I don't know what it is with my local HomeGoods lately but everytime I go, I want to take home half of the store. Unfortunately, my wallet doesn't agree with all of the fabulous things I've been finding lately BUT it did agree with two of these bad boys:

A just-for-fun close up shot of the accessories I also got
(they aren't staying on the table)

I'm going to replace my current nightstands with these new tables since they're much taller than the tables were using for nightstands now.

I left the price tag on in the first photo because of the AMAZING deal I got on them AND because these similar white pedestal tables from Brocade Home (seen below) sell for $299/each!!!

I got BOTH of my tables for LESS than ONE of the ones at Brocade Home!

BEST. HOMEGOODS FIND. EVER!

Has anyone ever purchased anything from Diamond Sofa? I'm seriously considering buying their Zen Queen Bed but ...

[ Image via Diamond Sofa ]

... I can't find any reviews for them and I don't want to invest my money into the bed when they could be a shady company who never sends my merchandise. I'm not saying that's what will happen but I've had bad experiences before with companies who had no reviews so I'm always cautious when buying from someone other than say Amazon.com or Overstock.com

So what do you think - should I take a chance and order the bed or should I keep looking elsewhere?

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday and were generously blessed by Santa :)

Since I don't have to return to work until the 3rd of January, my time will be spent taking down Christmas decorations and thinking about some new decor options for my living room like this bronze and ivory Dhurrie Rug from Nate Berkus' collection on HSN.com:

[ Image via HSN.com ]

I'm absolutely head over heels IN LOVE with this rug but it's sold out in every size except the 2' x 9' runner and I have no idea if it'll be restocked anytime soon :( I'm really trying to get away from the black, red and white color scheme I've got going on right now and I think the gold/bronze tones in the rug would look great with my light gray sofa but I can't find the rug anywhere other than HSN.

For all of my Nate fans out there, do you know if you can buy his rugs (particularly this one) anywhere else other than HSN?

I've stumbled upon yet another amazing DIY project to file under the "things-to-make-for-next-year" category:

[ All images via Not Martha ]

Megan from Not Martha is the creator of the above Christmas tree ornament mobile and you can see the full how-to tutorial here.

Can you imagine all of the different possibilities for one of these?! There are so many ways to personalize this idea! It's also the perfect Christmas tree alternative for someone who lives in a studio apartment or small house that may not have enough room in their place to fit a full tree!

I'm definitely going to find some use for this tutorial next year, what about you?

I have the Klein Sofa from Room & Board in the color "cloud" but have no idea how to clean it. I take that back. The cushions are slip-covered so I can just toss them in the washer and they come out looking brand new but I don't know how to clean the rest of the couch (the arms, back, sides, etc.). The fabric is composed of 70% polyester and 30% acrylic micro-bucle.

[ Image via Room & Board ]

I know Scotchgard and Woolite make foaming upholstery cleaners for about $8/can so I was thinking of using one of those but wasn't sure if they'd work. I was also thinking of renting a steam cleaner and cleaning the couch that way but I've had good and bad experiences with steam cleaners and I'd hate to have to rent one every month or so to keep it looking good.

Does anyone have any good solutions for cleaning an upholstered couch?

There's just 8 days left until Christmas and I'm sure most of you have already decorated your houses/condos/apartments by now so let's all file this AMAZING plastic PVC wreath under the "things-to-make-for-next-year" category:

[ All images via Today's Nest ]

WOW! WOW! WOW!

I'm so impressed and I'm pretty sure my jaw hit my desk when I saw this! Today's Nest is the amazing creator behind this beauty and you can go here for the full wreath tutorial.

I see a new DIY project in my future, how about you?

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I made a stop at Saver's (a local thrift store) and found this:

I really can't explain why it came home with us (who needs a shark figurine?) but it was too ridiculous to leave behind. And besides, I can't help myself from making a similar face every time I look at it haha

There's two grooves, one at the top and one at the bottom, which makes me think it's meant to hold a photo so it looks like the person/people in the photo are being eaten but that's kind of morbid so I think it'll stay photo free ... for now ;)

What's the most ridiculous thrift store find you've brought home for no reason?

I've been hunting for a new living room ceiling fan for a while but haven't found "the one" yet. Here's a glimpse at what I'm currently working with:

It's not a bad ceiling fan, it's just old, outdated and not my style. It has dark brown wooden blades and a brass and glass dome looking thing (not sure of the technical term) that surrounds the lights.

I'm looking for a more contemporary fan and I've narrowed my options down to the following:

 [ Image via Amazon ]

I really love the black blades on this Sonic Contemporary fan from Amazon because, if you haven't noticed already, I'm a huge fan of black and white! I would need a longer downrod since my ceilings are 18' high but I think this fan could really pull the room together.

 [ Image via Amazon ]

The clean lines on the Osprey fan from Amazon have me sold but I worry about the 3 blades not being able to move enough air around and keep the room cool. The blades are 56" long though so I would think/hope that would do the job!

 [ Image via Lowe's ]

Ok. I LOVE this Harbor Breeze fan from Lowe's. LOVE LOVE LOVE it but again it's only 3 blades and I'd need a longer downrod :( Also, it's a different shade of wood than my floors and I'm one of those people who doesn't like to mix different shades of wood (hence all of my white furniture haha) so we'll see about this one.

 [ Image via Lowe's ]

This Utility Titanium fan from Lowe's was the first fan to get me really thinking about replacing my current one. The price is great ($77.15 at my local store) but the reviews aren't so great and I'd need a light kit so, sadly, I think I'm going to have to pass on this beauty.

