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Spring Chandelier

Hi there, today I would like to share my funky – spring chandelier!
I went to Hobby Lobby this morning and picked up this grapevine wreath for $5.99 and some bendable floral wire.
 I cut the wire so I could wrap it around the wreath, and so I could twist and hang it from my dining room chandelier. 
 I wrapped the wire around each light fixture. 
This is how it looked when I was done. Yes, the wire is showing, but once I’m finished sticking the floral picks into the grapevine, you won’t even see it, it will blend.
I got four of these at 50% off.
I also got 5 of these at 50% off, too!
I then began to stick the ends of the greenery into the grapevine, and then I fluffed the greenery up to make it look full.
 After I got the first layer done, I started to add the other ones on top.
I kept adding pieces until I got the fullness I desired.
Nice and full.
The chandelier is not exactly my stye, so adding greenery made it more “me”…. It’s definitely a conversation piece and focal point now.
I hung this spring wreath on my arched gate, which is above my hutch in this room.

It’s different, right?
So, there you have it – a different way to spruce up your chandelier for Spring.  I may add some little white/yellow flowers in amongst the greenery. Skies the limit, right?
Thanks for stopping by!
XO, ~Liz
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NEXT UP: My Easter Tree
(Sneak Peek)
Easter Trees make me smile. 😉 Heck, I may even do a summer tree! 
~*~
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Spring Has Sprung

Hello, sweet friends! Well, it looks like the weather is finally beginning to change and spring has sprung at.…
THE TUSCAN HOME! 😉
The color – yellow, is beginning to take over the house. I hung this wreath on my metal arched gate. Why didn’t I hang a wreath there sooner? I love it, much more inviting!
I moved this plate and bowl set to the sofa table. I needed to bring in a little more yellow.
I tipped the bowl upside down and placed the garden ball on top of it.
Pops of yellow are so cheery this time of year.  
I also added a bright and colorful Rooster, which is primarily yellow.
On my Baker’s Rack in the kitchen, I added these two rustic black bunnies.
On another wall, I added another yellow wreath to my metal wall embellishment.

It glows at night, ha!

I like how I can see the wreath in the mirror at night.
Last week, at Hobby Lobby, I found these three candle sconces, 66% off! Of course, there I go again NOT putting candles on my sconces, I placed garden balls on them for Spring, instead!
I placed a jar of spaghetti next to my bunnies, and two new burlap lamps.
In the foyer, I hung a pear wreath by burlap ribbon.
Love the pop of green.
I found this Rooster at Ross last week, only $29.00. I’ve seen the same one at Home Goods for $79.00, can you say steal of a deal? So, I snatched him up FAST!
A bunny hippity-hopped his way to this vignette, and there he sits.
I found the oval granite cutting board at Ross last week and sat the plant and bunny on it.
I decorated the entertainment center and this bunny found her way there and sits in amongst the greenery and spring flowers.
This rabbit joined the vignette, too! 
Back in the kitchen, I added pastel jelly beans to this glass container and placed some spring greenery around it.

I added some easter egg malt balls to this cloche.

I also added some candy corn carrots, and sat this beside my black rustic bunnies, on the Baker’s Rack.

So, there you have it, the beginning stages of spring blooming at…
THE TUSCAN HOME! 
Thanks for stopping by! XOXO, ~Liz
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I will now be responding to comments here on my blog, so check back! 
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Linking up with:
Silver Penny Sundays
Seasonal Sundays
Met Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Inspire Me Tuesday
Tuesdays Treasures
Be Inspired
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Treasure Hunt Thursday

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Foyer Table Arrangement

Happy Friday! Whew, the week went by fast! Today, I would like to share our foyer table arrangement.  
I found this canister at Home Goods years ago and love it!
I made this arrangement several years ago and placed it into a new pot.  I was shooting for a Tuscan/Spring look.
Y’all know how I love garden balls, so I sat one beside the arrangement!
This is the foyer…
And this is how it used to look before the arrangement.  Now….onto my question>>>
Ok, I’ve got a question for you ladies. See the chandelier above, well, I was playing with the idea of heading to Hobby Lobby to buy a few springs garlands to drape around the chandy!  Obviously, the garland in the picture is not full enough for my liking, but I do want something that drapes and cascades downward a bit, what do you think?
 Whatever garland I find it will need to fit in with this look. I have a few ideas….
Why do builders always hang the chandelier so high? This bothers me, so I thought, a good way to balance the chandelier with the room is to make it appear lower by adding spring garland.  I would love to know your thought on this.
I think a little spring around the chandy will look pretty.  I will post some pictures if I find what I am looking for and see what you guys think. Have a fabulous weekend! xo, Liz
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Linking up with:
Met Monday
Seasonal Sundays
Anything Blue Friday

