Inspiration: Terrain

My mom and I had a lovely time at Terrain yesterday.  They were busy preparing for their big festival beginning the holiday season.  The festival is on Saturday.

I always find so much inspiration at Terrain.  They are the reason I got back to having live plants in my home, and they inspire me to live beautifully.  I must add, Terrain is mostly out of my budget, but I take ideas I see there and make them work for me in my home.  

This cannot be stated enough: You do not have to have a huge decor budget to make your home warm and cozy for your family.  There are sources for many similar items to those carried at Terrain.  You just have to have eyes to see it when you're shopping in your normal places.  When you do, you'll start to see string lights that are very affordable, tin houses, ornaments....

I hope that you find inspiration here, to be yourself, to decorate to your taste and that of your family, to BE YOU!

That's the best person you can be.

How To Take Inspiration And Make It Work Within Your Budget

Terrain is a place of great inspiration for me.  I love the plants, the greens, the homewares.  But I don't love the prices. They are not a store within my budget for many things.  

However, you can take ideas from their displays and look around at stores with in your budget, you can recreate the look you want.

For example - 

These are zinc houses at Terrain. 
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This is a metal house at Christmas Tree Shops


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Here is a lovely string of lights at Terrain




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Same kind of lights at Christmas Tree Shops (sorry for the weird photo!)



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However, I did see the best artificial tree I've ever seen.  Even to the touch it is soft and amazingly life like.  The price is amazing too!  The 7ft tree is less than $200!  There is nothing I've seen like this tree!



                                                                    source


Anyway, I hope this post encourages you to take your inspiration and make it work in your budget.  

Here are a few photos I took today of things that caught my eye -

I always like their outdoor living inspiration, even for winter!

 I liked these colored bottle brush trees with the faux birch bark tea light holders.  

 They had a lot of metals in all colors in their candle holders and vases.  They all looked great on the shelves and that showed me that I could mix colors like this in my own home and it would look great, too.

It's always crowded at Christmas, so pardon the people in the shot.  I really love this lighted sphere, and the shot of all the trees with the lights on them!  So pretty!

Let me know what you think, and we'll chat in the comments!

Grocery Shopping In Severe Weather

Mid-morning I'll be heading out to do my bi-weekly grocery run.  I  run errands on this day too, preferring to not make many trips out during the week, unless necessary.  I like to save my trips out for fun, but I digress.  

Today we are having extremely cold temps made worse by the wind chill.

It's supposed to be a wind chill of -25 today.  Right now it is 1 degree.

We need food so I am heading out and braving the elements.  

I am going to be bundled and I thought I'd talk about what I am going to wear.

I am going to wear my down jacket from Land's End.  It's a bit old and I use it when I go out to feed horses because the hay doesn't stick to it.  But it's my warmest jacket and it fits well again now that I have lost almost 40 pounds.  I look like the Michelin Man in it since it's puffy, but it's warm, so I'm wearing it.  I am going to have a sweater on as well, and leggings under my pants, warm socks with my fur lined boots, and gloves and a hat of course.  Maybe a scarf, as well.  The hat will be a cute one because once it's on, it stays on, even if my head gets hot.  My hair is very fine, and gets really static-y, clinging to my head in the most unattractive ways, when I take my hat off.

Today I'll be going to Costco, Target, Miller's Natural Foods, Leroy Miller's for milk, Christmas Tree Shoppes (great place for tea, shampoo and Quest Bars).  I may run into Aldi's as well.

One thing is certain.  I don't have to worry about any frozen items defrosting today!


I'll leave you with this sweet photo.

Nate drops Kamryn off in the mornings and she often is still sleepy, and goes back to sleep for a while on the couch.  She's a precious girlie, I'm happy she's here with us during the days.

Stay warm everyone and have an excellent day!

Hospitality: Look What I Found!

I've been on the lookout for a large drink dispenser, but was only coming up with plastic ones.  One day I spotted one that looked like a canning jar, which is such a great look, but it was plastic too, and I was sorely tempted to buy it as it was a very good price.  However, I opted to wait and I am so glad I did!

