60-cent Candle Makeover

In trying to change up some color schemes around the house, I have found that my candles don't quite fit.  Most of my candles are either red, green, or white.  I don't like to spend a lot on candles, and here lately, I just haven't felt like buying new ones even when they were on sale.

I saw the idea on blog-land somewhere...I don't remember where now...about covering your candles with scrapbook paper.  Who doesn't love a 60-cent make-over?

Before

After

Cut paper to candle length, and wrap. 

I used an Elmer's glue stick laying around for the edge.

 Then tied some burlap around it. 

Ca-ute!

Easy fix on the cheap!

Linking to:

Mantle Update

A couple of weeks ago I sent a SOS for some mantle help!  Thank you for your comments!  I did step away from it for a bit, and have been messing with it just a little...

Here was where I was stuck...at 1:30am..bleh.

And here is what it looks like tonite.  Tomorrow...it may be different :)

I know it's a lot of stuff.  You can see it's hard for me to go out of my box here. 

There is still a little tweaking to do, but I'm content for the moment, and still open for feedback :)

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Weekend Get-a-way at the Baer House Inn

HELLO!  I know it's been a while since I've posted...it's just been ridiculous crazy around here!  But I'm still working on some blog fodder in all the craziness.

The hubby and I just got back from a much-needed long weekend!  We have not been on a trip by ourselves in four years!  All of our recent trips have involved the kiddos one way or another....so it was good to have some 'us' time.

We went to a bed and breakfast called Baer House Inn in Vicksburg, MS, which is about a 3.5 hour drive south of us. 

It was a great weekend of R&R, a little bit of antiquing and soaking up the history.  Since hubby is a Civil War buff, he was like a kid in a candy store.  And since I love old homes, I was giddy to be in such historic house.  This was my first B&B experience.  All I could imagine about a B&B was from watching 'Newhart' growing up, and from the movie 'Holiday Inn'.  And I've always thought that it would be fun to run a B&B.  After my visit at the Baer House, the dream is still alive!  If only money grew on trees....

Anyway...back to reality.

I thought I would give you a tour of the Baer House.  I did not take pics of all the rooms...you'll just have to go visit and see for yourself.  And the history of the house is amazing!  Let's just say Leona Baer is one interesting lady, and Type A does not even begin to describe her!  Doug--the innkeeper--is such a great story-teller, and has done a fantastic job of rennovating the house.  Oh--and his Creme' Brulee French Toast is to die for!

You see the different brick and mortar?  Can you say cannonball?

And who wouldn't love a 2-story screened in porch?

When you walk in the back door...this is the view down the hall...

View from the front door

Have you noticed the floors???

AMAZING!

The staircase (hey honey!)

Upstairs Hallway

Would you like to see the ORIGINAL 1870 bathrooms?

The Men's Room

The Ladies Room

And this was high-tech advanced back then!

(But don't worry...the house is up-to-date with plumbing :)

Upstairs porch

There are 7 rooms to choose from. 

We stayed in the Bonnie Blue room. 

These chandeliers are all through-out the house!

This armoire is only one of two original pieces left from the Baer Family

Here is the main guest area..den/dining room

The billard room, with the original slate fireplace.

The history of the house is rich.  This house has led several lives since the Baer family...from the house where all the kids in the neighborhood came in the 20's and 30's, to a boarding house, to a law office...the stories are endless.

If you are planning a trip to the Vicksburg area, I would recommend the Baer House for your accommodations.  We can't wait to go back!

Decor Dilemna: Mantle Help Needed

So tonight I was piddlin around on the computer, and thought, hmmm...it's 12:30 maybe I'll go to bed.

As I walked downstairs, I thought, crap, I was going to put our new family picture up.  I thought I would hang it in the den, but this week I decided to put it on the mantle. 

Now you have to understand that once something is 'decorated' and in it's place and where I like it, it's hard for me to change it up.  I am a creature of habit.

My mantle has looked like this for 5ish years...

I did change it up for fall last year...

Of course from fall it went to christmas

 (sorry no pics..I was never happy with it)...

Then the day after christmas I started to twitch,

and then it went back to 'normal'.

Can you sense my OCD for groups of 3, and for changes in height?  I need symmetry, and balance--especially for round and square. 

So back to the new family picture. 

I know I want it off-center...am I a rebel, or what? (headbanging-singing 'breakin the law, breakin the law')  The main reason is for lighting.  If the picture was in the middle of the mantle, you can see the ceiling fan lights, plus we have a spotlight over the mantle, too.  So keeping it to the right and off-center reduces the glare.

Long story short...I've rearranged things several times, but I am stuck for 2 reasons:  1) It's 1:30am now and I am tired and can't think, and 2) all my accessories are in the attic which is off of the teenager's room and I'm sure he won't appreciate my decorating this late.

So here is where I'm stuck and need ideas:

BORING!
I know I've got a lot of dark going on...it's heavy.
I've got more containers for the arrangement,
I know I need to switch out color of candles...
I know I need more texture...
I'm not afraid to layer...

I'm not committed to the candlesticks or arrangement.  I've got lots of accessories to play around with and lots of spray paint...round baskets, round platters, iron, etc...

But I just need a starting point...

Would love to hear your ideas...or if you have blogged about your mantle, send me your links!

Thanks friends!

Evolution of a Green Thumb Part 2 (and some irony)

Back in April, I thought I was starting to get a green thumb.  You can read all about it here.

Yeah, well, so, that green thumb turned brown again.

I think I planted more seeds than my pots could handle.  Because I've got pretty much nothing.  I have been faithful in my watering, but nada.

I'm one of those people, if 2 tylenol are good, I'm taking 3.  But I guess there is a such thing as too much of a good thing in gardening. 

I don't even want to show you pictures because of how sad my little planters look.  I had some sprouts, but no buds.

But...my Forget-me-Nots finally bloomed!

And the irony of the Forget-Me-Nots blooming, is that I seem to be having some memory problems lately.  Apparently memory loss starts at age 32??  And did I mention I got the FMN seed packets at an Alzheimer's fundraising event?

me @ alzheimers event

So I bought some fish oil to help with my memory. 

But I can never remember to take the fish oil!

Anyway...What was I talking about?

Small Changes

This mirror was a housewarming present from my parents when we bought this house.  I wanted it for our dining room, and loved all the colors, and the size.

Since starting the dining room facelift, and adding some turquoise, the mirror didn't quite fit in.  I had bought a can of 'Mediterrenean' spray paint for some other things, and had an idea.

I sprayed some Mediterrenean in a bowl and grabbed a small paint brush.

Just a small change for now so I can keep what I have. 

I REALLY want a round mirror for this space, but this will do for now.