Monkeys in the dining room

One of the things that has frustrated me the most about our new home is the lack of decent lighting in many rooms. One of the worst: the dining room. Don't get me wrong, I understand there is such a thing as mood lighting, but when you can't read the salad dressing label at a family dinner, it might be a problem. Our home has so much character, and the dining room also bothered me because the light fixture was so... blah. 

I started looking for something I would love, something either vintage or just unique enough. I tried all the suggestions that I got for websites, but nothing did it for me. And my mind just kept going back to my mom's monkeys. See, that mama of mine is an interior decorator with amazing taste. She had this chandelier with monkeys holding 'candles' that I just loved. I honestly couldn't remember when it disappeared and never thought to ask when we were there hanging out as a family. 

And finally, when I was too frustrated because I couldn't find anything I liked, I asked mom about the monkeys. And what do you know?? She still had them!! They were hanging when the tree fell on mom's house (another story for another time), and one of the monkeys has two legs with clean fractures. She totally redesigned her kitchen after the tree, and had no plans for the monkeys so they're MINE!! Oh I'm so in love. They've been on the back burner while the kitchen needed our attention, but I mentioned to Chad today that I was hoping to be able to put them up before the 15th and he decided today was the day :)

I know that everyone is going to have their own feelings about this fixture, I mean, even my own children think the monkeys come to life at night and jump down and cause a ruckus. But honestly, I don't care! They are fun, will give us plenty of light, and are WAAAAY more deserving of a place in this house. My sister and I even have a plan to make hats/costumes for them for each holiday!!