Saturday, December 31, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011 has been a busy and interesting year for my family.

  Lots of traveling across the country, a milestone birthday for me, the loss of loved ones... 

Makes you reflect and consider what is truly important in your life. 

One of the great things that has happened is the return of my traveling Mr. Beaux! 

After almost 20 years of nonstop travel with his job he is settling down here

and starting his own company.

  This has allowed me to return to work and start blogging!

  I can't wait for 2012 and all that it will bring.

What changes have happened for you in 2011?

And what will you look forward to in 2012?

Have a Blessed New Year
and
Beaux R'eves!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Countdown to New Year's

Happy New Year!

What a busy day!  We got in last night from our trip, went to bed early so I woke up early... I had to de-stage a house this morning. I'm a home stager which means that I get houses ready to sell and when they sell (YAY) then I have to gather my things before they move.  Took my daughter to the Plaza to do some after Christmas shopping, the gift cards were burning a hole in her pocket.  Stopped by Trader Joe's to pick up a few things including flowers. Then home to do my tablescape.  WHEW!  I'm tired!

My table is all ready for our New Year's Dinner.  I wanted to keep it semi casual so I used my Lenox Butler's pantry dishes and I decided on a Black and White theme.  I had the Crackers left from Christmas because we weren't here to open them.  It's a favorite tradition of my children.  They wear the funny hats all night long and read the jokes inside.  I had some old Pottery Barn Hotel napkins and I happened to have some iron on transfer paper. (really I did!) So, I transferred the numbers onto the napkins.  I like the way they turned out.  What do you think?
It's the countdown the Midnight!  10, 9, 8, 7,  
I added Black Ribbon and a string of pearl ribbon around the napkins to "Fancy" them up a bit. 
I found these placemats in my drawer in a package of Six that I had never opened.  On a trip to China (my husband worked there for a few years) I had bought a set of placemats, napkins and chopsticks together.  I stenciled the pattern on with the help of my lovely 15 year old daughter. I'm sure the shopping trip made her more of a willing participant. 
I adore the way my Centerpiece came out!  I had an old wine box from a trip to Napa, an estate sale Silver Champagne bucket, a few sparkly snow flakes from Nell Hills, and my Trader Joe's Daisy's.
And here's the Flip Side!
I used my World Market Cutlery and sprinkled some Bling around the table.

 I printed Resolutions on cute paper that I had purchased at Michaels. I like this one...

Cute!


 The Sideboard is all ready for extra Guests...




 Now, here is a Resolution that all of us Mothers, Wives, Sisters etc can relate to...

Happy New Year Everyone!
I hope you have enjoyed my table.
I am sharing on
Between Naps on the Porch
Potpourri Friday@ 2805
Open House Thursday @ No Minimalist Here
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Home Sweet Home Friday @ The Charm Of Home
Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Common Ground
Inspiration Friday @ At The Picket Fence
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
A Stroll Thru Life 

An Affair with Paint!

As I'm still dismantling Christmas, I see that lots of folks are sharing their fun project(s) they conquered this past year.  So, I thought I'd do the same!  Let's just call this the "Year of Paint!"

I'll keep my babbling to a minimum so that the *tons* (sorry) of pictures can speak for themselves:

It all started with painting/distressing/staining a simple bench BM White Dove and exPLODED from there! 

BEFORE:


AFTER:


That led to this ...

BEFORE:


AFTER (I painted every.single.piece of furniture in here BM White Dove, followed by distressing and glazing/staining) (sorry the pic quality isn't the best):


My paint brush then whisked me over to our sitting room, where I took it from this:


to THIS:  Oh sure, let's paint the bookcase BM White Dove and cover the furniture with white slipcovers!


Next up, the buffet in the great room ...

BEFORE:


AFTER (this got coated with AS Old White, followed by distressing and waxing).  Oops, almost forgot I painted the mirror, too):


Gee, Becca, while we've got the AS Old White paint can open, let's just go ahead and paint the fireplace on the porch!  (Sorry I don't have a before picture):


Oopsee, SOMEbody then discovered AS Chateaux Grey:


And, hey, let's just bring the Chateaux Grey into the kitchen, why don't we?

