Furnishing Your Home with Style

For many couples starting out purchasing items for the home can just about break-the-bank.

 Furniture can be very costly and depending on the size of the home, it could take years before a home looks and feels fully furnished. 

Unless you are a minimalist, the more furnishings, the more cozy a home feels. When looking to some of the great interior decorators of our day; it is the home fashion trend to have, not just classy furniture, but layers of fabric, accent pieces, and lighting to make a home look stunning. Anything from mixing antique with trendy, dainty with rustic, and paisley with plaid, the combinations can add just the right flare.  One of my favorite interior designers,Scott Meacham Wood, does just that. 

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Your Home is Your Expression

Be Creative and Fearless

Your home should make you want to be there.

I found a store from my hometown that allows one to achieve their decorating goals on an affordable budget. 

Located in the small town of Cortland,Ohio; this furniture store contains so many items that can transform a house into a beautiful home. 

This consignment store contains items in excellent condition ranging from many various styles of furniture, home decor accent pieces, paintings, lamps, dishware, linens, and specialty items such as Sydney candles, jewelry, and purses. 

This bedding is exquisite. The duvet cover and the black cover were originally a custom order and very pricey. The coverings were made for 2 twin beds and all 4 pieces can be purchased separately. The duvet covers (red with buttons) come with the down comforters. The original cost for this bedding was $4,000. You can purchase the bed coverings for a cost of $200 per item. 

When you take a tour of this store be prepared to spend time going from room to room over again.

You will see things the second and third time around that you missed the first time. 

Here is a tip, look in the cabinets, drawers, cupboards, and bookcases as you will find many items tucked away. There are so many home goods so be prepared to shop around. 

No matter what your home needs are, you are sure to find it here. You don't have to break-the-bank to make your home look splendid. 

Why pay department store prices when you can have quality furniture at a fraction of the cost. Every dollar saved is a dollar earned. Put the savings toward a vacation, no one will know the difference. 

Very few stores offer so much for so little.

Maybe you are just starting out or helping an adult child fix up their home, you can't afford to pass this place up. 

All your Furnishings are Right Here. 

The store has very convenient hours.

Monday-Saturday 10:00-5:00

Sunday 11:00-3:00

Specialty Items for Her

  
All Things To Make a Cozy Home.

The Store is Located at

212 N High St, Cortland, Ohio 44410.

Please stop in and visit 

They'll Leave The Light On

 

Thank you for taking time to read this blog. I hope you have found it to be enjoyable. 

Thanksgiving Planning Tips

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, eating turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, playing board games like Apples to Apples, glancing at the Black Friday adds, and nibbling on left-overs with whomever stops by for a visit. 

https://newyorksightseeingtours.wordpress.com/tag/macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/

For the past few years it has become a tradition for me to host the Thanksgiving dinner. 

Being a good hostess requires lots of organization & preparation. 
Doing as much as you can beforehand helps to make the holiday a smooth transition. 

Here Are Some Tips

Start an inbox message on Facebook including all the guests whom are invited and have them mention what they would like to bring to the dinner. So many family and friends are connected to social media, making communication easy.

Once this is done you can plan on seating arrangements such as the number of chairs and tables that will be needed.

I like for my tables and chairs to color coordinate. 

Here is a very affordable place to purchase chair and table coverings: 

http://www.tableclothsfactory.com/Folding-Chair-Cover-Round-p/chair_rnd_wht.htm

You can purchase chair coverings for as little as $1.15 per item.  I like to use sashes on some chairs and those run around $2.29. The sashes and coverings come in a variety of textures and colors.

It's nice having candles & decorations for the tables to make the atmosphere very warm and festive. 

Shopping at this time of the year is a great time to purchase candles & decorations; many stores have those items on clearance after Halloween. 

For early prep, a week or two before the holiday, bring out your chafers and make sure you have chafer fuel (sternos). It can be very frustrating if you happen to notice, after the dinner is prepared, that you are out of sternos. Locate your power strips if you will be plugging in slow cookers. 

