French Door Project

How in the world is there only one week left in January!  This is my year to finish my projects, organize every closet in my house, find more time to craft, sew, treasure hunt, and basically have fun!  If the rest of the year flies by like this first month has, not sure how I will succeed.

This door project was on my 2011 project list, which has now carry overed to my 2012 project list.  I've been in my new to me house for almost 4 years.  When I moved in I said "two year project".  I travel for my job and am gone almost every other week.  So, if I'm gone half the time I can totally justify my two year project taking four years.  That works, right?

I was so anxious to begin painting that I forgot to take my before picture until I was half way through.  I love the transformation, especially for only the cost of two coats of paint.

And here's the half way before!

Linking to Metamorphis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Wrapping up 2011

My last post was about wrapping my gifts, now Christmas has come and gone, and it's the eve of the New Year! The holidays were wonderful. I had a two week vacation from work, we celebrated a birthday, shared in a Hanukkah celebration, had family visit from out of town, made gingerbread houses, and enjoyed our annual Christmas Tea with the girls in the family - and this year we brought along the little boys. We planned menus, and shopped for food, and cooked for what seemed like endless hours. The reward - we feasted on Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, and had the best Christmas Dinner ever! Toss in a few Christmas miracles, and it was perfect! Feeling grateful, so very grateful.

Now, as I sit here on the eve of a new year, with my littlest grandson asleep in my room, I have wishes. I wish for happiness, I wish for good health, I wish for joy and peace, and I wish for goodness. To my family, to my friends, I wish you all of these!

It'sTime for Wrapping

I'm linking to Centsational Girl and her Holiday Craft Link Party.  And oh what a party it is!

The decorating is done, the shopping is done (almost), now it's time for wrapping.  I'm making some cute little tags to coordinate with my wrapping paper.  I guess you could say this is a craft, I have my paper cutter and paper punches out!  This is a quick and cute, use what you have, way of making tags.

I cut some pieces of my wrapping paper, color copied them onto photo paper, or you could use heavy card stock, and used my papercrafting punches to cut out the designs.  Depending on the size you want, you can make many from one sheet.  I do this for the kids gifts as well, except, since their boxes tend to be big, I make much larger tags.  Custom look for almost nothing.

Christmas Mantle

Progress is being made in the decorating.  Since my work travel has kept me away from home for the last few weeks, I'm trying to get in two weeks of decorating into a few days.  I no longer hang Christmas Stockings, but I keep the memory of the years I did close to my heart.

I used fake garland and added fresh holly leaves and berries - it changes the fake look completely. 

I hung my favorite feather weath,

added the beautiful angel,

and finally my WiSH.  And this year, oh how I wish.....



Linking to Southern Hospitality



Linking to Homestoriesatoz

Christmas Breakfast Table

I will be hosting Christmas Breakfast this year.  I made a vow to myself to not buy any new decorations this year.  I have so many that I have saved through the years, and although I have seen so many wonderful things out there, I'm going with 'use what you have' this year. I picked up some cute santas and red boxes last year at Dollar Tree, to add to some red and white ornaments and sparkly red trees I already had, and created a fun and casual festive table.  The trees looked a bit flat sitting on the table so I took some footed dessert bowls, turned then upside down, and set the trees on them.  It added some height and changed the look. I added some sparkle to my chandelier with little ornaments and ribbon - simple and inexpensive - and to me, it looks so pretty!  Looking forward to seeing my family, a visit from Santa, and enjoying all of our Christmas morning traditions.

Linking to Between Naps on the Porch

Travel

One more trip for 2011 and then home. Home for at least a month! So looking forward to being in my own house, sleeping in my own bed, cooking in my kitchen, and enjoying the festivities of Christmas! Just need to get through one more week of working, hotels, and airplanes. So much to look forward to and also so much to be thankful for.

November came and went in a flash! Three weeks of business travel, a week of vacation, my daughters birthday, and celebrating Thanksgiving with my parents in Florida. And, I completed my Christmas shopping. A productive and fun month! Now if the clock will just slow down a little so I can savor my favorite time of the year....

Updated to add: far, far away on a small island with sketchy Internet didn't allow my post to be published. I've almost made it through the week. Two more days and I'll be home!

The Beginning

This is a beginning, a surprising beginning to me and all those who know me. See, I am a private person, I don't share, I don't tell details. My life, such as it is, is mine and all mine. So as I continue this chapter in my story of my life (not a new chapter, I've been stuck here for a while), I've decided to make some changes. I am going to share. My thoughts? My Ideas? My Feelings? No, not yet. I will start by sharing some of my decorating projects, or maybe some of my sewing projects, or maybe some recipes. We'll see. As I begin to change this chapter, please stay with me, encourage me, or even laugh at me. Just be with me to see if I can begin to share with you, some of me.