Im Sorry, So Sorry

Where on Earth has the month of January gone?!? Last thing I know I'm tellin ya the next time you'll see me is sitting in front of a present piled tree sipping a nice hot cup of chocolate and bam! January 25th. I have no specific excuse, many things have been happening in my life, and along with them alot of stress as well. I have been piled up with responsibilties, a sometimes inbearable workload, and to top that off the stress of the new year and my resolutions (which I have decided to start in February ;)
So now that I have found some time to relax, and take a couple pictures here and there, I decided to craft. Craft is a word that I have not thought of in over a month, not since wrapping my presents (which by the way were super snazzy, but all were unwrapped ;( So anyways, January has rushed through and I feel as though I have had no time for myself. So today, I decided that I was going to craft up something for the coming Holiday, seeing that all of my recent magazines are filling me with Valentines inspiration. I'm only showing a few snippets of the pieces, since I still have not decided what I am going to do with them. I just love the red sequins and the glitter, and that green I felt just went so nicely with my "Love Potion" that I'm cooking up. As for now, I have some events lined up ahead such as the Philadelphia Antique Show, Redners Antique Show, and the Spice Girls Concert (*yeah, I'm goin ;) So hopefully I'll have pictures to share with you of my future adventures. Right now, I think I'm gonna go keep working on my valentines projects and perhaps purchase a few crafty items online. Until next time, wishing you love and inspiration!

The Final Countdown...

WOW, just 5 more days until the big one!! And is it that horrible for me to say that I still have yet to go Christmas Shopping!?!? Yes my friends, it is true... I am a procrastinator, and this is one of the worst cases for me. I cannot believe that I have waited until five days remain to buy a load of presents that wouldn't even fit on Santa's sleigh!! To make myself feel a little less anxious, I have bought a few presents for my mom, but that is all. I do have lists upon lists of present ideas for people, so I've gotten the "What to get?" question dealt with, now I just need to fight the traffic and the lines at America's second largest mall. I am usually a shop-a-holic, visiting the mall at least once a week, but I... haven't... been there in.... 2 months!! How have I been able to live?? Just kidding, but you would think that for someone who loves shopping so much that they would go and get it done and over with. Well, I am going today my friends, venturing out into a world of Christmas Chaos and last minute shoppers (ehem...) and getting it all finished. This is not just another one of those "half promises" of mine, this is a fact! ( You see I must tell myself that so I don't totally have a Christmas Breakdown.
Anyhoo, I am going today, meeting my sister for lunch, then perhaps shop with her for a little bit, see what extravagant new items she's been eyeing up, and see if my pockets don't burn holes in themselves by the end of the night. I also have to get wrapping paper, probably brown kraft paper with luxurious ribbon or raffia and tea stained tags. I am still unsure; I bought this really pretty blue plaid print at Target, with brown velvet ribbon, but I am unsure if it is matte or shiny. I like to use matte finished papers, don't ask why, I just think it looks better. Alrighty, well I am going to finish up here, since I do have a ton to do today, and hopefully the next time I post, you will see dozens of beautifully wrapped gifts with a nice cup of hot coco and The Grinch playing in the background! Wishing you timely holiday shopping and wrapping, as well as cups of frothy hot chocolate!!
ps: Today is my 50th post, somewhere in the near future, you will be seeing a suprise for all of my dear readers... Make sure you stay tuned!!

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree...

