X-mas Decor at LaNa!

White House 2005

White House 2006

White House 2007

My Navin ornament from Byrl....

A fave ornament from my Grandma G.

A few other favorite decorations on our tree...

 

 

And, my niece's favorite...

Happy Holidays!

A wonderful quote...

that I found on apartmenttherapy...

William Morris in 1882: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or consider to be beautiful”.

Amen!

Lately, if I can't do double duty with an item or use it in multiple places within the house, then I'm not interested!  And, of course, every find has to be beautiful!

Here is my latest purchase...a mid century dresser that we plan to use as an entertainment center in the living room.  I found this beauty at the ReUse Center - one of my favorite haunts!  It was a steal at $55!

Our idea is to temporarily place the flat screen on top, but down the road install overhead.  We'll see how the DVD, Dish box, and VCR (yes, we still have one hooked up!) will fit.  It's possible that we may take out a few of the drawers on the left and place the componets inside.  For now, we will keep it au natural and see how it looks in the space.  If too dark, a paint job may be in our near future! 

This piece fits my idea of double duty as it has 9 drawers that can be used for storage...something that is hard to find at LaNa!

More photos to come soon...

What are your favorite holiday memories and/or continued traditions?

Given the time of year, I would love to hear your favorite memory, a family tradition, or a gift that you remember years later. 

I'll start!

My favorite memory would be Christmas celebrations with my sister, Robyn.  She would start the holiday with a stomach ache at my Dad's on Christmas eve...the excitement of the holiday, gifts, santa left her over stimulated!  She would then be the first to wake me on Christmas morning at our Mom's.  I remember waking to find her staring me in the eyes and saying "Are you up Laura?!"  We'd wake our Mom and the festivities would continue!

I have received several special gifts over the years, but the one that sticks out the most is a statue of a grey cat that looked like our "then" pet Fluffy.  Robyn gave me the statue and I still cherish it to this day. 

My favorite parts of the holidays now revolve around my 4-year-old niece.  I love to see the excitement in her eyes like I used to in her mommy's. 

I can't wait to hear from you on what memories and traditions make your holidays special!

xo

Weekly Etsy Finds!

 A great little gift by Moxiedoll for those of us who live in the mitten state!

I am in LOVE with this hotdog planter by madoniabotanicals!! I found one at a local antique shop and can't stop thinking about it...hmmm, maybe a holiday gift to myself!

A lovely tea cozy by Feet Up Furnishings

Nice loft featured on Etsy!

My Grandma!

Cheers to my lovely Grandma who turned 103 on December 5!  She is AMAZING!!!

Weekly Etsy Finds!

Today on Etsy, I am loving:

Vintage Morning After Rocks Glasses by babylonsisters

What a hoot!

Vintage Silverware Garden Marker by monkeysalwayslook

Would look great on a kitchen windowsill with fresh herbs!

Cuckoo Clock by decoylab

I've wanted a cuckoo clock at LaNa for sometime...could this be it?!

And, you've just got to love this video!   I think Hannah's place is super cute and wacky!  Can you imagine the dusting of all those knick knacks??  Like Hannah, I love to go to vintage shops to relax...something about it just clears my mind and puts a smile on my face!

Have a great weekend!

A wamer LaNa!

The cold weather is here and that means chilly temps inside LaNa! Unfortunately, it seems that there isn't much insulation in between our walls!!

Therefore, yesterday I took advantage of DTE's December special on energy audits. A representative came out to let us know what areas we could improve to lower our heating costs and also where we could get some tax credits.

Knowing what needed to be done already, I also had someone come and blow R 49 cellulouse insulation into the attic yesterday! Cellulouse insulation is made with recycled newspaper and is a wonderful green alternative. With the tax credit, I'm only paying half the costs out of pocket!!! Yippie!

And, what a HUGE difference! One night with more insulation in the attic has helped to take the chill off!

Included with my FREE energy audit was a programmable thermostat, five compact fluorescent lightbulbs, a low-flow shower head, insulation for the water pipes, and three faucet aerator's!! No charge AND they installed everything for us!! What a bargain!

Next up - new Wallside Windows before the end of the year on the second level. And with that...another tax credit! Yahoo!

More uses for wodka!

diy Network has highlighted vodka as a cleaner around the house...check out their tips!

Weekly Etsy Finds!

I spy with my little eye...these fantastic items on Etsy!  Just in time for the holidays!!

"Ties that Don't  Suck!"  Detroit Watertowers silkscreened necktie by Cyberoptix Tie Lab.  Awesome designs!!

Hot Pink Cardinal on Agapanthus Retangle Pillow by Joom. 

This would look great in my niece's new PINK bedroom!

Sterling Silver Hugs and Kisses xo Pendant Necklace by
Christina Kober Designs.  Love it!! xo

if you heart LaNa...

Thank you to all of you who check my blog regularly! If you love LaNa, please become one of my followers!

Cheers!

Monday Etsy Finds!

Baby Onesie by my friends at Fuzzy Baby Designs.

Sketchbook Ivory Pillow Cover by Nestables -
I could see this on my bed at LaNa!

Red Cone Dog by Pink Baby Mouse - LOVE it!

Birch Forest No. 8 Print by San Francisco's Lisa Congdon.
Birch trees remind me of my paternal grandparents...

Fall at LaNa!

Just celebrated my 39th birthday - Prom Style!

With my grandma who is almost 103!

Her birthday toast was the highlight of my day!

With my lovely Mom...

Pretty flowers from BF....

Wodka's many uses!

Many of my friends and family laugh when I tell them that I use vodka to clean my shower...maybe it's that they're under the impression I'm wasting the good stuff??

No fear, I actually use the cheap stuff in a spray bottle to clean soap scum and mildew from the shower. I swear it works!!! And, it appears many others also believe in vodka as a cleaning agent:

Apartment Therapy - 12 Best Household Uses for Vodka

Cleaning and Disinfecting with Vodka - via Squidoo

*Linnea - don't you wish we had known about this before you cleaned that chandelier of mine on 9th Ave piece-by-piece!!!

**Sam - your Great Grandma would have loved this! Or, maybe she was ahead of the game and started the craze!!!

Great garden idea!

What a wonderful idea for a garden!

Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy

LaNa's Green Tip of the Week

Green Your Kitchen Space - from marthastewart.com

"Unclog Your Sink Naturally
As is, baking soda won't necessarily clear a pathway. It first needs to change its chemical composition. Don't worry, it sounds more complicated than it actually is. Boiling water converts baking soda to sodium carbonate, a more effective drain cleaner. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 3 cups of boiling water, and let science take over. It's a much safer choice than commercial drain cleaners, which can harm skin, eyes, lungs, and the water supply."

Happy Cleaning!

LaNa eating local!

My edible garden is going strong!!

Tomatoes a plenty!

Squash blossoms!

Raised bed (and some crazy weeds in the background!)

Kale, bibb lettuce, and red leaf lettuce! My first cucumber!!

Squash!

Yummy Kale!

Prepping Kale Puttanesca!

Yum!!!

Caprese salad w/basil from LaNa!