Rearranging furniture may be necessary to make room for tables. You may need to remove a coffee table or so in advance. If that is the case, think about doing it the weekend before the big dinner.

Another early prep would be to iron table cloths ahead of time.

Take a look at your guest list and decide fun activities to do for all who are present. If you have little ones attending the dinner, you may want to bring out a few toys, puzzles, coloring books, and things to help keep them entertained.  

Even adults have fun coloring, doing word puzzles, and playing trivia games. 

You could have a word search & trivia contest; then have  prizes waiting for the winners ($5 Dunkin Donuts gift cards). There are plenty of free Thanksgiving downloads for such activities. 

Autumn's Country Landscape

We are rounding the bin of October and the landscape is magnificent. Peak week has occurred here in Northeast Ohio.

The weather has cooperated in making this, a fall to remember. One of my favorite things to do this time of year, is head for those country roads that are noted for their scenery. I wanted to share with you photos that I took along the way. 

I took these photos going through Vernon, Ohio and into Greenville, PA.

I hope you enjoyed viewing them as much as I did photographing them. 

Little Haven @ Home

One thing I enjoy looking at; whether it's in home magazines,browsing social media sites,or stores like Ikea, are Bedrooms.

As a mom, I loved decorating my children's rooms. Their rooms took on different styles as we moved and the children grew into different stages. It was fun gathering items that reflected their own personalities.  

They always seemed to  enjoy their 

"Little Haven"

Here's A Small Tip:

It is hard to believe that it is mid October already; which means the Holidays are going to be here before you know it. In order to get a jump start on Holiday decorating, why not start with the children's bedrooms. The weekend before Thanksgiving is a great time to do this; right before the hurriedness of the season kicks in.

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." 

-Charles R. Swindoll

The years went by quickly and before I could blink an eye, my children were 
spreading their wings. 
Fortunately for me, my children came and went in stages and not all at once; however, I knew the day would come when those bedrooms would become bare. So far two have left the nest and the third one's waiting. It is such a transition when your children become adults. I would say that it's bittersweet. I'm thankful that I still have one more in the nest. But I know it's only a matter of time and he too will 
Spread His Wings & Fly

Since my oldest two have moved out, a few face lifts have been made. For a very affordable new look, my husband took up the carpet and polished the hardwood underneath. My  home was built in 1906 and the hardwood floors are in good condition.  

This was my daughter's room and we kept the orange (her favorite color). I re-decorated the room using some of my daughter's wedding flowers. 

She enjoys coming home to visit and 

staying in her old room. 

This room was once a living room and since the boys needed their own rooms we turned it into a fourth bedroom. 

Here's A Tip:

T.J. Maxx has the best smelling fabric spay for $4.99. I like to spray my sheets, blankets, comforters, and pillow cases while I'm making the bed. When it's time for bed that evening, the sheets smell so good.

The Tudor Octagon: Holiday Schedule

This past October weekend was spectacular here in NE Ohio. The trees are still holding onto their  leaves while many of the trees are appearing red, orange, and yellow. When the sun shines through the trees, the colors are vibrant. 

Every Year At This Time I Enjoy Going To The 

Tudor Octagon

 An older gentleman opens his shop usually the first couple of weekends in October. He has a variety of things that I find appealing; fantastic assortment of books at a reasonable price, good variety of glass dishes and knickknacks, different types of music Cd's, and festive seasonal decorating items. 

 After those first two weekends in October, the shop closes until the second weekend in November and remains open through the first two weekends in December. That is good news for those who happened to miss out on their fall sale. If you are in the surrounding areas, make sure to squeeze the time to stop in. You just can't beat the prices and the uniqueness of the items.

 I Think Of This Place As A Little Hidden 

"Treasure Box"

 It sets nestled in Fowler, Ohio. 

The property is very quaint. 

The second weekend in December, there will be a home tour at this location. There will be a pipe organ playing along with the enjoyment of viewing charming sites of a decorated Christmas house.  Based upon the items at the shop, I am sure that this home tour will be something worth visiting. 

