Redecorating and Ideas

Saturday and Sunday, I did a little redecorating of a wall and a little table I have. Here is the end rest of the wall, which use to hold a BIG rusty star. I still like the star, and hope to repurpose it in my bedroom. I was just ready for a change in the living room.I got the shelf/box, little flower pot, bird, little worm, and green stuff for myself on Saturday with some kid wrangling money. Because it was my birthday (2 days prior), I got 20% off everything. I love it! The 'N'...I had it sitting around for awhile, planning on using it in my room at the farm, but changed my mind. I covered it with the cardstock paper I had bought for my room and attached the ribbon to the back. Because the walls are cream color, I decided to rub a little ink chalk around the edge, to set the 'N' off a little more. I think it all turned out great.

Here is a close up of the box and it's contents.
I think the little worm guy is my favorite. It's just too cute! It might be hard to see, but he has a big grin on him. Who could pass this guy up?

Now, here is where I need some ideas.

The things on top of the little table are some old recipe books my Grandma gave me. I need to go through them, and see what I want to keep. I also need to go through the magazines at the bottom in the basket. I have some that I haven't looked at for probably a year. I guess that means it is then time to throw things out.

Here's a closer look of the top of the table. I used the jar at Christmas time and put bulbs in it. Now I need a fun, easy, cheap, if not free idea for it. Any suggestions? The recipe books can move. I just needed a place to put them for now until I get all my recipes and books organized. I was thinking of possibly making some type of chalk board to put on the wall behind it. But because the thermastat is above the table, I can't really put anything at a normal height on the wall. It will have to stay lower, closer to the table. Any suggestions are welcome!!