christmas cheer

Welcome to my little home...and how we celebrate the season of hope, peace, & joy.

Just a few images that help make our season bright.

I am tinkering with a collage maker, and am too impatient to perfect it. But...I am happy with what I have.

So have a cup of cheer.... and have a wonderful Christmas.

Cheers~

e

the evolution of a crafter

So while my family and I were placing ornaments on the tree, I couldn't help but belly laugh when I came upon my 1st Christmas craft ornament that I made when I was in the 2nd grade. My mom also finds it quite humorous. I was going to put it in my Christmas tree post, but thought it deserved its own spotlight.

My 1st Christmas craft

I still remember being in Ben Franklin's and scrambling around trying to find all my perfect pieces for an award winning ornament. {This was for a school contest peeps.}

I thought I was so clever using a quilting circle and then gluing glitter all over. I remember finding the mirror tiles in the sale bin {loved sales at 7..I had a budget even then too} and knew I wanted a word. Finding the big faceted oval helped me determine the best word to use was "joy." Sadly my poor choice in ribbon has never held its own over the years. Oh well....I was 7.

Funny thing is, it wasn't until I saw this ornament, that I instantly thought of my latest craft project:

The word still has meaning for me now....and so does glitter. Those letters are encrusted with black matte glitter dust.

Oh how I have grown as a crafter! :) Such a funny revelation that I had to share.

Cheers~
e

PS And no...I did not win. Brandon Klemenz won. He took a styrofoam ball and used pins to pin colorful sequins in an amazing pattern. Ugh. It was a crushing defeat.

house hunters: Chapel Creek Subdivision & Versailles

Diamond in the rough...these homes are all diamonds awaiting to be polished. The subdivision is a lovely place. It is just not the NKOTB of subdivisions. What do you think?

1010 Chapel Creek Trail

It is quite nice there has been a MAJOR renovation of this property. I think I can fine tune it even more. But the bigger plus is the basement is unfinished. That is perfect for our special family needs.

1613 Reidinger Ridge

Umm..hello pool and fenced in backyard. There are just enough pics to tease me into a showing.

1106 Teal Ridge Court

Pool..unfinished basement..cul-de-sac. My interests have been peaked.

Ok.so the homes are a tad older. They are old enough to be dated well into the 80s, but they are still young enough to not be considered classic, vintage, or stately...but let me put it into perspective. All of these homes remind me of a home I once saw and how the owners transformed it into something more even more breathtaking.



Remember the Nester's Old Nest?

For the price of these homes not only could I do a renovation of Nester proportions, but I could also decorate to my heart's content with the dollars I save.

I figure if the Nester can do it...so can I.

Do you have faith in me? Or have I lost my mind? {As I blog this...I am scheduling a few showings of these homes.}

Cheers~

e

PS Dad and I are seeing this home on Monday. It has been on the market for quite some time, with the price always dropping, and the owners are very motivated to sell {even lease to own}. Obviously the home speaks for itself. Its subdivision is amazing with its pool, clubhouse, and tennis courts...oh and it is HUGE and it is SPECTACULAR. :)

4110 Versailles Court

If the timing is right...you can get a huge home for the price becuase these homes are just not selling in my area. Might need to work on my million dollar idea a bit more. :)

trade secrets: my million dollar idea

Have I hooked you? Are you intrigued?

Well, I do have an idea {actually 2 ideas that are based IN pharmacy that is..yep, I have others}.

It is a million dollar idea but it is definitely in the infancy stage.

Give you a hint..

It is a secret, but I am dying to share. I want to hear your thoughts/feedback. I know they would be valuable.

It is just an idea, but I think it could blossom into something special.

Email me at megandvd at hotmail dot com....and I will let you in on my secret. But you have to pinkie swear it stays between us.

Cheers~

e

PS You can probably tell I am still the daughter of a lawyer...otherwise I would post everything. But I know there are dream stealers out there. And this one....is mine. :)

more than a tree

When my parents spent their 1st Christmas together...their tree was rather sparse. From that moment on, my mom wanted her children to always have a tree filled with meaning.

My mom started a Christmas tradition with my sister and I. Every year she would give us each an ornament. Her hopes were that one day when we had are own families, our tree would not be a blank slate but one that is already filled with memories of Christmases past..and a family who has and always will love us.

This year I opted to add a splash of red to the canvas.

What always amazes me though, is how my treasured ornaments add the extra special touch that no sparkle or flashy color can EVER replace.

My own baby ornament

I loved unicorns as a little kid. Funny thing is..this one is my sister's. I had the unicorn with the pink sequin. I laugh though b/c I bring that up every year to my mom.

 

My favorite 3rd grade teacher helped me make this one.

 

My mom continues the Christmas ornament tradition with my son.

Mr. B and I gave these ornaments as our wedding favors with a little note that said: "tis the season to be marry." Of course we kept 1...or maybe 4.

 

I was a big theatre girl..or drama queen in HS and this one celebrates that.

 

I made this one when I was in the second grade. Yes, that is my fingerprint.

