I clearly have some home decorating issues

After Christmas, John and I decided to get a new slipcover for our couch. Our couch was his grandmother's, and though we love the couch itself, the brown, orange, green and tan floral print just doesn't exactly match our taste. Maybe if we'd been living in the early 70's. But this is, you know, 2008.

So, to replace the khaki slipcover we've had, we bought a much nicer red one. (YAY! No more constant. tucking. in. of the old slipcover!!!!!)

But that meant the pillows didn't match. And we'd known for a while that our wall decor needed some serious help. And the living room needed some rearranging. And the curtains looked hideous with the new couch. And.... you get the picture.

In the course of a week, we'd been to every home interior store in the city. Our house finally looked a bit more "with it" and we felt real nifty.

Now, just to clarify--I am pretty much the world's worst person when it comes to things like, you know, fashion and interior decorating. I just don't "have an eye" for such things, as they say. But my mom does. So I just... copy her.

But at the end of the spur-of-the-moment redecorating, there was just one last little item I couldn't find. I needed something else for the top of this entry-way shelf.

It just looked bare in the middle there, dontcha think?

The space between the frame and the mini-lamp was not big enough to set a purse or something, but still too big to be left completely empty.

Even my mom agreed. Which is crucial, since I have no fashion and/or decorating sense.

I was thinking one of those little wooden troughs with some balls made from... whatever those natural ball things are. Twine or wood or something.

But one day recently, I was in a pretty little gift shop and spotted this:

How adorable is THAT?

And how much more perfect could it be for the times when I pass by it on my way to bed and I'm afraid of the boogie men coming to get me?

Exactly! Perfect.

I brought it home and set it on the entryway table.

I loved the look. Eh, except for one little thing. Those dog tags hanging on the mirror? The ones my Marine gave me before we were engaged? Sweet and all... but they kinda sorta didn't match the rest of the decor.

I did leave up my hospitality pineapple, given to me by a special friend in Hawaii. Because I love that.

Not that I don't love the dog tags, but, well, you know.

But the next day, I walked down the stairs (See? That's my stairway in the mirror) and wasn't sure I like the look. So I changed it around. I put the lamp in the middle.

But then I thought--does that look like too much height on the left side, and then a weird visual drop when your eye reaches the candle holder?

I just don't know.

So, nearly every day for the past several weeks, I've switched it. One way, then the other.

And I still just can't decide.

Yes, I know I'm a bit obsessive. But, peeps, I walk by this a zillion times a day. I want it to look right. I just can't decide which way IS right.

Which brings me to another point. Is EITHER way right? Maybe I should just move my pretty little candle holder and go back to the trough idea?

I should just ask my mom. But I forget when she's here. It's just when it's quiet and we're home, just us three--that's when I switch it a gazillion times.

Oh, and for effect, here's what it looks like if you're looking down the entryway, into the living room. The lamp really does match, even if the slight sheen gives it a strange appearance in pictures.

One more thing--those dog tags. I did with them what really SHOULD be done with a deployed guy's dog tags. See?

So I need some help here. What's your opinion on the whole entryway shelf thing?

Help a decorating-challenged girl out, peeps.