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4 Easy Homemade Christmas Decorations: Christmas is coming! While most people equate Christmas with friends, family, presents and festivities, it's also the high season for spending. With our growing family, the Christmas present budget is starting to get out of control. Between our 3 kids, my brother's 4 and my sister's first and counting, any way we can save a buck is a welcome idea. If you are nodding your head in agreement, this is a post for you. With so many presents to buy, the last thing I want to spend money on, is decorations. Here are just a few ideas for cheap and easy decorating. 1. Paint or stencil old wood- I found an old plank of wood in my garage, cut it into 3 even pieces, white washed it and stenciled the word JOY on it. These look great on a table or mantle and it took about 30 minutes! 2. Small scattered arrangements- Spruce up your powder room, your office or any other nook of your home with these small arrangements. I stenciled a snowflake on a piece of burlap I had and attached it to a mini galvanized pot with some twine. Then I headed to the closest pop-up Christmas tree sale and gathered some of the fallen clippings. Most places will let you take them for free but make sure to ask. Some of the larger nurseries don't let you do it anymore. This one I put in my powder room and it gave it that Christmas smell! 3. Pinecones, Pinecones, Pinecones!- Nothing says winter for me, like pinecones. I collected these near my home while on a walk with our son and added some Elmer's glue and bronze glitter. I built this little planter box out of wood I had laying around, but you can add pinecones to any basket or bowl around the house. 4. Cranberries for centerpieces- This year we went for a natural kind of farmhouse feel, so for centerpieces I just used cranberries and clippings from our own tree. I used some mason jars I have for the clippings and put the cranberries in the bottom. You can see in the background that I used some more pinecones in the main centerpieces and just stuffed more clippings in to fill. It's such a fun time of year and so easy to let the spending get out of control- especially for me who loves to host. I hope these tips will have you looking around your garage and yard for easy and cheap decorating ideas! Have fun!

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Thankful.

For more than a decade, Thanksgiving would come and go for me, with little of the fan fare felt here in the U.S. Sure, I always managed to find a butcher in Europe who would order a turkey for me, and many of my Thanksgiving staples could be found at 3x the price in the American store. I always invited eager French friends to dinner to help mark the occasion, but it had to be held on a Saturday. Crazy as it may seem, the Thursday of Thanksgiving is only a holiday here in the states. Every year, my Thursday was spent alone or taking care of the kids, like any other day. No football, no turkey and no family. Every year I received the same phone call from my mother. Around 9pm my time, as she and the family were gathered together, she would pass the phone from person to person so they could wish me a Happy Thanksgiving! Feeling so far removed from the family festivities always left me choked up with silent tears as each cousin would grab the phone. They would all ask me how my Thanksgiving was, and when I would tell them I didn't really have anything special going on, they would all respond with that obligatory, "awwwww, that's so sad!" Not to be overly dramatic, but one year I was sitting alone in front of the TV eating Chinese takeout when the call came in. That was the most sympathy I ever got! Eating Chinese takeout on Thanksgiving got me at least 3, " bless your little heart's," and a whole slew of other Southern sympathetic expressions. I had hit an all time low. Now, back in the U.S for my 3rd Thanksgiving, no one has more fun than me! My family is very special. Very. We are a tight knit bunch with cousins feeling more like brothers and sisters. My 12 cousins and I, our spouses and our 32 kids and counting, make for a lively group. The wine is flowing, the children are running free and the laughs and stories just never seem to end. To use another Southern expression; "it just warms my heart." The last couple of years have been full of challenges and obstacles for us and it's easier sometimes to see the glass as half empty. But surrounded by this amazing family that God gave me; my family, the cup isn't just half full- it's over flowing. From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.

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It's been a while since my last post...which is either a testament to how busy I've been....or I'm just lazy. Fortunately, it's the former. Well, 95/10. If you're following along, you know that my new website is finally live! That ate up about 10 days of my life. I've also been busy cranking out new pieces for a holiday market I'm doing on Dec. 10 in the Heights. I'm very excited and am working hard to bring a maximum amount of small furniture and decor pieces. The Kate side tables will be there (Pictured above), as well as the Leesie entry table and a few others. I also have a few great mirrors I've redone. I'll post more information about the market as we get closer. In between all of that, I've already been putting out Christmas decorations because we have been asked to be the first house on the Christmas Walk progressive dinner this year! We are very excited to open up our home but it is on December 3rd this year and your home has to be decorated by then. So, Autumn decor has officially moved back into the attic and Christmas is in full swing at our place! It feels as though I'm pleading my case...and I am a little bit. But there has been so much going on! Please check out all of the new pieces posted on the website and come back often. I'm uploading pieces upon completion. In the meantime, enjoy this wonderful week of Thanksgiving!

