Wishing All a Happy New Year!

It's that time of again. To say goodbye to last year and bring on the new year! I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! Full of good health,happiness and may your new year be prosperous!Don't forget to eat your black eyed peas on New Year's day for goodluck!

Tracy

Little gingerbread house

My daughter took pride making this year's gingerbread house! She spent a long time putting all the cobblestone(jellybean) siding on the house and the details all around. Her siblings enjoyed watching her and eating all of her supplies! Lol! Every year we make these houses and display them for everyone to see!They are so much fun and bring visions of sugar plums dancing through the holiday! It's definately a great family project! Even if it's just watching one making it, while the others are eating all the goods! Wishing you all a sweet day!

Tracy

Gathering nuts

I captured this cute photo of a squirrel just a moment ago! I was watching him gathering nuts and things out of my gutter and then he hopped in the tree. I tried to get a close up of him or her with it's chubby mouth full but I couldn't get one. It did pose for me on the branch though. Lol! It's really nippy out today. It's about 33 degrees out. Brrrrr!Wishing you all a great Saturday and keep warm! Maybe crack some nuts by the fire! Lol!

Tracy

Sunday Pot Roast

Nothing like a pot roast on a winter Sunday! I got my slow cooker out this morning and added my broth to it,browned my roast and it's slowly simmering in the pot now! It's such cozy,comfort meal that the whole family loves. I make my famous mashed potatoes to go with it too! Yum! The house smells wonderful already and it will last through out the day! Wishing you all a lovely Sunday and maybe I have inspired you to get yourself a roast. It's still early to get it started! I love this photo. It came from Mary Engelbreit's Queen of the kitchen cookbook! The recipe is also in the book! My dinner table will look just like the photo! Lol! Similar at least.

Tracy

My latest purchase on Etsy

I just love them! They are vintage cut out tin stars from my friend at http://www.cottageinthesun.etsy.com/ They are so cute each have a loop on the back for hanging wherever you choose! A wreath , your tree, dangle from a window with fishing wire or displayed like I did! They are fun! There are so many unique cut outs and garlands in her shop!

All these are perfect for the cottage/shabby chic home! They make wonderful gifts too If your looking for something unique you need to check out her shop. Happy Friday!

Tracy

Our Christmas tree

Every year after Thanksgiving we get all our Christmas decorations out and start putting them up on that weekend. I thought I would take a picture of before and after this year. Our tree is an artificial tree that I love. Many years I've had a real one and spent oodles of money on them. Then one year I found this tree at Ballards. It was clearanced and had the lights on it with pinecones tucked in it too! It looked real to me. Anyways ,I bought it and this is our tree. I also add colored lights because the kids love them and I do too. I think it adds more charm with all the colors. Our tree is made up of everything! There are many vintage glass bulbs and new bulbs,the kids baby ornaments and others they have made or have gotten through the years. I add gold wired mesh as the garland,glittered branches poke out and tinsel is the final touch.We all love the final outcome. It's like looking at a candy shop with all the colors!

Here's the finished product!

A peek into our tree!Wishing you all a great day full of fa la la!

Tracy

Thanksgiving Greetings

Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing you all a happy day with your family and friends.I thought this silly vintage postcard was so cute! Thank you from my friend Suzee Que! Here's a quote I found.... "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them"-John F Kennedy

Enjoy your day,

Tracy

Pure decadence

I thought I would share with you the incredible chocolate mousse cake we had over the weekend for my husband's b-day! If you are a chocolate lover you would have been in heaven! I wanted o show you this pretty cake with little specks of gold leafing on it. My son thought it was spray painted tinfoil. All my kids had to eat the gold!

We just finished the cake yesterday! Such a lovely bite of pleasure!I love cake! Cookies too! It's my downfall.Ooh la la just had to share! Have a great day!

Tracy

Hubby's B-day!

Rub a dub dub...my honey is in the tub! lol! I just love this picture of my husband when he was a wee little boy just soaking in the tub. It's a favorite of mine and I have it displayed in the house.Today that little boy has a birthday! We won't say how old...who's counting anymore? Lol! A big shout out to my sweet husband on his B-Day! Wishing everyone a happy day too!

