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Belated Merry Christmas

I had the best of attentions on making a post either Christmas Eve or Day...well it just seems like the days came and went so fast.  I wanted to show you a bit more of the Holiday Decorations around Our Home this year, as I always add things that I bought this year or mix it up with what I got already.  You can see up above that the Snow Village is set up and instead of putting the Glittered Merry Christmas on our Tannenbaum this year I stuck it up inside my constant empty frame.   You can't see it in this picture but there are lights glowing under the snow when they are turned on, it looks very pretty in the evening and I moved it to the longer sideboard instead of the sofa table like last year. 

 

I know the tinsel tree up on the corner shelf looks bare..I had the best intentions of getting it done but this year seemed to come at a rapid pace and then I with my diagnosis seemed to have slowed me down even further.  We didn't even get the lights up outside this year or my garland up outside the windows or my Silverware Wreath   made for my front door..there is always next year, right?

I got the cute little snow covered trees at Anthro  and the silvery Noel and Joy ornaments from Michaels.  I love decorating with silver and glitter.  
 

 

Up above you can see the Village all aglow with the lights under the snow..does it not look pretty like that?  I got the idea from Alicia Paulson...at Rosy Little Things . 

In the next few days I will show you the Snowman Tree that we put up this year.....

Let's Play the Price is Right...

You know I need Christmas stuff like a whole in my head...but sometimes when you see something that you just have to have well........you get it and when it is at a great price well that seals the deal.  Here are a few things I picked up at Roger's Gardens and Marshall's/TJ Maxx.  Can you guess which items I got where?  Kind of like playing The Price is Right, have you ever seen that show.  I'm not even sure if it is on the air anymore.   Ok here goes.....

 
Bethany Lowe Tinsel Garland......how much?

 
Vintage Postcard tinsel garland......

 
Chenille Santa Ornaments.......

 Chocolate wrapped in Vintage Santa Images.......

Champagne Colored Garland....

 
  Bethany Lowe Glittered Snowman.....

Have you guessed how much? 

Go on be brave.see if you can guess which items I got at the fancy schmancy store Roger's Gardens or TJMaxx {which is part of Homegoods or Homesense}..just like the price is right.  I'll post this week which items came from where and the prices.  I got some good deals...

Christmas Magic

I know with my last post some of you were shocked to hear the news by the many emails I have received.  I say this  maybe my diagnosis but this disease will NOT define who I am.  I'm strong and with the love of my family and friends.....

I say................

I'm going to think happy thoughts {the reason for the new Black Eyed Peas song on my play-list}.....I will kick this bad boys okole {you know what}.....I have several appointments with Oncologists and Radiation Oncologists and Surgeons so IF my posts are spotty you know why....but before I got consumed with this "bump in the road"...I spent a few days doing some Holiday shopping and I wanted to share with you some of the Christmas Magic I shot with my trusty ole camera....

First off, right after the Turkey was digested my Li'l One and I headed to a spectacular place called Rogers Gardens ...you might of remembered this post from 2007 .

 
 
 {we just left her Turkey Shoot tournament, didn't have time to change into festive attire please excuse the dirty knees}

the place is like an Outdoor Garden Nursery...and they go crazy with the white lights..

I love the succulent wreaths and the unique topiaries that they do...

 Love this little piggy...they had more like Reindeer's and stockings..but my battery died in my camera...Sheesh...

They have a whole area of faux trees that look so real you have to touch them to be sure.  Lots of nooks and crannies are decorated outside BUT when you go INSIDE Wowza that's where I can spend hours....

  Need a red and white stocking?  Which is your favorite?

They have many designers that they showcase...these are Steinbach Nutcrackers

Another favorite that they always have there...

Wendy Addison............Nicol Sayre.....Debbie Thibult......Bethany Lowe......

this sweet li'l glittered bird was so adorable..I'm sorry the picture came out blurry..

The following pictures are not from The Wendy Addison Collections....but German Glass Glitter could be found everywhere, some where Nicol Sayre, some Bethany Lowe, Radko was here. 

 
Wouldn't it be grand to wear this crown for New Years?  The glittered was poured on THICK...

One of my favorite items where these sparkly houses...but at 100 bucks a pop, needless to say I didn't take one home.  Here is what the website says about these beauties..

