Jolly Coasters

I have a coaster obsession. For the last few months we have been using our map coasters, but I thought we needed some festive ones for the holiday season. This time I used fabric instead of paper and I like the results better.  I did two coats so this project only took half an hour and I already had the supplies so it was free!

Christmas Wall Decor

I have two large frames above the fireplace that needed a festive touch!  I searched on Pinterest and found two free prints that fit the bill.  Both prints offer different colors and I went with the blue hues to coordinate with my decor although the red might have looked better. I resized the images in PE to a 11x14 and printed them at Walgreens for only fourteen dollars and change.  

                                               Find the prints on my Christmas board!

Last year's splurge, Pottery Barn stockings.

Sneak peek of our tree!

This is for LaNae. Enjoy!

Christmas Pillows

I wanted some festive pillows without the high price tag. This week Target has their Christmas placemats on sale for $3.00 each. I already owned two pillows that were the perfect size to put inside. I opened up one side with a seam ripper, stuffed the pillow inside and sewed the pillow closed.  After Christmas I will consider adding either a zipper or velcro closure, but my impatience got the best of me.  Allison of House of Hepworth's has a great tutorial here if you are interested in making your own placemat pillows!

Glam Christmas

Last year I did not have a dining room so it was fun decorating this new room. I picked up the beaded garland and silver potpourri after Christmas for a steal and shopped my house for the rest of the decor. I love the subtle silver, turquoise, and champagne color. 

Food, Food and More Food!

I am hosting Thanksgiving this year.  This is a first with my husband's family and I am going to have a hard time competing with past Thanksgivings.  

The menu includes a fresh turkey, Grandma's stuffing, Ree's mashed potatoes, Paula's mashed sweet potatoes, the classic green bean casserole, glazed baby carrots, rolls (frozen dough), homemade chocolate cream pie and pumpkin pie using this crust recipe. I like that most of these can be prepared ahead of time.

What tried and true recipes do you use for Thanksgiving?

Turkeys and Trees

Amidst the business of the approaching holiday we took a time out to make hand print turkeys!  They are displayed in the kitchen and I love looking at my kids' creations. Luke's turkey is more of an abstract interpretation.  These are keepers!

There has been a lot of talk about the turkey, but we have also taken time to be thankful.  

I saw this on Pinterest and loved the idea.

Source: flickr.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Here is our version.

Visual Project List {Part 4}

This is the last project on my Visual Project List.  I originally thought that I would accomplish all of this before 2011 came to a close, but that is not going to happen.  

These lists will make it on the 2012 goals.  I have a powder room on the first floor that is still sporting the original owner's colors and it is one of my least favorite spaces. I can not wait to transform this room!  I have a lot of ideas, but I am not sure which ones will make the final cut. I am debating between stenciled walls or board and batten, the paint color I am thinking a hue of blue.  The cabinets will be the same color as the kitchen (java, black, espresso, along those lines) and we will frame the mirror to match.  New brushed nickel hardware and this "powder room" will not be the ugly step child of the house.  

Sources

Here are some before shots of the bathroom. These are sooc because I do not think any editing can make Barney purple walls look better. The cabinet doors were removed months ago. My husband primed them as a tester for the kitchen and I am left with an "open concept" cabinet.