G reetings! I hope that everyone had the happiest of holidays — I can hardly believe we're into the New Year! As you can imagine, things have been busy around here. I did find a moment to take a quick photo of the kitchen shelves — which happens to be the only photograph I took of the house over the holidays! The transfer ware used to belong to my Grandmother (Margaret's namesake). They have become part of our traditional holiday display. All of the other photographs I've taken over the past several weeks have been of the babies (which I'm learning are not such easy subjects due to their wiggle worm factor). I started to learn this shortly after we brought the babies home from the hospital, when we took some photos of them in their Christmas stockings. We thought that one day they'd have fun seeing just how tiny they once were.
Did you know we have some amazing sponsors that help make our little old blog possible? Yup, they're amazing and I (Monica) wanted to tell you why… ********************************* Stuff See that funky, fun header at the top of our blog? Well, that takes you to the website of one rockin' furniture and accessory store. One of our blog readers checked it out this month and thought it was pretty awesome too! With the holidays approaching, head over and get something fun for your house before company comes! (My personal favorites are the farm house tables and cool accent chairs)
RT. 309 | 927 Bethlehem Pike (3 Miles North of Montgomery Mall) Colmar, PA 18915 Tel: 215.716.3325Fax: 215.716.3431 Email: info@stuffcloseouts.comstuff Open Friday, Saturday & Sunday ********************************* Jet Upholstery So one DIY that I pretty much don't ever plan to attempt is reupholstering furniture. Way outta my league! Thankfully, I have Jet Upholstery right around the corner in Bucks County. Their work is amazing. Today, I hit a thrift store on the hunt for a cool chair to have Jet refinish for me! I'm still looking, but I know that when I find it, they're going to make it amazing! They also have an amazing selection of designer fabrics and can get just about anything you want. I just found this chair on Craigslist… and I've been drooling over this fabric…
So, give Jet Upholsty a call or check out their website. Go find an ugly chair for pennies and let them make it fabulous for you! JET Upholstery3102 Bedminster Road Bedminster, PA 18910 215-795-0881 215-220-3443 fax Store Hours: Mon-Thurs. 9-5 Friday 9-4 / Sat 9-12 ********************************* Mandy Hajel, 31 Gifts
So, you probably know about 31 Gifts and how it's taking the world by storm. If not, stop right now and go check out Mandy's site. Really… GO! There are so many reasons to love 31… adorable fabric options, super cute bags, really fun parties, and it's a business that is based off of the Proverbs 31 woman. Rather than going on about the products, let me tell you a bit about Mandy (she's one of my bffs!). You see, Mandy and I used to teach English together… that is before she joined 31. She's been with the company for 1 year and in that time has made enough money to replace (and more) her teacher's salary, she's earned a family vacation to Disney World, a romantic trip for two to Mexico, a Dell laptop, an Ipad 2, a huge Best Buy giftcard, an XBox, and more. Do you think I earned all that as a teacher?? Umm, Nope. So, if you're looking to make a little side money before the holidays, give Mandy a call, she'll hook you up and teach you her secrets to success! Amanda Hajel Phone: (301) 791-3579 Email: hajelfamily@yahoo.com Website: http://www.mythirtyone.com/hajel/ ********************************* Blossom Bands So, what are your kids wearing for Thanksgiving and Christmas? Ok, maybe it's a tad early to know 100%, but you need to get thinking! The only thing you need to be sure of is to include a Blossom Band for your little ladies. I bought a Halloween one this month for Kira and she loved it! Bethany has tons of ready to sell items as well as custom pieces to match whatever outfits you're planning. You know how in decorating it's all in the details?? Well, a Blossom Band is the perfect detail to make your holiday outfits fabulous!
