So Ready for Spring!

(images: 1. meadowbrook farm, 2. google, 3. a rosy note, 4. stonegable, 5. lemonade makin' mama)

We are so ready for some spring color around here and feel inspired by these images from some of my favorite blogs. Now we just need to get the sun to stick around for a bit!

Warming up your Home for Winter

I know there are a LOT of great ideas out there in the creative world of blogland on this topic lately, but I've been putting this one together in my mind for the past few weeks.  It all started out with this incredibly soft blanket/throw we got for Christmas from Grandma and Bumpa LaPerle which now everyone in our household fights over!

I love decorating for Christmas and have a whole slew of pictures I took of our house all decked out for the holidays that I still need to post, but now the holidays are over and things are looking kind of bare and cold.  I thought I'd share a few ideas of ways to warm up your home for winter -- by using whites, layering, adding texture and incorporating greenery where you can.

(Source: Ideal Home UK)

People deal with the weather by throwing on extra layers of clothing. The same trick works around your home-add extra layers to your slipcovers, couches, chairs, tablecloths and beds.

(Source: Pottery Barn)

Mmm, makes me just want to cuddle up and read!

(Source: Country Living)

Set cozy, warm throws near chairs and sofa for not only a punch of pattern and color into the space, but they will also be close at hand to snuggle with. They are a wonderful addition to any reading nook, living room or bedroom.

(Source: Pottery Barn)

I love the warmth of velvets, chenilles and wool throws this time of year, since January is for cuddling up and staying warm.

 

(Source: Pottery Barn)

Throw warm afghans, quilts or down throws over chairs and sofas to invite cuddling. The layering of fabrics adds richness and texture to the room.

(Source: Pottery Barn)

(Source: West Elm)

Make a pillow cover out of an old sweater.  

(Source: Brassy Apple)

Check out this fun tutorial here!

That actually looks like a fun project!

With all the bright holiday colors put away, January is a good time to add more white.  I love the calm look of "winter whites". 

(Source: A Rosy Note)

What a calm look she has created here... Notice the layering on the dining table, and the blanket on the ladder. Simple but nice touches.  She also incorporates greenery in such a beautiful way.

(Source: A Rosy Note)

 I love the look of her room!

(Source: wadeblackmon)

(Source: Real Simple)

I also love the look of paperwhites but after numerous years of growing them inside, we just can't take their aroma anymore... the smell is always mistaken for dirty diapers!

I scored on an after Christmas clearance for these artificial paperwhites at Pottery Barn last year.  I love the look, and can now enjoy them without the pungent aroma.

(Source: Country Living)

Another beautiful way of adding some green to your decor by using hyacinths... now these do have a heavenly aroma and they have them already at Home Depot and Lowes.

These white amaryllis flowers I found at Target and are from my Christmas decor, but I decided to leave them out through January as well.

(Source: The Nesting Place)

Check out The Nesting Place for more great ideas on decorating your home after Christmas and adding more greenery into your decor.

So there you have it... my long post!  Layer everything, add yummy textured throws and pillows, throw in more accents of white in your decor, and bring in flowers and greenery to create a warm and calming feel to your home for winter.

Simple Joys on a Friday

Beautiful soft sunlight streaming through the window...

Fall leaves with gorgeous color...

Harvest decor...

Hydrangeas and white plates

Shopping fix in downtown Snohomish and Irresistible Fall Decor!

When your last child is in school everyone will tell you to go out and get a pedicure, treat yourself to lunch and go shopping (although on the later, I don't need any more encouragement!)  "You earned it, you deserve it!"  is what I always hear.  Well the luxury of having all day to myself is still an adjustment.  You'd think I would use my time more wisely, have a perfectly organized home, meals cooking in the crockpot and extra time just for me.  Well I'm not good really at any of those things, and most times think I'm just plain lazy.  It's been an adjustment because once she gets on that bus, I'm alone, in the house -- all alone, and it's too quiet!  I want to leave and go somewhere.  Maybe it's hard because it came so quick, or sooner than I/we had thought, (but that's a whole other subject for another time).  I thought the adjustment to having more time to myself would be easier.