That good old Christmas clock is ticking away and there is just about 10 more days until Christmas!! Meaning that in the next 10 days I must finish all of my shopping, give my own "Wish Lists" out and finish up decorating and of course wrapping presents. Never has a Christmas been so hectic as it has been this year, and although it has been nerve wracking at times, I still cannot wait until the big day! I have been uber busy this entire month, and I am quite surprised that I even had the time to get a tree let alone decorate it! I have not forgotten about you dear blog, just ignored once again, and I am sorry once again, and I hope you understand. We are all busy women and I know that everyone's life gets hectic at times.
Alrighty off of the bad topics and onto Christmas!! So last Saturday I went to the local Nursery and picked out my tree, a frasier fir like every other year. I also enjoyed my annual cup of apple cider that I always get while the tree is being drilled and I picked up a beautiful wreath for the front door. I then proceeded to wait a week, stock piling ornaments and garlands for the past month in my living room, and finally tonight I found the time to decorate my tree. I also decorated my bay window a couple of days ago with lights and different sized and shaped ornaments floating at different heights from ribbon. I admit that this is not how I planned I would decorate, all in one crazy night, but thats how it happened and now I can finally enjoy it all. I'll post some pictures of the tree in a couple of days, and maybe even the silver tinsel tree I set up in my guest bedroom/ studio. As for the decorations, well Target and KMarts stock just went sky high since Genevieve bought out most of their supplies. I'm tellin ya, the day after Thanksgiving, me and the other decorators were going head to head, "fighting" each other to get the last glass glitter snowflakes at Target (which I did ;) Lets just say that Target and Kohls did not disappoint with their wide selection of gorgeous glass glitter ornaments. I am sure you've already visited and gotten some yourself, so for now heres just some inspiration (as if you need it!) Enjoy!!

Brocante Home's Puttery Treat Challenge

"Get up very, very early. Just you. Creep downstairs, light candles and drink coffee in the dark, melancholy silence of an early Winter morning."

Waking up in the darkness of the sweet, calm morning, I feel the icy breeze dash across my nose from the cracked window above me. Pushing myself out of my warm nest, I stretch to the new days beginning and slip on my fluffy slippers. Heading to the kitchen, I hear but not one noise, perhaps the yawn of Metayo as he adjusts his eyes to the darkness (for he is not used to waking up so early.) With the creaking of the kitchen door, I am happily awakened by the earthy aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Carefully swishing my feet across the dark kitchen tile, I base my direction on the flashing green light of the coffee maker. With my cup placed out from last night, with a slightly tarnished vintage family spoon acting as the stirrer of the day’s future, I pour in my hazelnut creamer, and mix in the sugar. I begin to light the tea lights which are placed in aged mercury glass holders amongst the windowsill, and peer outside to my backyard, which has been transformed to a snow covered wonderland overnight. I lean back on the kitchen counter with coffee in hand, and sip away all the worries of yesterday, and plan what delights await me in the day ahead. I am calm, I am silent, I am peaceful, but I am not alone. I soon hear the scurrying of Metayo’s paws on the floor and feel his side rub against my leg. He sits and stares at me, silently asking me to take him outside in the snow, to play in natures glistening beauty. I now tie up my snow boots, slip on my comfy down jacket and step outside with Metayo. The sun is beginning to rise, and the snow in all of its winters glory has blanketed the sounds of early morning. I stand in the icy blanket, with the mornings breeze wisping through my hair, and listen to the glorious sounds of nature, the sounds of winter, the sounds of peace.

*Image Courtesy of Creativty+'s


Do visit Allison's 'scrumptiously' lovely blog!! The Brocante Home Chronicles

Shes a sneaky one...

Okay, Okay, I could not take it any longer... I must... post... my hat!!! I confess I did send it out later then the set due date because of some technical difficulties with some of the details, so therefore I have waited extra long to share the completed project with you all. Not that it is very important to your or anything, I thought I would finally post the pictures of the hat I made for Speckled Eggs Halloween Hat swap. Since it is just one more week until Halloween, and of course since I have been deserting you to the MAX, I thought I could quite possibly, make it up to you? I promise this is not the only thing that will come in the future. More "In the Kitchens" and perhaps even a few "Fashion Fridays" tucked in the schedule as well. I dont want to ruin anything, but hint.. hint.. my 50th post is coming up soon, just in time for the holidays!! I am going to try to make it to 100 posts before my blogs 1 year anniversary!! That is now my goal, and I promise I will try to reach it!!
Alrighty, now back to the hat... I took your basic party hat cone shape, made one out of heavy duty scrapbook paper, and then added some shredded paper, glitter, vellum, and all that jazz. A few squiggly eyes later, Voila! I was going for more of a vintage inspired Halloween, the classic colors, plus some sheet music and tea stained papers. I really love how it turned out, and I hope my partner Robyn loved it as much as I do. It was really hard to part with, and I believe that the UPS arrival date said Wednesday October 25th, so I'm patiently awaiting what she thinks. I also added a card (not shown) and a goody bag of some scrumptious candies.. Yummo, candy corn how I love thee!! Okay, now on with the rest of the pictures; enjoy the eye candy (pardon the pun!) Until next time wishing you goody bags full of candy corn and Halloween inspirations!

