Savvy Seasons by Liz

Day 38 on the Water Diet/Progress Pictures

2012-02-10T15:29:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!! I've decided to retire the Water Diet Blog Party, simply because there just wasn't enough interest. Thanks to those who participated, I really appreciate it. I think our weight is a personal thing and although I seemed to have a lot of interest via email, not so much when the blog party rolled around, which is fine. I will continue to share my journey and post every Friday. =)

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So, onto my results...

This week I lost 2 pounds with a total loss of 19 pounds!! YIPPIE!! Next week will be exciting for me, because I just know I will reach my 20 pound goal!! Woo, hoo! I did not make exercise a priority like I had hoped, I guess I was a bit too ambitious, so this weekend I will amp up the exercise on into next week. Wish me luck! ;)

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Do you all prefer a video, or pictures? I don't want to bore y'all with the same kind of video each week. In the photos above, I hope you can see the difference in my face after having lost 19 pounds, I definitely can. Well, 21 more pounds to go!! I just know I'm going to make it happen, I'm on a roll! =)

Thanks to all of you for your wonderful support, it means a lot.

Have a great weekend everyone! xo ~Liz

Shabby Chic in the Family Room

2012-02-05T12:25:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! Yesterday, my hubby and I went Antique Shopping and came across a Dealer that sold Shabby Chic/French Inspired pieces, and at great prices. I fell in love with this unique looking hutch. Join me and I will show you how it looks in the Family Room.

I am slowly trying to add a few lighter pieces to my Old World decor for a change. The hutch is missing a knob, so I will be replacing all the knobs to something different.

The hutch was actually one whole top unit long ago, but the dealer made it into a two piece Hutch.

I accessorized with some spring decor.

I like the little bird and the feather balls.

I added some pears to the inside of the birdcage.

What could feel more like spring then adding some birds and bunnies?

I added my French book boxes from Ross and a couple topiaries.

I added a small cloche and placed some more pears inside of it.

I found two garlands at Hobby Lobby last week and dressed up the chandelier.

I added some goodies to the top of the hutch, too!

Do you remember the two French trunks I got last week? Well they are sitting beside the hutch with a plant and a cute Bistro sign on it.

Here is one last look.

I added the cream colored chalkboard to tie the hutch and mantle together.

Here is a look at the top of the hutch.

I have to say, the family room looks very cozy now and I am really enjoying the added spring touches. I also got a cream colored shabby chic dresser that is distressed with a matching mirror and a distressed cream colored trunk for my daughters room. We got a full over full bunk bed for her last weekend, so hopefully I will get around to sharing that later this week, it's still a work in progress. Have a great week everyone! xoxo ~Liz

Water Diet Blog Party # 3 And Progress Video

2012-02-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

Below is my progress video!

So EXCITED about my Ross finds today...

2012-02-01T16:24:00.000-08:00

I love the new French items they are selling at my local Ross. Check out the two trunks and book boxes I purchased today...

I got one Paris Trunk and one Rome trunk. I really wanted to get the London trunk, but it was $39.00...so I decided to pass on it. Maybe next time, because it's always good to keep things in odd numbers when decorating.

The Paris trunk was larger and I got it for $29.00.

The Rome trunk was smaller and for $19.00.

I love the detail on the trunks. I nearly died when I saw this GORGEOUS French chair Ross had today. I don't see chairs like this one often there, and I really wanted to splurge, but it was $149.00. I just know it will be gone when I go back, it was that nice. I sure hope Ross continues to get the French decor items in, because it will be fun adding those pieces in with my old world look.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo ~Liz

A Few Changes In The Family Room

2012-01-31T08:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it again, I changed the mantle a little. I took down the picture I had there previously and replaced it with two black framed-beveled mirrors.

I added a few topiary balls to the mix and some wooden decorative balls. I also added a basket and placed a fern in it.

I added some grapes down below.

I left the antlers.

