random ??? and what's in the advent boxes

                                      Here goes, first the most important...
                                           
                                  What do you put in the advent boxes?
                          'detail boy' is 13, so these items might seem a bit odd. :)

My biggest tip if you're using similar items is to look at your calendar and be strategic, (we
don't do fast food so it's a treat). I give those 1 at a time and when all are accumulated
we can go. I  make sure the last one is given on a night we have a school or sports event and
no time for dinner, perfect for a night when Mom & Dad are heading to a party! I know we
have tickets to an Avalanche game, so that day I'll give the nachos coupon. I always throw in a
couple items that are necessities (chapstick & toothbrush) if the item doesn't fit in the box I'll
cut the name off the package and put that in. For the 24th and 25th, I'll put in a bible verse.

 OUR RULE:  If you happen to mention that what's in the box is 'lame' your chances of getting
       something the next day are slim....they'll never be so excited to get a toothbrush!

               

                                      Where is the exposed brick in your home?

It's wallpaper in 'detail boy's room' we were trying to emulate Wrigley Field. I looked a long
time to find something that looked realistic. It's been there awhile and is on the 2012 list to go.

                            
                       
                                        Where did you get the pots the topiaries are in?
                                                         Hobby Lobby - long ago.


                                          Do you have a post about your kitchen?
        Not yet, we remodeled about four years ago, I had a great time planning and designing.
                     I intended to do a detailed post, but since that hasn't happened
                                            I'll do one with Christmas decor.                  

                                                  FYI - Monogram Door Mat
Just wanted to let you know if you're planning to make one, you should do more than 1 coat
of paint, in my hurry to complete it I only used one coat, I can tell it is beginning to lighten.
                                Ours is on an exposed porch with strong southern sun.

                                                    One MoreThanksgiving Tip
        When you're making crust for pies, make an extra one for a homemade turkey pot-pie!
                       This is Ina Gartens's Chicken Pot Pie recipe, I tweak it a tad.
            I use leftover turkey, less onion, add potatoes, and put it in a large pie dish.
       Pot pies are so easy, you can put in any almost any leftover veggies you like, I add my
                                    leftover mashed potatoes and gravy....yum!
          
                                          I can't wait, I love Thanksgiving!

                                                                                                   
                                
                                                         

              

latest find...

                   First of all, a huge thank you to these sweet, supportive bloggers for featuring
                             my barstool slipcovers and coffee table makeover this week!

                                                      Lindsey @ Better After
                                               Kristin @ Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
                                              Debbie @ Debbie's Blogging & Blabbing

   I'm not much of a collector of anything, clutter gives me hives, but I've wanted to add to my
                                collection (three pieces) of silver trophies and pitchers,
                    and found the perfect piece at Goodwill for $8, and now it's complete.

                  Since they're so formal I like to pair them with either rustic or modern items.


                                                                        
                    I like accessories more edited than this, but wanted to show you all the pieces.
                                            The one on the right is my newest find.
                                        Silver trays are a dime a dozen at thrift stores,
                             the other pieces can easily be found, just not quite as plentiful.

                                           Here are a few ideas for displaying silver...
                              
                                                        ~   in your kitchen  ~
                                    
                            
                                                                velvet and linen

                                                  ~   in a cabinet or on a shelf  ~
                                 the addition of greenery is the perfect contrast in texture

                           

                                                                 ~   on a tray   ~

                                   

                                                        ~  chalkboard paint on a tray  ~

               


                                                  That's my simple collection of silver.

                  Check in tomorrow for answers to ???? I've received on miscellaneous projects,
                            a good Thanksgiving tip I forgot, and what I put in the advent boxes.

diy advent calendar tree

I'm posting this early in hopes that you'll do better than I did last year.

I started mine on December 4th.

                                    I clearly remember spray painting in freezing weather,

                              It wasn't exactly the picture of a joyful family crafting together

                            in a cozy kitchen enjoying hot chocolate & sugar cookies during

                                                  the most wonderful season of all!

