Well, it's Monday folks! How was your weekend? Hoping you were able to spend much needed time with family, friends and alone if that was your desire!

 

Our weekend was pretty full but oh so relaxing and rich at the same time.

 

Today is Main Monday, where I share some of my favorite finds from sales on Joss & Main over the past week. If you're not family with Joss, you can read more about the company and what they offer here.

Here we go...some fun finds this week! Just click on the pics below if you'd like more info about any of the items! Happy shopping!

 

 

 

 

 

XO,

Right now, everything around our home is a project.

 

For the past few months I have been playing virtual musical chairs and well, kinda literal musical chairs, around the house.

 

My hubby, well...let's just say he still doesn't get it.

 

Since everything is still a bit hodge podge and not ready for the cover of House Beautiful, Country Living, Better Homes and Gardens or the like, I thought I'd show you a few things around the house that I just love.

 

Being in a rental is not exactly easy when it comes to decorating. Luckily we have some awesome landlords who allow me to experiment from time to time. Since they are okay with us hanging things on the walls and making small holes {which I am VERY thankful for} I am putting up gallery walls all over the place. This typography art is the beginning of the study area in our living space.

 

The style of the house is a 1950's ranch. The layout isn't the the best and the entry, living and dining are practically one small space combined. Once all of the restyling and moving around and purchasing of furniture is complete, I will have to show you around.

 

Here's another fave. Vintage books and a brass magnifying glass.

I purchased the books from Melaine over at My Sweet Savannah for only $7. Thought they would be great for layering and adding height. They were!

Aaaaah, the infamous antlers. You can read more about these here. I think I am going to move these from our dining area to the frame wall below and perhaps add a few different types of antlers all around the frames to add a touch of classic whimsy to that wall.

 

They just may be my favorite of all and I love how the gold contrasts with the Iron Ore from Sherwin Williams.

 

 

If you follow me on Instagram, then you saw that yesterday I got a little "Homegoods Happy" with the next two purchases. I bought this Aztec style stool for $20 and actually thought it was a deep gray. Got home and realized it was a dark navy. Darn.

Oh well! Still love it and I know I can work it in.

 

As a pillow, perhaps? Ha! Now, I to find out where I can find THIS SAME EXACT pillow...and two of them.

 

This is our new baby. I say that since our kids are in love with it, especially our youngest, Grayson. Honestly, it's one of the softest things I have ever felt aside from a real rabbit. Pretty amazing.

 

It's faux fur, of course. But if looks and feels SO real.

 

 And last but not least, these frames above our sofa. I purchased these from Target. They are from the Threshold line and I love the natural wood. This is where I mentioned placed antlers. Two on top or one beside each photo, what do you think?

 

So those are a few things I am loving around our place.

 

If you've followed for a while, you can see that my style is changing just a bit. A little less farmhouse and a little more modern eclectic. I like to call it Rustic Chic. Or, maybe "Country Glam". What do you think? What are some of your favorites in your house? I'd love to hear!

Are you following me on Facebook, Instagram? Let's talk about it there, shall we?

Hope you all have had an amazing week!

Be sure and hop back over tomorrow for our 1,000 IG follower giveaway with The Charming Farmer!

 

 

 

 You don't want to miss it!

It's no secret by now that I am just a wee bit in love with gold. I also think it 's a great way to add an inspiring touch to just about any space. As Fall season is upon us I probably really should be writing about that and how awesome my mantel looks in all of its fall glory...but...my mantel remains empty. Truth.

Instead, I intend to wish you a happy Friday and inspire you to add gold to your beautiful autumnal displays and hopefully I will be able to come back later and show off my beautiful Fall mantel. Until then...swoon.

Contemporary Dining Room by Huntington Beach Interior Designers and Decorators Domicile Interior Design

 

Contemporary Living Room by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Chango and Co.

 

 

 

 

Traditional Bedroom by Austin Architects and Designers Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

 

 

 

 

Eclectic Living Room by Chicago Photographers Cynthia Lynn Photography

 

 

 

 

Traditional Bedroom by Costa Mesa Interior Designers and Decorators Jessica Bennett Interiors

 

 

Two out of our four kiddos love drawing and creating things with their hands. I'd like to say they get it from...well, their mama.

They also love to hang their creations up all over the house with washi tape, Scotch tape, pretty much whatever they can find to make it stick to walls, doors, furniture...

