House of Hydrangeas

I love the smell of book pages.  It's right up there with the smell of new construction and freshly cut grass.  And it's just one of the things I love about starting a new book. Before we headed out of town, I wanted to get a book to read over the break.  While I am excited to spend time with family and friends, I'm also hoping to have some time to curl up next to the fire with a good read. I keep a list of reading recommendations in the coupon holder in my purse.  That way it's always handy, and I'm not left stumped on what to check out when I go the library.  So while out dropping off the rest of our Christmas cards yesterday, I stopped by the library and pulled out my list.  Of the ten recommendations I had listed, only three were in stock.  And out of those three, I selected The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about this book.  Nika Rolczewski from the Toronto Star says it "Pulls at your...

Last night made for a very relaxing night in.  All of us, Remington included, snuggled on the couch while watching TV and the lights of our glowing garland and tree.  Snuggling with momma. I love how my new camera actually captures the glow of the tree. Here is the "after" shot of our garland arch with the starting collection of our holiday cards.  Thanks to everyone who has sent us some snail mail.  We love displaying your holiday greetings! I attached them all with simple clothes pins, and I love how it turned out. I wish the garland was a little longer, but I already owned it and didn't want to buy anything new since we'd only be here for Christmas this year.  Hopefully it will fit better at our next house! Tomorrow begins our 2+ week journey to three cities and a total of 34 hours of driving...this year, with a dog!  Lord help us!

Christmas has come early for me because my new Canon EOS Rebel T2i camera came in yesterday!  Jon let me open it early, and I'm in love with it!  I have a long way to go before I am even close to knowing all of its features, but I am ready and willing to read up on the 258 page instruction manual. So far all I've learned is how to blur out the background while keeping the foreground in focus. Remington was nice enough to be my model while I played around with it :) My very first photo with my new camera.  Remi was saying "What is that thing momma?" Striking a pose for me. I love that sweet face.  Such a model. Always looking for squirrels.

During these frosty months, blankets and throws become staples in most homes.  There's nothing like snuggling up under your favorite blanket as you watch your favorite holiday movie.  But while these blankets are key for keeping warm, they can also serve another function..as tablecloths!  I love my bed to have a soft, comfy and layered look and feel in the winter so why not carry that look to my dining room table?  Add layers for an even cozier look.  If you're worried about getting stains on your favorite blankets, then head down to one of my favorite places, the thrift store, and pick some up.  That way, if a mess is made, you'll won't be losing a bunch of bucks! Photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens

As you all know, I love going to thrift stores to look for inexpensive gems.  Well about a week ago, I was actually visiting one to drop off some clothing donations, and I noticed a suitcase side table sitting outside the back storage area.  I immediately knew I wanted it, and was hoping it wasn't already on hold for someone else.  When I got inside, I asked about it and found out that it had just recently been dropped off!  Oh the luck!  Because it was so new, it hadn't even been priced.  They told me it might be a little while before they could price it because they had a lot of other things to unload first.  But before I could even leave I was informed that they decided on a price, and it was for sale for $24!  I said "sold!" I want to eventually paint the legs black, but I already put it out for now.  Hooray for great finds!

We attended Jon's work Christmas party last night, and we had a blast.  I love holiday parties!

One of the best things about the holidays is getting together with friends and family.  And let's face it, there's no better time to host a dinner party then when your house is all decorated for the holiday season! Personally, I think that people's homes feel the most warm and welcoming at this time of year but to make your guests feel even more welcome, you can do one little thing.  Make them a place card for the dinner table.  I know it sounds like such a simple thing, but when people see their name on something, they feel like they are important.  They feel like there was an invitation, a seat and a meal thought out just for them.  It will also alleviate any stresses of figuring out where to sit.  If you can create the place card out of something they can take with them as a parting gift, that's even better.  You'd be surprised at how the smallest thing can mean so much. You'll need some silver bells, ribbon and card stock to create this pl...

When the holidays come around, you are sure to find every kind of wreath imaginable.  While the traditional ones are great, I think it's fun to do something a little more unique. It's hip to be square. Thrift store frame, ribbon and wreath.  Perfecto. If you have a thing for silver bells like me, this is for you. Cushion moss wreath - brilliant and beautiful.  Thank you, Martha. Full, thick and oh so luscious.  LOVE the ribbon. Big, live wreaths like this can be pretty costly.  To achieve this look on a smaller budget, buy two wreaths-one big and one small and place the smaller inside the larger and attach them together with floral wire so it looks like you have one thick one.  Insert real evergreen pieces all around to make it look real and adorn with various ornaments and berries.  Photo credits.  1.  Better Homes and Gardens.  2.  Country Living 3-4. Martha Stewart 5. A Soft Place to Land

When I ran across this page in the Pottery Barn holiday catalog last year, I was immediately drawn to the paper wreaths shown hanging on the windows.  So I tore it out and placed it in my idea binder.  While I knew these wreaths weren't something Pottery Barn was selling, I was still bound and determined to have some of my own.   It's was a pretty simple DIY project, and if you're interested in making some of your own, here are the steps: 1.  Cut a circle about 3-4 inches wide out of cardboard. You can use kitchen bowls to create the outline. 2.  Purchase some books at the thrift store (or use some of your own that you don't mind getting rid of).  The older they are, the better as far as I'm concerned.  The yellowing pages add character to the overall look. 3.  Cut the pages out of the book. 4.  Roll up the pages into tubes, gluing the ends down so the tube still keeps its shape when you let go.  Then glue the tubes ...

With a little felt, simple stitches, string and stuffing you can make these adorable mittens.  These would make a great handmade gift as well (you can adjust the saying to whatever is applicable for the person you're gifting). These remind me of the initial logo we used at our wedding.  :) If you're not feeling crafty, you can also buy them for $25 at Red Raven Nest on Etsy.  

I ran across few garland ideas on bhg.com that aren't what you'd typically think of, but that's why I love them and wanted to share them with you.   First, is a simple evergreen garland adorned only by long flowing bows. This goes to show that you can keep something simple and still have it be beautiful.  The flowing shape of the bows replicate the shape of the evergreen leaves.  It's subtle elegance.  You might be seeing this in my house in the future if we have a stair banister (which I'd love!). Next up are some sparkles.  It is no secret that I love shiny things, especially in decor.  This garland is uber simple.  All you need are some pretty ornaments and some ribbon (preferably satin).  Make sure to tie knots as you attach each ornament so they stay in place on the strand. This idea is pretty similar to the first in that it only consists of evergreen and one other element.  All you need a strand of evergreen and a few orn...

Who needs a china cabinet when you can display your dishes like this?  This is another idea by Martha and her team, and I think it's brilliant.  I have a china cabinet, but love the idea so much that I still want to do this with my extra dishes.  You could also use this idea to put out any china you've inherited over the years.  I'm sure your grandmother would rather see her pieces out on display rather than stuffed away in storage anyway.

I've been looking for a simple gold necklace that I could where every day, and I finally found what I was looking for.   Greenteajewels on Etsy has tons of great options!  Their motto is "simply lovely everyday," and I think they hit it right on the mark. They are all reasonably priced and come in these cute little gift boxes!   Sold!