There is really no theme or specific area for these items, they are just pretty things that make me happy to look at.

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What is inspiring you lately?

So this is the new year
& I have no resolutions
For self assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions

So everybody put your best suit or dress on
Let’s make believe that we are wealthy for just this once
Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn
As thirty dialogues bleed into one

I wish the world was flat like the old days
Then I could travel just by folding a map
No more airplanes, or speed trains, or freeways
There’d be no distance that can hold us back.

There’d be no distance that could hold us back

So this is the new year.

{“The New Year” by Death Cab for Cutie}

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas spent with your loved ones – I know I did!  My family is SO generous and creative with gifts (see last year’s gifts) – we always have amazing Christmas morning celebrations.  This year, because our sister just got married a month ago (we just got the official photos back btw, so hopefully we will post more soon!), we all decided to scale back on gifts and handmade specifically because of the time factor.  “Scale back” in our family is still pretty over-the-top in most cases though – always a fun bunch:-)  I did still receive some amazing handmade and vintage gifts from my family – everything was so thoughtful and perfect.

With my sister having just moved out, there were a few things for the house that I was in need of – things she took with her.  For the most part, the small email I sent my mom for a Christmas list were those necessities, but there were a few “want” items also on the list – which ended up being Ikea items among a few other things.  So in addition to all of the other WONDERFUL gifts I received from my lovely family, I also went home with a few amazing items from Ikea.

The day after Christmas, because I didn’t have to work, 3 of my sisters and I decided to brave the crowds and go to Ikea as well.  We had been talking about making a trip down there for the last few months, so it seemed like a good time to do it.  Let’s just say, I made out with a lot of great items that day…

{Stockholm cushion, Frajen towel, Hessum doormat}

{Melodi pendant lamp, Foto pendant lamp}

{Ursula throw}

{Asker container, Skurar pot, Crassula plant, PS Vallo watering can, Kardemumma pots}

{Vilmie Rund throw}

My house currently looks like Ikea exploded inside of it – and I’m perfectly okay with that.  In addition to these things (some of which were gifts) I bought a few shelves for my kitchen and new walk-in pantry (more on that later) and I also finally have the legs to add to my table top so I can make this desk…yes!  I’m sure I am forgetting other small items like a design book and magnets, more plants and hanging racks, but you get the point – this Christmas is being deemed “An Ikea Christmas”.

I still have other, larger items on my “want” list from Ikea – but I will let these other things settle in first before loading up again.

We set the tree up between the living room and entryway – we’ve never had it here, but I really like how you can see it from every area of the downstairs.

View from the front door.

I put the tree up on a vintage wooden crate – I like having a large space underneath.

You got a sneak peek of this area in our video Christmas card!  I was fortunate to be able to obtain a shelf that my parents made from my sister’s wedding.  I knew I wanted to create a faux-fireplace looking shelf to house Christmas decorations and other favorite pieces.

“Remembrance, like a candle, burns brightest at Christmastime.”  Charles Dickens

Christmas cards.

I love this little guy!  Totally worth $.49!

Remember when I made these flowers?

12 Days of Christmas.  I cut the dark green edge off of this vintage linen that my mom-in-law gave me.

Garlands hanging from the ceiling make it feel like a party all the time.  I scored this Martha Stewart garland for a buck!

The paper flowers were used at our sister’s bridal shower and wedding.  It was good timing to be able to reuse those for Christmas.

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my decorations!  See Stormie’s decorations here if you haven’t already.  Merry Christmas:)

Doily bowls are so pretty and make such a great gift.

Here are your supplies needed:

Doilies (thrifted or handmade)

Fabric Stiffener (can be found at any craft store)

Large bowl to use as a form

Seran wrap

Paint Brush

Step 1: Wrap your bowl(s) in seran wrap to protect it from the glue

Step 2: Arrange your doily over the bowl (use a bowl big enough to hold the entire doily without extra hanging off)

Step 3: Apply a layer of fabric stiffener to the entire doily, coating well

Step 4: Allow to dry for about 12-24 hours (re-coating if there are sections not hardening)

Step 5: Remove the doily from the bowl and apply fabric stiffener to the inside of the bowl

Step 6: Allow to dry completely

Enjoy for yourself or wrap carefully(maybe using some handmade washi tape?) and gift it to your favorite person.

You have a few days before Christmas, get on it!

The loft bed!!  Love it:)

Such a cute surprise when the drawers are pulled out!

The animal heads on the wall are such a cute and colorful touch.  And I love the map!

The whole transformation was done for $250!  You can see even more photos of the space and read about the makeover here & here.  Thank you Meg for inspiring me so much!  You have definitely found a new reader in me:)

Darling angel from Kitsch Cafe

Redhead in red!  From Lr Monkey Toes  (for some reason, the face of this angel reminds me of my cousin Elise!)

Gold beauty with halo from rewanted

The funny thing is, I wouldn’t want to put any of these on top my tree.  They’re much too pretty to be out of immediate eyesight.  What’s on top of your tree?

No hard feelings here, she just got married (yay!).

For the past few months, through the engagement period, I have been thinking about what to do in this extra room I now have.  The plan is to turn it into an office/MayDae work room.  Currently, everything from our Etsy shop is housed in my basement on shelves but we will be moving it all upstairs into the closet and may even do some fun displays in the office just because we have some really pretty items.

For some inspiration, these are my current favorite office areas:

This is the photograph that convinced me to paint my floors white.  The original plan was to paint the floors throughout my entire house white, but now I may just keep that to the office area – tbd.  I have this exact desk – love.

All images are via Pinterest in my “Be Productive” board.  You can also follow Stephanie May on Pinterest if you haven’t already – she, of course, has some fantastic stuff!

I didn’t do a lot of lights on the outside because I waited WAY too long but it’s nice coming home at night to a few.

My yarn wreath has been the source of many conversations – Stephanie hates it…I love it.  What do you think?

I suppose this is almost a double reveal because I haven’t really shown my living room at all on the blog – so here it is! (still lots to be done of course)

Kind of in love with this display I put together – neutrals are lovely.  The piano they are sitting on will be leaving soon though with the roommate which is sort of sad – I do play it sometimes.  I guess I will just have to get my own.

I can’t wait to put in my wall of bookshelves on the left.

As an aside (not Christmas related) my Grandma made this artwork for my Great-Grandpa before he died.  She filled each dog and bird with poly-fill so it is 3-dimensional.  It is hanging in my living room and I love it!

And of course we can’t forget my antler tree…

Learn how to make this adorable jersey pom pom.

Cute!  Every Christmas deserves a holly garland.  Learn how to make it.

Oooooh!  Such a sweet idea!  Polaroid ornaments – learn how to make them.

I love this jewel Christmas tree!  Learn how to make it.

Learn how to make these teeny-tiny ice skate ornaments.

Simple paper Christmas trees – learn how.  So many size and color possibilities!

Eeeeep!  Terrarium ornaments?!  Learn how.

Sweetest Matryoshka doll ever.  This would be perfect at any time of the year…don’t you think?  Learn how.