A Room Fit For A Tween

Howdy strangers! I have been busy lately, but haven't we all? One of my projects has been to put the finishing touches on Sweet Pea's room. Those of you with a middle school tween/almost teen girl will know how difficult a task it is to navigate minute by minute fluctuating hormones, daily middle school drama, the fact that as a mom of said tween/almost teen, I have absolutely zero taste or knowledge of what it is like to be a tween/almost teen girl and I don't understand anything (really?), and well, quite frankly, navigating through a mine field is easier than dealing with a girl this age, but I did it! Even more exciting, she is happy with the results and so am I. A miracle. Those of you without the pleasure and blessing of having a tween/almost teen girl in your home... count your blessings!

Sweet Pea and I made some compromises along the way. She really wanted some chevrons on her wall. So, momma painted her some chevrons. I thought they might be too much, but they work and I then got my way with the drapery fabric. I chose something more neutral than she wanted but I feel it will go with any changes made to her room in the future. The selection? A lovely beige linen with a pink and beige linen greek key trim, highlighted by a little green and white. So, drum roll please, Sweet Pea's room...

Before chevrons and curtains 

And after...

Happy Monday!

Krissy

Our Holiday Home - Den

 I would definitely say that I am a traditionalist when it comes to holiday decor. I love the look of themed trees or an all white look, but I just can't seem to get there in my own home. I love color and I love my Christmas ornaments! I am fortunate to have quite a collection of Radko ornament. For years, my mom owned a store that sold them and I was the excited recipient of many beautiful, gifted Radko goodies. The result? My trees are every color of the rainbow and well, I love them. 

This year, I put a small tree in our den. The "big" tree is in the family room where we spend the majority of our time, but both trees are full of beautiful glass ornaments and the ones that I treasure most, the handmade projects from my children and a few from my childhood that my mom has passed on to me. I have another feather tree in this room, as well. I guess that I if one is good, two are better. Right? The wooden creche is one that Mr. Pearl and I purchased on a trip to Germany. 

This Welsh dresser serves as an ever-evolving backdrop to various collections and family photos. I sort of use it as a giant scrapbook of sorts. The dresser itself was a gift from my mom and dad, and all of the tiny trinkets and mementos on the shelves have a story to tell about our family. It is fun to change it out and add to it.

The pictures with Santa are of the mini-pearls and Mr. P as toddlers. Yes, your eyes do not deceive you, they are all bawling. Yup, I framed pictures of my terrified children with Santa. Ok, worse, I made them stay on his lap for the shot! Please don't call CPS on me, they are priceless! And, they do not appear to be permanently scarred by the event. All of them went on to take happy Santa pics. I have posted on this here if you would like to see them up-close.

The little girl with her doll in this picture is my grandmother. How cute is she? The Santa ornament is one that broke at some point, but it still had some jolly left in it. The pocket knife on the ribbon belonged to my father as a child and says,"Deputy Sheriff" on it. The tortoise box is one that my grandfather brought back from Korea and the horse is an antique toy I purchased at an auction. The cotton comb belonged to my great-grandmother.

The mantel is a work-in-progress. Eventually, it will be a shrine to the television. Mr. P has plans for one where the estate sale mirror now hangs. Also a work-in-progress, our stockings. I lovingly needlepointed my firstborn child a beautiful one. My second born has one that is halfway complete in my closet somewhere. So, I made her a lovely "interim" stocking that she has been using for eleven years. My third child? A purchased one from Pottery Barn. Where is the love? I did, however, add some extra fluff to the train, but it's one of those "third" child things that I swore would not happen at my house. Never say never people!

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the traditions that each family has around the decorations and celebrations. What is your favorite? Don't have one? Start one. It's not too late!

Happy Monday!

Krissy

A Pink Christmas - My Favorite Room

The front of our home is where our formal sitting room and dining room are. The space is really mine. I love to cozy-up and read in here or play the piano. The lighting is always so soft and soothing. This room also contains our formal dining space. I keep the dining table at it's smallest size, without any leaves, but when we have a large group for dinner, we can expand the table to fill the room and it makes for a wonderful meal. The walls in the room are painted Sherwin Williams Copen Blue and it is a wonderful, soft blue with a hint of turquoise. I have pops of pink in the upholstered pieces and pick up on that pink for my Christmas decor.

