When I was first married, and for several years afterward, I tried my hardest to make my house look like all the magazine photos I loved… perfect color coordination, ambient lighting, trendy doo-dads… but I failed. Miserably. My house ended up being a menagerie of mismatched stuff that looked great in the store settings, but not in my home.

I basically had no idea what I liked, and that wasn't fair bc my mother's home was perfect. (Okay, Dad, my parents' home.)

I'm so glad those days of trying to make a presentable home are over (thanks to the Yorkie). I've finally found my dream home, and it doesn't even come close to fitting into a magazine spread. Years into my marriage and homemaking, I can look around and see my family reflected everywhere. It's not always something a new bride can do right away, bc it takes years of loving and being loved to get there. And although I can't speak from experience, I imagine that if I were single or had no children, I could still find comfort in the things around my home that hold my fondest memories.

I thought I'd again share just some of things I love around here.. I did this once before, so if any are repeats, then I must really love those things! 😉

I fell in love with this Bethany Lowe figure one day, and my sister purchased it for me (even though she thought it was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen). Next to it is a small photo of my niece, Natalie, and a pair of the Lace scissors by Kelmscott Designs. It sits on top of a lace table runner that I brought home from my inlaws' house this past week. (My mother in-law loved lace doilies and table runners!)

This is a little acrylic stand-up I had made when Sophie was in her first dance recital. It stands about 8" high, and sits inside a shabby-chic-styled shelf my brother, Paul, got me for Christmas one year.

Here is another stand-up of my little dancer, on the other end up the shelf. In front of it is an egg coddler from England (my mother collected them when we lived there), and propped next to it is a lovely card from my dear friend Tracy Riffle…

These are some vintage spools I got from Etsy recently… they sit on top of a book my brother got for me (about King Henry's wives), and another pair of scissors from Kelmscott. Although you can't see it, underneath these things is a French General journal, gifted to me by my fabric partner-in-crime, Kim…

This is what sits on a table in my entryway, right next to the front door. The jar of oil and fragrance sticks are from my mom; she and I both love Keepers of the Light candles, and when these jars came out in Juicy Apple, she got one for me and one for my sister. It's my favorite smell! Behind it is a sheep statue, and underneath is a quilt square, made by Mom.

This is a painting I did a while ago… I saw a print like it in a little shop and fell in love with it, but it was quite pricey. So I came home and painted it myself, making a few changes along the way. In front of it is a lamp, given to me by my sister for my birthday one year…

This is the piano my parents purchased when we lived in Germany. I took lessons for a few years when I was a pre-teen, but always felt that it was better to play by ear than to actually have to read the notes. What was the point in reading notes, after all, when you could just plunk out the melody the way it was supposed to be written anyway? Needless to say, all these years later, I realize my parents were right. "You'll wish you knew how to play when you're an adult!" they'd say to me, as I rolled my eyes and flipped through all 3 tv channels, looking for Happy Days.

The sheet music you see is the one piece I'd learn to play if I could. I may have to get Sabrina to play it, since she can read the notes…

Needless to say, I love sheep. This one is from Mom, and next to it is a bud vase that came from my Grandma Olive.

Mom, I know at this point you've thought to yourself several times, "Gee, I've given Paulette an awful lot of love presents, and I have hardly received anything in return." Well, let me just say that your love present is this: LOVE.

Teeheehee.

My mother in-law used to tell me, "Don't worry about what other people think; if you like it, then just put it in your house!" :)  I remember when I very first met Mike's parents, and I noticed this tiny basket of flowers hanging from a shelf in their living room. For some reason, I always found it charming, and it makes me smile to hang it in our home now…

Here is a tassle tree I pined for a few years ago and eventually found under the Christmas tree – also from my mom. 🙂 Since then, I've been given some really cool tassles by my family, and I love each one!

I'd never noticed this porcelain poodle in Frieda's belongings before, and now it sits in my living room, in front of a portrait of Sabrina, next to a book from my brother about the needlework of Mary Queen of Scots. (Does my brother give great gifts, or what?)

Btw, here's my (cute and single) brother…

And finally, another of Frieda's belongings that now resides in our home. I have no idea why this little creature has adopted me the way she has, but I suppose that's okay. Some days I'd prefer it if she were a porcelain figure instead, bc porcelain figures tinkle only when they break.

I've been sitting here long enough now. It's time to start my day by vacuuming and doing laundry and telling my girls to pick up after themselves… and when I'm feeling run down and irritable from all that never seems to get finished, I'll remind myself that this is my dream home.

Menagerie of mismatched stuff, barking dogs, and messy kids that it is.