HAVE A SEAT

No really, just pick a seat.  

There are plenty to choose from. 

I mentioned in this post that I counted the chairs in our home and came up with 37.  

Now, just to clarify, that does included dining chairs and two child size chairs. 

Here is a look at the "chair situation" in our home. 

We have owned this chair for a long time. 

It was originally dark brown wicker and I painted it with BM Kingsport Gray.

I ordred these two swivel/gliders a couple of years ago. 

They are a bit hit with the kids, since they are similar to a merry-go-round.

Still loving these bentwoods that I recovered recently. 

Here is a shot which includes quite a few chairs. 

I picked up the two floral chairs at a consignment shop. 

They work perfectly in "The Nook".

I have four of these vintage school chairs sprinkled around the house. 

One now resides in the foyer. 

My ghost chair was a steal from Craigslist. 

There is a whole lot of chairs going on in here. 

We have the yard sale wingbacks I had reupholstered, 

the wicker and chrome chairs I found on Craiglist 

and the rattan and chrome chairs I got from an estate sale. 

Mixed together, they make one big happy chair family.

The black Eames chair I found at an outdoor antique show is still residing in the office.

These two beauties, which also came from an estate sale are currently living in the basement. 

I love these chairs, but I still don't have a place for them.  Might have to get rid of them soon.

Moving upstairs, the boys have two red tolix-like chairs in their room. 

They came from Kroger, of all places. 

Another vintage school chair fits right in at my daughter's desk.

This chair was another thrift store find that I painted and had reupholstered. 

Lastly, this thrift store find makeover in our master bedroom.

Full disclosure, there are a few more chairs living in chair/lamp purgatory the basement 

and four more on the third floor. 

I also have quite a few barstools, lamps, frames and art that I need to let go of. 

I'm thinking of having a tag sale soon. 

Not to be confused with a yard/garage sale.  

I've done that before and the last time, I vowed never to do it again. 

If you are local and would be interested in coming to the tag sale, send me an email here.

Date and time TBD. 

Thank you so much for being loyal readers and I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

For some reason, my husband has decided he really wants to take the kids to the circus this weekend. 

I volunteered to stay home and get our taxes together.  The lesser of two evils, in my opinion.

WEATHER VANE

Two weekends ago, I made an hour and half trip up north with three friends to go antiquing.  

Our destination was the Springfield Antique Show Extravaganza.  I have been the past three years. 

We had a fabulous time browsing, talking and eating.  

Believe it or not, I almost walked away empty handed. 

There were quite a few things I had my eye on, but only one item made the cut. 

 I have been on the lookout for a weather vane for years now. 

Not for the top of our house, but for the top of my kitchen stove hood. 

Just as we were about to wrap up our long day of antiquing, 

I happened upon the most perfect horse weather vane.

Not only was it the prefect size, but the price was pretty perfect too at $10.

I like to change up the decor here often, 

but I have a feeling this weather vane will be staying put for quite some time.

Here are a few other things that peaked my interest.

First up, this amazing island.  If I had a craft room, 

this thing would be right smack dab in the middle of it. 

I really loved this metal coffee table. It would have made a nice addition to our new back porch.

There were metal signs, letters and symbols everywhere.

I especially admired this yellow "Home"sign.  

Again with the metal - this console made me do a double take. 

Wish I had a place for it. 

I was in search of something large to hang on a big blank wall on the back porch. 

This clock almost came home with me.  I sent my husband a picture of it. 

Our text conversation went something like this.

Me:  What do you think of this for the back porch.
Husband:  Not sure I want to know what time it is when I'm relaxing on the back porch
Me:  That's perfect, because it's not a working clock
Husband:  WTH
Me: It could be 5:00 p.m. all the time!

Despite my best sales pitch, he wasn't going for it. 

I also considered this for the big blank wall.

Had I been able to talk him down to my price range, it would have been mine.

The booth owner told me it was an old Chinese ceiling screen.

Even though I came home with one lone treasure, my friends managed to buy enough to fill up my car. 

I call that a successful antiquing trip!

OUT AND ABOUT

I haven't done much shopping this year, but I was out and about quite a bit the last few weeks of 2012 

and here a few things that caught my eye.....

Tuesday Morning has some amazing lamps.

They also had quite a few of these upholstered headboards.  The prices were great too.

