My friend Donna sent me an e-mail today commenting on the fact that I am busy working on my house and have totally neglected to decorate for Christmas.  Yes, that’s true.  We do have our tree up, which half the lights are out and there are hardly any ornaments below three feet (my boys keep pulling them off), and I did manage to arrange a couple of mantles, but other than that…nothing.  The truth is, I’m about to work on a ton of Christmas projects for HGTV and I’m holding out on buying a fresh tree and greenery as long as I can.  You also have to remember that I started making my Christmas line in September and I got a little burnt out, so I took a break and worked on Halloween stuff in November and now I’m ready for Christmas in January.  Craziness! I’m also about ready to start a

I love my guest room, but it’s awkward.  It took about three years to finally give my guests a comfortable space, but one thing was still missing.  The poor person who slept on the right side of the bed has never had a nightstand.  They’d have to pass their glasses or cup of water to the person on the left side.  That’s a pain.  The problem is that there’s an attic door right where a night stand should be.  Like I said, this room is awkward.  Charming, but awkward.  It finally occurred to me that a stool was the perfect answer.  It provides a mini nightstand, but it can be moved to easily access the attic.  I also swapped out the pillows with the unfinished needlepoint pillows I had in the living room.  They add nice warmth to this room and the white ones look better on the living room sofa.  I

I’m sure you all think that my home is always clean, photo worthy and well decorated.  Well, that’s just what you see.  This is what you don’t.  This is what my house typically looks like on a Sunday afternoon.  Pizza, junk food, football, and teenage boys.  They are all huddled around a laptop checking out their fantasy football scores…including my husband.  Well, what’s a home if it’s not enjoyed?  Right? And, in case my neighbors didn’t think I was crazy enough, I was on my front lawn at 9:00 at night taking pictures of hand made tombstones in candlelight.  I even “borrowed” some leaves from my neighbors since my husband mowed our lawn today.  I have no shame.  I just hope no one calls child protective services.   “…and she stole my leaves and set up a candlelit graveyard on her front yard.  It’s unnatural, I tell you.”