A little over a year ago we became a family of three…

Our hearts had waited a long time for our sweet girl to come home and we wanted to welcome her in style…on a budget of course. Shopping the house was my first step and many items that adorn her room used to adorn a totally different part of our house. Ebay and Flea market finds added the necessary shabby elements and I never miss an excuse to visit The Twisted Sisters in West Annapolis.

The Reading Nook

The Reading Nook is my favorite part of the room. The rocking chair was a thrift store find and the poodle blanket was my baby blanket, not an antique but definitely vintage. The rug was from a much earlier travel to China when I was still single. The antique baby gown was a lucky find buried in a box at flea market.

I truly desired a vintage kitchen set for her room but, alas, I was unable to source one that was not a king’s ransom or a trip to urgent care waiting to happen. This one was the most vintage inspired I could find…and not made from plastic. The framed children’s prints are from a book published in 1917 titled “Tick Tock All Around the Clock “by Mary LaFetra Russell. I managed to rescue a very distressed copy for $1.00 and revive the beautiful illustrations with dollar store frames.

Another Twisted Sister find holds all manner of vintage goodies shopped from all over the house plus some treasured gifts from dear ones. The grey stripped canvas bins from target store toys neatly out of sight. Vintage Nursery Rhymes collected for years have new life in dollar store frames. Yes, that is Elmo peeking out at you. A keeping it real moment brought to you by my favorite two year old…

Let’s Party at…

Thrifty & Vintage Finds@Dagmar’s Home

Talk of the Town@My Salvaged Treasure

Treasure Hunt Thursday@From my Front Porch to Yours

Share Your Style@Essence of Home

Share your Cup Thursday@Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen

Thoughts of Home on Thursday@Poofing the Pillows

No Rules Weekend Blog@Sincerely Paula

Refresh your Room@Jennifer Rizzo

Feathered Nest Friday@French Country Cottage

Shabbilious Friday@Shabby Art Boutique

Sundays at Home@Thoughts from Alice

Share it One More Time@vintage paint and more

Amaze Me Monday@Dwellings:The Heart Of your Home

Making your Heart Sing Monday@Mom is the Word I Love to Hear

Show and Share Monday@Coastal Living

Busy Monday@Pinch of Joy

Inspire Me Monday@Sand and Sisal

The Scoop@Stone Gable

Tweak it Tuesday@Cozy little House

Friday Features

 

Digging It.  Inspirational Monday

I remember well the first Christmas with my new husband as we carefully decorated our perfectly placed tree with our heirloom and vintage ornaments. My Mercury glass trees adorned our fireplace and nativity scenes from around the world graced every surface…it was lovely. Flash forward five years,add a precious two year old blessing from China and decorating for Christmas has,well,changed. This year our home is decorated with a simple hand.
Today I am featuring our dining room. A little information about the house. It is a classic 1920 four square we were lucky (or blessed might be a better word) to find as a rental in a lovely downtown neighborhood of Annapolis Maryland. My hero is on staff at the Naval Academy and we love the energy and vibe the Midshipmen add to this historic and beautiful city. Living in a rented nearly 100 year old house does have challenges but we have learned to work around and embrace the charm and character of our temporary home.

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A two year old in the house this year has made for a very scaled down holiday decorating scheme. As these pictures from three years indicate…I am not a minimalist.