Impromptu Instagram House Tour

Am I the only one that has a MAJOR decorating itch this time of year? I don't know what it is - maybe the fresh and open (and also kind-of empty and sad) feeling of a house after all the Christmas decorations are put away, or the tiny bit of extra cash in my pocket thanks to some generous family members at the holidays - but in my "free" time these last few weeks, I've been doing a lot of pinning and playing and rearranging.  Normally, this season is really blah for me in terms of decorating; but, this year, I've had so much fun with it!

Anyway, as you might have noticed,  I've also had a small case of "blogger's block" recently.   So, in an effort to solve that little problem... I thought I'd post an impromptu (and imperfect) house tour featuring some of the changes and additions around here in the past twelve months or so.

(Please forgive me for the horribly amateur photography skills - these photos were all taken on my iPhone and posted to Instagram with the 'Rise' or 'Valencia' filter. Follow me here.  I promise I won't always blow-up your feed with random house photos.)

You've already seen this, but BOY do I love my new chalkboard.  I'm already thinking about Valentine's-related quotes to put on it.

Moving on...

A year ago, I said that my home goal for 2012 was to re-do my sun-room; and, as shocking as it is even to me, I actually managed to accomplish that goal... This is the room where we spend the VAST majority of our time when we are home.  It isn't going to be featured in a magazine anytime soon, but it is toddler-friendly (note the lack of "knick knacks"), playful, and cozy.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

The top of the coffee table was originally in Jeff's grandparents' bedroom and his mom had kept it in her attic for twenty years (for some reason), but it didn't have legs.  I literally stole those legs off of a footstool in Poppy's basement, and it turned out PERFECT. People comment on it all the time, and it is nice and soft for our clumsy little man.

Elephant head from Cardboard Safari last Christmas and Sam's cardboard castle (What can I say? I like cardboard.) from Fab.com this year.

New chairs for both my boys - courtesy of parents.  (Sam's name is on his... In case you couldn't tell who's is who's.)

And Mama's old chair, fabulously recovered.  #bestdecisionofmylife (or something like that)  P.S. That plant in the background is fake, from Ikea.  I wish I had bought ten more.

Even more surprising than the completion of the sun-room, is the fact that I also got my dining room gussied up quite a bit with "overflow" decor etc.

Rug from Rugs USA on sale after Christmas last year, but apparently it is still going on.  It was cheap, and I LOVE it.  I would buy six more if it wasn't awkward to have your whole house in chevron.

Family rules decal from Urban Walls - WON on Saige Wisdom's awesome GIFTaway back in November.  So simple, but it adds a lot to the room.  Plus, even though the rules were already written, they fit us perfectly.

Another hand-me-down thanks to my mom's ridiculous re-decorating addiction. #igetitfrommymama (literally)

The only thing new here is the driftwood - which I snagged at TJ Maxx for five bucks, I just had a lot of fun putting the little vignette together with random things from around my house. 

And, last but not least, here are the frames from Poppy's that I had planned to spray-paint as one of my 2011 home goals but have been sitting in my basement ever since (there's the unmotivated-me you know and love).  I finally decided to use them as-is, and it's not too shabby.

Maybe one day I'll write about my 2013 home goals or something of substance; but, for now, thanks for humoring me.  Here's hoping the blogging bug strikes again soon... :)