Happy New Year everyone!

I finally found the perfect crown for Queen Tootsie! Be safe! Diane

Pink Saturday and one last look...

I found pink ornaments to use for my contribution to Pink Saturday! Pink Saturday is hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound. (Okay, I know I'm late, but I finally got here and I'm not on Beverly's list, but I'll try to be on her list next week.)

Note: Sweet Beverly added me to her list!!! How cool is that?!?

Is it too late to say Bah Humbug!?! Undecorating is the most disagreeable part of my holiday. All that time spent planning, oh'ing and ah'ing over forgotten treasures, and finding just the perfect spot. Now I have to drag all those plastic containers downstairs to put away my whimsical friends and treasures. (I started taking some of the decorations upstairs Christmas night but have been dragging my feet with the living room.)

I didn't realize I had so many pink ornaments until I looked at some of them with the drapes open. Okay, I usually have the drapes closed because my 5 little barkers like to lay on the landing and voice their very loud opinions over every person, car, dog and leaf blowing down the street. Ouch! It gets loud around here sometimes!

I thought the pink blown glass ornaments that I bought at the Harvest Festival in San Francisco last year were red. Nope, I think they look more PINK than red! They're on my new silver tree with Swarovski Crystal Snowflakes. Thank you Susan, for sending the link for Ross Simons! (http://www.ross-simons.com/products/B41900.html)


I bought the pink/red ornaments with the intention of making beaded ornament shrugs for them. I have the beads, hmmm, didn't quite get to that project though.


The green blown glass ornament has a beaded shrug. If you'd like the directions, send your e-mail address and I'll send it to you. They take a couple of hours to bead and you have to pay attention to the counting.

Awww, pink glass candy! Aren't these the cutest things?

and another....

Last one...

The gift shop showcased them on a white tree filled with all kinds of candy ornaments. I wanted them all!

This is the prettiest artificial tree we've ever had! It's a 9 ft Bethlehem Lights slim tree. Many years ago, we bought fresh trees. We had several years where the trees didn't want to stand upright and always seemed to crash in the middle of the night. My DH was always very clever finding ways to keep the trees upright. The last straw was the dried out needles that took forever to vacuum out of the carpet. I wanted to put the tree up after Thanksgiving. By Christmas, the needles were falling off at alarming rates, the limbs had a serious droop and then we couldn't turn on the lights.

The window wall is only painted on the dining room side. Now we can finish painting!

Tee hee hee.... See the paint line.

The kitchen tree and gingerbread boy wreath.

You know if snowmen are all over the place that I'd have to have a snowman wreath hanging around somewhere, right?

Pink Saturday is hosted by Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/. Please see her blog for the other Pink Saturday participants.

Enjoy!

Diane

Merry Christmas My Friends!

Dear Friends,

I'd like to wish you and your loved ones the very best this Holiday Season and to thank you for all of your kind words as well as the inspiration you provide. I truly value the friendships I've made with you all and look forward to visiting your blogs this coming year.

I confess, I'm a snowman-a-holic. Here are some more of my snow people.

She is so cute and just sparkles with all the glitter flakes on her dress.

These guys always make me smile. I set them up on a little bench my dad made.

The big guy on the left is made of sweatshirt fabric.

Mom was with me when I bought this guy. She was incensed that I bought him and said he was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen. Humfph!

Okay, I have to admit the one on the left is a little odd. He has the tiniest little head on a long skinny body.

The snowman tree finally ended up next to the sofa. It was moved all over the living and dining room before settling here.

Merry Christmas my friends!

Diane

Christmas Is Tight This Year...

This one is too funny to not pass on...


My Dear Friends,

It's somewhat embarrassing to admit, I'm not getting an annual bonus and Christmas is tight this year. I will be making bedroom slippers for you all as gifts. Please let me know your sizes. You'll most likely agree that it's a splendid idea, and should you wish to do the same, I've included the instructions below.

