Friday, December 23, 2011

1 day 14 hours 24 minutes and counting.....

It's almost here!  Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!  I will be taking a few days off from blogging to finish up last minute Christmas details and to spend this wonderful time with friends and family.  I will spend most of the day tomorrow watching over my burgandy mushrooms that I am taking to Christmas dinner on Sunday.  I saw Ree Drummond make them on the Pioneer Woman Christmas special on Food Network the other day and I HAVE to make them.  They are super easy but take 9 hours.  Yes, 9 hours.  But from what I hear it's worth it.  We shall see. 

They look delicious.  They'll go great with the beef tenderloin!





Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

It's not Christmas until I have seen.....

It's not really Christmas for me until I have seen all of my favorite Christmas movies and shows.  They bring back so many wonderful memories and really get me into the Christmas spirit.  Here's my must see list in no particular order...




Christmas Vacation

 
Christmas Story

Charlie Brown Christmas

Home Alone


Love Actually

 
Brady Bunch Christmas Episode

Andy Griffith Christmas Episode

I Love Lucy Christmas Episode

White Christmas

As you can see I have a lot to watch to get ready for Christmas but I love it!
What are your favorite Christmas things to watch?


Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Kitchen Cabinets are Done!

Yay!  I finally finished the paint the kitchen cabinets white project.  Actually they are an off white but white just the same.  I used Annie Sloan's chalk paint in Old White.  I think I achieved what I was going for, which is fresh, modern, and bright.  Take a look at the before and after photos...

                                                                             BEFORE....



AFTER...







Phase 1 is done.  Next up is painting the white doors black leaving the white trim and painting large horizontal white (the color of the cabinets) stripes on the walls.  What do you think so far?


Color Me Happy!

I just ran across some pictures of colored Christmas lights.  I can't even begin to tell you how happy they make me.

LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture!

I absolutely love the way the lights glow through the snow.
 This makes me HAPPY!


 



There's just something about the soft colorful glow of colored lights.  Reminds me of when I was just a little girl waiting on Santa and waking up to some of the best Christmas mornings ever. 
HAPPY!

4 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS...

4 days until Christmas if you don't count today and I am so excited.  Can't wait for Christmas vacation to start.  I have so enjoyed checking the mail and looking at all the beautiful Christmas cards from our friends and family.  It seems like every year I do something different to display them.  This year they are hanging around the mantel.  Here are a few pictures of what other people do with their Christmas cards.









How do you display your Christmas cards?

Monday, December 19, 2011

Rudolph the RED Reindeer

Wanted to share with you a project done by Sherry of Young House Love.  She found these brown paper mache looking reindeer for $4 at Ben Franklin and decided to spray paint them red to use as Christmas decorations.  I think they are perfect.


Aren't they beautiful. I love the bright red shiney finish.  They look like they could be ceramic.  $4 bucks  a piece (no pun intended) and a can of spray paint and you end up with this.  Great idea!!!

Friday, December 16, 2011

WHAT'S NEW AT WEST ELM

I am really digging some of the new arrivals at West Elm.

Stripe Favorite Throw
Stripe Throw

Striped Mugs
Stripe Mugs

Dots + Stripes Bowls
Dots and Stripes Bowls

Porcelain Stripe Trays
Stripe Trays

Hive Vases
Hive Vases

And a few things that aren't new but really nice....

Turned-Leg Nightstand
Turned Leg Nightstand

Bubbles Ceramic Side Table
Bubbles Ceramic Side Table

Parsons Play Table
Parsons Table and Kids Scoop Back Chairs

Hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll be back next week with lots of Christmas cheer!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Garnet Hill Rugs

Loving some of the rugs I have recently spotted in the Garnet Hill catalog. 

Houndstooth Flat-Weave Wool Rug
Houndstooth Flat-Weave Wool Rug
I love houndstooth.  Such a classic pattern. 

Garnet Hill Canecroft Flat-Weave Wool Rug
Garnet Hill Canecroft Flat-Weave Wool Rug
Bogart Flat-Weave Wool Rug

Garnet Hill Printed Cotton Rug

Fun rugs!

Friday, December 9, 2011

If you're still undecided....



If you're still undecided on what to get that special someone in your life for Christmas....let me give you 2 can't go wrong options.  Are you listening dear?

Number 1:  Can you say 3 day weekend????


Charleston


What about New York?

 
Martha's Vineyard

Really, you can go ANYWHERE.  Just pick a weekend book a hotel and get a babysitter if needed and take off.  Go and have fun like you did when you were dating.  How can you go wrong???

Number 2:  Go out to eat!!!  Pick a place that they love and make reservations and suprise them with a date night.  They say the way to a man's heart is through their stomach and that's true for me too.  Love to eat out!

Wouldn't mind a trip out to the ol' Melting Pot

Mmmm.... yummy fondue.  And don't forget the wine!


Seriously?  Leagal Sea Foods....  This would make one girl I know deliriously happy. (me!)


Or you could order from lobster gram and have a night in with delicious and really fresh food. No worrying about whose driving home.  We honeymooned in Maine and for our 1st anniversay I ordered this as a surprise.  Yes, they come live and yes, someone in your house has to be the murderer.  Or, you could order the tails.  Anyway, it was great!

Can't go wrong with any of these ideas.  Santa....are you listening????