A Few of My Favorite Amazon Finds

Trays, Lights, Frames and More

Any Amazon shoppers out there?  I think I know for sure that there are a few that enjoy the thrill of finding just the right thing and with a click or two it ends up delivered to your door in just a couple of days.

For those of you who shop Amazon I thought I would show you a few of my favorite Amazon finds.  Maybe you'll see something and decide you need one of these too.  For those who don't shop with Amazon maybe you'll decide that you need to start.


Its hard to decide what my favorite Amazon find has been but this large beautiful rustic metal tray ranks right up there at the top.  I don't remember where I first saw it but I was instantly drawn to it and knew that I had to find it.  After a little searching I found it on Amazon and with a couple of clicks and a few days wait it showed up on my step...kudos to the UPS drivers who work so hard to get our treasures to us so quickly.

For the wine lover out there I have to tell you about Purple Toad wine.  It's made here in the great state of Kentucky and boy is it good!  My favorite Purple Toad Wine so far is the Black and Bruised.  It's sweet, probably to sweet for most wine lovers but for me it is perfect.  A word of caution though, it's like drinking kool-aid so be careful, you'll drink the whole bottle before you know it.

And as an added plus for the wine...those bottles are the prettiest blue you have ever seen.  Once the bottle was empty I just couldn't bring myself to throw it away.  I peeled the labels off and held on to it (them eventually).  Side note..not all of their wines are bottled in the vibrant blue color in case you decide to try something other than the Black and Bruised.

Distressed Black Tray

Once I had a little collection of them (I even had friends bringing me their empties) I decided I wanted to use them as a lighted display on a bar cart/tray.  I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the others I have.  By the way...how cool are my vintage glasses...I scored the whole set for cheap at an auction!  

After a little amazon searching I found this box of 10 cork lights and they came with extra batteries.  They were a good deal coming in at just a little over a dollar per strand.

Cork Lights

Another of my favorite Amazon finds is this simple black picture frame.  If you have priced frames lately you know they are not cheap and of course the larger the frame the more expensive it is.  

Craig Frames

Joanna Gaines featured this family tree in one of her magazines and I fell in love with it.  I did a little research on Ancestry.com and got all of my names together then placed my order through TheMakeshiftGallery on Etsy.  

This frame is matted and has a thin acrylic facing instead of glass which makes it more lightweight for hanging.  These are actually hung using Command Strips...aren't those one of the greatest inventions ever!

Command Picture Hanging Strips

This frame I own because I grossly mis-measured when I ordered it.  I obviously wasn't thinking clearly...can I blame it on the wine? In all honesty I had the family tree print for awhile and thought it was 20x20 but guess what...it wasn't.  Rather than send it back I decided to keep it and use it to hold a family photo, which by the time I got it ordered and hung up was already out of date.  Our sweet, handsome little grandson has been born since this picture was taken so we will soon need to update the frame with a new photo.   

ArtToFrames Double Mat Frame

I ordered our picture from MPix and was very pleased with the quality of their prints.  Where do you order your prints from?

The frame is lightweight, the facing is acrylic so there's no glass to have to worry about getting broken and the textured matting adds just the right touch. 

The frames come in different sizes so be sure to check them out and see if you find one that fits your needs.  Also be sure to check out TheMakeshiftGallery on Etsy and shop small when you can.  

Happy Wednesday friends!  I hope your day is filled with blessings and happiness!

~Jennifer~

Beautiful Farmhouse Style Rug

Back in stock...at Decor Steals

Shop here to make one yours

Several years ago I saw this beautiful bamboo mat on the Miss Mustard Seed blog.  I originally got a couple to sell (at the time I had a booth in a vendor mall).  I sold one and the other made it’s way back to my house. I stored it away in the basement for awhile and eventually decided to get it out and see how it would look in my dining room.  I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting it to be very durable but it has held up beautifully and my only regret is that I didn’t use it sooner than I did. 

We recently got a new table for a steal from a local auction.  I had been looking for one for years but just couldn't bring myself to pay the price for a new one.  Believe it or not this table and bench were brand new and still in the box and we got both pieces for less than the price of the bench alone.  Insert happy dance!  

I love the uniqueness of this mat.  The different fonts printed on it adds so much character and beauty to it.  

Do you love it yet and feel the need to get one for yourself?  Surely you do...It is durable, ours has been in use for several years now and has held up beautifully.  Here's the link again to purchase one for yourself.  Last time I saw them they went like hot cakes so make sure you don't miss out.

As you can see right now we currently have a mix of seating being used with the table and bench.  The four side chairs are from the old maple table that we were using and will be replacing eventually when I can find some that I really like and that don't cost a fortune...I'm a bargain hunter.  The chair at the end is a set of two that I found at a local vendor mall and had recovered.  I'll have to say they're not the most comfortable but they sure are pretty and happen to be one of my most loved junk treasure finds.

Miss Mustard Seed

Isn't it gorgeous in this picture?  I hope you make one yours before they are sold out.  Happy shopping and while you are there be sure you check out all of the other beautiful things available at Decor Steals.

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things...