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Tuscan Dining Room

~Welcome to our Tuscan style Dining Room~
Are you ready for a pop of color? Join me and I’ll show you our cozy, casual dining room, and my new funky spring plates filled with faux fruit.
I’m all about the cozy and comfortable factor. I love elegant dining rooms, and one day I’ll have one, but with four kids, casual and cozy is my style.
I love black furniture with dark wood undertones. You may recognize this table from last year, it used to be W H I T E!  Guess who spray painted it? Me!  It now goes with my old black hutch. 
We eat in the dining room, maybe once a month, so when it’s not being used, I stage it to look pretty. I placed some plates on the table and filled them with faux fruit for spring. 
Last week, there were just placemats on 
the table, now there are plates.
I found the plates, bowls, and faux fruit at the Dollar Tree. Cheap, cheap, cheap!

I added some white flowers to my Tuscan arrangement for Spring.

The boxwood wreath used as my centerpiece I found at Safeway of all places.
Grouping items is the name of the game in Tuscan design. 
I got a glass candle holder and filled it with little garden balls.  I really like the pop of color, and hello, it’s green, my 
favorite color! 🙂
I love the big tall ceilings and the trim really sets the dining room apart from the living room.
I go a little crazy with yellow when spring rolls around. All I have on the brain is the sun, and thinking ahead to bright and cheery days, weather wise!  
I like rustic pots that look or appear aged….those are my favorite. 🙂
I love using artichokes in my decor along with grapes, very Tuscanesque!

 Aren’t these plates bright and cheery? Only a $1.00 each.

 Yellows, reds, golds, browns, greens, black, and beige…..is the name of the game in this dining room!

I will be adding some long curtain panels soon! 

 As I mentioned before, I use faux LED wax candles on timers, so they go on at 5pm and go off at 9pm every night.

 You may recall this arched gate, I used it to frame my kitchen window at the other house along with an identical one. I will be adding a big spring wreath later this week.

 I got this new rug when we moved and I love it with the black furniture.

 I use topiaries just about everywhere throughout the house, love them!

This chandelier will be getting some spring greenery draped from it later this week. 🙂

I also like to add little wall shelves around the house, you can switch different decor items on and off it for the seasons.

In one of my tables, I displayed some wine and books in a basket.

 Down below, I displayed some cookbooks, a faux plant and moss ball in a silver pot.

Cozy, comfortable, and Tuscan Style….

Thanks for visiting! XOXO, Liz
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SIDE NOTE: From now on, I will be replying to comments here on my blog.
~*~
Linking up with:
Seasonal Sundays
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Scoop Party
Tuesday’s Treasures
Be Inspired Party
Inspire Me Tuesday
Anything Blue Friday

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Tuscan Style Vignettes

Hi there, friends! I hope you had a great weekend! Today, I would like to share some Tuscan style vignettes I created last week.
Ok y’all, I went to Ross last week and found some Tuscan – style jugs. I snatched them FAST and they were VERY inexpensive. I placed them on my Hobby Lobby outdoor table that I use indoors. 😉
I tried them in several different vignettes and thought I would share the pictures. I tweak, tweak, and tweak some more until I get it just the way I like it. 😉
Mr. Roo found his way into the arrangement.  I’m really into yellow and green right now.
I found this pretty plate and bowl at Marshall’s last week and placed a French Garden ball into the bowl.  

I love these French garden balls and you can buy these at Real Deals.

I tried it two different ways. I 1st placed the plate on a plate holder in one of my wire cake holders, and set the bowl and garden ball inside it. 

I  then moved it to the dining room table and placed it on a place mat.
I got a Baker’s Rack at Hobby Lobby last week and had fun decorating it.
Faux Pears sitting on a bed of greenery, perfect for Spring!
Here is the top part of the Baker’s Rack.
I’m starting to add bits and pieces of Spring here and there!
Marshall’s has a lot of inexpensive pottery. I bought this pot and dropped another French Garden Ball inside it! 
I brought my Tuscan bowl into the vignette and placed it on a wicker tray, added a bunny, and some pastel Easter Eggs.
In the photo below, I was playing around with different ideas and ways to incorporate the jugs into a vignette.
I added a little moss to make this vignette look a bit more rustic in appearance.
I experimented with the jugs and dropped topiaries into each one.
Green, green, green….I’m addicted to the color green! 😉 It’s my favorite color, all different shades of green. 

I love cozy corners with lamps…

I even played with different tables, ha! 

This table won!

I added this metal Roo and added greenery.

And then added a rustic black mirror above the shelf.

I played with the idea of using a placemat behind the plant to add some texture.

And here is the vignette without the placemat.

 Bring on the Spring decor…..

