Christmas Blessings and Happy Holidays to All

Wishing you and your family the magic of the season…

Ready for Christmas…well, almost!

I finally finished decorating for Christmas…with the exception of the tree. I was waiting for my oldest to get back from Boston and he is now here (I'll show you the tree when I post again).
In the meantime, here are the only rooms that are clean enough to show you!
My office (well, maybe not the desk area):

 My living room:

Dining room…oh, I spotted someone!

I Won! I Won!

I enter many blog contests, but guess what? I finally won a contest! Yippee! And, it's a good one, too. I won a jar of custom color chalkboard paint from Urban Oasis Decor! Here is the gorgeous color I selected: Dolphin Gray.

I'm going to use it to paint this little nightstand that is still sitting in the same spot in the garage from the first day I bought it.

I have some time over the next few weeks because I finished most of my magazine work early. However, I'm till working on some fun custom orders for my Etsy shop AND Christmas shopping! Baking cookies this weekend. We'll see.

Holiday Time is the Time to Get Back in the Swing

My poor Etsy shop and blog are suffering since I started working full time, but I was so happy for a little lull time so I started creating again. Having some time between soccer games, I made the sweet little trinket box you see above.

I've also been inundated with orders for my initial blocks. Made the little set below for a newborn who happens to be a Pittsburgh Steeler fan (we start them early).

I'm now working on a four set order for a woman who wants to give her daughters a special Christmas present -- so happy to be able to create some girly stuff - and she gave me free reign to select colors, etc. So much fun!!! I'll post after Christmas just in case her daughters read my blog (you never know).
Have a great Thanksgiving!

I Knew Her When...

You may or may not remember that my sister, Stacie, creates and sells her own jewelry. She owns Stacie Jewelry on Etsy and sells it at local stores. She is an extremely hard worker and has grown her jewelry-making business since starting with a small beaded necklace about 15 years ago. She creates handcrafted silver bracelets, necklaces, earrings and charms. But, the real news is this…she was recently invited to the American Music Awards gifting suite this weekend! This exciting news was picked up by a DC news station and her local paper.
Here's a spot on the Washington DC morning segment:
http://www.wusa9.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2852781959001

Here's an article in her local paper:
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/economy_and_business/business_topics/retail/article_bab0a3a0-ebfe-5c8c-96d9-33f828d29603.html
She is on her way to Hollywood tomorrow -- both literally and figuratively! So excited for her.

Can you tell that I'm a proud sister? Good luck Stacie…or as they say, "break a leg."

Tailgate Gala

Last night was our school's biggest fundraiser…the gala. This year we went with a tailgating theme and it was huge success. Some amazing moms at the school and Parish staff pulled off this amazing event and had a record turnout.
I was in charge of coming up with the design "vision." With the help of other moms, we came up with some fun ways to create a tailgate theme on a small budget.

We held the silent auction in a large outdoor tent. I made signs and ticket windows for this area, but forgot to take photos (darn). Inside, we created the outside of a stadium:

I used fake brick and a paintable wallpaper border, which I sponged with a watered down gray paint to make it look like concrete.

The letters above the statue took forever to hang. Luckily I had the help of a mathmatically-inclined dad to figure out the spacing.

We hung the team flags as decorations and then auctioned them off. The background (you can hardly see…are crowd scenes. We only had 12 green tablecloths so we needed to get creative. Using duck tape we created yard lines and PVC pipe goal posts.

The white tablecloth centerpieces were turf with footballs on a tee and then a flag "thrown in" for color.

Falling for Fall

So I'm on deadline with the magazine. So, I decided right in the middle of sitting for hours on end, staring at a computer screen, to get up, turn up the music and start decorating for fall! Sometimes, you just have to do it. It did help to take a break...really. Here are my results...I didn't go all out for Halloween as I usually do, but once my son helps out, I'm sure we will add to the scene.
Also, some real fall scenes from a recent hike and farm visit in Ohio.

Here's the farm where my son worked for a bit:

 These are from a beautiful hike we did at Cuyahoga Valley National Park:

Yard Sale Scores!

I only went to two yards sales and struck gold. My sole purpose was to get a nightstand for my son's room and I found one at the first sale for, get this, $5. A beautiful (well, it needs some work) mid-century, solid wood piece for $5! I have plans for him...

Got this sweet set for my bathroom to replace my "5 Below" trash can.

These antique match holders were so pretty, I had to get them. One for me, one for my shop!

A sweet rocking chair for $1. I plan on painting it for my school's silent auction -- this year or next year. Probably next year.

Finally, I saw these chairs, but had to pass...really hard as they were $2 each...yes, that's right. Needed to be recovered that's why...what? So gorgeous.

I also got a cake stand (I have a thing for them), and two purses (brand new). What a day! I spent a total of $30.

Color Me Something

I'm on the hunt for paint colors again. I want to paint my oldest son's room. Next week, he is moving back to the Boston area (where he went to school). I am sad, but I know that's what will make him happy. Maybe if I paint it, he'll stay? No way; he's got a gal up there and a job interview.

Anyway, right now his room is very dark. Black bookshelves, black bed (which I love) and maroon and beige walls (high school colors) so I want to lighten it up by painting the walls. It will now be a guest room for my son and whomever (unless my youngest wants it).

Maybe a light greenish blue, light grayish blue, light aqua blue...not sure...any help?


It has to look good with black because I am NOT painting an entire wall of bookshelves. Anyway, it will be a while...
All images are from my Pinterest board: Home Inspirations where you can find sources.