Lovin' in the Kitchen ...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes, folks, the tree is still up!  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Out went the Christmas elves and gingerbread men ...</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTU71GViJzCfCqezr7hyphenhyphen_lUL5PftJtWvlMPBlzwUCVIrDbk8DPdU1soSKJ1sI_BCIbqzJAfY2nRTCG6ENt-B7vjRupWjagkpKbAJIwsOgfIngXoy2pTwvDWKhtsVjAz_bGo6GUYZXvQ/s1600/vdaykitchenoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTU71GViJzCfCqezr7hyphenhyphen_lUL5PftJtWvlMPBlzwUCVIrDbk8DPdU1soSKJ1sI_BCIbqzJAfY2nRTCG6ENt-B7vjRupWjagkpKbAJIwsOgfIngXoy2pTwvDWKhtsVjAz_bGo6GUYZXvQ/s640/vdaykitchenoverall.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and in came the hearts.  There are flowers embellished with hearts ....</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Cy5G0Fs-8DoNSmib4QXirDsYXKH3UfejtCyGm0WfgBcgzUrAmmWSxP4sfBh2U0KZg0XP2KeSlr4oaQMQpWgQu0hECs_VWbtcacejS6AqUDaTuXJ1IN1DxPbshtLannlZ0g_qeqO1A/s1600/vdaykitchenflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46Cy5G0Fs-8DoNSmib4QXirDsYXKH3UfejtCyGm0WfgBcgzUrAmmWSxP4sfBh2U0KZg0XP2KeSlr4oaQMQpWgQu0hECs_VWbtcacejS6AqUDaTuXJ1IN1DxPbshtLannlZ0g_qeqO1A/s640/vdaykitchenflowers.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hearts that say "I like you!"</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYD-K5UNC_uaAf0_7lQ4zDUnleKj0BlSK_D0JoiXO_unKorD5RcnNeK1wwlX004-vp6uavw4xZqperxjCZ7tddPGHPkm3WxXuRqL5nyPjwXDKEFdl6dcsMnC7SKgB5XOxmIQaCG7cvQ/s1600/vdaykitchencanisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkYD-K5UNC_uaAf0_7lQ4zDUnleKj0BlSK_D0JoiXO_unKorD5RcnNeK1wwlX004-vp6uavw4xZqperxjCZ7tddPGHPkm3WxXuRqL5nyPjwXDKEFdl6dcsMnC7SKgB5XOxmIQaCG7cvQ/s640/vdaykitchencanisters.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">one with a simple word of:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCQ2FGjM9002O0638RLxz434KX35YwbdYQTdG_TnZ4ds1ZShUFmcOD9FA9dPi00vrloD9OvBHFDFN2HUNxprcpwi6OowT9ygZo0QsJKMR-IIl5EecF9PFl3iSQFJKmLH2TsdZrabRyw/s1600/vdaykitchentowel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCQ2FGjM9002O0638RLxz434KX35YwbdYQTdG_TnZ4ds1ZShUFmcOD9FA9dPi00vrloD9OvBHFDFN2HUNxprcpwi6OowT9ygZo0QsJKMR-IIl5EecF9PFl3iSQFJKmLH2TsdZrabRyw/s640/vdaykitchentowel.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and, ones that don't say anything at all.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlr4YKc83bIHQ1-OFInEIA0lxKR3XKAv7SeZGC9BGFxmU3SkR9XkKu4Xx-h_297iRCAINni8TOpMDxYsZEfptA12yImGAPu5W16h33hsFUMWMOdjXOa3f8_pvIY-O-HHE01HmvEOX-Q/s1600/vdaykitchenscale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlr4YKc83bIHQ1-OFInEIA0lxKR3XKAv7SeZGC9BGFxmU3SkR9XkKu4Xx-h_297iRCAINni8TOpMDxYsZEfptA12yImGAPu5W16h33hsFUMWMOdjXOa3f8_pvIY-O-HHE01HmvEOX-Q/s640/vdaykitchenscale.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, there are *YUM*mies to indulge on ...</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouHSxyExl2rp9-w1S21vkzo-kXi7_GmX8nTWQO6QzKcpTXIJ9CM031gZPndeOzixy5PCrEARjmScUMggNhJlwM8O3iBAmRjXnh2gJlS_oaF5xf60toqfUU-5datVMmic1kGhjkZUAew/s1600/vdaykitchenyum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouHSxyExl2rp9-w1S21vkzo-kXi7_GmX8nTWQO6QzKcpTXIJ9CM031gZPndeOzixy5PCrEARjmScUMggNhJlwM8O3iBAmRjXnh2gJlS_oaF5xf60toqfUU-5datVMmic1kGhjkZUAew/s640/vdaykitchenyum.