Fits and Starts: Thanksgiving

That's been the case for both my blogging and my decorating.

But now I have a slew-lette of pictures to share! It's been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks. We spent 5 days in lovely, fun, kid-tastic Disney World where I was free to be my usual child self. I insisted on waiting in lines to meet characters. I skipped. I grinned like an idiot. I ate chicken nuggets for dinner. I had a blast.

And then two days after we came home (today) my lifelong BFF and her husband were stopping by on their last pre-baby getaway to Boston so things had to be not only clean but NEAT and also decorated to the best of my ability. That's where the blog benefits! I will warn in advance that I have been too lazy to take "real" pictures and have been instead relying on my phone. HOWEVER, the iPhone 4's camera is vastly superior to the 3G's so they shouldn't be too offensively pixely.

Wait, maybe I should start with Thanksgiving. Yeah, I'll do that. Plans changed and it wound up being just the two of us.

Here's the table all set:

These are the Lenox "Chirp" placemats and napkins from this post, with some Ikea Salong vases, these birdie S&P shakers I picked up at Pier 1 awhile ago (an awesome bargain!), and my great-grandmother's silver candlesticks (loved getting to use them, especially on Thanksgiving), all on this basketweave placemat from CB2.

Here's another shot of the "tablescape." Sandra Lee would be so proud!

But unlike Aunt Sandy, I also focused on some damn tasty food!

 

   

Okay, that's enough blogging for now! Stay tuned for Fits and Starts 2 & 3, coming soon to a theater near you.

Finding inspiration in others

I know with all of my shopping posts here, it doesn't seem much like it, but I love a good bargain. Or, better yet, a great free find. I've always been a little shaky/unsure of my own DIY abilities. I don't have any fancy tools or a whole lot of patience or even a terribly steady hand. The proliferation of blogs by regular people like me have really helped not only inspire me but assure me that yes, I, too, can make my home beautiful with my own two hands.

One such blog is <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/">Thrifty Decor Chick</a>. I love how open she is about her mistakes and missteps, both in spending and in decor choices. It's a good reminder that, while every strives to put only their very best out there on the public internet, everyone struggles and makes mistakes and I'm not the only one who doesn't make the right choice straight out the gate. :)

Another that I read is <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/">Centsational Girl</a>. I love everything about her site design/layout. It's clean and modern and easy to read without being boring. Her <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/category/before-and-after/">Before & Afters</a> and <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/category/rescued-and-revamped/">Rescued & Revamped</a> have me looking at every object and space in a different light. Instead of thinking "if only this otherwise perfect mirror were white" or "I wish I could start over with this section," I feel confident that I can make it look how I want it to look.

Finally, there's <a href="http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/">All Things Thrifty</a>, whose <a href="http://www.allthingsthrifty.com/2009/10/why-you-should-make-your-own-pillows.html">pillow making tutorial</a> is, well, life-changing.

So, as cheesy as it is, thank YOU, awesome bloggers, who make me stop and say "Hey, I CAN do that!"

Bedroom ... not complete. Sigh.

Went to Ikea today and this was gonna be it. Dressers, nightstands, and done. The bedding was selected and had arrived. It just needed those last bits of furniture.

But, yesterday I mentioned offhand what a pain in the neck the footboard on the bed is when it comes to making it neatly. So as we navigated the showroom today, we paused in the bed section. And looked. And yup. Getting a new bed. Not right away. But now I won't feel like the room is "done" until we have the new bed.

Beginning to wonder if it'll ever be done.

Speaking of awesome bedrooms, I am in LOVE with this sleeping cubby bedroom over on Apartment Therapy. (via NinjaPenguin) As a kid, I LOVED enclosed spaces. I was happy to play in a closet or under a table or in a box. Hell, just this week I couldn't resist climbing in the giant box my Macy's order came in.