Home Decor – Page 2

Fall Decorations, Y’all!

Posted on September 22, 2020September 22, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Happy (official) first day of fall!

It’s no secret that fall is my favorite time of the year. Give me all the pumpkins, cooler temperatures, and sweaters, and my heart is happy. While I like decorating for Christmas, I love decorating for fall. I usually try to have my inside decorations up by mid-September and then my front porch finished the next week. I guess I might love fall decorations more because I get to enjoy them a little longer!

I usually take pics of where I put things which makes decorating a pretty quick process. I swap some regular decor with the fall stuff, and put the regular decor in the fall decoration tub until I need to swap it out again.

So, today I’m giving you a peek at what fall looks like in my house.

Inside Decorations:

I swap a cookbook in the stand for this pumpkin sign. Then, I added some mini pumpkins from Trader Joe’s to the tray in my kitchen.

I previously shared about my new light up pumpkin from Michael’s. It’s perfect on my coffee table with the apple scented candle from Bath and Body Works. The pumpkin was the only new purchase this season, and I mentioned I should have purchased two of them. Well…

I did! I went back over the weekend, and picked up another one. I never decorate in the bedrooms, but I have a lantern that typically sits on my dresser. I swapped the lantern for the light up pumpkin, and I love having that little touch in our bedroom.

I only put a couple of fall items in our sunroom. I have a candle out there with the little wooden pumpkin in the tray.

I changed out the traditional wreath on our outside sunroom door for this fall one that I had forgotten I even had!

In the kitchen, I kept the buffet pretty much like last year except I added the white ceramic stack of three pumpkins (that lights up!) and added one more pumpkin in the cabinet that wasn’t there last year.

Close up of the buffet decorations:

My entry way table looks a little different than last year, but I still used what I had.

I usually put away the cloche that typically sits on the kitchen buffet, but I instead added mini pumpkins and gourds to it and moved it to the entry table. I also included a candle, a pumpkin, and added some faux orange sprays of flowers from a bouquet I had used in previous years.

Close up of entry way table decor:

I’ve had the light up pumpkin from Kirklands for years. I love it. Then, I just added a cute little wooden pumpkin that I’ve also had for quite some time to the antique trunk.

My kitchen mantle looks exactly the same as last year.

Then, sprinkled all throughout the house, I have fall pillows that I’ve acquired through the years.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s Weekend Top 5 post, I picked up some pumpkins at Trader Joe’s, and I’m almost finished with my front porch decorations. Hopefully, I can get that finished this week.

These decorations always help make the inside of our house more cozy and festive for the fall season.

They say, “Home is where the heart is.” Well, I think my heart is wherever the pumpkins are…😂

Thanks so much for reading!

Friday Favorites {#39}

Posted on September 18, 2020August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! How was your week? We had a pretty good week of school, work and activities. My favorite part of the week was that it actually felt like fall!! We’ve had pretty mild and even cool temps, and it’s just been amazing. I put out my fall decorations last weekend, and I’m so happy that I did. I would have enjoyed them no matter what, but since it actually feels like fall outside, that’s made the house feel even more cozy on the inside.

As always, I’m linking up with Erika and Andrea for their Friday Favorites link up.

Favorite Moment:

Hadley was excited to show me that she was featured on the 5th grade website.

Favorite subject: grammar 👏🏻 #shegetsitfromhermama

Favorite Kid Quote:

The other night, Homer was snuggling with Hadley. He hops in her bed every night for about ten minutes before she kicks him out, so she can get her beauty sleep. As I walked past her room, she asked me to take their pic.

When she looked at the photo she said, “Couples goals!” Cracked me up!

Favorite Clothing Item:

I ordered this sweater (two of them, actually) from Nordstrom Rack. I love a roomy sweater because I feel like I can wear it to school or wear it with jeans or leggings….the price couldn’t be beat.

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find the link online…but here it is:

Favorite Pic:

Homer let me dress him up in his autumn bandana from Golden Dog Co (a shop on Etsy.) He will tolerate bandanas for a bit if they are flipped with the scarf part on his back. I let him wear them for a bit until he notices. haha

Favorite Food:

Nothing says fall like Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bagels and Pumpkin Cream Cheese. I don’t even like cream cheese, but love their pumpkin flavor.