Bethany Lander Etsy: Bands Etsy Store Email: Bethany@BlossomBands.com Website: http://www.blossombands.com/ ********************************* Jennifer Black, The Pampered Chef
If you read Jess' post on her amazing Apple dessert, then you know that we LOVE Pampered Chef products. Did you know that I only use stoneware to do all my cooking? Really, I have almost every stone they sell. It's definitely one of my favorite things. With thanksgiving coming, you should peruse their catalog and see what you need before cooking for the masses. I actually never buy something without hosting a party because the benefits are insane. I'm a huge fan of the catalog show because # 1- I don't have to find a date in my crazy schedule and # 2 Did I mention the amazing incentives and FREE products? So, call Jane, host a catalog party, and get a bunch of free stuff! Ok, even if you don't do the party thing, you must own at least one piece of stoneware and Jess recommends the apple corer slicer! Jennifer BlackPhone: (410) 952-1179 Email: Janeniferjblack@comcast.net Website: http://www.pamperedchef.biz/jenniferblack ********************************* The Land of Nod I've loved Crate & Barrel forever (we actually registered there for our wedding) so of course I LOVE their sister store, The Land of Nod! You'll definitely want to check them out for holiday decor and Christmas presents.
Here is one Must Have item if you have elementary aged kids.
It's the BEST doodle book ever! Taro Gomi draws the coolest Japanese doodles to get your kiddos thinking. Each page usually has a picture and a prompting question. Ex: An empty plate and the question… The Queen's coming for dinner, what do we feed her? My kids ADORE this book and fought over the pages enough that I finally bought a few more! The Land of Nod has offered our readers FREE shipping on most Holiday Toys, so click the pic below to take advantage of it! LMK if you buy a fun doodle book!
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Did Jess and I mention that life has been a wee bit crazy lately? Each week we keep saying that"it should slow down next week", but so far it just keeps on being awesome and crazy! Dream Dinners has been a total savior in this area! The other night I was over and asked Jess what they were going to do for dinner (because I had nothing planned for my family) and she just pointed to an amazing looking Dream Dinner thawing and ready to pop in the oven. Even if you love to cook, it's so wonderful to have some DDs on hand for the unexpected busy day. Give Kris a call and bring your friends- it's so fun to make meals together! Kris Petrich, Owner 309 at Advance Ln 262 Bethlehem Pike, Ste 101 Colmar, PA 18915 Tel: 215-822-4055 Email: 309advanceLNPA@dreamdinners.com Website: http://www.dreamdinners.com/ A BIG Thanks to all of our sponsors! Thanks for taking this crazy journey with us!Now, go show them some RHBC love! If you have a business or a product that you think our readers would love, contact us to talk about becoming a blog sponsor.Thanks!
Good morning! Monica and I spent some time at the Channel 69 News station this morning sharing some easy ideas to dress up your front door for the holidays (click here to see our Thanksgiving tablescape ideas from last year). We'll pop the video of the segment up on facebook sometime today or tomorrow, but for now, let's take a look at a super cute and fun way to welcome in the Christmas season!
Ok, folks, this is one the kids will love. At least, my kids do! This adorable wreath is simple to put together, requires only a few materials, and makes such a big impact.
Cute, right?! Most of you have probably seen something similar all over Pinterest, but I thought I'd break it down for you. First, I bought three cheap wreaths at Walmart in varying sizes. These are not high-quality wreaths, but they do the trick and cost a little under $20 total, which you just can't beat.
Before I assembled the snowman, I hit the wreaths with some white spraypaint which did two things: 1. It"winterizes" the wreaths, making it more snowman-like. 2. Hides the really fake looking greenery of the wreaths. (SCORE!)
Then, we collected some branches for the arms of the snowman. Thanks to Hurricane Sandy, we had loads to choose from, and my little guy was able to help. I love it when I can include the kids in my projects!
I assembled the materials I needed, which included the wreaths, scarves, two branches, a hat and some floral wire.
Cut about six inches of floral wire with your scissors. (See? Not rocket science, that's for sure.)
Wrap the wire around the bottom of the smallest wreath and the top of the the medium-sized wreath. (To make it nice and secure I wrapped the wire around twice.) Bring the ends together and twist them together and wrap once more around the wreaths. Do the same thing to largest wreath.
