“Use lots of exclamation points. They love to be overused.”
-SARK
It’s June 5th, which means I’m 41 years old young today!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
Kevin is taking me up to Cullman, where we’re going to visit our friend Garlan about some reclaimed wood. I’ve got an idea for the fireplace, which is finally going to start getting a little facelift next month. That doesn’t mean I can’t decorate the top of the one we have for now though, right?
I love switching the decor up from season to season, so I’m all about shopping the house when it comes to these kinds of projects.
This time, I started with the one-hundred-some-year-old window that my great-grandpa salvaged from a church in Minnesota, and then layered in a wooden piece of architectural salvage, my Grandma Beth’s old crocks, a few glass bottles (to contrast with the tone of the crocks), a driftwood sailboat, and some faux (and one real!) succulents.
It’s nothing fancy. Just simple with a dash of sentimental. 🙂
Some of the succulent sprigs aren’t even potted. I just nestled them in place, here and there:
I found the wooden piece at Amy’s Antiques a while back:
I didn’t know exactly where I’d use it when I bought it, but I’m a sucker for that kind of thing, and knew I’d be able to find lots of places for it around here.
That’s a napkin ring holder next to the nest…
…and I got the wire-covered bottles at TJ Maxx a few years back:
The jug-in-a-basket came from Linen and Boxwoods here in Montgomery:
And here’s a close-up of the real succulent:
I just filled a glass votive holder with potting soil and wrapped it with some jute twine.
I’ll be back Monday with a post about all the reclaimed goodness we see at Southern Accents in Cullman. I’m sure there will be a lot of exclamation points, too. 😉
*Edited to add: Kevin had a great idea! I just downloaded an app called Periscope so that I could take you to Southern Accents with me. My username name is LetteredCottage if you’d like to join me via your cell phone later this afternoon! XO
Happy Birthday Layla!!! Hope your day is extra special. xxx
Happy Birthday, lovely lady. Have a wonderful time.
Happy Birthday, Layla! Your summer mantel looks beautiful…as always! I honestly would love to have at least one ounce of your talent! I adore the way you decorate with your sentimental pieces. I believe that’s what truly makes a house a home. Have a wonderful birthday and unforgettable trip! Also, safe travels to you and your love!!! Did you happen to notice I love to overuse exclamation points?
Happy Birthday to you!!!!!!!
Happy Birthday! ?
Happy Birthday Layla!!! I love the window and can not wait to see what you do to the mantel.
Happy Birthday!!
Happy Birthday Layla!!! I hope you have an amazing day! Sending love from RI!
Wishing you a beautiful birthday! 🙂
Happy Birthday young lady!
Would you please keep us updated on how your string of pearls succulent goes? I’ve had two now and haven’t been able to keep mine alive 🙁
I hope you have a fabulous day. xxx
Happy Birthday Layla! I hope you have a fantastic day xo
I love the mantle summer spruce up as well!
Lauren Baxter | LB Designs
xx
Happy BD Layla,
I hope it’s filled with all kinds of goodness.Your mantel looks very summery and I know the feeling on switching them out seasonally.
Take Care,
all the best of wishes,
Penny
Happy Birthday!!!!!!! And its good to see you do a mantle again.
Happy birthday! My son turns 21 today!
Happy birthday, Layla!
love and blessings~
Lynda @ Gates of Crystal
Happiest Birthday, sweet Layla!!!!!!! You are sure to discover some treasures today. It’s so exciting to think about all that the year ahead will bring!!!!!! ♡
Happy Birthday to a beautiful YOUNG woman!
Love the mantel too – I just finished redoing mine as well – like you I also like to change it seasonally. I want to get some succulents too – liked seeing how you’ve done (or not done – lol) yours.
Happy Birthday, Layla! My husband and I are headed to Cullman tomorrow. Mostly to see the in-laws but if I can convince him to, we will also make a stop in to Southern Accents and possibly Duchess Bakery while we are in the area. 🙂
HAPPY BIRTHDAY beautiful!!!!
