Favorite Things - Day #3

It's so funny how less than two years ago,

hardly anybody knew about Etsy.

These days, LOTS of people know about it...

... and if you don't - you will!

That's why etsy.com has some of my "favorite things" for Christmas!

(I mean, check out this cute shirt! Adorable for work.)

1.) This ADORABLE necklace is something I want under the tree.

2.) Etsy is a great, great place to find unique artwork.

I mean, you can get all 3 prints of these trees for only $60!

3.) Pottery, and dishes everywhere!

These coffee mugs with one-of-a-kind sketches on them are great.

4.) Shabby chic picture frames!

How cute would these be in a living room?

5.) Put a ring on it!

6.) Vintage white chairs! These I may have to buy for myself.

7.) Clutch purses galore. SO many to choose from.

8.) Even recycled bottles... that become cheese trays!

Seriously, there are WAYYYYY too many things I like on this site...

... I could be posting all day long.

So, just go check it out yourself!

Favorite Things - Day #2

Day #2 of my "favorite things"

is full of items from

www.westelm.com

I love, love, love the website.

Luckily, there is a store in Chicago... so it's only 3 hours away!

From gorgeous, fun headboards...

... to this REALLY cool shelf that would look perfect in my living room.

These lamps are SO deliciously divine.

I want all three.

PILLOWS!

I love a good throw pillow.

Especially ones as cute as these.

These ceramic milk jugs are fun too...

... they could look great above kitchen cabinets.

The MOMENT I buy my first place... one of these lights

is being installed!!!

Curtains, curtains, curtains.

Light, airy, elegant.

This bookshelf would look great behind a couch...

or in the entryway of a house.

First off, this desk is awesome.

Secondly, I love the white storage unit behind it!

(Don't forget the lamp either.)

SOOOO, if you're wondering what to get me for Christmas...

... ANY of these items would do.

Otherwise, I gift card to West Elm would be nice too :)

Few of My Favorite Things - Day #1

With 5 days until Christmas Eve, I've decided to do FIVE DAYS...

of my FAVORITE things...

from FIVE of my favorite websites.

SUNDAY = FAVORITE LIVING ROOMS

from DecorPad.com

I love this website because it has so many unique ideas

for every single room in your house.

I am in love with the yellow artwork in this room.

Same with the artwork in this photo too.

I love taking big, bold patterns and putting them above a sofa.

This room, could be one of my TOP favorites... EVER.

I love the different wall colors, combined with patterns and textures.

Not to mention, the dining room chairs!

It just screams, "LOOK AT ME!"

This room is simple, soothing.

Love the artwork behind the couch.

Kind of difficult to tell from the picture, but it's waves.

Once again, this artwork behind the couch MAKES the room.

Little touches of yellow is my new guilty pleasure.

This room adds just the right amount.

How cool is the artwork in this room?!

I LOVE how the pictures go ALL the way across the wall.

The brick wall, combined with the wallpaper, blinds, and artwork

add so much fun and style to this room.

VOGUE!

Such a great idea.

Use your favorite magazine for art.

Homemade Jewelry Hanger

Looking for a new jewelry hanger?

This is a project that took about 15 minutes...

and best of all...

cost only $5.00!

I've been trying to find a different way to hang my jewelry.

So, I found this decorative canvas on clearance at "Hobby Lobby" for $3.

I bought some hooks at "Target" for only $2.

I screwed the hooks in the bottom (wooden part) of the canvas.

These are the kinds of hooks that you can twist by hand.

Make sure to measure them out with a tape measure before you

screw them in.

I did about an inch and a half...

... which gave me 7 hooks for necklaces.

Hang em up!

The best part about this jewelry hanger is the fact that I don't

have to screw a bunch of hooks into my apartment wall.

I've done that over the years, and it's left big holes to patch.

By using the canvas, it creates less of a mess!

** If you can't find a decorative canvas that you like, you can always

purchase a PLAIN canvas for about $3-5 at "Hobby Lobby" and cover it

with fabric. **

Like the examples below:

Have a "Peary, Berry" Christmas

I know it's Christmas time, but if you're in the mood

for a "summerish" pie for the holidays... this is a keeper.

Pears

Raspberries

Blueberries

Sweet, tart combination. So yummy!

Ingredients

3-4 pears

1 container of blueberries (about 2 cups)

1 container of raspberries (about 2 cups)

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Pre-made pie crust

1 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 stick of butter

1/4 cup milk

1.) Cut up the pears, and add the raspberries, blueberries, lemon zest and

juice to a bowl.

2.) Add 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg to the bowl

and mix together.

Place the fruit mixture inside the pre-made pie crust.

Cut up 3/4 of the stick of butter, and place on TOP of the fruit.

3.) Place the other pre-made pie crust on top of the fruit.

In a separate bowl, melt the remainder of the butter.

Add 1/4 cup of milk to the mixture.

Using a cooking brush, cover the top of the pie with the butter/milk mixture.

Cut a slit in the top of the pie.

Place in a 350 degree preheated oven for 50-60 minutes.

Let the pie cool for about 1 hour.

When you dig in, the sweetness of the pears, combined with the

tart flavors of the blueberries and raspberries is deliciousssss!

Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make it even better :)

Enjoy!

Deck the Halls

Christmas season is finally here!

Which means three of my FAVORITE things:

* Christmas music *

* Christmas shopping *

* Christmas decorating *

This past Friday, we decorated at my parent's house.

Here are a few ideas for your own home!

1.) Coffee Table Centerpiece

I used a circular platter from Hobby Lobby

and placed a candle in the middle.

Then, used filler that looks like red berries.

Placed two antique looking ornaments, some pine cones,

cinnamon sticks, and decorative wicker balls around the candle.

2.) Sleigh Centerpiece

This white sleigh is also from Hobby Lobby.

I placed a candle in the middle, and filled the inside with pine cones

and ornaments.

You can NEVER have enough pine cones - or ornaments - at Christmas.

3.) Christmas Wreath & Garland

My mom bought a plain wreath and plain strand of garland.

(They were on clearance at JCPenney's.)

I decided to dress them up with some ribbon, glass beads, ornaments

and berries. Ribbon and berries were bought at Garden Ridge.

Glass beads and ornaments were bought at Target.

Our color theme is red, blue and silver.

For the stocking holders, my mom and I couldn't find any at the store

that we really liked.

So, we bought some plain silver hooks, and I hot glue-gunned

an ornament to the top.

Works perfect!

And fits in with the garland.

4.) Trim the Tree

Our color theme for the tree was red, blue, silver, white and chocolate brown.

We used red and brown ribbon...

white reindeer ornaments...

colored glass balls...

... and tinsel.

Cute, right?

5.) Kitchen Table Centerpiece

Found a silver platter at Hobby Lobby for $5.

Found some unique candles, and placed in the middle.

(The pine cone candle is my favorite!)

I used berry filler once again.

Placed ornaments and acorns around the candles.

Simple, yet adorable.

Set the nativity scene on the back table, and all in all...

... it looks pretty good!