Notes from A Cottage Industry

Full circle

   
     I know,I know. I said I would share the completed workroom with you today, but the project is taking longer than I expected. To make a long story short, I got a bit sidetracked with a friend at the $2 Fabric store, and before I knew it, I had lost several hours of paint time. (but I had oh, so much fun, and got even more inspired!) As soon as the room is the way I want it, I will post all the details...I promise.

Wow. It's New Year's eve, 2007. Finally.

    Looking back, I feel like 2007 was a giant circle, ten years long, like last January was forever ago. For me, it was a year of enormous change and growth. Going from the deepest hurt and sadness I've ever known, to fear, sheer panic and fight for survival, to acceptance, contentment and peace.   
I've so very, very much to be grateful for. I don't want to ever forget 2007, because it brought me where I am today, and has made me who I am. I'm not saying I was a bad person before, but I wasn't as appreciative for the things in this life that really matter. Oh, I thought I was, but I was the more the "lite" version of me, if that makes any sense.
    Now, I've become the me I didn't know was there at all. I keep remembering the quote from Winne the Pooh because that seems to say it all for describing the past year for me personally:
You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

I'd like to think I'm a better person for having had this year.

words to live by - week 48

Heap on more wood! The wind is chill: But let it whistle as it will, We'll keep our Christmas merry still.

                                ~Sir Walter Scott

     I am so not ready for this Christmas to be over. (I can't  bear to take the tree down yet) We've been expecting a snow storm here for nearly a week, but all we've had at my cottage is a dusting. I'll take it though. I am snug as a bug in a rug here, sitting by my roaring fire, with my pups and my books, keeping my Christmas merry still.

Dog days of Christmas...

    I know you're probably bored half to tears with all of these dog pictures I've shown this month. Really, my Blog isn't an animal planet theme, but it just seems like I've ended up with a lot of cute shots of the many pups in my life....these are from Christmas in Portland, and I decided to share 'em today, since...well, if you must know, I am in the middle of a giant home redecorating project this weekend- I'm painting and re-doing my workroom/home office, and it is gonna. be. fabulous. (Hopefully, I'll be sharing the results Monday!) 
    It's 4:30 in the morning, and I am already up-and-at-'em, getting ready to dive into my next home project....and...I only had a few minutes to do this post, so...I'm sharing the puppy pics. (I know I never get tired of looking at them...)
Uh...Anyway.
That's Vinnie (Vincent Van Gough...)up in the top photo, listening to a Christmas story...OK, not really, he was just begging for someone to hold him. Oh, and he does have ears, it just kinda was folded back in the picture.... and here's Miss Ruby Tuesday, waiting for Santa, oh, so patiently.(not!)

Here's Miss Ruby, once again...I think she was in "time out"..

Here is a posed (?) shot of Ruby and Hoffa (the poor girl was named this when my daughter and son-in-law rescued her from the pound, and she wouldn't respond to a new name...but she's such a lover dog)

Lastly, here is the little diva herself, Miss Mona Fleasa, all tuckered out from too much Holly Jolly-ing on Christmas eve.

...now, back to my workroom renovation project!

Christmas eve breakfast tablescape...charming and cheap.

Wow. Two posts in one day. What can I say? I'm still high on life from my fabulous Christmas.
    I have a few shots from our Christmas table in P-Town that I wanted to share. *sigh* Such fun being up there, even if time was too short. (It always is)
To start off the holiday, we all gathered for a fabulous Christmas eve breakfast. We did the table up with hints of blue and mocha to coordinate with the dishes.(followed later that day by an amazing dinner, with white dishes and all silver and glittered accents!)at the current maid-of-honor and her sweet hubby's cottage.

    For the base of our center piece, we used a very old, chipped mirror from a thrifted sideboard. It works perfectly as a shabby backdrop for anything glitzy and is a nice long rectangle. (Think about using a mirror on your table next time you're stumped for a tablescape)

    I took my "Wish" tickets along with me...my gosh, have I gotten my money's worth out of those little gems, or what?!