I decided that instead of having pieces of paper and artwork all over the house that we would consolidate their masterpieces and contain them in one area of the house. A kids' gallery wall if you will.

Yesterday, I needed to run out to Target to pick up a few things and if you're a Target shopper you know you can't just go into that place without checking out a bazillion other things that SHOULD have been on your list. This is especially true when it comes to their clearance sections. Right?

I found these frames marked down to $0.88 each. What? I just knew I could do something with them and then I remembered I'd wanted to make a gallery wall for the kiddos so I snatched them up! All 12 of them! Yippee!

Since I am loving Rub'n Buff and all things gold right now, what better way to transform and accent these frames than to add a dab of the liquid gold goodness to them to help them "pop" off the wall?

 

You really don't need much when using Rub'n Buff for a project, just your finger. Since I had a lot of frames and I am an OCD crafter, I used a paintbrush to coat these frames.

 

 

I didn't get a good pic of the in-between of applying the wax to the frame but the process doesn't look amazing.

 

 

First, I dropped a little of the wax on each side of the frame. A little really does go a long way.

 

After that, I just took my brush and begin to spread it {in one direction} along the sides of each frame. You really don't want to go back and forth with the wax. It begins to cure pretty quickly and if you do, this will happen...

 

 

See those areas that look a little thicker than the others? That's because I got a little crazy with the dolloping. {yup, that is a word!}

 

 

 

I ended up going back after the wax cured and sanding very lightly to get rid of the rough spots and then waxed over with a VERY small amount. Hey, practice makes perfect and I am still getting to know the product.

 

This little project only took about an hour from start to finish. That is, of course, since I decided I am SO BAD at hanging pics so I used Dap and Museum putty instead of nails for pics until the hubs could work his magic. Yep, sure did.

 

I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think?

 

 

Have you used Rub'n Buff or any other products to transform your home décor lately? I'd love to see them!

 

 

 

 

Partying with...

Wow Me Wednesdays

Wow Us Wednesdays

Home Stories A to Z

Transformation Thursdays

 

 

Happy Monday, guys! Hope you all have recovered from pounds of stuffing, cranberry sauce and turkey and had time to relax this weekend with family and friends. What? Was that just me who ate pounds of food that day? Oh, well!

Our family picked up our Christmas tree the other night and I've finally gotten around to the beginning of turning our home from drab to fab with holiday décor! Of course, I'll be sharing that with you all as the weeks pass on. It's always such a process for me as I change my mind about what I like and don't like. What needs to go where, etc.

I'd also like to take a moment to say thanks to you all for your kind feedback and comments on my last post. Makes me so happy and fulfilled to know that what God places on my heart to share, is such a blessing to so many of you. Really is amazing. Thank you.

Now, on to the dining room. If you'll remember this post, I was in quite a dilemma trying to figure out how to begin decorating the dining area in our home. I really had decorator's block, if you will, and could not think of which way to go in the space so I sent out an SOS to you all!

I decided to begin with what will be the "centerpiece" of the space-the dining table.

I follow Kelli over at Restore Interiors and have gotten to know her a bit {she's a Bama Girl BTW} and absolutely love her personality, her talent, style and her love and passion for design. She posted a tutorial a few weeks back about how to achieve a faux zinc look. I had to try it. At the time, I wasn't really sure what I would paint.

I remember a few years back I was literally salivating over a table in the Ballard Designs catalog. I think it was over $1,000 and I knew there was no way I was going to spend that much on a table for a home that wasn't our permanent home. And, if you're like me, I always take it as a challenge to duplicate the look and style of expensive pieces. {Not a bit competitive, not at all...}

So, once I'd decided that my next project would be our dining area, I remembered the tutorial from Kelli and set out to get it done! Or, at least start it! Here's a pic of how it turned out. I really like it and it was even kid approved by my daughter. She walked in as I was waxing it and said, "Wow, mom, it actually looks like metal!" Yes. Yes, it does. Thank you very much! Always feels good to get the thumbs up from your kiddos!



I love how the finish makes it look like real metal.

 

 

Now, do you remember what the table looked like before? I really should have taken some close-up before photos. It was pretty bad. Chipped. Original wood beginning to show through. We've had it for over 6 years. It was time for a change.

 

Looks way better in this pic than it did in real life.
 

