Did You See It?

Did you see glimpses of it in my Christmas photos? We've made a few changes in our family room.

Remember my post about The Beast? You were all so kind to remind me that

comfort isn't always about
good looks.

I was even beginning to accept The Beast, perhaps even embrace it. And then one day it happened! Son #2 plopped on the couch (as boys/men tend to do) and we heard an odd sound. The sound, combined with the sight of him sitting a bit lower in the couch, was the tell-tale sign that
it was time to release The Beast.
Yes, it was clear that it was time to replace our couch.
I began my search in thrift stores and the on-line classifieds.
But I discovered that I couldn't find anything that I loved more
and was a better price than The Beauty. We love our "new" couch!
It's smaller scale is a much better fit
and the colors truly compliment the room. Yes, I'm worried that my men will eventually destroy The Beauty.
But it will be worn out in serving my family---
what better way to be worn out, right? After all, my

home is meant to house
loved ones and good memories,
not showroom furniture.

With the addition of thrifted down-filled pillows
and a throw (to cover a small hole),
The Beauty is so comfy! And now I love my family room again, flaws and all.

Thrifty Decor

You know me well enough to know that some of my "new" Christmas decorations were purchased at the thrift store. Let's play a little show and tell.
See these gigantic faux poinsettia plants? Gorgeous, aren't they? Yep, I found them at the thrift store. They originally came from a very nice boutique. The $99.99 price tag was still on them. I was so excited when I found them and I didn't even have to race to grab them! Why? Because I purchased them in the summer, when few people have Christmas decorations on their mind. I always keep an eye out for holiday decorations, no matter the time of year. A perfect time to stock up on decorations from the thrift store is right after any holiday because people give things away that they don't want to store.
I found this big, beautiful glass vessel a few months ago. It's very similar to ones you would find in the PB catalog. I love it and I didn't want to hide it away when I brought out my decorations. I figured since it was a Christmas color I could make it work. So I added a little tree charm, paired it with a mercury glass finial, and the combination makes me smile. It really doesn't take much to turn something ordinary into a decoration; usually just the addition of a little ribbon trim or a shiny bauble can brighten the ordinary into Christmas extraordinary.
One of my favorite thrift store discoveries this year is this deer. I think that he may be made with real leather, at least he looks like it. I added the wreath to his neck so that he would look like one of Santa's reindeer. I found him in the toy aisle of the thrift store, which is a reminder to look in the unexpected places when you shop. Often times great things can be found in the oddest of places in the thrift store, so it's wise to keep your eyes open.
I added a little thrift store garland to the mix and I have a fancy boutique display for an unbelievably low price.

That's the beauty of thrift store shopping!