I did a little antique shopping in my hometown when I was visiting for Thanksgiving.

My mom and I always manage to sneak off to our favorite local antique shop.

This giant ironstone vase caught my eye.  It was huge!

I almost bought this bright red dresser just for the hardware.  Beautiful!

My mom and I were both drooling over this old post office desk.

Not sure where I would put something like this, but it sure is cool. 

This piece peaked my interest.  Again, I think it was the hardware. 

I came across this XXL Chesterfield at Home Emporium.

You would certainly have enough seating for guests.

Another Home Emporium find, this great console with beautiful legs.

I like casual look the baskets bring to it.

Take those away and add some matching lamps and it could be quite formal.

This Urban Outfitters knock-off table almost came home with me.  It was only $34!

I loved all of these side tables at Homegoods.

I actually have no desire to shop lately.  I think Christmas took it all out of me.

How about you, are you all shopped out or do the winter sales entice you?  

HERE TO STAY

You may recall when this temporary trunk lived in our office for all of 48 hours. 

After getting a taste of what it was like to have a coffee table in there,

I was determined to find a replacement.

Mission accomplished on Sunday at the Burlington Antique Show.

I like to refer to the little beauty as my treasure chest.  

For some reason, my family likes to refer to my treasures as trash. 

Ha, the nerve of them.

Treasure chest or trash, I wasn't passing this one up. 

The show is over at 3:00 p.m. and I couldn't make it out there until 1:15 p.m.

Now, the professional antique hunters arrive at 5:00 a.m, yes, in the dark.

I like to wait until the dealers are just about to pack it all up and call it a day.

Much better deals to be had. 

For instance, the price on this "Treasure Chest" was $60.  

I simply asked how low he would go and we quickly agreed on $40.

SOLD to the lady in boots and a scarf (it was 75 degrees) 

and a five year old tagging along touching everything in sight.

I was half expecting to find a treasure in there.

No such luck!

It makes the perfect spot to kick up your feet and relax at the end of the day. 

Found any treasures lately?

OUT AND ABOUT

When I am out and about, I always snap a few I-phone pictures of things that catch my eye. 

Most often, I come home empty handed.

This gigantic glass lamp at Anthro had me drooling.  

The price tag, on the other hand, did not. 

Yes, I'm a little obsessed with brass and this assortment at an antique fair peeked my interest.  

I went home with three brass swans.  

Next stop, Ballard Designs Outlet.  I have no use for these pretty pale pink chairs, 

but one or two of them would look mighty fancy in a little girl's room.

I love the look of these oversize glass vases.

I should have noted the price, because I can think of a million uses for these.

This canvas map would make quite the statement.

I was seriously digging this orange settee.  Wish I had a place for it. 

Someone needs to go snag this round bone mirror. 

So, I like the wicker console and the wicker x benches, but not together.  

One or the other would be enough for me. 

Next stop, Grandin Road Outlet.  I kept going back to this red chair.  

I ended up leaving without it, but I definitely did a double take. 

And a white version of the Louis ghost chair.

This quirky metal arrow caught my attention.  Odd as it was, I bought it.  

Apparently, it qualified as wall art which happened to be 50% off that day.

It's hanging in the playroom now.  I'll show you soon.

Now, on to TJ Maxx. 

Gotta love this place.  Where else can you score a wicker chair, 

a purple bra and some strappy sandals all in once place.

I definitely don't need anymore toys or stuff in my house, but if I did, 

I could hide them away in these awesome canvas storage baskets. 

Since Target is my second home, I snapped a picture of these great round storage ottomans. 

I love the nailhead trim.

Yes, I've been all over the place lately.  

This child size vintage beverage cart was for sale

at a huge outdoor antique show I attended over the weekend.

I didn't buy it, but it was so darn cute. 

As was this child size library cart. It was sold before we got to it. 

Believe it or not, I came home completely empty handed from the show. 

However on the way home, we stopped at three, yes, you heard me, three different TJ Maxx stores.   My friend was on the hunt for a particular pillow sham.  

She found the sham and I made small purchases from each TJ Maxx.  

So much for coming home empty handed. 

I didn't buy this super cool bench, but it would look so fabulous at the end of a bed. 

I really am more of a browser than a buyer.

How about you, are you a browser or a buyer?