Grandpa's Salvaged Magazine Shelf

This hutch has been in my dining room since we moved here:

One problem was it didn't match my decor. Wait, what does match my decor? I'm really not picky but I felt this was too cutesy Early American. The main problem: it was technically my brothers but (as you can see) I had it filled with my stuff. Inside and out. I tried not to fill it up knowing it would probably one day leave here but it just happened.
I wasn't trying to find a replacement for it so the bookcase kind of landed in its spot by accident. I wanted the bookcase to go upstairs but alas it was too long to even make it past the first landing much less around the sharp corner and through the awkward stairway door. I left it sitting in the middle of the entry area pondering what to do with it and was delighted when I measured and discovered it fit PERFECTLY between the bathroom and front door. So perfectly, that at first glance it appears to be an original built in. I have about 5,000 things I am finding which will look cute in here so I'm still working on the final arrangement since not all 5,000 things fit.

 (I swear I have the Christmas decorations off of it now)

This was in my grandparent's basement and my grandpa made it for his National Geographic collection. I did take some of his magazines so they are now back home on the shelves. Back in the 40's/50's he "salvaged" (took from the trash) the doors from one of the neighbors who was remodeling their bungalow which works for me because it fits right into my bungalow-ish home. I will try stripping it first to see if I can refinish it to match my woodwork but I suspect it is several different kinds wood which he picked up here and there. I almost feel bad changing the color because it has always been this color. That will be my excuse to not get to this proposed project for a while!

Basketball Baby?

Little one and I were changing out her wardrobe today since she is starting to fit into some of her bigger clothing and outgrow others. First I will say 99% of her clothing is from garage sales. Actually, a lot came from those church sack sales. You know the ones, fill up a bag for $1. You can fit A LOT of baby clothes into one of those bags. Anywho, while sifting through I found this oddity:

Both are 6-9 months. The one on the right is for perspective. If a baby fits the one on the left something has to be terribly wrong as it appears it will be just as wide as it is long. The tag reads McBaby in a familiar font I think we all recognize. Yes, this disproportionately fat onsie is somehow McDonalds related. Hmmm...
Apart from that outfit which I'm pretty sure will never fit properly, I am excited about all of the cute clothes I found in my hoarded boxes.

Extra fuzzy squirrel PJs which I am jealous about. 

Vintage Care Bear PJs. Vintage baby clothing is hard to find! (I can't imagine why!)

 and what wardrobe would be complete without monkey footie PJs?? aww.

Christmas Present Time

Last summer while carpet shopping for the baby's room I was sidetracked by the bright colors of the area rug department. I spotted this one right away, attracted to the purple-ness of it since purple is my favorite color and there are not many purple area rugs out there. I should say not many purple area rugs which I would want to place in an adult room - there are some bright purple rugs which I'm sure will fit well with the little one's taste in about 5 years. Anyways, while brainstorming Christmas gift ideas for myself this rug popped into my head. I thought I would see if they still had it and sure enough it/one like it was still there and $100 cheaper!

 The sales person pulled it out and asked me twice if I still liked it in the light. She then went on to say it takes a special decor to pull off this color and I had 48 hours to return it. OK, well, I have nothing else in my current office/troll room textile or paint color wise so it's not going to clash with anything. My husband is indifferent to my choice because he didn't even come with me.

It meets Cammie's stamp of approval and everyone knows her opinion is the only one which really matters.

When do normal people take down decorations?

I thought I would be normal this year and start taking down my decorations right after New Years. I'm not sure when most of the population takes them down. I have been known to leave them up until February. In fact, I think my mom let me leave them up until Valentine's Day one year. It was my job to put them up and take them down and I guess she didn't mind looking at them. It was probably my dad finallysaying it was time for them to go back to the attic. My husband knows this side of me so he started preparing me early (pre-Christmas Day) and saying it was almost time for the decorations to go back away. Fine, fine, I get the hint!
I thought I better document my 2012 decorating in case the little one is too hyperactive for me to decorate next year. I might have to live vicariously through this post. Though I would say 97% of my ornaments are already cat proof plastic so we may be good to go.

 

My precious aluminum tree managed to remain standing this season. The first time since we got the cat! I was in the basement one time when the she knocked it down and I can confirm aluminum trees do not make a sound when they fall. 

This is my solution to a breakage free Christmas. My ever growing collection of the tacky Jewel Brite Ornaments. It's amazing how many of these exist out there and how, umm, nice? they look on an aluminum tree. 

 I'm positive this is NOT a Jewel Brite but it makes me laugh every year.

 I added some festive Pyrex to my buffet. 

What Christmas would be complete without my crazy reindeer line up!?

This was my new silly Christmas album of the year. Star Wars. I haven't listened to it yet but if its anything like the Christmas Special it has to be...interesting?

Just a random kitschy shot

and proof that collections get out of hand quickly around here. Just a couple of years ago it looked like this and now, many free boxes and estate sales later, this is how it looks today. 

I love the vintage Christmas bulb wreaths but I hate the idea of hot gluing and permanently ruining vintage ornaments. This is my solution as these guys just nestle into the branches and can be rearranged or removed whenever. 

Proof that I do also have a normal tree. I thought I had just a plain tree picture but the struggling cat is amusing.

Oh Christmas decor, you will be missed until I can put you up again without fear of you being eaten!

Linen Closet Napper

Note: I shall not be held responsible for cat hair on the clean towels.