as long as I can remember. In fact, I was certain I remembered them being on top of the old TV set along with other Christmas decor. I found a picture, but as you can see, they aren't there...

Either way, I absolutely love the Mr. and Mrs. Claus candle holders. I always forget about them, so they make me happy every time I pull them out of the tote. This year, while decorating for Christmas for the first time in our new home, I started thinking about other ornaments and decor from my childhood.

We traveled "home" for Christmas this year, and I found a box of ornaments my mom had made when I was a kid. She is an artist, woodworker and seamstress, and had hand-crafted all of these beautiful ornaments. Here are just a few:

I took the chance to bring them back with me, and I'll be excited to add them to our tree next year!

Even though I now have a box of handmade classic wood and fabric ornaments from my childhood, I want to keep shiny glass bulbs as well. The bulbs I've been using are rose, ivory, and gold (they were hand-me-downs), and I want to update them to match the colors of our current living room.

So while I was at Target today, I noticed that not only did they have 75% off holiday items, but that they also had an aisle of glass bulbs left! I picked up 4 boxes of bulbs for just $6. I used a Target gift card that I got as a Christmas gift, and I ended up with them for free.

I'd like to find some new red and white bulbs as well. Maybe I can find more while everything is on sale!

Making Christmas, making Christmas

This is our first Christmas in our new house. And we noticed that immediately following Thanksgiving, all the neighbors had their Christmas lights up and on. We weren't even sure that we were going to put up the tree at all, since we'll be traveling to see family. But low and behold, I came home from work one day to find that Chad dragged in the tree and 2 totes of Christmas decorations.

He put the tree up and followed with a tradition: putting the first ornament on the tree (which is actually 2 ornaments that he hooks together on the same branch). This has been an odd tradition that he started when we first got our tree in 2002.

 

Now that we have a house, I can't wait to get new ornaments for this tree. The current ornaments are rose, white and gold, and were hand-me-downs from my mom. They've served their purpose for many years, but I'd love to do something different. Maybe next year...

Next came a wreath for the front door, which I embellished with a handmade bow and ornaments (ribbon and ornaments from Michaels).

This looked so great on the front door, that we decided to do the same with some garland. (Jayda helped add the bulbs.)

 With an extra string of garland in the tote, I decorated the banister as well. (These polka-dot and striped ornaments are from Hallmark.)

Last, but not least, I had to do a little something in the dining room. (Pottery Barn trees and bulbs. Home Goods wreath.)

Living [room] with furniture

It has been far too long since I've blogged. We had been waiting on our furniture order from Bassett -- the 6-8 weeks that we were promised turned into 10+ weeks, and were beginning to think we wouldn't receive our furniture!

I first posted about our living room inspiration here. And now the furniture is finally here! A sectional, accent chair, storage ottoman, sofa table, pedestal table and media credenza.

 

Don't mind the stuff on the mantle. That was there temporarily, but is being replaced. We haven't found the perfect main piece to go above the mantle yet, but we'll find something!

We just finished decorating for our first Christmas in this house, so photos will be coming soon!