The Great Search

I am in search of a new duvet cover for my bed. I am ready for a change. Right now... I have a light blue one, similar to this... (my sheets are a gold color, tho)

I really want a "patterned" one this time. I went to Pottery Barn's site because I love their stuff! It is my "style". I wasn't sure that I could afford a duvet cover from Pottery Barn, but I figured that I would look anyway! **Smile**

I was surprised to find that they don't even have "comforters". They only have "duvet covers" or "coverlets".

I was also surprised to find one that I liked a lot and was also ON SALE!!!

Isn't it pretty??? The website listed it for $99, which included the duvet cover and two shams!! A GREAT BARGAIN!! ..... Right??

Well.... when I went to order it, the page came up with a message that said.... "This product will not be available for deliver until after August 18th." -- WHAT???? I didn't understand this, so I called Pottery Barn and spoke to a representative. She said that this product was currently out of stock and that it would not be available until the August date. And...... they were already sold out of the ones that were ordered for August! Needless to say, I was quite disappointed!

So... the search began for a different duvet cover. Pottery Barn has other ones, but none that I liked as much as this one. The colors in this one are perfect for my house!

I have searched the internet and the stores, here in town and can not find anything THIS pretty and THIS reasonable! First of all... Duvet covers are VERY hard to find! And if I DO find them... they are either very plain (like the one that I have now) or they are very "contemporary" or are colors that won't work for me.

I did find these two options while searching the internet....

I found this first one on the Ralph Lauren website. This is the "Catalina Island" collection. I like the blue and white. I could add some green and red, easily.

This one is also Ralph Lauren. It is the "Lake House Herringbone" collection. Not as much blue with this one, but I like how they paired it with the red.

The problem with these two (above) is that they are a good bit higher in price than the one at Pottery Barn! I believe that Macy's sells Ralph Lauren. My plan is to see if they do, and then keep a watch out for them to go on sale!

Anyway.... this is just a "smidgen" of what I have been up to lately!!

The Bunnies

Easter is approaching and I am beginning to think about my Easter Tablescape.

One of my objectives during my Spring Break Week... which is this week.... was to get up in my attic and do some organizing and to also find my Easter decorations! I did find my Easter box, and I did do some organizing... but, there is still a LOT left to do! But... that is going to have to wait until another day. I'm pooped!

I thought I would give you a "sneak peak" at my collection of Easter goodies! Of course... these are of the "Bunny" kind. **Smile**

Here are "some" of the pieces in my collection as they made their way out of the box.

Still more in the box, waiting to come out!

My poor Easter Tree is looking a little sad.

I put the tiny ornaments on my tree and it looks a lot better! The rest of my little bunny & egg friends are just waiting to be placed! (I just put everything on my table, for now.) I need to look for some fun pastel colored plates and maybe a pretty table cloth! Hmm.... sounds like a trip to Hobby Lobby & Target might be in my future!

Update On My Living Room

If you follow my blog, you will remembrer that I have been in the process of redecorating my living room. You can view previous posts about it here and here.

I DID buy that beautiful fabric! I bought enough to make two 18x18 pillows. I went later and bought trim to for the pillows, as well. But... when I got home and measured, I realized that the girl at the store only cut enough for ONE pillow! I told her two, but I guess she didn't hear me. So... I will have to go back for more next week.

And... Yes, David DID paint the walls. Here are some photos of the "Before" & "After, so far:

"Before the new couch"

"After" the new couch, but "before" the new paint and the new slipcover on the blue chair.

Another "Before" photo of the blue chair and the old walls.

"After" with the new couch, new slipcover on chair and new paint.

Another look at the "After"

You will notice that I don't have anything on the walls yet. "Before", I had a grapevine wreath over the entertainment center. I liked the "look" of it, but I was never able to dust it and David hated it! So... it went bye-bye. I am in no way a decorator (haahaa!! Betcha' couldn't have guessed that!), but I think there needs to be something to go on this tall wall. I just don't know what! Maybe a big clock??? I don't have a clue! Any suggestions would be appreciated! **Smile**

I also need something on the wall above the chair. I'm just not sure what. Ashley suggested that I get a tall lamp to go behind it. I'm just not sure yet.

