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My NEW blog address is
bj-sweetnothings.blogspot.com

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SWEET NOTHINGS posts in your EMAIL ACCOUNT.

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thanks, bj

Monday, October 4, 2010

ANOTHER HAPPY BIRTHDAY and...BRENDA SAID,

*
*
"How do you dress up your man cave BIG leather sofa?"
Well, Brenda, dear...We have only ONE living room and
we have TWO big BROWN leather sofas...
....but I love the caramel colored leather that seems to
get BETTER each year...leather is like that, ya know...
aging makes it look richer and deeper and softer.
**
Go by BRENDA'S....her house is sooo cute and colorful.
* .and, like you, BRENDA....I use pillows to soften the LOOK of the leather somewhat.. (and, yep...that's a Christmas tree pillow but....I like it...what can I say? :)
*
Oh/....I know not everyone likes LEATHER...
I do !! Yes, ma'am....I love me some leather...
I don't use a lot of pillows....just enuf..:)
We USE these two sofas....every single day...
and especially when family and friends are over...
As soon as I get all the ingredients for my delicious guest BEDROOM that I've worked on forever,
the next thing I'll save for is a larger rug beneath my coffee table...
I have my eye on one..
I am really bad about using so many different patterns and textures...
just look....there's waaay too many patterns here...
I just can't seem to help "throwing it in there" if I like it a  lot...
I would NEVER make it in the decorating world...no sir ree...surely wouldn't.

...for some reason, my blacks and whites just fit in
with whatever pattern it's put with..and that's a GOOD thing because
I am pretty sure I will always have a love for black and white...
I get the shivers just thinking about it....:).

maybe it's because I like black and white so much...I love it ANYwhere..
with ANYthing ! ...and if it doesn't WORK...I just use brute force and
MAKE IT WORK...
I also need to replace this UGLYNESS lamp on my sofa table..
I don't even think I NEED a lamp here...
hmmm...gotta work on that table, for sure..
That's a thrifted sofa table...the loveseat in front of it is thrifted..
I really lucked out on that...a poor little lady died and her son
was selling most of her things..
She had just bought this sage  loveseat and he sold it to me for a hundred dollars..
I was thrilled when we brought it home and it looked good with the leather sofas...

It's 2 big ole brown leather sofas in a big ole room....
and it's comfortable.
The other end of this LONG room is my library...

There's a GREAT story connected with this wall of bookshelves...
...another time...another post :))
*
 These two chairs have been the foundation of reading MANY books...
and they have seen their better days..
I so need to get them reupholstered...
another color...
but the expense of doing that will keep me from it.
Never would be able to recover them ourselves...
Well, THIS set was thrifted from a garage sale many years ago...
just maybe I will find another set....ya never know !
The FRANKLIN WOOD BURNING STOVE,
that has another WONDERFUL story behind it....
sits in front of the blue chairs...
such a great place in the coldness of the wintertime...
I build HUGE fires..love BIG ones.
A fire, a good book, a cup of tea and blue chairs
can't be beat...!
**
Our house is old...
not fancy by any means of the word..
nothing fancy in our entire house...
but we raised our children here...our grands have grown up, visiting this house...
We are comfortable here where so much love has flourished.

Yep...I love my ole brown sofas...
never mind that I DO dream of all WHITE sofas...REAL wood floors,
a big swimming pool right outside my french doors...TOM SELLICK
in a lounge chair out there by the pool...
"...i'm coming, Tom...don't start swimming without me....."
********************
"....day dreams....good for the soul."
I am linking with RUBY TUESDAY
(because almost everything in this room.... except the sofas.. is thrifted)

When you are blessed with 7 lovely grandgirls
and 3 handsome grandboys...
there's always birthdays...
*
so far, I've told you about two we had in September...
and two we've had so far in October...
NOW....
here's another one...:) 
**
                                                                            10/5/10
                                                           HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO
                                                               BRYNNA ASHLEIGH...
                                                                   13 YEARS OLD...
                                                                  NOT POSSIBLE....!!
It seems you should still be this tiny, little sweet girl I am kissing here...
bwaaaaaaaa.....
But what a beautiful, sweet, smart and adorable young lady you have turned into...
WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU...
and love you with a love you won't understand
until YOU are a mother and GRANDmother...!!
Hope your day is all you want it to be.
Our love forever and ever.... Granddad and Memaw
(and HONEY GIRL....we won't mention to Granddad that I even SAID that about ole TOM SELLECK..ok??!!);)

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

First, If you are swimming with Tom Selleck then honey, you need a new bikini. Time to go shopping.

