Master of Friendship Blog Award

 

 Andrea over at Andrea's Attic kindly awarded me with this blog award today! Thanks Andrea!

The Rules

1. List 6 things you are a master in.

2. Pass it on to 6 master bloggers you think make blogging so awesome

6 Things I am a Master of...

 1. Reading.
I love to read. I can't fall asleep at night if I don't read first. The last 2 books I read were Ken Follet's Pillars of the Earth and Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. I highly recommend both. Currently I am reading Pearl S Buck's Dragon Seed. But don't get me wrong. I also look a good chick lit book. I adore Jennifer Weiner and am anxiously awaiting her next book.

2. Bubble Baths
I love hot baths, and I can't take one without bubbles. Or a book. I take them almost nightly. It is the ultimate relaxation.

3. Multi-tasking
I am work full time, have a family and have several hobbies. I only have time for all of this because I can multi-task.

4. Bargain Shopping
I refuse to pay full price for anything unless I have exhausted all efforts to buy it on sale or find a close alternative for cheaper. I love Target, TJ Maxx, Home Goods and Marshals!

5. Loving my Boys
I have been happily married to my husband for nearly 8 years (together for 11 as of today!) and an energetic  3 year old son. They bring my so very much joy and laughter! They have taught me to take life more lightly and to enjoy each moment.

 6 Master Bloggers

1. Kim at Our Over Full Cup 

2. Meg at House Notes 

3. Kim at Savy Southern Style 

4. Amy at All Things Home 

5. Melanie at Southern Comfort in a Northern Life

6. Meg at Beauty in the Attempt

Hopefully these wonderfully talented ladies will join in the fun!
Happy Friday!
 

Fluffing the Nest, Part 3

I fluffed one more area of our living room this past weekend that I want to share with you.
(You can read more at Part 1 and Part 2 posts.)

Something really bothered me in the this photo that I posted on the blog a few posts ago. Can you guess what had me cringing?

Aside from the prints that are now gone, I couldn't stand how empty the room looked. Specifically the area under the end table. I hope to replace that table before long, but in the meantime I had to fill that space.

I went shopping around the house and I came up with a basket to house all of my decorating magazines. But there was still a lot of space in the basket and I needed something with some height. I came across tall glass vases on sale at Target as well as boxes of wine corks to use as filler (yes, I had to buy them...we are beer drinkers and something tells me bottle caps just wouldn't be as classy.)

 

But I didn't like the pair of vases. So I shopped around the house again and found another greenery arrangement that was in a bag in our mudroom ready to be returned because I didn't think I had a place for it. Glad I didn't have time to return it!

Aaahhhh...that's better.

This post is part of Transformation Thursday at Shabby Chic Cottage.

Fluffing the Nest, Part 2

Next up on my list of things to fluff was our entertainment center nook. It has always bothered me that the entertainment center just sort of sat in the the nook without any sort of decor other than what is in or on the piece of furniture. (This is where before pics would be helpful. Sorry I don't have one!)
So I finally did something about it and ended up with this: (click on pics to see them larger)

A while back I added the patina wall tiles from Southern Living at Home to the wall on the right. (Yes, those are also plastic pieces attached to the same wall for baby gates! Try to ignore them.)

Then I added the basket in front of the entertainment center. I filled it with special quilts all made by amazing women in my family.

Next I wanted to some color, so I added the greenery on the top of each end of the center.

 You can read about how I made these pieces here.

To add more color, and to make my collection of pink depression glass and milk glass (all inherited from my Granny) stand out more, I lined the back of the cabinets with textured wall paper.

 

 

And most recently, I added some decor above the entertainment center. That blank space had always bothered be, but I was baffled as to what to put there. Prints just didn't seem right, and I have more than enough iron scroll type decor in this room. Then I found the perfect thing! While shopping at Target last week I found square basket weave chargers on clearance for about $3 each. I grabbed 4 thinking it was time I start working on table scapes for our kitchen table. But once home, I thought, "Hey, why not out these over the entertainment center?!?" And so I did. What do you think?

 

 I still need to work on the decor there in the middle over the TV. It's on my to do list!

NOTE: Please forgive the quality of these pics. I am finding that I need to make time to take pics during the day when the room is filled with light. And I am learning through looking at pics of my home that I need to find a way to hide all those hideous power cords!