A gift from Santa… built by me

This year Santa is bringing C a fabulous custom built train table. But the super special thing about this train table is that it will double as a fabulous custom built coffee table (when C isn’t playing with it of course)!
The thing is, I’ve never actually built anything before. Sure, I’m great at designing, and organizing, and the Spray Paint Queen, but actually building furniture? With power tools?

Nope. Never once.

So this will be my first attempt. And I’m a little nervous, I want it to be super duper spectacular. And perfect. Something I’d pay hundreds for, only I don’t want to actually pay hundreds. Because I’m cheap like that.

I must’ve spent hours drawing up plans for my fabulous coffee table… I mean, for C’s fabulous train table. Anyway after what seemed like forever, I had my basic design.



Looks like a cute, simple table, right? But after looking at it for a while, I couldn’t help but think I’ve actually seen it somewhere before. This exact table. Serious deja vu, people.



After a quick internet search, I realized why my design looked so familiar.



Ah right. There it is. At Pottery Barn.

For $200.

Yup, that’s the table I want. But not for two-hundred freaking dollars. Because that’s just silly. I mean, look at it. It’s just a few pieces of wood slapped together, right? A few nails and some wood glue, anyone could make that. Even someone with little to absolutely zero carpentry experience. Right?

In less than 12 days... Well I'm not saying it's going to be easy.

During the 2 hours a day that C is napping... Sure, I mean, that's plenty of time.

In the 30 degree garage. With a chance of snow... Okay now you're just being mean.

Yes, I have inner monologues. And it's going to be ok. I have faith in me. I can do this.




Where are Santa’s elves when I need them?

My First Holiday Tablescape

Okay everyone, I’ve never really set up a holiday table before, so this was definitely a fun experience for me. Hope you like it!

Check out my fabulous new vases from last year’s post holiday sales!

These red glitter birds are so fun! They didn’t look that great on the tree, but they look awesome floating in my fancy vases with a few other leftover ornaments.

I love my little “centerpiece,” and it was oh-so-easy! Just took a serving platter I already had, topped it with a Dollar Store stocking (that I already had), and scattered a bunch of glass ornaments (that I already had). Sooo… didn’t cost me a thing! And see how easy?

Dollar Store chargers were placed underneath our everyday dishware and topped with my white napkins. And I wanted to bring in more crystal, so I added little crystal ornaments on top. If I get the chance, I’d like to make some type of napkin ring underneath… 

Oooh sorry, you can see my baskets full of wrapping supplies in the background!

I have exactly 6 mini wreaths that I picked up years ago from the Dollar Store, eventually I will hang them on the backs of the chairs.

A few snowflakes are scattered around the table to add a touch of winter.

My beautiful swan that matches the vases, also purchased at last year’s post holiday sale (sorry about the lighting, by the time I got to taking the picture the sun light was almost gone).

Well, what do you think of my first table setting? I’d love to hear your thoughts! I decided to stick with basic and simple, red and white. I love to go in there and look around, it always makes me smile.

And stick around, because in a few days I will have a post with my new napkin rings!

Linked to:


Uncommon Designs
No Minimalist Here
Ask Anna
Homemaker on a Dime
It's Overflowing
A Bowl Full of Lemons
The Southern Product Queen
Hating Martha
Organize and Decorate Everything

A Simple Holiday Mantle

Well, there isn’t much to say about the mantle, I went pretty simple this year!

C and I took a walk last week and snipped the ends off a few trees to bulk up our greenery. We also found a ton of pine cones all over the ground, so we brought those home as well!

I couldn’t think of anything to put next to my wreath so I just wrapped a few picture frames. I almost panicked because I didn’t have any white paper… until I realized the back of wrapping paper is white.

I have no clue what the thing underneath the wreath is, it was sitting in our garage when we bought the house. I’ve kept it around ever since thinking I would find a use for it. I was going to spray paint it but when I put it on the mantle to make sure it would fit, the colors matched! I threw my hands up and just went with it.

These stocking holders were another great Dollar Store find!

Our first holiday card of the year!

The Christmas Tree is Up!

Okay folks, I’ve finally finished my tree for the second time, and I have to give a big thank you to the puppy who decided to pull the whole thing down so I got to completely re-do it… oh wait, no, that was actually really annoying. Anyway, it’s done now… again. Please excuse my horrible photography, I know nothing  about photography and hope to get a new camera soon. Like by Christmas. Of next year. Anyway, I’m too exhausted to write much more, so enjoy the Christmas love!

We decided to put the tree in the library this year, instead of the living room. Our living room's new floor plan just doesn’t have room for a tree this size.

C’s horse was a Christmas gift from a friend last year, and it looks oh so perfect tucked next to the tree!

Check out my super awesome candy garland! I was originally planning to do pink, teal, and purple this year, but it just didn’t match the garland. So the pink, teal, and purple went out the window, and instead I’m doing red, white, and green. And it looks fab with the candy garland (which I got at Dollar Tree over 8 years ago and I WISH I’d gotten more).

I am the biggest cat lover, but it turns out that M is super allergic so I haven’t had a cat in over 10 years. The only cats I’m allowed to have are the ones decorating the house and the Christmas tree.

These guys have collars naming them “Miss” and “Chief,” and they are always getting into trouble (get it? Mischief? Heehee) . I love these guys.

Here they are again. Tsk tsk, they always have to be into something. Reminds me of a certain puppy…

I couldn’t agree more!

C’s ornament from last year, it has a side for a picture and another with a button that plays music.

A Chocolate Moose. Yum…

Hubby had his own contributions in the tree décor, like this Homer Santa.

Can’t have a Christmas tree without a nod to Texas…

and who could forget his hero, John Wayne.

These were all bought last year during the post-Christmas sale. Yay!

Love love love this red, sparkly ornament. I had no clue when I got it that I would like it so much, but it looks so beautiful on the tree and is probably one of my favorites!

Well, that’s all folks. What do you think of my tree? Should I have stuck with the pink, teal, and purple, or are you loving how the red, white, and green show off my super awesome candy garland? What are your favorite holiday colors?

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Honey We're Home

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