comfort food

When it looks like this outside...

gray, bare trees, snowy...

It's time for something warm, filling, and comforting.

 In this case, vegetarian chili.

I like my chili topped with shredded cheddar cheese, with a side of warm cornbread.

 Or, perhaps you'd care for a plate of baked ziti with mozzarella and fresh spinach?



Those are a couple of the dishes I made for dinner last week. What's been cooking in your house?

the basement re-do is coming along

 More bookcases are set up...

Love the new IKEA couch, as the material is a thick, soft cotton - and it's actually a slipcover. One of the cats threw up on it the first day (of course!) and it was so easy to take the cover off the cushion, throw it in the washing machine, then let it line dry. The rug that is on the floor is temporary - I realize it doesn't match at all. We haven't purchased a new rug yet and the cement floor is very cold, so this rug will have to do for now.

 The two black side chairs are also from IKEA and have slipcovers. The floor lamp? IKEA again.

In this picture, you can also see a little bit of the black side table. From you-know-where. Besides rugs, we also need to buy some art for the walls and a curtain for the one little window (not pictured) that's down here.



Blessings,

Melanie

puttering around with living room decor

Funny how spaces look so sparse and boring when the Christmas decorations come down, don't they? Here's what I have going on in part of the living room right now. I like to play around with making different vignettes on tabletops and shelves.

I'm having a hard time with this cloche though. I like what I have in it so far...but it needs more. Any ideas? Maybe I should also tie a ribbon around the top of the cloche?

I've always loved the picture below with the girl in the winter scene. I picked this up at a resale shop a few years ago.

I bought this table last year at Goodwill for a few dollars. It is solid wood and love the curvature of the legs. I was going to sand it down and paint it last year, but ran out of time. In the meantime, I stashed the table in the basement. I came across it the other day and thought, "Why not use it as is for now; it'd look pretty in the living room with some plants on it."

it's a start

I have quite a few books. OK, I have a lot. These are the ones that have been piled on the floor in the spare bedroom (which, "one day", will be a guest room/office). I've been waiting until our basement was finished and we got new bookcases before I brought all these books downstairs.

Well, the basement is now finished - but we don't have the new bookcases yet. Hubby and I went to IKEA the other day and we really liked their "Billy" bookcases in black. But, then my "hey-i-have-an-idea-how-we-can-save-some-money" thinking kicked into gear. I thought we could take our old bookcases and spray paint them black. However, hubby pointed out we'd have to wait for warm weather so we could do it outside. And let's face it, in northern Illinois that probably won't be for another four months. And, he also pointed out that he doesn't like the cheap, flimsy fiberboard backing on our bookcases. BUT. We didn't check out the backing of the IKEA bookcases - and I have a feeling it's the flimsy stuff, too.

Sooo...being the rather impatient sort and wanting to get started, we hauled all the books  (umm, I also have 2 bookcases full in the spare bedroom!) downstairs and put them on the bar.

Hubby took one of the old bookcases from the garage and hauled it downstairs for me. I then piled it with at least some of the books.

See? I DID make a dent. There's actually clear spot on the bar!

Christmas 2010

My wonderful hubby surprised me with a beautiful pearl bracelet on Christmas morning!

 And speaking of hubby, there he is, fake smile and all...

My son, pretending he's thrilled with the packing material. Can you tell he just rolled out of bed? At least guys don't have to worry about the no-makeup look (as evidenced by MY first pic).

Showing what was under all that packing material...

My sister and her daughters - my lovely nieces - and my BIL (not pictured) came over for afternoon hors d'oeurves and games. We love playing Apples to Apples!

I've always wanted a Corvette...so my sister got me one. Thanks, Laura!

One of my son's artist friends made my nieces each a hemp and clay necklace....

Showing off her cupcake necklace...

Even Zippo gets in on the present action with a piece of salmon from my mom...

LuLu, my mom's Pomeranian, all decked out for Christmas...

 All Monkey and Clementine have to say is, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!"

little comforts

Oatmeal-raisin bars under a cloche, a vintage Marshall Fields Christmas crock (found at Goodwill) and a pretty red crock of kitchen tools at the ready...

Candlelight to make things cozier, especially on a cold, winter day...

Red glass bottles to brighten up a gray view...

 A loaf of cranberry-pecan bread...so good with a steaming mug of tea or coffee...

Pussycats (Clementine and Monkey) sleeping the afternoon away...

And a collection of snowmen gracing a kitchen shelf...

Warm winter hugs...
Melanie

a little bit of christmas decorating

I don't put up a Christmas tree anymore, but I do like a few Christmas touches around the house.

Here's the living room buffet ...

This vintage green bowl has always been one of my favorites. It belonged to my grandma. I think it looks really pretty with the miniature ornaments in it.

These elegant votive candlesticks are from Partylite, but I got them at Goodwill a couple of years ago. I sometimes like to use them to hold something unexpected instead of votives. I found these miniature presents at The Dollar Store.

A shelf in my kitchen...

Little candy canes grace a vintage sugar bowl...

And a pretty basket to hold Christmas cards from loved ones...

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL IN THE NEW YEAR!