See the picture below? Well, that picture was on the mantle and now it has found its new home on the rounded wall. I just had to have something on that wall. I had a big black mirror there before, but wanted a change.

I think it makes the room feel much cozier now. My girl's noticed the change right away when they returned home from school yesterday and they loved it! My hubby on the other hand didn't notice it until much later. Isn't it funny how men can be completely clueless of a change until much later?
lol! ;)

Sure, the picture is not curved, nor is the table, but I think it works. The rounded wall is so large in scale that I felt it needed something there to balance it.

You can see the curve above.

The table you are seeing used to be in the kitchen. Well, I made a change in there over the weekend. I brought back my hutch, boy have I missed it. I added all the new French decor to the hutch, and it looks really cute. I will share that later this week.

See the arrangement in the picture below? Well, I got everything at Hobby Lobby last week. I got the two green pots in the spring decor section. All I did was pop a fern into the pot and placed a twig ball on top. I think it looks like it came that way even though it didn't. I purchased two feather balls. I placed one in the small pot and set the other small one beside it.

I love this little garden Fleur de Lis.

Here is one last look. I think it adds warmth to the room with a slight Tuscan flare.

Thanks for stopping by! xo ~Liz

Healthy Food can be DELISH!

2012-01-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

Join me for a *healthy* culinary experience.

Sorry, no decorating post today, but I will have one for you tomorrow, or Tuesday! A lot of people have been emailing me asking me to share some of the things I've been eating on my diet. Remember, the Water Diet is awesome, because you don't have to change all that much. The water fills you up, which decreases your portion size, yippie! Nothing is off limits as long as it's in moderation. So, Friday night I had a hankering for Tri Tip. I had the Butcher cut off all the fat that was visible, so what I was left with was a nice lean cut. We cooked our Tri Tip in the cast iron pan and gave it a good sear at a high temperature, and then we finished cooking it off in the oven. The outside was carmelized and packed a ton of flavor, while the inside was nice and tender.

My Dad and Brother told me about a Roasted Brussels Sprout Recipe that's to die for, and believe me it was! It's Ina Garten's recipe, you can view it here. My kids even liked it! =)

I love Asparagus and veggies, and was inspired by Giada's Snap Pea Salad. I had to vary it, because I didn't have all the ingredients, but I did make the exact salad dressing and it was SOOOO GOOD!!

Just look at all those vibrant colors. I used a yellow bell pepper, asparagus, snap peas, and cherry tomatoes.

The dressing was so light and flavorful.

Dressing:

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1/2 large lemon)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this meal, we all did!

I haven't had dessert in about a month now, so I felt I deserved a little treat for all my hard work. Again, sticking with that motto....everything in moderation. I decided to make mini apple pies. I indulged in just one, and didn't feel guilty since the pie was so small. The kids loved the little apple pies and my hubby did, too! I used store bought pie dough and filled a muffin tin with dough, shaped it, and then dropped in my filling. On the stove, I cooked apples in butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, honey, and brown sugar. I then dropped my filling into each muffin slot, placed dough over the top, crimped the edges, and cut little slits on top to let the air escape. I did an egg wash on top and then baked them at 375 for 15-20 minutes. The way I did it was very similar to Giada's Baby Strawberry and Honey Pies.

Aren't they cute?

SOOOOO TASTY!!

A must, and I mean MUST try! Super easy to make, too! Well, thanks for stopping by and for all the sweet comments on my progress post. xo ~Liz

Water Diet Blog Party #2

2012-01-26T20:05:00.000-08:00

More Progress...I will let the pictures and video speak for themselves! Have a great weekend everyone! ~Liz

I don't know where my 2nd week comparison picture went, so I am sharing the above (3) pics.

Join me every Friday for the...

Savvy Seasons Water Diet Blog Party!

Week 2

B U S T E D!!! Uncontrollable, IMPULSIVE, but oh so fun!