 [ Image via Lowe's ]

I know it looks weird but this Fanaway fan from Lowe's is really cool! I saw it displayed at my local Lowe's and when the fan is on, the blades come out and do their job of cooling the room but when you turn it off, the fans retract in and rest above the motor until it's turned on again! The price for this fan is out of my budget ($350 at my local store) but I could always save for it!

What did you think of my fan roundup? Any other fan suggestions that you think would look great in my living room?

In case you haven't heard, Pantone has chosen their color of the year for 2011 and it is ... drum roll please ... HONEYSUCKLE!!! It's a very pretty shade of pink, not too baby or bubblegum.

 [ Image via Pantone ]

Pantone described Honeysuckle as "A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life."

What do you think of the 2011 color of the year? Will you be incorporating it into your home if you haven't already?

PS: Am I the only one who thought the color "Honeysuckle" would be yellow?

Have you had a chance to check out the latest digital shelter magazine, Adore Home?

I'm sure I'm the last to know about Adore Home but even though I'm late in discovering it, I'm already hooked and can't wait for the third issue!

I love those oversized planters, that wood circle welcome mat and the twig base entry table

 I'm still dreaming of having white cabinetry in my kitchen and I love how it's been paired with a colorful backsplash

I love those striped pillows and can't get enough of that amazing view!!!

Interested in customizing your holiday gift wrap this year? Adore has
included a few DIY tutorials to browse through for inspiration!

[ All images via Adore Home ]

Happy 2 year anniversary to my love, Todd, who never questions my design indecision's, my need to constantly rearrange our furniture or my desire to repaint our kitchen and dining room (for the 5th time). I'm so lucky :)

To round out the Christmas tour of my desert domicile, I've decked out my dining room in it's holiday best for your viewing pleasure:

Take a seat and stay awhile :)

I made the napkin rings by tying a felt snowflake to the napkin with red
and white baker's twine and then attached a glittery red ornament for fun

The glittery Santa boots are supposed to be ornaments but I filled them

with candy canes instead

The red cardinal is a tree pick that I attached to my feather wreath

with a staple gun

The black piece peeking out from the bowl is the top of one of the faux coal

pieces that I originally had in my living room decorations

Mmmm peppermints!

I added some velvet ribbon and a bow to the pocket door that leads
into my kitchen to make it look like a giant present

 To make a tree topper, I attached a bell to the top of my feather tree

I didn't realize how many Christmas trees I had until I grouped
them altogether on my sideboard

I love my Charlie Brown Christmas tree :)

What did you think of my decked out dining room?

Want to see more of my Christmas decorations? Click here to see my living room and here to see my entryway/console table!

I know I said I'd be posting photos of the Christmas decor in my dining room but I'm still working on DIYing a few decorations and they're taking longer than expected so it's going to have to wait until Monday but until then, please enjoy the 6th edition of Fabulous Finds Friday!

Let's start with the Little Branch Jewelry Stand from Urban Outfitters:

 [ Image via Urban Outfitters ]

I love this jewelry stand and could see so many pieces of my jewelry being displayed on it! It's just $32 and is available in 3 different colors - silver (as shown), white and brass. This would be a great gift for your sister or best friend!

Next up is the Everglades Tape Measure from Z Gallerie:

[ Image via Z Gallerie ]

I have one of these in green that I carry around in my purse and I can't even tell you how many times its come in handy! They're available in a variety of colors including white, silver, aubergine, red and green (not shown) and at just $4.95/each you could buy a bunch and give them out as stocking stuffers without breaking the bank!

The third fabulous find is the Silver Branch Candleholder from Crate and Barrel:

[ Image via Crate and Barrel ]

This gorgeous candleholder is on sale for $27.95 from $32.95, is made of iron and displays 8 ball or tealight sized candles. Unfortunately this item is no longer available online but it's too cute to not share. However, if you're lucky enough to have a Crate and Barrel in your city, you can check to see if it's available at a store near you!

The fourth fabulous find is the Hammered Cocktail Shaker from West Elm:

[ Image via West Elm ]

Even though I don't drink, I love the look of this cocktail shaker and could definitely see myself sticking flowers into the holes of the strainer to make a gorgeous, non-traditional vase! It's $49.95 and would make an excellent addition to a stylish home bar!

Last but not least is the Everglades Coaster Set (in fuchsia) which happens to be another find from Z Gallerie:

 [ Image via Z Gallerie ]

These coasters are an absolute STEAL at just $5.89 for the set of 4! They're made of faux crocodile patterned leather that is finished with a border of polished silver studs and come with a matching case. I could definitely see a set of these coasters being paired with a nice bottle of wine to make a great gift for the hostess of one of the many holiday parties I'm sure you're attending :)

What did you think of this weeks Fabulous Finds Friday? Which find was your favorite?

To continue the Christmas tour of my house, let's head into my living room:

Welcome, come on in!

I love my white Christmas tree :)

The mirrors have stayed put (for now)

I added some cranberry garland to my dressform, Emma, so she looks
festive while greeting guests

 The black rock looking things are faux pieces of coal my mom gave to my boyfriend
and I last year just for fun

I found these felt coasters in the dollar section of Michael's last year

One of the DIY canvas "presents" I made using ribbon and a staple gun

I still need to get a santa hat for Bernard the monkey
(Z Gallerie's product name for the statue)

Our new mantel won't be hung before Christmas so I just nailed our
stockings into the wall and if we decide to have a fire, I'll take them down

Since it doesn't snow in Tucson, I hung some felt snowflake ornaments from
these branches to make it feel more like winter

For a different take on a traditional vase, I stuck some berry picks into the top
of a martini shaker :)

Mmmm, smells like cinnamon :)

And there you have it, my Christmas living room!

What did you think? Have you decorated your house yet?