Glittery Goodness

Some time last fall, I decided I wanted to decorate with pine cones. Glittered pine cones, to be exact, for our tree and a few around our home for some added sparkle.

It's a simple idea

Inexpensive

Not that difficult to "create"

Only a couple of simple steps

Spray paint, spray adhesive, glitter!

Or so I thought! 

What I wasn't prepared for was the lack of pine cones ~ as in none to be found!  I ask, begged, and was willing to buy pine cones from friends, family and co-workers. Compliments of our hurricane, we are lacking here in my area!

Nope, Nada, None!

The only pine cones available for purchase are coated in {fake} cinnamon scent. They give me the worst headache. I hold my breath every time I pass them in the craft stores.

I was just about to give up on my idea when Lori came to the rescue. During one of our chats, pine cones came up and she offered to send me some. Apparently, they have more than their share this year and she was happy to share.

I'm thrilled with how they turned out and how wonderful they look in our Christmas decor. Just what I had envisioned.


 I've set aside a few of the teeny tiny ones. I plan to add them to my packages once their wrapped {no need to rush in this department, I have 3 more days. Yikes!}  They will be the perfect special touch with the satin ribbon and wrapping paper.

Leave A Comment

Cookie Exchange

I've been looking forward to this afternoon all season. This afternoon was my annual Cookie Exchange. It's always such a fun afternoon. I get to catch up with friends and neighbors, eat girlie finger foods, and in the end, I have an amazing platter of cookies to enjoy ~ yum!

I made chocolate covered cherry cookies for the exchange this year.




In keeping with my "low key" holidays, I didn't go overboard on the menu. No one seemed to notice and for the first time in years, I wasn't stressed. What a joy, I should have done this years ago.





I'm really blessed to have such a great circle of friends. Each of these wonderful women have such amazing talents. There is never a quiet moment when we are together.




My sweet friend and neighbor grabbed a few shots of me while filling my platter. She's a wife and mom too! {aka always behind the camera and never in a photo! :) } 


Our week ahead is going to be a crazy one and that's putting it nicely. We are in school until the bitter end :) I'm in charge of putting on our staff breakfast, we have have two parties to attend, and somewhere in all my (nonexistent) free time I need to squeeze in last minute shopping and prepping for Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Is it too late to hire an assistant?

Leave A Comment

Boxwood Wreath

I was going to order a couple of boxwood wreaths when I realized ....

~We have boxwoods in our yard

~I know how to make a wreath

~It takes very little time to make one

~I could spend the money on something else {that I really want}

so, a crafting I went.

I love the little corner cabinet in my kitchen with the glass front. She just needed a little something, something to dress up for the holidays ~ enter the wreath idea.




My boxwood gathered and secured into small bundles.




Add the bundles by over lapping as you go along.





All finished and pretty darn cute, if I do say so myself.




I love this ribbon. I wish I had purchased all they had in stock when I found it last year. It has just the right touch without being over the top.




On display ~ just what I was looking for to add a little Christmas cheer to my kitchen.






It's simple, homemade, and just the perfect touch.
Not to mention that it brings a smile to my face :)



Merry, merry!

Leave A Comment

My Blog is Back

Well over a week ago I popped on my blog only to find out it had been shut down.

Why you ask?

They {Blogger} are claiming spam.

Seriously ...


Well, after a lengthy and painful process, I'm back!

I can't wait to catch up with all of you and see all the great holiday goodies you've been up to. I'm right on track with my holiday list and projects. I'm rather surprised by this as I'm usually stressing big time by this date.

*Lori ~ no changes after my tour ;)

Have a wonderful Sunday.

Leave A Comment

Holidays with happiness

I love and enjoy everything about the holiday season.

except ...






the chaos!



Some time in August {around the time of the hurricane with no power and plenty of time on my hands to ponder} I made the decision that we were going to celebrate the season this year a little differently.

