[in five]: Favorite Holiday Pillows

Now that Halloween is over, and Stella's candy is gone (thanks for nothing, self-control), it's time to get our Thanksgiving and Christmas on! Here are my five favorite holiday pillow covers. Which one's your fave? 

P.S. Don't judge--I left Stella all most of the non-chocolate candy. It's really a win, win, and I'm doing my family a favor by getting rid of all of that junk. I'm a good mom like that.

image from H&M

image from coverLOVE via Etsy

image from SPLOTshop via Etsy

image from Nordstrom

image from Pottery Barn

Last Chance | ElemenOPillows Giveaway

When I was a senior in high school (you know, back in the olden days), the baseball team sponsored a dance. They called it the Last Chance Baseball Dance. They had that same dance at least three weekends in a row…and called it the Last Chance Baseball Dance every time.  But today…this giveaway ends, for reals.  And, if you don't enter, you will forever regret it. Click here to enter. (I have no idea where Stella gets her dramatics from.) 

Nursery | Man Cave | ElemenOPillows

Did you have a fun Halloween? Holidays are just so much fun with kids…especially because there is always chocolate involved. I like chocolate.  I like it a lot. 

Here are two design boards: a nursery and a man cave. Both were inspired by the black houndstooth pillow from ElemenOPillows. I love how versatile pillows are, and they definitely play a big part in setting the tone for a room. Don't forget to enter the ElemenOPillows giveaway for your chance to win a $50 credit to the shop…just by leaving a comment on this post. 

Linking up to

This Ole Mom

ElemenOPillows Giveaway | Contest Closed

The amazing Karen at ElemenOPillows is once again giving one lucky reader a $50 credit to her shop.  Have you seen her shop? You will LOVE it! These are quality, people. I have three of Karen's pillows on my couch, and the quality is amazing.  Don't believe me? Just ask the OVER 3300 five star reviewers. Want to ask the negative reviewers? You can't. There aren't any. Not. A. One. Karen's pillows have also been featured on the Nate Berkus show, DIY Network, and Good Housekeeping magazine. Plus, here's the best part: they are super affordable (average price is $16), AND there are tons--1500 listings. Have I bragged enough? Want some of these amazing pillows? All you have to do is check out the ElemenOPillows shop and leave me a comment telling me which is your fave. 

For an extra entry, pin this post! Then, leave a separate comment telling me that you did.

Contest ends on Tuesday, November 5 at 9:00pm MT. All participants must be  followers of [kreyv] via Google Friend Connect and/or the [kreyv] Facebook page.

[kreyv of the day]

image from Atlanta Homes Mag

[kreyv of the day]

I don't know if you've heard, but I'm having an awesome ElemenOPillows Giveaway! Don't forget to enter! Winner will be announced on Monday. Enjoy your weekend, and the last day of November.

image from Better Homes & Gardens

[color kreyv]: Fuchsia

Okay, so I have a confession. I'm going to tell you, and you're not going to judge me. At least not out loud. Some of you may laugh, and some of you may roll your eyes. But, any of you who know me personally will most likely not be surprised. So here goes: on Sundays, I make sure that my family's outfits coordinate. Not anything too crazy and not matchy-matchy...just coordination. My sweet, sweet husband asks me if we are wearing brown or black since all of his slacks and shoes are either in the brown or black family, and we go from there. (I know. He should get a prize. He knows it's easier to ask first than to have to change.) If it matters, he does pick out his own ties. Except for last Sunday. It was a "black" day, and Stella was wearing her birthday dress, so I suggested that Mr. Hubs wear a pink tie. He asked me which one, so I tried to explain it. After a while, he said, "Oh, the fuchsia one?" I started laughing that he said the word fuchsia, but at the same time, I totally had a proud wife moment. Now, are you judging me or just thinking of how awesome fuchsia is? Either way, enter my giveaway: $50 Giveaway to ElemenOPillows. The shop has LOTS of pink fuchsia.

image from Micasa

pillows from ElemenOPillows

image from Nicety

Umm...Is This Thing On?

I know I'm cute, but look behind me! Like our new pillows? Want some of your own? Go here to enter to win a $50 credit to ElemenOPillows! You know you want to.

ElemenOPillows Giveaway

I'm not going to lie. This giveaway is legen--wait for it--dary! I am SO super excited to announce my new sponsor, ElemenOPillows. This shop is amazing. You will not even believe the selection, the pillow covers are quality, and the prices are crazy low. Crazy. Low. Want one? Or three? How about a $50 credit to ElemenOPillows?! Here's how to play:

Go to the ElemenOPillows shop and tell me which pillow is your favorite. That's it! (Must be a follower of [kreyv] via Google Friend Connect or like [kreyv] on Facebook.)

Want some extra entries?

Like ElemenOPillows on Facebook, then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

Follow ElemenOPillows/Karen on Pinterest, then leave me a separate comment telling me you did so.

And, for you over achievers, you can blog or facebook about this giveaway for an additional entry, then leave me a a separate comment telling me you did so.

Good luck!! Winner will be announced Monday, December 3rd. Good luck!