Well today, I went out and did some things just for me -- nothing at home, (need to get over the guilt for leaving a messy house and dishes in the sink!),  and had a great time.  I had a doctor's appointment in Snohomish and then ... went to browse in all my favorite home decor and antique shops in historic downtown.  When we were first married and I was having a not so great day (back when they were fewer and far between, LOL), Jeff would come home from work and say, "why don't you run down to Snohomish!"  So sweet that he recognized that I would maybe come back feeling better!  Well I don't go down there as often now, so it was a lot of fun to see all the new things and filled my brain with tons of new ideas.  (I think I have too many decorating ideas swimming around up there!)


I went to my favorite shop Joyworks (shopgirl with a blog, I love it!)  Their new theme was "time to feather your nest with pretty things that make you happy!"  (Sounds pretty familiar, at least in the home decor blogging world,  ie. Nesting Place)  Here's some fun inspiration pics from her shop:

Love the bird's nest! 

I love topiaries, especially faux boxwoods!

Had to get me one of these!

The shop owner and her partner made these pillows, how cool with the burlap!

I then headed over to Faded Elegance, my other new favorite shop. Everything is very French Chic, which is the direction I want to go in my dining room -- shabby, antiques with some french decor!  I think I still gravitate to this style of decorating because it reminds me so much of Nana's house.  She traveled alot in her day and I remember being facinated as a child with all the plates, artwork, figurines, and furniture that she had in her home.  I wish she were still here to help me today.

Here's some pics from Faded Elegance:

Mmm, I love the lamps, the chandelier, the antique mirrors and the pairing of black with the shabby white table!

The lighting is real bad, but fun to get an idea of how things are arranged on the wall!

I know, some of this probably seems so boring, but it's fun for me to go and see the creativity at work in these stores.  Someday, I think I might even like to work in a shop like these two!

Well that's it for now... I had more to share, but have to go get Maddie from the bus.  It's so fun to go down there to get fun ideas for Fall decorating as well, which I will post more of later.  I haven't been in the mood, really to start decorating for Fall, because we've all been very hesitant to let our summer go -- as short lived as it was.  But it's now time and nothing better than a trip to Snohomish to get in the mood along with the new Pottery Barn catalog in the mail as well!

images: pottery barn

Mmm, love that porch, don't you!

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Well, I ended up not publishing this post when I went to pickup Maddie, and got so inspired by all the pictures in my fall inspiration folder, that I decided to share some more of my favorites.  Hope you enjoy all the irresistible inspiration!

image: Centsational Girl

I love how she's added just a bit of color with her white decor and love that poem too!

Time to go out and clip some branches...

better homes & gardens

(images: Becky Higgins)

I love the fall pictures on display.

Beautiful frames, small touches of fall with pumpkins here and there.

better homes & gardens

(oh, I love this, but can't remember where I found it... somewhere in blogland.  If you recognize it, let me know who it's from so I can give them credit.)

 images: Sweet Something Design

Just taking some favorite fall pictures and framing them in black and white frames, is so effective!  I'm gonna do that!

(this is another unknown ...)

I love the idea of displaying framed pics of the kids past Halloween costumes! What a great idea to remember the fun of the season.

Sweet Something Design

Sweet Something Design

Loving the white plates next to the black hutch, with little sprigs of fall interspersed.

(another one I can't remember, sorry!)

I love how cute and simple this is with some vinyl lettering and a little ric- rack!

image: pottery barn

Just loving the white furniture right now...

image: country living

Love the wreath over the mirror!

image: Transforming Home

I love her whole arrangement here with the plates on the wall and wreath on the mirror.

image: Nesting Place

Last but not least, I always enjoy seeing what creative things The Nester does with each season.  Wednesday she's having a fall mantle link up party, so be sure to check it out for more decor ideas. 

Enjoy!

Oh and by the way, I did go and have that pedicure, and it was wonderful!!  Just have to find balance in everything :)