    Their place is cozy, with only room for a darling vintage drop leaf table and 2 chairs in the area between the kitchen and living room, so we took an old wooden closet door (it was actually 4 feet by 8 feet in size) and placed it right on top of the table. We then covered the board with a beautiful white cutwork table cloth (TJ Maxx...on sale right before Christmas for only $8.99!) and set the table. Voila'! We took a caned back settee (yard sale find!) and covered the cushion with fabric that matched with the table (actually an old vintage damask drape purchased at the Willows Nest event last summer!) The caned settee coordinated perfectly with my daughter's chairs around the table. It looked amazing. Truly.

  Oh! Another idea you'll want to remember. Hit those after Christmas sales! The items on this tray at the bride-to-be's home are all simply Christmas ornaments and a long plastic silver beaded garland. Toss it all on a silver tray (or an old mirror, or whatever suits your fancy) with some candles, and you've got instant (and so affordable!) glam.
     I'm sharing this because I want you to know that no one cares how big your home is, or how fancy, or how many your table usually seats. It's about people, not things. It's about thinking outside of that box.
     Look around your home next time it looks like you may have a space limitation, not a large enough centerpiece, or not enough tables. Use what you've got. Ornaments, thrifted finds, old books, a piece of heavy plywood (or a free closet door left from your remodel!) and make. it. happen. Make it special. Show you care.

That's what it's all about.

Inspiration Friday - You!...A million thanks.

Seriously.

All of you that are so nice to post comments, to give me feedback on ideas, and constantly shower me with compliments...you inspire me. Inspire me to keep creating, to share more ideas on this Blog, to keep moving forward. You inspire me to look at things from the sunny side of the street. Really.
    I don't know how I can really say thank you so that you know how much I mean it....but, THANK YOU. ALL. SO. MUCH.
   Oh! And thanks for the Blog awards, like this one that Angela gave me.

I'm supposed to share 7 amazing things about myself, but I am stumped as to what amazing really is. I think we're all pretty amazing, each in our own way.

I also was inspired (and surprised!) to be given the "I love your Blog"award from Sher last week!

Not only is it so flattering to be given these awards, it inspires me to keep writing and sharing with all of you.

What I guess I'm saying here is that you tell me I am inspiring...and it's really quite the opposite.

*sigh* Thanks for everything. Your friendship. Your encouragement. And especially your constant inspiration.

Yes Virginia, there really is a Santa Claus...

...Oh, ya. It is what you think it is.
Santa My girls and their guys surprised me completely with a Nano. The maid of honor said she didn't think the tiffany blue was quite as cool in person, so they chose the silver. It's all good. I am beyond thrilled, and feeling like I've finally arrived at the 21st century.
Somebody better tell my friends at my grown up girl job to watch out. There's a new ipod chick comin' down the hall... and she's got a big, fat grin on her face.

Christmas spirit overload

It was bound to happen. Too much fun, family and fabulous food, crammed into too short of a time frame. Too many wonderful moments to share in one single blog post. In town, to Portland and back, all in 36 hours.

*sigh* Even the grand dogs had to take five.

Fleas Navi-dog

Merry Chris-Moose.

Hope you're with loved ones on this blessed Christmas day.

Return of the Christmas conehead and some Holiday Hoopla.

Remember when I said all I wanted for Christmas was an ipod? Well, Mr. Bear had to go back in for an unexpected second surgery. Poor ol' guy. The vet says all is well, once and for all now,(thank you God) but..it took all the money Santa had set aside for the ipod and then some. I'm so thankful that he's on the mend. (and he might look forlorn in the photo, but really,, he seems oblivious that he's sporting a cone.)

Now, " What's Holiday Hoopla?", you might ask. Well, Judy tagged me a few days ago.
Now, the rules as I understand them are to:
1. List 12 random things about yourself that have to do with Christmas.
2. Refer to it as Hoopla.
3. Tag specific people.
OK then, I am not sure at all that I can come up with a whole dozen, but I will try.

1. I have a birthday in December and when I was growing up, my Mom wouldn't let us put any Christmas decorations except the advent calender until AFTER my birthday on December 7.

2.I stopped this tradition when I began living on my own and I decorate Thanksgiving weekend, as soon as the turkey mess is cleaned up!

3. I have always filled my children's stockings, even when they became grown ups living on their own. Now that they'll all be married, I guess I'll have to let their spouses do this!

4.I always wrap my Christmas presents in a color theme (not surprised on this one?)

5. I own over 15 Christmas CD's.

6. I always buy my pets Christmas gifts.

7. When I was a kid, we'd go for a car ride on Christmas eve night to see the Christmas lights. When we'd return, Santa had always come and gone!

