Holiday Home 2016

Here are a few snap shots of the holiday decor around the house this year.  

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

A Change of Art

Recently I have been doing some art swapping around the house.  I had been looking for something nice to hang between the two vanity sinks in our recently renovated master bath.  One day it occurred to me that maybe I should look at pieces I already own.  This is my go to tactic when looking for a spruce up while still trying to be thrifty with funds.  I swiped these gray and white floral silhouettes that used to hang over the bed.

I really love these prints in their new location.   It is a much needed pop of interest for the vanity wall.

Hydrangea from the garden

In my next post, I will show the new art I found to hang over the headboard.  It only cost me $3.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday weekend!

-Laura-

A Pool Party Cake

My baby boy turned five a couple of weeks ago.  His request was to have a pool party this year.  In planning for his cake, my little guy and I searched through images of "pool party cakes" on "Pinterest".  We found one that gave us inspiration, click here.  Our inspiration cake had a swimmer with dark brown hair which I had to make blonde to match my little guy.  I made the face and fins for the cake with "fondant".  I just did my best to copy the design of my inspiration cake.

The rest of the cake is just a store bought mix and "Aqua Blue" frosting.  The frosting came with the "fish-fetti" sprinkles.  I added some candy pearls to simulate air bubbles and then surrounded the main cake with some mini-cupcakes adorned with gummy sharks and life savers (easy peasy).

Here is a recap of past cakes made for my baby boy.

I wonder what he will want for his cake next year?  Likes and dislikes change so quickly around here it is anyone's guess.

-Laura-

Some Pretty Blooms

The Spring season around here has been filled with rain.  As the saying goes those "April showers really do bring May flowers".  I thought I would share some of the pretty blooms from around the house this May.

-Laura-

Making Room for a Mud Room

I have always loved the idea of a mudroom.  Somewhere to neatly stow the necessities of life (shoes, coats, dog bowls) is the stuff I dream about (when I am not dreaming of linens, pillows, bedding, and an extra hour of sleep in the morning).

The main point of entry in our house is through the laundry room off our garage.  Our laundry room used to wear a rather sad pink wall paper and glossy vinyl floor.  Upon purchasing our house, these two items quickly got swapped out for tile and new paint.  The laundry room also used to be home to a hot water tank.  When we switched to a tank-less hot water system it freed up space to create a much needed built-in for our mini-mudroom aka "storage haven".

Flashback Photo (Laundry room when we bought our house)

Now (After a couple days of the husband's handy work.)

-Best Wishes-

Laura

Turning Six with a Scooby Doo Party

My first born turned six the end of March and he asked for a "Scooby Doo" themed party this year.  In what has become a tradition, I pulled together a cake to go with the theme.  I made a simple cake with white buttercream frosting adorned with "Scooby Doo" graham cracker treats and a paper "Mystery Machine".  You can download your own paper "Mystery Machine" by clicking on this "Pinterest" link, click here.

Inside the cake is filled with an explosion of 70's inspired "Tie-Dye" color.   I found this "Tie-Dye" cake mix from Duff Goldman.  You can get your own mix here.  You blend together the cake mix and then separate into six batches for coloring.  Once the colors are ready you pour them into the center of the cake pan one right over the other creating a rainbow design.

The end result is a tasty cake with groovy "Scooby Doo" inspired flare.

Keeping things groovy, my talented hubby made a "Mystery Machine" photo prop.


-Best Wishes-

Laura

Master Bathroom Renovation Reveal

Hello Readers,

It is hard to believe that it has been more than six months since you have seen a post from me.  We have been working on several projects around the house and it's about time I finally started posting about them.

Our master bath was in serious need of an overhaul.  The floor tile was installed in the 80s (directly to the sub floor) and the grout was dried up and coming out.  Seriously, I would sweep up a pan full of grout chunks daily.  One day we had enough and let the demo hammer swing.

Here is a before picture of the massive vanity

The original vanity was 8' long with a frame less mirror the same length glued to the wall.

We also had a jetted tub with a giant tiled surround.

Last but not least we had the matching gray shower unit and tub to finish out the 80's dream bath.


Well here is what we have now.

My favorite item is the new freestanding "Victoria & Albert" tub.  It is made from volcanic ash and limestone, which helps it to hold the heat of your hot water longer.....dreamy.

A new tiled shower with white subway tile walls and a marble hexagon tile floor.

Bye Bye awkward closet and hello linen cabinet.  The cabinet is from "IKEA's" new "Brusali" collection.

New towels and artwork (compliments of my boys).

A fun lantern pendant to hang in the newly scraped and painted "tower" ceiling.

One more close up of the tub.

I will follow up soon with all the sources and details.


-Laura-