J Cooper Photography

Well now I am really regretting that Goodwill table you all thought I purchased.   I definitely did a double take…pulled it down off the shelf it was on and gave it a once over.  And the price was definitely right, but in the end, it just didn’t fit the space.  So I let it go.  The lamps, however, DID come home with me (both of them) and I didn’t have to think twice about that purchase  They were the only thing I’ve purchased from my i-phone line-up so far.  The rest have just been wishful thinking.

It is so hard to control yourself with a big, new house to fill up.  None of my furniture fit into this house the way I was expecting.  Heck.  I didn’t even know they painted over the wallpaper here.  I guess that’s the pitfall of buying a house after one 20 minute trip through after dark!

I know lots of you are chomping at the bit to see room shots and I promise I will get to them as we complete tasks.  Right now it seems every room is a disaster…gotta make a big mess to make progress!  We did take some time a few nights ago to get the dining room back in working order.  It isn’t finished but there is nary a tool in sight in that room and that means I can escape the chaos of the other rooms and stand in there for a few minutes each day as a mini vacation from the mess.

Here’s a happy little spot I decorated festively.  I was about to mention that this ONE wall in our house was perfectly complete.  Then I noticed I never re-installed the vent cover on the wall.  Oh well. Perfection is over rated

The only thing I’ve purchased for this room so far is a new rug (we had to leave the old rugs with our old house).  I got a STEAL on this rug and it fills the space really well.  I liked how it works with my animal print chairs too  I’m hoping to find the perfect console/buffet table for the long 16′ wall on the other side of the room.

Still on the list in here:  add library paneling below the chair rail and purchasing a new chandelier.  Anyone know a great source for affordable lighting?   I’m thinking something with crystals for a bit of bling.  But I’m open to suggestions

Our other immediate need is a dresser for our bedroom.  In our old house we used two extra large night stands as his and her dressers.  But with the addition of french doors, a fireplace, and a window seat in our new master bedroom…wall space is limited.  We recently moved those dressers to our living room to flank the fireplace.  Hey…a girl has to have a dresser to house her new mercury glass lamps you know!  But that has left our unmentionable laying in heaps on our floor.   You’ve got to admit, though, that those shiny lamps kinda make your heart skip a beat don’t they?

I know I should be posting about Christmasy things with it being just days away.  But I am still shopping, haven’t wrapped a single present or baked a single treat.  I would NOT suggest moving to a different state 3 weeks before Christmas if being a disorganized, stressed out mom doesn’t suit you!

I tried to walk around our house with my camera today to capture a few beautiful spots to show you…but the dirty laundry on my couch and the kitchen island full of tools kept getting in my way!

I did take a quick snap of this little spot in our kitchen away from the clutter.  My Mom gave me this Santa punch bowl set as a house warming gift…so fun and quirky.  Not so sure I would actually drink out of them but I set up a little hot chocolate station just the same…roll with me here!

My girlies are off of school for the next few weeks.  I’ve got the candy for our gingerbread houses on the counter.  I ran out tonight for Scotch tape.  And Mr. P is making his shopping list for our traditional Christmas Eve beef stew.  We are ready to settle in and celebrate the JOY of this season as a family.  Last year we shrink wrapped our Christmas tree with a hope and a prayer that we would need it wrapped tightly for a big move home.  This year as I unwrapped those branches the joy was overflowing.  Moving is hard business…but the blessings are mixed in with the inconvenience and always rise to the top!