8. I believed in Santa all the way until 5th grade. Wait, I still believe in Santa.

9. I take my Christmas decorations down the day after Christmas usually, unless I have company coming for New Years.

10. I am always in charge coordinating of the Adopt-a-family program at my grown up job each year. It is one of my most favorite parts of the season, giving back.

11. I decorate my office for the holiday season at my grown up job.

12. I always buy Christmas cards, or make them, but always send them out late or not at all.

Whew! I did it, right under the wire, here on Christmas eve. I think it's a bit too late to tag anyone else!

words to live by - week 47

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English author. From 'A Christmas Carol'.

...It's a major award...frag-eeee-lie...must be Italian

As I am wrapping the last of the presents today I will be watching my all time favorite Christmas movie.  I never tire of all the cute scenes (Oh, that Ralphie!) Aah yes, the Christmas Story. Oh, so many good scenes and great lines in this holiday movie classic.

Mr. Parker: Holy smokes. Do... Do you know what this is? This is... A lamp!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] It was indeed a lamp.
Mr. Parker: Isn't that great? What a great lamp.
Mother: I don't know...
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] The old man's eyes boggled...
Mr. Parker: Oh WOW!
Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] ... Overcome by art.

*Sigh*  It's one of my holiday season's traditions.

A cottage Christmas on Norman drive

    Hmmm, it's supposed to be Inspiration Friday, but I think the home tour will count as all we needed for inspiration this entire week, don't you?
     Here's the final little bit of the 2007 virtual holiday home tour of my little piece of heaven. I was so wrapped up in  doing the posts on the other tours, and browsing through all of the wonderful homes, that I didn't get all of my pictures taken of my own home. I'll have to add a shot later when the sun comes up of the cottage from outside....but for now,
....please, do come in!Can I take your coat? Yes, this is on my entry hall table...

And here is my bunny buggy, behind the chair, facing the entry...all full of ivy and stars...

and to the left is the kitchen, which you've seen oh, so many times before, but let's walk through anyway...

You've seen the dining room already, so here's just one quick peek in there...

oh, and let's get a cookie or two....

The living room, where the Christmas tree and my wonderful angel are placed...here is a shot of her in the daylight, but before I added very much of the garland and such to Christmas her up....

Here's my thrifted backyard bird feeder, all covered with snow from the last snowfall...

*sigh* I think that finishes up the first annual virtual holiday home tour. Thanks ever so much for joining me and following along. This has all been so very fun and I can't wait to do it all again next year!

The 2007 Virtual Holiday Home tour continues....

    My, oh my. This has been absolutely the best time, peeking into so many charming homes! (and there are so many more to come as you will see!)
   Let's see if I can get this uploaded more smoothly today, shall we? I  had a few hiccups with Typepad yesterday (I am going to blame typepad anyhow...)There are more pictures of my home at the end of this tour, but let's start off with Sheryl's darling home...

Wonderful, wonderful blog! Now, let's get on over to Rhoda's house and take a peek...after that, we simply must swing over to Monica's home.

Ooh! Nice. Look at Deb's place. Always so beautiful.

Let's see Cathy's sweet home. I love her outdoor picture!

Now, on to Lorrie's place. (ooh! I am a big fan of hers too!)

Now, on to dear, dear sweet Becky's home. Look at the darling bird in her Christmas tree!I just love it.

So, when we finish up at Becky's we'll have to head over to Christi's and check out her holiday decorating too.

All of this is so pretty!Have you all been to Karla's Cottage? She did a home tour as well, and it is wonderful!

After we finish at Karla's we must pop on over Kim's to and take a look see...She has two sites, you know!Busy, busy girl!

Next stop, Janet's home. Her photo is one of my favorites....just lovely!

Hmmmmm, maybe we need to take a break to go re-fill our cocoa.
     OK, back to touring! Let's see Amy's house next. (great pictures Amy!)

*sigh* So much to see. Now, Mary's home...darling blog for sure.
Oh, look! Cielo's   house now... lot's of table setting ideas here!

Katy's new to blogging. It's too cute for words.

Let's see, do we have time for another? Oh yes we do. Let's see Crystal's home.

Oh, you know I love birdhouses!Now on to my sweet friend Carol's house.She has the table set for us!

