Chair DIY makeover

I impulse purchased a chair for $30 from the salvage yard of a shop, next to my yarn store in Jamesville, NY yesterday. With a $13 can of furniture paint, I painted the scratched black chair frame a linen white. I'm happy with how it turned out despite the fact that I am not the best painter. I'm a sucker for white, always have been and always will be. I think I can find a place for the chair in the babies room, or in the guest room when we finally settle on a house.

Before

After

Details of the scratched up painted black frame

More detailed before shot

Looking forward to finding a permanent place
for this new chair

Mont Tremblant

Mont Tremblant

We took a much needed mini vacation this past weekend up to Mont Tremblant in Canada. It is about a 5 hour drive from Syracuse, but with a baby about 5.5. Although the ground was not covered in snow, it was still a really beautiful place to visit and they made enough snow to get in some skiing on the top of the mountain. It also happened to be the 24H this weekend, which we didn't know about, but enjoyed the energy from.

We stayed on the mountain at Le Plateau condominiums, which I recommend if you have a family, and want to save a little money. We were able to make all meals at home, and our beautiful condo had a fireplace, something I have been missing up here in our temporary living situation. There are one to four bedroom condo options which is great if you want to go up with friends as well as split a home. There was also a hiking trail right outside our door, which we went on on our first day in the afternoon with the baby and dog.

We had decided since there were only about 5 trails open that we would save our money, and only ski one day. On the first day I took the morning off and went to the Scandinave spa by myself for some quiet relaxation time. I went first thing in the morning when they opened and mostly had the place to myself, this would also be a very romantic couple's activity. I decided to be brave and jumped into the river which is 40 degrees fahrenheit and then into the hot tub, followed by the outdoor fireplace. After a few rounds of this I had forgotten all about the teething going on back at the condo.

We rented ski gear and did a half day on Saturday leaving the baby at day care on the mountain which is incredibly conveniently located just next to the gondola. They have morning's from 830-12, so you can easily get in 7 or 8 runs for a half day of skiing. It had snowed a little on Friday night and they had been making snow, so considering that it was 33 degrees at the summit conditions were good.

Although we did not go out and really explore night life in the village we did do some afternoon drinks, though with a baby had to be conscious of where we went. On Friday night we went to La Forge, exclusively for the views of the mountain. Saturday we ended up at Fat Mardis. Usually I do a ton of research on the best place for a cocktail or the best views, but didn't for this trip. I am sure we will be back and next time I'll do a little more research on the town. We also grabbed a Crepe for my husband which I am told was delicious from La Maison de la Crepe.

It was a great weekend as a family in the woods, and on the slopes. I plan to go back when there is more snow for some great ski conditions. Merry Merry everyone!

The Scandinave Spa

Hiking on the freshly snow dusted woods

Skiing

DIY Christmas decorating

I picked up our tree yesterday, and can not wait to decorate it. As I was sorting through the box of decorations I realized that we do not have a proper tree topper. I think maybe this year I'll make one. Here are a few DIY tree toppers.

I made cranberry sauce last week for thanksgiving, and only used half of the bag. Instead of tossing out the remaining cranberries I decided to string them on flower wire, and hang them up in the babies room.

The leftover cranberries I strung on some flower wire.
It only took about 10 minutes, and cost nothing.

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Use extra ribbon and some flower wire to make a tree
topper bow. (Source no longer available on Etsy)

With all of the extra yarn I have laying around
this seems like a good choice. Via

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Holiday decorating round 1

We will be on the road tomorrow heading to Brooklyn for Thanksgiving, so I decided to take advantage of the early hours while everyone was still asleep to do my thanksgiving vegan cooking, and some decorating for the holidays.

I made my son a Christmas stocking about a month or so ago, and couldn't just hang it against the plain walls of our rental, so I decided to make an inexpensive fireplace.

I went to Home Depot and bought two bunches of Douglas Fir branches for about $6 each, and used the flower wire I already had to create a garland that I could then shape into a fireplace. I picked up some more Baby's breath from the grocery store for $5 and wrapped that around another bare wreath I had been using in the kitchen for decoration. I had this 6' string of wireless lights from holidays past and added them for a little warmth. It cost me a total of $17 to make this, and I'm super happy with how it came out. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Pie season

 Yesterday I caved, and did a tiny bit of holiday decorating by decorating the plain wreath in my son's bedroom. That was just a little taste of the season. I love so many things about the holiday's; the lights, the smells, and the baking are a few of my favorites.

Pie Season is in full swing, and my pie dish is sadly locked away in storage in the city. I've been eyeing a few new pie dishes that might need to serve as my back up pie dish until we get settled in a permanent home, and I have all of my things out of storage. One of these would be great to test this Bon Appetit vegan tart.

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The thrill of the hunt

One of the reason's I became a furniture/home decor buyer was, because I love hunting for new product/designers that the general public isn't aware  of yet. I also enjoy getting my hands dirty at thrift shops; flea markets, and antique shops in podunk towns.  There is a thrill in finding something beautifully weathered that you know you'll have a home for.

Since leaving my job as a buyer for a luxury modern design company to support my husbands military career move, I haven't been able to bring new designs/designers to market, but that doesn't mean that I've lost that itch for the hunt.

This past weekend while my husband was away I took my very well behaved 10 month old out, and sorted through shelves at antique shops, and rummaged through bins at the flea market in downtown syracuse.

We found solid brass candlesticks for $10 for the pair at an antique shop, and at the flea just as I was about to give up, and head for the car I spotted a Thonet cane seat chair hidden behind a dining table and scored it for $10! What are some of your favorite finds?

