Recently I thrifted this amazing print of the"Girl With a Pearl Earring". 

The print is on canvas and looks very realistic and it even came in this gorgeous frame! I have plans to move her into one of my bathrooms when they get completed.

I promised myself that I would add more color into our home this year. My dear friend Stacy (@shabbystacy on Instagram) gifted me this beautiful decor book by Rachel Ashwell for Christmas, and it wasted no time in giving me inspiration!

The last two years my family and I have traveled to the ocean for our vacation. I had not been to see the ocean since I was five years old and once I came back as an adult it truly captured my heart. I have been graviting towards blues, greens and lavender colors  in my home ever since. When I saw this soft blue color on the wall in the photo below I knew that I wanted to recreate the look in my own home.

I recently painted our library in a beautiful color called "Geyser Steam" by Sherwin Williams and had a bit left over to paint the wall behind the mantel. Its a gorgeous blue/green color that changes in the light.

I also bought a sweet pillow cover featuring Marie Antoinette, I like it so much that I think I will order a few more. To purchase one for yourself, you can find it linked here in my Amazon Store.

The blue wall is so pretty in my eyes. I wanted to expose the brick behind the wall, but my little boy begged me not too, he did approve of the new color though.💞

My home is always changing and evolving it seems.

I hope you like the new color and are having a great start to 2021!

-Larissa

I love a gingerbread village at Christmas time. Someday I want to have a collection of beautiful realistic looking faux gingerbread homes to display at Christmas.

Since those gorgeous fake gingerbread homes are currently not in my budget, I thought I would try my luck with a creating a budget friendly gingerbread village.

Last year after Christmas I picked up a few ready made gingerbread houses at the grocery store. They were discounted to around a couple of dollars.

I pulled them out this year and they were still in perfect condition, and ready to be decorated!

Instead of using royal icing, or the icing that the kit came with, I decided to use a spackling compound.

I did not want to use royal icing because I found it too delicate and it breaks so easily. I did use the pastry bags and tips provided in the gingerbread kit to pipe the compound on. The spackling compound is the exact consistency of buttercream frosting and I was able to use food dye with it. I dyed half of my icing pink.

Once that was finished, I went to work on creating the details on my houses. I googled pictures of gingerbread houses to get an idea of how I wanted mine to look like.

They are definitely not perfect, but did create the Christmas atmosphere that I was looking for.

Each gingerbread house received a dusting of sparkling snow.

I think they turned out pretty well. 

They are the perfect addition to my kitchen table for the holidays, and extremely budget friendly!

 Hello! Well we are just a few days from Christmas, and today I want to share with you my sugar cookie recipe. I have been making these sugar cookies EVERY Christmas since I was 14 years old, so.....20 years now! lol

I found this recipe in a Taste of Home Magazine and its been my "go to" recipe ever since. You can see the recipe on their website here.

When I was younger, I always decorated my cookies in red and green icing, but in the last 5 years or so, I've changed it up to shabby chic style! Here are my cookies from last year all decorated!

Ingredients

• 2 cups butter, softened
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
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The foyer is decorated for Christmas.

This year I draped the bannisters with garlands of cedar and eucalyptus tied up with simple blush pink ribbons

I've had these lanterns for ages and decided to pull them down from the attic this Christmas season.

Simply tied bows and candlelight with suffice this year. The ornaments on the staircase will be moved, they are only for the photos.

I decided to turn my dress form into an angel this Christmas.

I've had the wings for several years and have never displayed them until now.

The soft fur cloak is vintage and was purchased at an estate sale over the summer.

Christmas decorations create a pretty atmosphere.

 Gold trumpets are also tucked in here and there throughout the bannister garland.

The small trumpets are vintage, but the large ones are new.

A eucalyptus garland dresses up my antique pier mirror. 

I had another pair of angel wings in storage so I decided to add them to the mirror for an unexpected whimsical vibe.

This sweet Santa was a thrifted find, just added a pink ribbon and he fits right in.

I am so thankful that we restored the upper banister earlier this year. I can finally decorate it for Christmas and actually share it with you!

Jeffery has been my little helper while I decorated. He's my sweetie.

I hope you enjoyed this tour! 

-Larissa 

I've always loved an "old world" Christmas. 

The dining room here at Welch House is the perfect space to create that feeling.

A simply dressed Christmas tree with twinkling lights gives off that cozy Christmas glow.

This year I wanted to give a nod to the Nutcracker Ballet. I swapped out the mirror over the piano for this gorgeous Degas print of ballerinas.

The dining table is dressed with fresh greenery clippings gathered from the yard, and simple embellishments.

Three sweet vintage ballerina prints grace the mantel. They were a gift from my sister last year at Christmas. I absolutely love them.

A lighted garland dripping with pearls and ribbons is the perfect touch.

I love the soft, subtle elegance of the mantel decorations.

The dining room feels so magical and cozy.

The Christmas tree lends a very European feel.  I love way the branches lay with simply tied ribbons on their ends.

Soft vintage pink Christmas bulbs are my very favorites and were gifted to me by a wonderful IG friend.  They are so very special to me.

A new bust sits up top a bed of tulle and fresh greenery on the french buffet.

Its a very simple look. 

I am on a budget more than ever this year, so I am only using what I already have.

-Larissa