2012-01-24T18:54:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! There were so many good deals today and I had way too much fun!! Join me and I'll show you what...

I N E X P E N S I V E * M A D N E S S
looks like! Let's begin with Ross...

I found some more book boxes, y'all! I am trying to lighten things up around here for a spring look, so I got a lamp, some greenery, and a French container.

Love these, aren't they cute?

Love the container, it's perfect for Spring.

I found this cute Soap Box and thought I could create a cute vignette in the bathroom.

I also found another big pretty plate in the picture above. All the colors go nicely together.

I thought the grape plate and soap dispenser would be cute in the kitchen. Ross has FABULOUS BASKETS and all of them are VERY inexpensive to boot!

Now onto Marshalls. When I saw this lamp I had to have it. It was probably the most expensive item I purchased today at $39.00. The ceramic piece was on clearance for $7.00, score!

Love the writing on it, although I have no clue what it says. lol! ;)

Hobby Lobby, I could spend hours in that store, love it! Anyway, I found this cute wire basket/box in the spring decor section.

I purchased everything you see here. I love the little pedestals. I also picked up the fake bread and the Fleur de Lis, too!

I think the bread in the basket looks adorable! I will probably dinker with this and place it somewhere in the kitchen.

I got a few more things, but will do a video on those...it's something I've wanted to share for awhile now. I just wanted to show you how much you can get for your money shopping at the places I've mentioned. I take my time and pick through all the ~~junk~~ until I find something that strikes my eye!
Thanks for stopping by! xo ~Liz

Creating A Cozy Space

2012-01-23T19:18:00.000-08:00

Hello! Well, after having the kids and hubby home for an entire week (due to the snow) I had lots of cleaning and catching up to do around the house today. I was browsing through some decorating magazines and got inspired to move a few pieces of furniture around. Join me and I'll show you what I did. I love lighting, and I love cozy spaces, so I brought in the lamp that I purchased last week.

You'll never guess where I found this adorable candle and holder today? I'll tell you, Safeway of all places. Isn't it cute?

I think by adding the table, lighting, and a few accessories...it is now a cozy little nook.

I found the table below at Ross, only $39.00.

Remember my Book Boxes From Ross? I set my lamp on top of them to add height.

I used to have a "Rooster" obsession, now it has moved to Book Box obsession...lol! ;)

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Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo ~Liz

Braved The Snowy Roads To Go To Ross

2012-01-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!! After having the kids and my husband home all week due to the snow that hit Washington, I decided to brave the roads and make a trip to Ross!! As I pulled up to Ross, not a soul was in sight. I had the whole place to myself, ha! Join me and I will show you what I found...

I love plates and enjoy displaying them around the house. I found this large plate with a serrated edge and really liked the Paisley design.

Check out the back of the plate, it is also decorative, which I thought was neat! This plate was only $11.99, which is a great deal for a large plate.

Here is another plate I found. I love the colors and design, and it was a steal of a deal at only $6.99.

Ok, y'all know how much I love Book Boxes, but when I came across these French book boxes, I had to have them. I'm slowly beginning to add lighter tones around the house.

I love the Linen/Burlap look. I saw similar book boxes at a few upscale antique stores this week and they were $39.00 and $59.00 for various sized book boxes. Mine were inexpensive. The small one was $6.99, the middle sized one was $8.99, and the large one was $9.99, not bad, right?

I like the keys and postal stamps, very cute!

I had to have this one with my upcoming trip.

I also found two lamps with dark brown bases with Linen/Burlap looking shades. I have plans for the shades. I plan to purchase some vintage French graphics to transfer onto the shades.

