Tag: Decorating

Friday Favorites – Antique Store Obsessions

Published on by Elaina M. AvalosLeave a comment

Friday Favorites – Antique Store Obsessions – I have a problem. I can’t resist my favorite antique stores, some thrift stores, and flea markets.e

The thing about days off in North Carolina is that I usually find my way to an antique or thrift store or two (with my mom). I bought the little cookbook & the swan dish (for my jewelry) today.

I didn’t pick this up because the green/gold isn’t something I’m looking for right now, but had it been a smidge cheaper I might have, in order to resell it. I mentioned recently that I love all things entertaining and had this been a different style, I would have considered it for myself.

We also made our way out to Riverside Barn Antique in Wallace, North Carolina. Riverside Barn will always be a favorite for me. I bought my beloved Mid-Century Modern Stereo console from them. The stereo is beautiful and it’s my favorite piece of furniture. The stereo/record player works. I’m not using it right now because the needle needs replacing, but it’s in incredible condition and I can’t believe what I paid. The story will always be a favorite because I narrowly missed out on this opportunity.

This was the exact day in 2021-ish (or early 2022), when I found at Riverside Barn Antiques. I asked the owners – who are so sweet – about it. They said it was sold ($120-150-ish if I remember correctly). But they took my number in case the guy didn’t come back. He hadn’t paid though. They were just saving it for him. A few days later, they called me. The owner told me felt terrible for not letting me buy it & he just knew I should have it.

I asked my XO if I could leave work early to go get it. I took a few hours of leave and off I went. “It’s a beaut, Clark.” :)

This store will always be a favorite for calling me that day, so I could bring the stereo home.

Chances are, if I pick up anything at a thrift store, antique store, or flea market – it’s going to have an entertaining theme (or maybe a smidge of decorating). I’d count today as a success (spent about $16 bucks).

Hygge Lifestyle

Published on by Elaina M. Avalos1 Comment

📷: Photo by Alena Zadorozhnaya

Hygge is my favorite concept. I am working at a more hygge lifestyle. If you haven’t heard of it, the basics are:

*It’s a Danish idea and word. It’s tough to say. It is pronounced as “hooga”.
*Hygge is a cozy quality that makes a person feel content and comfortable.
*From the Danes themselves, they define hygge as being “about taking time away from the daily rush to be together with people you care about – or even by yourself – to relax and enjoy life’s quieter pleasures.”

There could be many ways to define hygge for you. While there does tend to be some concepts that seem to be shared with those of us who are working toward a more hygge lifestyle, it can also be a very personal idea. There are those who might feel as though spooky Halloween movies are hygge. There are others who might find that is not hygge in the least. What is comforting, relaxing, and helps you “enjoy life’s quieter pleasures” may not be the same for someone else.

I am working at cultivating a more hygge lifestyle. Some of the ways I am working on that include:

  1. Decorating with softer light and adding “fairy lights” or white string lights, that are used throughout the year (not just during the holiday season).
  2. When searching for something to watch or listen to, more often than not, I’m gravitating toward television shows, podcasts, movies, etc., that create that feeling (or remind me of it). An example of a super hygge movie for me is You’ve Got Mail. When I need a break from the world, I am re-watching Newhart on Amazon Prime.
  3. Fresh flowers, plants, and thoughtful displays of beautiful things (beautiful to me) in my home. This one is interesting because Danish homes may have a more minimalistic aesthetic. I am not minimalistic in the least. But I still think what I love to have around me is hygge.
  4. Working at remembering the delight and joy around me.
  5. Letting lovely *art like this one, below . . . inspire me and remind me of the kind of lovely environment I want to be in and around.

This is a short list and not definitive. But I wanted to share a few examples as I work toward resetting my clock – back to a time in my life where living a hygge lifestyle was my life more than it wasn’t.

Have you heard of hygge and if so, what are some ways you try to practice a hygge lifestyle?

*I don’t know who created this art. I’ve done a reverse image search and can’t seem to find the origin. I originally found it, here. More than happy to give credit to the artist if I find them.

Fall Decor Inspiration

Published on by Elaina M. Avalos3 Comments
pexels Photo by Karolina Grabowska, elaina avalos, fall decor inspiration, pumpkins, autumn

It’s still hot in the south – hot and humid. It’s the kind of hot that fogs up your glasses when you step outside. Our reasonable, windows open – kind of weather – is limited to autumn (and the tiny bit of spring when there’s not pine pollen all over everything). So about this time every year, in these dog days of summer, I look forward to the changes that come when the light changes, the air grows drier, and the temperature drops.

There’s a golden glow to autumn, that I adore. As I look forward to the crisper air, football season, and cozy weather, I have been thinking about how I’ll decorate my “new” home (moved in end of January) for one of my favorite seasons. Here’s some fall decor inspiration for your home.* All links open in a new tab/page.

Throws & Blankets

Found on Amazon, here.

Find this cable knit reminiscent blanket, here.

Find it, here.

The two cable knit-like throws, have different color options. But I love the cream because you could use it throughout the fall and winter months. While I love color and can’t get fully on board, with the all-neutral home decor – train, there are some things, like throws, that I would prefer to have as neutral as possible. That said, my favorite blanket of all time – which now belongs to my dog – was very fall-themed and I adored it. I’m thinking about getting a new one (like the one below) this year.

Pumpkin & fall leaves throw is, here.

Table Top & Kitchen Decor

These items would be perfect for vases, baskets, or laying on coffee tables, dining room tables, etc. – as small vignettes, throughout your home. Recently, I’ve bought Milk Glass pieces that are perfect for displaying seasonal decor. See my Pinterest board for examples, here.

Find the pumpkins, here. They are about $1.00 a piece ($16.99 total).

Love these! Find the dried grass, here.

Here’s another great one – it’s an 86-piece package of pampas grass –
for an awesome price.

Here are a few items I love from The Nested Fig.

Find the acorn, here.

Marble Pumpkin Spoon Rest

These pumpkins are sold individually. I love the minis ($8.00). The teal is my favorite.
Find them on Etsy, here.

I have a set similar to these. They’re perfect for your coffee table or a side table.

I absolutely love these!

You can find these, here. I have a set similar to this. I love them!

I love glass pumpkins. I have one that is a peachy-orange mercury glass one that is my favorite fall decoration. I hope to add one like this, this year.

*Post contains affiliate links.