[so cheap, so easy]: Polka Dot Painted Pillows

I've painted a rug and curtains, so why not pillows? I'm not going to lie. After all of my stress about pillows, I kind of didn't want these to work, so that I could be done with it. But, they did, and I'm so glad! I kind of like them. Sorry I didn't take pictures along the way, but I seriously don't have the patience for paint to dry let alone, to stop along the way and take pics. But, it's pretty much self-explanatory, so don't you worry your pretty little heads, mmmkay?! 

I used a heavier white fabric and cut my fabric to size allowing for at least 5/8" seams...because that's what the momma told me to do. (These pillows are 20 inches.) I taped down my fabric (just like I did with the curtains.) I used adhesive paper and a circle punch to make the dots and then stuck them on the pillow. I then rolled the green paint over the entire pillow making sure to be generous with the paint as it will seep into the fabric. The last step, which is the best step of all, is to remove the adhesive dots. Wah lah...custom fabric! I will say, that these are not silky, soft take-a-nap on pillows. The paint tends to be a bit stiff, which isn't an issue at my house, because we don't lay on "fancy" pillows! In fact, I kind of think I want to make some custom painted fancy pillows for my living room! Hmmmm, the possibilities are endless!

The Great Pillow Debate

Remember this post? I was having a hard time deciding whether to go with a very muted pinstripe or a white and green pattern. I was a tortured soul. I could NOT decide. Every single person agreed that I should go with the green, but I kind of wanted the pinstripe...then the green...then the pinstripe. So? I chose neither. And now, the great pillow debate is FINALLY over. What do you think?

So Close

Remember when I said that Stella's room would be done over the weekend. Yeah. Didn't happen. I went out with the girls on Friday, didn't get home until 3 am, and then had to take a nap the next day after getting home from a brunch. We actually didn't have much time to work on it. Hopefully, next week. I'm kind of ready to be DONE, and we are so close! In the meantime, which pillow do you like best? The green or the blue pinstripe?

This little goof just HAD to jump into the picture, and she is exactly who gets the blame for the out of focus pictures above. (And, perhaps a little bit of the blame should be on me and my poor photography skills, if I'm being perfectly honest.)

Large and In Charge

So, what do you think of the bolster? Don't be surprised, but I kind of love it. I love a lot of things, don't I? I've wanted one for my bed, but of course, I don't sew...not that I could make a cylindrical bolster, but I think my seventh grade sewing skills could get me through making the other kind. I mean, really, how hard could it be? (In case this is your first time reading my blog, I say that all the time. Translation: It is, indeed, harder than it looks, and I will, indeed, most likely mess it up if I attempt it.)

image from House Beautiful via Everything Fabulous

image from Caitlin Creer

image from John's Journal

[color kreyv]: White Christmas

I love all of these beautiful, white Christmas decorations; I love the movie White Christmas that two of my best besties Joan and Haley introduced to me by singing the sister song all day at work even if it wasn't December; and I love seeing snow in the Utah mountains. BUT, I'll be perfectly honest:  I don't like snow on the ground, and I'm not at all disappointed that we won't be having a white Christmas here in St. Louis. Not. One. Single. Bit. Living in Wisconsin for five years will give you all of the white Christmases (New Years, Valentines, St. Patrick Days, Easters, and sometimes even Mother's Days) that you'll ever want (and more). So, just so we're straight, if I ever say I'm dreaming of a white Christmas, I'm most likely talking about decor. 

image from Eastern Accents Holiday

image from Fashion in My Eyes

image from Home Re-Design Kaleidoscope

image from Squidoo

[so cheap, so easy]: Cloth Napkin DIYs

Remember when I had that awesome giveaway? I gave away a gift card to West Elm. Well, I felt left out, so when I was ordering the gift card, I found a little somethin' somethin' for myself. Sometimes that happens to me. I can't help it. The cloth napkins sucked me in, and I bought them.

I bought two sets of four each for $12. You can't beat that. I made pillows with one set. No cutting, and even I can sew a pillow (with a little help).

image from Pottery Barn

These next beauties are from Pottery Barn. I bought a set of six block print napkins for $25. I'm not saying they are the cheapest napkins you can buy, but they were originally $39. Such a deal. (It's a reflex, me always justifying my purchases.) I've only used one so far, and I used it to cover these small lampshades. I love them! Of course, the cylindrical lampshade was the easiest, but I managed to make the other one look decent as well. You would never know they were covered with napkins. Well, you would, because I just told you.

I'm not sure what I'll do with the other napkins. They are so beautiful. They all have a different, coordinating pattern. In the past, I've used napkins to cover canvases, or I've framed them. The possibilities are really endless! Perhaps I will just use them at the table--THAT would be crazy.

Agreeing to Disagree

Throw pillows. I always want more; the hubby wants none. I think they make the room; he thinks they're a burden. I'm always making them look just right; he's always throwing them on the floor.

Although my search for perfect (affordable) throw pillows has not yet ended, I do think my current pillows set the tone for the room. (Apparently, I want a different tone.) In most living rooms, the sofa is the focal point, so it must be dressed exquisitely, and I say the more, the merrier!

I love the pillows in these pictures. They are all the same color with different patterns. I especially love the first image (as in love it so much I want everything in it). The pillows bring so much interest, texture, and sophistication to the room--the perfect qualities for the perfect pillows!

image from House and Home

image from Taylor Mosaic Homes

image from Real Simple