susieroses, great pics! And, oooolll...la, la!!! JT's make-over is (KISS)"perfection!" I'm sorry to say though...even as innocent as she looks, she doesn't fit in with the "angels" decor! She's a sly little one...nice try, JT...but the sleigh & horse-back on more your style! TFS pics, susieroses! Am happy to hear she brought you Christmas cheer! Jeanne S.

Thank you all again...it is a precious "tree" for me ...and it brings back lots of good memories...like the heart-shaped gold & pewter pc was given to me by my grandma many yrs ago...it opens up & has our pics inside & my g'pa's too. And that silly Texas shaped pin left of the tree trunk is a junky pc from Texas...my folks wintered there after retirement...that silly colorful peacock feather you see right of the trunk is a from a pair of earrings when I got to go down & visit them in Texas once! (in the middle of an Iowa winter! It was heaven!) And the trinket angel pin...my Mom wore them on lots of things...scarfs, lapels, etc. I could rattle on a long time with you all! But I am pleased that it has inspired some of you with ideas for your keepsakes. Thanks for looking. Jeanne S.

auntjen, Now that's a big, dark house that breaks every rule. And it sold! Just goes to show you that everyone's taste is different. While I enjoy the Cote d'Texas blog and like her design taste and blog posts, I am starting to get a little tired of seagrass rugs, white linen slip covers on everything, white carrera marble etc. I think in a few years - those things will be seen as design staples of 2014-15. I wish I could find a designer who designed comfortable, real people homes. Most of the rooms in design magazines are so uncomfortable looking. Yes, the furniture is beautiful but you can't curl up on that tiny sofa and where's the TV! :-) What's wrong with having some color in a room? A TV? gasp - carpeting? I feel like these design blogs and magazines are designing for .02% of the population. Vent over...lol

Can someone also lend their opinion about my rug size? I'm torn between an 8x10 (having just the front of the sofa, ottoman, and chairs on the rug but not the side tables), an 9 x12 (having the front of the chairs and sofa, half of the side tables (the otter legs would be off the rug), and all of the ottoman on the rug), and 9x12 having all of the furniture on the rug except for the tv stand). I'm torn between the 9x12 and 8x10. I like the idea of the 9x12 but hate that the width wall-to-wall would reduce the walkway between the tv stand and rug to just 3 ft. Should this walkway be larger? Should I get an even bigger rug to go under the tv stand?? My living room size is 16 x 16. Thanks for any input in advance...The holidays are coming and I need the help. :-)