OUR CHRISTMAS LIVING ROOM

Well here we are a few days after Christmas already!  I have been so busy this Holiday Season, I found no time to do my Christmas post!  So I thought I would share our Christmas living room, now that we are all probably worn out by all the Christmas posts! haha

 

I sewed these cute plaid pillow covers.. I used material from a table cloth I found at Marshall's.

 For anyone that really knows me, it might come as a shock to see a buck hanging above my mantel.  But this year, I wanted to create a cozy chateau look and feel.  My husband thought I was teasing him when I asked him to bring the deer in from the garage.  Let's just say he was more than thrilled when he realized I wasn't! ;)  Our furry friend who joined us for Christmas this year is named "Steven".  My hubby named him years ago and our kids think his name is the funniest thing ever!  I simply draped him with one of my red scarves to give him that Christmas spirit.

 

 

I used vintage finds on the shelves.  An old lantern, cast iron fan, vintage metal buckets.. old books.. 

 I found this really neat candelabra at a thrift store!  I thought it looked very French Chateau. 

 I love this red and white plaid throw.  It's actually a blanket scarf from Old Navy!  I guess those can be very versatile ;) 

I also kept the deer silhouette pillow I made out for Christmas as it went perfectly with the theme.

This year our Christmas Tree displayed all of our family ornaments.  It's always so special every year to hang all the sweet handmade ornaments that the kids have made.  My husband and I have our own ornaments from childhood as well and I love to put those up.  Our theme this year was The Family Tree.  I layered in a pretty red and white plaid ribbon to give it that cozy country cabin look.

 

This year, my mother in law bought each of our girls their own Christmas Tree for their room.  My youngest daughter, Olivia, chose a really beautiful white one.. We had fun decorating them.

 My oldest daughter, Isabella, Chose this sparkly green one.  The trees added a bit of Christmas magic to their room this year.  I know it will be a great new tradition to get them out each year and decorate them.

Well, that's it for our Christmas decor this year.  I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas holiday with your families and all have an amazing New Year!  

xo Jen

Our Thanksgiving Table & a Piece of My Heart

I set the table the night before Thanksgiving, trying to get a head start on everything.  Hosting three years in a row now, I try to simplify each year.  However, I never can seem to do that.  Do any of you have this problem?  

I struggle with perfectionism, and hosting Holiday events is when I really see my issue exposed.  I want everything to be perfect, everyone to have the BEST time, and take an amazing experience with them as they leave my home.  

Funny thing is.. nothing ever goes as expected. {according to my expectations} I made some cute little "I'm Thankful For" sheets that everyone was supposed to fill out.. I had intended to read some scripture as well, all relating to Gratitude and Thankfulness.  But we read no scripture, and nothing was filled out.  Did this wreck the evening?  Was Thanksgiving a total bomb?  Haha, no, it was not!  It just didn't go according to plan.  I do think it would have been lovely to go around the table and express what we were thankful for.  But we all had a great Thanksgiving, and everyone got along great.

Do any of you who blog struggle with wanting everything, all the time, to be gorgeous and pin-worthy picture perfect?  Well, I do.  And sometimes I feel like it robs the moment.  Not that there is anything wrong with being creative and loving to see and share beautiful things.  It's all about perspective for me.  It's something I'm working on within myself.  

This year, I am thankful.  I'm thankful for a family who shows me unconditional love and patience.  A family who brings me laughter and joy.  I'm thankful that I'm learning about myself and though change can be hard and takes a lot of work, it's worth it.  

I truly hope you all had a lovely time celebrating Thanksgiving with your families and friends.  We are all blessed.

"give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

xo Jen

DIY Farmhouse Inspired, Burlap and Zinc-Finished Lamps

 

A couple weeks ago, I shared my Living Room Makeover Reveal from the One Room Challenge, and I promised a DIY tutorial on my new lamps!  You can catch that post here!

Today I'm sharing my tutorial on how I gave these dated thrift store lamps a complete transformation.  As you can see, I started with white ceramic and brass lamps.  I picked these lamps up for $5.00 each!  

  

First I taped off the switch, and the top part where the light bulb screws in.  I also wrapped tape around the cord at the bottom to keep paint from spraying on it.

 I gave each lamp a couple coats of spray paint using Rust-oleum Flat Antique Nickle. (You will want to do this outside, or in a place where its safe for a little over-spray. Not in the house!!)

Next, I watered down some white paint I had on hand.  The consistency should be fairly liquidy after adding water and stirring.  Using a paint brush, I covered the whole thing with the watered down paint.  I then switched to a clean, dry paint brush and started making my way around the lamp, horizontally, making sure to dab excess paint off as I went.  This is what gives you the streaky look.  The paint seems to dry pretty quickly, so I then just used my dry brush to go up and down and side to side to give it a neat blotchy texture.. You'll just have to play with it at this point to get the look you're after.