Oh, this is so inspiring. Onward we go, to Meredith's place.

Great ideas with fruit for the season... We simply must stop by Gail's home as well...

I have these ornaments also, and I love them. Oh, let's not forget to go by Jen R's home. Looks like she's been cleaning...

adorable idea with the scarf on the towel bar!

My, my, my!Look what's happening at Brookside Cottage. Let's stop and see Joyce..

That Santa is one Cutie Patootie!Let's hit just one more fabulous bloggy home...Linda has some darling ideas to share! Aah! I want one of these! (Really, I do...so adorable.)

OK then, last stop on the tour bus people, we're back at my humble abode.

     I feel like you've already seen all of my cottage, but I have more pictures of it to share with you tomorrow, but please forgive me if I am repeating items you have seen in past posts...
I was actually going for a "Less is More" Christmas look, but when you scale back from 15 rubber made tubs (and a 4.500 square foot house) to a more appropriate sized cottage for one inspired middle aged woman and her two dogs, well...it's hard to do. I still have a holly jolly Christmas happenin' everywhere in the cottage it seems.
Perfect example? The first two photos I just shared...uh... we are still in the dining room, people!I promise you, it doesn't look like Christmas overkill though...subtle, but abundant (is there  really such a thing?!)

I will share the other rooms in my cottage, "Christmas style" tomorrow. (I fear we are on Christmas overload here in Blogland right this minute and we need to rest and regroup...anyway, I know I do.)
   *sigh* I don't know about you, but this has been a very special part of my Christmas holiday season this year...visiting  with old friends, meeting new friends and looking forward to a very blessed year ahead.

Welcome to the 2007 Virtual Holiday Home Tour

     Merry Christmas and welcome to the 2007 Virtual Holiday Home Tour. There are so many wonderful homes to see that this could take a while. In fact, it will take us at least two full days to actually browse through this many holiday homes! We'll see twenty homes (!!!) today to inspire us.(Ladies, please bear with me, if I have somehow mixed up your photo, or deleted it...this was a bigger challenge than I estimated...)**edited to add** After checking the post this morning, the pictures are not matching up at all with the links, and I have no idea why not! Please click on the highlighted words to go to the home tour blogs...I think it has to do with the varying sizes of the different pictures maybe...hmmm...
     You'll want to put on some good Christmas music and get yourself a cuppa something warm and toasty to drink while you're looking...
   The first home on the tour is my own humble abode,(photo above) right here on dear little Norman Drive in Reno.    
     The top photo is looking into the dining room from the living room. I love my cottage, and I love it even more with all of the Christmas decorations about...the photo below is one of the two chairs in the far end of my dining room.

    These chairs are usually in the living room, on either side of the hutch, but since I wanted the tree where I could enjoy it from both rooms, I swapped the chairs with the one I had in the dining room. This is the big advantage in going with neutral colors and having all your rooms coordinate- you can move things around any time, and it will work!

Anyway.

This is my favorite spot for curling up in, late in the evening, with a fire going, and my pups, and a cup of cocoa. *sigh* Heaven on earth.
I love it so much, that I want to share a photo of it from the other angle...

And here is a shot from just last night at the dining room table, where I had friends over for dinner.(If you look really hard, you can see part of both cozy chairs down there at the end of the room by the French doors...) Aah, Christmas cozy.

Here is the tree, looking from my favorite spot in the cozy chair, looking towards the living room. See? It's the perfect spot for my tree.

I'll share more of my Christmas cottage tomorrow, but for now, let's move this tour along!
     It's time to tour the rest of the homes!

Stop in and see Nancy's home...

and make to see Donna's home too...

followed by Holley and Roxy's home...and then, of course, go see Emilie's home...

and don't forget to see Jessica's home....
Oh! And Theresa's home...

and make sure to see Angela's home too...

followed by Cathymac's home...

And Kelly's   home...

Then head on over to Rhondi's home...and you must see Andrea's house....

Are you getting tired? Well, there's more! Go on over to Kari and kijsa's house next...

Now, go see Poppett's home...Oh, and Kaylyn's as well...

then there is Mrs. Poppins house, which is all the way in Sweden!

Oh my! That's all I think we can fit in for today. I surely had no idea there would be so very many wonderful homes all over to see, did you? Tomorrow I will share the rest, along with a few more of my home.