What do you think of the slipcover?? I am not totally sold on it, but I like it better than the navy blue. This eliminates that color from the room and this color seems to look better because it is "neutral".

I also still need something on this wall. Ashley is going to paint us a landscape!! I CAN NOT WAIT for it to be done!!! The problem is that she is SOOOO busy with school, I don't know when she will have the time. We have the canvas, ready to go!

Check out this wonderful pillow that I found at Ross for $7.00! The fabric is FLEECE, so it is SO soft!! I love the ruffles, too!

Here is a piece of my pillow fabric, ready to be assembled!

Here is what the pillows will look like all-together. Sorry about the blurry photo ! I really need to learn to wear my glasses when I take pictures, because MANY of them are starting to be blurry!

Here is the start of my pillow-sewing project! Wish me luck! I am not the best at it! I may end up regretting taking this project on! Of course, I have to go and get more trim since I ended up with not enough!

Early Start to an Eventful Day

I was awoken by Chester at 3:15 this morning, needing to go out and potty. Hopefully, this isn't a new trend that he is starting!! Then, my RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) decided to "kick" in and I couldn't go back to sleep!! NOT fun!

Check out this photo that I took of him last night. (It was taken with my Ipod Touch, so it isn't the best quality) He loves to drag the towel out of his crate and "play" with it. It's a game that he plays. He will bring it to us and we will put it on over his head and then, he will pull it off and then bring it right back again! Sometimes, we do this to him... We wrap it around his head and laugh at him looking like a little old lady! He loves it!

Anyway.... Today is going to be a busy, but fun, day!

This morning, I am going with Ashley to the college for a ceremony & brunch, honoring her and other students that were accepted into the Education Program. Oooh!! That reminds me... I better make sure my camera battery is charged!! -- Ok. It's good! I will, hopefully, have some chances to take photos and maybe post them in an upcoming post.

The weather is rainy this morning, so I am not sure what I am going to wear. It's warm, but since it's raining.... sandals are not a good idea. And it's really too warm to wear my boots. Hmmmm.... I'll have to think about it. Luckily, I have a little bit of time!

This evening.... David, Miranda, Rory (her b/f) and I are going to the Brad Paisley concert!! The girls and I bought the tickets for David for Christmas. (Well.... mine & his tickets! Miranda & Rory bought their own.) I am super excited about going!!! We haven't been to a concert in quite a while. Darius Rucker (formally from the band "Hootie and the Blowfish") will be opening for Brad! I can't wait! I'll take my camera and try to get some photos!

Ashley will be spending the evening with Nick, her b/f. They will be celebrating his new job as a police officer for a nearby town in Alabama!! YAY!!! We are super excited for Nick! He is a great guy and we are so happy that Ashley is finally happy!

Remember the photo of the material that I posted previously??? It looked like this...

Well, I ordered the fabric and picked it up yesterday. It looks so beautiful and vibrant in this photo.... but.... in real life..... it's a good bit "darker" than this photo presumes it to be! The background here, looks like it is almost white. Well.... it's not. It's more of a "yellowish white". And the reds & greens aren't as bright. They are much darker. I am a little disappointed. But... I have not found any other pillows that I like... so... I guess I am going to go with this fabric. I think I may do the back of the pillows in a coordinating fabric, tho. I'll have to go back to the fabric store today and look around.

I also ordered a slip cover for my navy blue chair. It was delivered last night. I haven't tried it out yet, because I didn't get home until almost 9pm. I will try it today and see how it looks. Maybe I will take some more photos and post them, as well.

I better go and hit the shower before the girls do!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Possible Color Scheme

I think I may have figured out a color scheme for my living room!!! Take a look at this BEAUTIFUL fabric that I found at http://www.joann.com/! Won't it make some gorgeous pillows???

Pillows

Now, look as I have gathered some other colors together to get an idea of what the room will look like with the above as pillows...

Let me know what you think!!

Couch

Slipcover for blue chair (might go a little darker)

Curtains & accent pillow for chair

Accent pillow for chair (or couch)

Wall color (possibly)

Carpet

Decorating Dilemma

Have you ever gotten a new piece of furniture and then realized that your whole room needs a new "look"?? Well, that is the dilemma that I am in at the moment!

