{It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas}

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I am so glad the Christmas season is upon us.  I love, love, love decorating during the Christmas holiday.  One Christmas vignette down...a few more to go.

I hope you enjoy the vignette as much as I do.  The best part is that I only spent $6 on the little pillow...everything else I have collected throughout the years.

This is what I started with...

(Santa Picture from Kirkland's - purchased last year)

(Santas are from Hobby Lobby)

(Wire baskets from Hobby Lobby)

 I decided to get rid of the gold wire box and added a red ornament.

{Red and Gold Ornament from Michael's - 2010).

Going through my Christmas boxes, I found the Jolly ceramic piece.

 

The pillow... "If you don't believe...you get underwear."  I love it!

This is the only item I bought at HobLob last week.

(Santa ornament from Michael's)

Here's a close up.

 

Picture of entire vignette 

...and one more...

 

On to the kitchen, dining room and family room...til next time!



I am joining the following:

The DIY Showoff -- Holiday Decorating

Amaze Me Monday No. 51

Debbiedoos Blogging and Blabbing Newbie Party

Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays No. 42

From My Front Porch To Yours: Treasure Hunt Thursday No. 33

{The Ugly Duckling}

I am not much of a DIY-er; however, I am excited to share this project with you!  I found this beautiful mirror that I needed wanted, but couldn't afford it.  I decided to put my brain to use and came up with the following! :)

The Inspirational Piece:  $599.

This is how it all started . . .

I found this ugly clock on clearance @ Hobby Lobby for $5.99 - nothing special about it. 

You all know about priming and spray painting so I won't bore you with that, but this is how it looked after priming it:

I left my project unattended in the garage for a couple of months and finally decided to finish it.  I took another trip to Hobby Lobby and bought a cheap mirror for under $7 (the kind used to put pillar candles on) and an 8" round wood embroidery hoop for under $2 from Michael's.  I glued the hoop to the back of the mirror and the "face" of the clock so that the mirror sticks out. :)

Here's my finished product and best of all, I spent under $20.  I am still not done with it, but I couldn't wait to share it with you!  I will be adding a little bit of rub and buff.

My DIY Mirror:  Approximately $20

(I need to hang my valance...pay no attention to the "naked" window)

What do you think of my mirror - not bad compared the $600 mirror, huh?

I am linking to the following:

Dittle Dattle: Amaze Me Monday No. 46

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday No. 85

Boogie Board Cottage: Masterpiece Monday

Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing: Newbie Party

Tip Junkie: Tip Me Tuesday

You're Talking Too Much: Meet Me Monday Linky Party No. 8

Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesday No. 37

Type A Decorating: Anything Goes No. 40

From My Front Porch To Yours: Treasure Hunt Thursday No. 29

The Girl Creative: Just Something I Whipped Up

Domestically Speaking: 98th Power of Paint Party

Remodelaholic: Remodelaholic's Anonymous

The Look for Less {Cheap Chica}

I've been on the hunt for a sunburst mirror for like forever!!  Last Call Neiman Marcus had a great sale last week - 41% off everything in the store, including home decor.  I have had my eyes on this sunburst mirror from Neiman Marcus for like 6 months now and I finally took the plunge and bought it.  The mirror was originally $688 and reduced to $338.  After the 41% discount, I ended up paying about $215 for the mirror. I know, it's still expensive, but I just couldn't seem to find that "perfect" mirror for my bedroom.  After taking the mirror home, the damn color did not work - it was way too shiny for my gray walls.  I was back to square one, but on the positive, my bank account regained its money back...the mirror was way too expensive anyway and was not the "perfect" fit for my walls. . .

I then found this Golden Petals Mirror for $275...ON SALE!!!  No way; no how!

Golden Petals Mirror - Horchow

. . . and then a friend found this amazing Golden Rosette Mirror for me at Kirkland's for an amazing $59.99!!  I called my local Kirkland's to put one on hold, but they are out.  I guess I'll have to order it online, but you cannot beat the price and it's the exact same mirror sold on Horchow, but for $215 less!  What a deal!!

Golden Rosette Mirror - Kirkland's

What amazing deals have you found?

I am linking with:

Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays No. 34

Friday's Thought...

