Archive - December, 2011

December 30, 2011

Friday Faves 12.30

in friday favorites with 2 Comments

ONE letter press desk set $24 by orange beautiful. TWO yellow letterpress yearly wall calendar $22 by katherine watson.   THREE pretty painterly strokes make quite a beautiful monthly calendar $42 Linda & Harriett.   FOUR perfect for your purse! Accordion calendar $18 by indigo Bunting.  FIVE make a big impact with these illustrated 8×10 monthly calendar prints! Beautiful as a gallery wall. $30 from indigo bunting.  SIX if you’re a planner kind of person, this is my fave! Pretty colors, minimalist design and beautiful interior typography will make this planner by Julia Kostreva your fave too – $22.

 

Get ready for 2012!  I know it doesn’t start until Monday, but to start the year off right, I need organization. These beautiful planners and calendars would make for a pretty and fresh start.

This weekend, I’m headed out of state for a New Years Eve black tie wedding!  I’m excited to get all dressed up and dance the night away.  It’s going to be fancy!

ALSO, if you haven’t yet taken my end-of-the-year survey, would you?  Pretty please?  It will definitely help me to make the blog exactly what you guys love to read!

Have a FABULOUS friday and weekend and FRESH new year!

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December 27, 2011

Take Some Time

in mood with 1 Comment

This week I’ll be taking the time to relax, enjoy the holiday, spend time with family and get ready for the new year. Although I won’t be posting regularly, I’ll be getting a lot of great new things prepped for next year.

As I get things ready for another year of House of Earnest, I’d love to get your thoughts and opinions to make this an even better place to spend a few minutes of your day.

If you could….

I would absolutely LOVE if you could take the time to complete this really short, 10 question survey!! It’s totally anonymous and your thoughts are so greatly appreciated!

Have a HAPPY HOLIDAY WEEK Tuesday!

photo credits: french by design

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December 23, 2011

Friday Faves 12.23

in friday favorites with 3 Comments

no. 1 These beautifully frost covered evergreen needles make me really wish for some colder weather. A series of similarly stunning photos at Age Old Tree by Ann Marie. no. 2 I was taken by this photo of men’s socks.  It’s dapper and sweet all at once.  For a sweet stocking stuffer for your honey, try Happy Feet.  no. 3 Odessa May Society’s fabulous gift wrap ideas are perfect for you last minute shoppers, or great for birthdays all year long.  no. 4 Mini gingerbread houses from Not Martha perch on the rim of your mug.  If you’re a baker, your friends and family will be amazed by this. no. 5 I laughed at this print especially after reading this Christmas Memory from Jordan of Shiny Paper Blog. 

 

We are just two short days away from Christmas and I was so lucky to get today off work as a last minute gift from my boss! With so much to do, I’m still going to savor each moment and maybe even take a moment just to stare at the Christmas tree with a cup of hot chocolate.

We are also hosting both sides of our family at our house tomorrow and I’m preparing heavy hors d oeuvres and cocktails to counteract all of the Christmas cookies.  I might also try this cute set up from Camille Styles.  Today I’ll be preparing for the family to be here, buying some last minute stocking stuffers and getting my hair cut (it’s been months).

On another note, I am so so blessed and grateful that we all get to engage together through this blog and that I’ve met so many amazing new blog friends this year.  I have been blown away by all of the comments, support, and sweet words coming from you all.  I’ve been posting everyday for the last eight months, and this week I’ll be taking a small Christmas break!  I’ll be back next friday for some more faves, and to help you ring in the new year!

Have a FESTIVE Friday and a VERY MERRY Christmas weekend!

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December 22, 2011

One, Two Step

in easy entertaining, fresh finds with 8 Comments


If you’re hosting an event this holiday, or just enjoying some of the beauty of the season, these flowers will transform your tabletop.