Crib Sheets

We just bought a third crib sheet yesterday, and I love it. It has little woodland creatures on it in a very subtle way, even the baby was interested in it yesterday. For my own bed, I've always wanted white sheets, and nothing more. I assumed I would want the same for the baby, but I decided to have a little fun for him and give him something to look at. Here are a few of the crib sheets that I love for baby.

Our new Menagerie Crib sheet complete with
lots of little creatures from bears to Raccoons

Where our new Menagerie crib sheet is from.
 If I had a girl I would have bought this one.
 From: Little Wife Power House

This simple Grey sheet would pair with any crib
From: Burts Bees Baby

Simple, modern pattern
From: Sprout San Francisco

Another pretty design for the girls
From: Project Nursery

Bedside tables

Our end tables are in storage, and I'm now realizing how much I use, to use these small pieces of furniture. I miss having someplace to put my water or cup of coffee; magazine. Here are a few tables I am loving.

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I love the woven base on these tables
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Decorating on a budget

We moved into a two bedroom apartment while we house hunt, and learn the community. We didn't want to pack to unpack, repack, and unpack, and decided that we would keep all, but our beds, sheets and towels in storage until we found a more permanent home.

I had purchased a dresser and pie safe from an antique shop a few months ago that I was storing at my parents, so we picked those up, and are using them to store the minimal clothing that we have with us.

In order to cozy up the space on a tiny budget I spent a lot of time at Home Depot, Target and Lowe's as well as our local hobby shop for decorating tools. Both home depot and target had plants on sale, I was able to pick up 5 plants for under $75. Target has tons of great kitchen equipment and flatware for $9-$40, that can easily blend in with what we already had. On my last post I mentioned the DIY projects I did, all of those projects were under $75 as well.

Cooking and eating at the table is important to me, its a time of day where I know we can connect as a family and I didn't want to lose that, so I picked up a card table and chairs from target. I put two tablecloths on to warm them up, resulting in a cute dining nook.

Using old almond butter jars for sugar and as a planter.

DIY home decor projects

Last week we moved into a temporary two bedroom apartment in the suburbs of Syracuse. We decided to keep the vast majority of our things in storage, so that we don't have to do another huge move in a few months. Moving is expensive, so on a very tight budget I've figured out a way to stock the pantry, decorate and make it livable for the time.

Here are some craft projects I did on the cheap to cozy up the space. The one DIY project i worked on last week that was a complete failure was using air dry clay, and paint to make my own kitchen sponge dish, and bathroom soap dish. I tried to work with the clay while chasing around a very mobile 9.5 month old, which did not allow for me to focus. I am going to attempt this again when I have an hour or two to concentrate, as it seems like a simple, fun and inexpensive material. I am sure there will be more projects coming.

For our bedroom I bought a grapevine wreath ring and then bought two bunches
of babies breath from the local grocery store and some wire from the local
hobby store. I had initially wanted to do a  pussy willow wreath, but couldn't
find any. This was where I found the inspiration Via. I have one more wreath
in the babies room, that I am trying to figure out how to decorate.

All of my spices are in storage and as someone who loves cooking with tons
of flavors, i needed to restock my pantry. Some spices I bought, but the ones
I could dry myself I did. These will sit on the wall for about three weeks and
then come down to be put into jars or plastic bags to be used for the next few
months. I used a piece of driftwood from the beach near my parents home in
New Hampshire and some kitchen twine to hang. My inspiration came from here
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My body scrub was in storage, so I found a super simple

recipe to make your own calming lavender scrub and used a

mason jar I found on sale at target to contain it. The lavender oil

was expensive, but i used so little that I could easily make these as

holiday gifts. Inspiration Via

Things I'm loving this fall

The weather is just starting to cool down here in New England, and I am loving it. I'm in New Hampshire for a few weeks between moves, and have been playing tourist, running around. The mornings are crisp and the days are warm, and of course I'm knitting up a storm.

This time of the year means all things cozy; leather, plaid, candles, warm drinks and a little bit more color. Here are a few pieces I'm loving for me, the home and my babe. 

These candles
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A cute top that's easy to nurse in
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These adorable Moccasins
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For my beautiful rings a beautiful ring holder
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My new coffee Mugs from Valerie's Galleries

Modern day poncho's

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When I used to think of poncho's, I thought of what parent's would try to force you into when it was raining; or those yellow ones they handout when you go on the boat under Niagara Falls. Sure, those still exist, but there are also some really cute ones that will keep you warm this fall. I found mine at a consignment shop in Portsmouth, NH.

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If you are feeling ambitious to make one yourself
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Ceramics

Along with my love for art glass, I also love picking up different pieces of ceramic. Ceramic tumblers, vases, candle holders and simple decorative bowls. I stopped into the Folk yesterday in Kittery, a very cool boutique shop and picked up a new piece for my ever growing collection.

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This adorable piggy bank via

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This adorable match striker via

Helen Levi can do no wrong
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Baskets

I've found that recently I've been buying a lot of baskets. Baskets for baby clothes; baskets for throw blankets or dog toys. Here are a few of my favorite baskets/boxes.

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Love these Hay baskets for kids storage or office storage
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This Tin basket would be great to throw in mail or magazines
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We use a French Market basket for the extra baby blankets. Love this one
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The always classic "Nantucket Basket", perfect for yarn. Via

We use the Peterboro Basket for our throw blankets, love this one Via