Window Shopping

I'll admit it, I never have been a shopaholic. At least not until the internet made it possible to shop in your pajamas from the comfort of your home.

Since we are working on our house now, I've gathered a bevy of online stores for both utilitarian and decorating needs. Here are some examples of my favorites.

DECOR STEALS

I am in love with this site. It truly offers steals. I've made several purchases, including my b'day gifts that I've been talking so much about (see photos in previous posts) and everything seems to be at least half the price that I've seen the same or similar item offered elsewhere. It is my first stop when I go window shopping via the web.

EMORY VALLEY MERCANTILE

This site is new to me and I can tell you anything about it since I haven't purchased from them yet but they do have some lovely wares. I loooove this lantern.

WAYFAIR, BIRCHLANE...ETC.

There are several things I'm wanting from this group of online stores. As soon as the house is finished, I want these for side chairs in my dining room.

And two of these to server as host and hostess chairs at the ends of the table:

ANTIQUE FARMHOUSE

This is another of those sites that offers daily themed sales. They send you email alerts for each sale.With a limited amount of each item available, you have to buy quickly if you want to guarantee you'll get what you want.

Finally, AMAZON

I've made some great finds on Amazon. For the best results, search for "farmhouse decor." I particularly like the items carried by Creative Co-Op and their prices are very reasonable.

There are other shops that I'll preview for you in the coming weeks but with these five, one is new to me and delightful and the other four are old favorites that I shop often. I hope you enjoy window shopping with them, too.

Decorating my Scale

Please excuse everything about these photos except for the scale and the wreaths and candles sitting in it. I took wall paper off of that wall and it looks terrible and dirty. The bar this is sitting on will soon no longer exist nor will the dark paneled wainscot. We do plan to wainscot the kitchen, dining, great room and hallways off of them but it will be white beadboard. But this post is not about what is or what will be where the house is concerned but it is about this scale that I got for my recent b'day. My husband asked how much he spent on me this year. lol I did get some good deals and some nice pieces so I'm very happy....thanks, Steve! 

 Today, the little preserved boxwood wreaths arrived along with the candles. Both fit the scale perfectly and I am very please with how it turned out.
P.S.: I ordered the candles and wreaths....as well as the hydrangeas that are in their temporary home behind the scale....from afloral.com.

Also ignore the ugly stenciling which predates the ugly wallpaper which was hiding it. This is the lantern, my second b'day gift. 

Magnolia Leaf Wreath...How To

Several months ago, I shared a wreath I made out of dried herbs and flowers I'd gathered in my own fields and woods. I didn't however share instructions on how to make the wreath....it was my first so I wasn't sure if I was doing it right. But this tutorial, from Houzz.com gives very detailed instructions and evidently, I did do it right.

DIY: Magnolia Wreath

Things That Work

It's not often that I sing the praises of utilitarian objects but occasionally, I come across a product that works so well, I have to tell someone. So, it is with these two (kind of) recent purchases.

This double tiered, stainless dish drain is the bomb!!! I love it. It's very well made, attractive, meets all expectations for a dish drain and has this neat pull out door on the bottom so that you can clean it after every use (that's my favorite feature.) Our dishwasher died several years ago and we keep waiting on that remodel that hasn't happened to replace it. So, this old manual model (ME) is all I have and anything that makes the job easier is a bonus.
I purchased this on amazon.com for $31.99.
Buy HERE

Now, who would recommend a toilet paper stand...ME. I love this forged metal stand. Not only is it a thing of beauty but it is so easy to change the tissue roll....even a husband can do it.

Wrought Iron TOILET TISSUE stand

• Hand forged iron with a rubbed wax finish. Solid and sturdy
• No assembly required
• simply place rod in u-shaped scrolled holders and you're done
• 23" high 7" wide and 7" deep
• $53.95

Both of these items ship for free is you are an Amazon Prime member.

Gifts to Myself

My birthday is tomorrow. My husband and I stopped exchanging gifts long ago. We did for a long time give each other concert tickets on each significant holiday. We saw some amazing musicians over the years but hubby informed me a few years ago, that he has nerve damage in his ears so all he was hearing was racket and noise. Soooo, we just started buying our own gifts usually when we wanted them but this year, I've gotten myself a few neat things for my special day.

This is one of my gifts to me. It arrived a few days ago and I love it....I already know where it will sit once the house remodel is fini. For now, it's sitting on the kitchen bar (which will no longer exist after the remodel...just a side note.) and I've ordered two small, 5.5 inch, preserved boxwood wreaths to sit in it along with two cream pillar candles.

I know, I seem to be on a black metal kick but I couldn't resist this large lantern. It's my second gift to myself. Both of the above came from Decor Steals. If you aren't familiar with this site, you have to check it out. They send "steals" to your inbox every day and the prices are amazing. For example, the scale above was bought for less than half of the lowest price I found elsewhere. You can't beat that!

Good deals can also be found at Antique Farmhouse where I bought my last gift to self. They also run themed sales with limited products at usually great prices. This is my magnolia wreath that I ordered from them:

So, only one of my birthday gifts to self has arrived before my birthday but I'm hoping that the last two will be here within the week and the anticipation only makes it better.

New Magnolia Line at Target

She says it's a dream come true for her but it's a dream come true for all of us who love the country farmhouse decor, too. JoAnn Gaines has partnered with Target and is coming out with a line of home and gift ware that will be changed seasonally. It is called Hearth and Hand and here are a few of my favorite things from their holiday/winter collection.

I love stoneware pitchers and the H&H collection gives me several to choose from but this gorgeous little cream pitcher is my favorite. And it isn't little! It hold 2.5 liters and has those cute little "hugs" bands around it. It's just $19.99 and I may just have to have it for my white/cream jug collection. You can see or buy it HERE

Several holiday wreaths are offered but this one rang the bell in my heart! It is so unique and bells and feathers are special to me because of my late mother.... it's a long story that I will tell you all when I know you a little better. This gorgeous thing is $19.99 and would look perfect on our front door, encircling our pineapple door knocker. If I don't buy it, I might make one for myself and if I do, I'll give a tutorial. Buy the Bell Wreath HERE.

I'm in love! BUY

 
Now, this is the way to start your day!
There's also a matching desert plate for
your pastry.
BUY