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKDXyRcTKZ348MEo0qiJCwvuhixkPUulPFYOCXbMy8P31Kpmike0Shi5Z6TYhqbHaQsvn7c4isFVo93nUP9UxmZ8o6rtsT7jDy7RSqZTqpw33OENXiUnu2l1Tjc8KZf30aGdLxVrtjw/s1600/vdaykitchencandycorns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKDXyRcTKZ348MEo0qiJCwvuhixkPUulPFYOCXbMy8P31Kpmike0Shi5Z6TYhqbHaQsvn7c4isFVo93nUP9UxmZ8o6rtsT7jDy7RSqZTqpw33OENXiUnu2l1Tjc8KZf30aGdLxVrtjw/s640/vdaykitchencandycorns.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">because they're nice and ...</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlYe-QkrfN1YwCBYE3vwFy9X7AoOdclrt3MmR_ZeJHtzJd8eDwqtSqihq3jS1V3bbBt4Qv5RpjjLJh4rOAT1_DZOs3uA6jIUEQGs37fY5iPM5e3NZx4TagzfDS73hgorDMzm3oqH6nw/s1600/vdaykitchensweet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlYe-QkrfN1YwCBYE3vwFy9X7AoOdclrt3MmR_ZeJHtzJd8eDwqtSqihq3jS1V3bbBt4Qv5RpjjLJh4rOAT1_DZOs3uA6jIUEQGs37fY5iPM5e3NZx4TagzfDS73hgorDMzm3oqH6nw/s640/vdaykitchensweet.jpg" width="612" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Annnnd, there's a reminder of what we all want ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oTYdTqSwLUQjF_NsjO_rX7nICEhsu7OYfu2uy81jqaIOuCj1USj2_xhgVQJOu_dYp0wIKZHtpZZwVBSN651pj-s9WxtvApPYiwdy8rwmjFr6op8boF6Tc519diFu5XM71zp_2pixDA/s1600/vdaykitchenxo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oTYdTqSwLUQjF_NsjO_rX7nICEhsu7OYfu2uy81jqaIOuCj1USj2_xhgVQJOu_dYp0wIKZHtpZZwVBSN651pj-s9WxtvApPYiwdy8rwmjFr6op8boF6Tc519diFu5XM71zp_2pixDA/s640/vdaykitchenxo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">along with a big reminder of what we all need!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLs5EtikJQINU0fDxF9wgcE3B6CUdrHhvOFVUGIhlRrtLVr42e0vRi-jA5HvPDWnunZUVMMkHKTAEtiDOrxIXMdnBfJOm4mZ9BFMwf7WJOIdJT1c2g8jjFcxsVIaPi6ch8JbdNwIo-Q/s1600/vdaykitchenchalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLs5EtikJQINU0fDxF9wgcE3B6CUdrHhvOFVUGIhlRrtLVr42e0vRi-jA5HvPDWnunZUVMMkHKTAEtiDOrxIXMdnBfJOm4mZ9BFMwf7WJOIdJT1c2g8jjFcxsVIaPi6ch8JbdNwIo-Q/s640/vdaykitchenchalk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, is there "lovin'" going on in your kitchen?</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfixVimODEfkD8rFYzf5CZYylTxk5Gq978fqc8PIFblH8hqxv_Jcwndl9Xr5_l-sDoSmJcLMu95HHQyOTSiTJ_XJ4jpvkSwklCNLLwWuW2LIOGjT45ByOQdXvEXdinTzP2ShCQTroWXQ/s1600/vdaykitchenfrombed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfixVimODEfkD8rFYzf5CZYylTxk5Gq978fqc8PIFblH8hqxv_Jcwndl9Xr5_l-sDoSmJcLMu95HHQyOTSiTJ_XJ4jpvkSwklCNLLwWuW2LIOGjT45ByOQdXvEXdinTzP2ShCQTroWXQ/s640/vdaykitchenfrombed.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharing with:  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-122/">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/02/wow-us-wednesdays-104.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SavvySouthernStyle+%28Savvy+Southern+Style%29">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Becca</i></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><br />

