Three...Two...One...Happy New Year!

Happy new year to all of my blog friends out there. 2009 was a year of new and exciting things and I know that 2010 will be full of great things as well. I will become an aunt for the first time to little Andrew, and will run a half marathon in April (even if it kills me). But the only new year promise I am making is to love my friends and family as much as they will let me and to let everyone know through my words and actions how I feel about them, before it is too late. That is the only thing I know I can live up to...so no disappointing myself there! What are your new year promises?

Teacher's Gifts

With my boutique this year I found myself with less time than usual. I came across these chipboard albums at Michael's for $1.00 and each album had 5 to 6 pcs. per set. I covered, aged, and embellished. I printed the recipe for the Gingerbread Caramel Corn and covered the back with it. This is the first time for me to make this recipe and it will definitely be one that I make every year. It is delicious...let me know if you try it!

Merry Christmas to Me!

I made an appointment for the family to have "real" photos taken for our Christmas cards this year. The photographer went to grade school with my daughter and is just starting this venture into her career. I have to say I am not disappointed! She emailed me a card she thought I would like and I fell head over heels! It has a front and back and needless to say, I had one of those "if we have to eat Ramen noodles for a month to get those cards" moments. (not really but I was prepared if need be) If anyone is in the area and wants her information just leave me a comment with your email.

Featured In Southern Living!

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened up the December issue of Southern Living yesterday and saw the Knobstoppers I carry in my boutique featured as one of the top 25 gifts of the season! These stoppers are made with vintage door knobs, and old gate finials. They make the perfect gift to bring to the hostess with the mostess that throws that great Christmas party every year. So classy attached to the bottle you give the boss, the newlyweds, or the new home owners. Bottles topped with Knobstoppers look great adorning an unfinished bottle of wine on your counter top, especially if you have a collection grouped together. These are nice and sturdy to be used for generations to come, a great family heirloom in the making. I have them topping my "cooking wine" and get compliments every time company comes. I priced nice wine bags when I was deciding if these would be profitable for me and the bags are $20.00 at Pottery Barn...on sale! And what exactly does one do with those after the gift has been given? I know I have about 5 stashed in a drawer! If you are interested in one of these little jewels leave me a comment and an email address. They range from $20.00 to $32.00 a piece. My motto is "The only thing better than receiving a unique and gorgeous gift is to be the person giving it!" Happy Shopping, Paula

Decorating with Family Treasures

The holidays always bring in a flood of childhood memories for me. I find it comforting to incorporate family heirlooms and heirlooms "to be" into my holiday decorating. As a newlywed I had a garage sale with my new mother in law and discovered a small box of shiny brite ornaments she had marked to sale for a quarter. When I asked her where she got them she said they were her first ornaments as a newlywed and upon closer inspection I discovered the box was stamped 1969 not only were they her first box of ornaments they hung on my husbands first of many childhood Christmas trees. I imagine my in laws carrying their son to his first Christmas tree to watch their tiny newborn open his eyes to focus on the bright lights and multicolored ornaments. Needless to say that box of shiny brites came home with me, along with their first tree topper. Every year I display these fragile ornaments in a footed bowl that once graced the table of my husbands great grandmother. This year I have draped it with a strand of pearls that my grandmother wore to church on Sundays. There is much history tied to so many wonderful memories in that small holiday display. My cloche holds a tattered book, a baby photo of my father and my prized ornament that my best friend Amy bought for me on her trip to Curious Sofa. This is sure to become an heirloom as time passes and the shine fades. Draped on the book is a vintage rosary. This is the rosary my father carried with him on his tour in Vietnam, if only these heirlooms could talk, what would they say? What have they seen? I would love to hear how you incorporate vintage pieces into your holiday decor.

Old World Christmas...Done!

I have finished decking the halls at Oliver's. My wonderful husband/chief financial officer/best friend/heavy lifter came to my rescue and helped me with the hanging and moving and I have to say I could not have gotten it all together without him. And just in time. The Market is hosting a Holiday Open House on Friday Nov. 13th. If you are in the area they will be serving refreshments, have live entertainment and hourly drawings. Now I just need to re-coup so I can deck the halls at home!

The Old and The Beautiful!

I often wonder if I ever built another house "what would I do different"? I go back and forth between nice traditional cabinetry or something like this. I have a friend who saved antique pieces for years and had her builder "build around" them. I can see this round corner piece as a great coffee/tea bar in the corner of a kitchen or breakfast nook. And this red piece as a place for fine linens, formal dishes, or even used casually as a pantry. The large blue/green piece would look perfect in a master bath as a linen closet with beautiful towels, and vintage apothecary bottles, sitting next to a slipper tub of course with a big fat chandelier hanging above it. I would use these pieces exactly as they are, the patina is priceless.