I know Kevin is an amazing man and will treat you like a goddess (which you deserve), so I am sending along wishes for beyond-amazing fun for the two of you today. You get to soak up couple time and dream about how your birthdays will be soooo different from here on in! How exciting! I look forward to sharing in future posts of love-made gifts, and attempts at birthday-cake-baking (with Daddy)…. Ah, the joys you guys are in for! I’m SO excited for you!!! I’m sure Sweet P is thinking of you, wishing you a fabulous day together.
On the mantel front – I was hoping you hadn’t given up with the mantel stuff. I really look forward to seeing what you’ve done. I’ll look forward to a mid-summer mantel. 🙂
Maryjane
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day ?
happy birthday, layla! it sounds like a lovely day is planned! your string of pearls plant is so sweet and will be outgrowing it’s tiny pot before you know it. my daughter in law calls her string of prayers!
happy birthday to you ,many blessings to follow .love the mantel .great job,means do much more when theres a piece with history .love succulents. have several of my own .one plant I cant kill .lol. have a great day
Boy, this is a good day . . . it’s your birthday and my 39th wedding anniversary! Happy Birthday to you! And we both married Palmer’s, so we’re both lucky too ?
Happy Birthday, Layla, and many more! I’m thinking of my mother, today, whose birthday was June 5th also. It’s also a special time in Vermont at Shelburne Farms where the peonies always bloom!
Happy Birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear Layla happy birthday to you. Insert music icon. Great mantle too, it’s been a long time since you have posted one. It seems you are settling in to a decorating routine in your new house finally. Have fun finding wood.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU LAYLA!!!???? THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR INSPIRATION!!
ENJOY YOUR DAY…CELEBRATING THE WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL PERSON YOU ARE!!!!
happy birthday, to you.
happy birthday, to you.
happy birthday, dear layla,
happy birthday, to you!
wishing you the most joyous of days! i’m so thankful you were born!
enjoy the cake,
becky
I’ve been wanting to go to SA in Cullman! Happy birthday!
I can not believe your 41, You look amazing girl!!!! Happiest of Birthdays to you Layla!!!
Kaiti
@ The Cottage Woods
Hope you have a very fun time!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!
Can’t wait to see what you find!!!!!! 🙂
Happy birthday, Layla!
Of all things, that little napkin ring holder really catches my eye!
The neutrals with the pop of green are so lovely! Thanks for sharing! (Did I use enough exclamation points?) LOL! Have a wonderful birthday.
Happy HAPPY birthday Layla!!!! Your mantel, well….swoooon! Ugh, I wish I’d read my mail earlier…would of loved to try out that app!!!!
?lisa. P.s. Can’t wait to read all about the !!!!! Points?
Happy Birthday. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.
I hope you had a most festive birthday! Your mantel is precious.
A very Happy Birthday to YOU!
Why would I be having trouble seeing the pictures on your blog? I get your post via email & I also click over to see your post on my browser but I don’t see the pics? I use an iPad. On the email I see a partial pic, but not the whole pic where you show everything & then I realize I’m not seeing the whole pic as others who comment on what they saw.
Hi Darlene!
My web tech asked me to have you check to see if it could be your internet connection.
She has heard about that happening if the connection is slow.
Happy Birthday to my fav AL gal. Can’t wait to see what you find in Cullman!!!!!!!
I loved the church window frame……….it took my breath. What a peaceful beauty.
Happy Blessed Birthday Layla..love the church window, and all the memories of those loved ones..plus the little jar with twine..looked like little peas on the vine..reminding
me of your own Sweet P. :}
Oh my beautiful! Love those sweet little succulents. Hope you had a wonderfully happy birthday Layla!
I love the sentiment and the succulents!
Hi, Layla, Happy Birthday! love your mantel; the pop of green from the succulents catches my fancy. I’m also reminded of my old window upstairs that needs to come down to the mantel. Don’t windows lend themselves to so many decorating options?! I’m going to post your mantel to my Pinterest board, “Mantels” for future reference. Can’t wait to see what you do with reclaimed wood for your fireplace.
Mary