I had quite the audience. Oh, the pressure!
Wrap the scarf around the"neck" of the snowman and tie. Attach the arms to the wreath frame using the floral wire.
Hang your wreath on a door hanger and attach the hat to it with floral wire. My hat had a fabric tab that I was able to wrap the wire around. Stand back and take a look at all that cuteness!
Such a fun, whimsical look for your front door.
These fake presents have made their rounds…they were used originally in our Christmas episode for The Nate Show and now make their debut on my front porch!
Oh hey there, Mr. Snowman. Come on in.
So, that's idea #1! We still have a few more to share this week, so stay tuned. Also, don't forget to enter the awesome giveaway we have going on! What do you do to your front door to welcome the holidays?
It's beginning to look more like Christmas around here. We hung our stockings....
....and Hubby built us a warm toasty fire.
We also put our Christmas tree up. I was in the kitchen when he called to me, "is this straight?"
We straightened it out and found all of our favorite ornaments to hang. Hubby's parents made it a tradition to give each of their six children (Hubby is the baby of six in his family) an ornament every year so there are lots of ornaments on our tree with a strong Hubby theme. By far, my favorite, and the one ornament I'm sure to hang most prominently on our tree, is the ornament I call, "Hunk of Love."
Here it is being showcased with careful consideration that plenty of light is cast its way. This ornament was given to him when he was in high school. He was on the basketball team, hence the basketball themed ornament. How cute is that! You want a closer look you say?
Well I'm glad you asked because the very first Christmas we spent together, I made a larger copy in order to better appreciate all the fine details. The mullet (business in the front, party in the back), the 1980's tank top and the best part, the teenager stare.... are what makes this ornament so special. I can't help but smile each time I look at it! Hubby finds this very amusing and always asks, "what mullet?" Do you have any favorite childhood ornaments?
It was so nice to sit by the tree last night. Hubby read some David Sedaris holiday tales and we played several rounds of Backgammon in front of the fire. Hubby loves Backgammon, and I'm more of a Scrabble girl. So I'm sure we'll be playing lots of both over the holidays. Happy holidays!
I t's time to start thinking about our grapes, which is a wonderful feeling. It's the first sure sign that winter is happily behind us and that the warmer months are sure to come. Every year about this time, Hubby enthusiastically sets out to prune the grape vines. Since taking over the neglected vines four years ago, he's been experimenting with various pruning practices and we're feeling pretty good about our first true crop this fall.
Here's a quick glimpse of a prior year's harvest.
We're more eager than ever for an abundant crop this year because we've finally decided what to do with all those grapes! We're going to make our first batch of Concord grape wine, grape juice and grape jelly to give to family and friends for the holidays. The following are just a few examples of wine label templates I found online here.
I like the rich warmth of this gold label.
I also like the softness of the pale green.
This green and fuchsia label would be especially festive for the holidays.
While Hubby patiently pruned, a certain someone wasn't far from his side.