And finally, here is one last look at my "buys"...I am hoping to put a cute "french" inspired vignette together, so stay tuned! Have a great weekend, everyone! xo ~Liz
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Reminder ~ Water Diet Party is still going on through Sunday! You don't have to be on a diet to link up. ;)

WATER DIET BLOG PARTY #1

2012-01-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Welcome to the 1st Water Diet Blog Party. My hope is that this will become a nice size party where we can all support each other no matter what healthy journey we are on. Here is my progress report this week, and a few tips! (I'm going to start this party early, so go ahead and link-up!) Health*Fitness*Healthy Recipes* Diet*Stats

My Dietician has been giving me great ideas for Breakfast to change things up here and there. A new item I'm in love with is this little non-stick Egg Pan I picked up at Albertsons Grocery Store. I spray a little bit of Pam into the skillet and then crack two egg whites in. I LOVE Cajun's Choice seasoning, so I sprinkle a little bit over the egg whites for taste. I cover the top of the pan with a small piece of foil and it cooks the egg whites *perfectly* from top to bottom without me having to flip the eggs. I will then toast a 100% Whole Wheat English Muffin and put a little bit of Brummel Brown Soft Spread (1/2 the calories of butter) down onto the muffin - then the egg whites, and it's DELISH!! So, for under 200 calories, I have a nice healthy breakfast and filling, too! ;) I will enjoy a cup of coffee along with my three glasses of cold water and maybe a small piece of fruit.

It is so important not to skip meals. Eating throughout the day, in moderation, helps to keep your metabolism running like a fine oiled machine.

I like to fill my 18 Oz. Glass Water Bottles for the day and then I place them in the fridge to get nice and cold. When I eat a meal, I grab the three small bottles and drink them (one before the meal, one during the meal, and one after the meal)...it's that simple! When I am done, I fill them right back up with water for the next meal. The large 27oz glass bottles of water I keep on hand for when I get thirsty throughout the day, this way I can really track the amount of water I am drinking each day.

Finally, life is all about balance ~ Good eating, keeping hydrated, and incorporating exercise into everyday activities will set anyone up for success. Thanks for stopping by, now let's start this blog party!!
xo ~Liz
***Linking up with Shenita who is hosting Katherine's

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop!

The Kitchen (Part 2) and an announcement!

2012-01-18T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I shared my kitchen re-do after Christmas and today I would like to share (part 2) of the kitchen. You can see (part 1) here. I decided to make a few minor changes. Sometimes just a tweak here and there can make all the difference.

I had two shelves and an iron embellishment above the mirror, but grew tired of that look. (This is what it used to look like.)

So, I took two smaller shelves and a Chateau sign and hung those in their place. I added the mirror over Christmas and hung a wreath on the mirror using a Command Hook. I love the reflective detail with the mirror. It really brightens-up the kitchen.

I love lamps in the kitchen. It adds a lot of warmth and coziness to the space.

The kitchen would not be complete without a Rooster. ;)

Here is one more look at the newly "tweaked" wall.

Below is a desk area in the kitchen. This is where the kids play on their laptop!

Here is a shelf I re-decorated.

I love decorating the shelves in this cabinet. It's fun to changes things out with the seasons.

Here is a floral arrangement I added to one of the shelves.

Below is the Butler's Pantry

I felt this area needed a little accessorizing.

I added a few things. I added these two jugs that I purchased from Ross last week, and I added a Rooster to the wire cloche.

I love my Roo's!

So, that's it for the kitchen. The kitchen is ALWAYS changing. I can't help myself. ;)

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Ok, now onto the a n n o u n c e m e n t.

I will be starting the first ever...

WATER DIET BLOG PARTY

...this Friday!!

I will open the party up Thursday evening. There seemed to be a lot of interest, so I will go ahead and set it up. You don't have to be on a diet to participate. This party will be all about promoting and sharing "healthy" recipes, fitness tips, progress reports, stats, or pictures.

Having a support system whether you're on a diet, or not is so important, so let's inspire each other to eat healthy, stay hydrated, and exercise. Spring and summer is just around the corner, so there is no better time like the present. I hope you'll join me, so get your posts ready for Friday and for those of you who don't have a blog, feel free to post what's working for you. The details of the party are here.