Lovin' in the Kitchen ...

Yes, folks, the tree is still up!   Out went the Christmas elves and gingerbread men ... and in came the hearts.  There are flowers embellis...

Read more »

Our *Wanna Be* Sanctuary

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of you may remember when I redecorated a few rooms at my parents' house this past summer, to include their sunroom.  In this space, I replaced a wicker loveseat, two chairs (all with red cushions) and *yellow-y* walls with a relaxing 4 chair configuration dressed in blues and creams, with a few pops of coral and a big ol' boat that appears to be floating on the beautiful Atlantic Ocean, which is right in their backyard.  Once I was done, my parents named their "new" room "The Sanctuary."  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrn-laKzv_SQe6cB8OtQnQ4vL52ghdc2c6r0EsYlUKWOv40mj012Q0o8rA6gFBoQHsZkxknda7AgQ6RSy7_fZ9I1r-rhBUp23No-4CnVYXpXIjKs-QqligE7Sgpk6kOI9e28eaM7S-Q/s1600/beachsunlast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrn-laKzv_SQe6cB8OtQnQ4vL52ghdc2c6r0EsYlUKWOv40mj012Q0o8rA6gFBoQHsZkxknda7AgQ6RSy7_fZ9I1r-rhBUp23No-4CnVYXpXIjKs-QqligE7Sgpk6kOI9e28eaM7S-Q/s640/beachsunlast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ever since then, I've wanted to create a little "Sanctuary" in our sitting room; however, it's not as big as my parents room, NOR does it overlook the ocean (bummer)!  Still, I'm determined ...</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here's what it looked like this time, last month:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2en87gc8-XJZvQ9v29zikvmTlyUrMm4lY13or1t3uDDGihTPT4i4-77aIUjLhZ-olfEXxQJjZA0cqyZuM7lTnjp3OIftA8fv4N3eBnn7U0MfYlDVlS4TRWSaxkeaYkh5Wj9d34kLb5A/s1600/xmassittingoverallw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2en87gc8-XJZvQ9v29zikvmTlyUrMm4lY13or1t3uDDGihTPT4i4-77aIUjLhZ-olfEXxQJjZA0cqyZuM7lTnjp3OIftA8fv4N3eBnn7U0MfYlDVlS4TRWSaxkeaYkh5Wj9d34kLb5A/s640/xmassittingoverallw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, here's what it looks like now:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPnUWPKzggPiWFvlIpSXA_9oHsF-ulnBdBk5O-4oY9zjKebKEw_njSOIa8C0r7QYzTO7o6oRB7_QAnmYODQtXKXeX9v1ZOIqIZYSXD1YcSyr76oLaBkNOV_NiZBhi1BfTQGvEFuWvZQ/s1600/sittingvoverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPnUWPKzggPiWFvlIpSXA_9oHsF-ulnBdBk5O-4oY9zjKebKEw_njSOIa8C0r7QYzTO7o6oRB7_QAnmYODQtXKXeX9v1ZOIqIZYSXD1YcSyr76oLaBkNOV_NiZBhi1BfTQGvEFuWvZQ/s640/sittingvoverall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Like my parents' "Sanctuary," I really want to have 4 white accent chairs in this space (possibly EKTORP Jennylund chairs from IKEA) and position them  around this perfectly-sized round ottoman I recently snagged at Home Goods:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLQwYT-JBdddPakcCvVbGhir5vj7Dtekdv3T_qz-g0hwqG7bn-S2l8WdhDdrqkcpitJXw3vtQT2RAVedBwOqjVuGFJSWEHrxKsbp55Kl7HaF4wN8zyDrM9QnG3_pfUoc1MsJ3MIz44Q/s1600/sittingvottoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLQwYT-JBdddPakcCvVbGhir5vj7Dtekdv3T_qz-g0hwqG7bn-S2l8WdhDdrqkcpitJXw3vtQT2RAVedBwOqjVuGFJSWEHrxKsbp55Kl7HaF4wN8zyDrM9QnG3_pfUoc1MsJ3MIz44Q/s640/sittingvottoman.jpg" width="506" /></a></div></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, while I won't be painting our walls Wythe Blue like I chose for my parents' sunroom, I've