When will the madness end?

I've been doing lots of baking. So much so that I don't care if I ever see another cookie again! (Hmmm...I wonder if a week from now I'll harbor the same animosity towards cookies?) Anyhoo, I thought that before I get completely overtaken by flour and sugar, it would be best if I wished all of you a Merry Christmas right now. It's quite possible I may not be able to sit at the computer (or really just sit in general) until December 26th! (I'm only partially joking on the sitting part) So here goes--
May all the joy and magic of Christmas be with each and every one of you. Merry Christmas friends!

Snowmen ala Dee Foust

I have fallen in love with Dee Foust's creations! (She makes vintage inspired pieces.) Even though I have an attic filled with Christmas decorations, I couldn't resist and had to have these.


Please say I'm not the only one who continues to buy decorations when they have enough to fill three houses? Please? It's ok if you have to lie to make me feel better, okay?

All around the house

I feel as though I've been missing in action lately, but I suppose it's just all the preparation that goes with this favorite holiday of mine. I'd like to share a few more photos of home. I'm no master of decor & nothing is ever perfect, despite my best intentions, but here goes anyway.
This is what my dining room table looks like. I did a complete change this year & went with silver, gold, white, cream & blue in here, no red or green to be found. Best thing I ever did.
Another of the table centerpiece.
I added a little sparkle to the chandelier.
Sometimes you have to add a little something to the bathroom. It's not easy adding a little holiday sparkle to a 1933 Art Deco style bathroom, but I did my best. (Won't Santa ever grant my "let's gut the bathroom" wish?) I guess I shouldn't be complaining though, because Santa gave me this as an early Christmas gift... I must have been an awfully good girl this year--or maybe Santa just couldn't listen to my incessant chatter about my need for this camera any longer? Hmmm...I guess we'll never know.

Oh the weather outside is frightful!

Yes, we are getting hit with a snowstorm. I can hear the wind howling and the see the snow blowing all around. I don't mind, I love the snow, especially at this time of year. The best part of today though? Snowday!! The schools are closed which means the kids are home and there's no work for me. As if that wasn't fun enough, my husband is off from work today as well. I can see a great day filled with hot cocoa, warm cookies, board games and Christmas movies. Ahhhh, what a wonderful day! I also would like to wrap some gifts and then...I hate to say it...clean the bathrooms. I know, I know, cleaning the bathrooms does not fit into this pretty little picture I've painted, but nonetheless, it needs to be done.
I thought I would leave you with a photo or two of some holiday happiness at home.
I love this Santa on the Moon. My mom & dad bought it for me several years ago.
Blue decorations are new for me this year. With my new furniture, I refused to go with the traditional red & green in this room. I'll share more photos later. Have a great (& toasty warm) day!

Show & Tell Friday

Today I'm participating in Show & Tell Friday over at My Romantic Home. I would like to show you my beautiful watercolor painting. This was a Christmas gift from my husband in 2002.

It's a watercolor painting of our home.
Let me give you a little background:
One day, I was shopping in one of my favorite gift shops--My Sister's Secret. I noticed this beautiful painting on the wall that was a painting of the actual gift shop I was shopping in. I thought it was amazing! The corner of the painting held the artist's business card as well as an approximate price. It was quite expensive and rightfully so considering the work & detail involved.
I went home and remarked about it to my husband, telling him all about it and "if we ever had money to throw away, I would love to have a watercolor painting done of our house." That was it, end of story. I never mentioned it again. Although every time I went to the store, I did stand and stare at it.
Forward to a year later. It was Christmas Eve 2002 and we were celebrating with my family. All the gifts had been opened when suddenly there appeared this unwrapped, large, thin box. Having no idea who it was for or what it was, I looked around the room and noticed everyone was looking at me. My husband was taping me with the video camera, which was unusual, so I realized this box must be for me. I took one peek inside the box and realized what it was. I looked over at my husband, in disbelief and said "you didn't?" I could not believe what I was seeing! Through tears, I pulled the painting out of the box, completely shocked. One look at it and I was hysterically crying. It was beautiful, just stunning, the detail! I couldn't believe he had this commissioned for me, knowing how much I love our old home. I couldn't believe he even remembered and did this all on his own. I just couldn't believe it. It is, to this day, the greatest gift I have ever received and there are no words to express the joy it gives me when I look at it. It is such a treasure. (So much as been changed to the house since 2002, and I love that this painting shows our home in it's original state).)

A Happy Thanksgiving

As Turkey Day draws to a close, I do hope that each & every one of you had a wonderful day. As promised, I am posting how my little antique shop find turned out as my table centerpiece. Remember this?

Here is the final product:


I don't think it turned out half bad. My father-in-law was the first to remark about it. He made sure to tell me how beautiful it was and how he couldn't believe I made that out of an old carpenter's tool box. A compliment coming from a man who you wouldn't think would notice something like that, really made my day! (I only wish I had taken a picture of it with the candles lit too. Oh well.)
It's getting late, I really need to get to bed now...lots of decorating to do tomorrow! :) If you are decorating or brave enough to go shopping tomorrow, have a great day!

My very first award

Well look at that! I received my very first blogging award. (insert applause here) The lovely Jen Coen
gave me this award, so thank you, thank you, thank you Jen!
To accept this award do the following:
1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreative Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.


Now I must tell you 7 things about me (oh I hope I don't bore you with these!)
1. My birthday & my husband's birthday are 2 days apart. The really interesting fact though? We were in the hospital nursery together. My mom even remembers meeting his aunt who was visiting her sister-in-law who had just had a baby. (my mother-in-law) What can I say? He must have been checking me out when he was days old! LOL
2. I have always lived in the same city I grew up in. I didn't even go away to college. I've always been here.
3. I once was a hair model at a show given by L'oreal to introduce their new products to area hair dressers. I remember being given the most beautiful perm I ever had. (no laughing, this was the 80s people!) Now for the real trauma? They cut my hair really, really, and I mean really short afterwards. I was a teenager, it was the 80s, era of the big hair, needless to say I was shocked! As I recall, it looked nice but it was soooo New York City. I remember all the hair dressers telling me it was about 3 years ahead of it's time for our little city in Upstate New York!
4. I gained only 7 pounds while pregnant for my daughter, 6 pounds for my son. At one point, I remember even losing 5 pounds!
5. I have met celebrity chefs Sara Moulton, Paula Deen and Giada DeLaurentiis. I have pictures with all of them.
6. I have met Josh Groban and have a photo with him as well!
7. There were 452 people invited to my wedding. I don't know why but people are always shocked by this. What can I say? Big Italian family?
Whew! Glad that part is over!
I am supposed to nominate 7 of you for this award, but I think I'll cheat and say I would like to give it to each & every one of you because you all deserve it...so much creativity out there! Is that acceptable or will the award police try to defame me? (sort of like Kanye & Taylor Swift, heehee!)