I hope you enjoyed all my “tweaking” ideas. Tweaking is the fun part of decorating, as it allows the creativity gates to open up. The possibilities are endless.;)
Thanks for stopping by!
Big ((Hugs)) ~Liz
Side Note: I will be replying to comments here on my blog from now on, it’s so much easier that way. So, check back. 🙂
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Up next: Our Tuscan Dining Room
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Linking up with:
Seasonal Sundays
Met Monday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Scoop Party
Tuesday’s Treasures
Be Inspired Party
Inspire Me Tuesday
Anything Blue Friday

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Welcome To Our Tuscan Kitchen

Join me and I’ll take you on a tour around the kitchen! Are you ready for lots of photos? Ok, let’s go!
Tuscan kitchens are warm, earthy, and cozy.
Accessorizing the upper cabinets is fun! I like to layer items. I find it gives character to the space. 

I hung a metal wall embellishment, and added some items that look Tuscan style.

In the photo above, I added two trays and two plants.
In another corner of the kitchen I added this French Bistro sign. I only wish it said…
~T  U  S  C  A  N  *  B  I  S  T  R  O~
In another corner I have this cute Rooster and two canisters and some greenery. 
I’ve had this  BON APPETIT sign forever. 
I love color, so I have these cute veggie filled glass containers and a topiary on the counter.
Glass jars are always so versatile, fill them with whatever you like.
I like to place kitchen decor in baskets, because I think it looks cute. 🙂
I like to create little vignettes and I change them out frequently. 😉
When we moved I got rid of all my “white” furniture, it just wasn’t me. I feel much more at home in this house….this is much more my style.
I love having a big window to look out as I do the dishes. 
I love fall colors so I was drawn to these curtains from Pier 1.
I    *LOVE*   C O F F E E!!!!
So, our kitchen would not be complete without a few cafe style coffee pictures.
I like to change out the kitchen towels with my vignettes. This week I am into green.
I’ve had this cute little kitchen pig for a few years now, isn’t he precious?
Meet Mr. Piggy, the kitchen Chef!
I’m starting to change out the winter arrangements with spring flowers. 
On each bar stool I have a seat pad and two poofy pillows.
I love the colors in this pillow and basically used it to coordinate the colors throughout the kitchen.

Here is another spring arrangement in the kitchen.
The curtains I used in the kitchen are standard length curtain panels that I swaged over the kitchen curtain rod.
I love having a l o n g kitchen island.
I’m not afraid to use faux bread and fruit in my vignettes.  I think it adds a cozy, homey feel to the kitchen.
Our kitchen has lots of lighting which is nice.

At night, I love the lights beside the kitchen sink, cozy! 

I like adding rustic elements here and there, in this case, the distressed wall candle sconce.

 I’m obsessed with filling my kitchen jars with different things like pasta, beans, and greenery.

 I got the greenery in the pasta and rice filled jar from Real Deals….it looks like a big gigantic piece of Rosemary! 😉

 I like buying canisters that you can write on. It you shop T.J. Maxx, you can find these there.

Here is a little sneak peek of the dining area. I desperately need to buy curtains.
Lastly, this vignette has Spring and Summer written all over it…..hurry up Spring!

Well, thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed the tour!

xoxo, Liz
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Rented Our Home

Happy Wednesday, Ladies! I’m so excited to share that we finally rented our home.
 Right before I stopped blogging, we had just put in a brand new deck, and unfortunately, I never really shared any photos of the final transformation.  I created this cozy, private sitting area. We really enjoyed the outdoor fireplace last fall….cozy, cozy, cozy! Oh, and did I mention comfortable?
The other side of the deck was for eating and taking in the beautiful sunsets. I’m sharing these for the people who emailed me wanting to see the deck photos. 😉
I loved having a large clock above the fireplace. It was like having a bit of the indoors outside.
A mantle whether it is inside or out should be decorated, don’t you think? 😉
At night we would light this candle.
Ok, now onto our rental news….we put the house up for rent at the end of December. I did not stage the house and we had very little bites. I decided it was time to spruce up the house with a few staging items to see if it would make the house more warm and inviting. Well, it did the trick. We now have it rented.
I did not bring in any furniture in, only accessories.
 I hung towels in the bathroom and added topiaries and nice hand soap.
 I used burlap ribbon and tied it around the towels.
 In the pantry, I added these cute little plants and placed a big cake platter on one of the shelves.
I made up this cute arrangement and placed it down in the theater. It is filled with popcorn, kettle corn, red vines, and root beer.  I will leave it for the renters as a little “welcome” gift! 😉
When anyone comes to the front door, it should be pretty and welcoming. So I got out my cleaning product of choice – Pledge Furniture Polish With Orange Oil, and I sprayed it onto the exterior wood right next to the front door. You can see how dull the wood looked prior to spraying the oil on. I rubbed the oil in really good over the wood with a small towel and it soaked right into the wood and revitalized it. Ba-BAM!
BEFORE
 AND AFTER
I even sprayed the front door….so much better! Love that product! 
I placed a wax warmer in the kitchen with a wonderful scent and it made the house smell heavenly. All these “little” things add up and just make the house look and feel more like, well, home! This is how it looked before staging, just cold and uninviting.
 These are all the items I brought over to stage with.
 So, if any of you are in the process of trying to rent your home and have already moved out, leave a few items behind and just accessorize. It really makes the house feel more inviting.
If I could have a “D R E A M *  J O B” it would be to stage peoples homes. I love to accessorize, it would be a dream come true, maybe one day! 🙂 Thanks for visiting! XO, Liz
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Linking up with:
Treasure Hunt Thursday
Anything Blue Friday
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Jazz Up That Kitchen

