Halloween Console Table Decor

Happy October! And that means, that time of year is upon us. Yes, the season of pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin patches, costumes, candy, trick or treat, corn mazes and the best part - Hocus Pocus on the 13 nights of Halloween! Amuck! Amuck! Amuck! I’m so freaking excited. 

Anyway, I love love love Halloween and pretty much everything about it, including decorating my house. However, I’m also one of those clutter-phobic individuals who can only decorate using “clean decorations,” meaning no crazy cob webs, or super tacky stuff. I’m weird. I know. I’ve accepted it. So, this year, I am excited to be able to decorate my entryway table. You’ve probably seen this table a million times on Pinterest, with the two baskets underneath. Yeah. I know its Pottery Barn and was pricy, but I had to have it, and it just works so well in that long narrow hallway. 

This year, I just used some glass jars I already had and filled them with green moss. I then added a miniature pumpkin in one, a tiny skeleton in another and a skull in the middle. I added two battery-operated candlesticks behind the jars as well. 

Hanging from the mirror is a cute Tricks & Treats sign. All of the jar filler items, including the moss, the candlesticks and the hanging sign were purchased at Dollar Tree.  Who says you can’t make dollar store stuff look classy? 

I also purchased the spooky black mesh material under the decorations at the Dollar Tree. 

I HAVE to have flowers in virtually every corner of my house, so I used a miniature pitcher that I bought at Kroger months ago and filled it with some festive orange flowers from Michaels. 

The tombstones on either side of the table are actually five or six years old. They’re the heavy duty kind that usually go in the front yard, but I thought they helped balance out the table. I can’t remember where we purchased them, but if I had to guess, I’d say either Walmart or Target. 

The ceramic pumpkin on the right side of the table is actually a vase that came with some Halloween flowers that my hubby had delivered to my work years ago. Ya know, when we were still young, and both had jobs, and no mortgage, and no children and lots of disposable income. Those were some good years. 

Dollar Tree Items:

Skeleton garland
Green moss
Miniature pumpkins
Skull head
Black mesh sheets
Tricks & Treats bat sign

Console Table:

Tivoli Long Console Table from Pottery Barn in black in sale now from $699 to $594. If you sign up for email notifications, they send you a coupon for 15% off your first purchase. Make sure you do that! It will drop the price down to $505 for you! 

Baskets:

Smith and Hawken Square Decorative Basket with Chalkboard from Target. $39.99 each

Happy Halloween Decorating!

xoxo

Jessie

Prescription Tracking Template

So little dude started Preschool this last month. We found a great place called Children’s Lighthouse. Wonderful school. Awesome teachers. Affordable. He’s only two and a half, but will be turning three in December. Living far from family has taken a toll on raising children; the main reason we’ve decided to only have one. But hubby and I have learned to manage and now that we live in a real place, we were able to find a preschool for Mason. It’s a three day a week program (although they do have full time and two day a week programs). We pay $150 a week and we can drop off and pick up anytime between 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. I like to get him there just before 8:30 a.m. because that’s when they start breakfast and after breakfast, it’s circle time. Oh yeah, all meals/snacks are included in the price of tuition. The first few weeks were rough on little dude, mostly because he’s been at home with momma all day every day since, well, birth. But I’ve noticed a big change (for the better) in his attitude and temperament. He seems to appreciate me a little more and he’s been learning to use his words.

It’s been even better for me though (I think) because I can’t explain how much I needed a break. I’m super totally excited about having some more “me” time. Cleaning the house, doing laundry, running errands, going to the gym, working on my Etsy shop and blogging is now actually possible. Yay!

While the preschool is fantastic and we love Ms.Cassy and Ms.Shawn, there was one downside to it. Getting sick. Yup. That part sucks. He’s only been in school for a little over a month, but for the majority of that time, Mason, myself and daddy have been sick more often than not.

Anyway, this last sickness was the worst (so far). Ick. It was a viral infection that turned bacterial. Stuffy noses, green boogers and tissues littered the house. Nasty. So after the cold took a turn for the worst and we were still sick two weeks later, we go Urgent Care and get a rx for Zpack. Now Zpack requires you to take two doses for the first day and then one dose for the next four days. It was pretty simple to keep track of but it reminded me of the prescription tracker I designed last year. 

If you’ve ever had to get a rx that required you to take it on some crazy schedule that’s like impossible to keep track of, print this out. It will help tremendously. Each RXtracking box is 3.5”x2” that fits wrapped around standard RX bottles. The tracking boxes can be cut out and either tapped to the outside of the RX bottle or box, or wrapped up to fit neatly inside. There are two pages, one black and white to save your ink and one in color for easier coordination.

Box 1: For use with once a day medications. The template contains a line to write in the date and a box to check off once the medication has been taken.

Box 2: For use with twice a day medications. The template contains a line for the date and two boxes (AM and PM) to indicate that the medication was taken twice that day.