When I'm in Florida, I always take a trip to World Market. Have you ever been to one?  I really love this store but the closest one to me is in Rockville, MD, nearly two hours away.  So instead, I drive 1,000 miles to go to one near my in laws!  

They have so many interesting things household accessories, furniture, candles, bath items, dishes, kitchen accessories, food from around the world, many kinds of tea and coffee.  My girls love to go there because they may find a cute pair of earrings, or as Sarah did a gift for her friends birthday.  She bought her a cute sealing wax and seals set for $9.95.  It was the perfect gift for this friend.  

Anyway back to the dispenser, I was in the kitchen section of this store and there it was in all its gorgeous canning jar glory, a great color, and I thought to my self, "It's plastic, everyone only carries plastic."  I touched it - it was glass!  Wow, could it be real?  The next thing I do is check the price.  The box I see says, $19.99 - Seriously?  That can't be the right box, the one in the box must be plastic and this one must have a different box.  No way, could it be 20 bucks.  But it was!   

It went right into the cart!  I didn't even think twice about it or about the fact that we were taking two big suitcases back with us for Tim's brother, I would have held this thing on my lap the whole way home!

We used it Sunday when we had some people in, like we do every Sunday.  I also like having it there and saying to the kids when they are thirsty, "there's ice water right there!"

I'm a happy girl.  Can you tell? 

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

At least I think so.

My favorite holiday season is upon us.  We had a delightful day yesterday, feasting and reveling in God's goodness to us.  It's unmerited favor.  We know it and are so thankful for His grace.

 Love these guys, so much.  We're proud of them.

 The lovebirds.  Their wedding is now 12 weeks away.

My beautiful kids…

Dad and Mom.

So thankful for our family, and our friend Denny, who spent the day with us.  He's family too.

Emma and I are headed out early to get groceries (all we have in the house is thanksgiving leftovers, and that won't last long around here!), and then we will begin decorating.  

We are savoring our time as a family as this next year will bring so much change.  Nate and Kay will soon be in their own place, likely planning a wedding, Joseph and Lindsay are getting married in March, Emily will be headed to Bible School in the Autumn.  

Lots of change but it's all good.

I thought of you all last night and today as we were cooking.  Thinking of you preparing your food for the meals you were sharing with others today.  I trust is was a blessing to you as it was to me, to be making a feast for our family to celebrate and be thankful.  I'd love to hear about it!

Have a lovely weekend!

Fun Find At TJ MAXX

Two actually.

I like to pop in at the Maxx and see what they have in their housewares section.  This time I was looking to see if I could find any tablecloths like Manuela showed us in her post here.  Doesn't that look great?  She and I use the same basic colors in our houses, and I am looking for living room curtains.  I only have one large window and thought it might be fun to try this bold pattern there.

However, they did not have any at my local store.  That didn't stop Lindsay and I from poking around anyway, and look what I found!

 This fabulous wire dish rack!

 I've wanted something like this for years.

 I am not sure if I'll stay with the copper finish on it or paint it black, but for now I am happy with it.

 It has pretty details and holds all of our everyday dishes.

I also found these great barkeeper towels in red!  These are the best towels for being absorbent.  Have you noticed how many cute towels out there these days will not absorb liquid?  Kinda crazy.

I'm sure having a rack with your dishes showing would not be every one's cup of tea - but I'm loving it! 

Oh, and a bonus is that I have new found cupboard space.  Second bonus is that everyone in the family can reach the plates when they  need to help set the table. Big win there! Woo Hoo!

Are you wondering the price I had to pay for all this amazingness? $16.99.  Oh, $5.99 for 5 towels.

So tell me what your best find has been, and what your favorite stores to shop are.

Loot

We had a great time shopping on Monday!  Lunch out, lots of talking...Lindsay and Emily and I even were able to pop into one of the wholesale places we purchase from.  

My mom knew of a thrift store that we had never shopped at so of course we went there.  I found all my loot there!