added pops of blue back in ... like with this fun, new, geometric fabric, </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlaPURnrebRhYTk8WSKiwvjl04HvB6r4XW7QzYfgPKEq1eQlITFS-G3-hTHLtowfv3r-rSCKf5Sr4IijsNgTfKOWFqeK4RVU4h41JZThrXj9VeLYNSJkNXBQ-qR2WHnrgavR0SFTdkQ/s1600/sittingwheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlaPURnrebRhYTk8WSKiwvjl04HvB6r4XW7QzYfgPKEq1eQlITFS-G3-hTHLtowfv3r-rSCKf5Sr4IijsNgTfKOWFqeK4RVU4h41JZThrXj9VeLYNSJkNXBQ-qR2WHnrgavR0SFTdkQ/s640/sittingwheat.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii92OuZfrmPFNC3jX2DLTK2_BpGqvr9G8ReMunmnAMTjwWlb1Dw2VKzOdIwTtcb-Z6gQbnE6U_dvXWEBElrjMJdrAyiKOMbGEZaX4jda0Az-XwVc2xNcgsHZ1Jk-WLJKUSbHodX_6odA/s1600/sittingsidefabric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii92OuZfrmPFNC3jX2DLTK2_BpGqvr9G8ReMunmnAMTjwWlb1Dw2VKzOdIwTtcb-Z6gQbnE6U_dvXWEBElrjMJdrAyiKOMbGEZaX4jda0Az-XwVc2xNcgsHZ1Jk-WLJKUSbHodX_6odA/s640/sittingsidefabric.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">along with bringing back the blue accent chest that I replaced during the Christmas season:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oRF03FWIMrHDNRhx5puV5p-lHZMBkKLl8MIVjGMIFA3K8opR7abZZrI2FCeV_8duoXH17ZYNbuwKd0-rF3XvRMLK0VfCg9Yr6XqQHoEYZSIJr_sT_lYnZutHfx7mvIHakjATpi49uw/s1600/sittingvchest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oRF03FWIMrHDNRhx5puV5p-lHZMBkKLl8MIVjGMIFA3K8opR7abZZrI2FCeV_8duoXH17ZYNbuwKd0-rF3XvRMLK0VfCg9Yr6XqQHoEYZSIJr_sT_lYnZutHfx7mvIHakjATpi49uw/s640/sittingvchest.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Also, I'll re-introduce pops of coral once Spring draws near ... for now, I've kept a bit of red for Valentine's Day:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k_SYk4GJtCT9v__BGRjDKe1RAywWnREZ4D-bdVzL8tbZMdgDXIWdKWwj9EjkwOo4rTXxB659hVlcCX822uLiDEd-H21NfPciWp6yrZZDbWhMiy7yGLcDmF6MzYUU32IaSORQIM-MTA/s1600/sittingvjax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4k_SYk4GJtCT9v__BGRjDKe1RAywWnREZ4D-bdVzL8tbZMdgDXIWdKWwj9EjkwOo4rTXxB659hVlcCX822uLiDEd-H21NfPciWp6yrZZDbWhMiy7yGLcDmF6MzYUU32IaSORQIM-MTA/s640/sittingvjax.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOiCbrZsZilpBss9jvvjMfaN9W2ZCIJmmcL7_3uDPGA5npchXdiMeOv4mszy7kSCeoHZCYD3HHJvVDNO8OW7hAdCD4dFnTShnkl7tR705MsHpaRoJPHfpOPdy4TW2uAPVIvmCAPq7Lg/s1600/sittingrose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeOiCbrZsZilpBss9jvvjMfaN9W2ZCIJmmcL7_3uDPGA5npchXdiMeOv4mszy7kSCeoHZCYD3HHJvVDNO8OW7hAdCD4dFnTShnkl7tR705MsHpaRoJPHfpOPdy4TW2uAPVIvmCAPq7Lg/s640/sittingrose.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak-KIjIUJop3xLgJLtbac24DRuBGc6bQrnWVhjbyCIejuEzSzEe05tWhw5sUHGQ-r_jqjGU6-htfZhaa-SgTM9CcBO6GGldkvq2mPkMyHeQ70duKkzUe-d01X9SqVdTcJQp0QXZFTPw/s1600/sittinghearts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak-KIjIUJop3xLgJLtbac24DRuBGc6bQrnWVhjbyCIejuEzSzEe05tWhw5sUHGQ-r_jqjGU6-htfZhaa-SgTM9CcBO6GGldkvq2mPkMyHeQ70duKkzUe-d01X9SqVdTcJQp0QXZFTPw/s640/sittinghearts.