After I finished the painting of the lamps, I wrapped the bases using jute rope and a hot glue gun.  I wanted a farmhouse, and kind of beachy look as well, so I feel like the rope gives me that look.  Plus it ties in well with the burlap shades I picked up at Hobby Lobby!

So there you go!  I hope you get to try this out on a cool thrift store lamp or two!  With shades and all, I made these lamps for only $22.00 a piece!  I was able to create one of a kind lamps and have fun doing it.  

As always, thank you for stopping by and I hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

xo Jen

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

We had our Holiday kick off party at Enchanting Objects this weekend!  Nothing gets me more in the mood for the holidays then decorating, and SNOW!  We had record hitting snow this weekend.  About 10 inches on Thursday and Friday.  I don't like driving in it, but I LOVE to look at it.  It's gorgeous.  Makes me want to cozy up with my babies and watch a movie.  I snapped some pictures of my shop this weekend.

So there is my light holiday decorating.. I still have some fall stuff up.. but it's cozy, and definitely puts me in the cheerful mood!  And ready to start shopping for gifts!

Well, have a GREAT week everyone!

xo Jen

Living Room Reveal!! - One Room Challenge

My, oh my, oh my...  Okay, from now on... when I say check back tomorrow for my post, just come back a week later! ha!  It seems I have made a habit of this.  Problem with promising something a day later, is that I have no idea what tomorrow brings.  Unfortunately my tomorrows brought dark days, and when the sun was finally out and pouring into my living room, I was stuck away from home. So, here we are, a week later!  Thank you for your grace everyone!! :)  Moving onto the REVEAL!

If you'd like to see the process from start to finish, you can catch all the posts below.

WEEK 1   WEEK 2   WEEK 3    WEEK 5

Here's a little refresher on what we started with.

And here is what we ended up with!!!

 I did a pretty simple mantle scape this year.  I left some of the summer items up, and then incorporated the fall wreath, and porcelain pears.  

 The living room is so cozy and inviting now.  And definitely reflects my taste for style.

I'm in love with the horizontal planking we did.  It adds so much charm to the room.

And the wall that our large sofa is on is totally different now!  I built two matching farmhouse end tables to go on each side.  I will post a tutorial on these soon :) 

 I also diy'd some thrift store lamps to go on each table.  I was ready and prepared to just buy a couple new ones and spend the $150.00, but I saw these two sitting in my garage and thought, well, may as well try to be frugal where I can!!  I honestly love how they turned out.  They keep the room casual, yet elegant? 

I'm a little disappointed that my table top isn't just a touch wider.  My favorite birdcage BARELY fits!  I tried to place it in other places around the room, and it ended up back here.  I can live with it being a touch crowded. haha

I didn't have to purchase too much to accessorize this space.. Most everything I already had on hand.  The wire and metal basket on top of this shelf was new from Tai Pan.  Love that store!

I hand made the Floral Pillow Covers you see on the sofa and chair.  There are more available in my Etsy Shop!  As well as the Deer Silhouette Pillow Cover!

I used cut limbs from my own trees for the foliage in the basket, on the shelves and in the concrete pitcher.  The colors were perfect and I love the texture it brings to the space.

I didn't end up adding anything to this wall.  I just simply changed out the decor inside the birdcage.  Once the shelves were completed and staged, I realized it may be too busy to do much on this wall.

I love using architectural pieces in my decor.. Old corbels, chipped up leg posts, crates, etc.  Anything with a vintage worn look.

So there she is!  Glistening in her glory! ;)  My husband and I seriously walk in and out of this room for no reason other than to just take it all in. lol  He actually didn't even care to do anything to this room, but rolled with it to make me happy and ended up being pretty pleased himself.  Love it when that happens!

There are still a few things we need to do in here.. Like put a fresh coat of paint on the fireplace stove, and then put up a new fire screen.  Put a fresh coat of paint on the walls.  Maybe a new rug?  It would be a jute rug if I decide to put one in here.  I also didn't find the time to complete the entry way.  But the one room challenge is only "one room" right?  So oh well.. I'll get to it soon enough!  Thank you so much to Linda over at Calling it Home for hosting this challenge and encouraging all of us weekly!  We are grateful!  And thank you to all who have followed along with me and left me encouraging comments and support!  We all love and need that :)  Until next time, take care and enjoy your week! 

xo Jen

Linking up at:
Imparting Grace 
Miss Mustard Seed 
French Country Cottage 
Chic on a Shoestring Decorating