Sunday Blog Love - Linky Party

Wow, it's Saturday already and the last day of the year. I've been nursing a bad cold for the past week so not much has gotten done aroun this house. Tonight we'll be taking down the Christmas trees and decorations, I thought this might help me to stay up past 9:30 pm...but more than likely I'll be in bed at my normal time... I can't remember the last time I was able to see midnight on a New Years Eve...

Wishing you all a safe and Happy New Year!

Now onto my party...

Everybody is so creative and I so appreciate each

one of you that links up and even leaves a comment...

thank you very much for taking the time to link up!

Let me show you my top five picks from the last

linky party!

Debra from Common Ground shows us how to grow and style out Paperwhites for Christmas. ..

How I love bottle brush trees!

Sharon and her daughter show us how easy and fun it is to make

knockoff version of Anthoroplogie's trees

Jenny shows us how she turned a salvaged piece of wood into a focal point above her bed...everything is gorgeous!

Tracy from Screaming Sardine gives us much to think about when blogging...

Jacky shows how to make paper doily trees...perfect for Christmas but kept our for
Valentine's decorating...

Now for the most viewed link...

Rose and Heather from Sew Stylish Boutique shows us lots of ideas for last minute

 Christmas gifts....and probably good for all year round gift giving!

Thank you so much for linking up ladies!

Feel free to grab my new featured button to add to your blog.

Now it's on to this weeks linky party....

I hope you'll join me this week and show what you've been busy with..

All kinds of posts are welcome--whether it's about your family, a craft project,

thrifty find, a favorite recipe or maybe it's decorating your home or a giveaway....

The only requirement is..you must link back to my party...
(besides it's blogger ettiquette to link back...)
Not required but if you become a follower - then you know if you've been featured....
and will also be added to my Sunday Blog Love on Pinterest
Have a great weekend!

Vintage Flip Christmas Calendar

Since I'm still in the Christmas mood today...and that's probably because I was sick most of this weekend with a terrible cold..
my nose wouldn't stop running and I couldn't stop sneezing....
which meant..I didn't get to hold Macie this weekend..

I did talk her Mom into letting me hold just a bit...so it kind of sucked...

but I got some cute pictures of her...and of course I'll share a few with you

before I show you my latest paper project...

Yep, that's me in my pj's rocking Macie and her smiling back at me...

 

 

Macie is such a ham for the camera...5 weeks old and loves to have her picture taken...

The proud parents of Macie,

my daughter, Crystal and Stuart...

Okay, now onto my last Christmas themed project this year...

First of all I can't take any credit for this project...I was inspired by Simply KellyB
I started with a 8 X 10 frame from Dollar Tree...

I added vintage looking rose trim around the entire frame..

and I used the new paper line from October Afternoon...

Holiday Style...

For complete directions, you'll want to head over to Kelly's blog..
and she's got a link to the pictures for each day of the calendar...

I added a little embellishment to each page and the bell ornament

on the side is also from Dollar Tree...

I kept the background as neutral as possible so I can make a flip calendar for Valentine's Day....

I'm going to take some time off and will be back on Saturday for Sunday Blog Love.
Wishing you a wonderful Holiday Season!

Linking to these parties...

My Favorite Christmas Homes

There have been so many great homes decorated for Christmas out there in bloggy land and
I'd like to share some of my favorites...

(in no particular order.....)



Arbor House Lane

The House of Smiths



Fox Hollow Cottage




Aikens House and Gardens

Forever Decorating

My Romantic Home

Dear Lillie

Flea Market Trixie

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Last Minute Easy Christmas Craft Project

This Christmas season has flown by so fast and I really didn't get much accomplished in the

crafting department..although I did make a little something for my Secret Santa for work and

thought I'd share it with you...

It's very easy and if you have any of those peat pots leftover from last summer,

you can make one of these super fast and hand them out to

your co-workers, friends and/or family.

I made two baskets...so grab how many peat pots that you want to make and the

same number of pipecleaners and get your glue gun heated up!

I also used this holiday ribbon that I found at Goodwill for $1

but you can use any ribbon you want.