Other Faves:

I’ve binged The Home Edit on Netflix over the past week (mostly last weekend!). It’s soooo good! Hayden even watched some episodes with me. He’s my tidier child, so that makes sense 😉Seeing these two ladies work their magic on celebrity and “regular” people’s homes and closets is so satisfying. (That’s how Hayden described it!)

His other remark could go in the “favorite kid quote” section of this post because it made me laugh. After seeing the before and after of one completed closet, he said, “Mom, they need to help you with your closet. It’s a DISASTER!” #hesnotlying

As I mentioned above, I put out my fall decorations last weekend.

I always take pics of my seasonal decorations, so I was able to decorate for fall in about an hour when I looked back at last year’s pics. After getting everything put where I wanted it, I felt like I needed one more thing (Travis would beg to differ) 😂,so I went to Michaels, and saw this light up pumpkin! It’s battery operated and so cute! Plus, I got it for 40% off. I almost grabbed a second one but reeled myself in! So, the only decoration I purchased this year was the LED pumpkin. I consider that a win! #andTravisshouldtoo

At Trader Joe’s, I picked up a few mini pumpkins and gourds to put in the kitchen.

The kids and I stopped by Bath & Body Works on Saturday for a few candles. I had a 20% off coupon, and I knew they were having a buy 1 get 1 free for the 3 wick candles. Honestly, I usually just buy the single wick ones because the 3 wick ones take up more space on the counter or on a shelf, but it was such a great deal to get one free.

I also picked up some single wick candles. Hayden picked out the Apple Weather scented candle, and Hadley chose the Pumpkin Pecan Waffle one.

I rarely go there, but on Sunday, I went to the At Home store, and picked up a couple of things. I need to remember to go there for servingware. I usually have success finding white plates or dishes at Home Goods or TJ Maxx, but At Home had so many awesome pieces. I held off for now on servingware, but did buy this quart basket to hold odds and ends that collect in the tray on my kitchen island. Inevitably, loose change, allergy medicine, paper clips, etc. end up scattered about on my decorative tray. Now my rule is, if it doesn’t fit in this basket, it’s trash or needs to go where it belongs.

I also found this this set to hold utensils. I wish I could keep it out all the time, but I bought it to use when we have people over….when that’s a “thing” again.

I love my Golden Girls, and their show debuted 35 years ago this week. I saw this on Facebook and loved it. That show is a classic.

Let me tell you Hayden’s favorite part of the week. The kids talked me into getting them Chick-fil-a yesterday (that’s usually a Friday thing) and then Hayden proceeded to watch the US Open while he ate his lunch…followed by a “round” of golf in the front and backyard for recess 😂

Favorite Mom Meme:

This meme made me laugh. Since the day Hadley’s personality started to shine through, people would say, “She looks like you!” and I would (still) always reply, “Well, unfortunately she acts like me too!” 😬#sassandsarcasm #amen Sis does have a heart of gold, though!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This memory was in my Facebook Memories this week. I included the whole caption, because the sass that I mentioned previously is evident in this post.

I also remember Travis sending me this photo! He’d taken her to a doctor’s appointment, and she was so worried about missing school since she was supposed to share her poster with the class. I loved how excited she was and the fact that Travis knew I’d want a pic of her with her poster.

Weekly Recap:

Here are this week’s posts if you missed one!

We have cooler temps, a baseball tournament and a cross country meet this weekend! I also hope to make some pumpkin bread if time allows!

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you have a great weekend!

Holidays, Home Decor

Valentine’s Day Decorations

Posted on February 5, 2020May 16, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Once I take down my Christmas decorations, I love the fresh look of a clean house. So, when February rolls around, I tend to keep the Valentine’s Day decorations pretty simple. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite decorations with you.

I picked up the XOXO at Home Goods last year, and it just sits on our living room bookshelf. The painted heart pallet is one of my faves! The stand in the corner of my kitchen usually holds a cookbook, but for fall, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day, I use it to hold some sort of decoration. This heart pallet was painted by one of my friends.