We interrupt this regularly schedule DIY program for an important announcement (I've always wanted to use that phrase somewhere!): We have some incredible sponsors who provide loads of amazing products just waiting to be purchased for one-of-a-kind Christmas presents! I've broken them down into categories for you… Gift-Giving
Ok, you may remember me talking about the amazing art prints from Red Letter Words, but did you know Dee also offers adorable greeting cards and candles? Not only that, but messages printed on the greeting cards are so meaningful and thoughtful- perfect as a stocking stuffer, a gift for a friend, a teacher and the list goes on and on. Get 15% off until December 15th with the code MERRY15. Order by December 19th for Christmas delivery. (Excludes custom prints and the print of the month)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Every year I try to give my neighbors a little gift, and this 1-2-3 Dip! Gift set from Pampered Chef is perfect! I am such a sucker for chips and dip. I pretty much could live on it. And if you don't have neighbors, buy a few as hostess gifts (they'll be sure to get you an invitation to next year's party!: ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, Jane sent us a few of her 100% soy candles to try, and I can.not.get.enough. of the Christmas pine scent. I've been burning it around the clock since I got it, and the beautiful thing is, that because it's soy, it's long-lasting! Order a few of these as gifts, or just go ahead and buy a stash for yourself! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How about this adorable Littles Carry-All Caddy in the Winter Wonderland pattern from Thirty-One Gifts for teachers in your (or your kid's) lives? Fill it with a mug, some good chocolate and a gift card to Starbucks and you're set! It comes in 10 different patterns, so you'll be sure to find something for everyone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Entertaining
Planning a holiday party? Spread some Festive Cheer with this cocktail idea from Garnish. Goodness, could their stuff be any more darling? I could literally spend all my party budget on the goodies from Garnish- who needs food anyway? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I came across this super-cute idea to use scrapbook paper as a charger on a holiday table, and I'm in love! You could totally use this fabulous paper from Moo & Puppy and alternate the patterns underneath the plates for coordinated, but not identical place settings! {Swoon}
Use the code HOUSEWIVES20 for 20% off of your order. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I love Dream Dinners. I really do. And they are total life-savers if you are hosting a holiday party or dinner. So many of the meals can be easily turned into appetizers, like this Coconut Shrimp with Sweet & Sour dipping sauce. Make your holidays stress-free with ready-to-cook meals. Use the codeDDNC201110 for 10% off your first order. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the Home
Well, looky what I found on Craigslist. A $15 chair that would be absolutely stunning if reupholstered in some new fabric! Jet Upholstery could do that in heartbeat, and guess what? You can save 25% off any fabric order when you mention RHBC. Now go! That chair won't last long (especially because I can't keep my eyes off of it!) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In our winnings from Crafting with the Stars, we both got to choose stencils from Royal Design Studio. They are the best place to get designer decorative stencils and tools. Monica chose this Morrocan Stencil- Chez Sheik:
And I'm getting this lovely Large Fabric Damask stencil:
We both have big plans for our stencils and come on, you know you have an area in your house that's just dying to be stenciled. Am I right? Head over to Royal Design Studio to be totally inspired. Use the coupon code RHBC10 for 10% off your order! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Giving Back
We are often so focused on buying gifts at this time of year, but really, it's also a great time to give back. Head on over to Scout & Nimble to see how you can be a part of her awesome iniative to do just that. Also, did you see this ah-ma-zing rug she just got?
So jealous. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ok, that's it! No excuses for lame gifts this year, people!; )
Imagine my thrill when I was gifted with this fancy-schmancy sandblasted Fiestaware plate from a Homer Laughlin Fiesta Collector's Association!
It's perfect!
Is this not the cutest thing ever?
I had already been making my jewelry from broken plates and pottery for quite a few years when one day I was approached by a Fiesta collector to enter a contest in which artists create something from broken or damaged Fiesta. Of course, now I cannot find a photo of my winning piece, but it was a piece of jewelry, a heart pin brooch with fancy edges and so pretty! Here are a few photos of some other things I have created with broken Fiesta over the years.
Pin brooch (sold '02)
Mosaic teacup plaque. Doubles as the most awesome bird feeder ever. (sold '03)
Backstamp pendant (sold '04) (approx 1.25")
Bracelet
Love these earrings!
Another necklace pendant (approx 1.5")
Mosaic heart — perfect for the Fiesta kitchen! (approx 6")
Earrings with Swarovski crystals and Czech glass pearls (1/2" by 1 & 1/4")
Read on for some interesting history about Fiesta ware colors:
'At its introduction in 1936, Fiesta was produced in five colors: Red (orange red), Blue (cobalt), Green (light green), Yellow (deep golden), and Old Ivory (yellowish cream). By 1938, two years into production, a sixth color was added: Turquoise ( robin 's egg blue). With the exception of the Red, this color assortment remained in production until approximately 1950. The original Red had been discontinued before 1944 (see below).