How to make bedroom slippers out of maxi pads:
You need four maxi pads to make a pair.
Two of them get laid out flat, for the foot part.
The other two wrap around the toe area to form the top.
Tape or glue each side of the top pieces to the bottom of the foot part.
Decorate the tops with whatever you desire, silk flowers (this is most aesthetically appealing), etc.

These slippers are:
* Soft and Hygienic
* Non-slip grip strips on the soles
* Built in deodorant feature keeps feet smelling fresh
* No more bending over to mop up spills
* Disposable and biodegradable
* Environmentally safe
* Three convenient sizes:
(1.) Regular, (2.) Light and (3.) Get out the Sand Bags.

I've attached a photo of the first pair I made so that you can see the nifty slippers for yourself.... Awaiting your response. It's crucial that I get the right size for each one of you.

Oh come on! LAUGH out loud with me! This is too good!

My favorite tabletop tree and The Christmas Spirit Award!

Don't we just love our blogging friends! We help each other with laughter, moral support, quick tips and suggestions. Just before Thanksgiving, I was grumbling in a post about my disastrous attempt to buy a white tabletop Christmas tree. (It would have helped had I bothered to read the label on the tree box before I bought it!) Melissa at Melissa's Heart and Home blog chuckled at my post, then came to the rescue. She checked out Amazon.com and found the perfect tree. I quickly ordered it and it was love at first sight when I removed it from the box!

I was so inspired by Melissa's post showing a vignette of a hurricane filled with ornaments that were used to add color and it sparked an idea. I've inherited several crystal bowls and felt as if I were sharing Christmas with their former owners as I added ornaments to them, and felt such a warm, happy glow when they were finished.

Several years ago, my husband bought the sideboard in the picture below for my Christmas gift. I was beyond ecstatic and it's my favorite piece of furniture. It's located on the wall to the right of the front door. I smile everytime I walk by it because I get such a warm, happy and whimsical feeling.

I'm in love with snowman decorations this year. I felt as if I'd gone to a craft fair and hit the mother lode as I pulled the snow people out of their containers. I just had the biggest grin on my face all afternoon that day!


I especially love the one below. I bought it at a Country Folk Art Craft Fair. It is beautifully handcrafted and has fine glitter on it.

I have more snowman decorations to share with you soon!

~~~~~

~The Christmas Spirit Award~

This is a very special award dedicated to having wonderful Christmas spirit! Melissa at Melissa’s Heart and Home shared this award with me. You can visit Melissa’s blog at http://melissasheartandhome.blogspot.com/. Thank you very much Melissa!

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Here are the rules for the Christmas award:

You must be a true Christmas lover to receive this award.
The person to whom you give the award must also be in love with Christmas.
You must link back to the person who gave you the award.
You must list 5 things that you love about Christmas. If you can't limit it to 5 things, then keep going till you run out of space!
Pass the award along to as many people as you like. That can be 1 or 50. It's up to you! But, you must pass it on to at least one person in order to keep the Christmas cheer going!
Let your recipients know that you have tagged them by leaving them a comment.

~~~~~

My favorite things:

The sparkle of the ornaments and the lights of the Christmas tree.

Listening to Christmas music, and unfortunately for anyone close enough to hear, singing along with the songs!

The smell of cookies, pies, and cakes baking in the oven. (Can you tell I have a sweet tooth?)

Watching Christmas movies and shows as I decorate and cook.

Watching our great nieces open their presents!

Reading all your wonderful blogs and sharing in the festivities.

~~~~~
And now I am sharing this award with all the wonderful friends on my blog list, it's located on the right side under followers.
~~~~~
All of them have shown tremendous spirit for the Holiday season!
~~~~~

I've enjoyed seeing the stunning Christmas decorations in all of their homes. Please visit them, they'd all love to hear from you, and leave a comment to let them know you dropped by for a visit.

~~~~~

Enjoy!

Diane

I'm a Doris! The Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

Bridget at http://bigeeesblog.blogspot.com/ and Donna at http://adventureswithtassie.blogspot.com/ took the Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz and added the link to their blogs. I was curious to see which Icon I would be like and imagine my surprise to discover I'm a Doris Day! I love Doris Day movies - this is just too cool! See Bridget and Donna's blogs to discover which Female Icons they're like.

