Monday, December 31, 2012

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

I just found this sweet video on You Tube & had to share it here.
 
Enjoy!


 
Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon Levitt
 
 

Saturday, December 29, 2012

The Year in Review 2012- Part 3

I hope you are enjoying my 2012 Year in Review posts. 
 
I've enjoyed looking back, seeing what I accomplished this year,
although it has been hard choosing which
posts to feature.
 
This is my 3rd and final part of The Year in Review. 
If you would like to check out Part 1 and Part 2
here are the links...Part 1, Part 2.
 
Let's see, I believe I left off with September.

In September 2012,
 
 
This one might be a good post to review
if you missed it, especially if you need a laugh.
 
Also in September,
our home was featured at Debbiedoos
for her home tours.
 
 
 
I was both honored & crippled with fear
at sharing our home with all of you.   lol
The kind comments left here & at Debbiedoos
touched my heart!  You girls are the best!
 
In October 2012,
 
 
I sewed this cute Jack the Pumpkin pillow.
 
October was a month for weddings...
my niece got married
and
 
 
the Mister & I celebrated our 20th anniversary!
 
In November 2012,
 
I put together a fall tablescape...
 
 
 
I also made these cute & silly candy bar wrappers
 
 
in honor of Thanksgiving.
 
In December 2012,
 
 
I got warmed up for the holiday baking season
and
 I shared a holiday favorite,
 
 
 
 2012 was an excellent year.
Thank you so much for being here with me.
I appreciate each & every one of you!
 
Here's to an awesome 2013!





Friday, December 28, 2012

The Year in Review 2012- Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of my 2012 Year in Review.
Part 1 can be found here
 
Let's get started, shall we?
 
In May 2012,
 
I did a little restyling.
 
 
I gave my Easter burlap rag wreath
 
I got to spend some time in the kitchen too.
 
 
 
In June 2012,
 
I revealed my next completed project.
 
 
 It was a huge undertaking, but oh so worth it!
 
from black,
 
 
to Annie Sloan's Old White.
 
In July 2013,
 
with some old windows found in the trash,
 
 
 
I created this gallery wall for my family room.
There's a cute story about finding the windows in the
trash if you'd like to click on the link to read it.
 
I had a little fun outdoors too.
 
 
The mister & I created this crooked planter
to fill an empty space in our landscaping.
 
In August 2012,
 
 
I played with my dishes and created a
 
I also took on a project that I never thought I'd
be able to pull off.
 
 
I painted & reupholstered a chair! 
Click on the link if you'd like to see the
awful before picture. 
 
 That's all for today folks.
Stay tuned for my Year in Review 2012- Part 3!
 
 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Year in Review 2012- Part 1

Hi my dear, sweet friends!
 
I took a much longer break from blogging
than I anticipated and in the process,
I missed all of you so much!

I thought it would be fun to have a Year in Review
here on the old blog.  It's snowing like crazy
right now, so I may as well hunker down
and blog some. 

I think I'll split this post into parts so it doesn't get too long.
I'll also add links in case you want to check something out further.

In January 2012,

 
I was so excited to learn how to make paper snowflakes
 that weren't a square shape (lol),  
that I just had to share a tutorial with all of you. 

I also shared my Winter Mantel in January.
 

The exciting part of this mantel is that it is currently
being featured at HGTV.com! 
You can read about that here.

In February 2012,


I spent some time hand stitching
these hearts for Valentine's Day. 

Of course, I've had many tablescapes
scattered throughout the months,

 
  but I loved this one that I named Cupid's Arrow.

In March 2012,

 
I joined up with some of my sweet bloggy friends
and hosted my very first Linky party...
 
I made the burlap Easter wreath for the party.
 
In April 2012,
 
 
I made this cute button egg topiary.
 
We started the first of many home projects.


We were thrilled to finally get new windows
for the dining room...ones that actally opened without
the strength of Hercules!

April also brought a fun opportunity.

 
I joined up with my Spring'tacular Link Party Parade girls,
The Spotlight is no longer, but
it was fun finding newbie bloggers to spotlight
each week.
 
I think I'll stop the Year in Review right here.
More to come so please stay tuned!
 
 
 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Gone Baking

Between a trip to New York City,
my sister's 50th birthday party,
my son's holiday concert and
several marathon baking sessions ahead,
 
I must take a short blog break.