Lastly, in another corner of my kitchen, I place a little heart dish with conversation heart candy (The candy never seems to last long!)

I replace my regular winter wreath with this cute heart door hanger that I got from an Etsy shop a few years ago. I love the simplicity of the white ceramic heart that I add to my entry way table each year.

Lastly, I keep the mantle simple with the XOXO banner.

I added this love sign yesterday after a pit stop at Michaels after school—all V-day items were 50% off!

I’m very aware that I treat Homer like the third child I never had. I’ve bought him a few scarves, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to purchase a heart scarf for him to wear. That being said, he doesn’t keep scarves on very long, but I figured maybe as the years go on, he will tolerate them?! Homer, AKA Pookie/Buddy/Biscuit, is a lover not a fighter! (unless you are Trav’s wallet or one of Hadley’s stuffed animals, and he will rip you to shreds!)

Two of my favorite valentines….

I’ve never been a big fan of Valentine’s Day. Travis knows that all I would like is a card and then we usually grab dinner out when we have a free evening. This weekend, my mom will be visiting, so she will watch the kids one evening while we go to dinner.

For Valentine’s Day, I usually pick up a few things for the kids. They like the heart shaped boxes of chocolates, and I always get them a book and another small gift or two. (I guess I should go ahead and figure that out!)

Since this year Valentine’s Day is on a Friday, I thought about putting together a little dinner for the four of us. I was thinking about asking each kid and Travis what their favorite meal would be and having a mix and match dinner of everyone’s favorites. Or, I may do breakfast for dinner or get carry out from somewhere, but eat on actual plates! #pretendtobefancy

What are your Valentine’s Day plans and/or traditions?!

I hope you are having a great week.

Take care,

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea

Facebook Page: Show Me and Sweet Tea

Home Decor, Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on January 8, 2020May 16, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

I always love the Let’s Look link up with Shay and Erika because it’s always fun to get a sneak peek into other people’s lives. For the first Let’s Look of 2020, it’s a peek at your bedside table.

I try to keep my bedside table tidy, but our master bedroom is pretty small, and there’s only a bedside table on my side. So, that means my things (books, phone, framed photos) as well as other items like coasters and tv remote occasionally pile up.

The Last House Guest and Meg & Jo are what I hope to read next.

It’s no secret that I love to read, so I usually have a couple of magazines and books as well as my Kindle on my bedside table. Every morning, I put my Kindle back in my purse for the day in case I have a free moment to read.

I’m currently reading The Hate U Give in hardback and A Woman is No Man on my Kindle.

I also have two picture frames on my bedside table that have been there for years and years. I have one of our wedding photos that’s almost 15 years old! I remember when the photographer told us to pose like we are, she said, “This pose will feel awkward and cheesy, but it’s always a great photo.” And…she was right! It’s always been one of my faves.

The other picture frame is a Twice as Nice frame that someone gave us at one of our baby showers over 10 years ago. Each year, I put the kids’ school pictures in it. I just updated the pics recently, and it’s always a fun walk down memory lane seeing pictures from when they were babies until now.

Books/Kindle, 4th grade school pics, and a framed wedding photo

I try to keep the bedside table tidy by putting the remote, coaster, and my ChapStick in the top drawer until needed. That being said, the two big drawers are a hot mess of pictures, kids’ artwork, cards, etc… Like many things in life…looks can be deceiving. Nice and tidy on the outside. Disaster on the inside. haha

Next month’s Let’s Look is about your winter wardrobe. I’m actually going to post a few faves in Friday’s upcoming post.

Don’t forget to check out the other ladies’ posts and have a great Wednesday.

Take care,

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea

Facebook Page: Show Me and Sweet Tea

Friday Favorites, Holidays, Home Decor

Friday Favorites {#10}: Holiday Decorations

Posted on December 6, 2019August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

Happy Friday! We are in full on Christmas mode around here. We’ve seen Santa, the tree is up, we’ve bought our Angel Tree gifts, the kids have been working on their 25 days of kindness, and the house is decorated. (Also, #realtalk some evenings we’ve been tired with a side of grumpy…but we are working on it!)