I was hoping to find some items to use for our ladies tea at church, which is coming up in early December.  For that I am decorating with red plaid accents - it's going to be so beautiful!  I stuck gold!  It's not all for the tea - some of it is going to be used here at my home, as I do red plaid accents at Christmas time.

 Two Martha Stewart tablecloths (one round, one rectangular), beautifully woven fabric of red and green plaid for table runners, and two darling ornaments from Target that are $1 each!  I purchased the round Martha tablecloth to make into a tree skirt, as my really, really nice one disappeared 3 years ago.  Gone, poof!  I have been draping fabric around the base of the tree since then, but it doesn't work as well.  The other Martha tablecloth is going to be made into a skirt for Rachel, at her request.  It will be super easy and very cute.  The cost of the round tablecloth was $3 and the other was $2.  


I found other treasure too! 

 I found a purple (sometimes called mulberry) transferware plate!  It is not an old one but it has Mount Vernon on it, and I love the colonial period of history, and we are big George Washington fans here at the cottage.  So I thought it was a nice purchase for $4.
Here is the back of it.

 Then Rachel spotted this Pfaltzgraff Winterberry dinner plate.  When we first moved to Pennsylvania 18 years ago, there was a Pfaltzgraff outlet store near us, and I started to collect these plates, which we use for daily use at the holidays and through the winter.  I was able to buy them as seconds from the outlet, which meant that they were only like $3.99 a plate.  Seconds just means that there was some sort of flaw in the glazing, maybe a small bubble or a dark spot.  Mine were so minor that they weren't even noticeable, and buying them at that price made it affordable for me.  I purchased a total of twelve back when we were a family of five.  Then over the years God grew our family and we lost plates to breakage.  Until Monday, I had eight plates left.  Barely enough to use with our own family let alone a dinner guest or two.

 This one was only .99 cents!  We scoured the place to see if there were more, but no.  However my radar is now on high alert and I am going to be checking Goodwill etc, frequently and build my stash back up.  I am not going to stop at twelve either!  We have friends with large families, and if they are here for dinner in the winter, I'd love to use my Winterberry plates!

I didn't get any other photos or treasure, but I am Happy, Happy, Happy over what I did find!  Loot, and an afternoon with my Mom and daughters - delightful!

Pumpkin Bread

I have been trying to keep to my grocery budget and not overspend.  My husband gets paid every two weeks so I get cash out and shop for two weeks worth of meals, snacks, dog food, toiletries etc...

I often have a bit of cash left for the 'in between' week, which I use for milk, fresh produce and eggs.

This past week, I decided to not go to the store for pantry items or other foods if I did not have the cash. This has lead to me having to really use my creativity, and stock in the pantry.  It also lead to me realizing that the pantry items had been being used but not replaced.  

And all of this leads to Pumpkin Bread.  I don't usually make it in August - it's always more of a fall item around here, but I wanted to have something other than oatmeal or toast available for breakfast or to have as a snack.

I looked in my upstairs pantry and my pantry shelves in the basement and came up with canned pumpkin.  I had all the other necessary ingredients, so yesterday morning before heading into our shoppe I whipped up my grandma's pumpkin bread recipe.

Grandma Lily's Pumpkin Bread

3 cups of Sugar

1 cup of vegetable oil

1lb pumpkin

4 eggs

3 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp allspice

2/3 water

Mix all the ingredients together and add raisins and nuts, if you like.  This makes 2 loaves.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.  It may require more time.

Also yesterday I did one tsp of salt and it tastes just fine.  I also only used cinnamon as I am not a nutmeg or cloves fan so I don't use those spices. I have added chocolate chips to this instead of raisins before.  Yummy!

 The lovely weather we have been having and all the fall buying for the shoppe have me in the Autumn mood.  What things say Autumn to you?

Entitled?

Our girls work part time at a local Christian theater.  This theater does fantastic, major productions.  The girls jobs are in concessions.  They were warned that the closer it got to Christmas the crankier the patrons would be.  It has turned out to be true.