Thanks for stopping by! xo ~Liz

***Linking up with Kim for her Wow Us Wednesday Party and with Kristen for her Share Your Creations Party!

Vignette Love

2012-01-16T20:10:00.000-08:00

Brace yourselves, ladies!! The stores I ventured into today nearly had me head over in heals in love with their vignettes. I got so many great ideas, I just had to share them with you. Are you ready? Join me and I'll take you around the...

CRANBERRY COTTAGE!

If money were no object, I would have bought up the entire store of merchandise. I don't think I saw one thing I didn't like. I wish more stores could display their decor in such a way that is so eye-appealing.

If you have hutches, cabinets, or bookshelves...study these photos...ideas will start flooding the brain!

The books, the greenery, the bowls, the nick-knacks were set in such away that any person would want to buy the entire display.

I love Tuscan Decor, but being in this store made me want to incorporate a ton of French decor into the mix.

I found myself in Rooster Love...

I wanted the Paris Metro lamp so badly, but I didn't want to pay the price.

I like the way they had books displayed in with the decor, so guess what I bought today?

A... Savoring Tuscany Book.

How cute would this display be in the corner of a kitchen?

Here are some ideas for those of you who have bookshelves.

See the Savoring Tuscany book? It's now mine. =)

I really wanted this entire display....ALL OF IT!!! The chandy, too!

Loved the Home Sweet Home sign.

Here again they have displayed a book in a basket with some greenery and a red blanket wrapped with a bow around it, very cute!

I will now be on the lookout for a small hutch...I am hooked on hutches.

I wanted this chair, too! Love the seat material and design on it.

More shelf ideas.

This was the side of the store, isn't it sweet?

This was the front of the store. I thought is was very neat how they did a table display with a lamp outside. It truly drew me into the store.

Another store I am also in love with is called...

HEARTLAND INTERIORS!!

Unfortunately, I only snapped a few pictures. My girl's wanted to touch everything, so I couldn't take as many photos, but this store was INCREDIBLE!!

I have to say, the Northwest is surprising me with all the unique stores they have here.

I will have to do a part 2 on this shopping village, because it was a very special place.

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Here is what I created on the middle shelf...

I added the book, an interesting jar I purchased there, and some greenery.

We had snow over the weekend and more is expected over the next few days, so we will be spending a lot of time near the cozy fireplace. The kids are having a blast sledding in the neighborhood.

Thanks for stopping by! xo ~Liz

Winter just got a whole lot cozier! ;)

WATER DIET - DAY 10 (Video)

2012-01-13T05:45:00.000-08:00

LOVIN' this diet...

Next week I'm going to show you what I've been eating and how this diet is working for me. I am also seeing a Dietician every Friday and she is AWESOME. What I've learned is that little changes can make a big impact, and so far this notion is holding true. I'm excited for those of you who have joined me on the Water Diet.

WE CAN DO IT!! =)

D R I N K

YOUR

W A T E R!!!

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Q U E S T I O N

Would any of you be interested in a...

"Water Diet"

BLOG PARTY???

What it would consist of is a linky party each week. Here you will be able to post healthy recipes, exercise tips, progress reports, basically anything promoting a healthy lifestyle. It sounds like fun to me, how about you? If I see that there is enough interest, I will start the blog party next week.

Have a great weekend everyone!

XOXO ~Liz

Tweaking The Mantle

2012-01-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

Playing with different ideas...

(always changing my mind on where to place things...lol!)

I would like to share a few new items. Some you have seen, and others you have not.

I got the painting last week at Ross. I like the pops of red in the painting.

I purchased the two black pots from Hobby Lobby, both 50% off. I placed one pot on its side and placed grapes coming out of the inside of the pot.

I'm sure the mantle will be completely different by the time I am done, but half the fun is playing!

I stuck the antlers here and there on the mantle.

