Home Decor diY

Hello there! Thanks so much for the suggestions to get rid of this cold faster! I've been downing Vitamin C and trying the Zicam stuff. It's not completely gone but close. I was trying to get rid of it fast because I'm heading out to Georgia today to tour the HGTV Dream Home...and I'm SO stinking excited! I can't wait to share photos with you soon!  Because I've put up a few trees over the past few days, they're on my brain. Up till about six years ago we always had a real tree as our main one. For literally all of my life! Then one year the cats knocked over the tree...twice. And soon after that we got hardwood floors. I didn't want to chance them getting wet so we got a huge faux tree from Lowe's that year.  Sometimes I'll still get a smaller, real tree for another room, but not as often as I'd like. This year I was determined to go back to a real one for our main tree and hubby was on board. But I soon realized with all of the traveling we...

Hey all! I hope you all enjoyed our favorite things round up last week! I found so many new cute items for my Christmas list!  How was your Thanksgiving week? We spent most of it in Disney World and had a blast! Disney has such a special place in our hearts -- we really disconnect and just focus on having fun as a family. It makes me so sad to leave, but then I'm always happy to get home too! 😊 Between running through Disney nonstop, flights, and now trying to get all of our Christmas decor up in just a few days, I'm exhausted and sick. EVERY year I say I'm going to start decorating earlier and every year...I don't. I don't know when I'll finally do it -- I'm already swearing it will be next year, ha!! The first room I finished this time was our kitchen, and this spot was a little self serving because I needed the hot liquid to sooth my throat. ;)  I think this is one of the cutest Christmas vignettes in our house so I thought I would show you how easy it...

YAY, it's the start of the best time of the year my friends!! Are you preparing for a week full of friends, family and food? I've gathered a fantastic group of bloggers and we're sharing our favorite products-- holiday-themed and otherwise -- over the next few days with you!: You can find the links to all 18 bloggers at the bottom of the post. I've gathered a talented group that spans beauty, fashion, decor and DIY! This has become a favorite tradition of mine for this time of year. I absolutely LOVE this week, don't you? So much to look forward to.  You can see my previous favorite posts here and here with all kinds of great stuff. This year I'm gathering some favorites I've shared throughout the year as well as some new goodies. I'm in love with all of them and use them all of the time.  First up, one of our more recent purchases. I have to first confess something to you all...there are times when I get kind of obsessed with the cable shopping chann...

OK, I have a quick but AMAZING recipe for you today! This would be a perfect treat after the pumpkin pie next week. Or this weekend. Tonight?  We had friends over last weekend and one of my girlfriends brought brownies. Now I like a good brownie...it's just not always my pick for a dessert. If you offer me one, duh, I'm going to take it. But it's not one I'd pick to make on a whim.  Until now. :)  I must introduce you to the most amazing brownie...EVER. There is a special, secret ingredient that will rock your world. I asked my friend for the recipe, thinking it was some super special family thing passed down through the generations -- and had to laugh when she told me she made them with a box recipe. ;)  First of all, I didn't even KNOW about dark chocolate brownies. Um, hello. I didn't like dark chocolate till a few years ago and now it's my favorite. There's actually two secret ingredients but one didn't surprise me as much as the other...can you ...

Hey all! I've been working my butt off (I wish literally) on this fireplace tile project in the basement! If you remember I last left you with the new mantel and hearth :  Those tiles were just leaned up against there so I started with that bottom part -- because it was the easiest. :)  I've been working on it on and off on this for the past couple of weeks and finally hit it hard again yesterday. I was so hoping to get it done but I ran out of steam. Today is the day! I'm determined!  This is the stone we're using, from Lowe's:  I've had to visit three different locations to find enough to use because some batches are more pinky toned than others. I prefer the more natural tones so I've had to mix and match boxes. The great thing about this stone is it looks fantastic no matter what!  This is the adhesive I used, from Home Depot:  This stuff is awesome and SO much easier than mixing thinset. You pay a little more but save in time and mess. It's nice th...

Hello my friends! I hope you had a great weekend -- we had a lovely one with friends and family. It was a good distraction from the sadness I've felt lately. My sister is moving away tomorrow and I've been dreading this day for months. I don't know how in the world I'm going make it a week without seeing her or my baby niece. I was reminded this weekend that it could be so much worse, and I know this. I'm trying to keep in mind that we'll be able to talk whenever we want -- I will just miss them so much.  If any of you live in the Wheeling area of West Virginia and could hug my sister's neck for me once and awhile, please let me know. :) I'm glad to be writing to you all today because it always makes me feel better!  I've been busy working on our basement fireplace and hope to have an update to share with you this week. I'm so excited about it! I'm thinking about my next steps for down there and I was reminded of my absolute favorite addition...