Pocketful of Blue

I have always loved the phrase "Home for the Holidays". Even though we are taking a short trip right before Christmas, we will be back in time to enjoy Christmas at home. Of course, home can be wherever the people I love will be. That's the most important thing and the most necessary ingredient. But I don't mind if it also includes a cute little reindeer. And a decorated mantel. A Christmas tree, of course. Pretty packages. And a cozy kitchen with little bits of Christmas sprinkled around. Christmas also includes our cute kitty with visions of sugarplums dancing in his little head . . . or kitty treats, whichever. Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by. I know there are so many beautiful homes to visit right now. Hope your Christmas is Merry and Bright! JoAnne - joining - NESTING PLACE ~ CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES 2016

Uh-Oh! It's almost here. Are you all scrambling to be ready for the big day like I am? It will all get done - at least good enough, right? That's what I keep telling myself. We're actually going on a short ski trip right before Christmas. I'm not sure who's crazy idea that was! With our oldest being in college now, it's more difficult to find  a time when we can do things as a family. So my deadline is very near. I need to have everything ready before we leave. But don't worry (just in case you would) - I won't be skiing. You can find me in the lodge by the fire with a warm drink. Sounds very relaxing about right now. I hope you enjoyed these pictures of our simple dining nook as I rambled on and I hope to share a little more of Christmas at our house before we leave on our trip. Have a wonderful and productive week with hopefully a little bit of relaxation and enjoyment of the season mixed in.

Hi Everyone, I recently saw THIS POST about a Christmas tree made with old toolboxes and crates.  I thought it was soooo cute and thought I could make something similar with some of my old boxes and baskets. Here is what I came up with. I think it turned out kind of cute. I placed it in this formerly plain and boring corner near our back sliding doors. I love how quick and easy it was too. The basket I used as one of the layers did give me fits though since it is not completely flat so it was making the "tree" lean to one side. A little bit of maneuvering and I finally got it to stand up straight. I topped it with a mini tree. I found this jingly bell star at Joann's the other day and attached it to the (unruly) basket. It fits in well with the rustic look. So there you have it. A quick and (mostly) easy tree made from boxes and baskets. And don't you love when you can use things you already have? T

I always love when I walk into someone's home and their entryway is pretty and inviting. Its just a good feeling and then of course, I want to see more. Well I was ready for a new look in our entry but it's a bit narrow and difficult to find  small pieces of furniture that will work without crowding the area too much. I love cute little stools and benches and I actually have a small collection  at this point so I decided to try one of them in the entry. I liked it, but it didn't seem like enough and there was too much  space between the bench and the mirror.   So then I tried stacking a smaller bench on top. It was looking better and after adding a few accessories I think it did the trick. Adding something large like this galvanized bucket full of faux lavendar makes a  very pretty statement as you walk in the door. This one little white pumpkin is a nice seasonal touch too. Now I have a new look in the entry and a

It's been a while since I have posted about an adorable kitchen so when I saw this one, I knew I needed to remedy that. This kitchen exudes farmhouse charm all over the place. Isn't the cabinetry gorgeous? And look at the checkerboard tile on the back splash - so cute! I have always loved plate racks and this one on the far wall is no exception. We can always use a place to display our pretty dishes, right? You also get a glimpse of the gorgeous Aga stove here. And here is a better view of it with its four ovens.  It's an amazing focal point for this kitchen along with  the tiles that show off a couple cute roosters. The island with its wooden counter top is nice and big  and it has a handy prep sink as well. See the large armoire like cupboard in the photo below? That is actually the refrigerator - love that! You also get a view of the eating area here with a collection of  paintings on the walls - perfect for a far

Sometimes you just never know where you will find something special for your home. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel a couple weeks ago and of course I had to look around in the Country Store part of the restaurant. Do you ever see something and just instantly know that you love it and have to have it? Well, that is how I felt about this wood cake stand. There was no way I was leaving there without it. Wood Cake Stand Here it is on our table being used as a centerpiece. I just love the warmth of the wood top and I can imagine using it  for so many different things all around the house. I paid $25 but I noticed that it's now on sale for $18.74. You can also shop online . Here are a few other goodies that I thought would be perfect for cottage or farmhouse style and they are all on sale as well: Stoneware Measuring Cup Set Ceramic Mason Jars Indoor Planter Framed Lace Heart Wall Decor Vintage Clear Glass Goblet Striped Kitchen