Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Holiday Nights

I think my favorite thing about Christmas decorating is all the lights.  There's nothing cozier than relaxing in the evening by the fire and the lights from the tree.

Ours light up the whole room and I really miss them when the holidays are over.
I have my decorations all done but the forecast is clouds, clouds and more clouds for the next several days so I thought I would share our evening view in the meantime.
I put a small tree in our dining room - perfect for romantic evening dinners.  I filled the trough my husband made with faux evergreen, poinsettias, glittery fruit, ornaments and candles.

And I put (almost) every other candle we own on our living room mantle.  A faux garland and a string of lights add sparkle in the evenings.  I filled the hearth and ottoman tray with more cream poinsettias.

A large wreath hangs in the picture window.
I got this throw at HomeGoods.  It's the softest!  I think I'm going to have to take it up to our bedroom and use it more because I don't sit in here often.

I hope to catch a sunny day soon to take some pictures of the living room and dining room and post them. And I hope to show you my husband's contribution to the decorating!  lol and a forehead slap! He was so happy with his idea that I had to leave it.

Be back soon!
love and blessings~
"Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house."  Matthew 5:15

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Family Room

Christmas is in full swing at our house. I have always loved decorating for Christmas and try to change things up every year.    

Our family room is where my husband and I spend most of our time when we're relaxing.  It's sunny in the day time and cozy at night.
Winters can be dreary so when decorating for Christmas, I love lots of trees and sparkle and flowers.
 Our fireplace has a gas log that's easy to flip on.  It makes winter almost enjoyable.
We had a real tree every year for many years but, as I mentioned yesterday, it bothered my husband's allergies.  So several years ago, he bought us the largest artificial tree we could find.  I felt it was a good compromise and love how tall it is.
Most years I put a garland on our tree but this year chose not to.  Instead, I loaded it with several sizes of glittering snow flakes and lots of icicles.  

The fur throw on our couch is from Pottery Barn.  Michigan winters are long and cold and our couch is where I hibernate.
I put some more sparkly trees and a worshiping deer on our sofa table behind our couch.
I left our mirror above the fireplace and added two lengths of garland from Hobby Lobby.  I have two of these little wooden wheel barrows.  This one holds cinnamon scented pine cones which fill the room with their scent, especially when the fireplace is burning.

The coffee table holds a vase of white amaryllis and pine and two sleighs of faux evergreen and more scented pine cones.  I put them everywhere and also burn pine scented candles.  I love when friends tell me that our house always smells so good. And the candles make up for not having real evergreen.

I'll be back soon with pictures of our dining room and living room.
love and blessings~

"'And you, Bethlehem, land of JudahAre by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"  Matthew 2:6
I'm joining these linky parties:RattlebridgeFarmdwellingsoursouthernhomescthoughtsfromalice.lifeonlakeshoredrive.karensuponthehillbetweennapsontheporch.coastalcharm.thriftydecorchick.stonegableblogsavvysouthernstyle.frommyfrontporchtoyours.northernnesting.craftberrybushtatertotsandjellohomeremediesrx.thenester.adelightsomelife.
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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Christmas Family Room

Christmas is in full swing at our house. I have always loved decorating for Christmas and try to change things up every year.    

Our family room is where my husband and I spend most of our time when we're relaxing.  It's sunny in the day time and cozy at night.
Winters can be dreary so when decorating for Christmas, I love lots of trees and sparkle and flowers.
 Our fireplace has a gas log that's easy to flip on.  It makes winter almost enjoyable.
We had a real tree every year for many years but, as I mentioned yesterday, it bothered my husband's allergies.  So several years ago, he bought us the largest artificial tree we could find.  I felt it was a good compromise and love how tall it is.
Most years I put a garland on our tree but this year chose not to.  Instead, I loaded it with several sizes of glittering snow flakes and lots of icicles.  

The fur throw on our couch is from Pottery Barn.  Michigan winters are long and cold and our couch is where I hibernate.
I put some more sparkly trees and a worshiping deer on our sofa table behind our couch.
I left our mirror above the fireplace and added two lengths of garland from Hobby Lobby.  I have two of these little wooden wheel barrows.  This one holds cinnamon scented pine cones which fill the room with their scent, especially when the fireplace is burning.

The coffee table holds a vase of white amaryllis and pine and two sleighs of faux evergreen and more scented pine cones.  I put them everywhere and also burn pine scented candles.  I love when friends tell me that our house always smells so good. And the candles make up for not having real evergreen.