Margaret Larkin Jewelry Trees

Each tree is handmade and one-of-a-kind, as individual as the pieces that comprise it. Every piece of jewelry on the tree has a unique history, and now is passed on in a new way to be treasured again. These beautiful trees are offered in a wide array of color combinations and should be displayed year round to enjoy!

  Now IF I thought that the Sparkly houses where too much, do you know how much this Spectacular Vintage Findings Tree was?  It wasn't that big, maybe 3 Feet tall.  I thought it was uniquely gorgeous but the price was $4,000 big ones. Can you see the price tag up in the right lower corner. Yep, you read that right....I did come home with a few things from Rogers Gardens and I'll share that on my next post.  It really is a beautiful place....I love going there and getting ideas, that IS the best part and that's free!

 

Thanksgiving Table

   Well, this is as far as I got with my Burlap Tablecloth...I know I know...I'm the queen of unfinished projects!!!! But, But, But....

 

You see I was using the edge of the material as the ruffle {on a count of I was too lazy to hem} so I ran out of the edgy part to finish the ruffle.  I knew I had some more burlap but it ended up being a different color of Burlap than I started the tablecloth with.  Drats!!  Since I bought the rest of that color on the roll at my Joann's and the next closest Joann's  had other colors of Burlap but NOT my color. So...I never was able to finish this one for this Thanksgiving.  I had to revert to the old stand by tablecloth that is too short for my table.  To try and camouflage "the coming up short" I hung butternut colored napkins off the side at each place setting.  I think that worked. 

 
These embroidered linen napkins were my mothers , now that lady was a collector of linens.  You know what they say, "mother like daughter".   The china is Noritake in Heather, that my Mr. Incrediblepicked up at a yard-sale for five dollars.  Can you believe that?  Yep...we scored.  It is only a set of four, which is perfect cause that's all we got at the dinner table.  The glittered pumpkins could of been used as place settings markers but since I know all four people in my family I skipped that small detail.  

I still used the burlap in the floating candle bowl that holds dried Straw Flowers,, I think the colors they behold are so fall like.  Inside are floating pumpkin candles.  Hope you all had a wonderful Turkey Day and are stuffed.  I tried Kim over at Dear Daisy Cottage  Sweet Potatoe Casserole and it was very, very good. 

 

Do you like Pumpkin...here or there?

Yes I love Pumpkin everywhere....{a little play on Sam I am}..

I have a love affair of Pumpkin.  Here is a some samples....

 

One of my favorite places to go for breakfast is Mimi's Cafe they make a mean Pumpkin Pancake with spiced apples.  Yum! So when I saw this Pumpkin Pancake and Waffle mix I thought I could try to replicate them at home.  Don't you just love the 5o's-60's labeling on the can? 

I couldn't just stop at the Pumpkin Pancakes and Waffle mix..but nothing smells better than Pumpkin in the oven..Yes..Pumpkin Bread!

with some coffee is just plain delish.  Yes I love it here or there, yes I love it anywhere. 
 

 

 

post Halloween sightings.....

Excuse me blog readers for the spotty postings but my computer was in the shop again!!  Lesson Learned...do not go grocery shopping and leave Husband in charge because neighborhood children like to use said computer to download you tube everything.... but she is back now and I hope to post more wonderful things that I would love to share with you all.  First of all take a look of these cute Mummified Cupcakes...

You can get the brown-eyed sugar eyeballs from Target.  If Mummies are not your "thang", how about some gangly legged red spiders, Jack O'Lanterns or One eyed Monsters......

 

Look!!!  It's Raggedy Ann!   When I was a little girl my Mom made me my very own Raggedy Ann, nope not store bought she sewed it herself.  I loved it!  I have no idea what has happened to it, out of all the things I wish I'd saved when growing up that would of been it.  My daughter was a little unhappy that some people where calling her a Clown at school {she thought it had to do with her red nose) so on Halloween she begged me not to put on the red nose.  

Here she is with all of her trick or treaters cronies.  Madison Gypsy Rose went with her friend from school I was able to get a picture of her in her costume before she headed out to "beg" for candy..

Yes...Gypsies are good at being beggars....

One of the scariest house on the block....they have a real chain saw buzzing and the kids get really scared it is a must to visit....{not for the faint of heart}

Now I think this pumpkin had too much to drink....he hurled all over the place.

