Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Wordless Post

Christmas Mantel

So this is my completed mantel. At long last it is finished and decorated for the holidays. If you remember my post here about building this. It has been quite awhile. I wanted to link up with the Nester and her holiday house tour. I have more to share about this project and another huge undertaking in the new year!

Have a great day!

Little Ghosties

My computer has been on the fritz so I am posting these late.

These are the Halloween decorations I decided to make for the front of our house. I got the inspiration from Family Fun Magazine. The little minis loved them. The older minis wanted something more frightening but I don't think we are there yet. I do not want my little ones to be scared of Halloween and we have plenty of time to be scary. Maybe next year....

Does the Great Pumpkin Come to Visit Your House?

We have a Halloween tradition at our house where our children get to pick out 10 -15 pieces of their halloween loot to save and we put the rest in a big bowl to be placed out the back door. Overnight the Great Pumpkin comes and replaces the candy with a small toy, gift card or money.

What does the Great Pumpkin do with said candy? Well, the chocolate pieces are hidden away until the holiday baking (m+m cookies, etc.) begins and the hard candy-ish pieces are stored to give out as treats almost all year long.

We started this tradition when my older minis were babies and now they are almost in the double digits (cannot believe that) and so far we have been quite successful. I only hope it lasts as we continue into the tween years!

Happy Halloween!!

OBX 2010

Just back from a wonderful extended family vacation! Had a fabulous time.

Have a great day!

emb

SIGNS

I love the movie Signs from M. Night Shyamalan.

Right now I am down right OBSESSED.

It is just the right amount of scary and humor. I am biased because the movie was filmed in my home county

and parts of the town filmed are VERY close to my home.

The scenery really is as beautiful as it seems.

I really am lucky to live in such a beautiful place!

Have a great day!

emb

Pottery Barn is Now Selling Rocks.

I love Pottery Barn. Let us make no mistake about this. LOVE. Pottery. Barn. However, when I saw these a few weeks ago and I was conflicted. These are a polyresin construction and you can get four for $16.

Now my DIYer mind has these as free for myself because I already own chalkboard paint and luckily some rocks. I am going to experiment and see if I can recreate the same look for less! Wish me luck!!

Fall Outfit...if it still wasn't 90 degrees!

Find me on Polyvore

It's Back!

My favorite drink for the Autumn season...

Salted Carmel Hot Chocolate

from Starbucks!!!

I love it with a shot (or two) of espresso.

Delicious!

Have a great day!

EMB

Happy First Day of FALL!!!!!!!!!

I took an unintended break from posting (not reading blogs). Our summer was so busy!!! BUT......


HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!!!!!!


I am so excited.... I love the fall!


Today I made these
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/08/caramel-apple-sticky-buns/


for the family as an autumnal treat...Oh my goodness!

Love the Pioneer Woman.

Have a great day!!!

EMB

I Heart Fabulous Beekman Boys

Just watched The Fabuolus Beekman Boys. I loved it. We try to do all organic so were are pro small farmers. This show is a gem and the men are too funny. Planet Green on Wednesday nights!

WoW! Murfee Scarf Giveaway @ Biscuits!!!!!!!!!!!

Biscuits Are Never Boring is so graciously hosting a fabulous giveaway for a Lilly Pulitzer Murfee Scarf. I was not able to attend the sale *sigh =:(

BUT.........

5 Bickies did go to sale and kept her fellow bloggers in mind! She snagged some scarves and has one to give away!

Please visit 5 Bickies here and leave her a wonderful comment for chance to win, follow her for another chance, and post about the great giveaway for a third chance!!

"Paparazzi" MUST WATCH, if it is the only thing you do today!

This is Greyson Michael Chance singing at his school's spring concert. Yes, I have jumped onto the internet bandwagon of watching him on youtube. He has recieved over 1 million hits since he posted just last week. He is amazing and the young girls reaction to him are too funny.

Many are calling him the next Justin Beiber. We shall see. He is extremely talented for his young age.

