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A Pretty Happy Home

Life, DIY and Random Things That Make Me Smile

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
  • Shop
  • Projects
    • Cleaning
    • Clothing
    • Colonial Farmhouse
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY Projects
    • Holidays
  • Adventure
    • Moving to Ireland
    • Living in Ireland
    • Visiting Ireland
    • Travel
    • Family and Parenting
    • Humor
    • Learning
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
  • Shop
  • Projects
    • Cleaning
    • Clothing
    • Colonial Farmhouse
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY Projects
    • Holidays
  • Adventure
    • Moving to Ireland
    • Living in Ireland
    • Visiting Ireland
    • Travel
    • Family and Parenting
    • Humor
    • Learning
  • Privacy Policy

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  • when and where to use rechargeable light bulbs so they don't disappoint you
    decorating,  DIY

    5 Places Rechargeable Light Bulbs Won’t Disappoint You

    February 21, 2024 /

    If you’re contemplating using rechargeable light bulbs, then I know you have a lighting situation that’s dimming your spirit a little. Maybe a lot. If it was a hassle-free, inexpensive fix, and your best friend’s sister’s cousin is an electrician, then you would have already shone a light on your dark corner. Same. Or maybe you are renting and there’s no way your landlord is going to spring for more outlets and hardwired lights. Gives new meaning to the Dark Ages. Been there too. Couldn’t see a thing. Rechargeable light bulbs are not going to solve all of your life problems. Disappointing, I know. However, they have been improving in…

    read more
    annisa 0 Comments

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    wood drink table set next to a farmhouse stye wood bench in a colonial farmhouse

    What a Difference a Drink Table Makes

    April 9, 2025
    wood bowl in front of a stack of wood cutting boards in a farmhouse kitchen wood bowls for decor or food

    Wood Bowls: For Food or Decor?

    April 10, 2024

    Lamp Base Filled With Yarn Pom-Poms

    June 27, 2014
  • reclaimed wood try from rotten piece of old growth pine the hidden meaning behind this reclaimed wood tray
    decorating,  DIY

    The Hidden Meaning Behind This Reclaimed Wood Tray

    February 19, 2024 /

    I never thought there would be a hidden meaning behind a reclaimed wood tray. Yet, here we are. To set the stage, we live in a colonial-era home that we’ve been restoring for the last four and a half years. Old homes should come with a warning. Not the “this house is a money pit” warning. Although, it will be. Not the “this house makes disturbing noises” warning. It does. Not the “people probably died here” warning. For sure they have. They were born here too. Not the “rodents have more entrances to your home than you do” warning. It’s infuriating. The warning old houses should come with is this…

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    annisa 2 Comments

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    colonial farmhouse front yard landscaping

    The Reason Why I Like Old Houses

    August 10, 2020
    living room vignette focusing on a vintage paragon needlecraft called birch in the wind hanging on the wall. There's a low blue chair sitting in front of the needlepoint. There's also a pothos plant sitting on a wood and brass plant stand in front of the needlepoint, which was thrifted fiber art.

    Birch in the Wind – Thrifted Fiber Art

    January 19, 2026

    Items I Should Have Bought on Facebook Marketplace, but Didn’t

    February 6, 2019
  • vintage brass display stand in praise of pretty tablet stands
    decorating

    In Praise Of: Pretty Tablet Stands

    February 12, 2024 /

    Every time it appears in a photo or video, I get compliments and questions about the brass tablet stand that holds my laptop or iPad while it charges. I agree, it is pretty amazing. My tablet stand is vintage from the 1970s, which means it’s not really a tablet stand. We were still typing on typewriters in the 1970s, not laptops and tablets. My oh my, how things have changed. My stand held a memento from my parents’ wedding. I’ve used it to display various pictures over the years, but now it functions as a beautiful and practical display stand for a laptop or iPad. I wondered if I could…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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    DIY Wood Acorn Napkin Rings

    September 28, 2022

    5 Easy, (mostly) Recyclable Halloween Decorating Ideas

    October 11, 2017
    not quite fall front porch colonial farmhouse

    Our Not Quite Fall Front Porch

    September 27, 2021
  • colonial farmhouse living room curtains traditional living room with light brown velvet curtains and a leather sofa
    decorating

    Living Room Curtains (It Only Took Me 4 Years)

    January 31, 2024 /

    I finally hung living room curtains and it only took me four years to get that job done. *pats self on the back* Why did I wait so long to hang living room curtains? I’m one of those people who don’t really mind naked windows, especially if the windows have gorgeous trim like this particular window has. I also didn’t have to worry about privacy. This window faces our backyard and there’s nothing but deer, bear, rabbits, groundhogs, and a fox in our backyard. They don’t seem to mind the view, so I haven’t prioritized window treatments. Until now. Why now? Not sure. In a way that I think will…

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    annisa 8 Comments

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    St Patrick’s Day Craft: Burlap Pot of Gold

    March 1, 2017
    in praise of blates pasta bowls low bowls blates replace dinner plates

    In Praise of Blates (Pasta Bowls)

    January 16, 2023

    Paper Rainbow Butterfly Art

    February 2, 2015
  • old fashioned wall sconce with 6 inch fitter my latest thrift store finds
    decorating

    My Latest Thrift Store Finds: Part 7

    January 29, 2024 /

    Welcome back to the delightful but infrequent blog series “My Latest Thrift Store Finds.” It’s not infrequent because I’m not thrift store shopping. No, no, no. Even I don’t have that much restraint. It is an infrequent series because I forget to write about my thrift store finds unless they are part of a larger story or project. This blog series is my attempt to right (or is it write?) that wrong. Here’s what has come home with me in the last few months. My Latest Thrift Store Finds: Mini Copper and Brass Colander Once in a blue moon Handy Husband will come to the thrift store with me. He…

