Spring Transition - 2 of 3

These before pictures may be a little shocking. Those with heart conditions may want to look away.  Please lead small children out of the room.  OK, they're not that bad.

My January decorating style in these areas went way more minimalist than I had realized.  When I took these pictures, the nicest word I could come up with -- stark.  I really over do at Christmas.  This apparently was the sorbet, the palette cleanser, I needed to recover from the invasion of nutcrackers and greenery.

This vase is from a Southern Living house party

I have used it every day for 4 years

I love this table in our entryway.  My great-grandfather made it and painted it a long time ago. I love the patina -- it ain't the age boys, its the miles!  My mother had a tablecloth over it, because it looked "too shabby." Well, after she uttered that silly phrase, she lost custody and this has been my baby ever since.  I filled my favorite glass vase with hazelnut coffee and a candle.  It made me want to start a fresh pot every time I walked down the hallway.

You'll also notice my nemesis, the ceiling fan remote attached to the wall (as if one ugly light switch is not ugly enough.)

via Pinterest

• If you're getting ready to list your home, you should have some sort of a welcome statement at your main entrance. Even if you don't have a real foyer, a skinny table like this or even a floating shelf would work.

• You would want a piece of neautral art or framed mirror instead of the family picture I'm using here.

• This pin shows a great way to use an old table, yard sale find or goodwill treasure if you have a small entry space.

• Make sure you leave several Realtors' business cards on your entry table -- it makes people think lots of people are looking at your property.

You'll want to limit your accessories while you are staging.  I get to go a little Easter Bunny crazy because we are renting instead of staging.

I love the way that cut tulips droop in the most elegantly lazy way.  The problem is that cut flowers do not last as long as my enthusiasm for Spring.  Since Hobby Lobby had all their flowers on 50% off this week, I decided to try getting that lazy fresh look with the fakies that will make it all the way though Lent.

First, I clipped them off that spikey stem deally thing.  Then twisted and bent and shuffled them around till they look rather pretty -- I think.

They cover the switch plate that we don't use -- yay!  The obnoxiously huge, droopy silk bow also covers the wiry, fake stems.  My Charleston sweet grass basket holds all the necessities and reminds me of SC just as I am heading out the door (usually 15 minutes late and hollering at Girlies).

I wanted real flowers on our kitchen table, though.  I had this rustic, wooden trough that I'm pretty sure came with a set of bath products.  It was not anywhere near water tight. So, I used a huge garbage can liner. I planted these hot pink cyclamen from Home Depot -- this time of year they should just pay us in garden supplies.  Then we filled in with extra potting soil and trimmed the plastic back from around the edges.

Middle Girlie was my garden helper and then decided just how many eggs we needed to place around the edges. She was very particular about the placement of the colors.  Now she is very particular about watering them. That's good, because, I still hold the Target record for the most live plants damaged out in one month -- they were not so live after I got done with them.

taking a picture of my cell didn't turn out
perfect, but you get the idea

If you need extra help with your planting, make sure to scan this crazy symbol with your blackberry or smart phone (ScanLife is the ap I use).  It gives you way more advice than they could fit on the pick tag.

 I know I need as much help as I can get for these brown thumbs.



Whether you are staging your home for sale or just trying to live a little more visit ready, I hope you "bloom where you are planted."

just bec

linking up:

hookin up with hoh @ house of hepworths thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville thrifty thursday @ thrify decorating  show off your stuff @ fireflies and jellybeans  sugar & spice @ 733 - a creative blog crafty, scrappy, happy me @ crafty, scrappy, happy   show your stuff @ somewhat simple  100 ideas under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show me extraordinary @ the 36th avenue  pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection get your brag on @ gluesticks  mad skills party @ mad in crafts  just something i whipped up @ the girl creative  make it yourself monday @ an original belle  craft link party @ polly want a crafter  pink hippo party @ pinkapotamus  anything goes at eye heart mondays @ eye heart  simply klassic sunday @ simply klassic home  its party time @ its so very cheri  the more the merrier @ diy home sweet home  mop it up mondays @ i should be mopping the floor  a round tuit @ creating my way to success  sunday showcase @ under the table and dreaming  show me what you got @ our delightful home  nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm  manic monday @ serendipity and spice catch a glimpse @ a glimpse inside  pinworthy projects @ just us four friday free-for-all @ 5 days, 5 ways  anything goes @ bacon time  the pity party @ 30 handmade days  freestyle friday @ happy hour projects  flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring