HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011 has been a busy and interesting year for my family.

  Lots of traveling across the country, a milestone birthday for me, the loss of loved ones... 

Makes you reflect and consider what is truly important in your life. 

One of the great things that has happened is the return of my traveling Mr. Beaux! 

After almost 20 years of nonstop travel with his job he is settling down here

and starting his own company.

  This has allowed me to return to work and start blogging!

  I can't wait for 2012 and all that it will bring.

What changes have happened for you in 2011?

And what will you look forward to in 2012?

Have a Blessed New Year

and

Beaux R'eves!

Countdown to New Year's

Happy New Year!

What a busy day!  We got in last night from our trip, went to bed early so I woke up early... I had to de-stage a house this morning. I'm a home stager which means that I get houses ready to sell and when they sell (YAY) then I have to gather my things before they move.  Took my daughter to the Plaza to do some after Christmas shopping, the gift cards were burning a hole in her pocket.  Stopped by Trader Joe's to pick up a few things including flowers. Then home to do my tablescape.  WHEW!  I'm tired!

My table is all ready for our New Year's Dinner.  I wanted to keep it semi casual so I used my Lenox Butler's pantry dishes and I decided on a Black and White theme.  I had the Crackers left from Christmas because we weren't here to open them.  It's a favorite tradition of my children.  They wear the funny hats all night long and read the jokes inside.  I had some old Pottery Barn Hotel napkins and I happened to have some iron on transfer paper. (really I did!) So, I transferred the numbers onto the napkins.  I like the way they turned out.  What do you think?

It's the countdown the Midnight!  10, 9, 8, 7,  

I added Black Ribbon and a string of pearl ribbon around the napkins to "Fancy" them up a bit. 

I found these placemats in my drawer in a package of Six that I had never opened.  On a trip to China (my husband worked there for a few years) I had bought a set of placemats, napkins and chopsticks together.  I stenciled the pattern on with the help of my lovely 15 year old daughter. I'm sure the shopping trip made her more of a willing participant. 

I adore the way my Centerpiece came out!  I had an old wine box from a trip to Napa, an estate sale Silver Champagne bucket, a few sparkly snow flakes from Nell Hills, and my Trader Joe's Daisy's.

And here's the Flip Side!

I used my World Market Cutlery and sprinkled some Bling around the table.

 I printed Resolutions on cute paper that I had purchased at Michaels. I like this one...

Cute!

 The Sideboard is all ready for extra Guests...

 Now, here is a Resolution that all of us Mothers, Wives, Sisters etc can relate to...

Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope you have enjoyed my table.
I am sharing on
Between Naps on the Porch

Potpourri Friday@ 2805

Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home Friday @ The Charm Of Home

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground

Flaunt It Friday @ Chic On A Shoestring Decorating

Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
A Stroll Thru Life 

Sweet Gingerbread Dreams

It's almost here!  Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year next to Christmas.  The excitement, the last minute present wrapping, the cooking and the anticipation of the big day.  This year we secretly flew out to the Orlando area to surprise my Mother-In-Law for Christmas.  The plan was hatched at my Niece's wedding in October and the emails and phone calls ensued.  My Hubby's two brothers and their wives flew from California and we flew in from the Midwest on Thursday.  My Sis in law lives close so I imagine it was quite difficult for her to keep it all a secret!

My MIL was quite surprised and it is still probably sinking in that she now has a houseful of uninvited guests!  It's OK we are an easy going type of family and we are all pitching in to make it a great Christmas.

While here in Orlando we went to see the HUGE, life sized Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian Resort.  OK, it's Disney, so you know it's going to be 1st Class.  Here are some photos.

 Can you just imagine being a small child and seeing this?

Side View

 Adorable!

 Here's the Calorie Breakdown...

They sell these shingles in the back of the house.  Here is a funny story...  A few years back my Sis in Law took her two boys to see the house with my In Laws.  While they were busy taking pictures and looking at the house, Grandpa went and bought a shingle and started eating it in front of the boys.  They were flabbergasted as they thought that he had ripped it right off the house.  He never let them know the truth!  We sure miss him and his practical jokes, sadly he passed earlier this year. 

 Smile!  The girls were more than happy to pose for the camera.  Cute Aprons!

 Tin Soldiers standing Guard.

Hope you enjoyed my tour of the Giant Gingerbread House!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night! 

Last Minute Gift?

Are you looking for a last minute gift idea?  I can't take credit for this idea but I sure was happy to receive it as a gift!  My dear friend Audrey brought over this fabulous basket last week.  I thought, "Great, A bottle of wine and some wine glasses, always a nice gift"  

Right?  Well on closer inspection I spotted a couple of pieces of chalk inside one of the glasses tied up with pretty ribbon.  Hmmmm...

I picked up one of the glasses and saw that the bottom of the stem had been painted in black chalkboard paint.  Brilliant!  If you are tired of the wine charms and just want something more current and "now"  this is the thing to do!  I'm giving her full credit but she says not to as she got the idea on Pinterest (something I am having fun with and still trying to navigate thru). 