I do love these colors together.

I mentioned that I was going to put this sign in the kitchen, hmm...how and why did it end up here? I'm still trying to figure that one out. ;)

In the picture below I decided to change out the tall plant in the wire basket for the wicker (smaller scaled) basket with a topiary plant.

The mantle makes me feel like Spring and Summer is right around the corner, even though we are still in the midst of Winter. Ha! A girl can dream, right?

If I can find a big Tuscan frame, this picture will find its home there. I love the painting, but would like a substantial looking frame to showcase it.

I will probably keep the mantle like this for a few days, and I will be right back at it re-doing it all. I do this often until I get things just the way I like them. Sometimes it's a good idea to take a step back and then re-visit the space a few days later and whala...ideas begin to flow again!

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The moral of the story, have fun when you decorate!

Thanks for stopping by!

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I'm hoping to post on the WATER DIET tomorrow...making progress, YIPPIE!! =)
***Linking up with Inspiration Friday!

The Kitchen (Part 1)

2012-01-11T07:09:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Well, if you know me, I *love* nick-knacks. However, I am really trying hard to "minimize" just a little. If you look at the kitchen island, guess what, no clutter whatsoever.

The island is clutter free and will be used as a a prep space when cooking, just as it should be. =) Join me and I'll walk you through the kitchen and show a few changes I've made.

I added this Iron Embellishment above the kitchen window and moved the curtain valances back to showcase it.

I added this Bon Appetite sign over the refrigerator.

I made changes on top of the kitchen cabinets. I added two candle sconces on either side of the hood and added a wire cloche and placed a plant inside it.

A close up!

Here is the other side of the cabinets, the only difference is the metal pineapple basket filled with a few artichokes.

Now onto the corner cabinet.

Mr. Rooster sits perched on a bed of leaves and two baskets are filled with grapes, artichokes, and wine corks. Here is a close-up!

Below is what is what I refer to as...The Coffee Station. The Espresso-Latte maker, the regular coffee maker, and coffee grinder! ;)

Below is another cabinet on the other side of the sink.

Lighting is a big deal for me. I love adding lamps in the kitchen. It really does make it feel cozy on a rainy day, or any evening for that matter.

Here is another light.

Below are a few glass jars I filled with a plant and artichokes.

Fruit always makes a great centerpiece.

Baskets of greenery are an easy way to accessorize any corner in the kitchen.

I will share the rest of the kitchen in one of my next posts. I re-vamped one little area, changed a few items on the wall, so stay tuned! =) Have a great day everyone! xo ~Liz
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Linking up with the Open House Party!

Oh, the thrill of the hunt... (Video of my finds at the end of the post)

2012-01-09T18:13:00.000-08:00

A Day of Antique Hunting

The city of Snohomish Washington is known as “Antique Capital of the Northwest” with over 450 dealers located in the city.

(Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy....what fun!)

There was so much to see and for a brief moment we felt as though were apart of two TV shows, American Pickers and Storage Wars,

on our quest to find the perfect treasure!

Join me and I'll take you on a little tour.

Our first stop was to feed little hungry tummies and we came across a cute restaurant called...

THE CREPE ESCAPE

The food was delish! I had a salad and the rest of the family tried different types of Crepes. I must say, this shop had the best coffee.

I am going to feature my 3 FAVORITE STORES:

Faded Elegance, Annie's On 1st, and Joy Works.

Unfortunately, my hubby had the camera when I went into Faded Elegance, but it was an A M A Z I N G store. Loved it, it had French galore everything!

JOY WORKS

was such a darling store with a mix of vintage, beach, Italian, romantic, countryside, and more...

below is a sampling of what I saw in the store.

Annie's on 1st

I bought a few items at Annie's. She was having a sale and I came across a lot of things I've seen in blogland that I have not been able to find anywhere, so I was thrilled.

After browsing through a gazillion stores and walking all over town, the kids spotted a Cupcake store called...