This is the room where I display my collection of vintage ornaments. They are faded and wonderful and have every shade of pink you can imagine! The entry table is our old game table that I recently painted with Annie Sloan's French Linen chalk paint with a dark wax finish. 

The feather tree is a Christopher Radko tree from a while back. The corbels are found pieces from a local antique store and the little house is a new vintage piece that I love!

The fence is a Victorian feather tree fence and is so delicate. Each little fence post can be removed and it still has pieces of flocking on it after years of use.

For the chandelier, I tied on some ribbon with tiny, little silver balls and mirabeau feathers.

This is my favorite little nook in the house. The nesting tables belonged to my grandmother and are a treasured gift. On the top table is a turquoise music box that belonged to my great grandmother and a collection of sterling baby rattles from the mini-pearls.

Hope you enjoyed the tour of my favorite room!
Merry HO-HO!!!

Krissy

My Fall Decor

We have lived in our new home for nine months. Whew! That is a while! I have had the best intentions of putting together "before and after" pics of the remodel, but I keep thinking that I will wait until I complete one more project. I know you all won't hold my lack of drapes in the family room against me, but it is that ugly type A part of my personality that prevents me from showing off my less-than-complete home. Blame her. She is a prideful little witch. All this to say, I am working on it. Lack of drapes and all. I can always add to it as I check-off my "to-do" list, right?

Here is a little taste, although belated, of my Halloween/Fall decor. This past weekend, I carefully put away the jack-o-lanterns and ghosts until next fall. I left out the pumpkins and such.  It has been dreadfully hot around here, so I feel as though I should breaking-out the summer paraphernalia. I went to the First Monday Flea Market in Canton (that's Texas) this weekend. Christmas was in the hot, humid air - it just isn't right, but it's Texas. I have pumpkins on my porch with my summer begonias! To all those affected by Sandy, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I have no problems compared to what you all are suffering through, so I will take my hot, November weather and be quiet now.

Don't forget to vote y'all!!

Krissy

Entry Table Before and After

Sweet Pea made it home safely from Paris and it was back to school for the mini-pearls today. I will catch you up on our Spring Break later, but for now, I wanted to share a project that I completed over the break.

The entry table - BEFORE

The table in our entry used to be our breakfast table. At our home, that means it was the main eating/gathering place, homework desk, art table and general work surface for the Pearl household. This poor thing has taken a lot of abuse and it was shabby but not chic. The new position as greeter of our new digs meant that a makeover was in order. I used this opportunity to break-out the Annie Sloan chalk paints that I purchased in Roundtop. These paints are all over the blog world and have quite a reputation for fabulousness. They do not disappoint! I love to work on projects but I want instant gratification and get impatient to finish. These paints are the bomb! No prep-work needed! Just clean your surface and paint and then a top coat of wax. The result was exactly what I wanted and it looks like we have a new table. See what you think!

The entry table - AFTER

Happy First Day of Spring!

Krissy

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

Welcome to the Pearl's Nest

Our nativity and a furry Vanna White.

I love this little round guy!

Under a cloche

The Pearl tree!

A combination of new, vintage and homemade ornaments - all special!

This ornament is another one of my "sentimental" loves! My grandparents purchased this when they took me to Santa Claus Land in Colorado when I was two.

The dining room is still a work in progress. Right now, I have snow globes and vintage and new ornaments taking center stage.

A few vintage houses. The bright pastel colors and glitter speak to me!

I found this giant shadow box in Roundtop.

I have a lot of fun changing the display with the seasons.

Here I have a Christmas picture by Tasha Tudor, some vintage ornaments

and the minis' baby cups.

The display on the TV room armoir. The boots belonged to Mr. Pearl.

Original 1950's Shiny Brite ornaments in their boxes from my grandmother Pearl's attic.

I love to put them on display!

You may recognize Santa and the Mrs. in the boot from a previous post! The feather tree is a new one but the feather tree fence is a German antique. It is very fragile but still has some of the original flocked snow still on it. If it could talk, imagine the stories it could tell of over one hundred years of Christmas celebrations!

Drop by anytime!

Krissy