The following guests will not be invited this year~

*losing tempers
*running around at the last minute
*stressing out over decorations
*Christmas cards with hand written updates
*meeting the expectations of others
*searching for the ideal gift for each person on my list




This Christmas I want to focus on the beauty this time of year holds, my wonderful family and dear friends, and what it really stands for; not what we've created. My goal is to live in the moment of each and every gathering and event over the next few weeks.

I don't want to secretly wish the season over because I'm about to lose my mind!

Last year {after the holiday headaches} I came up with the idea of celebrating our backgrounds. I'm Italian {Sicilian} and my husband is Swedish. Not exactly the most complimentary couple when it comes to decor. In a nut shell, it's simplistic beauty meets gaudy glamour ;) Oh my! It's going to be a decorating and celebrating challenge but one we'll be embracing nonetheless.



I've laid down the law {my law, placed upon me, by me} and set a deadline for all decorating to be finished and in place. I'm working on getting our home ready this week and will finish on Sunday. Whatever is accomplished by this date will be what we enjoy for the duration of the holiday season. If it doesn't make it out of the Christmas bin in time ... oh well. I'm quite certain my family and friends won't hold it against me or even notice for that matter.




So far so good ~
*I'm ahead of the game for my annual Cookie Exchange
*We have plans to have a few couples over this weekend for wine and heavy appetizers.
*Our home is showing signs of a Christmas transformation
*My girlfriend and I have our tickets in hand for a fabulous holiday home tour.
*I have my outfit for my husband's Christmas party ~ this may be a first!



Images ~ Pinterest

Leave A Comment

Thanksgiving

We had the perfect Thanksgiving this year. There is so much to be thankful for and we are really blessed to have such wonderful family and friends that are a part of our daily lives.

This year we have been going at top speed most days. After awhile, this pace gets rather exhausting. With that being said, we both craved some major down time.




Our day was relaxing and slow paced from start to finish.






Our menu consisted of many traditional dishes but I tried to lighten the calorie load a tad ~ still very yummy!

I made a pumpkin roll for the first time. I've always been afraid to try anything that required "rolling" as I failed horribly at this process years ago.



Good thing I gave it a whirl because it was AMAZING!


We watched the parade, took a walk, watched a lot of football, read a little and, I even started my Christmas cards.






It wouldn't be Thanksgiving if there wasn't a little napping involved :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.

Leave A Comment

Duty calls

The past month and a half {or so} has been insanely busy. No matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to get on top of my lists ~ help! I hope to {try} get caught up this week if all goes well.

It hasn't been all work and no play. My time has been diversified :)

I've had ...

fun time
girlfriend time
school conferences {with my students}
over loaded work schedule
numerous meetings
uplifting woman's conference
fall break visitors ~ my son and his adorable girlfriend Lauren
reuniting with my husband
and
birthday celebrations

In keeping with the thankful heart, I thought I'd share with you our very dear friend Mike. He, and his wife Marilyn, are honestly like family to us. On Friday night the four of us met to celebrate all  of our birthdays. In a period of three weeks we all have birthdays ~ lots of fun. Each year we get together and go out to dinner. Our window of opportunity was very small this year. Kevin has been gone for a few months with the exception of his brief "visit" in October. 

 Not long ago Mike received new orders. Sadly, on Sunday, he left for training which will prepare him for his year in Afghanistan. His absence will be sorely missed.

Our birthday celebration was a tad bittersweet. We knew that it would be the last time we'd all be together for a very long time. Mike and his amazing wife, Marilyn, are dear friends. They are the family you'd choose to have if you could. They call and check in on me when Kevin is at sea or on travel and are always willing to help if I'm in need. Mike and Kevin have know each other since their younger days ;) They attended the Naval Academy together {although a few years a part} many years ago. We all met up again a few years ago when the Navy brought us back together.

What a blessing!

We spend holidays together, celebrate accomplishments, usher in New Years and most of all ... have a blast together!

We wish you a safe journey to and from this point of duty!

Leave A Comment