What are you doing New Year's Eve?

I just found this sweet video on You Tube & had to share it here.

 

Enjoy!

 

Zooey Deschanel & Joseph Gordon Levitt

 

 

The Year in Review 2012- Part 3

I hope you are enjoying my 2012 Year in Review posts. 

 

I've enjoyed looking back, seeing what I accomplished this year,

although it has been hard choosing which

posts to feature.

 

This is my 3rd and final part of The Year in Review. 

If you would like to check out Part 1 and Part 2

here are the links...Part 1, Part 2.

 

Let's see, I believe I left off with September.

In September 2012,

 

 

we added new tile to our fireplace.

This one might be a good post to review

if you missed it, especially if you need a laugh.

 

Also in September,

our home was featured at Debbiedoos

for her home tours.

 

 

 

I was both honored & crippled with fear

at sharing our home with all of you.   lol

The kind comments left here & at Debbiedoos

touched my heart!  You girls are the best!

 

In October 2012,

 

 

I sewed this cute Jack the Pumpkin pillow.

 

October was a month for weddings...

my niece got married

and

 

 

the Mister & I celebrated our 20th anniversary!

 

In November 2012,

 

I put together a fall tablescape...

 

 

featuring pinecones and acorns.

 

I also made these cute & silly candy bar wrappers

 

 

in honor of Thanksgiving.

 

In December 2012,

 

 

I got warmed up for the holiday baking season

and

 I shared a holiday favorite,

 

 

my white wire shelf.

 

 2012 was an excellent year.

Thank you so much for being here with me.

I appreciate each & every one of you!

 

Here's to an awesome 2013!

The Year in Review 2012- Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of my 2012 Year in Review.
Part 1 can be found here. 

 

Let's get started, shall we?

 

In May 2012,

 

I did a little restyling.

 

 

I gave my Easter burlap rag wreath

a new look.

 

I got to spend some time in the kitchen too.

 

 

Yummy...Strawberry Pretzel Squares.

 

In June 2012,

 

I revealed my next completed project.

 

 

I painted my stairs.

 It was a huge undertaking, but oh so worth it!

 

I took my dining room hutch

from black,

 

 

to Annie Sloan's Old White.

 

In July 2013,

 

with some old windows found in the trash,

 

 

 

I created this gallery wall for my family room.

There's a cute story about finding the windows in the

trash if you'd like to click on the link to read it.

 

I had a little fun outdoors too.

 

 

The mister & I created this crooked planter

to fill an empty space in our landscaping.

 

In August 2012,

 

 

I played with my dishes and created a

French Country Tablescape.

 

I also took on a project that I never thought I'd

be able to pull off.

 

 

I painted & reupholstered a chair! 

Click on the link if you'd like to see the

awful before picture. 

 

 That's all for today folks.

Stay tuned for my Year in Review 2012- Part 3!

 

 

The Year in Review 2012- Part 1

Hi my dear, sweet friends!

 

I took a much longer break from blogging
than I anticipated and in the process,

I missed all of you so much!

I thought it would be fun to have a Year in Review
here on the old blog.  It's snowing like crazy
right now, so I may as well hunker down
and blog some. 

I think I'll split this post into parts so it doesn't get too long.
I'll also add links in case you want to check something out further.

In January 2012,

 

I was so excited to learn how to make paper snowflakes

 that weren't a square shape (lol),  

that I just had to share a tutorial with all of you. 

I also shared my Winter Mantel in January.

 

The exciting part of this mantel is that it is currently

being featured at HGTV.com! 

You can read about that here.

In February 2012,

I spent some time hand stitching

these hearts for Valentine's Day. 

Of course, I've had many tablescapes
scattered throughout the months,

 

  but I loved this one that I named Cupid's Arrow.

In March 2012,

 

I joined up with some of my sweet bloggy friends

and hosted my very first Linky party...

The Great Spring'tacular Link Party Parade!

 

I made the burlap Easter wreath for the party.

 

In April 2012,

 

 

I made this cute button egg topiary.

 

We started the first of many home projects.

We were thrilled to finally get new windows

for the dining room...ones that actally opened without
the strength of Hercules!

April also brought a fun opportunity.

 

I joined up with my Spring'tacular Link Party Parade girls,

for the Newbie Spot of the Week.

The Spotlight is no longer, but

it was fun finding newbie bloggers to spotlight

each week.

 

I think I'll stop the Year in Review right here.

