***Front Formal Living Room***

Hey guys! I wanted to share with you all what I have done in our front living room so far. Everything is a work in progress, but I am happy with the way it looks now to share it. 

Here are some pictures of the vignette I have on a console table. If you saw my post yesterday, I purchased some finials from Big Lots. I had the fleur de lis already and added two of the finials on either side.

***All pictures enlarge when clicked on***

I have this arrangement that Kristen made in the center.

I added a plant and a book box for some height.

Here is what the table looks like all together. It is really hard to take pictures out here with that big window.

If you remember awhile back I showed you a coffee table that I was going to paint in our other living room. Well, when they gave us the coffee table we also got a console table and two end tables. I painted this black and distressed it some. I love the way it looks now! It was that orange-y pine.

Here is a vignette on the end table. 

If you remember when we moved in this big mirror was in the garage and fell over and shattered. BOOO well we finally went to Lowe's yesterday and purchased a replacement mirror. I have been putting this project off because I thought it was going to be a big mess to take out the old mirror, but to my surprise it is just held in there like a picture frame. Kinda scary, but we have had this mirror for 6 years without any problems. I was just going to get a new mirror but one this size is at least 100 and for the replacement mirror it was 40. Not too bad. I added a metal piece above the mirror and two candle sconces. This is where I am going to make some arrangements to go in the vases. I hope to do that this weekend.

On the ottoman I placed a tray I got from Ross, my new fleur de lis plate, a finial, a fleur de lis candle stick and some ivy. I have always had the ottoman with nothing on it, but we don't sit out here that often so I wanted it to look pretty. I love pillows if you couldn't tell! :) The two plain burgundy ones my grandma sewed for me, the other ones minus the leopard print came from Ross. I forgot to show you yesterday I got the leopard print one from Big Lots on clearance for 6 dollars. Love it!

Here is the other end table I need to print out a picture to put in that other frame. My wax warmer sits here I have blueberry muffin burning right now. Smells so good!!

I don't have nearly as many pillows on the loveseat. Our Boston Terrier likes to lay on one side of the couch.

Here is a vignette on top of the tv we have out here. I placed two topiaries I got from Ross, two candles and this jar from Tuesday Morning.

Last year I purchased some curtains from Kirkland's and when we moved into this house they weren't long enough. So, I went to Hobby Lobby and found some fabric that I liked and attached it to the curtain with my hot glue gun and added the trim. I love how they puddle on the floor now!

Here is a closer look of the fabric.

 I placed a chair, side table and lamp over here to fill up the space. Eventually I want to replace the chair, but this will have to do for now.

This console table sits behind the loveseat. 

Well, that's it for today guys! I hope you enjoyed our front living room. I plan to start doing some fall decorating soon, I just wanted to show you all the room now. 

Have a great day!!

~Allyson~

Ross and Big Lots Finds

Hey guys! I hope you all had a great weekend! Last week I went to Ross and a couple of Big Lots', so I wanted to share my finds with you.

 Here is Mr. Pig I found him at Ross. When Liz found him a few months ago I wanted one so bad and I just happened to come across him the other day, I was so excited!! He was 7.99. I got the vase next to him at Big Lots it was 5.00.

I found this plate and holder at Big Lots for 6.00! Love it!!

 I love finials I found three this week at big lots all for 4.00! SCORE!!

 Here is another finial.

I had my eye on this bowl for awhile now, it was marked down to 15.00. I plan to put it on my table add some greenery and faux fruit. I had an arrangement on the table before and it's hard to see everyone while you are eating, so I wanted to make something that is low in scale so I can leave it on the table all the time and not have to take it off.

I couldn't snatch this picture up fast enough! I love Tuscan decor so I naturally had to have this! It was 15.00 it is fairly large so I thought that was a good price. It also came from Big Lots.

I found these vases at Big Lots for 8.00 each I plan to make some arrangements with them and put them on candle sconces I have instead of putting candles.

I got the book boxes from Ross, the smaller one was 5.99 and larger was 7.99. I love book boxes!! It seems like they are hard to find around here, so when I see some I snatch them up!