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Bessie (the cowhide that *was* in our breakfast area) is now enjoying this space that is filled with lots of white, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">to include a sofa table that was oak stained a couple of weeks ago, but is now Annie Sloane's "Pure White,"</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKjRFW_O9xGSFxvZePzsqeOnZJrJWqd8SCuMy25ZOaG5Dko6ookg1SNE7ERo3jwLNaIG0JybaGRW7NZh1TdVtCnMPolO142dWHtg9L0s759gOdqdo2B-h_nptYPiD4g7fu0Dj5xCt4g/s1600/sittingfromgreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKjRFW_O9xGSFxvZePzsqeOnZJrJWqd8SCuMy25ZOaG5Dko6ookg1SNE7ERo3jwLNaIG0JybaGRW7NZh1TdVtCnMPolO142dWHtg9L0s759gOdqdo2B-h_nptYPiD4g7fu0Dj5xCt4g/s640/sittingfromgreat.jpg" width="426" /></a></div></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">a pretty, white garden seat I recently scored at TJMaxx, </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI9QgCGRlJPHEZMtQVL6EmZLdGKTq8zcpDpHrekVQ_gJ44gnxor4rB3JtKI2FNlJMVBo_QAdcI8XQUsjYjfFo6mFTva6h1J6GqTdkO_gO2u-ahwGSBIaYoFaTLnEFBH2hnCO2dkCAug/s1600/sittinggarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvI9QgCGRlJPHEZMtQVL6EmZLdGKTq8zcpDpHrekVQ_gJ44gnxor4rB3JtKI2FNlJMVBo_QAdcI8XQUsjYjfFo6mFTva6h1J6GqTdkO_gO2u-ahwGSBIaYoFaTLnEFBH2hnCO2dkCAug/s640/sittinggarden.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>  </div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">lots of white pieces in the bookcase:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDf1Z24ijDvpgzdsqQXBNpEiyu9v0PEK73Eo-SoXhyphenhyphenoLAIzb0VjXChvbsvODYer55xnFxzbYa8fOJ_pfhz7MHwNCFxhfXd-DDGlI5dxhnWf621LA_zYkZzDAlXAI8XnCDv0L56NLsNA/s1600/sittingbcaseclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDf1Z24ijDvpgzdsqQXBNpEiyu9v0PEK73Eo-SoXhyphenhyphenoLAIzb0VjXChvbsvODYer55xnFxzbYa8fOJ_pfhz7MHwNCFxhfXd-DDGlI5dxhnWf621LA_zYkZzDAlXAI8XnCDv0L56NLsNA/s640/sittingbcaseclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">and, okay, a few shells ... just because.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4wGkkW8HV80u3TfznKY6Uxyw2aTnPcgouZntOZu7tCNB0clfEHETXf17_CgPw9cn18oC4oVKctUK7DBWI4H-ADhYf7hvqmMQxC_dqsiGSXIW4tJHptEB2LapUwwT4HAg0QdRZ6efww/s1600/sittingshells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4wGkkW8HV80u3TfznKY6Uxyw2aTnPcgouZntOZu7tCNB0clfEHETXf17_CgPw9cn18oC4oVKctUK7DBWI4H-ADhYf7hvqmMQxC_dqsiGSXIW4tJHptEB2LapUwwT4HAg0QdRZ6efww/s640/sittingshells.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Here's hoping that I can find the perfect chairs to fill this space, without overwhelming it. Until then, I suppose I'll just enjoy our "Wanna Be Sanctuary." (lol)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As always, thanks for stopping by!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And, be sure and come play with us:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-121/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tuesdays-treasures-121">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/01/wow-us-wednesdays-102.html">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">From My Front Porch to Yours/<a href="http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2013/01/treasure-hunt-thursday-91.html">Treasure Hunt Thursday</a></span></div><div align="justify" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">French Country Cottage/<a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/01/feathered-nest-friday_24.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FQoLtm+%28FRENCH+COUNTRY+COTTAGE%29">Feathered Nest Friday</a></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr68/jbbecca/blogsig_zps4ebbd032.png" /></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></div><br /><br />

