Christmas Decorations

The Christmas season blew by so fast this year that I hardly remember it actually happened.  I put Christmas decorations up in time for a Christmas party at our house on December 21st. Naturally, that is way later than I've ever done so.  But none the less, it was on my mind as the holiday season started back in November this year.

The merriment of the season begins.

I started putting Christmas decorations up in early November and quickly realized that my white Christmas tree was sporting a rather shady shade of white.  With this in mind I decided that I needed to spray paint a few coats to revitalize my precious white tree. So out the door I went with my white tree to the back yard with my cans of white spray paint.  I did this on a rather busy Sunday morning so it actually got to sit outside for many hours.  This helped with the smell.  Something I didn't take into account before I started spraying.  Fortunately, the smell was mostly gone by the time I took it back inside.  Also...it rained.  For which I thought my tree was ruined.  Again...safe. 

While I was in the backyard spray painting my Christmas tree naturally somebody sent me a text to see what I was doing.  My answer..."Oh ya know, just out back spray painting my Christmas tree."

Meanwhile...back inside

I gathered some new velvet throw pillows for the sun room sofa to add to the holiday cheer. The other pillows I have been using are bright yellow linen and I decided to change the fabrication for the winter season.  The thing is I like these new pillows so much that they may just get to stay on the couch year around.

About a week later, the tree found some decorations and we were ready to celebrate the holiday season.  Since my husband works for the church it doesn't seem like the holiday season did when I was growing up.  It just seems like work now.  Isn't that sad? SO many joyous components of the season though I must say.

Around the house...

I will admit that I do still have some of my decorations still up.  My tree has turned into a Valentine's Day tree, which I can convince myself of for now. But in a few more weeks I will have to put it away. Until then, I have some new light to shed on the house for the new year.

Le Weekend

Handsome wants to know if you've had a good weekend.

I've been contemplating a new hair do...

How do we feel about bangs? 

I'm considering it. 

I spent some time this weekend playing with my big girl toys. 

My freshly painted chairs have been put back in place. 

I love it! How in the world did I get so lucky to find them? 

Thank you Craigslist "Gods".

Handsome and I taught lessons on Sunday afternoon. 

Handsome is my VP of operations/security.

The students love him. 

After church this morning (at St. John's Episcopal Church)

 the children had a lemonade stand.  It was so precious. 

The Emmy's are on tonight.  

Perhaps a rich beef stew will be cooked in honor of the program. 

Hmmm, perhaps to the store we shall go. 

Did you have a good weekend? 

Throw Pillows: Fashion or Function?

I can remember a time when I was void of throw pillows.  

Can you imagine? 

And now...I have a plethora. 

Enter my Craigslist couch that was purchased around Christmas 2010. 

I loved this couch when I saw it on the "list" and have grown to even more love it as time has gone on. 

I considered (well was planning on) recovering this piece upon purchase.  After having it for a few months, I just love it to much to do it.  AND if I did have it recovered, guess what...it would probably be blue. So no gain-no loss. 

For the past couple of months, I've had this guy lounging on the couch.
Handsome is scared of our animal hides....I don't think he wants to think of what they may have been (!)

These pillows are just great.  They are a popular item that many bloggers use in projects and I have seen them wildly posted in the past year.  Yes, I also have a pair.  And guess what...I love them. 

They are so versatile, this is the front and back of the pillow. 

 It's not just cute on one side, it's cute on both!

Here are my Tarj pillows with some newly acquired Robert Allen pillow

 made by my gal pal Lauren (she is a sewing wizard)! 

This pillow is one of my very favorites...

The hitch in this giddy up is that it is so darn big that it is only really good to "look at".  

It doesn't so much do any good if you have to actually sit ON the couch. Boo. 

Do you think the same philosophy applies to cute pillows that we rationalize with to wear cute shoes? 

Here are the smaller versions.  I purchased the big green guy and the yellow and pink smaller guys about a year ago at Anthropologie.  The little guys are much easier to work with. 

What's up with you and your throw pillows? Does your significant other try to use them to lay on?
(I have that problem.) Do they get to stay on the couch/chair when you sit down?  

I guess the real question is...

Throw Pillows: Fashion or Function?