Mood & Expression; A Child's Perception

Many years ago, when my children were little, something was said on the Oprah show that really impacted me. 

"Do your children see your face light up when they walk into the room?". 

At that time I was a busy mommy. I had two children close together in age (fourteen months), and then a third child right around the time I started homeschooling. I was very involved in  church, entertained regularly having other couples/children over for visits and dinners, and my children were involved in many activities. 

I took my job as mommy very seriously; after all, I was 

shaping the lives of three people. 

I made sure; we visited the library often, listened to classical music (brain stimulation), had educational posters in plain sight, and took advantage of every teachable moment possible.  It didn't occur to me that in my busyness, I was losing sight of something very important, my 

"Expressions". 

Taking care of children can be exhausting in and of itself. It can drain you both mentally and physically. I was listening to the Today Show several years ago as Katie Couric was doing a segment on job satisfaction. Those who worked with children seemed to be the unhappiest. Although I thoroughly loved being with my children, at times, it could be exhausting and overwhelming. 

Could being a parent reduce your happiness?

An article in "Good Housekeeping" seems to suggest that it does. Here is the title and link to the article:
Science Proves It: Parenthood Is the Absolute Worst

 http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/news/a33900/parenthood-happiness-study/

Although I believe that having children adds to one's happiness;It can place a pull on your stress levels. The segment on the Oprah show made me become aware of something very important; 
"Children Are Mood Detectors"

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The expression on Princess Diana's face, speaks volumes. 

"Smile Mom"

I almost couldn't believe my own ears. My little boy, whom I delighted in, glanced into my eyes and told me to "Smile". Yes, children notice when your face lights up to see them. Taking care of yourself, asking for help when you need a break, and getting refreshed (spiritually), can help you deal with the stresses that come with parenting. 

I hope you found this blog to be helpful and to serve as a reminder that children long for parental warmth, admonition, and praise. They crave affection and when they see your face light up to see them, it reassures them of your love. 
So Smile Mom and Smile Some More

Autumn Fun For Children

When my children were little I did my best to create a fun filled environment for them. Just being a young couple starting out, we didn't have extra money to go all out purchasing items to decorate for the seasons. Decorating on a "tight budget" became my mission. 

I purchased things like leaves, scarecrows, and pumpkins for the windows. Children love having decorations on their windows. Your children can make their own pumpkins for their windows out of orange poster board ($1 at the Dollar General). You can purchase a pack of markers and have them color features for the pumpkins. I used sticky tack and would put the pumpkins on the kitchen cupboards (you can purchase removable sticky tack at stores like Target). You can also use decorations on bathroom & bedroom mirrors & doors. 

Of course children love to pick out their own pumpkins. This is a great way to add some flare to your home. There is nothing like carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds with your children. You can purchase a decal kit for your pumpkins at a craft store; the Oriental Trading Company has a kit for just $3.18.

This is a real simple craft to do with your children. Use a small laundry detergent container, orange and green paint applied using a sponge, green construction paper to make the leaves, sponge orange and grey paint to give the leaves a wilted look, black and white paint for the face, brown paint to make the lid resemble a stem, a bow made from raffia, and green or brown  pipe cleaners to add flare to the stem. 

This is a picture my daughter painted as a young girl and I purchased a picture frame on clearance for $1. 

Another fun activity with children is getting them involved in making treats for Halloween. You can air-pop popcorn, melt orange chocolate wafers, coat the popcorn and place in festive bags. This is a very inexpensive treat that goes a long way. 

These candy molds from Pat Catan's Craft store are a  simple way to involve the children in making some tasty treats to give out to their friends. I like these cupcake holders because they have cute picks to make them extra festive. 

A real simple way to make a nice treat, purchase pretzel sticks, melt chocolate wafers & peanut butter wafers, use a tablespoon to drizzle a layer of the melted peanut butter first and then drizzle a layer of the melted chocolate. Trust me, your children, grandchildren, or friends will love it. 

Hope you enjoyed these little tips. Make some memories and  have some fun, children don't stay little long.