Happy Thanksgiving Week

This year the Thanksgiving decorating at my house was pretty simple.  I strung up a string of photos of, well you know...things we are thankful for.  I had planned a "Give Thanks" or a "Be Thankful" banner, but it never panned out. 

One thing I am thankful for is that the kids only have one day left of school, then it is FIVE whole days of fun fun fun.  (Oh, and sleeping in).

I guess I did put out Grandma Blanche's brown transferware turkey platter.  Which I could not love more, I might add.    (Grandma Blanche is Bryan's grandma). 

I am not sure why I was the one to get the platter.  I am thinking that was  a pretty lucky snag.
Anyway, here is what I would like this Thanksgiving to include: pie-making with my Dad; homemade rolls; Diet Coke; cranberries; and gossip.

Image via Etsy seller Beach House Living

Here is what I can do without this year: store bought pie; margarine; stuffing that has any sort of nuts, meat products, or anything else that doesn't belong in there.

 AMAZING free clipart via Graphics Fairy.  More on that tomorrow. 

What's on your list of Thanksgiving must-haves?  Here's hoping your Thanksgiving Week is everything it is cracked up to be!  (And that you don't find nuts in your stuffing) :)

Office Ideas

I have been thinking A LOT about offices lately.  As I have had more design work to do, I have been spending more time in my office.  When I think about my dream office, my first thought is one that doesn't have old cereal bowls stuck to the desk.  Oh, and maybe someplace comfy to sit and look at a magazine.   A girl can dream can't she?

I also LOVED these images from Holly at Nothing but Bonfires here.

 
Did you notice the turquoise dry erase board on her desk?  It is actually made out of the IKEA frame I wrote about last week here.  And no, I still haven't bought mine, and yes, there is still half a gallery wall hanging in my family room.  And I am seriously thinking I am going to have to buy that rug.  It is a steal from Overstock here.

Don't tell Bryan I am thinking about starting my office project........at least until I have my gallery wall done.

Gallery Wall

I'm working on a new gallery wall for my family room.  I was sitting at the bar (my kitchen bar, not like a real bar) last Saturday night while my hubby and his buddies watched their 7th or 8th PAC 12 Football Game of the day.  We were supposed to have tiled the laundry room that morning, but the laundry room was no further tiled than it has been for the past two years, so I decided to work on another project instead.  I have planned on doing something about the blank wall behind our flat screen TV for a really long time.  And for some reason, that day became the day.

I took some quick measurements (with lots of dudes shouting at my back to get out of the way) and then made this quick "to scale" drawing. 

After I had a rough idea of what I thought would work in the space, I looked through my scrap frame pile, and did a little online shopping to fit in what would work with the sketch I had made. 

 

I found this great FREE printable here......
(It's available in the yellow, aqua, gray or red).  I emailed mine to the local copy store, and had them print it 11 x 14, for about $1.25.

and this cute (and cheap) IKEA frame here.....

then I got out my trusty 64 pack of crayons and added in color where I thought it was needed.  The striped frames on the right will be pictures of my kids on cut and painted 2 x 12 pine boards (when I get them finished).


I am only halfway done with the install...........so the left half of the gallery wall is installed without the right, and I assure you it looks GREAT!  It actually looks pretty ridiculous.  I need to hurry and finish the rest of my art projects, or people will think I am insane.  I wonder if you can see the wall from the street?  (Yikes!!!)  I will post some pictures when it is actually done.


Anyway, I thought I would leave you with a few other inspirational gallery walls.  I first saw this super fun house on House of Turquoise, here, and I loved how she put together her gallery walls. 

There is an even more complete home tour here on Apartment Therapy.

Enjoy!