Simply wrap the ribbon around and glue it on...

you'll want to fold the corners down and glue it down

then I added ribbon to the bottom

but ended up taking it off...

glue the pipecleaner down to make a handle

(you'll straighten it out later)

Then add some lace and 2 different wide strips of muslin

and tie it up with some tulle.

I hot glued this candy cane chipboard element that I had in my stash.

Add packet of hot chocolate, a chocolate Santa

and some marshmallows...

and you're ready to give it away...

Super easy and very cute!

This is the other basket that I made, on the same concept as the first but

just by changing the embellishment - the look is completely different...

I'm linking to these parties...

Happy Wednesday!

This girl is not ready for Christmas this year!

Tuesday Treasure - The Big Picture

Happy Tuesday!

This week for my weekly Tuesday Treasure, I wanted to share an online class I came across...
that I'm going to sign up for and wanted to share with you...

Move More, Eat Well 2012

Click here for more info...
Classes start January 1, 2012...

Additionally there is a support group just forming
and if you interested in joining, click here and leave a comment for Catherine...
She's lost 30 pounds since August!
And she is also a designer for My Memories!

Wishing you a great Tuesday!

Christmas At Our Home - Part Two

Last week I showed you what our living room looks like this year for Christmas.

And this week, I thought I'd show you the kitchen and dining room...

the theme in this area is definitely gingerbread men...

Since I took this picture last week, I've made a few changes..

as you can see, I have a string hanging for a banner..

But since we don't have a fireplace,

I decided to hang our stockings there..

this will be Macie's first Christmas....

and I got her stocking from Snip It Up...

lots of cute stuff and I'm sure I'll be back..soon..lol..

On top of the hutch I added my favorite Subway art from Eighteen 25

as well as a gingerbread house and gingerbread man...

I can't remember where I got the gingerbread house...

either JC Penny or Kohls and the gingerbread man is from Goodwill...

Tucked into the corner is my gingerbread tree...

and would you believe that many of my cookbooks were found at Goodwill?

After I watched the movie, Julie & Julia, I found the Joy of Cooking cookbook

at Goodwill and I also found one in light blue for Crystal..

I think its a very complicated cookbook...

On the side of the pantry, I've hung my gingerbread stockings as well as

the stocking for Storm...

Storm is on a diet right now so Santa won't be leaving him anything this year..

Over the kitchen sink are my favorite curtains...Waverly Garden Room Vintage Rose..

and I hung a banner of glittered pinecones across the top..

and a gingerbread swag across the bottom layer..

We happened to be at Ace Hardware one day and I went to check

out the Christmas decorations and found these cute gingerbread men...

The gingerbread theme continues on the countertop..

I made these primitive candy canes and blogged about it here...
super easy and fit in nicely with my gingerbread theme...

One last picture...I couldn't seem to get Gilmore to move..
not sure why but our cats seem to love to nap here..

Now I need to finish up my cookie baking..
and party chex mix......

Wishing you all a fantastic week!

I'm linking up to these parties...
Metamorphis Monday
Don't forget to link up at my party going on right here...

Sunday Blog Love - Linky Party

Is anybody still trying to get ready for Christmas?

Yesterday I mixed up six different cookie recipes and this afternoon

I need to bake them..

and I'm reading a really good book...

trying to make a couple of craft projects

for myself and my Secret Santa at work..

But it's all good...and fun..

hoping you're having a great weekend.

You all have been busy and I love, love, love

checking out each project..

Let me show you my top five picks from last week...

in no particular order....

Music Santas Frame

Shimmery Christmas Ornaments

Cookie Swap

Christmas in the Dining Room

Extreme Wreath Makeover

And for the most viewed projects..

there was a three way tie!

We all love to check out thrifty finds

Beautiful damask stenciled curtain tutorial

Love all of these gorgeous wedding pictures

Thank you so much for linking up ladies!

Feel free to grab my new featured button to add to your blog.

Now it's on to this weeks linky party....

I hope you'll join me this week and show what you've been busy with..

All kinds of posts are welcome--whether it's about your family, a craft project,

thrifty find, a favorite recipe or maybe it's decorating your home or a giveaway....

The only requirement is..you must link back to my party...

(besides it's blogger ettiquette to link back...)

Not required but if you become a follower - then you know if you've been featured....

and will also be added to my Sunday Blog Love on Pinterest.

Have a great weekend!