BITE ME CUPCAKES

So, while the kids quenched their sweet tooth, we pulled up a chair and rested our tired feet.

What an amazing day! I love getting out and seeing new places and bringing back a few things to remind me of our fun outing. BIG PROPS to my husband who was such a good sport for traipsing around town with 5 women going in and out of stores, ha! What a sweet guy I have! =)
Come check out what I found...

Heading to the Antique Capital of the Northwest

2012-01-08T11:42:00.000-08:00

The Family and I are heading to Downtown Snohomish, WA the Antique Capital of the Northwest. We will be strolling through all the unique shops as if we are on a treasure hunt, how fun!

Stay tuned for my review on this little special place!

WATER DIET - DAY 2

2012-01-07T17:41:00.000-08:00

Water Diet Video

Water Diet Day 5

Tuscan Family Room (Long Post, lots of pictures!)

2012-01-02T17:04:00.000-08:00

~Welcome to the Family Room~

Well, as you can see, Christmas is packed away. I finally managed to get the Family Room dusted, polished, and organized. I'm sure I will be in "tweaking-mode" for awhile, but this is what the Family Room looks like now.

~The Mantle~

Ironwork

~The Bookshelves~

Below: Right Side Of Bookshelves

Book Boxes

Rounded Wall Display

(I added a large black mirror, and two Tuscan Iron Scones)

I love the amber colored crackled glass, so cozy looking!

Lengthwise shot...

Table behind the sectional...

Don't laugh, but the house still feels a bit naked without all the Christmas decor, do you feel the same way when you take your Christmas down?

View into the Living Room

Another shot...

Upper Entertainment Unit Display

It was raining outside today, see the water on the windows? ;)

Table beside the sectional.

Glass candle with wreath around it.

Our Cozy Family Room

I hope you enjoyed the tour. Have a great week everyone! Oh, and please-please forgive me for not responding back to anyone. My children and husband go back to work and school tomorrow, so then I will have more time to catch-up with everyone. Happy Decorating! ~Liz
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Linking up with Marty for: Table Top Tuesday

Adding Drama In The Dining Room

2012-01-01T18:04:00.000-08:00

Time For A Change

Happy New Year, everyone!! Today, I decided to make a few changes in the Dining Room. I wanted to add a little warmth and drama, so I tried something different. I had two curtain panels, but no rod to hang them on, so I got creative. I did, however, have two shelves. I took each curtain panel and I hot glued them to the inside of each shelf, and then hung them. Whala, instant warmth to the room.

I wanted to add some of those Tuscan colors I love so much, so the curtains panels came in handy. The panels are purely for decorative purposes only, and that's ok, because I have the shades for privacy.

I kept the table simple in appearance.

I changed the mantle from Christmas to everyday.

I love the ambiance that candles bring to the room.

I added a tray, a Fern arrangement, and some moss and wood balls.

Sorry, for the lightening...it was starting to get dark. ;)

I added a Red Rooster to an arrangement.

I like the Rooster, because the color matches the curtains.

I brought in some lamps that have black in them to match the black shelves that are housing my curtains.

I love our electric fireplace.

I'm addicted to candle sconces, are any of you? ;)

I used to have plate holders on either side of the window and I got tired of looking at them which prompted me to try something different. I was going for a cozier look, so I think I achieved it for now. ;)

I am hoping to get a Tuscan Dining Room set this year, fingers crossed! ;)

The main colors in this room are brown, beige, gold, brown, green, brick red, and yellow.

Earthy colors.

Thanks for stopping by!

Here's to a Happy and Healthy 2012!

xoxo ~Liz
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Linking up with Susan for Met Monday!

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T16:14:00.000-08:00

~Welcome Friends~

Get ready, because I have some great things to post about in the new year. There is more Tuscan style heading your way! ;)

Wishing all of my sweet decorating friends a....

