Summer Tablescape ~ Simple Summer Table Setting ~

I don't want to believe it's mid-August already! I'm hanging onto summer!!! The calendar, and heat index, says I have over a month to do so!

I've truly enjoyed using these beautiful place mats and table runner from Hobby Lobby throughout the summer as everyday table decor!  Along with my simple centerpiece, they dress up my breakfast table with beautiful style on their own, as well as when I set the table for a meal.

I found two of the metal baskets at the thrift store, to go with one I already had.  I love finding thrifty items to change up my decor!  A faux fern I already had, and some pretty little candles I found at Target dollar spot fill the baskets.

Here I added simple place settings of white dishes, and cloth napkins, along with gold flatware.  I believe setting a pretty table adds a nice touch to a meal and the overall dining experience!

Whether it's a special occasion or simply a week night at home, you can make it special!  An ordinary evening can be extraordinary and feel like a special occasion by adding a few items and simple details. 

It doesn't have to be real fancy, to be pretty or even special!

Happy decorating!...

Summer styling ~ Our Breakfast Room

There's usually a lot of bright light in this space, the morning sunlight is always the best!

This is the view of our breakfast room from the kitchen.  We enjoy this area and the open feel of it, and how bright it is!  I've shared some sections of the room with my summer decor recently, you may recognize.

I enjoy restyling our console table, I love it placed here in front of the window, it sits directly behind our breakfast table.

{It can be a bit tricky to photograph sometimes due to the angle and the light from the window.}

Tip: If you need a little height, do a stack! I used a few items to create a lift for my vase and plant. My husband says that "I amaze him with the ideas I come up with!" Wasn't sure if that was good or bad! But, a nod of approval said he liked it!

The gold scroll container was found at a thrift shop, it's a candle holder, I added a glass cylinder vase to the inside, a few wine corks, and a faux plant.

Two bucks and a bit of creativity gave me something new to add to my decor. Simple, easy and inexpensive, my favorite kind of decorating!

I love this "home" piece I found, it's so perfectly me!

It's always nice to get away. Especially so when visiting family and loved ones.

After it's all said and done...

...There's no place like home!

"Be it ever so humble there's no place like home."

*My home sweet home*

Happy Decorating!...

Frame Updated using Chalk Paint

I enjoy a good project. Especially if it involves chalk paint. And, when the outcome is even better than you had imagined, it's all the better!

This beautiful frame, a thrift-store find, was all gold when I found it. It was pretty, but, I envisioned it with a new look, and this is the result of my efforts!

This is how it looked when I found it.  

I used "pure white" chalk paint, a wet distressing technique, and then clear wax.  Wet distressing is simply removing some of the paint while it is still wet.  I have wiped away some of the wet paint on the frame in this image, it reveals the gold color on the higher points of the frame detail.

After more wet distressing I let the painted frame dry over night, then gave it a coat of clear wax and let that sit to dry for a couple hours.

I'm so pleased with how it turned out!

Tip: Using chalk paint is an easy way to transform, update, re-new, and change the appearance of so many things!

I love the magic of paint!!!

This frame was the perfect size for my little inspirational messages & quotes from a boxed set I recently purchased at Target! I can change them out and display them beautifully with my newly transformed frame!

~ I love this one I used above in my updated frame ..."CARRY LAUGHTER WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO"

It's only paint, give it a go!...

Summer styling ~ Console table

It's almost the middle of the Summer season already! I just want to savor every minute of it!

I've been enjoying my summer decor. I did a little 'shopping my home' for some restyling on our hall table, for summer. I styled this console table using items I already had on hand and a few recent thrifty finds.

The pretty magnolia picture was a thrift store find for only three dollars, it still had the original price tag on back from Garden Ridge priced at $29.95! I loved the gold frame and of course the image of the magnolias. An unexpected treasure!

My love for magnolias is on display here. One of my favorite flowers!