I find this to be incredibly sad.  Are people so stressed that even while they are at a beautiful theater, seeing a wonderful production of the story of Jesus' birth, they have to behave in a cranky way?  Or is it that we as Americans have come to assume we are entitled to special treatment?  That hot dog from the oven warmer must be better than the one hot off the grill, because the packaging is warmer! Not even thinking about the fact that the ones hot off the grill are the freshest ones!


I have been pondering these things in my heart this season.  I think that we have moved to an entitlement mindset.  We deserve the best even if we can't afford it - our kids should get a trophy even if they weren't a winner....Is this why we go into debt to buy gifts for Christmas?  Because we are entitled to that new iTouch or game system or camera?


I was listening to the radio yesterday and I heard the person say that they now see this entitlement attitude when people become believers.  Instead of coming to Christ and being thankful and seeing how they can serve the Lord, they are looking for what the Lord can do for them.  Because now that they are believers they should have wealth, health, no troubles or problems.

I have found that I need to check my own heart.  What do I have expectations about?  What do I feel entitled to?
I want to truly grasp that everything I have belongs to the Lord, including my finances and my rights.  I want to pass this along to my children.  

During this Christmas season especially, I choose to opt out of the crowded mall, the crazy parking lots, grumpy attitudes, the idea that I or my family are entitled to more stuff than we can afford or even have room for in our home!

I choose to sit back, relax, shop online, pick up a few things here and there as I am out on my regular errands.  I choose to make or buy things with meaning for the one I am giving a gift to.  I choose to focus on celebrating Jesus' coming.  

I have been thankful to see that so many of my online friends are doing the same.  Who wants to join us?

This and That

Christmas is 2 weeks from today...two weeks...this month is flying by.  Today, Emily and I are going Christmas shopping.  I want to finish my shopping, but I don't know what to get Tim.  He usually gives me a list of tools etc, but this year he doesn't want to make a list.  Meany.  Actually, he hates to spend money on himself, so I may need to take advantage of his lack of a list.  Oh, yes.  I feel ideas coming on!
 

After shopping I will drop Emily off at work, pick up Nate from my parents house and come home.  I need to do some basic cleaning of the cottage - dusting, vacuuming and the like.  
 

I must say that it is interesting to shop for adult family members - some need nothing, others need everything!  Some are easy to shop for (they love everything), others are harder to shop for. It can be very challenging, but I am ready for the task! Ha!

I like to give meaningful gifts - it doesn't have to be big or fancy, just be something that the receiver of the gift will love.

The younger kids are finished.  A nice order from Vision Forum did the trick.  They have great materials for the whole family, and wonderful, wholesome items for kids!

Well, I need to run.  Lots to do today.  I am looking forward to a great day, and I hope you are too!

Disappointment

Every year, my Mom and I take the girls and do a "kick off the holiday season" day out of shopping.

This year it isn't going to happen.  

You see Tim and I are committed to being debt free.  We use credit cards but pay them off at the end of the month.  This last statement was big, with a capital B!  But we had our vacation on it (which was planned for) and new tires for the van.  It had several other big needs as well.  Because it was big, it ate up the 'discretionary' spending.

Now, before you feel too badly for me, know that Sunday afternoon through Wednesday I am getting a basically free trip to Williamsburg!  One of my favorite places!  And we are going along with our pals from Hospitality Lane!  It is going to be so fun!  Then home for Thanksgiving with Mom and Dad, Nate and Kay and Kamryn, Tim's brother Dan and family and our friend Denny. We are so blessed.

But just for the record I am disappointed. However to go would mean putting it on the credit card and having to stretch the budget way too much to pay for it.  I love this day out with my girls.  They are growing and changing so much...I love celebrating these special days with them.

I guess I will have to console myself by preparing for my trip this next week....

Off To Gather Food For The Family

www.allposters.com

Today is my "big" shopping day. As usually these people that I live with insist on eating on a regular basis! Hrumph!