Aren't they just too cute?  Think of the fun you could have...

Happy New Year! 

Thank you Audrey for a wonderful gift.  Here's how she did it:

Take your wine glasses and place a piece of tape around the bottom of the stem, dip in chalkboard paint and place on a piece of wax paper to dry.  That's it!  Super Easy!

Merry Christmas Everyone and Happy New Year!  

Leaving you with a picture of my two precious pups Jackson and Summer.  This was the back of our Christmas Card a few years ago designed by my wonderful friend and photographer Kelly at Young Images. 

Sharing at
Savvy Southern Style 
Faded Charm

Lanterns on the Porch

Hello!  I am excited to show you my fantastic Lanterns that I've decorated and placed on the Front Porch for Christmas.  

 I found them at Nell Hills in Briarcliff . It's one of my favorite places to go for accessories and inspiration.  I just fall in love with everything she has and have such a hard time only buying one or two things.  I spotted these Lanterns and at the affordable price of around $59.00 I had to have TWO!!!  I am sure that you will be seeing them quite a bit in all kinds of displays and vignettes.  Matter of fact, I was so thrilled when I got them that I used one on my Thanksgiving table...  Take a look:

Here is a view of the entire Front Porch

  I kept it simple this year and let the Lanterns take center stage.  I placed the Lanterns in my urns that I refinished last year from a light gray to a bronzy color.   I purchased the fresh wreaths on the doors at Costco for about $15.00 a piece and added ribbon bows to them.  Easy Peezy!!!  

I splurged on the ribbon at Nell Hills.  I couldn't resist the adorable little birds on the burlap ribbon.  I always get mad at myself when I really want something and I pass it up because I think maybe I don't really need it!  I knew I wanted this ribbon so I convinced myself not to leave the store without it.  The red window pane ribbon is from Michaels.  I love their new rewards and coupon system.  I can get some really good deals when I pay attention to the emails.

I surrounded the Lanterns with a greenery swag from Costco that I cut apart.  I tucked other greenery in that I had left over from my floral arrangements.  Waste Not... Some pinecones and some pepper berries made it POP.

  Let's look inside the Lanterns.

A Christmas greenery pick, A sweet little bird's nest, and  A battery operated candle all nestled inside.  Delightful!

Thanks for coming to my Front Porch!!!  Come on inside in the next post.  It will be after Christmas as I try to fill in the empty spaces where Christmas used to be...

Merry Christmas Everyone !!!  Have a Joyous Celebration and enjoy your Holiday with family and friends!!!

 Beaux R'eves  Sweet Dreams!!!

Cindy

Linking to Boogieboard Cottage
               Dittle Dattle
                The DIY Showoff 
               Keeping it Simple 
            Between Naps on the Porch 
            Ivy and Elephants 
Savvy Southern Style

Christmas Floral Arrangements

I LOVE fresh flowers!!!  But have you seen the price of most floral arrangements at a floral shop or even in the grocery store?  It's OUTRAGEOUS!!!  You would pay $50 and up for a decent centerpiece.  I want to show you how to have beautiful flowers in your home that will last longer than those delivered to you from the florist and at less than HALF the cost.

Here's what I put together this afternoon:

And...

24 Roses at Costco- $16.99

2 Bunches of Greenery at Costco- $8.99 each

Floral Foam - I buy it in packs of three for $7-8 dollars at Michaels I used about half a brick

Total Cost per arrangement - $18.50 !!!

I use things I have around the house as containers and I usually have ribbon lying around.  That's what makes it personal and fun!  Using unusual containers are unexpected and start interesting cocktail conversations.  (And you can bet that folks are going home and using your brilliant ideas).

Lets Get Started

Tools Needed:

Tape, Floral Picks, Pruning Shears, Bread Knife, Scissors,

Wire,

 

Floral Foam, Pinecone Picks, Twig Wreath 

Pepper Berries, Cardinal (he came from an arrangement that someone had sent me years ago) Ornaments, A Bow wired onto a floral pick

Flowers Of Course!!!

For the first arrangement I used a pretty Mercury Glass Bowl that I bought at Target for $15.00.  It was exactly like one I saw at Pottery Barn for a lot more.  I love a good bargain!

I placed a shallow plastic bowl inside the glass bowl and cut the floral foam to fit.  I soaked the floral foam in the plastic bowl for a few minutes to make sure it was good and wet.  After placing the plastic inside the glass bowl I put tape over the bowl in a cross hatch form.  You can use the green floral tape if you want, I use both. 

Cut the each rose at an angle with the pruning shears and arrange in the bowl in a round formation.  Make sure that you take all of the leaves off of the roses and if some of the petals are looking a little limp don't be afraid to pull them off too.

Here is the greenery that I bought at Costco.  I like to seperate it so that I can choose what I want.

Start filling in with the greenery around the edges and then into the middle of the arrangement.

It's starting to look GOOD!!!

I added the pinecone picks and took apart the twig wreath and used some of the twigs in the top.  I left a hole in the front to place an ornament there.  I wired the ornament to a pinecone pick and placed it in.

Beautiful!!!

What Do You Think?