The lack of this vibrant color, plus the general changes in society due to the United States' participation in World War II, had caused a slump in sales of the larger serving pieces from the early 1940s. Prior to this reduction in the number of shapes offered, only one or two very specialized shapes had been discontinued and those by 1938. Later items which were discontinued, such as covered onion soup bowls in turquoise glaze and mixing bowl covers in any color, are scarce and highly prized by collectors.
By 1950, home decorating styles and colors had changed. The Homer Laughlin Company discontinued some original glaze colors and replaced them with four new colors. The original Blue (cobalt), the original Green (light green), and the original Old Ivory (yellowish cream) were discontinued, replaced by Rose (pinkish-brown), Gray (medium), Forest (dark green), and Chartreuse (bright yellowish green). Two existing glaze colors, Yellow and Turquoise, continued in production, so the company continued to offer six colors through the 1950s.' Excerpt from the article 'Fiesta (dinnerware)', which can be found HERE in its entirity
One of my later designs, about 2006 (1/2" by 1")
I will have some new jewelry in these and similar designs up for the holidays so be sure to check back!
H appy first of September to you! The neighboring orchards are bursting with voluptuous ripe pears. Looking down the long green corridor always makes me want to run wild past the sweet smell of the fruiting branches. As with the dahlias, the pears bring a bittersweet feeling of joy and melancholy as another September harvest will soon come to a close. But the beauty of the four seasons is that as one season comes to an end, another spectacular new season begins. Saying goodbye to summer would be so much more difficult if the approaching fall season didn't offer such a wonderful promise of warm fuzzies. Autumn colors, cozy sweaters, misty mornings, quiet evenings, a warm fire....and of course, the anticipation of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. And this year, our most anticipated occasion of all — the birth of our sweet little babies. xoxo Leaving the pear orchards, I found myself singing... On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.... A Partridge in a Pear tree.... On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.... Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear tree.... On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.... Three French Hens Two Turtle Doves and a Partridge in a Pear tree.... ....and on it goes. xo
The past few years going green has become the"in thing"… well guess what?? The Irish have been way ahead of this Earth-friendly trend. I come from a family of Boston Irish Catholics and I grew up loving St. Patrick's Day!
If you're not sure if you're Irish, well here's my own little questionnaire you can use… 1. You consider St. Patty's Day as one of the Major holidays. (Yup) 2. You eat corned beef and cabbage at least annually (and look forward to it) (Yup- can't wait!) 3. You know all the lyrics to at least 2 Irish songs (Yup, and 1/2 the lyrics to plenty more) 4. You grew up eating dinner on 3/17 at pubs where they would be playing Irish songs and serving green beer. (Yup- definitely a favorite childhood memory) 5. You have a professionally taken, childhood picture of yourself in a green velvet dress and your brother in a green velvet suit, complete with knickers and a green velvet scally cap. (Ok, that one might not be for everyone, but it certainly confirmed the fact that I grew up Irish) So you might not have grown up Irish, but we can still have a little fun celebrating today! Let's start the celebration with a little song to get you in the spirit… I love this song!
How about decorating with the color of Ireland? Recently, I've been really interested in making a BOLD, Kelly green work into my decorating scheme. I have big plans to introduce some green furniture in my dining room, so stay tuned. For now, let's see what others have done with it… This isn't exactly my style, but I'm sure a little leprechaun would be happy in this bathroom.
This avocado green is much more my style
There are so many shades of green and this BHG room makes use of many of them, but does it in a way that totally works.
Super-modern, bedroom for some lucky little leprechauns!
Green Imperial Trellis wallpaper… I haven't mentioned my Imperial Trellis (IT) obsession yet, but I adore anything in this pattern!
So what do you think about GREEN? Benjamin Moore is my favorite source for paint colors and this is just a little sampling of their greens. Are you going to give Ireland a little shout out in your decor?