Your home is so beautiful. Sit down and visit beautiful with colors and patterns that I love. I also have lots of black/white check and some stripe. Everything goes with it. We must have the same awesome taste :)

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hmmm, I think a lot of us ladies would love to be swimming with Tom Selleck! But I can't swim, so....My hubby laughs just like him.
I love all those rich looking pillows you have in there on those big ole caramel coloured leather sofas! Very cozy! I am swooning over the black and white toile! Oh, yeah, give me some toile any time!
Happy Birthday to your sweet grands! Lovely post, BJ! Have a wonderful week.

Blessings,
Sandi

Debby said...

I love your cozy room. The couches are fine. They aren't manly they are comfy. It must be a huge room with three couches. I have two, that don't match. I could have another as well. It's nice to have the seating room.
Happy Birthday to yet another pretty girl.

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Hi BJ!
Your home is welcoming, warm and cozy and beautiful, just like you!

Your secret is safe here in Blogland, we all understand the Tom Selleck thing, um, he was and still is, lookin good.

Happy birthday to your little sweetie.

hugs
Sissie

Debbie said...

Laughing at Marla's comment.

Oh Tom Selleck... that would have to be a post all its own for me.

I love your room and definitely don't think you have too many patterns going at all. I think it's warm and comfortable and just plain pretty.

I love black and white too.

I wish that I had the knack that I see on blogland by people like you. My best efforts right now are to flatter you all by imitation!

Julie Harward said...

That is an absolutely beautiful room! I love leather too, it's so cozy to cuddle up in! Happy Birthday to a beauty! And YUM to Tom Selleck..what is it about that man?! ;D

Sarah said...

Happy Birthday to that sweet 13 year old.
I'm with you on the leather. It does get better with age. We've had two blue leather wingback chairs since we first married. They were some of our first pieces of furniture. They've moved about from room to room over the years and serve us well. Probably our favorite seats in the house.
BJ, you know I love all your black and white and the red added in. Fabulous! ~ Sarah

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Hi B.J!!!!Love all these photos,feel like I have been in your house 100 times...and thats a good thing!!!Hope you are well! x0x0x00x0x0x

Salmagundi said...

You've already made it in the decorating world with your popular blog. Your living room is wonderful - you can tell it is used and loved. That makes it a great room. Happy Birthday to another of your cutie grandgirls. Sally

nancy said...

LOvely pinks.. Happy BIrthay to your grandkid. Love the pink pumpkin too.
Nancy

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Beej,
I love saying that now that you KNOW who I am talking about! I love your cozy, lovey, comfy home. I can just feel the love ooooozzzzing out of there! BTW, TennisGirl is celebrating her bday today, one day apart from your sweet Grandgirl. 54 shhhhhhh!
xoxo
Robin

xinex said...

Happy birthday to Brynna! She is lovely and so is her name. I love leather sofas too, BJ. We have them in the family room. I am very comfy with them. I don't think I will exchange them for anything else, not even for free....Christine

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello BJ!
What a great post. I LOVE your leather sofa's and your huge living room...you could fit two (at least) of my living room in that room! I think your home looks warm and inviting and I'd love to sit in one of those blue chairs in front of the fireplace and have a cup of tea with you on a cold winter day. Good luck getting your bedroom stuff together..I'm excited to see what you do in there! Enjoy your Tuesday.
Maura :)

Anonymous said...

Hi BJness! Oh, I love seeing your beautiful home! I love how your decorate and everything looks lovely and so homey.
Happy Birthday to another Grand! I'm jealous - you have so many! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Vintagesouthernlife said...

I love your leather sofas and your Huge room.It all looks so pretty and cozy...and the black and white toile is beautiful.
When Tom tires of swimming send him my way, wink!

Auntie E said...

You did a great job with the Man cave sofas. Happy birthday, they grow up fast don't they?
My Ruby Tuesday link for you

Hootin Anni said...

My daughter would love all the shades of pink!!!

And happy, happy birthday to B.A. [[[that's like B J, but different]]]

Do stop by if you can find time and visit with me.

MY RT LINK

Unknown said...

Hi BJ,
You have a great sense of style...love the sofas and that wonderful bookcase!

You home looks like something out of a magazine!

Thanks for the visit, and for linking to 2nd Time Around!

Frog Hollow Farm Girl said...

