Winter Mantle - Deer Booty Decor

Christmas has been fully decked out in our house for the past few weeks.  

I just haven't made time to post about it.  

It's an Ugg boot day around here so I'm staying home catching up on stuff around the house.

My DIY Sharpie and ballpoint pen deer on painter's drop cloth is making it's second Christmas appearance.  

We call him...

Deer Booty 

To see how I made him last year click here.

I styled my Deer Booty mantle with a small forest and some pine cones.  

The only new piece I added is this deer head wreath on a stick from Home Goods.

Deer Shish Kabob to go with Deer Booty.

I made the stockings last year out of some old sweaters taking up space in my closet.

Now if I could just get them to all face the same direction for a picture.  

I swear Christmas stockings are harder to take pictures of then pets and babies. 

I winterized my firewood basket.

To the right of the fireplace is my Great, Grandfather's chair.  

He was a doctor and it sat in his office waiting room.  

I draped the chair with a Flokati coat and a little tree.  

I've had this coat for over 20 years and never wear it.  Believe me I've tried.

My parents got it for me on a trip to Greece when they lived in Italy.

It's way too big and I look like the Abominable Snow Man when I wear it, really I do.  

Instead of me wearing it, the chair gets too.

I like trying to use things I already have in new and different ways.

To see how I decorated for Christmas last year go here.

Stay warm and cozy and happy Christmas decorating.

Thanks for checking it out.

Happy Thanksgiving

My Thanksgiving and Christmas trees have been up since right around Halloween.
I know weird, I always put my trees up early because I just love them.
They stayed like this for awhile just with lights in their urns.

The Thanksgiving tree is decorated with elements from nature.

It's in the man cave.



I used owls, birds, feathers, white pumpkins, and mushrooms.

It coordinates nicely with the dark green velvet Ikea drapes.

A couple of years ago I started a tradition in our home of a Gratitude Tree.
 I made gratitude cards and had any and everyone that comes to my house write what they are thankful for on the back of the card.

Then we hang them on the Thanksgiving tree.  

We read all of them during the Thanksgiving meal.

Thanksgiving 2012

I have so much to be thankful for.

We aren't hosting Thanksgiving this year, my mom is.  

I would love to hear about your Thanksgiving traditions.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Holiday!

Thanks for checking it out.

Fall Front Door

I found a King palm husk while walking Piper and drug it home with me.

Free is good.

The color and texture are so pretty.  

My bad pictures don't do it justice.

I decided it might make some interesting front door decor for fall.

I picked up a faux pineapple and cut off the back with a hack saw.  

A little hot glue, faux magnolia leaves, mushrooms, succulents, and wheat.

 The pineapple is a symbol of welcome and hospitality so it's perfect for front door decor.

I put succulents in and on everything.

 Drug anything home lately?

 Thanks for checking it out.

A Little Painting

Two weeks ago my Monday morning beach volleyball got canceled because we couldn't get a fourth player so I avoided working out all together by painting a wall in my family room/great room.

I had left over paint from Henry's man cave ceiling.

I used Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC 168.

                            Before                                                                      After

 

Before this wall and the rest of the room was painted 

Benjamin Moore 3/4 White Sand HC 170.

Before

My industrial shelves have wheels so it was easy to just roll the whole thing away from the wall to paint.

After

It only took me a couple of hours.  

I was lazy and didn't take the heavy mirror down.  

I used a top of a spray paint can stuck under the bottom half of the mirror to lift it off the wall.  I just quickly slapped some paint under the edge of the mirror with a paint brush.

I decided to not put the artwork and accessories back up on the walls for now.

I like contrast of the gray with the gold frame of the mirror.

Change makes me feel good and this little makeover was free.

Thanks for checking it out.

Thrifty Decor Chick

Happy Halloween

I hope all my friends out on the East Coast get a reprieve from Hurricane Sandy and enjoy some trick or treating tonight.  

Be safe everyone and have fun!

Thanks for checking it out.

What's For Dinner? Seared Wasabi Glazed Salmon

I've used this Salmon recipe for years that I got from Sunset 2004.  

We all know we're supposed to eat more fish to get those essential fatty acids into our diet.   Here's some more info. on why essential fatty acids are important to the body. 

Most of you have probably heard why you want to choose wild salmon over farm raised, but if you haven't read this great article, Seven Reasons to Avoid Farm Raised Salmon.  

 Get Off The Farm And Go WILD!

I love the mango sauce the recipe calls for drizzled over the salmon.

It's nice because you can make it ahead of time and heat it in the microwave right before serving.

I quickly heat chopped mango with a little sesame oil.

Put it in a food processor or blender and add the vinegar and white wine.

Sometimes if it taste a little too tart I add a little honey to sweeten it up.

Blend till smooth

I put it in a gravy boat and serve it with the meal so everyone can add extra to their fish it's so goood!

I make a few modifications to the recipe. 

1) The recipe calls for wasabi powder, you can also use wasabi paste, no biggie.

2)  THE BEST change I made is to mix the wasabi paste and the honey with a half a stick of melted butter because the salmon came out to dry when I followed the recipe directions.  Just brush it on while it's cooking.   

You could also substitute the butter for coconut oil if you want to make it healthier.  

3)  I cook the salmon on the grill instead of the oven.  I just prefer grilled fish to oven baked fish.
Medium heat for about ten minutes, skin side down.

4)  The recipe calls for black rice, but I usually just use brown.

I love the warm spice of the wasabi glaze combined with the tart sweet mango sauce.

my family loves it too and it's good enough to serve to special guest. 

Go here for the recipe.

Seared Wasabi-Glazed Salmon with "Forbidden" Rice.

Thanks for checking it out.