Our *Wanna Be* Sanctuary

Some of you may remember when I redecorated a few rooms at my parents' house this past summer, to include their sunroom.  In this space,...

Read more »

An Unexpected Valentine Mantel

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greetings, friends!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gone is the glitter, faux snow and reindeer; however, one thing that didn't have to leave after Christmas were splashes of red ... thanks to Valentine's Day! </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After running into World Market a couple of weeks ago to grab one "little" thing, I found myself unexpectedly loading a NOT-so-little thing into my car.  That purchase then became the surprise focal point for our Valentine's Day mantel:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYANu5Y49HI3QLNgZytFph96ln8AFj4YAMzIcdGu5WBK7oo0s0muu5GcvBsCTHAu60okZfrQefxquXGez-WOHXirB3SQaMWVjr1pd-02-F-LMyDB-DyZsOHigvqJrQGd1ifXe3oHqqA/s1600/vdaymanteloverall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYANu5Y49HI3QLNgZytFph96ln8AFj4YAMzIcdGu5WBK7oo0s0muu5GcvBsCTHAu60okZfrQefxquXGez-WOHXirB3SQaMWVjr1pd-02-F-LMyDB-DyZsOHigvqJrQGd1ifXe3oHqqA/s640/vdaymanteloverall.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, I *then* found my car driving on auto pilot to Michael's to find a few goodies to complement such unexpected purchase! First, I spotted simple, inexpensive red vases to add faux florals (already had on hand): </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPWYkOpV1-bNUfWTNGX5uGfPAriO7p7zX4DLJzazGh_TGLZJtb2bD6jg9xqttC3TTNP-iaoejJO2pIZBcnT8ACEUW2piobvJG4ZgEdX5g3-vtxzCK48gwyBo1PvW511Q4b-fgBjrDLw/s1600/vdaymantelflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPWYkOpV1-bNUfWTNGX5uGfPAriO7p7zX4DLJzazGh_TGLZJtb2bD6jg9xqttC3TTNP-iaoejJO2pIZBcnT8ACEUW2piobvJG4ZgEdX5g3-vtxzCK48gwyBo1PvW511Q4b-fgBjrDLw/s640/vdaymantelflowers.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next, while there, I found a pack of red and pink hearts, which I would later embellish with smaller Martha Stewart adhesive hearts and hang at varying heights across the mantel:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjJk7xPreavvcXczaAAiP0XSR1BOyD-PtitFdRA2RzADdM0_Ohtg06h4JdOpyVGEAU5Qh0YRwlfcOzMxguyQuIgZIH8w1G1KpWgqlvmnZQQd8YTPqjmd8bsiK5J7V4YkxWpQzNOupqg/s1600/vdaymantelclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjJk7xPreavvcXczaAAiP0XSR1BOyD-PtitFdRA2RzADdM0_Ohtg06h4JdOpyVGEAU5Qh0YRwlfcOzMxguyQuIgZIH8w1G1KpWgqlvmnZQQd8YTPqjmd8bsiK5J7V4YkxWpQzNOupqg/s640/vdaymantelclose.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, what's Valentine's Day without Cupid?  These cuties were actually part of a gift bag ... I simply detached them from the bag and gave them a spot on the mantel, as well, along with a few, scattered rose petals:  </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKF8N5nkKlOzcBNRrr8uhKai4KehAOVXkb5hLcRFMicKDLYUfT1VQH3WJ9u_Vc31jXkkycbIGF7wLqC2rQi5Fxvckkr8794yIC0loetEBhyrVMNOObVvxm5fT_-k3oanE_G1XpRZaOA/s1600/vdaymantelleft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKF8N5nkKlOzcBNRrr8uhKai4KehAOVXkb5hLcRFMicKDLYUfT1VQH3WJ9u_Vc31jXkkycbIGF7wLqC2rQi5Fxvckkr8794yIC0loetEBhyrVMNOObVvxm5fT_-k3oanE_G1XpRZaOA/s640/vdaymantelleft.