You might not be ready to take the green plunge, but your kids might love these cupcakes in honor of St. Patty tonight! Family Fun has the recipe and it's a great one for having little helpers in the kitchen.
Have a Happy St. Patrick's Day and let us know if you have anything fun planned for your family!
I hope you'll find time in your busy day to pop on over to Providence Ltd. Mona was kind enough to invite me over for a guest post on Christmas inspiration where she's doing a wonderful series every Tuesday and Thursday with our wonderful world of design bloggers for the month of December.
image viaCountry Living Magazine You'll find inspiring ways to decorate with all natural, simple items found just outside your door! Be sure to leave a comment and tell us what you think, will you be using the great outdoors in your holiday scheme? Thank you Mona for inviting me over! & Happy Holidays Everyone!
I'm jumping the gun here a little bit, but all this rainy, cool weather has made me long for a good sweatshirt and a warm blanket. I'm with Monica: Fall is definitely my favorite season; the colors, weather and holidays just make me happy. However, my tendency is to put on sweatpants and a sweatshirt when I want to cozy up, but let's be honest, no one looks good in that combination. As a mom, I find it difficult to pull together a cute outfit when I have so many other things clamoring for my attention.
Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Lindsey, over at The Pleated Poppy, hosts a linky party every week called"What I Wore Wednesdays", and here's what she says about it:"hey, i think just getting dressed each day is an accomplishment worth documenting. that’s what this {WIWW} is, just a place for us to have accountability to get out of the yoga pants, and have some fun while we’re doing it." I'm pretty sure that you won't find me posting weekly about what I wore, (because trust me, it wouldn't be pretty), but I like the concept. Especially, since the majority of my time is spent being a stay-at-home mom, putting a little effort into what I wear would probably go a long way. I bet I'd get a lot more accomplished. And I'm pretty sure my hubs wouldn't complain. Seriously. I guess this is just one more thing I'm adding to my list of areas in which I need to be more intentional. Anyway, here are some of my favorite looks for the upcoming season. (Ha! Btw, I just realized that 6 of my 11 inspiration pics include knee-high boots. Guess you know what item I'm drawn to!)
Day at Home/Running Errands/Playdates
Source: bananarepublic.gap.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: iamagreedygirl.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest
Working 9-5
Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: oldnavy.gap.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: jcrew.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Hot Date/Girl’s Night Out
Source: None via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: polyvore.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: polyvore.com via Jessica on Pinterest
Source: polyvore.com via Jessica on Pinterest And I just couldn't end this post without a shout-out to Toms shoes. Casual, comfy and cute, these shoes work with anything (no joke- two of the girls on my highschool tennis team were rocking them with sundresses and it was adorable,) Toms are a bit pricey, but for every one pair of shoes you buy, another is donated to a child in need. Big bonus, right there. I'm putting these lovely chocolate Toms on my need-to-have list:
Source: toms.com via Jessica on Pinterest So, if you see me around town in scrubs, smack me please gently remind me of this post. Thank you.
O f course I couldn't make pumpkin soup and pumpkin birthday cake without making some yummy pumpkin bread. The aroma of it baking in the oven elicited the warmest of warm fall fuzzies. I love the smell of cinnamon....it's the coziest spice of all.
I used an Epicurious recipe ( found here ). I think this will be it for pumpkin recipes for awhile. But come November, I'll make pumpkin pies. Also, due to the abundance of pumpkins the garden produced this year (I counted twenty-five yesterday), I may make Pumpkin Walnut Bread to give as gifts over the holidays. Our pumpkin plant, on average, was supposed to produce four to five pumpkins....so not sure how ours exploded to five times that amount. Perhaps the pumpkins were trying to make up for the tomatoes that didn't fair so well. Happy pumpkin season to you! xo
A week of give-aways at Kayce's Blog....just in time for the holidays! You still have time for a chance to win one of these wool totes so get on over there!