Magnolias are such a beautiful part of summer here in the south. I enjoy seeing all the magnolia trees displaying their large, beautiful, fragrant magnolia blooms! 

I styled this table using some of my thrifty finds, and shopping my home. I used chalk paint on the cute little chair and the square mirror, to give them a makeover. The chair was once orange, and the mirror was raw natural wood. I just love what a little paint can do!

~The sweetness of summer is captured in the magnolia bloom. Birds greet summer mornings singing a happy tune ~
I love sweet SUMMER time!

Flowers and birds are two of my favorite things. Especially magnolia flowers! I always encourage decorating using things you love, it will make you happiest to have those things in your decor!
I've used both birds and magnolias in my decor throughout the year, they seem perfect to me no matter the season.

~ Sweet Summer Time ~

Oh summer, sweet, sweet, summer!

August is here and it's usually way too hot! It has cooled down a little, and it's been so enjoyable. We've also had some nice evenings at late too. Perfect for enjoying time out on our porch.

The back door is open this morning and we're enjoying this new day.  It's a beautiful summer morning!  I added a sweet little message to my chalkboard recently. 

I love summer! "Sweet Summer time"

Enjoying summer time!...

Summer Decor in our Family Room

A month into it and we are feeling like Summer now!  Hot days and warm evenings.  I'm trying not to complain about the heat, as I sure do love the air conditioning indoors.

Hello! ...my cute "hello" pillow found at my local Ross store is a little greeting in our family room. I couldn't resist it, I just had to have it, same for the large wall art piece above that we purchased at Kikrland's!

I did a little restyling for summer and I'm happy with the results in our family room ...which should be called the living room since we do more living in this room, than the actual living room! Especially with the softness and comfort of our microfiber sofa.

It's nice how just a few simple changes can refresh a space!

***Feeling honored and pleased to have had my image featured over at Kirkland's Instagram!!!***

~That made my day!😁

 Thanks again, Kirkland's!

Home Sweet Home - Home Decor

"Home is where the heart is!  Our home sweet home."  I put my heart into my home.
I also put other hearts into it! ...I love hearts!

I also love how the sunlight fills this little corner with great light!  A few changes to this little corner, makes me smile!

I used a few items from around the house to freshen up this corner of our breakfast area!  The shutter, tray/chalkboard with 'home sweet home' written on it, and the heart with bells are all thrift store finds.   I had the canvas 'Home is where the heart is' picture tucked away in another room.  It worked perfectly for this corner 

On the wall above is a few thrifted items and newly found treasures! The thrifted, three dollar, beveled mirror got a makeover using chalk paint. I knew it would be perfect for my display shelf!

~ Hope you have a beautiful day wherever you are!

Summer Decor - Our Dining Room

With it being summer I like to keep my decor simple, light and bright!

The sunlight pours in through our tall foyer window and it shines into our dining room on my pretty dishes and our beautiful chandelier.

I love all of the sparkle!

I enjoy a mix of pretty things. Things that make me smile. This makes me smile!!!

Here I've used a bit of bronze, some gold, white flowers, and lots of sparkle! Definitely things I love!

I enjoy finding/collecting cut glass and crystal, I'm always on the hunt for more. It's the jewelry to my home.

My family has gotten in on this and they find items I'll love too! My husband gave me the beautiful crystal bowl, most of the other items here were thrifted!

Decorate with what you love, what makes you happy, and what makes you smile!!!

Patriotic Decor~Tiered Tray Makeover~

Well Hello July!  It seems to have arrived so quickly.  Summer is definitely in full swing!

Tomorrow we celebrate America's Independence Day!

***Happy Fourth of July!***

I recently painted this tied tray, using chalk paint. I'm loving the way it looks now!

I found a few fun and patriotic items at target's dollar spot to dress it up for the holiday! - The painted red, white & blue wooden Stars, U S A, and Flag scarf.  A few dollars and just a few minutes of my time, and I had created a cute display for our patriotic holiday!

***Enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July!***

~God Bless America~