There are only two ‘ingredients’, which make it an easy arrangement for anyone, and the contrast of deep green against the bright white is striking enough to turn heads. Lilies are classic for Christmas and, combined with evergreen, they offer the perfect delicate feminine twist.  This entire arrangement cost under $10 and it looks so chic!

The secret to an arrangement like this is to cut the stems short (about 2 times the height of the vase) and to add 1/2 the greenery first, and 1/2 last.

If you start by making a grid with four sprigs of greenery, you can then wedge your flower stems within the green and fill in any blank spots with the remaining greenery after you get your blooms where you want them.  Done!

I hope your Thursday is wonderfully relaxed and festive!

 

P.S. The title of this post may or may not be paying homage to my first Dave Matthews Band CD that I accidentally broke this week.  I got it as a Christmas gift from my older brother when I was in middle school and although I haven’t listened to it in years (maybe a decade!) it made me a little sad.  Goodbye Under the Table and Dreaming. he he!

 

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December 21, 2011

Take the Time to Slow Down

in mood with 8 Comments

While things this week can get really crazy and overwhelming, take a moment to relax.  Sit in the quiet and relish in the beauty of the season.

I’m talking myself into this each step of the way until Saturday, trying not to lose sight of the joy and peace that we have within ourselves to share with each other.

It’s going to be a push to the finish this week.  Work is reaching its peak of insanity and the holiday hustle and bustle is also at full steam.  There is a point, however, when I just need to say, “It’s done” and stop running around trying to start something new.

What about you?  Are you slowing down for the holiday season, or just speeding up?

Have a PEACEFUL Wednesday.

 

photo credit: twinkle | sip | stroll | enjoy | celebrate

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December 20, 2011

Christmas Morning Covered

in easy entertaining with 6 Comments

Matt and I relish in our Christmas mornings together at home.  Although being with family is so valuable to us, it’s peaceful and comforting to spend some quiet time alone with my honey before the running around town ensues.  Even if your Christmas morning includes lots of family, they’re sure to love this fruity, sweet pastry.

Growing up we always had cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning, and I’m a sucker for nostalgia, so it’s  tradition for me to do the same. This year, I’m mixing it up a tad with some Tangerine and Pistachio sticky buns.

 

They’re a fresh, fruity departure from regular rolls and easy to make.  If you want to look like a rockstar on Christmas morning, keep reading for the recipe.

Have a MERRY Tuesday!

Continue Reading…

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December 19, 2011

It's Getting Real

in our home with 5 Comments

Holiday spirits around the household are pretty high as we’re rounding the corner into the final week before Christmas. The woodland theme is coming together quite nicely, and we’ll be in a perfect place to host a Christmas Eve party on Saturday.  As I get closer to the weekend I’ll share some of my last-minute prep, a delicious breakfast for Christmas morning, last-minute gift secrets, and the easiest flower arrangement for the big day!

I’m running a little slow this Monday as I recover from EIGHT hours of gift wrapping yesterday and a broken espresso machine this morning.  I’m keeping my optimism up, though, since it’s the week before CHRISTMAS!

What’s keeping you running this week?  Visions or sugarplums?

Have an OPTIMISTIC Monday!

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December 16, 2011

Friday Faves 12.16

in friday favorites with 2 Comments

no. 1 mini wreath cards from {frolic!} are one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen.  no. 2 the home of nina holst who writes stylismo is one of my all time favorites, and the christmas side of it doesn’t disappoint either! no. 3 christmas cookie making is on my list for saturday.  it’s going to be an all day event, so pull up a chair and stay a while. These cookies are such a cute take on the traditional iced sugar cookie.  no. 4 all of the paper goods from The Wheatfield are down-right beautiful, if you buy now, you could probably still manage to make someone’s day with this card for christmas.  joy to the world card is $6.  no. 5 a glittery gold plate with a peaceful reminder is twice as nice from Cameo Nouveau.

I’m back with my regular favorites collage this week and I’m really trying to channel my inner winter white.  I’m hoping and wishing for a white Christmas this year.  If there were some softly falling snow this weekend during my cookie baking extravaganza, I’d be in heaven.