I thought for this Friday Favorites I’d focus on some of my favorite holiday decorations around the house.

Let the record show (Travis, are you reading this?)…I did not buy a single new Christmas decoration this year. #itsaChristmasmiracle

Decorating takes a bit of time, but I love the extra cozy feeling that holiday decorations bring in combination with the subtle sparkle of the lights on the tree.

Here’s a peek into our home and some of our Christmas spirit.

After decorating for fall, I basically just swapped out where I had fall decorations on and in the buffet for Christmas ones. Tree plates, ornaments in the clear glass server, a Nutcracker, and some trees!

We bought the Nutcracker a couple of years ago at Home Goods. The kids saw it and said, “Let’s get a Nutcracker like Gma has!” Gma, my grandma, has tons of Nutcrackers, so this guy is a fun nod to her.

I love the flocked tree and tall Santa from TJ Maxx.

I’ve had this chest, a family heirloom, for many years, but this is the first year it’s been in our living room. The Merry Christmas sign was bought from a local store here in Lexington, Two Chicks and Co., a few years ago, and I’ve had the light up gift with bow from Kirklands for years. A tealight in a lantern that used to sit on our porch helps this corner of the living room glow.

I’m pretty traditional with red and green decorations, including stockings. The tray of trees is out in our sunroom. I don’t decorate that room much, but I accessorize the tray that always sits there. Fun Fact: the green felt tree is already in pieces in my backyard. It’s been #Homered. I’ve had little greenery and pine cone chair decorations for three years, and I hope they don’t get #Homered as well!

The fireplace and mantle in our kitchen is one of my favorite spots. We even bought a stocking for Homer this year…right now he’s on Santa Paws’s naughty list.

I’ve always loved snow globes, but I only have one…and this year I put it out on our built in with one of my fave Santa pics with the kids. Every year, when I pull out the pic of the kids under the tree for their first Christmas (they were one month old!), I can’t believe how quickly time is flying.

Our entryway hallway has a few decorations. I’ve had the light up tree for awhile as well as the little snowman. I always love seeing everyone’s holiday cards, and the little bucket is a good spot for them after we check the mail. Lastly, the Merry and Bright plate is one of my faves and made by a small local Lexington business.

I swapped out my pumpkin pillows for the Merry and Peace ones as well as a soft red blanket.

One of my friends made the Joy, Love, Peace, Believe, Christmas sign , and I display it in my kitchen.

Here’s the tree all lit up—but, we quickly realized that having Homer is like having ten toddlers, so all the ornaments are now up high on the tree! haha. Last year, I took some Amazon boxes and wrapped them in my favorite wrapping paper. While I’m pretty good about purchasing most gifts in early December, I’m a last minute wrapper. So, these stay under the tree to make it look less empty until I get the real ones out. Again, with Homer, who knows if I should even put real gifts under the tree at this point?!

I don’t decorate much outside mostly due to lack of time but also because I tend to like cute decorations, and I never know how they will hold up in the elements!

I bought this door hanger from a local Lexingtonian a few years ago and have a few other door hangers from her! I love this one….especially because I love polka dots.

Some years we put lights around the porch…and other years we don’t, but I always stick my pre-lit trees in my year round planter boxes (and add on the bows!), change my garden flag, swap my pumpkin pillows for reindeer ones, and put lanterns and poinsettias on the steps. Every year, I say I want to get wreaths for the windows, and always forget…and tend to be too busy after Christmas to get the great deals on them. Maybe one year I will make that a priority.

I hope you enjoyed this little home tour. While I love the decorations for fall and the holidays, I’m usually ready to get everything back to normal inside the house in January. For now, the decorations help us get in the holiday spirit. Tis the Season!

What are some of your favorite holiday decorations at your house?

Don’t forget to check out Narci, Erika, and Andrea‘s Friday Favorites.

I hope you have a great weekend!