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The makeover. I have this little desk I bought in Paris- and I hate it. It was a space saver, as our bedroom was a lot smaller in France. I used to just keep my little laptop on it. Now, of course, being in Texas, we have the space to have proper desks from which we can rule our self-made empire. (Or my kids can pile all their junk on; either way.) So, for the last few months, as I feed Luca his breakfast, this little eye-sore has been staring me down. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it because it has very modern lines, and honestly, doesn’t match anything else in the house. But one morning I decided, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! So, I decided to give it a makeover. I started out by measuring the top of it and then cutting cedar planks to measure. I then gave them a nice rub with Special Walnut stain. Make sure when you’re staining to use gloves and a mask. It’s potent stuff. I then brushed a self-made white-ish chalk paint on as a base and then did a wash of Annie’s Sloan’s, Paris Gray, (only fitting, I suppose). I used clear wax first, sanded, and then followed with dark wax. From there you can buff to your desired sheen. It’s best to have a proper brush, if you can. I bought these little farmhouse handles and drilled holes to attach them. It’s not perfect…. but I feel sooooo much better. FYI, I’m a bit of a maniac and this desk was starting to disrupt my sleep. I will rest soundly tonight.

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Here’s our space at Clayton House in Covington! Fall collection is complete and we are already beginning on our Christmas decor. I had to take a break this week from working on furniture to focus on real estate and regroup. We have some great clients right now looking to buy homes, and a few who are selling- and they are all friends of ours. We are just so busy these days! All week I’ve been gathering ideas for new designs, testing new paint colors and jotting down ideas for Christmas decor. In between work projects and real estate, school and extra-curricular activities, in the last 7 days, we’ve hosted a bunch of family and friends for Luca’s baptism, built a booth for the school’s Fall Festival, carved pumpkins with the kids, coached a soccer game, built Fall Festival’s haunted house playlist and attended said festival. I am tired. And of course I awoke this morning with a scratchy throat. Fellow Moms will understand when I say that I literally looked in my agenda to see if I had any time in the next couple of days to squeeze in being sick. I did not.

So, I will keep on, keeping on, as we all do. Anyway, I hope you like our current display. It changes daily as pieces are purchased so I will try to post updated pictures as often as possible. I’m already excited about some of my new stuff I’m working on and can’t wait for you to see it!

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Here are the rest of my pieces! They are all leaving for Covington this weekend, which is good because I've already got new pieces I can start working on! I've also got quite a few homebuyers and listings that I'm trying to juggle right now so staying pretty busy. If you have a custom request or would like more information about my furniture or real estate services, please drop me a line at [email protected]!

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This project almost did me in. Literally. Stripping furniture requires the right tools and a large amount of patience. Not sure I had either. I drank of glass of champagne in my honor the night I finished this table. Seriously. It's a beautiful solid oak table but was extremely outdated with it's red-toned shiny finish. I painstakingly sanded down the table to the natural wood because I didn't want to go the chemical stripping route. It was.... Exhausting. And long. But it turned out beautifully!! Once I got it off, I sanded with every grit back up to 220 for a smooth finish. I chose a dark walnut stain for that farmhouse feel and made my own chalk paint for the base. It's called Merino wool. I also redid the chairs with the same paint and new reupholstery. Good project...glad I survived it! Let me know what you think!

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Another day, another project. There’s nothing I love more, than repurposing an old dresser. Wait- let me rephrase that. There’s nothing I love more than FINISHING repurposing an old dresser! It’s the type of project that starts with inspiration, which turns into frustration but eventually ends in satisfaction. I found this 6 door, navy and silver diamond in the rough, at an estate sale. I’ve repurposed a few dressers by removing the top drawers and turning the dresser into a bench, so this time I thought I would remove the bottom drawers to make a console table. In the first picture, you can see what it originally looked like minus the four bottom drawers. Believe me when I say, I’ve saved your eyes by removing the drawers before the photo. It did not look good. Then for a little demo with my hammer and I knocked out all the framework and added a shelf in the bottom. I cut out the sides with my jig saw and voilà. I had to do 3 coats of wood putty in certain places and 4 coats of paint to hide that silver and navy mess, but it turned out beautiful! I changed the hardware because, well, reference the top photo. 😁 Hope you like this one as much as I do!

