A tisket a tasket, a vintage Adirondack basket. See how I made a unique basket wreath for my front door using an old trapper basket. Whether you refer to them as “Adirondack baskets,” “pack baskets,” “trapper baskets,” or “basket backpacks,” they have been around for centuries and I learned some very interesting Adirondack basket history…
I never met a gallery wall I didn’t love but gallery walls don’t have to be limited to paintings and photographs. I love unique art and thinking outside the box on what to hang on a wall. It’s all about texture and pattern and baskets offer both so I created a really cool boho basket…
Why should our homes interiors get all the love? I love adding little decorating touches around my garden and on my porch and patio. I found this huge barn wood flower that adds such a whimsical touch to my garage. I’m also sharing a creative art installation made out of wood scraps and driftwood that…
I have been hitting the Facebook Marketplace jackpot recently! My latest finds include a truly unique vintage swan table, a huge black cat that frightened my poor dog and some very jolly old Santas. Plus I’m sharing a cautionary tale of why you should never meet sellers in the Kmart parking lot. This is also…
I never met a hydrangea I didn’t love but I’m especially partial to Summer Crush hydrangea. Their vibrant raspberry red color is so unique that complete strangers stop and gawk as they stroll past my house (or maybe they are judging the gnome on my porch steps). These are dwarf hydrangeas and will max out at…
“We bought a crack house,” my hubby cried! The house had been seriously neglected and we definitely had our work cut out for us when we renovated. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since we moved into our former “crack house” and I thought it would be fun take a walk down memory lane…
The gates of heaven opened and a choir of angels sang from on high when I finally found the antique pew of my dreams! Little did I know that it had a secret hiding inside … a swarm of carpenter bees! This is the story of how to know if you have them, how to…
If I had known that March 9 would be my last visit to the thrift store, I would have bought more stuff! It’s been over three months since I had my thrift store fix and although thrift stores in New Jersey just recently reopened, I had my ways of still enjoying the thrill of the…
I was skeptical but am happy to report that I know how to rid yard of mosquitos without using chemicals! I tested this in my own backyard and we’ve been mosquito free ever since. There is nothing better than running barefoot through the grass on a warm summer day? The problem is stirring up the…
I threw my dog a birthday party! I’m slowly morphing into the crazy dog mom and this party is proof! If you want to see how we celebrated Sushi’s big day (including a short little video tour of my backyard), come on in because we could all use a little bit of fun right now!…
Who remembers Troll dolls? I started collecting Trolls in the 1990’s and stumbled across my wild haired collection when I was cleaning out my basement. I didn’t have the heart to toss or donate them so I did the next best thing and repurposed them into the cutest, kitschiest little vintage Troll planter and vases….
Why didn’t I think of this before? I’ve rearranged my living room in every conceivable way over the years but this time I think I finally got it right! Today, I’m sharing how to reimagine your furniture into a more welcoming arrangement that makes the most use of the space in the room. I’m also…
I’m excited to share my vintage drinking glasses display! By grouping like colors together and varying the heights, you can create a unique look to show off your collections. I’m also sharing some fun history behind my glasses which will hopefully make you a much savvier shopper when it comes to finding the best deals…
How to Paint Repeating Wall Mural – Think you don’t have the art skills necessary to pull off creating a wall mural? I’m here to tell you that you can do it! See how you can get the upscale look of wallpaper without the expense. I’m sharing an artist’s step by step tips on how…
The best part of cleaning out my hoarders basement is unearthing long forgotten finds! I’m sharing a collection that’s been hidden away in a bin for over a decade plus some other favorite things I love to collect. I’m also trying to answer the age old question that is, “why do people collect things?” I’ll…
Have you always dreamed of taking a European river cruise? I’m sharing my Viking Cruise Rhine River Travel Tips including favorite tours, excursions and things to do so that you have a once in a lifetime experience! This Viking cruise travelogue will help you to plan your own trip and has lots of know before…
Want to know if a Viking River Cruise is right for you? I’m spilling all the details, including what they don’t tell you in the brochure, so you can make an informed decision. I’ll take you from Amsterdam to Basel, Switzerland along the Rhine River with lots of stops at charming old towns and villages…
Kelly’s Stamp of Approval 13 takes us into the miniature world made entirely out of plants and other natural elements, gives an update on the original owner of my vintage silhouette (spoiler alert … I found her), shares a really unique idea for displaying Christmas ornaments after the holidays are over, the debate of when…
