pretty packages

Every year I coordinate my wrapping paper. I can't help it, I'm addicted to paper! This year I went with a black and white theme and wrapped them all with a pretty grey ribbon. Who doesn't like to get a beautiful package handed to them?!

winter pots

Use what you've got. Start with sticks from fallen trees in the center. Add to it real and/or artificial evergreen branches. For a touch of sparkle, a glittered branch from a local craft store or make your own.

cheap art

To those that know me, it's no surprise that I'm thrifty. I love the challenge of creating something inexpensively that turns out good enough to hang on the wall. Canvases can get expensive and I like my sides thick. So what's a girl to do but make her own. Thin paneling from any home improvement store, along with some 1x bats and you have the base. I just used liquid nail to attach it all together. I stained the boards and once they were dry I stenciled the numbers with white paint. FedEx Office enlarged the numbers for me, and I simply cut them out with an exacto knife. Sealed with a clear coat and there you have it, cheap and beautiful art! Double bonus: My boys are thrilled to see their soccer jersey numbers on the wall as art.

Natural Christmas

Create a natural Christmas by adding to the décor you already have. Lots of pinecones, garlands, glittery snowflakes and snowballs. Wrap an empty box in your favorite paper to tuck in somewhere. With all the craziness on the mantel, I kept the dining table centerpiece super simple. Enjoy! Merry Christmas!

Christmas Mantel

One of my two mantels decorated for Christmas.

auction art project

we had our school auction last night and these sculptures were a big hit!

working with 5th graders, these were so fun to create.

fall porch

i love fall. so today i took an hour and cranked out some new cushions for the front porch.

 

 

i am always surprised how quickly i can get something done when i set my mind to it.

i used the old covers as a pattern and finished these in no time.

 

 

i had the fabric in my bin from two years ago.  i was going to be a shower curtain

when we finished the bath in the basement.  but it never got done, and then i changed

my mind (i know, not a surprise).  so i am glad i was able to put it to good use.

i had just enough to cover the seats and make some pillow covers.

 

 

eddie bauer fabric.  purchased at joann's.  two years ago.  they may or may  not still carry this.

thanks for checking out my blog today.  i keep pondering closing it down and then i occasionally

come back to it.  it is what it is.  :)

VintageKC Magazine

the fall 2012 issue of VintageKC Magazine is out! 

hello to new readers coming from seeing my home featured in this beautiful new magazine.

please leave a comment and let me know you stopped by!

use what you've got

 

i wanted to do something to recognize that summer has come to an end.

i quickly created a back to school theme on our mantel.

chalked the words "back to school' on a planter box and filled the glass urn with green apples from a recent visit to grandma's house.

use what you've got!

herbs in the kitchen

it is hot.
and every time i would go to the garden for some herbs, they would be wilting.

so i brought them in to my kitchen.  right there when i need them.

and the smell?  oh my.....smells so good!

perfect snack

nothing says summer like a fresh peach.
they are so good right now, i can't get enough of them.

it doesn't take much

i try to keep it simple.

it really doesn't take much.

one simple, but large, seashell.

a simple decoration that says SUMMER!

i hope you're keeping it simple and enjoying all that summer brings.

rocks

18 years ago mr. traybella put a ROCK on my finger.  last weekend we celebrated our 17 year wedding anniversary.  i can not think of much that i have done for that long (except live).  my how the time has flown.  we were married on the greek island of santorini.  on kamari beach there is a huge hill known as the ROCK.  the sand is black and it is extremely beautiful there.

 we have been back to greece since our wedding, but not lately.  there is something about greece that just feels like home when we are there.  we love it.  the architecture, the people, the food, the pace.  we would love to take the boys there to experience all that we love about it. 

all week i have been saying to myself, wow 17 years.  it has not always been easy.  there have been some ups and downs.  but this i know for sure, that mr. traybella always was and always will be MY ROCK.  excited to see what the next 17 years bring.  hopefully a trip back to the greek islands.