Our 10 year old couch had to be "retired" to storage. As much as I loved the way that it looked (and matched) my color scheme... it had to go. It still "looked" nice, but as soon as you sat on it, you SANK! There was no comfortable "spot" any more. **insert sad face** We tried restuffing the cushions, which helped for a little while, but didn't last long. Then, we tried a thin board under the cushions. Nope! That wasn't comfortable, either! So.... we started thinking that maybe it was time for a new one.

Here is a photo of my living room with the "old" couch. It's hard to tell, but it was is (We still have it) mostly navy blue with the colors of mauve/burgandy, tan/brown, & a little bit of light blue. When we bought it, it was VERY comfortable!! We wanted one of those couches that enveloped you as soon as you sat down, and this one did!

The recliner that you see in the forground is a burgandy leather one. The color was chosen to match the couch. At the time, this choice of color seemed like the right color. Now... not so much. But, there is nothing wrong with the recliner, so it's staying.

David has ALWAYS wanted a leather couch, but I have never wanted one. But... I have learned the hard way over the years, that "woven" fabric and long-haired "inside" doggies do NOT mix! So.... I gave in and decided that a leather couch would be the best choice for our family. So... a few weeks ago, we began our search for our new couch.

We first looked at a couple of small home-town furniture stores that are going out of business, but didn't see anything that we liked or could have afforded, even at their "discount" --- LOL.

After giving it some thought, David came up with the idea that a "sleeper sofa" might be a good choice for us since we only have 3 bedrooms. I had never thought of this idea! So, we then started shopping the big name furniture stores and quickly realized that our choices were limited when it came to sleeper sofa's.

As far as color goes, I knew that I did NOT want burgandy! I knew that it would match the recliner, but I also knew that I would be tied into that color for a very long time if I chose a couch to match. So, during our search for the right couch/sofa (Same thing!), we decided that the traditional "brown" would be the right color for us. Not too light and not too dark. And... it will be a color that will never go "out of style".

We made our choice and this is our NEW COUCH, in our living room....

I didn't realize it when we were looking at it in the store, but it is a bit "shorter" than our old one and it is not as "deep". Hmmmm.... oh well. It is leather and it's a sleeper, so it IS what I was looking for. I like it!

Now... for my dilemma. But, let's look at a few other photo's first.

Look at the color of my walls. I know that you can't tell, but they need to be painted... badly! I would like to "warm up" the room by painting the walls a darker color. Maybe a shade of brown. I am afraid of going "too" dark, tho.

Also... look at the burgandy recliner and the navy blue chair, to the left. I am not liking the way that they look. I don't like that I now have three pieces of furniture in 3 different colors! It's really bugging me!

I have been looking all over town for some throw pillows that have these colors (or at least TWO of them), but can not find any that I like. And... there are NO navy blue pillows to be found ANYWHERE! Red, green, brown & turqoise seem to be the "in" colors right now.

In this picture, you can see my red curtains. I bought the red curtains and pillows a couple of years ago because I really wanted "red" in my color scheme. Now, I love the red... but, I dont like it with everything else!

I am sooooo confused!! I really do not know what I am doing when it comes to decorating! I want the room to be "warm" and "inviting". Right now, it isn't.

If any of you have any ideas that might help me... please toss them out!! I am open to suggestions!!

Two things that I have thought about are... finding fabric and "making" my own throw pillows. I would have more fabric choices, that way. And also putting a slipcover over the navy blue chair. I'm thinking of a light brown color. 

Here's a picture of the paint color that I am considering. It is called "Fawn Maple". Just to the right of it, you can see a small portion of my kitchen wall. I LOVE the color of it! The side of my kitchen cabinet is next to it.

THIS is what is on my mind right now! I want to "love" this room. ----- HELP!!



Friday Finds

I am in TABLESCAPE and THEMED DECORATING "mode"!!! I'm finding it fun to see what I can find for the cheapest price.

As I have been searching looking reading thru different blogs and I keep finding myself going back to the ones that have to do with TABLESCAPES and THRIFTY DECORATING. I am so fascinated by what people are finding by going to Goodwill, yard sales, thrift shops, & the clearance shelves at many wonderful stores!