Here is the last finial I got from Big Lots. I couldn't believe they were only 4 dollars! Just goes to show you that really nice looking decor doesn't have to be expensive. I love finding deals! This way I can just buy more!  LOL

Well, that's it for today guys! I will do a post later this week on where I put all my finds. 

Have a great week!!

~Allyson~

Vacation, A Birthday Party and A New Blog Design

Hey guys! I hope you all are having a great week, we have been busy the last couple weeks with our vacation to Chicago and Jackson's 2nd Birthday. Here are some photos from our trip, I have only ever been to Chicago when it's ridiculously cold, so it was a lot of fun to see everything. My husband's parents moved to Barrington, Illinois a suburb of Chicago, they live about an hour or so away from the city. Here are some pictures of our trip. 

***Warning lots of pictures!!!***

The first day we got there we went to my husband's aunt and uncles house to grill and celebrate Jackson's birthday early. Here he is playing with Adam's cousin Megan.

Opening presents.

*** Downtown Chicago***

Here is Grandma and Jackson on his first train ride into the city.

He loved it so much he fell asleep :)

***Skydeck***

We went to the skydeck at the Willis tower, it was so crazy to step out on to the plexi glass box extended from the building. It is 103 floors up it goes so fast!

Adam and Jackson sitting out on the ledge!

 We went and saw the bean.

Then we walked through navy pier and took a boat ride back to the train to go home.

Jackson and Grandma on the boat.

 ***The Lincolon Park Zoo***

Jackson loved the carousel ride, he was so cute every time it would come around he couldn't figure out why they were moving and we were still in the same spot.

This gorilla enjoyed staring at all of us.

*** Rockford***

We took a boat ride on a long time friend of the family's boat. His house backs up to the river.

This was Adam's great grandparents house.

Jackson wasn't too sure about the boat ride at first.

I actually got him to smile for some pictures, his favorite word is NO ugh! 

***Jackson Turns 2!***

His party was Toy Story themed so I created a banner to match.

I cannot believe it has already been two years! Crazy how time flies! Here are some pictures of Jackson when he was born.

He is finally starting to smile for pictures! I took him two weeks ago to get his pictures taken and he didn't like the lady and ran fast around the corner and ran right into the corner of the wall and smacked his forehead.. Needless to say we didn't get his pictures taken then. I am afraid to go back!

Singing to him he has no idea what is going on haha!

He got a bike for his birthday which is daddy powered for now.. 

And this car which he calls "ze car". We love this picture when he gets really excited he shakes his arms like crazy. So cute! My husband thinks we should send this picture in to the people that make the car to have them put his picture on the front. LOL

Lastly, as you may have noticed I have a new blog design. I would love for you to grab my new button. Thanks!! Sorry for the long post!! I hope you all enjoyed it, I will be back soon with a decorating post. 

Have a great rest of the week!

~Allyson~

*Always Tweaking*

Hey guys!! I am so sorry I haven't posted in forever! I couldn't find my camera charger for a few weeks, I finally found it today so I will start posting regularly again. I have changed around some accessories on my desk, so I thought I would share it with you all.

***Desk Changes***

I kept the top mainly the same, I just moved the big initial P up there and removed a topiary.

I found this tuscan plate at Big Lots for 6.99, I love it!! I showed you the last time I posted this small little arrangement I made.

Here's an up close picture of the plate. If you haven't been to Big Lots to check out their decor you must go especially if you like Tuscan decor.

I was having a problem with this small shelf, I didn't really like anything I had put on it, so I just used one of my little boxes and added some ivy to it. I felt the bookcase needed some greenery. I am happy with it now.

 I moved my leopard trunk that I had in the kitchen to here. I love having book boxes and trunks around for storage.

I left this arrangement the same, love fleur de lis! :)

Here's a closer picture of the top of the desk. Of course I had to bring a roo in here. :) For some reason the wall color is showing up pink, I assure you it is not pink! It is the same neutral I have used throughout the house must be the lighting..

Well that's it for today guys, I know this was a short post! I will be back in a few days to show you my kitchen changes. Thanks for sticking around! 

I hope you all have a great week.

*Allyson*