 

And another pic of the after...

 

 

I call it my galvanized metal look. Mine didn't turn out much link zinc but I am still absolutely in love with it!

 

Thanks to some major computer issues, no watermark on this one or full images of the entire space or table today. So sorry but I promise that as I continue to pull the room together you'll get to see everything!

 

 

Moving right along...

 

Now, what about this amazing holiday party? Well, you can read more about it here.

 

 

I am hosting the Home for the Holidays Linky Party with some pretty awesome women. The party is will be a series for the rest of this month through December and the first day is today! Our first host is Lorraine from Miss Flibbertigibbet! Do any of you follow her? Heard of her? She is one talented woman and is sharing holiday recipes over at her place today. If you've got something to share...hop on over and link up! And don't forget to leave a comment or even follow to show Miss Flibb some love! You seriously won't regret it!

 

And, here's a button for you if you'd like to share it over on your blog, FB page, Instagram, Pinterest...did I miss anything? Ha!

 

 

Can't wait to see all the yummy goodness everyone links up!

 

 

 

Party on!

 

Well, at least one of them...

If you've followed along for a while you'll remember this post I did a long time ago. As a matter of fact it was years ago. I have dreamt of owning a dress form. My dream has finally come true. 

Since that orginal post in 2009, my heart has literally gone pitter patter each and every time I see these wonderful works of art. 

While surfing around on Craigslist, looking for nothing in particular as I normally do, I stumbled upon an ad that changed my life. Okay, so that may be a little bit of a stretch but it absolutely got my heart pumping as I emailed the seller to find out if either of these lovelies (she had two) were still available. 

When I awakened the next morning there was a reply from the seller waiting paitiently for me on my phone. My hands literally trembled as I opened the message. Wait for it...it was AVAILABLE!!! Both of them! Oh, be still my heart.

I attempted to keep calm so as to not give away how excited I was about coming so close to owning something that I've coveted for so long. The seller and I agreed to meet in the parking lot where she worked. I was so beside myself. Literally. I felt like I had jumped outside my body and back in a few times before meeting with her. 

Before I drove out, I made sure that she was willing to wiggle on the price. She was more than willing. I normally always ask for pieces that I am serious about buying and that I am going to be meeting someone to take a look at. This  time was no different. As bad as I wanted one of these, the price STILL had to be right. 

I pulled into the parking lot and found the vehicle that she described and...waited. It felt like hours. Finally I saw her walking down through my rear view mirror and thought to myself, "Let the games begin."

She opened the trunk of her car and I swear smoke came out and angels sang. There she sat, waiting for me...her new owner. I had to have it and the seller HAD to give it to me for the price that I wanted it for. She had to. 

Before meeting her I had literally prayed, "Lord, You know I've wanted one of these things forever and while I know it's not a necessity, I know that You care about the little things so I am asking that you soften her heart and that she is willing to let this dress form go for a steal. Amen." 

She began explaining to me how she acquired the forms and that she wasn't really attached to them at all. In my head: "Thank you, Lord". Finally, it was my turn. I began to explain to her how I've wanted one of these since I was five years old and how much I would love to have it given the condition. I then proceeded to ask her{for all you Dave Ramsey fans out there} what would be the best price she could give me on it. My heart raced. Are you ready? $30 bucks,folks. I paid $30 bucks for this lovely lady. Even more crazy is that she went down from her asking price of $100 without a word from me. Now, I can tell you that because I will never sell it. I may even request to be buried with it. Yes, I am seriously considering it.

You see, I knew at that moment that God loved me the most that day. I just couldn't believe it. It was the precise number I had in my head and on my heart as I prayed prior to meeting her. 

She'd already collapsed it so I just needed to transfer it from her cat to mine. You would've thought that I stole something as I screeched out of the parking lot. I figured I had better get outta there fast before she figured out what she'd done. 

This is "Lovely" stuffed into the passenger seat of my truck. I couldn't wait to get her home. 

I couldn't wait to get some free time after the kids were down to set her up and tomorrow I get to use her at a public event where my work will be featured. More on that later! 

via RHI Instagram

I don't have a lot of vintage jewelry and I knew that would look absolutely amazing on her. I used what I had and went for some of my antique bronze jewelry since it has a vintage look. 

So, what's on your wish list? What are you dreaming of lately? 

Thankful for answered prayer,