Friday's Thought:

The Live Logo:

Lacoste Polo with a "Live" Logo . . .

Hello Handsome!

I had a very busy weekend.  Saturday morning Jon and I decided to go to the auction - it was a last minute thing.  I didn't even make a reservation in advance.  I told Jon the night before that we had to go to the auction to "look around" as an high end furniture store was going out of business.  I got online and browsed the items.  I was after a headboard, a console table and a bench...no luck with those items.  However, I scored the deal of the day!!! I got this handsome grandfather clock for $95!!  Yes, only ninety-five dollars!!  I felt the adrenaline rush when I heard the word "SOLD!"  

Picking up the clock @ the auction.

I really like the distressed look.

Welcome Home, Handsome.

One more pic...just for kicks.

   

What have you scored at the auction? 

I am linking with:

Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing: Newbie Party

Dittle Dattle: Amaze Me Monday

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday's Treasures

Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays

Finding Fabulous: Frugalicious Friday

Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday

French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday

Southern Hospitality: End of August Thrifty Treasures

til next time...

The Wingback Chair: A Sneak Peek

Well, a month or two ago I (it was actually Jon) found this wingback chair on Craigslist.  I had been eyeing a pair of wingbacks, but the lady would not lower the price...I stopped looking and then Jon found this chair.  This is the Carter chair by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams which retails for around $1700 - who would honestly pay so much for a chair?  Not I...even if I had the moolah.

I'm from a border town and you're probably asking what this has to do with decorating..I have a point - I promise!  This past weekend I went to visit my family and decided to take my chairs (yes, I took two, but I'll talk about the other chair later) for a ride.  I couldn't wait to cross the border the next day!!!  Saturday morning - 8am to be exact - I was on my way to Mexico (Piedras Negras, Coahuila), along with my chairs.  I wasn't expecting to come back to Austin with my new upholstered chairs so quickly, but when the guy asked me when I needed them I told him I wanted to pick them up the same day and he said "No problem, Senorita."  I was shocked at his response!  

I spent $120 to reupholster two chairs, TIP INCLUDED! ;)  This was a great deal considering it would cost me around $500 to reupholster the wingback in town.  

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Carter Chair {Retails for around $1,700}

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Carter Chair {Craigslist:  $60}

BEFORE:

Here's my newly upholstered chair in linen fabric...

The guy even salvaged the nailheads. 

I was oh so happy when I saw them with the new linen fabric.

Here's the AFTER...

Ok, it's jus a sneak peek as I'm still working on my bedroom.

   

I am linking with:

Debbiedoo's Blogging and Blabbing: Newbie Party

Savvy Southern Style: Wow Us Wednesdays

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday's Treasures

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Primitive and Proper: Linky Party No. 49

Finding Fabulous: Frugalicious Friday

Miss Mustard Seed: Furniture Feature Friday

French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday

til next time...

A Home Out of a Water Tower

While reading the New York Post, I came across this article of Life in a Belgian Water Tower.  Check out the pictures:

This water tower was purchased for about $43k.

Living Room sitting at 98 feet high.

Kids' bedroom on the 3rd floor.

Master Bathroom with original down pipe was preserved.

Family bathroom takes up the entire 4th floor - love the free standing tub.

Heart of the Home: The Kitchen.

Staircase leading up to the master bedroom.

Even the cat gets his own home (a compartment set behind the kitchen wall)

Hope you enjoy the pictures - til next time.

Kissed By A Frog {I Won!}

Hello.

I am so very late in posting this, but you must know I only check my mailbox on payday (that would be twice a month for me).  I was out of town this past weekend and Sunday evening when I got home, I went straight to my mailbox and this lovely gift had been sitting in my box waiting for me for who knows how long...

My friend Jenni @ Kissed By A Frog (please check out her blog) had a giveaway and I was one of the lucky winners!

Check out my lovely gift:

Here's the package that was waiting for me in my mailbox

Jewelry Box {I couldn't wait to see what it was}

Jenni's business card and two pairs of earrings

{Lovely!}

...and a matching ring

Thank you, Jenni for the lovely gift!  I promise to take a picture when I'm all dolled up and wearing the beautiful jewelry.