Family Gatherings and Christmas Morning

As the days are inching closer to Christmas I’m still perusing my favorite blogs and finding way to many decorating ideas that I love.  For those of you that have blogs you follow there is a great app called Bloglovin’ where all of those blogs can be followed from one place. It’s very easy to use and it’s a great way to find new blogs to follow.   I could list several of my favorites here but that may be a post for another day. In the meantime here’s a few of my favorite things. 

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year.  It’s a time of year that is full of love, goodness, caring and giving.  It’s also a time to decorate our homes and a time to make friends and family feel welcomed into our home.  

For several years now it has been a tradition that we get up early, open gifts and then cook breakfast for our family. Some arrive in their PJ’s, still sporting their best bed head hairdo (this includes adults) and others have already dressed so that they are ready to move on to the next meal.  I guess you can tell it’s not a fancy event but it is one of my most favorite mornings of the year.

Normally it’s a paper plate kind of morning but this year I decided to fancy it up a bit after I found these at one of my favorite places to shop for home goods, World Market.  By the way they just opened one in Lexington...I’m so excited!  Be sure to visit their website and sign up for their rewards program which has all kinds of membership benefits and best of all it's free.  You get member pricing as well as special discounts and did I mention its FREE to sign up...free is always good.

They may cost a little more than paper plates but over the next couple of years I would have spent that much on the disposable plates. I'm also using a set as our everyday dishes too so that makes it even more of a bargain.

We usually do what I call assembly line dishing, you know, the one where you carry your plate around and fill it up from the multiple dishes of food sitting on the kitchen island.  Well, guess what...we'll do that again but I do love to set my table and pretend that this is how it will be.

I'm loving the look of my place settings.  Just in case you need another reason to shop World Market these placemats came from there and work so well with the tablescape.  They come in a set of four and are available in two different colors.

I do love to shop and shopping local is something I try to do as often as possible.  For the past three years I have been buying Christmas plates from one of my favorite Kentucky pottery shops.  I don't buy a full set but instead I buy three or four and mix and match them on my table.  

  This amazing little shop is called Dirty South Pottery and is located in Winchester.  They have a shop there in town and they set up at local arts and crafts markets but in case you can't make it to shop in person you can always shop their Etsy Shop.

This year I'm thinking everyone will leave with their own personalized ornament.  They are inexpensive to make and add such a personal touch.  I thought I would use them as a place setting card but truth is we just aren't that formal in my family.  That doesn't mean I can't make one for each person to take home with them though.  I'll post the how to a little later this week and yes even though it's getting close to Christmas Day there is still time make them.  

If you don't have a step of stamps to stamp the names on with you could always leave them plain.  I'm sure your family and friends will appreciate the personal touch and thoughtfulness of them.

And yes our newest addition to the family won't need his own plate this year but of course he gets a little something with his name on it.

This little tree has been one of my very favorite Christmas decorations since I got it a few years ago and this year I think it makes the perfect center piece.  The minature ornaments remind me of vintage Shiny Brites and they are still available for purchase at Anthropologie.  After looking for the perfect little tree to hang them on and almost giving up the search I luckily found this little beauty in Lexington at Decorator Warehouse at an end of season sale.  

I can't wait to have family gathered around the table on Christmas morning.  Hearing the laughter of the little ones and the big ones too always makes me happy.  

Here's a sneak peak of the place cards/ornaments.  As you can see they are not perfect and some may not even be intact now...anyway hopefully I can get that post up this week.  Hope you all have a great week

Facelift complete...

FINALLY...
 
 

I have used my Annie Sloan chalk paint on a few small projects but this was my first large scale project and it was so much fun I think I'm going to have to go get more colors to try.  I found this cute little vintage vanity and thought it would be adorable with a little TLC and a new coat of paint.

 


I forgot to take a picture before I removed the mirror.
 



 I decided to strip all the paint off in case the old paint was lead based and how lucky for me, it only had four coats of paint on it. 

 

Here it is with most of the paint off. 

 

Here it is with a coat of Annie Sloan paint in graphite.
 

This is it after as Mr. Miyagi says...wax on, wax off.  I did cheat a little, notice the bucket to the left.  Believe it or not its a car buffer (laugh if you want but sometimes you just gotta think out of the box).   I borrowed it from my brother and yes I did use it (some) but there was a lot of hand buffing involved too.

 

My beautiful daughter and helper. Notice the attire and lack of shoes...can you believe its Thanksgiving Day and she's dressed like that.

 

Still on the fence about the drawer pulls...I kinda like them but wondering about changing to clear glass knobs.  What do you think?

 

 

Now to get a piece of glass to complete the vanity and its all done.  Guess I will be visiting Cox Hardware to get my glass cut.  Nothing like home town friendly service.

 

 

 Ahh...the glow represents my happiness at finally getting this done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing You and Yours Peace On Earth

Anyone feeling stressed yet?  If not tell me your secret!   For those of us that are stressed because of the lights that don't work (HUGE stressor of mine), a gift that you really need and can't seem to find anywhere,  the traffic, the crowds at the stores and on and on and on(the list is endless) please take a moment and a deep breath and just enjoy this most wonderful time of the year. 

This is probably not what you had in mind when I said "Peace on Earth" but I think its a fun way to say it...

Yeah...I know its not your traditional Christmas tree but it sure makes me happy to look at it.  This brings a little peace to me and I hope it did you too. 

Wishing you a Peaceful and Merry Christmas a little early!!