a new look...

Yeah,  I am so excited!

I got a little face lift for my blog.

  It is amazing what a little nick and tuck can do!

Thank you Michelle with Shabby Creations

for your patient help!

Happy Sunday to you all!

the above  images found at

 http://tickingandtoile.blogspot.com/2010/02/feeling-litt

http://www.ehomee.com/vintage-decorating-ideas/le-shabby.html

I am longing for some of this....

a little sunshine,

some pretty flowers, some fresh air,

weather warm enough to watch my children play outside,

warm enough for my doggies to run,

and warm enough to sit with hubby in the evenings to catch up.

Come on Spring...

get here already!

Happy Friday!

Paper wreath project...

My paper wreath...

I love to decorate, but

I do not consider my self to be the

best craftier in town.

So, I was quite proud of myself when

I made this paper wreath

out of old book pages.

I just added this sign to it,

and I think it turned out lovely!

I am a little proud of myself.

However, I must say

that it was quite easy.

I still do not consider myself a

"crafty lady"

but at least I was able to tackle this project

and finish it without tears!

Longing for Spring...

Ok, while I am on the table scape kick,

I thought I would share my spring table...

again, same dishes, napkins, and silverware... I just added some twiggy greenery with little pink buds tied to the back of the chair,

a white Martha Stewart flat sheet for my table cloth

(I wish I could say it is a vintage flat sheet from the South of France,

but alas, it is not, so K-mart it is for me.)

some vintage blue jars

with the twiggy pink buds thrown in them,

and some linen I ripped into strips to tie

the silver ware and a twig together.

So effortless...

but boy does it make me long for Spring.

Especially, during these long, dreary January days.

I love all of the wrinkles in the sheet.

It makes the table scape look even more effortless.

I like for my guests to feel like my preparations took little effort.

That way they feel free to enjoy themselves,

and not worry about messing anything up.

And with a sheet,

I can literally throw it in the washer with some bleach,

and ta-da, ready to use again.

This spring I will keep the sheet and blue jars

out on my table to enjoy everyday.

They just make me smile...

Happy Tuesday!

A romantic table scape for two...

this table has an old fashion love affair feel....

I used the same dishes, linens, and silverware

as in the previous post.

I just added pink depression glass,

an old music sheet of a love song

from a self-playing piano

as the table runner,

a crystal candelabra,

a bouquet of mini rose buds,

and an old valentine

that I framed and sat on an easel.

and of course hearts of every texture,

size, and color,

I used silver cracker trays

to hold the napkin and silverware.

It adds a little interest to the typical placesetting.

I love grand guestures of love,

so what better way to show how grand my love

is for my hubby than

an old fashioned romantic, candle-lit

dinner for two

on valentine's day at home?

So, that is how I plan on spending my Valentine's Day.

Cheers to you and your valentine.

May your love be grand year round!

A winter table scape...

It seems like winter will never end,

so instead of running away from it.

I am embracing it!

Here is my dining room table with a winter table scape.

I just used my everyday off-white dishes,

some white tulips, mercury glass,

flake snow, and ivory candles.I love the fresh look of the white tulips

with the flake snow.

Such a contrast,

but they work so well together! Pretty simple, but a big impact.

I put the napkin, and silverware in the wine glass

because I get so bored with the typical lay out. Don't let the winter keep you down! Set a lovely table and cheer up! Cheers lovelies!

I no longer be three, come celebrate with me...

My youngest daughter

Mary Morgen's 4th birthday celebration...

Her birthday is December 21st,

so it is hard to have birthday celebrations

with much of a theme other than Christmas.

However, I always try to deviate a little bit from Christmas

so that it actually feels like a real birthday party.

This year I just did pink and blue.

No theme, just a color scheme.

We had a sweet shop

that also doubled as the take-home favors.

"Mogie" as she is so lovingly called,

standing by all the goodies to gobble up.

We took picture of Mogie

with each of her guests in an empty frame.

I am going to use these for the thank you notes.

some of the guests creating...

big sister getting her face painted.

mirrored letters my oldest daughter

put on the floor for the bean bag toss game.

Mogie getting ready to play the bean bag toss game.

I made cones out of scrap book paper

for the kids to fill up at the "Sweet Shoppe"

Mogie on her special day,

in her special crown, made by

my special friend.

the pom-pom balls

that hung from the dining chandelier

the tall towering cupcakes....

a glitter sign that reads

"Mogie and ME"

the invitation...

the beverages served were

pink french lemonade and blue bottled water

the gumball guessing game...

more of the sweet shoppe...

I did not get a picture,

but at the end of the party

when the guests were leaving,

we ties little notes to their wrists

like a bracelet that read:

"How sweet it is

to celebrate this birthday with you." the calm of the table before the storm of creating!

Mogie getting her face painted!

blowing out the candles...

Happy Birthday little one!