Five MORE Things....on Friday

Right after I wrote my 5 Random Things post I found five more things to share.


So, I am linking up with Five on Friday, hosted by Amy at Love Made My Home.


Monday was a great day and is my Number 1!


I have been looking for a new rug for my parlor because the one that was there was quite worn and almost 20 years old. I painted the walls cranberry to match the rug which made it hard to find a new rug with the right color.


The only picture I could find of the old rug is from a few Christmas' ago. It was an Aubusson rug with long fringe, which I grew to hate.

I looked online and finally decided on a burgundy rug from a large retailer. When it arrived it was Rust! Luckily for me, the UPS drop off is right up the street in an antique shop. When dropping it off to send it back I just casually asked if they had any large 100% wool rugs. There hanging in the corner was the perfect rug!

The owner offered to deliver it to my house, which is just down the street, so I could try it before I bought it. He actually brought it in, moved the old rug and laid it out for me. He has a flair for decorating and thought it matched although the color is burgundy, not cranberry. It turns out to be exactly what I had envisioned and I love it. It matches my chairs and window treatments and has transformed the look of the room.

I decided not to wait for my husband to see it because I knew he'd love it and leave it up to me anyways. The best part is that when I went to pay for it, I had a 10% off store coupon that was on the receipt I got for returning the first rug! You know that commercial with the woman just sighing at her newly remodeled kitchen and the daughter says "c'mon Mommy, turn off the light and let the kitchen get some rest"?? That's me....standing in the doorway, sighing at how gorgeous my new rug looks!

Number 2

Once the new rug was down, the blotchy floors were so much more apparent, especially in front of the window seat. I remembered a trick I used before in my dining room, which is good ol' olive oil.

The
Before





I sprinkled it on the floor right out of my olive oil bottle, rubbed it in with a paper towel.....

and ta da....

It filled in all the light stains enough to make it look so much better.





Number 3


I love getting decorating ideas from other bloggers and sometimes those ideas are "aha" moments. That is what happened when Carol at Art and Sand posted about how she has books all over her house. She had some fabulous wire baskets filled with them under her table and I loved the look. I bought one of those baskets last year and never did anything with it. Now it holds my grandchildren's books for when they visit, which were not being read because they were hidden in the toy chest. It sits on top of my "new" chippy stool that I am deciding whether or not I can sell!

Number 4


I also got inspiration for a Spring/Easter centerpiece from so many decorating blogs. This is my version of what I saw. I used my lace edged burlap runner from last year under an old pine plank. The slice of tree is actually from Target and the cloche was new at Christmas, from JoAnn's.

I painted some plastic eggs from Walmart with my "Cascade" chalk paint and then splotched on some white. The bird nest is from my yard and the deer is from my vintage deer collection.

Number 5

Our dear friends Karl and Diane are moving to North Carolina at the end of March. We have had some great fun and laughs with them and wanted to capture the highlights to give to them as a keepsake. Good old Walmart was there for me with their photo center machines that you can make a photo collage on. For $2.93 I made an 8 x 10 of the best pictures I could find. For $4 I found a really nice black frame. There you have it....a pretty nice going away gift!

Another week gone by and a busy weekend ahead......

Happy First Day of Spring, Sunday March 20th!!!!

AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up with these fun blog parties:

Five on Friday

Home Sweet Home

Anything Blue Friday

Best of the Weekend

DIY Sunday Showcase

Amaze Me Monday