I'll be back soon with pictures of our dining room and living room.
love and blessings~

"'And you, Bethlehem, land of JudahAre by no means least among the leaders of Judah;
For out of you shall come forth a ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'"  Matthew 2:6
I'm joining these linky parties:RattlebridgeFarmdwellingsoursouthernhomescthoughtsfromalice.lifeonlakeshoredrive.karensuponthehillbetweennapsontheporch.coastalcharm.thriftydecorchick.stonegableblogsavvysouthernstyle.frommyfrontporchtoyours.northernnesting.craftberrybushtatertotsandjellohomeremediesrx.thenester.adelightsomelife.
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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Fall in the Family Room

No matter what your color scheme in your home, most of us like to add some warmth when the temperatures outside start to drop.  I do, too.

I have never loved fall colors in my house but this year I've modified them.  If I had to say I had a 'fall theme' it would be 'copper.'

I lightly sprayed all my faux fall foliage with a light layer of copper to tone down the reds and yellows.
And then I was much happier.

A mix of real and faux gourds and pumpkins fill a dough bowl on the coffee table.
I found this faux silk brown plaid fabric when I found the blue plaid for my living room.  I thought it was the perfect fabric to add some warmth to this room for fall.  I very rarely buy throw pillows.  I like to make my own so I can have as many as I want and use the fabric elsewhere to tie the room together.
I filled the vase on the sofa table with fall foliage, branches and eucalyptus.  A bust of a horse brings some of the brown to the table.
Remember the topiary  I made in the Spring?  It's still going strong.  I never transplanted it out of the plastic pot it came in and I set the whole thing in a copper pot for fall.


 I'm enjoying the changes and I'll most likely keep the room like this until Thanksgiving is over.
I'll be back soon with our Fall kitchen and a complete Fall Home Tour.

We got our new stove (love it!) and all that's left to finish in the kitchen is the back splash. From Farmhouse to French Country Part Two

AND we're finally getting an estimate on our new bathroom tile today!  We've had to keep rescheduling because of being busy.  Our Master Bathroom

I hope you're having a wonderful day!

love and blessings~


"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17

I'm joining these linky parties:
thededicatedhouse
savvysouthernstyle.
diybydesign
commonground
andersonandgrant
impartinggrace
thecharmofhome
frenchcountrycottage
designsbygollum

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

Fall in the Family Room

No matter what your color scheme in your home, most of us like to add some warmth when the temperatures outside start to drop.  I do, too.

I have never loved fall colors in my house but this year I've modified them.  If I had to say I had a 'fall theme' it would be 'copper.'

I lightly sprayed all my faux fall foliage with a light layer of copper to tone down the reds and yellows.
And then I was much happier.

A mix of real and faux gourds and pumpkins fill a dough bowl on the coffee table.
I found this faux silk brown plaid fabric when I found the blue plaid for my living room.  I thought it was the perfect fabric to add some warmth to this room for fall.  I very rarely buy throw pillows.  I like to make my own so I can have as many as I want and use the fabric elsewhere to tie the room together.
I filled the vase on the sofa table with fall foliage, branches and eucalyptus.  A bust of a horse brings some of the brown to the table.
Remember the topiary  I made in the Spring?  It's still going strong.  I never transplanted it out of the plastic pot it came in and I set the whole thing in a copper pot for fall.


 I'm enjoying the changes and I'll most likely keep the room like this until Thanksgiving is over.
I'll be back soon with our Fall kitchen and a complete Fall Home Tour.

We got our new stove (love it!) and all that's left to finish in the kitchen is the back splash. From Farmhouse to French Country Part Two

AND we're finally getting an estimate on our new bathroom tile today!  We've had to keep rescheduling because of being busy.  Our Master Bathroom

I hope you're having a wonderful day!

love and blessings~


"A friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17

I'm joining these linky parties:
thededicatedhouse
savvysouthernstyle.
diybydesign
commonground
andersonandgrant
impartinggrace
thecharmofhome
frenchcountrycottage
designsbygollum

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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

End of Summer Welcome

It's too early for pumpkins and the leaves are still green on the trees but you can definitely feel Fall in the air here in Michigan.  Our town's population has increased by about 10,000 this weekend as college classes start today.  So Big Rapids is hopping!