Every year I like to wander about my home and see what it's lacking or needs in the form of furniture and accessories. Over the holidays I noticed I definitely need more lighting but for a couple of years now I've been coveting a Swedish settee.
image fromAn Angel at my Table They look amazing in pairs, love this image with the dark burlap dress forms. But an antique settee, even a reproduction can cost in the thousands. And to be honest a Swedish settee wouldn't really go well with my other furniture in my home but it would in my studio.
Painted French sofa fromA. Tyner Antiques At first I was considering a solid back settee to use in my studio for photography but then I started seriously looking around.
Reproduction settee fromFrench Garden House
circa 1900 Gustavian style settee fromAlhambra Antiques
rare, small settee, circa 1850,Cupboards & Roses Swedish Antiques I love this small settee at only 52" long, they're typically 70" plus in length but you pay for that smaller rare size. Love the faces on the arms.
image fromI Vassalletti This settee has a solid back with open arms
circa 1810 gray painted settee fromJudy Frankel Antiques Then I discovered the gray painted settee's with the burlap seat cushions and fell in love! But I'm a tad worried it might be to matchy with my French chair below.
My French 19th century Louis XVI style cane armchair The similarity you often see between French and Swedish furniture came from the Swedes traveling to France and soaking up the styles of Louis in 1770 at Versailles. So what's your opinion, do you think an open back settee is too matchy for my chair? What's your favorite style of Swedish settee?
O ur garden is producing a bumper crop of pickling cucumbers! I now have two full crocks of refrigerator pickles, but not even a pickle craving pregnant woman nor a Midwestern pickle-consuming husband can keep up. So Hubby decided to dust off his old recipe to can some pickles. A delicious fact about my Hubby is that he loves to cook — french toast, big dinner meals, yummy cakes (he makes me a birthday cake from scratch), and pickles. The recipe he's used (which comes from an old friend's grandma, modified by Hubby's Mom) is pretty open to variation but the basics are as follows (for six quarts): Fresh cucumbers, washed Seasonings: Pickling dill in each jar Pickling spices (we found ours in the bulk section of our grocery store) Garlic cloves, two in each jar
Brine: Organic vinegar (1 quart) Water (3 quarts) Pickling salt (3/4 cup) Sterilize jars in rolling boil in large pot. Pack cucumbers tight in sterilized jars with seasonings. Bring brine to rolling boil. Pour brine in jars. Let sit for 10-15 minutes, until cucumbers begin to turn olive.
Pour brine back into pot and bring to second boil. Fill jars with brine again, to 1/4-1/2 inch from top. Secure sterilized lids on full jars, and allow to cool. After jars have cooled, check that lids have sealed. Let cure for three months. Our canned pickles won't be ready to sample until on towards the holidays. The Refrigerator Pickle recipe I blogged about a few weeks ago results in a much more mild flavor than these will have as there is no salt in the recipe. For some, the Refrigerator Pickles may be too mild (especially if you're used to really salty or sweet pickles), but I continue to use the recipe because as a swollen pregnant pickle consuming woman, the no salt and low sugar is a good idea for me. ; )
Have you ever given thought to the women behind the men during this holiday season? First we have the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus whose birthday it is we're celebrating. If not for Mary we wouldn't have this wonderful holiday to celebrate. Happy Birthday Jesus!
How about Santa's reindeer did you know that the reindeer are actually all females? That's right, those lovely animals seen pulling Santa's sleigh are female. Only the female reindeer have their antlers when Christmas arrives and have the energy required for pulling a sleigh. (Think sex when it comes to the males but we won't go there right now.)
She looks happy huh? So lets all give thanks to the women in our lives this holiday season because chances are she too is also the woman behind a man! Happy Holidays!
Welcome to Day 2 of our mini-series on spicing up your front door for the holidays! Yesterday, Jess showed you how to make your own snowman wreath, and today I'm going to give you a super fast and really versatile (not to mention, it looks awesome!) way to change things up and get rid of those old, dated Christmas wreaths- c'mon, you know you have them. I like to call it the Anti-Wreath.