                                                   ~   I'll spare you the details   ~

                         I'm sure you know Kate, she's the one who I copied inspired me,

               if you want to see what it is supposed to look like you must go check out hers,

                              along with her tutorial.  Centsational Girl's Advent Tree

                        Here's my version...it's part of the Christmas decor in detail boy's room.

                                   
                                        Special boxes for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

I used assorted small jewelry boxes, the square white boxes and white buckets

                       are from the Dollar Store wedding section, there are several in one package,
                                                 small stockings are another fun addition.

 I bought a sheet of stick on decorations from the craft store and used what I had for the rest,
             scrapbook paper, old Christmas cards, bells, berries, candy, ribbon...

Be sure you don't glue the lid closed on the boxes when you're gluing

your ribbon or decor on top. :) 

It's a fun tradition even for a 13 year old who thinks it is

stupid silly when I put it up,

but checks it every single day!

                                            
                                          

                                                   

DIY ivy topiary

          Good morning, I hope you guys are up for another post involving Mother Nature.
      I'm on a roll cleaning out my summer pots and I hate to trash perfectly good plants, so...

I created these topiaries from ivy I took out of my window boxes.

 They easily transition to holiday decor

 by placing a few sprigs of faux red berries throughout the ivy. 

Watch for them to show up as holiday decor in a few weeks,

 along with the paperwhites I planted.  

No window boxes with ivy??  No worries, you can always purchase an ivy plant.

They're available at Home Depot for about $10-15, which may sound a little

pricey, but if you were to buy a topiary this size it would run $20-$40 each.

These are large - wine bottle for perspective!

  

  

 

                     ~ Removed from window box, replant in a decorative pot

                     ~ Place topiary form into the soil

                     ~ Starting at the bottom wind ivy vines around the stem of the form

                     ~ Removing leaves until you reach the base of the ball

                     ~ Continue winding vines around and over the form

                     ~ If you like you can leave a small section to trail over the pot, eventually.

 

 This one needs to fill in a little more, to cover the form....it won't be long.

All shapes and sizes of forms can be purchased from a nursrey.

Instead of purchasing a round form I made mine from a hanger.

Secure the wire in a vice and use pliers to form the shape.

                     Leave a good amount of wire at the bottom to be inserted into the potting soil.

 

                                                        

                   ~ Starting at the bottom separate the vines

                   ~ One at a time wind them securely around the wire form

                   ~  After all the vines are on the form, tuck loose leaves into vines to shape

All of the plants at my house get watered once a week,

no matter the type or needs - they all seem to adjust. :) 

                                                             Ta - Da!  You're done!

                                                                            

sow and you shall reap

Who doesn't love fresh flowers in their home?

Paperwhites are gorgeous, inexpensive and a simple way to decorate during the holidays.

I planted some today, 

it took about 15 minutes and cost $8 for 8 bulbs from Home Depot.

 A good investment of time & money for the beauty they'll lend to my holiday decor.

Here is some inspiration, in case you're on the fence about planting some.
                          

                                                                  ~ rustic elegance ~ 
                            
                                                                          triciafoleyinthecountry

                                                                        ~ gracing your coffee table ~ 

seaglasslvr.tumblr.com

~ trailing down the stairs ~

  

gallery.me.com

~  in a bowl ~

bhg.com

~ in a basket ~

futuredomesticgoddess.blogspot.com

~ in a box ~

2bp.blogspot.com

~ in a birdbath ~

whiteironstonecottage.com

~ freshly cut ~

taraguerardsoiree.com

~ orderly arranged on a buffet ~

merrimentevents.com

~ colorful ~

images.meredith.com

Package from Home Depot

Not so interesting compared to all that inspiration above...patience!

Have a wonderful weekend my friends

 and thank you for visiting my

simple little blog!