Thank you Mr. Postman....

Hello all, yes I am still here, and no I am not going to appologize for deserting you once again because I know you are all tired of hearing about it ;) So on to why I made this blog, to keep in touch, inspire and be inspired by others! Okay, so the other day I am watching my DVR'd episode of Martha, when I hear the mailman come to drop off the mail. I pause my Martha, go outside, and as I turn around to go back inside I notice I large brown UPS box in the corner of my eye. I was soo excited and shocked that I dropped the mail and ran into the house for a pair of scissors. Once it was opened I found a sweet handmade card from Robyn, my Halloween Hat Swap partner. I also found a cute Halloween inspired ribbon and as I dug through the seemingly endless array of styrofoam balls, I spotted it. Orange glittery goodness in all of its glory!! I picked it up and admired the details, the fabrics she used, the vintage childrens hat, and the glitter. Not to mention that gorgeous 'G.' How had she known I had been wanting one of those? Anyways I am proud to say that it is now being displayed on a vintage urn with the rest of my fall decor. And might I add that it just goes so well!! I cannot thank you enough Robyn, and I can't wait for you to recieve mine!
I know I told you that I would share a few sneek peaks at the hat, but before I got to take some close up details, I had to ship it off to California. So I will wait until I get news that Robin's postman delivered it, and then I will show you because I want her to be surprised! Alrighty, well these past few weeks (ughh... has it really been that long?) have been very busy. My great Uncles came over from California for the first time in my life, and might I add they are super-fun!! I cannot wait to visit them, and since I'll be in CA, I might just have to travel to some of the great spots I read about in Blogland. As some type of payment for my time away I thought I share with you some pictures of the hat Robyn made. Until the next time, perhaps Saturday (when I buy some pumpkins and those flowers I've been talking about) I wish you beautiful fall days and some suprises in the mail!!
ps: Did anyone catch Wendy Addison on Martha yesterday?? And VICTORIA magazine is BACK!!!

Octobers Splendor...

Ahh, the brisk days of fall have fallen upon us and the leaves are beginning to change color. I'm tellin ya, October 1st has got me all to excited for the fall (like I have said oh so many times before!) I have been working on getting out my Halloween/Fall decor out, but I still haven't found the time. I'm hoping that tomorrow will be the day that I unearth all of those annual goodies. Am I the only one who feels like its Christmas morning when I open up the fall decor box and see all of the goodies that I have long forgotten and sometimes even forgot that I had? If so, then call me crazy because I am crazily in L.O.V.E with Fall!! As you can see I am starting to get in the mood for fall, with my small purchase of 3 mini pumpkins and some of the scraps from my Halloween Hat swap project.
I did not want to show you too much, in fear that the woman I am sending it to might get an early surprise. I worked on finishing it up this weekend and I just have to add a few more details to make it beautiful. I'm starting to get orders for these hats now, everyone that sees the in-the-process Halloween Hat is always saying "Oh you should make one for so and so, she loves Halloween." So maybe that will be my new venture, a world in creating lovely party hats. There are just so many creative souls out there, that hold so much talent, and are an inspiration to me everyday! Anyhoo, back onto Halloween, I am hoping on getting over to the farm stand to pick up my pumpkins and mums and pansies. Ohh, I was there last week and they hat black and caramel colored pansies which I am hoping are not sold out by now. I'm thinking them along with some baby cabbages for the front, and of course some carved jack-o-lanterns! I promise, more fall adventures lie ahead, so dont miss out, and oh yeah Ill sneak a few more peeks of the hat for you as well! Wishing you crisp and beautiful fall days!