A Longaberger, holly,Williraye and wishes Christmas

 Happy New Year!
I can not believe Christmas has already come and gone!  My hope is that the spirit of Christmas will stay in my heart all year.
This years decorating was pretty lazy.  My thoughts were on the birthday trip we took the week after Christmas but I did pull out a few tubs of favorites to jolly up the place.
Maddy decorated the family room tree with little help from me.  I lifted her for the out of reach spots, strung the lights and the cranberry-popcorn garland...the rest was all her doing!  She even picked out the beautiful Noble Fir on an outing with Daddy.

Everything was unbreakable which was a good thing. All except the candy canes but it was ok when they fell and broke cuz they were set aside to eat later...her rule!

We set out our "wish from Santa "plate, yet again, hoping he'd bring a puppy.

We thought to add a pretty flute, to be filled on the big night with sparkling cider, thinking he'd be more willing to grant our wish if he wasn't thirsty.  We learned that you can't bribe Santa....still no puppy.

That's about as far as we got as a team...she had more important things to do than help Grammy decorate.  She had plans to make and packing to do as a few days after Christmas, we left to celebrate her 5th birthday in Disneyland, SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo...woo hoo!

So I continued with the decorating though I didn't do alot.

First off, I changed out the everyday dishes to the Holly

Oh, and the ivory, paprika and ivy as well.

I also put up holly, lights and red berries above on the cabinette crown. I should have taken a picture of it at night...it was pretty.

Next was the breakfast nook. The tree was pretty simple with Williraye ornaments,berry sprays and Longaberger tree trimming baskets plus a few other little snow themed babbles such as knitted sweaters, stockings and hats.

The shelves above the windows got the usual snowmen.  This year it was just the Williraye's and lil trees, lights and evergreens.

On the cook book cabinette...

The kitchen windows

The basket rack

Then on into the dining room...

In to the front hall

 Then back into the family room...

The fireplace

That about wraps up the decorating for Christmas 2012!  I know...lots of pictures...I LOVE pictures!
 I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and off to a FANTASTIC start for the new year.

What would YOU do?

So for the past 7 months, we have been redoing our kitchen.  Currently I am trying to decide what to do with the outer trim of the island.  It has granite tile for the top with oak trim.  It was the orange-y oak like the cabinettes that I've painted white.  I started painting the trim the same white as the cabinettes but it looks bad.  Soooo...I bought a sample of black and painted the rest of the trim.  Still don't like it.  I am planning to replace the top with either soapstone, granite or marble but until that decision is made, I'd like it to look at least sort of ok since I am very slow at making up my mind.
Which do you think is best for now?  Black or white?  And....I would be MOST appreciative of ANY and ALL opinions on what countertop material to use.  The back splash will absolutely be beadboard painted the same white as the cabinettes.

PLEASE give any and all opinions and suggestions...I am at such a loss here!

A Beadboard Bathroom

While this is not a newly done room, I am posting the picture for someone contemplating beadboarding their bathroom.

The crown has a rope look which I thought was a fun touch for a lighthouse/beach themed room.

I made the faux hydrangea wreath to use the Margaret Furlong ornaments that I have received as gifts over the years.  They are porcelain and the artist is a NW local.  I also added in seashells and starfish.

Do I remember how to blog?

Oh my....it's been nearly a YEAR since I have posted!  Why you ask?  I think I have forgotten how not to mention MY CAMERA IS BROKE!  Can you imagine....life without a camera?  Blogging without a camera? Life IS a tragedy to some...a comedy to all others.  I find it to be both!  Anyhow, I did manage to take a few photo's of our master make over before my beloved Canon Rebel started acting up so will share those.  Most are blurry, the beginning of the end of my camera's ability to function in auto.  I am learning to use it in manual mode until I can get a new one but my vision is, well, about as focused as my camera! Good can come from bad situations though...I finally went for an eye exam (the camera forced this!).  Now I just need to go pick out the specs and I'll be good to go.

(before wood floors)

Well, I thought that I had more pictures...can't find them at the moment!

The project is not done as yet.  I will borrow Sarah's camera next time she comes over to show the current status and maybe even my excuse explanation for WHY it has taken soooo long to get as far as we've gotten.  Meanwhile, if you know of any GREAT deals on the Canon Rebel T3i........

 

Makin Messes EVERYWHERE

Hi everyone!
Yet again, it's been a very long time since I last posted but I have been a very busy girl....making messes all over this place.  Thank God my family has more patience that I!
To start where I last left off,,, November, I believe, we're up in the bonus room.  I remember going up there to start getting out the Christmas decorations.  I usually spend November "decking the halls".  Next thing I know, I am cutting quilt squares!  Remember I said I was going to learn how to quilt?  Well, this quilt was/is indeed a learning quilt but what a blast I've had learning!  I use to be pretty good about organizing my project space BEFORE starting any new project.  Not anymore...I just dig in when the mood strikes!

The qult top is finished but that's where this project stopped in order to make time for Christmas shopping and very little decorating.  In fact, a tree, the mantle and the dining room table is all that was embelished this year. 

Although I missed "going all out", I am pretty sure Maddy didn't mind. 

She's happy just to be home enjoying her family. 

December wizzed by in the blink of an eye then next was Maddyson's 3rd birthday.  I got to use my Christmas present for the first time to bake for her birthday party!

Yet another attempted at decorating cookies!ha ha ha

Didn't go so well so I hid these to snack on later...

and made these instead for her birthday party.
(Cherry chip Hello kitty cake and chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting)

What's a Hello Kitty birthday party without pin the bow on kitty? 

Another January project was making Maddy a cupcake apron.  She loves it!
Do you love her outfit?

Another January highlight was a quilt show at the Oregon Garden.  I spent the day exploring 3 or 4 out of town quilt shops after jetting through the quilt show.

A sneak peek at our master bedroom makeover.  I bought an unfinished armoire and dresser in late January so am now sanding, priming and painting them trying to achieve the color in my minds eye.

The armoire with it's primer.

Oh my my my....what have I got myself into here.  When we bought this house, the master had bead board all around the top like a boarder.  I have never liked it.  I thought back then ,when we looked at the house,  that it was to cover a really ugly boarder or a removal job gone bad.  Unfortunately, it was to cover a removal job gone bad and a really ugly boarder.  So, I'll be working on this mess after I get the furniture painted.  Hopefully my next post will be to show a really nice master bedroom redo!

 

Meanwhile, we are all attempting wellness.  Everyone has had head colds for the past month but I promise to get back to work on the bedroom of my dreams...well not really but a nice bedroom redo, when things get back on track around here.  

I've been so inspired by all the incredibly ambitious DIY projects in blogland. I am certain that as I continue visiting these awesome blogs, the inspiration will encourage me to see this project to the end.(Not to mention, having clothes in piles in the closet is really getting old ;)

Until next time, I hope this finds everyone happy, healthy and holding the spirits high with the promise of Spring just around the corner.