Sending a sweet hello and welcome from Frog Hollow Farm. I'm so happy to see that you are my newest follower and I truly appreciate the time you took to leave such a nice comment on my post. I loved reading about your decorating and seeing all of your photos. You're absolutely right about comfort and functionality - otherwise things are just taking up space. Adding the black and white seems just right - another blogger was talking about Mary Englebreight's black and white checks that fit in anywhere. Ciao, bella!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

You home has the most welcoming wonderful cozy feel to it BJ. I love your two leather sofas, and you have just the perfect amount of cushy pillows on them! My husband has a brown leather chair, that we have had for about9 years now and it is just getting the best broken in patina to it!
Hugs,
Penny

Dena said...

I love your home BJ and your bookshelf wall, well I am takin' notes!

XO,
Dena

From the Kitchen said...

I think your living room looks perfect! If you love it, it is perfect. I go into a few homes where everything matches, nothing is out of place and am always anxious to get back to my lived in and loved surroundings!!

A big happy birthday to all those adorable grandkids!

Best,
Bonnie

Carole Burant said...

Hello dear BJ:-)

Don't faint, it's finally me! I've been such a bad blogger and haven't visited some people in simply ages...I must remedy that and make more time in my day for blogging!!

I've always loved the way you have your home decorated, it's so warm and welcoming. Like you, the stuff I have in my home doesn't really match but hey, it's what I love so to heck with it! hehe I'll be redoing my living room in a couple of weeks and have been shopping for a new couch. Got a gorgeous chair at the auction and I really don't care if the new couch matches it or not! lol

Happy Birthday to your granddaughter, she's very lucky to have you as her grandma:-)

I need to catch up with your news to see what kind of trouble you've been getting into! hehe xoxo

Auntie sezzzzzz... said...

Love your pillows. And who cares what a professional decorator would say? We do, as feels good, to us!

I love it when you show lots of pictures, around a room too! But I'm getting dizzzzzzy, trying to figure out the total lay-out. I do pretty well, and then get mixed up again. It is a work in progress...... My fully understanding the layout of your big, lovely, warm room.

Oh and when taking pic, from behind sage love seat, what room are you in, then? Kitchen? Hall? Dining Room?

Yes, I am old and nosy!!!!!!!! -giggles-

But you already knew both those things. :-))))

deb said...

First Happy Birthday to the sweet girl!

Love your beautiful home!
*hugs*deb

Entertaining Women said...

Don't worry, Tom Selleck won't be over to your pool until he finishes the lunch that I have planned for him on the back porch. He's such a gentleman; I'm sure that he won't keep you waiting. You have too many patterns?...I didn't know that you could have too many patterns! Looks lovely to me. Thanks for stopping by my post. Come visit any time. Cherry Kay

Sue said...

You are so cute! I think your home is wonderful and you know how much I'd love to have someone in my family with a "forever" home.

As for your sofas...I love leather. I tried the cottage look, all creamy white with dark red cabbage roses, white cottage tables...I bought the window display from our area furniture store when we bought this house 7 years ago...the pattern drove me crazy, so that entire set is bumped to the basement. Two years ago I replaced everything. Espresso leather, walnut tables, I'm happier. I add my little punches of shabby white here and there!

JEANNE said...

Hi bj, I love your home and the way you decorate. You do use black and white in the most elegant way.

Your tail gate party is one I would like to enjoy. We are going to Fl this weekend for a Gator football game. We have season tickets with two of our daughter and their hubs. We have had done this for almost 20 years. Today is our granddaughter Ashley's 16th birthday and she went to the game when she was an infant. I did a post for her today.

Happy birthday to Brynna Ashleigh. Your grands are all so pretty.
She is a teen now. All of mine are teens now except our oldest grandson. He will be 22 in January and he is getting married. Where does the time go?

Happy days to you and yours my sister friend.
Love, Jeanne

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Happy birthday to you lovely Brynna!

Your home is so beautiful BJ! I love everything about it. You have great eye for decorating and have made a comfortable fabulous place to live and love!!

Hugs,Sherry

Gotta love that splash of toile!!

Kathleen Grace said...

Happy (belated) birthday to your beautiful Brynna! I always love seeing your warm and cozy living room BJ. It looks so comfortable and pretty and there are so many interesting things to see! You may feel that you have too many patterns going on, but somehow it all comes together beautifully!

Life on the Edge said...

I actually love the brown leather sofas. I think leather is rich and classic, and yes, you can make it more feminine with pillows just like you did!

Aha, I spied that picnic basket under the sofa table that you used in your next post! I have one exactly like it and I store it out in the open too. It has become a decoration in my living room, but I can still use it easily. Actually did this past spring for a romantic picnic with my sweetie. He was impressed!

Oh, and even though I have my sweetheart, I would welcome Tom Selleck to my pool (if I had one) any day! lol

Kady
Life on the Edge