A Stroll Through the Park and a Look Behind the Scenes

I have a fun post for you today.
 I am going to take you on a stroll around the family room and also let you see the reality of how we really live on a daily basis!  
First I want you to see how carefully I cropped this photo of the family room decorated in a Art in the Park theme for the summer.  

I made sure that I took the photo at an angle that you couldn't see  that my computer is out.....it is always out... except when I am taking pictures for a post.
  You can see my Iphone on the table safely cradled in a napkin holder.   I can't tell you how many times a drink has got knocked over near our phones!

If I were doing a post from this angle,   I would shove H's magazine rack  to the side and out of the photo.....it holds all the things he needs by him at all times...lol!   His computer,  heating pad,  and newspaper.   I would put our drinks and kleenex box  away  (they are ALWAYS  on the table )   I would replace them with a pretty floral design for the picture.

  When we eat while watching TV,   Ky sits between us at her TV tray and she sits on a piano stool.

In a previous post,  I showed my new slip covers from this angle,     When I took those photo's I had put Ky's computer aside and put some decorating magazines in it s place.      Ky lays on the sofa ....watches TV ...and plays on her computer so this is a good place for her charger and also to store her computer when not in use.

Now for a little stroll around the family room.    You have already seen a post on the new slip covers and fireplace ,  if you haven't....
click here       http://penny-pennystreasures.blogspot.com/2016/05/fun-summer-fireplace-decor-in-family.html 
and here       http://penny-pennystreasures.blogspot.com/2016/05/open-furniture-arrangement-for-summer.html

I completed the Art in the Park theme by adding some art pieces to the top shelf of the TV armoire.    I also added a piece of art on the floor in front of the armoire.    I repurposed a vintage heater by using it like an easel.

Here is a close up of the pieces in the top shelf of the armoire.....

I decorated the top of the piano with pictures.    I had taken the banner down from the fireplace mantle earlier and realized that I missed it,  so I hung it across the piano.

This is the dining room area in the family room.      I took this blue rug out from in front of the sofa and put a pink rug in it's place.   I thought this one would look nice in here since it picks up the blue in the stained glass.  
 This whole rug switching thing began when the pink rug (now in front of the sofa) was too wide for the entry after H installed the built in cabinets.    The only rug I had that would fit the entry was in the studio.....so we moved that one into the entry....pink to the family...blue to the dining....entry rug to the studio....whew....I'm tired of moving rugs!

 I did a simple swan arrangement for my  "park" theme on the family room dining table

I have had the dishes in the photo on the left sitting on the dining table for about a week.    I plan to use them in a tablescape on the back porch,  but it has rained ...too windy....anyway,  it hasn't happened yet.   So I piled them in the floor next to the table and made sure you couldn't see the mess in my photo.   Look back at the photo above this one...can't see them can you!

I added my new Magnolia wreath to the front of the milk glass cabinet for a "park" feel.   I have been shopping for a Magnolia wreath for quite a while....all have been pretty much out of my budget.    I found this one at HL....half off for $25.

I get so many comments....how do you keep your house so clean?    My house gets messed up just like yours does....I just make sure it doesn't show up in my blog photo's!   

So,  here is reality at the Phillip's......blankets,  drinks,  computers,  and a lot more stuff sometimes!

What has H been doing while I was taking pictures and writing my post?    Usually he is busy with a project or working in the yard,  but today it is cool and rainy so  he has been cooking.      H cooked a big pot of chili ....some for today,  and plenty for the freezer.    He peeled and cooked 10#'s of potatoes,   some for today and some for the freezer.   In the bottom photo you can see how we pile the burner covers on the counter to the side of the stove.    All the prep work is done on the completely clutter free island  

He was frying something earlier so he put a light weight kitchen towel over the rooster that sits by the stove.    He didn't want grease popping into the chickens eyes...lol!

http://thecraftyblogstalker.com/create-link-inspire-linky-party-130/
http://liverandomlysimple.com/totally-terrific-tuesday-link-party-86/
http://www.loulougirls.com/2016/05/lou-lou-girls-fabulous-party-112.html
http://www.stringtownhome.net/2016/05/tips-tricks-linky-party_23.html
http://www.dagmarbleasdale.com/2016/05/thrifty-floor-lamp/
http://www.thekimsixfix.com/2016/05/you-gonna-love-it-books-bees-and-peas.html
http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/tutorials/tutorials-tips-link-party-261.html
http://snapcreativity.com/show-tell-218/
http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-monday-113/
http://mamaldiane.com/the-gathering-spot-205/
http://ohmyheartsiegirl.com/heartsie-girls-wonderful-wednesday-8/
http://www.stonegableblog.com/the-scoop-224/
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2016/05/show-and-share-no314.html
http://www.cozylittlehouse.com/2016/05/tweak-it-tuesday-194.html
http://blog.bernideens.com/2016/05/an-old-ladder-for-bttcg-blog-party.html
http://www.thedempsterlogbook.com/southwest-style-room/
http://www.tumbleweedcontessa.com/blog/whatd-you-do-this-weekend-172/
http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/2016/05/no-place-like-home_23.html
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/a-whimsical-garden-bench-for-the-front-porch-and-landscape-updates/
http://www.sewcando.com/2016/05/craftastic-monday-link-party-is-here.html
http://www.create-with-joy.com/2016/05/inspire-me-monday-week-229.html
http://www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com/2016/05/we-love-eating-out-but-sometimes-you.html
http://www.waittilyourfathergetshome.com/2016/05/22/10-patriotic-projects-monday-funday-party/
http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2016/05/mix-it-up-monday_22.html
http://redheadcandecorate.com/2016/05/inspiration-monday-party-139/
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/nifty-thrifty-sunday-231/
http://www.rustic-refined.com/2016/05/dishing-it-digging-it-link-party-97.html
http://www.apinchofjoy.com/2016/05/busy-monday-217/

http://www.ducksnarow.com/2016/05/happiness-is-homemade-link-party_22.html

http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/2016/05/silver-pennies-sundays-link-party-170.html

http://www.usscrafty.com/2016/05/submarine-sunday-link-party-169.html

http://diyshowoff.com/2016/05/22/that-diy-party-90/

http://www.sunnysimplelife.com/2016/05/simple-saturdays-blog-link-party-521.html

http://www.thesitsgirls.com/sharefest/may-21st-saturday-sharefest/?