{images found via google}

i always ask myself why

well hello there!  where have you been for the last three months?! 
oh, i am so sorry.  you've come to my blog and darn it that cookie recipe from march is still there. 
but not today!  surprise! 
i wish i could say that i have been absent because i have been scouring the flea markets of paris.
but not.
just busy with life.  thanks to those that have wondered about me and sent emails...you are too sweet!
so back to this post....
when i decorate i always ask myself why, and then i say why not! 
i like to use things for purposes that they weren't really intended for.
let me show you some examples....

why did i put lamps side by side?  why not!  now when i need a bright light i turn the big lamp on,

and when i need just a little bit of light, i turn on the tiny lamp.  my solution to a lamp that doesn't take a 3way bulb.

why do i leave silverware out on the buffet?  why not!  this allows the boys to set the table and be out of my way in the kitchen.

 plus i think it looks pretty. 

 why do you have different napkin rings?  why not!  we use cloth napkins at our dinner table.  i can't get them washed every night (and most nights they just don't get that dirty) so this way everyone knows which napkin is theirs by having their own ring. (i just hunted them down at garage sales)

why did you squish your dining table to it's smallest size?  why not!  when we aren't entertaining i like to have our table small.  it's more intimate and cozy this way.  makes me feel like i'm in a restraunt and who doesn't love that?!

why did you turn your candle holder into a flower vase?  why not!  this time of year i love to bring clippings in from the yard.  they last a lot longer than flowers, the green looks great with all my brown, white and black.  who says it has to hold a candle?

i have a constant gaggle of boys at my house.  someone is always saying "where is your trash can?"
i had this random knob laying around and now i can just say "in the cabinet with the clock handle".  not sure it's easier than saying 'under the sink on the left' but i like that it's different.  and why not?!

why do you have numbers on your bedroom doors?  why not!  i have a thing for numbers, and the boys love a hotel.  so there you go. 

why would you buy a dresser with no drawers in it?  why not!  to hold some of my vintage suitcases of course.  i see this piece having many uses.  if we ever get that back porch built, i have visions of this piece becoming a bar.
so next time you see a piece you love but aren't sure what to do with it.  think outside the box.  what else could it be? 
thanks for coming by.  comments are open, leave me a message and say hello!

cloudy days

if it is cloudy out, i am baking.  today was no exception.

Farm-Style Oatmeal Cookies
These cookies were developed when most people  lived on farms (or in my case, dream of a farm!) and baked large batches of cookies to feed  their families.  Cookies were real multi-taskers; kids loved them, they kept a long time (not in my house) and they were welcome treats in lunch boxes for school or in the fields.

In this cookie the butter and brown sugar combination gives these treats an almost caramel-like flavor.  I'm sure you'll enjoy them!

The recipe says it makes 4 dozen.  I always get less, because I like to make my cookies BIG.  I also over bake (just by a minute or two) a few because crumbled over vanilla bean ice cream...you will think you died and went to heaven.

2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Heat the oven to 375.  In a large bowl, mix brown sugar, butter, buttermilk, and vanilla.  Stir in remaining ingredients.

Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove
immediately from cookie sheet to wire rack; cool.

top of the armoire

i recently painted my armoire white. i know, surprise!  i liked it, but thought it was missing something.  so i threw a large woven basket on top.  boring, but it seemed better than nothing. then, i went downtown last week to a few shops.  at a booth filled with industrial, architectural goodness i was totally inspired.

so i came home, headed to my stash in the basement (don't tell me you don't have a stash!) and pulled a few things.  tossed them on top of the armoire and fell in love.

i am still so in love with the mix of steel, concrete, aged wood, and galvanized.   at times, these items are scattered in different areas of my house.  but they live together on top of the armoire...for now.

joining white wednesday at faded charm again this week.  big hello to those that came over from there.  please leave me a comment and say hello!