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLolhhOp7snt56cZ2mPd4-Mo0gZyg9O8lxrR6rcJKN7uo2kEYf0wlwkGhO8PxDqJfprNkwqMxxDPxm3scre4z92eEXeRlAwddZmzHpamdPsi-Ee7-az67kkDbosTSHDhTSkQkLtOSug/s1600/vdaymantelright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLolhhOp7snt56cZ2mPd4-Mo0gZyg9O8lxrR6rcJKN7uo2kEYf0wlwkGhO8PxDqJfprNkwqMxxDPxm3scre4z92eEXeRlAwddZmzHpamdPsi-Ee7-az67kkDbosTSHDhTSkQkLtOSug/s640/vdaymantelright.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Plain, white candles were given a bit of Valentine whimsy by adding layers of decorative ribbon:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nk6hbIOPLB0L9BhP1pYThhYsCLtZ5HyxDcr2po7NbGaun9s82oJgteefKjHdedDyKsuxdQF6LJA80jtS8umvS-lP8D_N2AwRLjUjEq4UqqazlcFXOOpEGil9Z2_DAC6IP03Gdwo5Mw/s1600/vdaymantelside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nk6hbIOPLB0L9BhP1pYThhYsCLtZ5HyxDcr2po7NbGaun9s82oJgteefKjHdedDyKsuxdQF6LJA80jtS8umvS-lP8D_N2AwRLjUjEq4UqqazlcFXOOpEGil9Z2_DAC6IP03Gdwo5Mw/s640/vdaymantelside.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Lastly, after finding these cute, adhesive tiles, I thought it'd be fun to frame them:  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY74JOQXv2Z3eBB9-0k1YX5xQdB5l1wnPmFWz3dB59C8unTQ7CaPo6v1-cCcS9wEzMoHB3CZotHGKRwHJlIQ7tHzGdmFWZ_G2UeIfMQEn-rKZA2TXZkfYcOR7j-ie6vlSmeWtj7Ks9XA/s1600/vdaymantelbemine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY74JOQXv2Z3eBB9-0k1YX5xQdB5l1wnPmFWz3dB59C8unTQ7CaPo6v1-cCcS9wEzMoHB3CZotHGKRwHJlIQ7tHzGdmFWZ_G2UeIfMQEn-rKZA2TXZkfYcOR7j-ie6vlSmeWtj7Ks9XA/s640/vdaymantelbemine.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One last peek at our unexpected Valentine mantel:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZil3ORcayhX-DF5ekm49dklDsrpTiD3jUEsS5jUm5Uds-kc6w8eFE9ODH0Q50maO7iexZSTKe3fWosEyXcAoBWg4Vr9FncmYpBLt06dQgK_MdqE6D5HZCLlLcN3w4X1kUud-1FI6bA/s1600/vdaymantellast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZil3ORcayhX-DF5ekm49dklDsrpTiD3jUEsS5jUm5Uds-kc6w8eFE9ODH0Q50maO7iexZSTKe3fWosEyXcAoBWg4Vr9FncmYpBLt06dQgK_MdqE6D5HZCLlLcN3w4X1kUud-1FI6bA/s640/vdaymantellast.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by ... hope to see your unexpected additions, too!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Come play:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/01/wow-us-wednesdays-101.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SavvySouthernStyle+%28Savvy+Southern+Style%29">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">French Country Cottage/<a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/01/feathered-nest-friday_17.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FQoLtm+%28FRENCH+COUNTRY+COTTAGE%29">Feathered Nest Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jennifer Rizzo/<a href="http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2013/01/fabulously-creative-friday-linky-party_17.html">Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party</a></span></div><br /><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/324/23F7A341254AC000A256EF1E6BE921AB.png" />