http://www.myhusbandhastoomanyhobbies.com/2016/05/snickerdoodle-sunday-132.html

http://www.pinkwhen.com/diy-sunday-showcase-521-faves/

http://www.lifeonlakeshoredrive.com/2016/05/party-time-at-bouquet-of-talent-and-top.html

http://eatdrinkandsavemoney.com/2016/05/21/share-wealth-sunday-57/

http://www.thoughtsfromalice.com/2016/05/sundays-at-home-no-110.html

http://www.tidbitsofexperience.com/small-victories-sunday-linkup-27/

http://www.vintagepaintandmore.com/2016/05/share-it-one-more-time-inspiration.html

http://www.mysnippetsofinspiration.com/weekend-wind-link-party-122/

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/2016/05/anything-goes-pink-saturday-may-21-2016.html

http://seevanessacraft.com/2016/05/friday-finds-linky-party-29/

http://www.thecraftedsparrow.com/2016/05/the-creative-collection-link-party-102.html

http://maleviksrosentradgard.blogspot.com/2016/05/saturday-show-off-bloggparty_20.html

http://www.thegirlcreative.com/inspired-link-party-new-day/

http://tatertotsandjello.com/2016/05/link-party-palooza-giveaway-everyday-line.html

http://mstoodygooshoes.blogspot.com/2016/05/best-of-weekend-52016-and-yankee-doodle.html

http://www.pamspartyandpracticaltips.com/2016/05/dare-to-share-214.html

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/2016/05/foodie-friday-and-everything-else_19.html

http://www.craftsalamode.com/2016/05/what-to-do-weekends-174.html

http://lifewithlorelai.com/2016/05/19/home-matters-linky-party-87/

http://www.dearcreatives.com/linkup-party-inspiration-spotlight-196/

http://thecottagemarket.com/2016/05/morning-cup-joe-linky-party-diy-projects-features-2.html

http://dianarambles.com/2016/05/pin-link-party-190.html

http://www.practicallyfunctional.com/creativity-unleashed-no-121-kreg-tools-giveaway/

http://rchreviews.blogspot.com/2016/05/awesome-life-friday-64.html

http://www.answerischoco.com/2016/05/bff-open-house-link-party_19.html

http://craftdictator.com/2016/05/19/craft-frenzy-friday-140-2/

http://www.myturnforus.com/2016/05/freedom-fridays-with-all-my-bloggy_19.html

http://www.thepinjunkie.com/2016/05/pin-junkie-pin-party-167.html

http://www.devastateboredom.com/2016/05/hilarious-complicated-WTF-life-hacks.html

http://olives-n-okra.com/funtastic-friday-75/?

http://www.xoxorebecca.com/2016/05/that-friday-blog-hop.html

http://shabbyartboutique.com/2016/05/shabbilicious-friday-link-party-139.html

http://too-much-time.com/2016/05/the-handmade-hangout-102.html

https://thecuratorscollection.com/2016/05/19/makig-broken-beautiful-no-39/

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2016/05/home-sweet-home-272.html

http://ohmyheartsiegirl.com/friday-features-linky-party-58/

http://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/2016/05/feathered-nest-friday_19.html

http://www.adelightsomelife.com/2016/05/home-garden-thursday-138-11.html

http://littlefarmstead.blogspot.com/2016/05/share-your-style-no-66.html

http://www.impartinggrace.com/2016/05/grace-at-home-no-203.html

http://bloomdesignsonline.com/2016/05/lovely-little-link-party-77.html?

http://staceyembracingchange.com/2016/05/19/creative-inspirations-linky-party-182/

http://www.decortoadore.net/2016/05/thoughts-of-home-on-thursday-15.html

http://www.cookinandcraftin.com/my-2-favorite-things-on-thursday-link-party-69/

https://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/2016/05/annie-sloan-old-white-paint-for-our.html

https://mythriftstoreaddiction.blogspot.com/2016/05/vintage-charm-party-31.html?

http://organized31.com/2016/05/this-is-how-we-roll-link-party-64.html

http://milaslittlethings.com/2016/05/idea-box-thursday-link-party-63.html

http://www.creationsbykara.com/2016/05/the-creative-exchange-104-thursday-linky-party.html/

https://annesattic-design.com/2016/05/18/share-your-thursday-198/

http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/2016/05/wildly-original-197-link-party.html

http://katherinescorner.com/2016/05/18/thursday-favorite-things-link-party-238/

http://inthenewhouse.com/inspiration-thursday-39/

http://www.posedperfection.com/2016/05/creative-ways-link-party-107-and.html

http://saving4six.com/2016/05/welcome-to-think-tank-thursday-519.html

http://theblissfulbee.porch.com/work-it-wednesday-12/

http://www.thenewlywedpilgrimage.com/moonlight-mason-jars/link-party-153-summer-cocktails/

http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2016/05/your-whims-wednesday-260-and-features.html?

http://adventuresofmel.com/2016/05/inspire-me-wednesday-linky-party-issue-183.html

http://www.lemoinefamilykitchen.com/2016/05/wednesday-roundup-week-126/