Valentine's in the Kitchen

Happy Valentine's Friends!

I've always enjoyed celebrating Valentine's day.  When my boys were young I would just really go over the top.  Now that they are 21 and 16 they aren't too into Mom doing much for Vday.  They are pretty good sports and play along for my enjoyment. Just a simple treat makes me feel like I've still done something without going over the top that they wouldn't think was cool.  I love to pick up these flavored sodas at the grocery stores along with a cookies.

Years ago I'd have them both in the kitchen and we'd make cookies, decorate them.

Do you still have children at home to make things special for, even if it is just something simple?

A Thrift Store Magazine Rack

Back in the fall I stopped by one of our local thrift stores just to meander around.  Sitting under a display table was a very large magazine rack with a scuffed up top and legs, mostly it was dusty. When I  saw it and it's $7 price tag I knew it had to go home with me.  Forgive my lack of before pics, I get excited and just plain never remember to snap a pic. I knew that all it needed was a quick swipe with some stain and the top and legs would be fine.   I received these Miniwax wipes ages ago at Haven and had never used them.  Ya'll these wipes are incredible!

  I just wiped over the top and the legs and it was like new!  In the photo below you can't even tell that the top had rings and scuffs!

Isn't she a beauty?!  The rack is very tall, above my knees for sure.

She fits right into the family room decor and holds some of my decorating books.

In case you noticed the new prints below, kudos to you!  They are my new, old prints that I picked up in a antique booth for a sensational price at the end of the summer.

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Savvy Southern Style

A New Look for the Kitchen Buffet

It is it always funny how getting one new piece can impact an entire vignette or space.  This happens all the time in my world of blogging.  Recently, this happened when I finally found a mirrored tray.  I walked all over the house with it and finally decided the kitchen buffet could use a new look, I hadn't changed it up in forever!  Take a peak here to see how it looked before.

With the tray in its new spot I began the process of shopping the house.  The decanters would stay, just shifted from one tray to this one. The antique blue and white creamer holds various pieces of flatware I've collected and inherited.  Adding a piece of Staffordshire always gives color and brightens a space.

 Don't you just love this tray?  I picked it up for a sweet $16 at an antique store even though it is not an antique.  The tag says World Market with a sticker price of 29.99 should you wanna rush out and grab one.  It is the lowest price for a mirrored tray I've seen and they are still in the stores!

The tole lamp remained on the buffet, it gives a nice warm glow in the evenings.  The blue and white piece just needed a bit of greenery.

Yes you are seeing just fine, the cat's water dispenser is sitting right beside the buffet.  When I move it from the kitchen we forget to fill the dish and then all 3 cats are without water.  We have no idea why Cody feels the need to sit by the dispenser but he does this whether it is full or empty.

At least 3 times a year I debate replacing the mirror with a painting.  Maybe one day.

Here's wishing you  great Monday!


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Shopping at Hanna's Antiques in Birmingham

One of my greatest pleasures as you might have guessed is antique shopping.  The actual trip is almost as exhilarating as the potential purchase of antiques.  For me just to see pretty things is sometimes enough.  I love the history that pieces tell.  Recently, along with my antique buddy we headed to Birmingham, to Hanna's Antiques for their January sale event.  I wouldn't dare make a trip with out sharing it with you all!

This tole tray coffee table could have easily fit right into the car and made the trip back to Auburn....but it didn't.

The above dealer visits England often and brings lots of smalls back with her.  She has a booth filled with lots of pretties!

From across the room the plate rack had my heart, but not my checkbook.  Leaving it behind was the only option I had but it goes down as the most fab piece in the store for me!

Hello, my name is Tamyra and I am a lampaholic.  The only New Year's Resolution I made this year was to not buy another single lamp.  I'd never pay that for a lamp but I don't doubt it's worth!

I do love a barley twist anything and this chair was gorgeous!

Out of the entire store this booth was my fav.  If you squint real hard you can see the toile pillows on the Chippendale sofa I left behind, the pair was only $25 which is a steal!  But the real story in this pic is the pair of chairs in the front view.  I'm telling you I could have loaded those up, brought them home and put the club chairs on the curb and never looked back!  It pained me to walk away those chairs!

 

 I did pick up a couple things from this booth, I'll share those another day! Don't let the price tags of the items I've shared make you thing that they only have super high end pieces, there are prices for everyone's budget!  If you ever find yourself in Birmingham, AL be sure and stop by, Hanna's won't disappoint!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I'm sending the Happiest of Birthday wishes to my Daddy!   My parents don't make too much of an appearance on the blog(per their request) but I didn't want to let the day go without sending those wishes!  He is just the best Daddy a girl could ever have.  He has shown Sister and me the example of true love and what we deserve in a husband.  His love and devotion to our Mother is nothing short of incredible!

He loves those Auburn Tigers!

Here he is with the only Great Grandbaby, Ethan!

To my boys he is Papa, they called him this morning before they left the house and sang to him!  Ya'll precious doesn't describe!

For me this man can fix anything, diagnose any kinda of car problem over the phone with 99% accuracy, put up blinds in almost every house we've owned, bestowed his love of WW2 movies on me, as well as all animals large and small and I get my love of Mexican food...aka tacos from him!!!

Happy #82 Daddy!!!