You Are a Doris!

You are a Doris -- "I must help others."

Dorises are warm, concerned, nurturing, and sensitive to other people's needs.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Tell me that you appreciate me. Be specific.


• * Share fun times with me.


• * Take an interest in my problems, though I will probably try to focus on yours.


• * Let me know that I am important and special to you.


• * Be gentle if you decide to criticize me.

In Intimate Relationships

• * Reassure me that I am interesting to you.


• * Reassure me often that you love me.


• * Tell me I'm attractive and that you're glad to be seen with me.

What I Like About Being a Doris

• * being able to relate easily to people and to make friends


• * knowing what people need and being able to make their lives better


• * being generous, caring, and warm


• * being sensitive to and perceptive about others' feelings


• * being enthusiastic and fun-loving, and having a good sense of humor

What's Hard About Being a Doris

• * not being able to say no


• * having low self-esteem


• * feeling drained from overdoing for others


• * not doing things I really like to do for myself for fear of being selfish


• * criticizing myself for not feeling as loving as I think I should


• * being upset that others don't tune in to me as much as I tume in to them


• * working so hard to be tactful and considerate that I suppress my real feelings

Dorises as Children Often

• * are very sensitive to disapproval and criticism


• * try hard to please their parents by being helpful and understanding


• * are outwardly compliant


• * are popular or try to be popular with other children


• * act coy, precocious, or dramatic in order to get attention


• * are clowns and jokers (the more extroverted Dorises), or quiet and shy (the more introverted Dorises)

Dorises as Parents

• * are good listeners, love their children unconditionally, and are warm and encouraging (or suffer guilt if they aren't)


• * are often playful with their children


• * wonder: "Am I doing it right?" "Am I giving enough?" "Have I caused irreparable damage?"


• * can become fiercely protective

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends!

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends! This was an e-mail that I received from a friend and thought it would be a fun post.

Here are the proverbial rules.... Just copy the questions and change all the answers so that they apply to you. Since this is the holiday season and we're all going crazy trying to do way too many things, I'm not tagging anyone. Please feel free to post this on your blog if you'd like to play. Tis the Season to be jolly! Fa la la la la, la la la la....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both! I love to wrap gifts and put them in beautiful bags with awesome bows. I also like to match the wrap to the person or the gift. If I can do both--that is the ultimate win on wrap.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I have had both, but use artificial ones now. Our little fur baby guys are too much of a pain with real trees! I like to put up multiple small trees in different rooms with different themes in addition to a big tree in the living room.

3. When do you put up the tree? Weekend after thanksgiving, but I wish I'd started after Halloween this year!

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years or within the next week if possible.

5. Do you like eggnog? I like non-alcholic, low fat eggnog but I use about 1/3 eggnog to 2/3 milk. Otherwise it's too rich for my tummy!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? OMG--I can't narrow that down to one item. I loved dolls & got one every year till I was in 7th grade. I loved my Barbies. My mom sewed & would make doll clothes for me & I still have them!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My husband!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Any kids or kid mentality adults...

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both, I'm behind this year & don't think I'll send very many cards out.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't remember receiving any bad gifts. I am annoyed with people who buy something without putting any thought into it though.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Whenever I see something appropriate for a person. I bought the first gift in September this year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes--but only by telling someone, I received this item and can't use it, would you like to have it?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies!

16. Lights on the tree? Of course!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Ave Maria.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Definitely stay home!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Sometimes but not right now...

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel, tree finial or whatever is at hand that fits the theme or look of the tree.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? I grew up opening presents on Christmas Eve, then Santa came the next morning. However, my husband likes to open on Christmas morning. Bummer...