A petite Christmas time dinner soire'

     I had a friend over for a little Christmas time dinner last night. We met years and years ago, when my Mom had her gift shop and she was a customer. We rekindled our friendship when she attended the tumbleweed Cotillion and it's like no time has passed at all. So nice. She is over the top creative and such fun to be around!

       I wanted to share my table set up. Remember when I did the brunch for my girlfriend last spring?       
     Well, it's almost the identical table setting, complete with my all time favorite black and white toile cones, but with a definite holiday slant.(see the holly?)

     I always save all my little table setting items. (see the "You" name tag in the holly filled cone? "Me" and "You" works for everyone!) I keep them all in a drawer in the living room hutch, and they're then there when I need them. So easy and quick to set up, and it looks like I took an hour. (Now, how cool is that?)
     Remember this, when you are creating something sweet for your table.

We interupt this holiday season...

...to paint the bathroom. (I realized it's been a while since I've worked on a home improvement project.)The photo above gives a tiny sneak peek at what I created...including a darling nest that arrived a couple weeks ago from sweet, sweet Becky in Ohio!
Oh, I've been meaning to tackle this job for one entire year now. A full on remodel is not in this girl's budget, so I had to really think outside of the box. Way outside.
     Actually, the master bathroom is kind of divided into two areas. The first, with the vanity counter and  sink, is in a large open doorway type area off of the master bedroom. (I'll share more with you about this part of the bathroom in another post, very soon...)
     The second area is through a door, and houses the toilet and shower stall (my tub is in the guest bath, which I love, because it means I actually use both bathrooms in my home, as I hate having rooms that are never used.) This is the space that I am going to share today. Not horrendous (we'll save that area for later, when I show the re-do on the front part of the bathroom with the vanity. Now that is horrendous.) but still very old, tired, and b o r i n g. (notice the decorative bar the previous owner put on this ugly old window, the unusually long and large selection of circa 1966 towel bars- 3 in the shower area alone- and the use of white everywhere possible- floor, walls, tile, toilet....yawn.)

Anyway.

     I needed inspiration to get me going on the fix up of this part of the bathroom. As you can see in the "before" photos shown down below in this post, the 1966 master bath left much, much to the imagination.
     Last spring I found the inspiration I needed. I stumbled upon the perfect fabric for a shower curtain at the $2 Fabric Store. It coordinated wonderfully with my bedding, and it has a sweet cottage look to it. I bought the fabric, and then it laid around in my workroom/office for...oh, all summer...and fall.  I finally got around to giving it to the sewing Queen of northern Nevada last month.
     This past weekend she surprised me the completed shower curtain as a birthday present. I was out of town Friday night and returned home Saturday evening to find this pretty curtain all finished up and ready to be hung. I was so thrilled that I ran in there, right then (8:00 pm Saturday night) and I prepped and scrubbed and cleaned. Then, I painted. (What can I say? That's just how exciting my life is) I mean, this new shower curtain had me all on fire to wrap up this untidy, unfinished job, pronto!
     Well, as it turned out, the paint I purchased (uh huh, last spring, from Home Depot) was a tad bit too dark. Not to worry, I had a cream glaze already mixed in the garage. I let the paint dry (11:00 pm Saturday night) and then began glazing. Oh, so much better. (It photographed kind of screaming orange-ish in a couple pictures, but it's really a warm wheat-like tone...yummy!)The photo below was taken before it occurred to me to add my newest, sweetest nest to the vignette...

     Sunday morning I decided to add these old swinging doors that I used as shutters in my last house. I painted them and antiqued (glazed) them to coordinate. I hung the new, oh so charming shower curtain, which still needs some equally charming rings added to it as soon as I find some I adore.
  Here are a few before and after shots for you to get a better idea of the transformation: (click on any photo to enlarge it)

I think they give the bathroom a perfect French cottage ambiance, n'est pas?

Voila'! A petite French cottage bathroom. Just for moi.
Merci beaucoup, Mama.

 

words to live by - week 46

"I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses." -- Taylor Caldwell

Amen to that.