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So, I found this little gem at Round Top. It's a mid-century gossip bench, invented not long after the telephone. The telephone was on the top shelf, the directory was usually on the bottom and people would sit on the bench while making their calls. This looked like a straight forward project, but as usual, things went a little sideways for me. When I removed the bench to recover it, I noticed the wood was rotting underneath on the side panels. So, I got to use one of my favorite tools; the jig saw, and cut some new sides. As you can see in the pics above, I traced each side, cut with my jig saw and sanded it down. Then, I brushed all the under hardware with vinegar to remove the rust. Once done, I made my own chalk paint and then waxed with clear and dark. It came out really pretty and much sturdier than it was when I bought it. It will be heading to our boutique space at Clayton House in Covington, LA. I hope you like it!!

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Autumn is finally here! Although the Houston Autumn leaves much to be desired, I still anxiously await its arrival each year. To create that Fall feel, mix and match flowers and colored pots. Mums produce vibrant blooms which can last for weeks. Choose plants that have yet to flower so you can experience their bloom. This year I picked gold and burgundy mums to dress up my front door. Lantana blooms nearly year round at my house and its bright yellow flowers create a beautiful cascade that is perfect for autumn arrangements. I love to throw in an unexpected pop of color and have a weakness for purple flowers. This year I added Blue Henry I Aster to contrast the traditional orange, red and yellows of the season. Long live Autumn!

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Here are some of my new pieces and decor. They are headed to our space, Kristen & Angie at Clayton House in Covington, LA on Oct. 17.

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Made it to day 1 of Round Top today. If you don't know it, it's one of the largest, if not THE largest antique show in the country. I tried to pace myself, I really did. But by 10:30 my car was packed full. The rest of the day was spent wandering around NOT hearing people yell, "mom!" Every two seconds. Bliss!

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Us! ...minus Luca, who was in my tummy when this pic was taken.

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Let’s Start From the Beginning

So, how did we get here?

After 11 years of living in Geneva and Paris, my husband, Yann and I, moved to Houston, Texas. After a year here in the Corporate America grind, we decided to pursue our passions. With a mortgage to pay, two kids in private school and a third on the way, we decided it was perfect timing to quit our full time jobs with steady paychecks and do what we really enjoy. (Sarcasm)

So, we got our Realtor licenses and began to launch our business, Y|A House & Home. Real Estate, Home Decor and Furniture Design. Along the way, our little Luca joined the family and immediately began to sleep through the night and feed and clothe himself, just to take some of the pressure off of us. (Again. Sarcasm.) So, now we are real estate moguls just living the dream. (I’m sorry, you’ll just have to get used to my sense of humor.) No, but seriously, you know how you watch people have babies in the movies, and it takes like 3 minutes and their hair and makeup look fantastic? Then one tear slides down the mother’s cheek as they declare that they’ve never felt this kind of love before and they promptly lose all of their baby weight? So, naturally I thought it would be so. Surprise! The real process, at least for me, was slightly different. Well, that’s how Real Estate is. You watch HGTV and they all make it look so easy. You don’t really see the “behind the scenes” of getting started in the business; all the training, the tedious lead generation, the door knocking- and in our case, sitting side-by-side with our laptops and the baby wedged between us. The stuff dreams are made of.

Once we got started, I found myself with more and more free time, (and less and less money) and I started pursuing my other passion which was to be the second pillar of the Y|A House & Home Kingdom; home decor. A long-time hobby of mine, creating and decorating my home is a big deal for me. Every season brings new colors of candles and cushions, wreaths and decor. I’ve made centerpieces for friends and family but had never sold before.

Finally, the last piece of the puzzle clicked into place after a few glasses of wine with my cousin, Kristen. We are the same age, have many of the same interests and had both just welcomed a little boy after having two girls each. She has an Interior Design background and lives in Covington, Louisiana, where we’ve began selling our designs under the  name Kristen & Angie at the Clayton House. Obviously, this presents a slight challenge for me, as I live in Houston. But I do love a good challenge.

So, now we’re up at the crack of dawn getting kids ready for school, feeding the baby, then lead generating, showing houses, the odd training class, carpool, soccer/choir/cheer practice and then out to the garage where I work on my stuff until it’s time to go to bed. Every once in a while I have 5 minutes to myself, so naturally, I started a blog. And THIS is how we ended up here. Enjoy!