Easy Ivy Topiary for Valentine's Day

Hi Friends, hope you all are well and staying warm. And I'm hoping all our friends on the East Coast are safe and staying home somewhere away from the blizzardy snow and winds. Although we're having a sunny day here in the lower Midwest it's still cold and shivery. Anytime I can sit still for awhile you'll find me wrapped up in an electric blanket or throw. It's days like today that make me want to play with some plants and then put out a few vintage Valentine's to brighten up the house and shelves.

A Winter's Walk in the Holiday Cupboard

Hello friends, since Valentine's Day will be here in a few weeks, I knew I needed to share my January edition of the Holiday Cupboard. January has been cold and often dreary here, but I'm trying to be present and look for the good to enjoy each season... including winter. One of the fun ways I celebrate each month and season is to refresh my old pie safe, aka "The Holiday Cupboard". 

Winter Inspiration at All About Home # 128

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

How are you all doing this Mid/Late January? Are you enjoying winter and cozying up your home and surroundings?  I generally love this time of year because I'm a homebody, but the cold weather is already wearing thin and I'm dreaming of a bit warmer weather. In the between time let's enjoy sharing all the inspiration out here for winter and Valentine's Day.

Thank you so much for taking the time to come by and share what you're up to this week. We always look forward to seeing all the great DIYs, decor, crafts, gardens, recipes and seasonal posts that you are all creating.

The Baker's Rack with a Woodsy Theme

It seems I have an abundance of shelving pieces. Yes, I've been blessed with the space at this house to have a few extra pieces to display all my vintage goodies. And then there's the fact that I love decorating with the seasons, so there are always fun ways to mix it up every month or so. Since the new year I've been leaning toward decorating with neutrals with a woodsy theme.

Keeping it Cozy in My Winter Hearth Room

This is the perfect time of year to look for the "Cozy" elements for our homes and personal life. Whether we're crazy about winter or not, we all want to make our homes warm and comfortable for our family. It's been cold and windy here this month so I'm sharing a few ways I keep it a place where we can snuggle up and enjoy our surroundings. 

Brrrr. It's Winter at All About Home #127

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

How's January going? Are we feeling optimistic and energized in the New Year? (I'm working on it, haha!) We've had a lot of cold weather around here and I still have some Christmas things outside that need to be put away, but the snow is not making it easy! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to come by and share what you're up to this week. We always look forward to seeing all the great DIYs, decor, crafts, gardens, recipes and seasonal posts that you are all creating in the New Year.

Nature's Neutrals for a Winter Farmtable

One trend I've seen in the bloggyworld this last few weeks is that so many of us are leaning into January and winter weather using nature's cue with more neutral colors. Whatever our basic "style" might be, doing it in neutral colors, is a clean feeling way to start the new year.

January Inspiration at All About Home #126

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

The New Year is here and now it's about getting back to a normal routine and getting ready to cozy up for a few months of winter weather. Thank you so much for taking the time to come by and share what you're up to this week. We always look forward to seeing all the great DIYs, decor, crafts, gardens, and recipes that you are all creating in the New Year.

The Snowy Day

When we bought this house three years ago we got an added bonus with a finished basement. It's a 1964 brick rancher that had all we needed on one level, which was the requirement. So the basement became my husband's domain with his office, a storage room for him and one for me. It also has a large living space for a big screen TV and fireplace, bath and exercise area. The stairs are easy to navigate, unlike what we had before which were terribly steep and daunting. I was thrilled to have a lower level and the storage; even better because I didn't have to visit it each and every day. 

Fresh Look for January in the Dining Room

I'm one of those people that start putting Christmas decor away the day after. Not all of it, but mostly the obvious bits and pieces with Santas and anything red plaid. I get itchy if I have holiday decor out after said holiday. I've tried to train myself to not do this, but it's something that I've done forever, even pre-blogging. I'm always ready for a fresh new look for the New Year and new season.

Welcoming the New Year at All About Home #125

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

It seems like yesterday that we were heading into 2021 with a lot of optimism and energy. Well, it didn't quite live up to it's expectations, but since I'm basically a positive kind of person, I'm praying and believing that this is the year for things to turn around... for all of us. 

I hope you had a beautiful Holiday Season,

 and wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for taking the time to come by and share what you're up to 

this week. We always look forward to seeing all the great DIYs, decor, 

crafts, gardens, and recipes that you are all creating this first week of the New Year.

New Year Lookback: Starting a Prayer Journal

I'm re-sharing a post from last year, January 3rd, 2021, and realized upon reading it that it's just as relevant this January as last. Hope you're having a wonderful New Year's weekend. It's snowing here and winter has definitely arrived!

"Hi Friends, How's the first week of the New Year going? Could we say any week of year 2021 might be more hopeful than 2020? I've noticed that there aren't many "Word for the Year" posts in blogland like we've seen in past years. Not many posts on resolutions either or many posts on plans for this new year. I think we all feel like we've been kicked in the proverbial pants by 2020 and are a little apprehensive about making huge plans (or even small ones) for awhile."

*This is not a sponsored post.

New Year's Tree

Once in a while I have a post that stands the test of time and I like to share it again. After 12 years this little New Year's Tree still feels relevant and lovely in photos and sentiment. Thinking back 12 years ago, it's a new group of friends and bloggers, now. So I hope you'll enjoy taking a peek at this small nostalgic moment in time to reflect on the New Year.