Today, I’m sharing my vintage modern mantel decor that uses a soothing limited color palette plus I’ll explain my reasoning for using the things I did, why they work well together, plus my tips for creating your own one of a kind look using your favorite things. I also need your opinion on a thrift…
I can’t believe it’s been three months since I started this series. It’s been getting such positive feedback and I’m happy to add a more personal touch with a look into what’s going on in my life. In today’s Kelly’s Stamp of Approval 12, I’ll take you into New York city after the holiday madness…
I’m so excited to finally have a space in my house dedicated to plants! I call it my “crazy plant lady sunroom” and it makes me happy! I filled it with some of my favorite houseplants and planters on and under an antique wallpaper pasting table. See how I created my very own jungle with…
This week in Kelly’s Stamp of Approval 11, it’s all about decluttering our homes, what I’m loving on tv and in theatres, why everyone needs a monogramed piece of jewelry, devastating news that has me in tears, my quest for thinner thighs and how I’m being held accountable and more. Free at last! I finally…
My dog Sushi is an unwilling fashionista and she’s especially festive during the Christmas season. Let’s shake up Santa’s magical snow globe and travel back in time to look at Sushi’s winter fashion choices through the years. If you love dog in sweaters, hats, scarves or just a pet being humiliated by her mom, this…
For those of you who saw my feature in Better Homes & Gardens this month, I hope you enjoyed it! For those of you who didn’t, I’m sharing the full six page article and including some behind the scenes spoilers! It’s fun to see my home in print and the icing on the cake is…
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and I’m thrilled when people find inspiration from this blog! I love it even more when they send me photos of their creations. These are some pretty talented people and I’m in awe of their versions of my wildly popular Santa sleigh chalk art. It’s been…
I love chalkboards! They are perfect for creating unique art that you can change on a whim. Today, I’m sharing some of my favorite Christmas chalkboard art and most of them are so easy to create. Before I share my favorite Christmas chalk art, let’s take a walk down memory lane and look back at…
Fun fact: sometime long, long ago, Addi’s Bottle Brush Company dyed their toilet bowl brushes and turned them into little Christmas trees and wreaths. These whimsical little trees have been around forever and have regained popularity recently. I’m sharing some really creative ways to decorate with these little trees, simple crafts, different ways to dye them…
This week in Kelly’s Stamp of Approval 7, it’s all about Christmas on my porch plus I’ll take you into one of my favorite local antique shops that has the best Christmas displays (from a former Anthropologie prop stylist). We will walk past the place where we found Sushi’s sweater wearing twin, share all about…
Welcome to my Please Come Home for Christmas Home Tour. This is my favorite time of year and each year I strive to create a unique Christmas home filled with one of a kind decorating ideas (this is my ninth Christmas tour)! I’ve decked everything in my path, including my dog, and I’m excited to…
This week in Kelly’s Stamp of Approval 6 it’s time to countdown to Christmas. See how to make an epic charcuterie board that will wow your guests, tips to make old fashioned pomanders that smell amazing, a planter that stopped me in my tracks, my America’s Next Top Model days, my dog has gone viral,…
It’s better to give than to receive and I love giving my girls gifts that will put a smile on their faces. If someone wants to give me one of these gifts from my annual teen girl gift guide, I won’t turn it down! I believe that gift giving should be thoughtful. Think about what…
This week, it’s all about planning the Thanksgiving meal and a fun DIY that will definitely be the hit of the day, a vintage collection I’m green with envy over, forcing bulbs, turning photos into spectacular watercolors (no art skills required), doodling up a storm and more. Welcome to this weeks Kelly’s Stamp of Approval…
These vintage Christmas decorations are a blast from the past! I’m sharing 10 fun vintage Christmas decorations to collect with a little background on each so you’ll be armed with the information needed to expertly hunt for these vintage treasures at flea markets and yard sales. Get ready to start a new collection and have…
I am excited to share my favorite Christmas tree of all time decked out from head to toe in vintage Shiny Brite ornaments! It’s a sight to behold and I have no idea how many ornaments are on the tree but it’s easily over 300! I just know that this tree is going to put…
There is something about a countdown that makes an event that much more exciting. See how I decorated my countdown to Christmas tree, otherwise known as an Advent calendar, repurposed a garland into the cutest little ornaments and said no to matchy matchy and used different garlands to create a snow covered, whimsical winter wonderland…
Welcome to Kelly’s Thrifting Diaries November – Christmas Edition! I’m on a thrifting roll and Facebook Marketplace has rewarded me once again with a great find, or should I say 103 great finds! The thrift shop gods also smiled on me and I found even more vintage Christmas stuff including something that made a complete…