What is on your agenda this weekend?  Fancy Fêtes?  An Elf movie marathon? Leave a comment to let me know!

Have a JOLLY Friday and Weekend!

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December 15, 2011

All Wrapped Up with Somewhere to Go!

in try this at home with 21 Comments


Earlier this fall, I did an interview with Bankrate for a holiday article they were doing called ‘Frugal Gift-Wrapping Secrets from Holiday Pros’.  Although early in the season, I already had some ideas about what my personal wrapping scheme would look like, and shared a bunch of my ideas with them for the article (and can we talk about being called a ‘Holiday Pro’?!).

Using packing paper and butcher paper was one of my suggestions because not only is it easily adaptable, but you get SO much more per roll than you do a fancy wrapping paper.

Here is how I dressed up plain paper to look and feel expensive with a homemade stamp.

I started out with a simple piece of scrap wood from a 2 x 4 that we had lying around and wrapped some twine 16 or so times.  When you’re wrapping the twine, don’t overlap on the face of the stamp or else you won’t get a flat surface.

I used a brush to apply the paint so that I didn’t get too much paint pooling up on the wrapping paper.

 

 
I rotated the direction of the stamp, but you could as easily keep it going the same direction for a more striped effect.  I did all of the painting at once on pre-cut pieces of paper that were as long as my table.  I let them dry overnight before wrapping.

I like to mix up fully patterned gifts and solids with strips of pattern going down the center.  I used pieces of greenery and pinecones as gift toppers tied on my rounds of yarn and bakers twine.  The yarn, twine, and natural toppers keep things so frugal that I was able to splurge on some glittery letters for a few of the gifts.

I am very pleased with how the paper turned out and plan to make a bunch more this weekend! These first few gifts are headed out today to Nashville for my sweet little nephews and niece.

Have a FABULOUS Thursday out there!

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December 14, 2011

Hidden Treasures: Antique Reproduction Mirror

in before & after, color, Home Decor with 3 Comments

Me again, Lacey Anne here for my monthly post to reveal one of my favorite hidden treasures!  Each month I’ll be sharing something special for you!  A cool find, a favorite place for home décor or gifts, some before and after diy projects, and some ramblings about my adventures and addiction to my main source of steals, my main man… Craig!  Or his list, to be exact…

This month I want to share with you a bit of a before and after of my dining room, which has been in production now for roughly two years.  I’m still undecided on a few décor dilemmas, but for now, we’re going to focus on the huge wall to the rear/side of the room that I couldn’t figure out how to tackle.  But, I digress.  This is how the dining room and I began our relationship…

Yikes.

(*Ok, disclaimer:  I am not a lover of red, or beige.  I know there are many-a-rooms living out there with a similar color scheme, and while I’m not completely knocking it… ok I’m knocking it…)

Then we moved on to step two:

 

Still lacking window treatments… which I made.  But let me warn you, making pinch pleated, lined, linen drapes that are 101” long will quickly turn into a headache, and much wrangling  and cursing of hems.

So while still trying to decide what to do about that huge wall, I came across a post for an antique reproduction mirror for $75 and I could not believe my eye balls.  This guy is over five feet wide and close to four feet tall and it is more than perfect for visually extending the room and reflecting light in a beautiful way.  I was thinking a mirror of this size would run me over $500.  No?  No.

 

To become a master Craigslister, make sure you’re searching for your item in all the ways someone could possibly think to list it.  In the title, in the body, spelled wrong, or maybe even letters transposed.  Search all items, search your drilled down category, or even search for the color!  I found this one by searching “champagne.”  True story!

I know I promised to post about last month’s iron bed all set up… but I have yet to tackle the guest room any further since I’m only 10 weeks away from the arrival of my sweet baby girl!  And the nursery takes priority of course!

Have a great Wednesday and I’ll see you next month!

Lacey Anne

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