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Now wait, since I painted the island Chateaux Grey, apparently, that meant that I had to paint the stools Old White for contrast, and, for good measure, add a fun French image by the Graphics Fairy!

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Annnnd, because I love odd numbers when it comes to decorating, I thought it only right to paint a third piece in the AS Chateaux Grey.  And, why not just make it a big ol' piece like the dry bar!

BEFORE:


AFTER:


And, well, THEN, I thought that I might as well go ahead and paint the cabinets in the kitchen, too!  Except, I only painted the upper cabs BM White Dove (later followed by a coat of AS Old White, follwed by distressing).  I left our lower cabs in their original maple stain:

BEFORE:


AFTER:



Still with me?  Let's seeeeee, next was the kitchen table beside the dry bar.  I painted the base of it AS Old White, leaving the top and chairs in their original stain (sorry no before pic):


Okay ... so, I'm pretty sure *this* is when I realized I had a problem ... even my poor pumpkins got attacked with AS Old White! LOL


Annnnd, most recently, while still in the kitchen, I decided to ask my sweet hubby to take down a lonesome cabinet in the corner and replace it with three shelves that I made all by myself!  I then painted them AS Old White and distressed them.  They make me smile, and I'll have a great time decorating them with each new season!

BEFORE:


AFTER:


Needless to say, I've been one crazy painting mama this past year and think an intervention is definitely in order!  Thankfully, I'm not sure that there is anything left to paint in our home.  LOL  (Nah, I'm sure I'll find SOMEthing to splash with paint in 2012!)

Okay, you're next ... what are your fun projects you conquered this year?!

Thanks so much for stopping by!



I'm linking up with:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW
Kristen's Creations/Share Your Creations
Katherine's Corner/Thursday Favorite Things
No Minimalist Here/Open House Thursday
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday


Monday, December 26, 2011

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday!  Do you have wrapping paper and empty boxes everywhere?  Are you stuffed from this past weekend's fabulous meals?  We are, for sure!  Jax is busy playing with all of his new "goods," and John and I are cleaning up (yuck).

Are you someone who opted to go with the "less is more" motto this season when it came to holiday decorating?  If so, I envy you right.this.second!   Yes, I have the lovely task of taking allllll of our decorations down and, lemme tell ya', this is NOT a part of the holiday season that I enjoy! 

Sooooo, while I am preoccupied in lots of *mess* this week, I wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year, and that I can't wait to see what trouble our decoratin' minds get us into in 2012!



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Sweet Gingerbread Dreams

It's almost here!  Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year next to Christmas.  The excitement, the last minute present wrapping, the cooking and the anticipation of the big day.  This year we secretly flew out to the Orlando area to surprise my Mother-In-Law for Christmas.  The plan was hatched at my Niece's wedding in October and the emails and phone calls ensued.  My Hubby's two brothers and their wives flew from California and we flew in from the Midwest on Thursday.  My Sis in law lives close so I imagine it was quite difficult for her to keep it all a secret!

My MIL was quite surprised and it is still probably sinking in that she now has a houseful of uninvited guests!  It's OK we are an easy going type of family and we are all pitching in to make it a great Christmas.

While here in Orlando we went to see the HUGE, life sized Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian Resort.  OK, it's Disney, so you know it's going to be 1st Class.  Here are some photos.

 Can you just imagine being a small child and seeing this?

Side View
 Adorable!

 Here's the Calorie Breakdown...

They sell these shingles in the back of the house.  Here is a funny story...  A few years back my Sis in Law took her two boys to see the house with my In Laws.  While they were busy taking pictures and looking at the house, Grandpa went and bought a shingle and started eating it in front of the boys.  They were flabbergasted as they thought that he had ripped it right off the house.  He never let them know the truth!  We sure miss him and his practical jokes, sadly he passed earlier this year. 


 Smile!  The girls were more than happy to pose for the camera.  Cute Aprons!



 Tin Soldiers standing Guard.






Hope you enjoyed my tour of the Giant Gingerbread House!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!