You may remember that last year, I made an Autumn Anti-wreath using some gilded pumpkins, orange ribbon and a frame that I spraypainted purple. (You can find the whole tutorial here)
I love it, but the purple frame just isn't cutting it for that Christmasy feel. Enter Anti-Wreath #2.
We debuted this baby yesterday on the morning show at Channel 69 News — you can see the whole segment here- Needless to say, we have a pretty fun time with Eve & Jaciel!
Anyhow, back to the Anit-wreath…it's going to make it's home on my front door as soon as I get back from London (the countdown is on!!)
The other thing you can do to dress up your door is to add vinyl words to it. This option is perfect for those of you who aren't ready to make a permanent change, because it can be removed when the season is over. The options are endless! We just got a Silhouette Cameo and are learning the ins and outs, but so far it's awesome.
I just picked a free font I liked (Janda Safe and Sound), typed in the"Be Merry" phrase and printed it out. The cutting is done for you, so all you have to do is peel the letters off the backing and adhere them to your door. Easy peasy!
If you don't have a Silhouette, no worries! Check out these other fun vinyl phrases I found on Etsy:
Willow Creek Signs
Mulberry Creek Well there it is, my second, successful Anti-Wreath! Do tell, are you a wreath lover or a hater like me?
Dylan and I were going to walk over to our neighbors to take them some holiday cookies and Mom came up with an idea.... Oh the things we do to our pets huh? Happy Holidays!
Hey there! We hope you all got to see our Nate Show episode yesterday. If not, no sweat, we've posted them here on the blog! Okay, now get ready for Day 1 of our 12 days!! We're super excited to share today's project with you because it didn't get much face time on the show, but is an awesome project that you'll want to try! Holiday Handwritten Lamp Shade
We love this DIY project because it's adorable, BUT it's also removable! No need to ruin a perfect lampshade just for the holidays. Come January 1st, you can say adios! Here's how I (Monica) did it… While shopping through Jess' house, I found these great lamps that Jess had thrifted and added IKEA shades to. I immediately thought they would look awesome in her Christmas basement!
The best thing about these IKEA shades is that the completely unroll! Score! (If your lamp doesn't unroll, don't fret, just wrap the fabric around it and then cut. A tiny bit more tricky, but good news! You have more than 48 hours to do it! I was in a bit of a rush!) For this project I actually used a khaki sheet from our first Nate Crate Challenge, but you can use any fabric or kraft paper for that matter. You want to trim your fabric so that there is about 1/4 inch excess on all sides.
Once the fabric is cut, use a glue gun or adhesive to attach the fabric to the inside of the shade. If using a glue gun, I promise you a few blisters. I think I still have two! Yikers! Do this step as neatly as you can because it will be slightly visible when the light shines through the shade.
The next step is to grab a Sharpie or fabric marker and write on the shade. I prefer a Sharpie, because the point is a bit sharper (duh, it's called a Sharpie! Sorry.cheesy, I know) For Jess' shade I wrote the first verse to Joy to the World, but you could write anything. A poem, quote, story etc… The only tip here is to stagger your words. I started the first line with"Joy to the World"… and the second line with wherever the first left off, unless it was too similar. And, If you're like me, you might hate seeing your own handwriting, but other people probably think it looks fine.
(Sorry about the frumpy shirt I borrowed from Jess' husband's dresser. It was about midnight at this point!) Once the writing is done, just reassemble your shade and admire your handiwork! It makes a cool impact, with a modern touch. If you like a more traditional feel, you could write in a more script fashion.
So what do you think? I pretty much love it! (and I think Jess does too!)
So, there you have it a simple Holiday Handwritten Lampshade! Now, how many of you are going to search through your house for just the right lamp?? Thanks again Nate for letting us share all the inside scoop of our Nate's Crate DIYs! Check back Monday for the fabulous accent branch Jess created for me!
