Do You Decorate for Winter?

by Karen // January 29, 2016 // 2 Comments

Do you decorate for Winter? Until I discovered blogging, I didn’t even know there was such a thing as Winter Decor. I decorated for Christmas, and once it was over, things went back to normal. Is it a new thing? Or just new to me? I dunno…

So, how do you decorate for Winter? Some people just leave out their Christmas Decorations, and put away the Santas and related stuff.

Other folks seem to have a completely different set of decorations, that are separate from Christmas. They make snowballs, and icicles, and swap out the greenery. They bring out the mercury glass and the woodland creatures.

Unfortunately for me, all of my Christmas stuff is Santa related, and I don’t have the money right now to purchase separate “post-Christmas” Winter decorations. But, Oh, the fun I’d have! Sigh… Someday.

This year, my “Winter Decor” is simply what I have out, before I decorate for Easter. I specified “Easter,” because I’m not sure if I’ll be decorating for “Spring.” That seems to be a thing, too. When did all this “decorating madness” begin. I’m not complaining. I love an excuse to go out and buy more stuff! I’m just wondering.

I did a similar post on decorating for Summer.

When I was growing up, we decorated for Christmas, Easter, and Halloween. For Thanksgiving, we put away the ghosts and goblins, and added a few pilgrims and turkeys. That was it. I mean, we bought those cardboard cut-out things, to put on the front door, for Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s day. And if someone was having a party, we’d buy cute little salt and pepper shakers, to use in the middle of a cookie tray…

I never remember decorating for every change of season, on top of every holiday. That’s why Christmas was so special.

The only thing we might have changed, that was seasonal, were the bed linens and the curtains. And that was more of a comfort/temperature thing.

I normally do, decorate for Valentine’s Day. I put a few little things out this year, but I’m having surgery soon, and I don’t need the hassle. I’ll just transition straight to Easter.

I just purchased those bird pillows from Pottery Barn. They were like 60 % off on clearance. I got some for Easter, Summer, and Halloween, too. Every time I decorate, I say I need pillows, so I finally broke down and bought some. I’d never pay full price, so it was a good deal. I’m gonna make a trip to Target or Walmart, and fill in with their pillows. Maybe, Home Goods.

I had no idea what to use as Winter Decor, besides the bird pillows. I kept some pinecones out, and some of the greenery… I brought out my turtle shells, and kept the antlers… And, I added a few little touches of Valentine’s Day.

I think the turtle shells will stay out until it’s time for Halloween. Or should I say Fall? Lol!

I love hedgehogs! I’ll keep him out, and the sheep too, thru Spring.

I really need to paint soon! I’m getting tired of everything looking orange. It truthfully, looks really nice in person, but it’s a hard color to decorate with. I don’t know what I was thinking.

I can’t wait to replace the rug. After I finish paying off the light fixture, which still isn’t hung yet, that’s next!

I have so many things I need to do, and so little money in which to do them. Ha! I think most of us are in the same boat. I’m just making the best of it, for now.

It’s super hard to take pictures in my living room. I have zero windows, and when you add the macaroni and cheese colored walls… Sigh… Can you believe, I took these pictures at one in the afternoon, on a bright and sunny day?

Liesl loves the Christmas tree, but she’s glad to have her spot back, in the living room.

If we decide to stay here, in the townhouse, I’m gonna have to change the bottom of the stairs. It’s all builder’s basic, cheap and crooked. I want to put, at least a hint of, a nice stair rail and bannister. I love to decorate, and I want a ~~beautiful~~ warm and inviting home… I can work around some things, but the bones of this place are terrible. I sure do have a lot of fun, trying to compensate for that!

Maybe, I’ll find some things for Valentine’s Day, on clearance this year, to use next year. Or more Winter stuff. Although, I probably missed the boat for Winter stuff, when the Christmas Clearance ended.

That little fairy is “Not Me.” That’s his name. You know… “Who ate the last piece of chocolate?” “Not me!” We blame Not Me, for a lot of things that happen around this house. Everyone needs a resident fairy!

And that’s the last of the changes in decor, for now.

I’m working on my son’s room, and the computer room, so I’ll share those when I’ve made enough progress. Thanks for coming to hang out with me, again! I’d love to know if you guys decorate for winter. Leave a comment

My Bohemian Master Bedroom Tour: Part Two

by Karen // January 28, 2016 // 3 Comments

Welcome back! If you haven’t seen part one, I would start there. On with the tour…

The binoculars are the newest addition to my dressform.

This is actually my bridal veil. If I thought I could get away with displaying the actual dress, I’d do it, lol.

I have a sentimental attachment to the chest and dresser in my bedroom. They originally belonged to my Grandmother, and my Dad used them in his bedroom, as a kid. When my Dad moved out, they went back to my Grandmother. They came to me as a teen, then went to my Sister, finally coming back to me, again. They’ve been refinished a few times. Actually, when I see these women, painting their antique furniture white, or whatever the color of the day is, I think of my pieces.

When the furniture came to me originally, it was painted pink. (When my Dad moved out of my Grandmother’s house, she painted everything.) My Dad spent a lot of time refinishing everything, and I remember him cursing my Grandmother. “Why the heck she would want to paint this nice wood furniture is crazy! I don’t know what she was thinking! Stupid!” He was annoyed, and I remember it like yesterday, lol. I predict there’ll be a lot of sons and grandsons in the same predicament, very soon.

