home – Home & Hera

TJ Maxx

April 9, 2019 homeandhera

TJ Maxx, you either love it or hate it. I personally think it depends on which location you visit. Some stores are super overwhelming. My local TJ Maxx is spacious, bright and actually pretty organized. I tend to stop in at least once a week to browse for bargains.

If the clutter is something you just can’t deal with, their website is a great option!

Below are 10 Things at TJ Maxx Right Now! (that I want in my home)

I think I need to add some of these books to my bookshelf.

Valentine’s Day Home Decor and Accessories

January 29, 2018February 2, 2018 homeandhera

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! If your home is feeling a little bare and blah after taking down the Christmas decorations, take advantage of this next holiday that is quickly approaching. Whether you want to go all out with reds, pinks, and hearts, or take the subtle approach, below is a list of home decor and entertainment accessories if you feel the need to decorate for Valentine’s Day.

Hobby Lobby

You’re Stuck With Me Mug $4.79

This cactus “you’re stuck with me” mug is a great little gift for your significant other. Also, living in Texas, you can never go wrong with the cactus motif. This white dolomite mug boasts an over-sized bowl-shape with the cute phrase “You’re stuck with me” in skinny black text and three black cactus plants.

Love Floral Wood Wall Décor $ 4.79

There are so many beautiful details to help inspire you to decorate for Valentine’s Day. Add a pop of color to your walls or bookshelves with this wood wall decor! I love Hobby Lobby. They always have great sales throughout the year. If the item you need is not on sale, go on their website and download the 40% off one item coupon! <——–

Target

Single Pink Heart by Shelley Lake Framed Poster 19″x 13″ – $28.79

Here I go talking about Target again. This framed “poster” is a great way to welcome the Valentine’s day spirit without going overboard. You can easily incorporate this piece into an already existing gallery wall or layer it on a bookshelf. Once the holiday is over, simply substitute it out and save it for next year or…leave it! It’s fun and trendy and who doesn’t love black, white, and gold. All components are made in the USA, and the artwork comes ready to hang.

Gray Stripe Oversize Faux Fur Heart Throw Pillow $16.99 &

Pink Oversize Faux Fur Heart Throw Pillow $16.99

Add an extra sweet touch to your couch or bedding with these Oversize Faux-Fur Throw Pillows from Target. Blush is back! More importantly, blush and brass is back and even better when paired together! Check out these cozy, furry heart shaped pillows. Throw these onto your sofa or bed, along with an oversize knit blanket and you’ve got yourself a romantic yet casual space to relax.

Pier 1

Metallic Hearts Art $127.20

Tons of texture in this piece! This is one of the pricier options on my list but is well worth it. This piece is approximately 40”by 40” and would make a great statement on a bare wall.

Heart with Arrow Wood & Marble Serving Board $39.95

Also from Pier 1 is this versatile heart-shaped cutting board. Made from marble and acacia wood, accented with a golden “cupid’s” arrow, this is meant to be at the center of your Valentine’s or Galentine’s day party! Serve up some love people!

WayFair

Novelty Shaped Ramekin Set $19.95

These ramekins can be used in the traditional way: oven to table top, or can be used as a snack bowl. I’m thinking they can be utilized in a quirky way to serve nuts or candies. “I’m nuts about you!” or “How sweet it is to be loved by you!”. Boy Jamie tells me I’m a goofball daily; I’ve embraced it.

Williams Sonoma

Valentines Day Platter $16.95

The sturdy stoneware provides simplistic presentation for all sorts of festive foods, from appetizers and tasty cheeses to cookies and dessert confections. The imperfect edges and a bright red heart give this platter the classic charm of handmade valentines.

Williams Sonoma Rosebud Silicone Ice Molds, Set of 2 $14.95

These floral ice molds provide a unique compliment to a well-crafted cocktail. The inventive silicone molds create ice cubes that melt slowly and evenly so drinks stay well chilled and beautifully balanced. Who doesn’t want an ice-flower in their Valentine’s day drink?! This is sure to be a hit at your Valentine’s or Galentine’s day celebration. And the best part is, these can be reused for bridal showers, baby showers, or birthdays! I think I need these.

White Marble Heart Cheese Board $39.95 &

White Marble Heart Coasters, Set of 4 $24.95

The perfect platform for treats you love, this heart platter is crafted of white marble with hints of gray veining. The naturally cool marble helps keep cheese, fruits and other delectable delights at the ideal serving and eating temperature. The coasters are a perfect pairing to the Cheese Board. Each one-of-a-kind coaster varies slightly in tone and movement.

I think the best part about Valentine’s day is that decorating with hearts is socially acceptable! I know Valentine’s day may not be everyone’s favorite holiday, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it as an excuse to add some color and new textures to your home. Spice up your space in the spirit of Valentine’s Day using inspiration from these decor and accessory suggestions.

