Did someone say projects?

So, as previously posted, I have been needing to kick myself in gear and get a few needed things done around our house. You know, my house turns 100 this year and I want it to feel special for it's 100th birthday (wouldn't a new porch be great? I wish. . .)

Here are a few things that I have been trying to do. First, look at the very cute wreath that my sister-in-law, Jen bought me for my birthday. It has a bit of Valentine's Day fun in it and I just love it! Eventually it will go by my fireplace. . . more on that later.

Quite a few months ago Bump surprised me with a large vinyl purchase. I was showing him some decorating sites and said that I thought this was really cool (I do this quite often as I dream of how great my house could look) and was shocked and amazed when he decided to purchase this very cool tree. Then we never got around to hanging it and it has been sitting in my basement. Saturday we got quite a few things accomplished and hanging the vinyl tree was one of them. Luckily we had a few extra hands when my friend, Amber, stopped by (they were very appreciated hands). We hung it in our bare walled upstairs family room right by the treadmill where you can feel like you are walking outside. :) What do you think? Pretty amazing huh?

Next on the list were these cute little iron people that I bought in August with my sisters-in-law at RodWorks and again, never got around to actually hanging them until now. I was waiting to find just the right saying to put by the front door. Bump and I couldn't agree on what to say. I wanted something welcoming and he wanted some kind of "theme" for our family. While checking out the little corner boutique in our neighborhood grocery store I came across this saying, "Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." (Albert Einstein) We both agreed that this was great and I was finally able to complete our entryway.

So, these are a few of the actual accomplished things around my house. I still need to patch the hole in the wall at the bottom of the stairs from when I put my elbow through the wall. No, I haven't done that yet. I have had it hidden by a bookshelf while waiting patiently for me to get to it.

And. . .this is what my parlor looks like at this very moment. . .
Ahhhhh! I finally found some tile that will enhance the original funky tiles around my fireplace so I won't have a big hole of missing tiles on the hearth any more. I will show before and after photos in a later post when I finish this messy project. I have a bit more prep work to complete before I can actually lay the tile, but hopefully I can get it done soon!!!!!

Also, I had a really nice and fun surprise when my cute hubby tackled the basement without even being asked! He rearranged food storage and vacuumed up mouse poop (yes we have been killing mice like crazy lately. . .ewwww) and bleaching and cleaning and making our scary, unfinished, 100 year old basement. I would show pictures, but I didn't take any before so you really couldn't appreciate the wonder of all that he did! Thanks sweetie!!!