Happy Howl-idays from my family to yours

 
Finally.
    I've got my family Christmas cards designed, and it. wasn't. easy.
    Moose insisted on having his duck in most of the the shots, and Bear wasn't happy with the way his antlers fit, but I think they came out looking pretty darned Christmas-ey anyhow. I'll show the finished card later, but here are just a couple of the better shots...(there were so many out-takes...) There's Bear in the photo above(waitin' for Santa, don'tcha know)
...and Moose, after a rough four minutes of modeling for the camera (he's a bit of a drama queen)

*sigh* Oh ya. Just me and the dogs, makin' a memory.

Inspiration Friday - snow flakes

     Aah, snowflakes. The universal sign of winter I think.They seem even more popular this year, have you noticed?
    I have them on my tree...

     You've already seen my snowball and snowflake cookies. (but I'll show them one more time...)

    I've got snowflakes everywhere it seems. Glittery, shimmery, delicate, beautiful snowflakes. Some of them are so pretty that  I just may have to keep them out till the end of January!
    Snowflakes on the dining room chairs (oh! I love these!)

     Snowflakes on the stockings ...

on the table...

Here and there around the house....

Yes, these wintry wonderland of snowflakes inspire me to want to make myself a cuppa cocoa (with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles!) and settle in with a nice book in the corner of the dining room by the fire.(and to make it even more of an inspiration, we're expecting another snow storm this weekend!)

The best Christmas present I ever got

     If anyone were ever to ask me if I knew what the the best Christmas present I ever got was, I could tell them without hesitation. Twenty four years ago this morning my baby boy was born. The perfect early Christmas gift!
     Having my birthday fall in December as well, I never would have actually planned for a Christmas baby, but this little blessing came along and changed all that.
    Happy Birthday, Sugarman. I love you so.
*sigh* You'll always be my favorite Christmas present.

Virtual Holiday Home Tour

     Have you ever been on a Holiday Home Tour? We have one here in the biggest little city each year. It's called "Home for the Holidays". You are given a map and you get to walk through several homes all dolled up for Christmas. They serve refreshments and the money charged for the tour goes to charity. It's always such fun.
     I also love peeking in and seeing what all of my friends are doing to decorate their homes during the Christmas season, so...I've decided to host an online version of a holiday home tour. Sound fun? You're invited to join in and be on the tour!
     We can start right here with my cottage, and  you're invited to showcase your holiday decor,your porch, your living room, whatever..any and all the rooms of your home!(I'll have links to other participating blogs...er...homes, and refreshments!)

    Here's how it will work:  I want you to have enough notice, so I thought we could do this next Wednesday, December 19th. Oh, and please feel free to use my graphic to share the news!
     If you send me a jpeg of your home (just one picture) before next Wednesday, December 19th, along with the link to your Blog, then next Wednesday I'll be more than happy to put you on the list on my blog with links for the tour. (Of course, you can join the tour without sending me a photo if you don't feel like it...everybody's welcome!)
     Share pictures with us of your holiday home, inside, and out, on your Blog post next Wednesday. I know some of us have already shared a few Christmas decorations, but that's OK, we can still showcase our homes, and I think it will be inspiring and fun. (I know there is plenty you haven't seen of my holiday decor at my cottage!)
     If no one is up for this...then it will be a very short tour. (but I am willing to bet that quite a few of you are game and have such fabulous things to share!)

Heaven sent...

    I think I have the beginnings of a new collection.

Angel wings. Mmm hmm, you read that right. Have you noticed that they're everywhere now? OK, maybe not everywhere, but I have discovered enough of them to accidentally start a collection.
       I am going to have to blame my dear friend Dawn for this newest addiction collection. She inspired me so, with this post a while back, sharing another blogger's fabulous idea...and I ...went absolutely insane looking for wings online couldn't help myself.  After hours of googling and searching  The next thing I knew, I had found the perfect thing here. (and look at that price! Oh, how I love a deal!Oh, and I phoned in my order. They found the wing s under an incorrect stock number and took the time to walk my order through!A very helpful company. ) I ordered them, and they finally arrived last Friday.

