Happy New Year

Since the next few days will be busy, busy, busy and then we are leaving on a much needed vacation, Goosie Girl wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year full of good fortune, health & happiness!

See you in 2010!

image from Social Couture & Hostess with the Mostess

Calendars

The start of a new year...

Exciting isn't it?

All the possibilities...

A chance to improve, try something different...

Organize...

Get a new calendar...

I know that sounds dumb but I love picking out that perfect calendar for the new year. Finding one that is going to hold all my (& the family's) obligations. One that I'm going to look at daily to make sure that I'm not forgetting anything.

This year I have picked out something different....I wonder what that means? I usually go with a pin up calendar that I just fold that shows the entire month...this year I have chosen a Lilly Pulitzer daily/monthly planner that is portable...one that is spiral, has pockets & is completely adorable, of course...

In addition to that calendar, my mother-in-law always gets me a 5x7, Susan Wallace Barnes calendar that sits on my desk in the kitchen. You put each month into an easel frame and it just sits there so pretty ready to be looked at at any time. The picture always corresponds with the month. I just love it! I hope GG gets me one this year too.

Both of these pretties can be ordered from Lifeguard Press

Gingerbread House

Last weekend Goosie Girl & her friend, Sarah, made their first gingerbread house...it took quite awhile to assemble, it was quite messy (when royal icing hardens, it hardens and it is hard to clean) but it turned out rather cute for their first try...don't you think?

The Campbell's soup cans were supporting the walls as they dried...

We are going to use this as our centerpiece for Christmas dinner...for all to admire...

Very cute indeed...

The old adage goes "practice makes perfect"...

The candy man's gingerbread house

This one must have had lots of practice...

pretty, pretty, pretty...

image from flickr

Christmas Thank You's

It's hard to believe that Christmas Eve is one week from today. It's time to start thinking about writing thank you notes. Goosie Girl has already received gifts from relatives (in the form of money, which is her favorite) so I made up these adorable notes for her to start expressing her gratitude...what do you think?

These didn't photograph as well as I'd have liked but they are in the turquoise & red that I've been seeing all over...of course with added sparkle & a Swarovski crystal for the bow...complete with a coordinated polka dot lined envelope...

Trish McEvoy Candle

Since Christmas is right around the corner and many of us are scrambling for last minute gift ideas, I thought I'd share my most favorite candle of all times...Trish McEvoy's Wild Blueberry Vanilla. I'm really not a big candle person but this is one I love! I set it out in a room and it acts as an airfreshner without being lit. You gotta love that! And when it is lit, the scent is intoxicating. It's strong but in a fab way. This would make a lovely hostess gift...Santa, I've been a good girl...can I have one in my stocking? Pretty please?

You can order this from Bloomingdale's

Personal Stationery

Isn't it fun to have your own personalized stationery?

To have when you need to jot a note...it represents "you"

I made this for myself...love the purse! This set, actually, has six purses to choose from...

how fun!

This was personalized for Goosie Girl...

very divaish, don't you think?

Perfectly personalized for an alumni or a student...

I've made these for FSU, UF & Auburn fans...

Even perfect for a baby...

Personalized stationery...a perfect gift for anyone!

Turquoise & Red

Well I would say for the past two weeks I have seen these colors together on numerous occasions. At first I wasn't sure I liked the color combo. But now...I love! They are so festive together, don't you agree?

Even Martha is doing it...

I especially love this race car party...I need to do this for my hub...

image from Design Dezzle

image from Living Locurto

You know I love everything Amy Atlas...

Image from Amy Atlas

Who would have thought?

Bread & Drink

We've all been to weddings, banquets & meetings where you sit at round tables that are filled with plates, silverware, glasses, napkins, bread plates etc. Sometimes this can be a bit intimidating, no? My mother in law taught me this trick & I also just came upon in Mindy Lockard's blog, who writes about manners. So, I wanted to share this little tid bit of extremely useful information with you...

Question: How do I know which bread plate is mine?

Answer: Great question. Often times we find ourselves at a place setting that is more setting than space. With all of the plates, glasses and utensils at hand is can be trick to know which bread or drink belongs to you. Here’s a trick… Take your index fingers and thumbs and put them together like this…

Making a “b” with your left hand and “d” with your right hand. The “b” = your bread and “d” = your drink. If you choose to take this trick on the road to your next dinner party just remember to do it discretely as it always feels and looks better to appear ti know exactly what you are doing.

Follow-up Q: What do to when someone takes your “b” or “d”?

Answer: Remember two wrongs don’t make a right and doing unto others as it’s been done to you could start a chain of ”wrong bread” reactions that will leave someone at the end of the chain short on starch. Discretely flag the wait staff and ask for a bread plate or drink.

I use this trick every time I sit down at a large table...I don't want to be the one using the wrong utensil! I even taught this trick to my 6th graders...

Fun Snowmen Drinks

Wouldn't these be the perfect addition to your winter party whether it was for children or adults?

A glass of milk takes on new deliciousness with doughnut-hole snowmen heads. Outfit powdered doughnut holes with eyes and a nose made of edible food clay. Pierce a hole through the center of the doughnut using a skewer and fit in a straw. Make a miniature scarf for the glass from orange yarn and trim it with scrapbook brads in the shape of snowflakes.

Image & craft idea from Better Homes & Gardens

Cookies & Tags

I just wanted to share these cookies and tags that I made for a baby shower. I think they turned out cute...

These are faux gingerbread...sugar cookies made to look like gingerbread. Happy little guys aren't they?

Wrapped all snuggly complete with tulle bow & tag...

I also made Noah's Ark animals...

The elephant was one of my faves...

And finally, the tags (front & back view) which I used for the gift bags but they could also be cupcake toppers. Multifunctional, don't you love it? These are going on Etsy...

The Reason For The Season

The past few days I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Stressing about everything and everything coming up (have you ever felt this way?). Yesterday, I had a big order of cookies, wrapped cutely, complete with tags that I was trying to finish and my husband announced that he had bought tickets to see Chris Tomlin in concert last night. Chris Tomlin is one of my all time favorite christian artists BUT last night was not a good night. I WAS BUSY! I HAD THINGS TO GET DONE! Well much to my grumblings, we went. It was phe-nom-in-al!! Lou Giglio was on tour with him. I'd never heard of him before but OMG he totally put things in perspective or atleast it hit home with me...I know the whole christmas story but what I finally got last night was we have just wrapped Christmas into this pretty little holiday...beautifully wrapped gifts, cute manager scenes, decorated trees, lights & balls...but that's not it. Jesus did not come with pomp & circumstance & with an adorable invitation inviting us to a sip & see. He was not born in a beautifully decorated stable, nor were the shepherds (whom the angel told) well-to-do suburban shepherds. It was messy, dirty and probably pretty uncomfortable for Mary (giving birth in dirt?) and Joseph. Messy, like sometimes life is. I need to remember that God needs to get the glory...it's His season...not mine...