 
Talk to you soon! 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Silver Christmas

I love putting together a coffee table vignette.
I think there's just something about
that open, flat surface that calls out to me.

Am I crazy or what? 
 
Don't answer that.
 
 
 
I filled this urn with some bottle brush trees, pine cones
& ornaments.
  
 
My dear friend, Jess, gave these silver presents to me
as a gift a few years ago.  I think they are so pretty!
 
I had to buy those skinny reindeer at TJ Maxx this year.
I couldn't resist their long, skinny legs.
Something I know I shall never possess. lol
  
 
Oh my goodness, there's a little bit of sunshine peeking
through on the photo above!  It's been some time since
we've seen the sun.
 
 
Time is moving right along.
It's hard to believe there's only 12 days left 'til Christmas!  
 
 

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Merry Elfmas Tablescape

How about a Christmas tablescape? 
 
This one is aptly named by my daughter as
Merry Elfmas!

  
 
 
 My whimsical Christmas spirits seem to be riding high this year!
 


Tablecloth:  Target (quite a few years ago)
Table runner:  Either Target or Kohls, I can't remember
Green dinner plates: Oneida outlet
Napkins: Joann Fabrics
Elf plates & mugs:  Crate & Barrel
 
 
Aren't they cute?
 
 
I had to mix up the flatware for a little fun.
Red gingham flatware:  Spiegel (many, many years ago)
Green flatware:  Cambridge, Home Goods
 
 
I dare you to tell me he isn't a cutie!
  
  
I'm so glad that I got to share a tablescape. 
I've been so incredibly busy,  I honestly
 didn't think I'd be able to set one up this year. 
 
I'm trying to get around to visit all of you.
It's been a struggle, but I'm doing my best. 
I apologize if I've missed you recently.
   
Thanks for stopping by and
Merry Elfmas!
 
Linking to: 
 
Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Homespun Christmas Party at Stone Gable
 
 

Friday, December 7, 2012

Announcing...

...the winner of my Holiday Giveaway!

 
 My trusty assistant, Johnny, has selected....

Lynne from Dreams on 34th Street!
 
Congratulations Lynne!
 
Thank you to all for entering.
I wish I could send a tree to each & every one of you. 
 
Have a wonderful weekend!
 We are going to see Wicked tomorrow...yippee!
 
There are way too many exclamation points in this post!  lol
 

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Christmas Mantel 2012

Well my dear friends, if you are expecting to see a beautiful nature-inspired mantel with lots of pinecones & greenery, the kind that is soooo popular in blogland right now, I am sorry to disappoint you.  There's none of that at Random Thoughts this Christmas.

I've got a little story to tell you (Don't I always?)...

Weeks before Thanksgiving, I had this adorable gingerbread-inspired mantel crafted to a "T" in my head.  I planned it all out.  Sugar plums & gum drops, gingerbread people.  I knew exactly how it would look, in my head anyway.

When it came time for decorating, I was giddy with delight because, for once, for once, I had a plan for my monstrous mantel.

Yeah, well, what's that saying?  The best laid plans of mice and men?   Yeah.  That's it.

Disaster.  Capital "D".

Instead, I had to regroup & begin again.

I would like to share with you my Whimsical Christmas Mantel....

 
I'm sure you've heard me mention that "I borrowed this" or "I borrowed that" from my Mom or sisters.  Well, this mantel was no exception.
 
I went out shopping.  I hit so many stores, it wasn't funny.  I did not find a single thing that appealed to me.  Then my oldest sister suggested shopping her unused Christmas decor.
 
Glittered green star?   Yes please!
 
 
I bought the whimsical Santa & reindeer at TJ Maxx.  I thought they would be a nice compliment to the star.
 
 
After that, I started to add a little of this & that from what I already owned.  My mom offered me her red & white peppermint Christmas trees.
 
They were the perfect!
 
 
It may not have been my original plan, but I think it came together fairly well regardless.
 

Of course, none of it would have been possible without my mom & sister's generosity.

You know?  I think I may be on to something with this borrowing stuff.  Perhaps I should do this every Christmas! :)

Linking to:

Home for the Holidays Mantel Party at Finding Silver Pennies

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