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea

Facebook Page: Show Me and Sweet Tea

Home Decor

Friday Favorites {#2}: Fall Decorations

Posted on September 20, 2019August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

It’s time for another Friday Favorites where Erika at A Little Bit of Everything, Narci at Grace and Love, and Andrea at Momfessionals host a link up for all to share.

Little bit of everything

Grace and love

Momfessionals

For this Friday Favorites, I thought I’d share some of the fall decorations in my house. If you read my About Me Part 2 post, then you may have seen the part when I said, “I don’t play when it comes to birthdays.” Well, the same can be said for fall decorations. Like many people, autumn is my most favorite time of the year, and I look forward to switching out a few of my normal decorations for ones that are more fall like. I always love seeing how other people decorate their homes, so here’s a peek into my home.

I can never remember where I put certain decorations from year to year, but the mantle always just takes me a second. I switch out my normal white candles for the orange toned ones, put up the leaves I’ve had for yeeeeaaars, and then this year, I added the felt pumpkins from TJ Maxx. I tend to change the part up year to year, but the soft white pumpkins are a cute touch to soften the space.

This little corner of my kitchen is my fave. I found this pumpkin sign a few years ago at Home Goods. I usually have a cookbook in that holder, but I switch it out for the sign, add a few pumpkins from Kroger, and then we had the little jar of candy corn (Hadley added that to this corner, but real talk: the candy corn is already gone! I’m sure we will refill it soon.)

We got a new couch this past February, so I bought new pillows this year to match it for the autumn months.

True story. Travis said, “Oh did we get new pillows?” I said, “What?! We’ve had these for ~~years~~.” Two days. haha

Found two of these pillows at TJ Maxx last week. They basically jumped in my cart.

This little space in front of our gallery wall in the kitchen is an easy place to add a few fall items. The stackable pumpkins I bought at Hobby Lobby a couple of years ago. I purchased the pumpkin plates from William Sonoma, I believe, a few years ago, and I just added some orange and yellow flowers to the metal vase in the buffet.

Last year, I found these fall plates at Target. They are a thick acrylic (I think) material plate, and there were a few patterns, so I picked up a total of 8, and they are what we use for most dinners this time of the year.

I wish Target had matching bowls, but they didn’t…so I continue to use my every day bowls.

I have two chairs in our office area, and a couple years ago, I purchased two “Morning Pumpkin” pillows from a former student of mine. These go with the colors in my house, and I love the little saying.

I hesitated to put any porch pics up as my porch is my favorite part to decorate, and it’s not complete yet…AND I’m very excited that we are getting a new front door (mailbox, and light fixtures) soon. I have two polka dot pillows I ordered from an Etsy shop about five years ago, but the “Hey there pumpkin” doormat is new….and only $11 (with coupon code) from JC Penney! I ordered it online with code, but picked up in the store. Then, I’ve been wanting a black and white plaid rug to put under the doormat to mostly use year round, and I finally bought one on Amazon.

I’ve had the Welcome door hanger for years…again, from an Etsy shop.

JCP Doormat

Plaid rug amazon

This tray sits out all year, but it’s easy to change up the decor with a pumpkin that lights up and I change out the decorations in my hurricane lamp to mini pumpkins and squash. Lastly, I hit up the buy one get one free sale last week at Bath and Body Works and bought a few candles. I’ve found that I prefer these smaller ones as opposed to the bigger three wick candles because the smaller ones can be set out just about anywhere. The candle in the tray is Pumpkin Pecan Waffles, and it’s one of my faves.

There are still a few other spots in my house with a few more fall touches, but, to be honest, I’m patting myself (Travis should too) on the back. My only new purchase for inside my home was the pillows for the couch (oh yeah–and the white felt pumpkins…) Outside, the doormat and rug are the new additions, but I know they will last for years.

I can’t wait to decorate my porch this weekend. The mums arrived yesterday, and I hope to buy the stackable pumpkins after school today to complete the porch.

I truly believe this is the most wonderful time of the year (and would love for Mother Nature to make it start feeling that way!)

Have a great weekend.

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea

Facebook Page: Show Me and Sweet Tea