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? It takes so long to put up all the decorations then time just flies by so fast!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen this year, but I like red, gold, green, silver & white.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? If I'm cooking it's spaghetti or Mexican lasagne with salad & french bread. If we go out to a restaurant, I usually order some type of shrimp.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Crown moldings & baseboards. My son has been installing them in his house & he's awesome! (I'm so impressed with anyone who can cut angles!) I hope he's going to do ours for Christmas. {Chris asked a couple of months ago what I'd like to have for Christmas. I said crown moldings & baseboards in the MBR, and we would supply the materials if he'll cut & install them. He thought that was a very good idea. Now he just needs a new saw, since the borrowed one he was using had to return to it's home.}

Merry Christmas!

Diane

A dark and stormy night.....

They were together in the House.

Just the two of them.

It was a cold, dark, stormy night. The storm had come quickly and each time the thunder boomed he watched her jump.

She looked across the room and admired his strong appearance... and wished that he would take her in his arms, comfort her and protect her from the storm.

Suddenly, with a pop, the power went out...

She screamed...

He raced to the sofa where she was cowering. He didn't hesitate to pull her into his arms. He knew this was a forbidden union and expected her to pull back. He was surprised when she didn't resist but instead clung to him.

The storm raged on...

They knew it was wrong...

Their families would never understand...

So consumed were they in their FEAR that they heard no opening of doors...

just the faint click of a camera......

Have you smiled today?

Enjoy!

Diane

The Snowman Lamp Arrived & A Butterfly Award!

Whooo Hoooo! My new snowman lamp arrived yesterday afternoon! This is just too adorable when it's lit up. I ordered the lamp with an extra red marble sleeve from Lynne at http://lynnesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/. The cutest little silicone looking light bulb came with it too.

I've been busily decorating small trees and moving them around the house auditioning locations. My husband periodically hears glass tinkling and asks what I'm breaking. Hmphf! It's hard work moving those decorated trees. The snowman tree works well with the new lamp in the picture below. They moved to another possibly tentative location under the stairs later on last night. New pictures to be taken soon.

Can you see our new paint colors? My DH painted 2 walls in the dining room and we love the colors. (The colors are washed out. Think I need to give up and use another camera.) The moldings & baseboards are still on the list of things to do.

I received my new white Christmas tree today! It's partially fluffed and waiting for ornaments. I still have to get out our 9' tree and decorate it too. ugh.....
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Awww, isn't this the sweetest Butterfly Award? Thank you Bridget, for presenting this to me. You can read Bridget's wonderfully witty blog at http://bigeeesblog.blogspot.com/.

The rules for this award are:
1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate 10 other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs


My 10 nominee's for the Butterfly Award are:

1. Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
2. Gloria at http://wwwhappytobe.blogspot.com/
3. Lynne at http://lynnesgiftsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/
4. Tam at http://gypsycorner.blogspot.com/
5. Lynette at http://lynetteslam.blogspot.com/
6. Buffie at http://buffiesblaaaahg.blogspot.com/
7. Melissa at http://melissasheartandhome.blogspot.com/
8. Deb at http://lavenderchick.blogspot.com/
9. Ann at http://ann-jamesaskeltonyahoocom.blogspot.com/
10. Kristen at http://kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com/

Enjoy!

Diane

Snowman humor...

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas and I need to clone myself! A store room that will eventually become a closet had to be cleared out for a new door. Whooo Hooo! The door was installed yesterday! Most of the Christmas decoration containers were put in a stack when the storeroom was tackled, UGH. A holiday tablecloth for my DIL's classroom is in the works, a tax project has to be completed and I'm still trying to put out the decorations. Whew! Now I know how Santa feels this time of year. With such a busy time of year, I thought we could all use some holiday humor...

Frosty The Snowman - Lyrics by Steve 'Jack' Rollins and Steve Nelson

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,

With a corncob pipe and a button nose

And two eyes made out of coal.

Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,

He was made of snow but the children

Know how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that

Old silk hat they found.

For when they placed it on his head

He began to dance around.

O, Frosty the snowman

Was alive as he could be,

And the children say he could laugh

And play just the same as you and me.

Thumpetty thump thump,

Thumpety thump thump,

Look at Frosty go.

Thumpetty thump thump,

Thumpety thump thump,

Over the hills of snow.

Enjoy!

Diane