Simply Decked Out

This past weekend we put up our Christmas decorations - which meant we had to get rid of some of those boxes we had not yet unpacked to make way for the Christmas tree!

When it comes to holiday decor and tree decorations, I tend to err on the side of simple.  We've purchased new ornaments on a conservative level over the last few years.  And we started our tradition of choosing a new ornament each year with our two year old...and he's got good taste!  He picked out some sparkly, silver snowflakes - and a great snow globe with a Christmas tree in it.  Smith & Hawken provided the selection - and I have to say, that place had some great deals on Christmas decor!

Our Christmas tree has been placed in our front living room:

    

One of my favorite ornaments:

 

And the mantle and shelves in our family room:

I purchased the "Merry & Bright" blocks at the Shoppe of Vinings.  They always have the cutest things!

And lastly, our dining room table:

Oh!  And I can't forget about the snow globe my favorite little boy in the whole world picked out:

I'm officially "in the sprit!"  Happy Decorating!

Over the Fireplace Perfection!

I've been searching and searching for the perfect piece of art for over our fireplace.  This is the room where the trim will soon be white - so keep that in mind.  I am envisioning something on canvas - as the canned light in the ceiling creates a nasty reflection on glass.  I'm thinking something with reds, oranges & golds.

Here are a few contenders - apparently I am drawn to trees and poppies...

Brilliance - by Gregory Williams

Maple Road - by Vasil

In the Sun - by Andrea Kahn

Festa Di Papaveri - by M. Luffarelli

Anyone care for a vote??  All of the sudden I am leaning towards Festa de Papaveri.  Hmmm....Art.com is having sale - and they will transfer to canvas for me....

Grand Plans

Alas - the audit busy season wins out!  I have neglected my blog yet again.  Well - this time I beg for forgiveness by teasing you with a bit of things to come.

YAY!  My husband sold the second love-of-his-life (I'm the first, duh!) and we now find ourselves with the capital to do some home improvements that have made our list since the big move-in back in September.

1.  Paint and new carpet for the basement.  To refresh your memory, it looks like this, currently:

Couldn't find a better pic - so there is one of my son from behind!  Anyway - you get the picture - lots of dark trim and some old, white berber carpet.  So this is our first stop - new carpet, new paint!

2.  Trim painting & wall opening in living room.  Our living room currently looks like this (not our furniture!):

This trim will be painted white - and that wall you see will have a large cased opening in it.  And we plan to build a TV entertainment cabinet in the bottom of the shelves you see.  And of course - I cannot leave out the plantation shutters for the large windows off the back of the house:

Soooo....I promise I will get back to all of this very very soon!  Plans are underway!  I'm very excited!