And as a the typical mother I am,

I started worrying and hoping that the industry would not destroy this innocent raw talent that has very far to go yet has just started his journey.

Greyson was asked to perform on the Ellen DeGeneres show today!!

Let's hope his parents have a head on their shoulders.

Have a great day!

em

Kitchen Backsplash; Our Love Affair with Subway Tile

This picture was in a previous post of mine.

It is our completed subway tile backsplash.

What I did not show you is the before/during pictures. Before I do, I have to say how I love subway tile. Our old home also had white subway tile per our renovation of the kitchen.

We knew when we purchased this house that our kitchen would also don this backsplash!

A new twist, however, was the inspiration I recieved from Melissa (The Inspired Room) and pictures she posted of her old kitchen. I was struck by how Melissa had subway tile the full length of her wall. I always thought the backsplash ended where the cabinets ended!

So my husband removed the old builder's grade beige 4x4 tile. (sorry no picture yet of that!) And the walls looked horrible!! At this point I am sure a contractor would have explained to me that the drywall would have to be either replaced or repaired.

(Please excuse the awful countertop. We WILL be replacing that as well as getting a new sink/faucet.)

I felt the walls were fine.

And in the fashion of the Nester with her window mistreatments, I went ahead and produced this:

The grout is now finished. This was a PROJECT and took about four days. We spent $150 dollars on materals except for the tile. Why you ask?

Are you ready for this?

I paid $15 dollars for all the tile shown for the entire backsplash and walls! I will let you in on my little secret in another post!

But for now, we are very happy with our new backsplash!!!

Have a great day!

em

Fabulous Mother's Day Giveaway!!!

Check out all the fabulous goodies (25 items) that one lucky mom will win this Mother's Day! Visit this site for entry details:



http://laurawinslowphotography.com/blog/2010/05/05/the-fabulous-fun-mothers-day-giveaway-scottsdale-photographer/

Have a great day!

em

Today! The Kentucky Oaks- Race for the Lilies!

The Kentucky Oaks is a 136 year old horse racing event that features three year old Fillies.

Like it's big brother, the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks owns a namesake race, a signature flower and a special cocktail.

The Oaks has recently adopted a signature color as well-PINK (in honor of their signature flower and breast cancer awareness). The Oaks has joined with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Horses and Hope.

Kentucky Oaks: Race 11, 5:45 p.m. EDT post time

The Oaks Lily:

1oz. Vodka

1oz. Sweet and Sour Mix

3oz. Cranberry Juice

Splash of Triple Sec

Mix ingredients, place the pinkish cocktail in a stemless wineglass with crushed ice and garnish with an orange wedge and a cherry!

Have a great day!!!!!!!

em

Video: The most beautiful seatbelt advocacy commercial ever? — Autoblog

Video: The most beautiful seatbelt advocacy commercial ever? — Autoblog

Seriously. Must watch!!!!

NEST COOKIES

I better post this before spring is actually over!! Hehe!

I made these cookies for the preschool minis' Easter party. I think you could use this idea for any Spring themed party as well.

First, make or buy some sugar cookies. I think any size would do depending on the size eggs you find.

I laid them out on my trays.

Then in a large freezer size plastic bag empty a bag of shredded coconut. I used the unsweetened kind because you will add hot cocoa (like the SwissMiss kind) to the bag until the mixture looks like this:

You can start off with a small amount of cocoa and gradually add more as you see fit. I placed some of the cocoa mixture in a bowl as well as my chocolate eggs. (I used Cadbury for this).

Next, I frosted each sugar cookie with chocolate frosting:

And took a large pinch of the coconut mix and placed it on the cookie. I took the eggs and nestled them right in the middle.

I did have to add a tiny bit of frosting to some of the eggs to help make them stick.

Now, I left them on their trays so I could transport them to school. But I think one could easily set up a nice display with some cake plates or colored "Easter" grass.

They were delicious.

HAPPY EASTER!

Here's

Wishing

Everyone

a

Happy

and

Joyful

Easter!!!

XOX

EMB