I'm hosting a Bible study in my home this Fall and Winter so it's so much fun to decorate knowing that others will enjoy it weekly.  "Others" being women - that is!  Not 6'4" basketball players that don't notice anything except how many cows I have in my kitchen! lol

I was at the market this week and spotted a bucket full of sunflowers.  And what says 'end of Summer' and French Country more than sunflowers, dried Lavender and ripe apples?

There's fresh wood in the basket next to the fireplace. (Our fireplace actually has a gas log that puts out wonderful heat, but one day my daughter said, "Every time I see that basket of wood, I keep thinking the fire is real!"  So that's enough reason for me to keep it there!)


And the throws in the basket next to the couch are freshly washed.  I love when guests pile onto our couch Indian-style,  wrapped in a throw, and we share our lives with each other.





There's a new 'Welcome Sign' and some beautiful multi-colored mums at our front door to greet our guests as they arrive.

Please don't notice that one of my mums is all broken.  It was the victim of a basketball. lol  (I'm going to pretend like I didn't notice. I'll miss him so much when he moves out!)

I made the Welcome sign and will share with you how I did it later this week.  When the leaves turn and the pumpkins are ripe, I'll add them to the mix.

And I love when the first thing my guests say when they enter my house is how good it smells! I always have a scented candle, or two, burning. I match them to the seasons and this time of year it smells like spiced apples, spiced oranges or caramel.  And I don't even have to bake!  ;)

On another topic, one of my other son's friends told me recently how much he liked the rug at the front door!  lol  He said it felt so good on his feet.  You would have been so proud of me!  I just smiled and said, 'Thank you!' and didn't tell him how mad I was at it.  My Dirt Rug

Our Bible study group is going to be reading and discussing two books that I have gained so much from - "There Were Two Trees in the Garden" by Rick Joyner and  "What the Bible Says About Child Training" by Richard Fugate (links to Amazon)  God willing, I'm going to post our topics on my other blog Summits of Rubies.  And I'd love to have you follow along and share if you'd like!

Have a great day!

love and blessings~


 "I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You."
 Psalms 22:22









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Home & Garden, Tips & How To

End of Summer Welcome

It's too early for pumpkins and the leaves are still green on the trees but you can definitely feel Fall in the air here in Michigan.  Our town's population has increased by about 10,000 this weekend as college classes start today.  So Big Rapids is hopping!

I'm hosting a Bible study in my home this Fall and Winter so it's so much fun to decorate knowing that others will enjoy it weekly.  "Others" being women - that is!  Not 6'4" basketball players that don't notice anything except how many cows I have in my kitchen! lol

I was at the market this week and spotted a bucket full of sunflowers.  And what says 'end of Summer' and French Country more than sunflowers, dried Lavender and ripe apples?

There's fresh wood in the basket next to the fireplace. (Our fireplace actually has a gas log that puts out wonderful heat, but one day my daughter said, "Every time I see that basket of wood, I keep thinking the fire is real!"  So that's enough reason for me to keep it there!)


And the throws in the basket next to the couch are freshly washed.  I love when guests pile onto our couch Indian-style,  wrapped in a throw, and we share our lives with each other.





There's a new 'Welcome Sign' and some beautiful multi-colored mums at our front door to greet our guests as they arrive.

Please don't notice that one of my mums is all broken.  It was the victim of a basketball. lol  (I'm going to pretend like I didn't notice. I'll miss him so much when he moves out!)

I made the Welcome sign and will share with you how I did it later this week.  When the leaves turn and the pumpkins are ripe, I'll add them to the mix.

And I love when the first thing my guests say when they enter my house is how good it smells! I always have a scented candle, or two, burning. I match them to the seasons and this time of year it smells like spiced apples, spiced oranges or caramel.  And I don't even have to bake!  ;)

On another topic, one of my other son's friends told me recently how much he liked the rug at the front door!  lol  He said it felt so good on his feet.  You would have been so proud of me!  I just smiled and said, 'Thank you!' and didn't tell him how mad I was at it.  My Dirt Rug

Our Bible study group is going to be reading and discussing two books that I have gained so much from - "There Were Two Trees in the Garden" by Rick Joyner and  "What the Bible Says About Child Training" by Richard Fugate (links to Amazon)  God willing, I'm going to post our topics on my other blog Summits of Rubies.  And I'd love to have you follow along and share if you'd like!

Have a great day!

love and blessings~


 "I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You."
 Psalms 22:22









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