Hi Ladies, today I would like to share a few ideas from my kitchen to yours. In our home, the kitchen is the heart of the home, it’s the most popular place to congregate. A place to cook, eat, and share a story, or two!
 Why not make the kitchen a cozy, comfortable atmosphere, right? I’m not afraid to use “faux” items such as faux fruit, bread, or greenery. This allows me to switch things out as I may.
 I like to group decor items.  Save those corks ladies, you can use them in your kitchen vignettes like you see here. Just place your corks into a glass cloche, or any glass container and it makes a cute centerpiece.
 I like to vary things at different heights.  Pedestals are an easy way to place items up a little higher than others.
I love big glass jars, I always change the items out seasonally. Sometimes I have apples, sometimes, I have pumpkins (for fall) and seashells/sand for summer. 
 At Hobby Lobby they have lots of glass jars filled with veggies, I love these as they add a pop of color in the kitchen.
In this glass jar I added green grass with lemons and beneath it I placed a pear twig wreath.
Here are a few more glass containers filled with veggies.
I like to add candles for ambiance…it adds the cozy factor.
I lover moss balls and placed these on the dining room table in a big round basket.
I found this pretty container at Real Deals and placed a bean mix inside because I liked the different variations in color.
 In another glass container I used rice and pasta and placed some tall greenery right in the middle.
Don’t you love accessorizing your kitchen? I sure do! The possibilities are endless….
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Tuscan Wall Shelf Vignette

Hello Ladies, today I would like to share a wall shelf display. 
 In the living room, I hung a grouping of three metal Fleur-de-lis on the wall.  The look by itself just wasn’t doing it for me. Hmm, what to do? So, I ran to Hobby Lobby and found a black metal wall shelf, Tuscan in style, and thought it would be perfect to go under my wall arrangement.
I added a rustic green pot and placed some greenery in it, and then placed some yarn balls in amongst the greenery.
I think the wall shelf adds a bit of warmth to the whole arrangement.
I like the brown coming through on the black shelf and the distressing on it.
One a table in the living room, I added a touch of Spring by adding a big brown bunny.
I played with the arrangement by adding greenery, and greenery with grapes, but decided I liked it without the grapes.
On another table, I added a giant garden ball and placed it on a bed of greenery in a big Tuscan pot.
I like the wispy greenery, it adds a lightness and delicateness to the to display. 
I sure love accessorizing our home, it’s so much fun! 🙂
Thanks for visiting! XO, Liz
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Rustic Tuscan Style Shelving ~ Using Fence Posts

Hi there, today I would like to share a creative, yet VERY simple and inexpensive way to create shelving in your home.
In the above picture, you will notice the woodwork on the wall, my idea was aimed to find something similar in color for my shelf idea.
I ran to Home Depot and found two pre-stained Fence Posts, only $11.00 each. I kept them just they way they were, because I love a rustic look! If you want to make this shelf, but want a different finish, just get the plain wood and stain it to your liking.
I like seeing the knots and imperfections in the wood…that’s what gives it character. 🙂
I didn’t know what to do with this wall, so the fence posts filled it in well. I ran to Hobby Lobby to get wall brackets because I saw them on sale last week for 50% off.  I screwed the fence posts in side by side to give me the width I was looking for to be able to accessorize with different items. 
My wall brackets, only $3.99 each at HL.
I sat two Tuscan jugs side by side and added some greenery.
Now although the colors aren’t a perfect match (the wood trim and shelving) it’s close enough.
A simple shelf can fill a large wall space nicely, and for $30.00 and some change, not bad! 
This greenery is also from Hobby Lobby, $11.99 original price, now 50% off.
I originally got two larger brackets that were too big, so what did I do with them? I used one of them to accessorize with in the photo above. Why not, right? It looks Tuscan, so I used it! 😉
The metal and wood wall embellishment is also from HL, now 50% off.
I did this very look in my living room, because the house did not come with a mantle, so I replicated it on this wall.

I’ll show you the whole room soon, one more wall to fill. HA!
Thanks for stopping by! XO, Liz
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Linking Up With:
Inspire Me Tuesday
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Grace At Home Party
Tablescape Thursday