 

My oldest and dearest internet friend {from the Nest/Knot} sent me this Christmas of 2003. It is chocolate and brown...our favorite home decor colors.

My mom always topped her tree with a dove. I thought this year with my use of red..a cardinal would be perfect. Plus..Mr. B graduated from U of L...guess what is their mascot?

And my favorite...

My mom gave this ornament to me as I celebrated my 1st Christmas as a mommy. My baby...oh how I LOVED those cheeks.

I invite you to take a page from my mom's notes...and give ornaments as gifts. They will be forever cherished and forever leave a memory of you with them.

Cheers~

e

hostess with the mostest

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I got my own bedroom when I was 14, I fell in love with Pier 1 Imports. I scored one of those plump, plush papasan chairs and a dreamy mosquito net which set the design of my room. Imagine white lights wrapped around an all white daybed as well as a black light hidden under my bed {for my EMO moments}. That was my HS bedroom.

Well now I have a home, but I lack a dining room.

I envy you ladies with dining rooms. I am green with envy with your table settings that infuse color, creativity, and the season. Maybe one day, but unfortunately, not today....or tomorrow.

 

I have to work with what I have and what I have is a great room.

In this room I entertain usually an average of 14 people for the holidays. Amid the main events {Thanksgiving & Christmas}, Mr. B & I also host here and there holiday parties. We all know those parties. The work party. The friends party. The extended family party. These all end up at my home. -- And I LOVE it.

 

I headed off to Pier 1 to help me create a something spectacular.

 

These settings are for those of you who need to incorporate more guests than you can seat or for those of you who want to change it up a bit.
 

Both of them are inspired from this pillow:

 

This pillow makes me giddy just looking at it....the whimsy of the colors, the detailing, the jingle bells.

 

Now that my son is "in" to the holidays and holiday gifts, I could not pass this pillow up. It is a Christmas carol and a bag of German nuts all rolled into one. Oh, and it is not just the cover. It is the real deal, pillow and stuffing together {as it should be}.

 

Ok..back to the styling. :)

 

My setting is all about being casual and being easy...so you can snack and talk away to your heart's content. These settings use 2 other kinds of tables, the coffee table or the sofa table {your choice}.

 

These settings can be used as a home for your appetizers for your holiday dinner party or be the center of your casual "bite-size" friends party.

 

Use what you have to make a little gathering into a memorable gathering.



Sofa Table

 

Coffee Table

 

 

I took inspiration from the pillow and found a placemat of the same blue hue. I like the idea of a placemat as a background. Having something to catch crumbs while your guests nibble away at yummy snacks not only adds color but protects your table. {or at least that is what I like to say}

 

I then added my white dessert plates. Nothing like small white plates for easy holding.
 

Now here comes the pop. The napkin flower rings.

 

 

Is the red not rich? It is so divine.

 

Mr. B and I were married in December and we used this color of red as our accent color. I am still drawn to it. And the centers of these napkin rings add even more pop with their sparkle...swoon. To go with the rings, I decided on some some linen colored napkins that marry the color well. Something makes the event fancy schmancy with real napkins. I then popped the lovely couples into my wooden basket.

 

Even as a stand alone piece....they are perfect as a centerpiece for the holidays.

 

I then used my Pier 1 White Porcelain Rectangle Servers {medium} to be my blank canvas to hold my yummy appetizers. A few ornaments for color and serving bowls to allow more snacking variety...done.

 

Now because I AM a PharmD to be...I salt ever so sparingly. But it is the holidays and I cringe at depriving my guests of anything, so when I found these lovely bird salt & pepper shakers.....I snapped them up.

 

 

Finally I found another element at Pier 1 that was perfection. A kissing ball. I can't say no to is a kissing ball.

 

 

I plopped my kissing ball on top of one of my mint julep cups and there you have it -- a perfect setting for me and my guests...and hopefully, you and your guests.

 

 

When dressing your table {ottoman or sofa table} the mainstays are obvious & we all have them: the white dishes, the silver..even the red. But I encourage you to indulge in a bit of pop. Maybe it is red with lime green or red and hot pink...just find that pop. Christmas is the season that you can get away with a little more sparkle and a little more color.

For me,  incorporating the blue is just the flair I was looking for. It is completely fun and it is completely unexpected.....and for the holidays, we all love a surprise.
 

So...what surprises do you have in store this holiday season? I am positive you can find one at Pier 1 .

 

Cheers~
e

 

thurgood's new night light

I could not help myself...I saw this little tree and new it would be a delight for Thurgood. I picked the tree and let him pick some ornaments {with some mommy guidance of course}.

When I was a little kid, I loved to use my toys and "stage" them. It was not out of the ordinary for me to stage my little pony collection..especially when my parents were having guest over. Oh how I wish I would have taken a picture!

So I could not help myself with Thurgood's toys. I think it adds a cute whimsy to the tree and that perfect childlike quality for a kid's room.

The view Thurgood gets to see at night.

It may not scream Christmas, but it is a cute kid's Christmas vignette. What do you do in your kids' rooms?

Cheers~

e

{FYI, when I check on Thurgood..I turn off the tree. I am a safety nut.}