**Check out these February themed planner stickers from Erin Condren —>

This post may contain affiliate links**

DIY Pallet Side Table

January 22, 2018January 25, 2018 homeandhera

Pallet projects have really taken off in the world of Pinterest. I don’t think I even knew what a pallet was before 2010. Now, it has become one of the cheapest and most popular resources for DIY home décor projects. A little creativity can turn a pallet into the perfect addition to any room in your house!

Before I show you one of my favorite creations, we need to talk about the most important material: the pallet! What is a pallet anyway?

Pallets are a platform that provide a base/foundation for materials to be easily stored and moved (usually by forklift). The wood pallet is the most popular type of pallet, followed by other materials, including plastic, wood composite and metal. You can usually find pallets behind grocery stores, home improvements stores, or any location that receives large shipments from a freight truck. If you can’t find any around town, you can always check out craigslist for free pallets.

I found these pallets left behind by construction workers in my mom’s neighborhood:

**TIP** When searching through the pallet stack, look for the pallets with the most usable wood.

There were tons of variations within these pallets; Some were new, some weathered, some had yellow tones, others had gray or red tones. I knew I would be able to pick and choose the best pieces for my project.

Breaking the pallets apart takes a good amount of work and elbow grease. To make your life easier, use a jig saw or circular saw to cut the boards at the ends. Get yourself a Jig Saw like this —>

Pry the wood from the center support with a crow bar to salvage the entire length of the board. This should give you 8 to 14 boards per pallet. Remember to remove nails from slats. If you decide to leave the nails in for some added character, be sure to cut and file them down.

After seeing that stack of pallets in my mom’s neighborhood, I was feeling creative. I checked out my local thrift stores and consignment shops until I found this interesting little hexagonal side table. I could have kept it white, but I had left over chalk paint from one of the hundreds of teacher crafts I had been working on. (If I were to do this project again today, I would probably keep it white)

Brainstorming phase

Mapping out the pallet pieces.

I was deciding whether to keep the table white or continue painting it this sunflower dandelion shade. At that time, I had also been working on a pallet headboard (more to come on that one). I started piecing together the top of the table with pallet scraps from my headboard. I love how each piece has a different texture and warmth to it: Gray tones, yellows, reds. I played around with the design and position of the pieces, and planned for filling in the blanks.

**Tip and Trick** Map out your pieces before securing them. I like to move my wood pieces around like a puzzle until I find the perfect combination and design.

Once I was finished mapping out the pieces, the table top ended up looking like this!

The complete table top.

I also added pallet pieces to the sides of the table:

pallet table 5 — Side view of the table.

This adorable side table is now living in my guest room!

The finished product!

The possibilities with pallet furniture are endless. It’s impressive how something so simple and common can be used to create something as beautiful as an original piece of furniture.

This article contains affiliate links

How to Decorate a Bookcase Like a Pro!

January 11, 2018January 21, 2018 homeandhera

How to Decorate a Bookcase Like a Pro!

A well styled bookshelf can really elevate an entire space and make it look cohesive. If you are like me, you may be torn between aesthetics and practicality when selecting décor. That is one subject where Boy Jamie and I agree to disagree. Sometimes things just need to look pretty! No practicality involved. When styling bookshelves, there should always be a nice balance between beauty and benefit.

Things to include on the shelf:

Favorite books, Accent Pieces, Personal Pictures, Accent Colors, Decorative/Interesting Objects, and Greenery

Style tip! Group in Odd Numbers

Placing objects in groups of three creates visual tension. Despite the odd number, the grouping will look and feel more balanced. Even numbers create symmetry, but odd numbers create interest. Three seems to be the magic number, but 5, 7, or even 9 for large groupings work nicely as well.

Layer, Layer, Layer

Displays should never be one-dimensional, so be sure to layer a few items in front of each other. Layering adds depth to your shelves. One of the easiest ways to layer is to place objects (vases, small plants, small décor) in front of an art print or photo. Different heights and textures also add to the appeal. Start with the bigger accessories first and then fill in the gaps!

Stack Objects

One thing you can do to add appeal to a stack of books is to put a decorative object on top. Think of using decorative objects to break up the monotony. The decorative object on top of the stack draws the eye and makes the arrangement more interesting.

You can and should use fun objects as bookends! If you have books standing upright on a shelf, you can use an object or a uniquely shaped vase instead of just a simple bookend.

These succulents are a great way to incorporate greenery into your bookshelf decor. You can buy similar ones here:

Bookshelf styling can be an easy extension of your interests and personality, and there are no rules or limits to how you customize yours!

Tag: home

TJ Maxx

Below are 10 Things at TJ Maxx Right Now! (that I want in my home)