     Aren't they just, oh so dreamy? Oh, yes. They are... Heavenly. Oh so vintage looking. (in a John Travolta doing  "Michael" sort of way...) I added the stars, greenery and ornaments to complete the Christmas feel. It's been hours of fun, deciding where to put this large Christmas decoration and adding my little touches from my holiday stash (I used some flocked faux mini tree branches from a little tree in my donation box, as well as some old ornaments and a piece of ribbon from a box of candy) to make it feel more vintage. (Please do not ask me how or where I will store the wings after the holiday...)
     The dress-form-turned-angel ended up in the corner of my living room where it can be seen from the entryway as you enter the cottage, as well as from the dining room. It's totally unique and beautiful, with the romantic timeworn look that I was after. The best twenty bucks I've spent all season! **edited to add** Oh my gosh, I hadn't thought of keeping them up for Valentine's day, but yes, I do think I will. Also, another idea occured to me. If you don't have a dress form, or don't want to use one, consider this idea- tie them to the back of an old chippy wooden chair, and add embellishments. Set something equally fabulous in the chair...A totally different look!     *sigh* I think I'll try this look for Valentine's Day myself.
    If it weren't enough to have tracked down some feathered wings, a few days later, at my favorite store (say it with me ladies, give me a "T", give me a "J"...you know where...) I found these gold angel wings. (Are they fabulous, or what?!)I have them featured in the dining room next to my $8 WalMart feather tree from last year.

     Well, of course you know I wanted 'em. Bad. I thought about them, dreamed about them, even. Coincidentally, that very same day, someone ordered another Gift Wrap kit (You know, Oprah says there are no coincidences...) and suddenly, I had the money to add these beauties to the newest collection in my cottage.

*sigh* Thanks Dawn. We're kindred spirits. You always inspire me.

The sassiest Christmas shoes ever

     I know I've shared with you my love affair with shoes, and that is what truly motivated me nearly five years ago to get an office job vs. another type of work.
     Well, it occurred to me last night as I was figuring out what I'd wear to work today, that somehow, I'd missed sharing my all time favorite "I-can-only-wear-these-between-Thanksgiving-and-New-Year's" pumps with peek-a-boo toes. Are they the cutest things you've ever laid your eyes upon? They're made by Chinese Laundry and they're fabulous.
     Everyone that sees them compliments me on them. Really. Even my dentist commented on how fabulous they were last year when I was in for a filling in December. (Yes, really.) I've had them for three years and since I only wear 'em about four times a year, they're still like new and I feel oh so Christmas-y special in them each time I wear them.

*sigh* I just feel like singing Holly Jolly Christmas every time I put them on.

Words to live by - week 45

Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
                                                              Norman Vincent Peale

All I want for Christmas is an ipod...I think.

   Have you seen this on utube? I love Will Farrell.

Anyway.

     I think I really want an ipod  for Christmas.  (It would be like having my very own personal radio station with me everywhere I go, and no commercials or annoying radio personalities.) I don't need the fancy ipod Classic,  just maybe a cute little eensy weensy, tiny tiffany blue shuffle. (Oh, and did you know you can have an ipod engraved..for free?)
     But I'm kind of...concerned. Kind of worried actually.
     Worried that I'm not smart enough to work it. You know, to upload music to it. Then, to be able to actually play the music I've managed to upload. Worried that I'm just the wrong generation to be ipoding around. (See? I am pretty sure that's not even the right terminology for that...) I'm worried that the thing is so small I'll lose it in my giant red patent leather purse.. and probably never find it again. Worried that I'm not cool enough to walk around like my co-worker friends at my grown up job do, with that little thingy hanging out of their ear, listening to Rascal Flatts, or Justin Timberlake, or whoever.

*Sigh* But ya, I think I really want an ipod for Christmas, and I just might buy myself one ask Santa to put one in my stocking. Maybe.

What do you want for Christmas?

Inspiration friday- Christmas music

    I love everything about the Christmas season. The sights, the smells, and the sounds. The sound of a crackling fire (now that I live in a cottage with a wood burning fireplace!) and of course, Christmas music. It completes the entire Christmas experience for me really.
     Housework in December? This CD for sure, cranked up loud. Oh ya, puts me right in the Christmas cleaning mood. Ready to relax in my bubble bath or sit and enjoy the tree and the fire? Nothing will do except this, or this, or this. Perfect, especially by candlelight.  Feeling like a little MeleKalikimaka?  I've got that covered.
All of these are great for completing a mood, and inspiration... My all time favorite Christmas music  has to be this.

*sigh* Oh,yes. It takes me back to the time when my kids were young, and Christmas was so magical, and it guarantees a warm fuzzy feeling whenever I hear it.

Oh my. Oh.....My!

     Ohmyohmyohmyohmy! Let me say that just one more time. Oooooh My!