Box 3: For use with 3x a day medications. This template contains a line for the date and three boxes labeled AM, Noon and PM to keep track that the medication was taken three times a day.

Box 4: For use with 4+ a day medications. This template contains three boxes labeled Date, Time and Due to write the day, the time the medication was taken and the time the medication is next due.

All templates also contain a line for the name of the medication and the name of the patient; in the event that you tape over the original RX label. Please do not damage or throw away the original label that comes with your prescription.  Just click HERE to download the templates for free!

Also, a huge Thank you Puffs Plus Lotion with vicks. You saved my nose. You don’t even know. Available at CVS.

Happy Sniffles!
xoxo
Jessie

Our Great Room

Let’s talk about the living room, which is really more of the great room because it includes the kitchen, kitchenette and living room. It’s huge. I love it. I love everything about it.

So when we moved into our first house back in Kentucky, hubby and I bought a big faux leather section because it looked so “adult-like” and well, we became adults and needed to have nice things. Yeah … um … no. I hated that thing. I wanted to burn that thing to the ground. It became the most uncomfortable sofa I’ve ever been on. And when it was freezing, the material would be super cold. If it was hot, my butt cheeks would stick to it and then rip off when I stood up. I thought I was being smart because I could just wipe all the dog hair off. No, that didn’t matter either, because dog hair was still everywhere all the time. Like it still is. Anyway, enough with my rant on that. 

I search the internet high and low looking for the best family sofas and I kept getting turned to Pottery Barn. We ended up buying the Pearce Upholstered Right 4PieceCornerWedge Sectional, in Performance everydaysuede™ Metal Gray. It was on sale from $4,799 to $3,839. Pretty cool, huh? It gets better. When we first moved into the house, Pottery Barn sent me this wonderful coupon for 15% off one item and that included furniture. Oh yes. So on top of the sale price, I got an extra $575.85 discount. Awesome. Shipping and processing adds $163, along with a delivery surcharge of $125 and tax at $293. Out the door, our total was $3,844. A Pottery Barn sectional sofa with a chase that’s super cozy in an awesome color delivered to my house for under $4,000? Yes. And seriously, this sofa is amazing. It’s huge. Hubby actually likes the right corner spot the most; as you can see from the deflated cushions. I called dibs on the chaise and little dude just kind of runs around the whole thing like it’s a jungle gym because he’s two.

I’m sure you can search the web for better reviews, so I’ll just give you the key notes:

Pros:
Super Comfortable (nap-time approved)
Beautiful Color (everydaysuede Metal Gray) – we actually went into the Pottery Barn store to get a sample of the material first. I recommend doing this or ordering a sample online.
Easy to Clean – can be wiped down and vacuumed (gently)
Seats Six comfortably, but can fit more

Cons:
Cushions need constant fluffing
Feathers poke out sometimes – I haven’t looked into why it does this yet.

Rug: The Rug is the Safavieh Cozy Solid Dark Grey Shag Rug from Overstock.com. I was really hesitant about purchasing a rug online because I couldn’t actually see it. But this thing is wonderful. It’s super comfortable and I can vacuum right over it. I’ve had it for over three months now, and have had no issues. I did purchase a rug pad for under it. I bought a larger sized pad and cut it to size. 

Ottoman: The ottoman is from Overstock - Round Cream Bonded Leather5-piece Ottoman Set. At $318.99, I wasn’t super excited about the price, mostly because I knew it was going to take a beating, but it’s very functional. I found some coupon code online that knocked off $31, so out the door it was $287 (shipping included). 

The roundness of the ottoman makes it much easier to get in and out of the couch. This particular ottoman also has storage inside so I’m using it as a toy box for my little dude. It came with four little mini seats as well, but we don’t actually use them. I think they’re sitting in a guest closet or something. It’s very stylish and functional, although it already suffered a pen mark. I also noticed that the material is starting to shift at the bottom. I’m not sure if that’s because I didn’t attach the feat or not. They were rolling feet and we weren’t planning on moving it, so I never put them on.

Pillows & Blanket:

White Pillows:  I bought the ivory throw pillows in store at Walmart about four years ago. That’s why they’re flat and a little ghetto.

Large Black Pillow: Brentwood 3438 Crown Chenille Floor Cushion, 24-Inch, Black from Amazon.com, $20

Gray Pillows: CableKnit Wool Throw Pillow from Wayfair, $37

Throw: Threshold™Quilted Cable Plush Throw in Shell from Target, $35 (and yes, it’s super cozy)

End Table: Okay, so normally, I don’t really have much to say about end tables, but this one is super cute. It fits the corner of the couch really well and I just love it. I added a mini pitcher with pink flowers, a white table lamp that I found on clearance at Target, a photo and a basket. I think it just came together really nicely. It’s the Alaterre Cottage 2-Shelf Side Table in Black from Target, $115 

Tree: NearlyNatural 5346 Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree, 6-Feet, Green at Amazon. When I bought it, it was listed for $130. It has been knocked down to $102. I’m a little pissed about that. But it’s very beautiful.

