December 13, 2013

Dare to DIY Features + Dog Art Giveaway

December 13, 2013/ Michelle S

Happy Friday the 13th! Last day of work for the week. Yes! Nate and I are headed to Chicago. He surprised me with tickets to Elf the Musical. We're both pumped. Hopefully we can beat the snow! We've never been to Chicago during the Winter so we'll so how tough we are.

Today I'd like to share with you features from Monday's Dare to DIY {Give Handmade} link party, a sneak peek of Monday's Dare to Deck the Halls project and an awesome giveaway. Action packed post, right?

First up, the features. There were seriously a ton of great ideas. Be sure to check them all out right here!

I really loved this DIY novelty IPhone speaker from CeciBean. It's beautiful!

Next up is this delicious looking lemon sugar scrub from Made2Style. I'm kind of obsessed with body scrubs and this one's ingredients look like a winner to me!

Check out our Dare to DIY pinterest board for inspiration! Wanna see the other co-hosts picks? Check them out at Maybe Matilda, Newlywoodwards and Primitive and Proper!

The party is over at NewlyWoodwards on Monday. The challenge is Dare to Deck the Halls.

"DIY something new to deck your halls. Did you find something in a catalog that you wish you had? Wreaths, stockings, pillows or advent calendars? Make it! Inspire us all to do the same."

Here's a peek at what I'm working on!

And now it's time for a fun giveaway from a childhood friend's Etsy shop, Painfully Polite.

Amanda and I grew up in the tiny town of Dayton, Iowa. I don't talk about my hometown much but it was a pretty awesome town to grow up in. 800 people. No stop lights. One of those towns where you seriously know everyone and their families. We ran the town until dark and then went home to have suppers with our families. Us Dayton girls stick together.

Amanda is a graphic designer that is looking for a way to use her skills outside of work. And I'm madly in love with her latest dog art.

Amanda took this darling photo of the Ike-ster in his Charlie Be Good tie...

and turned it into this masterpiece!

I die.

Ike's girlfriend, Daisy, got in on the action too.

TOO MUCH CUTENESS!!!

Would you like to win a masterpiece of your pup? Amanda is kindly offering up a digital print for one lucky reader! Be sure to check out the quirky collection of art available from Painfully Polite. I know some of you will love this grammar art print. Enter via rafflecopter below!

Happy weekend!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

December 12, 2013

Holiday Home Tour {Living Room}

December 12, 2013/ Michelle S

Are you rested up from the start of our home tour yesterday? Okay, good!

Let's continue in the living room. Our living room is decked in gold, wood tones and a furry dog. All important elements in design.

I had thought about making Ike move but he gets grouchy when you kick him out of his spot. And I'd have to fluff that couch cushion.

Here's the view from upstairs. Ike keeps a close eye on me at all times.

He leads a hard life.

Our tree is 12' tall. It's super fun to light and decorate. It's a good thing Nate isn't afraid of heights. It may only be half decorated otherwise.

We are so on top of the present game this year that it's not even funny. We have one gift left to buy and wrap. We are killing it. Wrapping is easier when you have the cutest fox paper in the world (thanks, Target).

I'm not big on the same decor each year but there are a few items that make a reappearance. Like this old A Christmas Carol book I bought a few years back at an antique store. Don't mind the dust. I'm out of Swiffers and clearly we need to change our filter.

You may remember our nutcracker mantel. Update: they have not attacked us in our sleep. Yet.

Our console table is home to this year's Christmas card display. I usually just throw our cards in a basket but I figured I had this great wire thingy that I bought in the fall. It works perfectly for Christmas cards. Extras can go in the basket. The houses are part of a village that Nate's family had growing up. We need to find a place for the whole set in the future!

Are you all decorated for the holidays? Does your pet have their own "spot" in your living room?

December 11, 2013

Holiday Home Tour {Dining & Kitchen}

December 11, 2013/ Michelle S

Welcome to the start of our holiday home tour! Today I'm joining a lovely bunch of bloggers for a holiday home tour blog hop. The Blogger Stylin' Home Tour organized by Lindsay {The White Buffalo Styling Co.} to be exact. Be sure to stop by Craftberry Bush to see Lucy's beautiful home!

I'm going to share our holiday house tour in two parts. I put so much time into decorating that it seems like a lot for only one post. (I also have focus issues and there were just way too many photos for one post.) Today you can check out our dining room and kitchen. You can then rest up and check out our living room tomorrow!

Our dining room is sporting some red and plaid this holiday season. I've been embracing the world of color since adding the yellow chairs to our farmhouse table. I have to keep telling myself, "Color good." It's been an adjustment but I love how the dining room is looking lately.

We have two trees that we put up each year. We were worried there wouldn't be enough room for the tree we usually place in the dining room beings our new table is much larger than our old table. The tree still fits in here snugly!

Our dining cart is sporting a little hot cocoa station up top along with my vintage Christmas tree. The lower shelves hold my darling Pyrex and our wedding china. The "antiques" sign is a recent addition. More on that soon!

You may remember my VW van with bottle brush tree place cards. And the time I hosted a fake dinner party. I mean, our Christmas tablescape.

Moving onto the kitchen. I like to keep things simple in the kitchen. I'm a tidy person. Our kitchen gets abused during the holidays and I don't need a bunch of extra junk in my way.

I always add a poinsettia in the kitchen. It's one of the few items that remains consistent in our holiday decor. This year I slapped it into a metal bucket. Classed the joint right up.

There are a few other pops of Christmas cheer. My Santa cookie jar makes me happy. He's so jolly. I make him guard my Kitchen Aid. Like Santa isn't busy enough this time of year. I have a berry tree hidden in the corner. Color good.

I love the view of our dining room from the kitchen. My farmhouse-but-not-cheesy-farmhouse dreams are coming to life!

Holiday Home Tour {decor and the dog}. Lots of simple holiday decorating ideas!

***Update: Finish our home tour here!***

Head on over to The Curtis Casa to continue the blog hop! I also recommend stopping by the whole big ol' list of fabulous homes! Tons of great holiday inspiration!