Oh, and there’s my stinky shell from Exuma. What an ordeal to de-stink that thing. When I dug it out of the backyard, it still stunk. I shoved some paper towel inside, and voila! No more stink.

The skull, inside the antique trophy, is actually a magic wand from Ollivander’s at Universal. My son bought it for me, as a Christmas gift, a few years back. He probably picked this particular wand, just for the skull. I imagine he thought it was cool.

This is an antique book-plate from Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, illustrated by Arthur Rackham. I have a few of these book plates around the house.

This was my Dad’s teddy bear, Stinky. You can read about him, and the chair he’s sitting in here. Tell me… Am I the only sentimental fool, that likes these sort of things? What memories are you safe-keeping at your house?

My dresser might look super cluttered, but I actually pared it down a bit. Don’t laugh. For real.

I still have the rose my son wore for his Communion. I’m such a sap. Sigh…

That’s my husband as a little baby! I can’t believe we’re old enough to have black and white baby pictures. Uggh!

That’s my Grandparents in the little frame.

This Sacred Heart of Jesus print, hung in my Grandmother’s house for as long as I can remember. I’m happy to have it.

My newest Santos Bust is from Ballard’s.

I decided to display all the little pins I had stashed away, on Madame, my pincushion doll. What good are they gonna do, taking up space in my jewelry box? I still want to get some pretty hat pins for her, but at least now, she has a purpose. For more on her, you can click here.

This is my Fairytale Tree. It’s about two years old, in its current form. I used to put out two big trees at Christmas. One with white lights and one with colored lights. The ornaments on this tree, used to hang on the tree with the colored lights. It was my old, Fairy Tale Tree. Once I decided not to put up the second big tree, I couldn’t stand the thought of my ornaments, just sitting in a box, somewhere in storage. I wanted to be able to enjoy them. I decided to purchase a little tree, and keep them out in my bedroom, so I can enjoy the magic, all year-long. It’s a little eccentric, but hey. It works for me.

I call it my Fairytale Tree, because most of the ornaments depict Fairytale Characters. Alice in Wonderland, The Frog Prince, Cinderella, The Blue Fairy, The Little Mermaid, etc..

You’re probably wondering if it gets dusty. So, yes… It gets dusty. I’m constantly dusting it with little makeup brushes. It does require some upkeep. Don’t laugh but… I blow dry the dust off, too. And then every couple of months, I un-decorate it, to give it a thorough cleaning. It’s definitely work, but to me, it’s worth it.

I’ve had these prints in my bedroom, for as long as I’ve had the dresser and chest.

I’ve filled my mirror with little inspirational quotes and bits of motivation. It’s a good daily reminder.

Now that you’ve seen my bedroom when it’s all cleaned up… This is what it usually looks like. Just keeping it real.

Laundry, Boxes, and in the corner behind the chest is the Orb Pendant Light we couldn’t hang. Wanna make a bet it’ll be sitting there for at least three months? Maybe six! Sheesh!

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tour, and have been inspired by one or two little ideas.

My Bohemian Master Bedroom Tour: Part One

by Karen // January 28, 2016 // 1 Comment

Hi, friends! I thought I’d give you a peek into the master bedroom. I have to warn you, it’s not your typical master bedroom. It’s a little on the Bohemian side, without the chic. It’s cozy and cluttered, and full of things I love. It’s my sanctuary.

I’m not decorating to impress. I do what makes me happy. Sometimes that means, making my husband, hang an antique umbrella or parasol from the ceiling. They’re so much fun, and add a touch of whimsy.

And yes, I still love stuffed animals. Don’t judge!

If you haven’t already noticed, I kinda have a thing for Steampunk.

No new bedding, yet.

I just got these antique frames. Aren’t they the coolest?

This is the latest version of my Pottery Barn cubby shelf. I’m using some of the sheep downstairs, so it’s looking a little sparse. I need to rearrange it a bit. Maybe, Later.

Those were my son’s shoes, when he was a toddler. They are so cute! I love the bunnies. And below, is his Christening outfit. Of course, it had to be a sailor suit.

Hey, Gubler!

This bookshelf holds children’s books. Pop-ups, holiday books, and books from mine, and my son’s younger years. I don’t really collect them; I just pick them up, when I see one I like. I could collect them. I would love to collect them. I just can’t afford it. I could go broke buying books.

In my last home, I had some of them displayed, hung open on the wall. I may do that again.

One of my latest collections is “antique” Santoses. I’m catholic. We love statues! Lol!

The rosary is a fairly new addition. I purchased it from an elderly, Native American gentleman, at a small flea market in Oklahoma. He had no clue, so I picked it up for 5 bucks. Score!

Mary needed a halo, so I made her one, from a pipe cleaner and glitter glue. Whatever works!

The last stop, on part one of the tour, is my little display cabinet.

I’m like Alice. Always giving myself good advice, but seldom following it. Sigh… Are you like that too?

There’s not a lot of room in this little case… It’s just big enough for a few little Steiffs, my gnome dolls from Solvang, and a few other little pieces of happiness. The Steiffs were my Dad’s, and then mine as a kid.