An Unexpected Valentine Mantel

Greetings, friends! Gone is the glitter, faux snow and reindeer; however, one thing that didn't have to leave after Christmas were splas...

Read more »

A New Addition

<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greetings, friends!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While I should be putting our house back together after taking Christmas down last week ... SOMEhow, I found myself with a paint brush in my hand.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see ... I've wanted to add an antique secretary to our great room for quite some time now, but, have never found one that I liked ... that is, until the other day (thanks to a rainy morning and Craigslist).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's what *she* looked like after we brought her inside ... in pretty good condition, despite dings here and there.  Still, I could practically hear her begging me for a makeover ... so, that's exactly what I did.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrSSLdC9tEiF4OvqR4eukyGiVPvWyOKqRu4VSDkpAfybwAE04C5uGDxtUQqqJNso9_Q3sCf-UbpHw7qNSdTF6lZ7tD8_H4TxkIkU33ONdhhed5fbkI5D7x0XYiPZpyfGg3a086eGwHw/s1600/secretaryfrontb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrSSLdC9tEiF4OvqR4eukyGiVPvWyOKqRu4VSDkpAfybwAE04C5uGDxtUQqqJNso9_Q3sCf-UbpHw7qNSdTF6lZ7tD8_H4TxkIkU33ONdhhed5fbkI5D7x0XYiPZpyfGg3a086eGwHw/s640/secretaryfrontb4.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, here's how she looks now, thanks to a can of Annie Sloane's "Pure White:"</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSCKyVrF7iGUuGdkPutOuVacQ3cylLTRgnc-sAesF_RkqZQwinIE9L58Wlx9Lbsz_veLldYeQkadvIUBM7MO6io9M0PNs445F3HtZR8fokHR4eodoWqynKkQ2M0z6j3bsojeQBodsqA/s1600/secretaryafterside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUSCKyVrF7iGUuGdkPutOuVacQ3cylLTRgnc-sAesF_RkqZQwinIE9L58Wlx9Lbsz_veLldYeQkadvIUBM7MO6io9M0PNs445F3HtZR8fokHR4eodoWqynKkQ2M0z6j3bsojeQBodsqA/s640/secretaryafterside.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, I had to distress her a bit to honor peeks of her history (love the ball and claw feet):</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVArnHr2dNGmxBTGonNO5_Vpo1C5gcTqb_EhrIRJKpJXEBnJBqPwfYKGQXsSvEF82Uo0AAasp52ozomMIRqKv5XvBYzEqr0EzKkDqCXS_pJ_xi8m7XfcBOqqXCi5ZyDib3hSrbHgirGg/s1600/secretaryfoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVArnHr2dNGmxBTGonNO5_Vpo1C5gcTqb_EhrIRJKpJXEBnJBqPwfYKGQXsSvEF82Uo0AAasp52ozomMIRqKv5XvBYzEqr0EzKkDqCXS_pJ_xi8m7XfcBOqqXCi5ZyDib3hSrbHgirGg/s640/secretaryfoot.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also decided she needed to be a bit fancy, so I replaced her rather nondescript wooden knobs with fun, clear *vintage-y* ones:</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XflySy8SamsUNdGMQr0ac5MRhq75jnNO08JDopxVBrtJu9lf83WduG4-wtl112JkEnrBZuWLAmp8R7p4iS6Z1T-ARjIEdSxmQ3Ab8mEThijVWupABOxivZVCjw_JXvoxW9AN-IOFow/s1600/secretarykeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1XflySy8SamsUNdGMQr0ac5MRhq75jnNO08JDopxVBrtJu9lf83WduG4-wtl112JkEnrBZuWLAmp8R7p4iS6Z1T-ARjIEdSxmQ3Ab8mEThijVWupABOxivZVCjw_JXvoxW9AN-IOFow/s640/secretarykeys.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly, to add a bit of pizazz, I painted on a simple, French graphic (thank you, again, Graphics Fairy)!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDF5SvDuOtacNxAfyJ9HEKVg00jlXpam5fmp9Z6NAqMF-yPAgoQV9ttKuGBwWU-TmFgvvzdR3S7DdN1YsqRUPzRWee-hDdhM3CGv1NHpxTXWDQv9r5qBf-eoiab1Z6QTR1RTiVNGPdQ/s1600/secretarygraphic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDF5SvDuOtacNxAfyJ9HEKVg00jlXpam5fmp9Z6NAqMF-yPAgoQV9ttKuGBwWU-TmFgvvzdR3S7DdN1YsqRUPzRWee-hDdhM3CGv1NHpxTXWDQv9r5qBf-eoiab1Z6QTR1RTiVNGPdQ/s640/secretarygraphic.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8uQSfXLqITwoOqL-WOWSx29PcrXvDZXa7clA_TfiQbEaLUp2xi-Ulh83AtlRMdLXxBKydZ7FSdGhQS8FouCpwLM15026WnARc7Cr7BMb47VNv_7P3X-lDYhmBecxzlDeUIcyhKtcBw/s1600/secretaryfrontb41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8uQSfXLqITwoOqL-WOWSx29PcrXvDZXa7clA_TfiQbEaLUp2xi-Ulh83AtlRMdLXxBKydZ7FSdGhQS8FouCpwLM15026WnARc7Cr7BMb47VNv_7P3X-lDYhmBecxzlDeUIcyhKtcBw/s640/secretaryfrontb41.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, AFTER!</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhHQqoxejH9l03cJOqWkgopk1Clga7UL6XICboiB8iJ5YSw_cTg6S4r3H28F532IgmRja13hQdBmWg1E9i3-pqIXEEbELnJGpAJhDPI264R-J6rv1KVl4zl-m4Uuf5E3CfsRRglAY8w/s1600/secretaryafterfront.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhHQqoxejH9l03cJOqWkgopk1Clga7UL6XICboiB8iJ5YSw_cTg6S4r3H28F532IgmRja13hQdBmWg1E9i3-pqIXEEbELnJGpAJhDPI264R-J6rv1KVl4zl-m4Uuf5E3CfsRRglAY8w/s640/secretaryafterfront.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I truly hope she approves of her new look!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, back to vacuuming up glitter and finding everything I tucked away for the holidays!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, come on over and play with us:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Savvy Southern Style/<a href="http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2013/01/wow-us-wednesdays-100.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SavvySouthernStyle+%28Savvy+Southern+Style%29">WUW</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/<a href="http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/tuesdays-treasures-119/">Tuesday's Treasures</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">French Country Cottage/<a href="http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2013/01/feathered-nest-friday_17.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FQoLtm+%28FRENCH+COUNTRY+COTTAGE%29">Feathered Nest Friday</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jennifer Rizzo/<a href="http://www.jenniferrizzo.com/2013/01/fabulously-creative-friday-linky-party_17.html">Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From My Front Porch to Yours/<a href="http://www.frommyfrontporchtoyours.com/2013/01/treasure-hunt-thursday-90.html">Treasure Hunt Thursday</a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for stopping by,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><br /><img alt="post signature" class="centered" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/54490/324/23F7A341254AC000A256EF1E6BE921AB.png" />

A New Addition

Greetings, friends! While I should be putting our house back together after taking Christmas down last week ... SOMEhow, I found myself with...

Read more »