I am going all by myself today - I have much to talk to the Lord about. Being out alone for a day gives you plenty of time to hash things out, to be reminded about what is important and whether certain other things are the best use of my time.

Pray for me will you?

I Need A New Rug

The last week, our dog vomited on my living room area rug. It was so disgusting. Just ask Lindsay, she'll tell you! Eeew!

Anyhow, the rug in the living room was actually the rug I used to have in my bedroom. When Tim made our wonderful, gigantic dining table, I had to use the matching red rugs that used to be in the living room and under the old table. Then I moved my bedroom rug into the living room. Following me?

I have needed a rug in my bedroom and now I need one for the living room. We have all wide plank pine flooring throughout the whole house, so we use area rugs to anchor seating areas and to soften the hard surfaces.

I like these.

I found these on line at Target.com. I like a traditional rug, or a solid. It best suits my style and allows me to change things up without having to replace everything! Huge bonus for my budget!

These are probably out of my price range, but I will use these as inspiration.

I think maybe I need a trip to Target or Pottery Barn Outlet!

I Had An Idea For Decorating My Shelf...

Welcome those of you visiting from

Mantle Party Every Friday and The Inspired Room!
Enjoy your visit and come by anytime!

I have this large shelf that hangs on a vast wall space over the stairway that leads to the basement. My husband built it for me years ago. This wall is in our kitchen and since our kitchen and living room are open to each other - well, it is a focal point in our living space. It had been

basically the same until this past Christmas when I took everything off of it and put my Nativity set on it. I added hay, borrowed from our horses, and those little mini lights on a brown cord. It was very simple but lovely.

I really wanted to do something different now that I have put my Nativity away for the year. But what to do? I got some new pieces of white pottery for Christmas - a lovely pitcher and a soup tureen. I use my things in my every day life, so I wanted them to be accessible. They are pretty things and I like seeing them. Solution? Put them on my shelf! I gathered all the white pottery that would work on a shelf, and then since I don't have that many, I decided to add red accents. Oh, and then I wanted to put my birdcage back on the shelf - problem was it was a pale green color. Solution? Spray paint it black! Then Emily decided to do a heart fraktur to add for Valentine's Day and voila! I like it.

I am loving the birdcage now that it is black!

The big white pitcher is a gift from Emily and the soup tureen from my mom and dad for Christmas, and the little pitchers are from Goodwill - one is a Wedgwood and the other is Johnson Brothers.

The small red transferware plates are Old British Castles from Johnson Brothers that I found at Marshall's. The larger plate is the same pattern, but it is part of the dinnerware Emily is collecting in her hope chest. She is graciously allowing me to use it!

The tealight holder is a gift from Melissa, the redwork stitchery is a gift from my talented sister in law Miss Paula and the heart fraktur from my sweet Emily. The little white teapot and cup is a one serving tea set that had been my grandmother's.

I needed to run some errands on Saturday as well as work on my shelf, so we made a stop by the Goodwill store, to look for more white pottery.

I found this fun metal wall hanging. I love tea and red so it is a perfect addition to my kitchen. I hung it right above the counter space where I keep my teas! It was priced at .97 cents!

This sweet little white ironstone pitcher was .97 cents, as well! We always check out the furniture area...you never know when you will find a nice bookcase or table etc...guess what we found? A fun and funky little children's chair! It is funky simply because of the fabric - it is colonial scenes and has pops of orange and red! We use red alot as an accent color in our house so we thought it was a perfect fit! I ran into a friend will looking at it. She owns a shop in our area called Lulu and Tutz's and I love to go in there - pretty and vintage style. I showed her the chair and she loved it too - she suggested some red polka dot pillows to accent it! Guess how much it cost? $10!

This chair is in perfect condition. It almost looks unused! The kids all love it - Emily wants it really bad - she keep offering to buy it from me!

We have our living room arranged for conversation! This little chair is the perfect addition!

This little guy thinks it is great! With all the kids in our family and those that are often here with their families, I think it is about time that we had a chair that is just their size! And fun too! What do you think?