Now this IS Scary....inside this cloche with the glittery skull and creepy spider is a PICTURE of my ancestors!!!!!  It is a picture from my Dad's side of the family.  It is penciled in the back of who they are.  I think it is kind of neat how I have quite a few of these precious photographs in my possession even if they creep me out.  Hope you had as much as we did.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Better Late then Never as they saying goes...

Happy Autumn Everyone!  Even though it will be awhile here in SoCal before leaves start turning colors and the days get cooler where you can put on a fuzzy sweater and  jeans.  I know it looks like this in other parts of the country, California takes it's own sweet time for fall to get here.  We have had tempertures in the high 90's in these parts but  the last few mornings I have seen dew on the car windows so fall is there is a bit more of a chill in the air, so fall must be around the corner.

Not only is it the First Day of Autumn last week but September marks the Blogaversery of Home..Be Inspired Blog.  I started my Blog in September of 2007, that seemed like a long time ago.  I started my blog after several months of blog hopping and enjoying many blogs such a Daisy Cottage,  Pam Garrisons Craft Blog, Cherry Hill Cottage, Seeking Velvet Strawberries, Pleasures of Homemaking, Whatever, Heather Bullards' Past-Present, Notes of a Cottage Industry, The Painted Cottage and so many more....I thought I would love to have a blog of my own to document the daily life with pictures and stories.  I used to scrapbook so I think my blog took the place of that but I also thought it would inspire me to scrapbook more to as my journaling would already be done, I'll I'd have to do was hit print.  So many of the blogs out in bloglandia are like a magazines as I  look at their wonderful photography and design asthetics.   Decorating ideas are abundent with many how-tos and recipes by the dozens. I have enjoyed the vintage finds that many blogs  share with everyone as well as the redo projects.  There are so many more Inspirational Blogs popping up everyday and it is hard to keep up sometimes,  I enjoy them all .  I have tried to emmulate my blog after all of the many wonderful ones out in bloglandia.  I think Home... be Inspired has evolved into a genre of All things about the HOME which includes the family{Mr. Incredible and the girls}, recipes{from recipes I have found in cookbooks as well as ones handed down from my family}, decorating, crafting, yardsaling, home- stalking type of blog{I think I need a bumber sticker that says, I brake for cute cottage houses".  So for the next couple of weeks my blog Home...be Inspired is having a giveaway in honor of it's anniversary. What a better way to say Thank you to all my readers out there, ones who post comments and ones who lurk.   This is your invitation to delurk yourself.  So what can you Dear blog readers do to enter the give away.  In the comment section tell Home...be Inspired what is your most favorite post OR what is it that you like about Home...be Inspired.  That's it!!

Are you wondering what will the lucky winner get if they are chosen by the Random Generator.....well lookie here...

  a small journal so you can write memories down or things to do in your own cottage{from PotteryBarn}

a set of 3 of glittered gourds to get your home decorated for fall {made by me}

  a Fall glitter-lettered banner {made by moi}

a hardcover decorating book called HOME SWEET HOME by Mary Englebrieght

and a recipe box full of Home....be Inspired recipes.......

  Here is a recipe called Chicken in a Basket that will be included in the recipe box. 

I'll use the radom generator to select the winner of the Home...be Inspired giveway on October 16th at Noon. 

Edited to add....I'm going to hook up to the Fall Party  at Rhoda's @ Southern Hospitality...since this is a fallish post, I haven't gotten around to adding all my decorations just yet...but I redid this wreath from last year..remember how pitiful it looked...have a look here ..

See I added the glittered mini pumpkins to the wreath..Happy Fall Everyone...

Florals in White {From Daisies to Pikakes}

I'm hooked on...........

 

White Daisies...

 

Big and Small.....

 

White Impatiens........in the front flower bed..

 

White Roses on a sideboard {Country Living Photo}

White Hydrangea and Dogwood Wreath {from Williams-Sonoma} 

 

Petite Baby Breath, Carnations, Greenish White Roses with my favorite floral...

 

In Hawaiian they call it Pikake {Tuberose} ...it smell so lovely......

I went to the Farmers Market this morning a picked up a few bundles of my favorite flower...it smells heavenly.   What are you hooked on?   Head on over to Hooked on Houses  a giveaway is involved.  Speaking of giveaways....you want to check back on my blog in the near future for a giveaway.  

Are you on the ball for fall?

