Halloween

 

I don't think I have ever really decorated for Halloween. It's just not my thing. This year Cordelia wanted to put up decorations and I decided that we could go ahead and do a little decorating. Mostly I just focused on seasonal things like gourds and pumpkins that can be decorative elements for the next month. I did choose a few pieces that we can stash away and bring out annually.



We also made a couple things during some crafternoon fun.





Do you decorate?

Decorating for Christmas

We decorated for Christmas this weekend. This is the second time we have set up for Christmas in our home. We had a better idea about what we were doing and where things would go. I like that, our house is really starting to feel like our place to its core.



While we were decorating I held Elise and I couldn't help but reflect on last year at this time. I was pregnant with Elise. I had no idea who I was growing, but I knew that I would be holding a baby as I decorated for Christmas 2012. A year ago I wondered how Cordelia would be doing as a big sister. I wondered how our family would look and act. Would it be the same, different?

 

Well, now I can report that it felt so natural. Our complete little family. Eric stringing the lights. Cordelia played with a wooden nativity. Elise drooled and spit up at random (she also spit up on the blanket I had bought for the Angel Tree, off to buy another today).



Please take note of Cordelia's ensemble. The stockings! She is also wearing a sparkly  number 3 t-shirt gifted by our friends Andy and Anne...that was day 2. She wore it 2 days straight...even to bed. She begged and I was pretty sure she wouldn't catch  a disease from 2 day old clothing. Pick your battles people.

We decorated as we listened to John Denver and the Muppets and Andy Mason's Christmas Album.



If you are wondering what our tree looks like read this post as this year's decoration is identical to last year.

Have you decorated yet?

Decorating For Christmas

The first year that Eric and I were married we were living in Montana. Our families were, at the time, living in New Mexico. We tried to decorate for Christmas, but we were poor and young. The effort was pretty sad. I remember feeling so lonely for my family tradition on that day. There was no John Denver and the Muppets record playing (something that I'd had since childhood), no familiar decorations, no family members. Our tree was small and sad, I think it cost $6 at Big Lots.

Over the years we got a little bit better, but not much. We held onto that little tree because renters have no place to store a fake tree and people who own compact cars have no business strapping trees to their roof. So, we moved forward with our own strange tradition, but it never really felt right. Last year I dreamed that by the next Christmas we would have a home of our own and we could do it up right, making a family tradition of our very own and a magical Christmas for our little girl.

So, now that we do own a home we finally did it right! We blasted John Denver and the Muppets and set up Christmas and started a new family tradition of our own.


Eric set up the tree and strung the lights.


Cordelia got to hang the less fragile ornaments.










Our tree was completed.

We turned down the lights and sat on the couch (tradition taken from my family) and admired our work.


Team W


Eric helped Cordelia decorate her own little Christmas tree, the one that once seem so sad got to shine as a toddler tree.


Cordelia had an interesting method for hanging her ornaments



Do you have a Christmas decorating tradition?

House Tour: Master Bedroom

Welcome back. If you have missed any of the previous house tour posts you can check out the last one here which has links to previous posts...

BEFORE
So when we first moved into our house the master bedroom needed some major cosmetic work.

The blue paint, while vibrant, wasn't really to our taste. The hardwood floors were already exposed (unlike several other rooms) but they needed some TLC.

There were some cracks in the plaster (not structural issues thank goodness) which were patched up by the previous homeowner for us which was so sweet!

AFTER
We chose a rich brown paint for the walls, which looks really sharp against the white trim and the white closet. The floors were spruced up a bit and then we brought in our stuff.

We like to keep our room clean and clutter free. No TV, no computer, no knick knack attacks.So we just put up a few items, like some of our camera collection.

We continued our rather unconventional decorating habit of mixing extreme prints, but it just suits us so well.

We decorated the walls with our Japanese print collection. The prints have such clean lines that they don't really compete with the pattern of the bedspread.

We love how the room is really bright, but it doesn't actually get much direct sunlight.

The darker paint keeps the room feeling calm, warm, and sophisticated.

So there you have it for the master bedroom. We still have more to come (kitchen, basement, bathrooms, etc.) Keep watching and I will post more house tour photos as we finish projects and move forward with our new (to us) home!

Build a Terrarium

Perhaps it is the snow and bone chilling winds outside, but I am in need of a little green...not money (well that wouldn't hurt), but plants. I decided to answer the call of my green thumb and start a little terrarium. My ultimate plan is to have 4-5 terrariums of varied sizes and shapes in some sort of artful display.

Step 1: Gather your supplies. I chose a small glass container, a couple of plants, gathered some rocks and twigs from outside, and a few tiny birds to decorate.

Step 2: Put a layer of rocks or gravel in the bottom of the container for drainage. You don't want soggy roots, that would be humiliating.

Step 3: Break apart your plants into manageable bits, with root-balls intact.
**Optional: Name plants and figurines.

Step 4: Spoon in a layer of fertilized soil.

Step 5: Add and arrange plants and twigs.

Step 6: Add decorative elements like rocks, pebbles, figures, etc. I started with the larger pieces first. Make sure everything is evenly distributed.

Step 7: Inspect your materpiece from all angles. Admire your work. Give your plants a good misting and then put the lid on your terrarium.

Step 8: Enjoy the terrarium!

Integrating More Color

Eric and I have been nesting a lot in our new place, moving things around, trying to merge our old style with the attributes of the quirky house we are now living in. We have discovered that color is key in our new place. We have lots of windows and sunlight is pouring in constantly, making the house seem so cheery and welcoming. So, we are pulling out all of the color stops-so to speak-and we're just rolling with it. I think the added dose of color reflects the extra happiness we've been feeling as of late. Here are some ways that color has been sneaking in:


Our Venus, well we got her at a roadside sale in New Mexico about a decade ago. She has gone through the wringer, following us on many moves, losing her head at one point and spending some time in a tiny bra that I made for her. Now, she has a new look. We've painted her a baby blue and she looks lovely.

Here are the little pieces of glassware that Eric recently found for me at an antique store. I think it's those little touches here and there that really bring a style to life.

Last night we (and when I say "we" I mean Eric) painted our record shelf a light greenish color. Formerly the shelf was just a bland blond wood, now it's a bit more vibrant.

Here are a few Danish Modern pitchers we found at a thrift store for almost nothing. For some reason mid-century design is really under appreciated here in WY. We are quite excited about that fact.

While this is not an exhaustive list of the extra colors we are now exhibiting I think it reflects how much we're getting into it. For me, the place where I live should reflect my mood and be an inspiration. What impacts the way that you decorate?