Basket that holds the tree: EKO Tall Water Hyacinth Wicker Basket with Handles from Amazon, $43

Curtains: All of the curtains in the kitchen and living room are from the same set. We bought the Bombay™ Garrison Rod Pocket/Back Tab Window Curtain Panels in Charcoal from Bed Bath and Beyond. They were not cheap ($45-$70 depending on length), but worth every penny. If you’re looking to stay in the neutral category with your home, but get away from the whites and beige, this is the way to go.

Behind the Sofa Console Tables: Threshold™ Avington Console Table – Black, Target $120/each. I’m very happy with our decision to purchase two matching console tables for behind the couch. We had this long narrow open space that I couldn’t figure out what to do with for the longest time. We love the ottoman, but it’s not very useful for holding drinks. At some point, I could probably get a much larger circular tray, but it wouldn’t matter right now because our two-year-old knocks everything over. Anyway, the console tables are useful for holding drinks for people on the couch and they also serve as a bar area and extra setting for guests. We purchased a set of bar stools that fit perfectly under the table and we can pull them out when needed.

Barstools: 5302Series 18" Bar Stool by Woodbridge Home Designs from Wayfair, $100 for a set of two.

Until next time!

xoxo
Jessie

New Kitchenette with Benchwright Dining Table

So I’ve been MIA for some time now, but life got crazy after the move. We’ve finally settled into our new life and even better, got the house furnished so I actually have something to write about. Yay! Here’s a peek inside our kitchenette!

  

Table: The table is the Benchwright Dining Table (74x30”) in Rustic Mahogany Stain from Pottery Barn. It is regularly priced at $1,400, but I stocked Pottery Barn’s website for about three months and low-in-behold, it went on sale for $1,299. Shipping and processing will add $117, plus a delivery surcharge of $100, plus tax of $114 equaled $1,630 for the total. However, I in addition to the table being on sale, I also had a 10% off coupon for my online order with took off $130, bringing the total down to $1,500. That was still a big chunk of change, but the same table not on sale, without the discount out the door would have been over $1,730, so I still saved about $230 making me one happy shopper.

The table itself is beautiful and very durable. The grooves and saw marks on the wood’s surface gives it that rustic look and honestly, I’m not terrified of my son giving it even more dents because it just adds to the look of the table. It’s easy to wipe down and overall, just a great table. The only tiny issue I’ve had with it is cleaning out the tiny pieces crumbs that fall in-between the board on the very end of the table, but it’s nothing a little wet rag and needle can’t get out.

Chairs: I bought two sets of Castleton Home’s Parsons Dining Chairs in cream at Wayfair.com. They were on sale at the time as well ($276 for all four). Unfortunately, they’re no longer available, but Parson does have some other products on Wayfair that look just as nice. I ended up going with a faux leather because it’s so easy to wipe down. At some point in the future, I’m sure I’ll have to get covers for them because my child will probably take a permanent marker to the backs of them.

Lighting: So I’m super excited about the new chandelier. When we bought the house, there was this really large dumb type lamp shade that took up the entire space of the kitchenette and I was having none of it. 

We bought the Quoizel Gentry Cage Chandelier from Walmart. We have an open floor plan that connects the kitchen, breakfast nook and living room so the pendant is viewable from the entire area. It goes well with my other lights that hang over the breakfast bar. Make sure you measure it out because the picture makes it look a little small, but I think it looks great over the benchwright table. Instillation was a pain and took both my hubby and I to get it up there, but it was worth it. We also installed a dimmer switch which I totally recommend with this piece. The different levels of brightness are wonderful to set for different occasions.

Curtains: All of the curtains in the kitchen and living room are from the same set. We bought the Bombay™ Garrison Rod Pocket/Back Tab Window Curtain Panels in Charcoal from Bed Bath and Beyond. They were not cheap ($45-$70 depending on length), but worth every penny. There were two open spots behind the table on the wall, so I bought two shorter curtains along with a 12-20inch mini rod set which we also purchased from BBB. If you’re looking to stay in the neutral category with your home, but get away from the whites and beige, this is the way to go.

Centerpiece: I found the galvanized tray for $10 at my local HEB. I was so excited about it, I actually bought two. If you don’t have an HEB, or can’t find these, I recommend searching on Wayfair. I’ve seen a lot of really cute ones there too. I also bought the large glass jar at Walmart and the white pitcher at Kroger. The jar holds our large napkins and I filled the pitcher with some pretty flowers from Michaels.

Turn your Victoria Secret shopping bags into storage "boxes"

Okay ladies … so normally, I would write this out, but I think this one can be explained in pictures. I did it today while going through my craft supplies. For some reason, I always hold onto those beautiful pink bags, and I finally found a use for them. And for all of you OCD-types (like me), the fifth picture shows the label. Which reminds me ... I need more ink for my label maker. 

Till next time ... 

xoxo
Jessie