Have you seen the new catalog from Serena & Lily HERE? Mine just arrived and I am quite impressed by the great style and styling. I'm so tempted to order everything to recreate this table. So pretty!
our breakfast room lighting ( a before, after and now )
We've had our home for three years. And we've had three different light fixtures in our breakfast room.
There's something about having the same light as everyone else on the street that had me on the hunt for new lighting right away. It wasn't long before I purchased the Gothic lantern from Pottery Barn HERE:
After:
Now:
Before: with the builder light just after move in day:
Oh, how I wish I wasn't so sensitive to my home environment. I think we had the Gothic fixture up just a few months when I noticed dirty film on the glass. Lesson one: glass encased light fixtures are not for an OCD clean person. Lesson two: not a huge fan of the pointy Gothic arch. Lesson three: scale is everything. I knew I could do better.
See the film? After cleaning it, I could never get the streaks to disappear. 
The next day we removed the glass inserts and I liked the open sides better... but not for long...
Here it is now with a new lantern I really love. The scale is better, the lines are prettier and it just feels nice.
You can see the tree house from this window. And let me tell you when we are outside at night, this lantern looks beautiful glowing through the window. The dimmer switch makes the lighting romantic and welcoming.
I also learned that lanterns create intersting shadows on the walls and ceiling.
Where is the Gothic lantern now? In my office sitting room. It's okay (anything was better than the builder boob light), but I'm always keeping an eye out for something better.
No glass = No film
It's fun to play musical lights : )
another fab find from Wisteria (a table for our cabana)
This past fall our pool project was completed. Before and After pictures of the entire outdoor project are coming soon, but first, I want to share this fab find... this new bistro table from Wisteria that arrived today, delivered for less than $100 (thanks to their winter sale and a coupon code from retailmenot).
I had been thinking about this little table for so long,
but it was the sale price and this picture from The Girl is Craftee HERE that finally made me complete my Wisteria order. Don't the tables look nice flanking the sofa here? Just as interior designers Bixy and Ball HERE (the designers for this space) used the Wisteria tables indoors, I want to too. The quality, finish and design are great. Now, go order one for yourself before they sell out!
Another new L O V E from Wisteria.
Isn't it cute for the great price?
The cabana is feeling more and more complete. Almost. Still wishing for lanterns, a rug, new pillows, cushions, plants and outdoor drapery.
The garden stools are from One Kings Lane. I purchased 5 of them to scatter around the pool area. The lounge furniture is from Ballard and the shutter cabinets are from Restoration Hardware.
I had been thinking about this little table for so long,
what I'm gifting this year
Have you seen Anthropologie's charm necklace collection?
When I saw it, I knew exactly who would love this for a gift. My Mother-in-law, a huge fan of Anthro and a huge fan of my little boy, her one and only grandson. So I "designed" a necklace for her.
I felt like it was a bit of a risk spending $100 for a piece of jewelry online. Worried about it looking chintzy and cheesy, I went ahead because of free shipping and the insurance of returning it. But, it arrived today and I'm so pleased!
A crystal for chakra (something very meaningful to her), a wooden A for Alan and an adorable golden frog locket.
Inside, a couple of recent portraits she hasn't yet seen.
But the part I think is the sweetest is a note from the gifter, her grandson, folded up inside the locket box.
And how adorable is the felted pouch it comes in? Anthropologie does it again!
For my parents, my sisters and I together splurged on engraved His and Hers iPads.
Pocket helicopters for my nephews.
And cake ball makers and supplies for my nieces.
The teachers are getting Nordstrom gift cards:
The mailman is getting a gift certificate to our local burger stand which just happens to be across the street from the post office.
And the bus driver gets $ in this cute box I found at Wal-mart.
The class gets goodie bags with hot cocoa and a candy cane.
But my favorite gift to give is a little donation to the Salvation Army because when my dad was a tot from a very poor family in Paris, Texas, the only sign of Christmas was the Salvation Army delivering candy canes and oranges to them. Because of this story, I never mind the bell ringers and always let my little boy fill the kettles.
You won't believe what my son is asking for this year. More on that later : )
white lights or colored lights (inspired by Tracery)
I won my very first blog giveaway today from one of my favorite blogs, Tracery, a design shop in Rosemary Beach, Florida, with this comment in response to their question: what is your favorite, white lights or colored lights?
"As a child I had colored lights, then when I moved out and got my own tree, I decorated with the popular white lights for 15 years. Until this year, when my bright-eyed 6-year old boy asked me why we had all boring yellow lights (I guess they don’t look white to him). So we have switched to a perfect combo of half white and half multi-colored lights mingled throughout our garlands and tree. It’s happy, nostalgic and my little one is estatic about our colored lights! So, I guess I have to say, that my new favorite is this perfect combo of both lights."
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"As a child I had colored lights, then when I moved out and got my own tree, I decorated with the popular white lights for 15 years. Until this year, when my bright-eyed 6-year old boy asked me why we had all boring yellow lights (I guess they don’t look white to him). So we have switched to a perfect combo of half white and half multi-colored lights mingled throughout our garlands and tree. It’s happy, nostalgic and my little one is estatic about our colored lights! So, I guess I have to say, that my new favorite is this perfect combo of both lights."
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Merry Merry!