*sigh* I cannot believe it. Me. I am the featured "creative Blogger" today over at Today's Creative Blog! I simply had to share. My gosh, Kim has a pure gift for word smithing. I mean, she takes the ordinary and makes it sound...so..er...extraordinary! She made me sound very, very ....well, creative! Really Kim, I am not nearly as interesting or creative as you made me appear, (Oh, my gosh! With Kim's writing, I almost seem...dare I say it.. cool!)

*sigh* Anyway.

Here I sat , all red faced and flustered, re-reading your wonderful post about me for the second time early this morning. Wow.

Thank you. so. very. much. I'm glad you enjoy my posts, and thrilled that you featured my Blog!

Most unusual cupcakes indeed.

    These cupcakes aren't for eating, there for heating.**
     That's right. They're fire starters, and they make wonderful gifts for anyone with a woodburning fireplace.

    I thought everyone already knew how to make these, but I found out while conducting my workshop last Saturday that many of you hadn't heard of these yet...so here's the skinny on them.

FIRESTARTERS

Cedar shavings (found in the pet section of WalMart or at pet stores. It is meant for the cages of guinea pigs and hamsters)
parifin or candle stumps left from used up candles..any color will do
An old large pot (from a thrift shop or yard sale- you won't be cooking in these things after this)
Cupcake pan (again, from a thrift shop or yard sale)
cupcake liners

Melt the wax on low heat on the stove. Watch it, wax can be flammable if overheated. Fill cupcake liners with cedar shavings (don't pack it too tightly) Pour melted wax over cedar shavings. Let set up (put in freezer to speed process up) Bag up the fire starters, along with a few pine cones if you like, and instructions for use. When you're done, let any left over wax cool and harden in the pot and store the pot, cedar shavings and cupcake pan for later use. As you have little candle stubbs, simply drop them in the pot and when you're ready to make more, you'll be set.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Put one of these little babies in the fireplace, beneath the grate. Add some newspaper and your logs on top of the grate. Light the fire stater, and it will burn for a long while, starting up your nice big fire.

Bag a few of these little gems up in a large corsage bag or basket with directions for use and you're finished. These make perfect gifts around the winter holidays for neighbors and friends alike!

**side note here** I will admit that the first time someone gave me a bag of these (my eldest daughter was in Kindergarten and her teacher gave them to the room mothers as Christmas gifts...)and I did think they were some odd kind of bran muffins. (I vividly remember thinking that they looked a bit dry to me.) Luckily, before I tasted one, a fellow room mother announced to me that she was thrilled to get some, because they were the coolest thing for starting a fire.

The reason for the season...

      I have a very large nativity set. Large in size and in number of pieces. This year, being my first to decorate for Christmas in my cottage, I've told you that I've decided to scale it down a bit with the less is more mind-set. I have chosen to highlight Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus without all of the kings on camels, angels, shepherds and stable animals. (with any luck in just a few years I'll be blessed with a grand baby or two or three to share in the joy of setting up the giant set!)

Anyway.

     I am loving how my precious nativity figures look under my  bell jar, especially at night by candle light.

*sigh* So simple and peaceful and beautiful.

No snow here, but plenty of snowballs.

  Snowballs. Mexican wedding cakes. Russian Tea Cakes. There are quite a few names for these delightful cookies. So easy to make, and even easier to eat. Perfect for gift giving.

    You can make them way ahead and freeze them, and whether bagged up as a favor, or all decked out in a martini glass, these little cookies fill the bill.

    In case you've never made them, here's my recipe:

1 cup softened butter (room temp)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 chopped nuts if desired
extra powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients with mixer, roll into little balls. Bake at 400' for 10-13 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar while hot, and again when cool.

Second option: roll in powdered sugar while hot, then in sparkle sugar when cool for a more elegant effect.

*sigh* baking is one of my most favorite parts of the holiday season.

Up to our eyeballs in baked goods

     What's a girl to do with all of the goodies created in demonstrating  cookie and cupcake decorating ideas? I'm taking them in to work to share with my friends at my big girl job.
     Honestly, after this past weekend of running through my demonstration twice (once for the workshop, once for the dvd...) I can't even look at another snowball cookie, or nest cupcake.

On the other hand, Moose thinks there can never be too many t-r-e-a-t-s.