One of my favorite blogs that I keep returning to is Linda's blog at A La Carte. She can find some of the most beautiful and interesting things! I also enjoy Marty's blog at A Stroll Thru Life. She loves to decorate and finds such beautiful things at bargain prices!

Soo...... after being ICED in for a day or so.... I ventured out on Tuesday and wondered thru three of my favorite stores... Ross, Marshall's, & TJMaxx.

Here's my LOOT that I came home with! --

I went to Ross first. They always have great holiday items and I had my February Tablescape & Decorating Theme, in mind. I plan to have a Valentine Theme, of course! I saw this adroable jar, first. It was only a few dollars, but I decided that I probably had a jar at home that I could use and make my own jar, like this one. So, I set it back down. (I took this pic with my phone camera. It takes great pics, if the light is good.)

Then, I came across THIS jar. It was only $2.99 and I love the way that it opens. I am not sure what this kind of jar is called. I know that it is not a mason jar, but something simliar. (Forgive my photography skills. I am still working on that!) I decided that I could use this jar to decorate like the one above. Then, I could put candy in it, or maybe love notes to my family! It will be a cute addition to either my dining table, my mantle, or the kitchen counter.

Next, I found this unusual piece! It jumped off the shelve at me because of the beautiful blue color! (I am a sucker for all things blue! Especially, blue glassware!) I'm still not sure if it is meant to be a flask or a syrup bottle! My guess is a syrup bottle! It was only $1.99! My first thought was that it would be a great piece to showcase above my kitchen cabinets. (My decorating up there, needs help!) But, the beautiful blue color, was a little BRIGHT! I carried it in my cart as I continued to shop, then I decided that since it was only $2, and I liked it so much, I really couldn't leave it behind.

My next "find" was this beautiful red vase. (I guess it is a vase!) I think it will be a beautiful addition to my Valentine decorations! It will be cute filled with Hershey Kisses! It was only $2.99.

Next, I headed over to Marshall's, which is in the same shopping center as Ross... so, no wasting gas! This is where I found my favorite "find" of the day!! Take a look at this bowl!! (I guess that is what you call it!) I have seen plates like this with the ribbon running thru the edge, but never a bowl. I love how you can change out the ribbon for different holidays or decorating purposes. It came with this black & white, polka-dotted ribbon... which I love! Ashley told me that her store sells ribbon like this by the yard, so now I have "connections" to more ribbon! YAY! I'm not sure what I will put in it yet, but I can already see it with a pretty red ribbon, laced thru it for Valentine's! It was my most expensive purchase at $6.99. Still a bargain!

 My next find was this sign. I LOVE what it says, but I don't like the "colors" of it. They don't show up very well. So, my plan is to repaint it. I see it in black, with white lettering or an off-white, with black lettering. I will most likely use this as a decorating piece for above my kitchen cabinets, but I think it may go on my mantle as part of my Valentine's decor. It was only $2.50. I was disappointed that Marshall's didn't really have any Valentine decor. Oh well.

Next, I headed over to T.J.Maxx (which is conveniently, right across the street!) where they were in the middle of re-organizing their "home" section. So, it made shopping a little more challenging. Things were in PILES and I had to literally DIG thru things to see anything!

The first thing that caught my eye was this RELAX sign. This had David's name written ALL OVER it!! I had to get it!! It will go perfectly above my kitchen cabinets as a reminder to not only David, but to all of us to do just that.... RELAX! It was only $3.99.

This last "find", was something that I carried around (like the blue syrup bottle) for a bit because I wasn't sure if I liked it enough to pay the $5.99 price. (Yes. I am cheap!) I am always thinking of ways that I can "make" something instead of buying it. It's hard to tell in this photo, but it is Valentine "garland". There are five hearts. Three of them say, "Happy Valentine's Day". I finally decided to get the garland because the more I thought about it... I couldn't really think of something better that I could make. This garland will look nice, draped across my mantle.

Next week, I hope to "hit up" stores such as Hobby Lobby, The Dollar Tree, & Michael's and see what kinds of "finds" that I can find there!