Welcome Summer {Please Don't Stay}

 Summer is not my favorite.
I don't relish the extra hours of daylight, the heat is my sworn enemy, and the sun makes me feel sluggish.  The way a lot of people feel about winter is the way
I feel about summer.

So this post is just a collection of glimpses around the house lately, a distraction from the day's
hot and sunny forecast.

Russell Westbark is back, you might remember him from this post.  We had him along with his two siblings when they were just 6 weeks old.  He was adopted but then later returned {no fault of his own} so now he is a 4 month old loving playful boy looking for a forever home again.
He does an expert head tilt and is so cute it hurts.

Russell loves to empty the toy basket each morning and scatter everything all over the living room while Birdie keeps a close watch.

I put these flags on the front door for Memorial Day and decided they should stay up all summer long.  Once they were situated might as well leave them in place for July 4th and then for Labor Day.  

I used to have a tray on the entry table for mail but I never used that tray because I go through mail immediately.  So in its place I put an antique boxer that belonged to my grandma under a glass dome and an antique dish to hold mints.  

We've recently started watching TV with closed captioning turned on {you really do catch so much more!} so it's fitting we would have a dish of mints by the 

front door.  

I finally figured out what to hang between the brass lamps in the dining room.  This brass laurel wreath is from Restoration Hardware's holiday collection and I got it on clearance in January.  I didn't want anything to actually sit on the sideboard and deter from functionality but I also didn't want something just one-dimensional on the wall.  Laurel wreaths are so classic and this brings a dose of traditional to what is probably the most modern room in the house.  

Also, I'm considering having the metallic walls painted over.  They were fun when we first moved in but 3 years later they are starting to feel gimmicky.  During the day they look kind of cheesy but then at night with the lamps turned on they look pretty and sophisticated.  Luckily the walls have not set a deadline for the decision so I can waffle my little heart out.  

I found a huge platter at my favorite antique shop, Mockingbird Manor, and put it up on the mantel.  

Currently it is hung too high, but it is covering up some old nail holes that need to be repaired.  

Future plans are to move it down and get a brass or bronze museum light to hang above it.  

Trader Joe's eucalyptus is $3.99 a bunch and lasts for a long time.  

I love the organic look and it stays pretty even once it starts to wilt.

I'll sign off with a puppy pic: fosters Walter & Willa who were both recently adopted :)

You Were Always Jealous of that Lamp: Part II

Have you been on the edge of your seat waiting for this post ever since you read "You Were Always Jealous of that Lamp: Part I"?  I know I have and I live here.  

Let's start with the dining room...

I put an ornament garland between the two lamps on the sideboard and the table I left empty because we actually use it a lot, but not to worry the bar cart got big time merry.

I arranged tree clippings with blue snowflakes in a vase and anchored them with blue and orange ornaments to coordinate with the rug {you can see the rug reflected in the mirror in photos below}.  A bowl full of oranges sits on the bottom.  I use one of those oranges every morning to make smoothies and always feel slightly upset that I'm taking away from my Christmas decor.  Luckily I'm resourceful and know where to get more.

I made a swag with tree clippings for the mirror and draped it with live garland.

More tree clippings and ornament garland on top of the built-in hutch 

along with a nativity family on display.  

Let's go into the kitchen- look another ornament garland on top of the pot rack.

I've never really used poinsettias before but this year I decided I loved them,  

probably because Trader Joe's sells them for $2.99 and I'll buy whatever they tell me to buy. 

 Speaking of TJ's, my favorite seasonal discovery this year has been their Coffee Cup Celebration.  It's a 20 pack of K-Cups with 5 different holiday flavors.  Do you want to know what the flavors are?  Ok I'll tell you: Wintry Blend, French Vanilla, Caramel, Gingerbread, and Chocolate Mint. 

It's the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning.  

I have this stovetop potpourri simmering almost non-stop.  

It's a mix of citrus, rosemary, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and spices.  

I refill the water as needed and freshen up the ingredients about once a week.  

It makes the house smell jolly.  

Moving over to the shelves and eat-in table...another poinsettia and little seasonal touches.

Live wreaths on the windows, one inside and one outside. They both seem equally happy, 

I just mist the indoor one with water every few days.  

Since we don't have a tree big enough to put gifts under I've been 

sprinkling them around the house as decor.  It's quaint. 

I always have a Spode Woodland china plate on display and change up the animal for the season so right now it's a reindeer.  There is also a little nativity set over here- the white ceramic pieces 

next to the baking jars.  

The recessed lights above the shelves are Philips Hue lightbulbs and it creates quite 

a festive atmosphere for the girls while they dine.  

 They're just thrilled about it.  

I was looking for a way to display Christmas cards and decided to start taping them on the window above the sink.  Cards featuring dogs received priority placement, naturally.  

Merry Christmas!

**This post is not sponsored by any of the brands mentioned.**

All A{side}board

We're back in the dining room, haven't you missed this spot?  It's as cozy as ever and it is thiiiis close to being complete.  

This is where we were when you last saw it, we had our glorious table in place, our comfy chairs, twinkling lamps...and a hand me down knotty pine console that was dragging everyone down.  

Let's see what's new...

Enter West Elm's geometric console {sideboard}.  It was an online only item and I actually don't even see it on their website anymore, but it's in the same family as this table.  The description for the table reads: "Geometry 101. Angled iron legs provide the sturdy base for the Geometric Base Dining Table. Made from solid acacia wood in a rich dark walnut finish, this table coordinates with our Geometric Base Dining Bench."  So you get the idea, the sideboard has the same angled legs and is the same wood/finish as the table description.  

Finding a sideboard was a challenge,  I didn't know if we should go with wood because I didn't want anything to compete with our table.  You just can't compete with that table.  But I feel like the sideboard really holds its own and is a visually interesting companion without trying to steal
the show.  

The closed storage has been so nice! Older, modest sized homes are not known for being long on storage space so it was important that this piece be able to help out in that department.   

I also love that it's a few inches taller than the last console, the other one looked shrimpy with those dramatic lamps on it.  And yes, those are pumpkins on the table, I took these photos back in November.  What can I say?  I'm a full time working dog mom and the girls refuse to help out with chores, or walk themselves, or grocery shop, or make dinner while I'm away.  SAHDM {stay at home dog moms} have it so much easier.  

I straighten this rug at least once a day but it never lasts-- this is the girls favorite spot to spread out their toys and chew on their bones...and roll, so much rolling.    

Here comes the worst offender.  

The sideboard legs really compliment the dining room table legs, same material and color.  

We also have a few new additions the bar cart, these gorgeous deco marble and brass bar tools and mid-century cocktail shaker.  

The old console has found a temporary home as a sofa table. 

Just for fun let's take a look back on what the dining room looked like last fall:

I love the smell of progress. 

Dining Room evolution posts {one, two, three, four, five}

***This post is not sponsored by West Elm***