(please excuse the older camera version)

New Year's Eve Tablescape Inspiration

Hi Friends, I wanted to share a few images and ideas in case you are thinking of an impromptu New Year's Eve dinner or small celebration. I'm not a "tablescaper" like some of you, but I thought it would be fun to see a few tablescapes and gather some common themes. I've always wanted to do this, but our anniversary is at the end of December, so I've never gotten around to planning one. But that didn't keep me from admiring and checking out some fun inspiration for a vintage vibe New Year's Eve gathering. I thought I'd share some wonderful Pinterest ideas...

Wrapping Up the Year at All About Home #124

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

Here we are at the very last week of the year and 2022 is upon us!

I'm not sad to leave this year (and last year) behind.

I pray you had a beautiful Christmas and wishing you a 

Healthy and Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for taking the time to come by and share what you're up to 

this very busy Holiday week. We always look forward to seeing all

 the great DIYs, decor, crafts, gardens, and recipes that you are all creating 

for the Holiday season.

Wooden Christmas Star on the Potting Bench

Hey There Friends, you know me, there's always a last minute bit of holiday fun that I want to share. My sister brought by my Christmas gift last weekend so we could enjoy it a bit before Christmas this week.

New and Old Finds for Christmas in the Garden Room

I just had to share a couple of sweet new finds for Christmas. Once I saw them they pestered me until I said yes and found them in my online "cart". I rarely buy on impulse (unless I'm at the vintage market); I take time to think on things and roll them around in my head for awhile. I hate to pay full price for something, and usually wait for a good sale. But, I just happened to be Christmas shopping, when I found something adorable (and on sale) that really needed to come live in my Cookbook Cupboard.

Christmas is Here at All About Home #123

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

I can hardly believe Christmas is this week. Are you ready? I still have a few things to do, but I'm so looking forward to spending a little time with our family. Last year was not one I ever want to repeat. So I hope this year it will be a little more "normal" and that you're going to have time with your family. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to come by and share what you're up to this very busy Holiday week. We always look forward to seeing all the great DIYs, decor, crafts, gardens, and recipes that you are all creating for the Holiday season.

A Very Merry Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard

Hello there friends. I know you all are feeling it too, just one week till Christmas and it seems I don't have everything accomplished that I've wanted to do. I still have a few pics to share from around the house. Here we are in the Garden Room where the Holiday Cupboard is my fun spot to decorate. So I'm squeezing it in with a few more posts around the house next week. 

Vintage Christmas Home Tour

Hello Friends, today I'm super excited to be part of a wonderful Christmas Tour of Homes with a bit of a twist.  Our good friend Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home has put together a great group of bloggers to share how we decorate our homes for Christmas with vintage pieces and decor. Some of us are fortunate enough to live in historic homes, and others of us just love antiques and vintage furniture that we use to give our spaces a vintage vibe.

Christmas on a Vintage Silver Tray

Hi Friends, I'm so glad you're here today because I'm joining in with a great bunch of bloggers for a really fun get together. We're sharing Holiday inspirational ideas for some easy decorating for Christmas. I think most of us have some kind of tray, shallow basket, or antique pan that can easily be dressed up with greenery, candles, dishes etc. for a unique and even functional addition to our Christmas decor. Let's grab some inspiration for an easy movable decor vignette.

Christmas Cheer at All About Home #122

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

Oh my goodness, less than 2 weeks till Christmas! Are you all ready? Please tell me that you've not yet wrapped all the presents and that the Christmas cards aren't finished... Thank you for taking the time to come by and share what you're up to this very busy week. We always look forward to seeing all the great DIYs, decor, crafts, gardens, and recipes that you are all creating for the Holiday season.

It's a Merry Little Christmas in the Kitchen

Hello Everyone, it's time for my annual Kitchen post. I know... It's terrible that I don't get around to sharing my kitchen more often. I don't decorate much here in the kitchen, (because the rest of the house is always done up) and it seems that it's always in use. But Hey, it's Christmastime and there are a few fun Christmas goodies  hanging around this time of year.

Snowy White Churches on the Old Sideboard

If you all remember, the sideboard was one of those family pieces that lived in the basement the last several houses we've had. I had a few pieces that I wouldn't /couldn't part with that had been handed down for at least a generation or so. I loved them, but just didn't have a spot for them in the main living areas. The sideboard was from my grandmother's home and is from the late 1800's. It was black with old varnish at that point, then we refurbished it in the late 70's and it stayed with a sealing oil finish until we moved here 3 years ago. Since I painted it white with ASCP I've fallen in love with it all over again. 

Christmas Fun at All About Home #121

Hello friends and Welcome

 to the All About Home Link Party!

So many fun Christmas decor and DIY posts from you all. 

And, the food and dessert recipes...yum... Glad you're here!

Thank you for taking the time to come by and share 

what you're up to this week. We always look forward 

to seeing all the great DIYs, decor, crafts, gardening,  

and recipes that you are all creating for the seasons.

Elegant Gold Gilt Pears

A few years ago I found myself getting into a bit of a rut in my Dining Room with Christmas decor. If I find pieces that I like, it's easy for me to rely on the same look from one year to the next. I have a lot of vintage "kitch-y" fun stuff that I use in the Garden Room, but in the Dining Room I like to do something a little more French Country. Tartan plaid can still be found in here, but I've wanted to try some new/different ideas with a more elegant country vibe.