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    annisa 4 Comments

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    Paper Rainbow Butterfly Art

    February 2, 2015
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    Glazed Terra-Cotta Pot Makeover

    February 24, 2021
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    Well Bucket Book Holder

    June 22, 2020
  • built in black pantry cabinet in a colonial farmhouse gross to gorgeous pantry cabinet transformation vintage pantry cabinet
    colonial farmhouse,  decorating

    Gross To Gorgeous Pantry Cabinet Transformation

    January 17, 2024 /

    We may not have a huge walk-in pantry in this old house of ours but we do have a gorgeous built-in cabinet that we are using as a pantry. Gorgeous is a description that is a bit “in the eye of the beholder” as it didn’t start that way. That’s why I titled this blog post “Gross To Gorgeous Pantry Cabinet Transformation.” The gross pantry cabinet started out violating multiple health codes if such a thing existed for pantry cabinets. Then there were the violations of our visual sensibilities. I think it is safe to say this cabinet would not win any interior design awards. However, if you can get…

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    annisa 8 Comments

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    Why We Installed a Tongue and Groove Ceiling In Our Carriage House

    May 16, 2022
    painted white gate

    I Painted Our Front Gate

    September 11, 2019
    colonial farmhouse exterior with sunporch

    Colonial Farmhouse 3 Year Anniversary

    June 13, 2022
  • diy brass pumpkin
    decorating

    Cozy Touches Of Fall In My Home

    November 8, 2023 /

    My home is feeling especially cozy right now, which is a good thing since we are racing as fast as an out-of-control sled down a steep, snow-covered hill toward winter. Am I ready? No. Funny thing, that march of time. It happens whether I’m ready or not. While I might not be ready for the upcoming winter, it’s fine. My home is cozy. I don’t need to leave it. I’ll just hunker down for the next…oh, shoot. I have to leave the house every day this week. Adulting is over-rated, folks. Over. Rated. We’ll revisit the hunkering down thing next week. In the meantime, the pool towels and the lawn games…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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    Leather Wrapped Basket Handle

    March 7, 2016
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    My Thrifted James Peter Cost Art Is Worth How Much?

    November 4, 2019
    vintage ethan allen chairs

    Vintage Ethan Allen Chairs for our Living Room

    October 28, 2020
  • Wood Music Stand Hits The Right Note and adds character and function to a music room
    decorating

    Wood Music Stand Hits The Right Note

    October 25, 2023 /

    I found the most gorgeous wood music stand to add to our music room. Did we need it? Absolutely not. But is it perfect for this space? Oh, yes. Yes, indeed. I’ve been idly looking for a music stand for years. As a pianist, I don’t really need one because the piano comes with its own. When I go through one of my “attempt to learn the guitar” phases, I usually just look at chords on my phone, so I don’t need a music stand for that. Although, it probably would help my posture to have the phone propped somewhere more ergonomically correct. When it came down to it, I…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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    Our New Living Room Rug Gives a Warm Feel To This Part of Our Home

    January 17, 2022
    antique cast iron hitching post installed in front of white carriage house with a stone wall in the background

    Hold Your Horses: Bringing Back the Original “Parking Spot”

    August 10, 2026

    Foyer – How it is Today

    April 3, 2015
  • amber match cloche by skeem via lulu and georgia in praise of pretty matchstick holders
    decorating

    In Praise Of: Pretty Matchstick Holders

    October 18, 2023 /

    Do you know what lights my fire? Pretty matchstick holders. I recently found a vintage cast iron matchstick holder to hold chalk, not matches, but that’s a story for the end of this blog post. The point is you don’t have to store matches in the boring boxes they come in. There are really pretty matchstick holders – new and vintage – to hold your little fire sticks. I flame to please, so check out these pretty matchstick holders. Cast Iron Match Striker | Schoolhouse This cast iron match striker from Schoolhouse is perfect in its simplicity. I love that there’s a place to set down spent matches. (image: Schoolhouse)…

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    Halloween Mantel That Will Transition Into Thanksgiving

    October 29, 2018
    farmhouse front porch more seating with rockers and a light update

    Front Porch – More Seating and a Light Update

    May 19, 2025
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    The Prettiest Acorn Decor and Jewelry

    October 16, 2024
  • create a Nature Art Gallery Wall using an eclectic grouping of landscape art, flower prints, and leaf stamping.
    decorating

    Nature Art Gallery Wall

    October 16, 2023 /

    Nature art in all its forms – landscape paintings, dried flowers, prints of bouquets – is my jam. It’s soothing to me. Plus, it’s a bug-free way of bringing nature inside my home. Love nature. Not too fond of the bugs. I’ve been collecting nature art for a while now. My love for nature art and landscape paintings started when my aunt painted a scene of my child running along a trail. There’s nothing like a tug on the heartstrings to get you started down the path of an art collection. Now, when I spot nature art at the thrift store, it often comes home with me. Believe it or…

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    5 Kitchen Organization Strategies I Use Wherever We Move

    May 22, 2019
    how to transition a holiday wreath to a winter wreath

    How To Transition A Holiday Wreath To A Winter Wreath

    January 9, 2023
    image showing a white fireplace with a grapevine heart garland hanging above the fireplace. The grapevines are a variety of sizes. In the foreground is a wood dining room table with a red vase holding red and white alstroemerias. There are also four brass candle holders on the table with red and pink candles. The picture is showcasing how to DIY a grapevine heart garland.

    DIY Grapevine Heart Garland

    January 14, 2026
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Hi! I'm Annisa.

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