More to come so please stay tuned!

 

 
 

Merry Christmas

 

A very happy & blessed Christmas to all!

 

Gone Baking

Between a trip to New York City,

my sister's 50th birthday party,
my son's holiday concert and

several marathon baking sessions ahead,

 

I must take a short blog break.

 

Talk to you soon! 

Silver Christmas

I love putting together a coffee table vignette.

I think there's just something about
that open, flat surface that calls out to me.

Am I crazy or what? 

 

Don't answer that.
 

 

 

I filled this urn with some bottle brush trees, pine cones

& ornaments.

  

 

My dear friend, Jess, gave these silver presents to me

as a gift a few years ago.  I think they are so pretty!

 

I had to buy those skinny reindeer at TJ Maxx this year.

I couldn't resist their long, skinny legs.

Something I know I shall never possess. lol

  

 

Oh my goodness, there's a little bit of sunshine peeking

through on the photo above!  It's been some time since

we've seen the sun.

 

 

Time is moving right along.

It's hard to believe there's only 12 days left 'til Christmas!  

 

 

Merry Elfmas Tablescape

How about a Christmas tablescape? 

 

This one is aptly named by my daughter as

Merry Elfmas!

  

 

 

 My whimsical Christmas spirits seem to be riding high this year!

 

Tablecloth:  Target (quite a few years ago)
Table runner:  Either Target or Kohls, I can't remember

Green dinner plates: Oneida outlet

Napkins: Joann Fabrics

Elf plates & mugs:  Crate & Barrel

 

 

Aren't they cute?

 

 

I had to mix up the flatware for a little fun.

Red gingham flatware:  Spiegel (many, many years ago)

Green flatware:  Cambridge, Home Goods

 

 

I dare you to tell me he isn't a cutie!

  

  

I'm so glad that I got to share a tablescape. 

I've been so incredibly busy,  I honestly

 didn't think I'd be able to set one up this year. 

 

I'm trying to get around to visit all of you.

It's been a struggle, but I'm doing my best. 

I apologize if I've missed you recently.

   

Thanks for stopping by and

Merry Elfmas!

 

Linking to: 

 

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Homespun Christmas Party at Stone Gable

 

 

Announcing...

...the winner of my Holiday Giveaway!

 

 My trusty assistant, Johnny, has selected....

Lynne from Dreams on 34th Street!

 

Congratulations Lynne!

 

Thank you to all for entering.

I wish I could send a tree to each & every one of you. 

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 We are going to see Wicked tomorrow...yippee!

 

There are way too many exclamation points in this post!  lol

 

Christmas Mantel 2012

Well my dear friends, if you are expecting to see a beautiful nature-inspired mantel with lots of pinecones & greenery, the kind that is soooo popular in blogland right now, I am sorry to disappoint you.  There's none of that at Random Thoughts this Christmas.

I've got a little story to tell you (Don't I always?)...

Weeks before Thanksgiving, I had this adorable gingerbread-inspired mantel crafted to a "T" in my head.  I planned it all out.  Sugar plums & gum drops, gingerbread people.  I knew exactly how it would look, in my head anyway.

When it came time for decorating, I was giddy with delight because, for once, for once, I had a plan for my monstrous mantel.

Yeah, well, what's that saying?  The best laid plans of mice and men?   Yeah.  That's it.

Disaster.  Capital "D".

Instead, I had to regroup & begin again.

I would like to share with you my Whimsical Christmas Mantel....

 

I'm sure you've heard me mention that "I borrowed this" or "I borrowed that" from my Mom or sisters.  Well, this mantel was no exception.

 

I went out shopping.  I hit so many stores, it wasn't funny.  I did not find a single thing that appealed to me.  Then my oldest sister suggested shopping her unused Christmas decor.

 

Glittered green star?   Yes please!

 

 

I bought the whimsical Santa & reindeer at TJ Maxx.  I thought they would be a nice compliment to the star.

 

 

After that, I started to add a little of this & that from what I already owned.  My mom offered me her red & white peppermint Christmas trees.

 

They were the perfect!

 

 

It may not have been my original plan, but I think it came together fairly well regardless.

 

Of course, none of it would have been possible without my mom & sister's generosity.

You know?  I think I may be on to something with this borrowing stuff.  Perhaps I should do this every Christmas! :)

Linking to:

Home for the Holidays Mantel Party at Finding Silver Pennies