I AM NOT!   It's hard to feel inspired with weather temperatures in the upper 90's.  It's been very hot here in Southern California for the past several days.  I'm not inclined to light my pumpkin smelling candles....it would just make my house hotter!!  But the weather {person} says it will be cooling off this coming holiday weekend.....so I need to start thinking about decorating my humble home for fall...Here are my TOP Ten countdown of things that remind me of the fall season {and what I look forward to}

10.   Pumpkin Spice Coffee from here

 Yum!!! my favorite...

9.  Pumpkin Spice Pancakes from here , to die for!!!

8. Mini pumpkins especially in white...

 

{pic on left Country Living, pic on right..my home}

7.  the fall decor on my hutch...one of my most favorite things to gussy up for fall

6.  Beautiful fall wreaths...from L.L. Bean....

 

Or from Williams-Sonoma

 

5.  Spicy smelling potpourri....

 

4.  the turning of the leaves from green to red, orange and yellow.....

 

3.  lighting candles as the days get shorter..... 

 

2. baking this easy peasy delicious dessert for potlucks, Thanksgiving, it IS a FALL fave....My yumalisious PUMPKIN CRUNCH Recipe

1.  and the number one reason that seems to occur in FALL is having more uninterrupted {no girls saying "mom, can we go to swim at so and so's or can we go to the park?}  time to finish my ever expanding TO DO List....

 

liners need to be sewn, pillows need to be made, curtains and curtain rods to be bought or sewn.....projects need to be finished and on and on and on...

 

which brings me to this last point Melissa at the inspired room  is having a Fall Nesting PAR-TAY!!!  woop, woop!!  not only that she along with {HOMEGOODS} is giving away a gift certificate for $$$$$$  yes, the nice green ones.  BUT I need your help...I have 3 rooms that need to be done or finished but I can't decide which one should I focus on if by the powers that be I should win!!  I would like you dear blog readers to vote on which room I should do........  

Finish the Family Room....... 

 

 

 

I don't think I have ever introduced you to Sully (Sullivan from Monster's Inc) ..he is our {Mr. Incredible's } 64 inch big screen T.V. and I HATE that stand it is on.,....OK!

 

 

Nice curtain rods, eh?

 

this corner needs HELP!! 

 

 

I would like to get a variety of frames to put these up on the blank wall behind the sectional...

or should I work on my Master bedroom....

 

 

 

 

As you can see the Master Bedroom needs window treatments, wall art, bed skirts, side tables and a some help with the taking it from Blase to Wow!  

or {I'm so embarrassed to show you the bathroom which is the "pit of despair" as my kids say}...please view at your own risk..I'm warning you..................

 

 

 

 

I know it's in pretty bad shape....so what would be your vote?

the family room

the master bedroom 

or the bathroom....

please leave me your vote in the comment section I really appreciate each and every comment and your opinion means a lot to me. 

Stay tuned for a give away coming up this month for my blog-anniversary....you won't want to miss it!!

S is for School Supplies ......

One of the best things about going back to school is shopping for school supplies....getting that brand new 64 count of crayons was always something I always looked forward to getting when I was a little girl.   Today there are so many neat things out there that even I wish I could go "Back to School" shopping, here are  few things I found......

  

Smencils , if you haven't seen these, well  the lead smell in various flavors such as bubblegum, root-beer or cherry.  I bought these babies for my girls to stuff in their stockings a few holidays ago.  Love them! Speaking of smelly stuff....I picked up a box of Mr. Sketch....love the smell of those markers.   Regular markers smell terribly but not Mr. Sketch....my favorite is blueberry....

 

Another favorite pen of mine is Le Pens...I love the soft felt point when I write...

I usually color code my Mom's Plan-It Calendar to differentiate between each family member..and these pens come in handy.

 

What about a cute Coffee mug with your initial on it...

 

What about a cute Blue or Green brocade bulletin board for notes and invitations...

 

From See Jane Work ...check out the pencil holder too...love that too..

 

What about some cute colorful metal push pins for the bulletin board from Ballard Designs...

 Map boxes...from CS Post....

also from there ...hand stamped paper weight...

Check out this Household organizer also from See Jane Work...that would help keeping receipts and recipes and important information in one spot.  I like it! Well I'm thinking if the kids get back to school stuff shouldn't Mom?   I think you'll agree, the girls bags are packed.......

and the troops are ready for the first day of school tomorrow...boy, where did this summer go?