I want to thank all of you for your support, friendship, and sweet comments...they mean the world to me! =)

Have a great evening bringing in the New Year!

xoxo ~Liz

The Living Room (No more Christmas)

2011-12-28T17:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas is "officially" down!! Now onto "normal" decorating...

Join me for a Living Room Tour!

Hi everyone, I hope your Christmas was wonderful! Thank you for all your sweet comments, too! =)

This year I have decided to de-clutter. I am really going to try and keep things a bit more minimalistic (a word that is normally not in my vocabulary) and keep things more practical for every day living.

In the picture below, I decided to play up the mantle with topiaries and varied them at different heights using candlesticks and vases.

I hung a wispy green wreath from the mirror and added some wire ribbon for a little texture.

I think my style is a bit of Traditional and Tuscan mixed together. I love metal embellishments and love to incorporate them into my decor.

I usually keep things very matchy-matchy, but I think I am going to steer away from that a little this year. I think adding different pieces, with different textures adds charm and gives the space a little eclectic feel as well!

This is the left side of the mantle,

and this is the right side of the mantle.

I adore Tuscan colors which are very warm and earthy. I have gold, and orange, and beige, and a lot of green in this room.

I love pictures of the Tuscan Countryside, so two Tuscan pictures plank either side of the fireplace.

I used to have a long table near the window with two lamps, but in trying to keep things simple, I decided to go with a side table and one lamp, a fern, and a few ornamental balls.

A close-up!

I adore this picture and have had it for years. I purchased it at Kirklands.

This living room is cozy, warm, and simple.

After all the cleaning and dusting I had to do at Christmas with all the nick-knacks and 14 Christmas trees, I am *so* ready to keep things more manageable and practical for everyday living.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the tour. I took all my Christmas down in one day. I was a woman on a mission. It was a BIG job, and I am so glad to have it all boxed and put away for next year.

I am enjoying trying to change things up around here. I want to add a little French Country to my Tuscan/Traditional look.

I hope you'll join me for another year of decorating fun!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo~ Liz
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Linking up with Kristen for her...

Share Your Creations Party

A Christmas Surprise I Will Never Forget

2011-12-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas And Best Wishes For A Happy New Year!

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I just had to post about my Christmas morning SURPRISE!! Boy, did my husband deliver. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

So, this is how it all began, a series of gifts numbered in sequential order. I opened the 1st envelope to find this....

Hmm, a card with the word Paris at the bottom. When I opened the card there was a paragraph written in French. I had no clue what it all meant, but I was very much intrigued.

The next gift was this...

Ok, so now I have a book to translate the paragraph in the card. I opened the inside of the book to find this message.

The next gift was this...

The inside of the book said this...

Hmm, what's going on here...is he sending me to cooking school? ;)

And then I got this calendar! So many little clues, yet I had no idea where he was going with all of this. Then this....

MAPS and then this...

DRUM ROLL, please....

Tickets to PARIS FRANCE...

s c r e a m i n g with excitement and SHOCK!!!!

I just can't believe he did this for me. For the first time in my life, I was speechless. I have never been out of the country, but have always wanted to go to France, now my dream is going to come true.

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Thank you Scott for such a sweet, thoughtful, heart-felt gift...I will never forget it!

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Enjoy this joyous day with your loved ones. Merry Christmas! xoxo ~Liz

P.S. Rudolph caught on the Camera's View Finder.

Last Year the View Finder caught Santa in action, this year it was good ol' Rudolph.
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The girl's are enjoying playing with their dolls. Ha!

The girl's lined the dolls up and pretended they were singing Christmas carols.

Aww, to be a kid again! ;)

2011 Christmas HomeTour Video

2011-12-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

~*Merry Christmas*~

Thanks to all my wonderful followers and blog friends, decorating for the seasons is even more fun when I get to share it with all of you! Wishing you all a beautiful Christmas and a wonderful New year!

With Love,

Liz

~*~