Tracy

Another fabulous Mosaic by Chelsea Ling

Whoo Hoo! I was so excited to see yesterday that I was featured on late Friday on papercakes finds! It is such a sweet combination of eye candy! I love all her mosiacs and finds! I was so lucky to be featured and have those earrings of mine sell! Thank You Chelsea! Of course I made another pair and put them back in my Etsy shop. I adore these earrings I made..the beads are so precious. I love the little roses with the pearls. Anyways I just wanted to share my excitement! Check out her fabulous blog.. www.papercakesfinds.blogspot.com
Happy Sunday!
Tracy

A scary bees nest....

As I was looking out my window the other day I noticed this dangling thing in the tree. I said to myself" Oh My Gosh" Look at that! This nest is in our yard and it's been hidden by the leaves. Now that the leaves are gone there it was. So I took my camera and took some shots of it. As I zoomed in I could see the bees flying in and out of that hole. Wow! I told my kids to stay far away from that! I can only imagine if that falls or something...the amount of bees!!!!!!!!!Anyways a bit of nature I'm sharing with you! Have great day!

Tracy

Tarte a la framboise

Ooh la la...so yummy! Just wanted to let you see our dessert last night! I of course did not make it. My friend Joe did! Lol! Trader Joes that is! I saw these tarts the other day and I bought an Apple Tarte Tatin which I will show you another day! They are both products of France! The presentation looks like it comes from a patisserie! This tarte was so yummy! I thought I would tempt your tummies again and advice you to run to your nearest Trader Joes and get some! Perfect for the upcoming holidays or to whip out when company comes! A little secret from me to you!Happy Weekend!

Tracy

Cherished Moments

As I look at this sweet figurine I can't help but think of cherished moments! Each day is a blessing and sometimes we take every day moments for granted. I'm trying so hard to have a more positive outlook on things and really cherish each little moment that makes me smile. Just like this sweet couple .They look so in love and happy to be together!

I found this adorable figurine at a flea market awhile ago and do not know the origin of it or how old it is. I've had it displayed in my home for awhile and now I'm passing it on to someone who would like to have a smile every time they look at it! It's currently for sale in my Etsy shop.Wishing you all a happy day full of positive thoughts!

Tracy

Ahhh...So much inspiration and style

That's right! Theres is so much inspiration and style in this store! What is a girl to do?

I recieved my November 2009 Anthropologie catalog yesterday and I get butterflies as I tun each page!

I am so inspired by this place! The way the photo shots are done and the beautiful things that are in the photos!

I have not been in the store for awhile and I'm thinking it's time to go soon and get myself something for the up coming holidays! Don't ya think I should? How about you?

Well this is my inspiration and wanted to share with you all this magical place I call Anthropologie! Check it out for yourselves! http://www.anthropologie.com/

Get inspired!

Tracy

Need a cup of Joe?

It's a beautiful ,crisp,sunny morning here! Wow! What a difference from yesterday. I'm getting ready to go for my morning run. I'm having a cup of Joe before I go! Lol! I bought this coffee from Trader Joe's last week and it's the best coffee I've tasted in a long time! I love coffee! I thought I would try their brand and they had many kinds to choose from.This one is medium roast with 100% Arabica beans. It comes with the whole beans and you grind it there yourself! It so fresh and the aroma is wonderful!Get this...the price was $ 3.49 for 14 oz.! Go out and get this coffee if you have a Trader Joe's near you!! If you don't...how sorry I am for you! Lol! No really it's a fantastic store!! Also did you ever wonder where the expression "cup of Joe" came from? I found this answer...

"Cup of joe" is an American nickname for coffee. The phrase goes back to the mid-1840s, and is of unclear origin, though it is possibly short for "Old Black Joe," the title of a popular Stephen Foster song. In any case, it predates Josephus Daniels, the Secretary of the Navy who banned the serving of alcohol on ships in 1914.

Happy Sunday!

Tracy

Happy Halloween!

Wishing you all a fun filled day and evening on this Halloween! It's rainy and suppose to drop in temperature tonight with wind here.Not really the perfect weather for trick or treating but I'm sure the kids will have fun anyways!!I love this collage of old postcards that my friend Suze Que has made! The vintage postcards are the best!The vibrant colors and details are just perfect!Don't forget to turn your clocks back this evening too! Yay an extra hour of sleep!! Although I don't like it getting darker earlier. It's a bit depressing.Oh well..C'est La Vie!

Happy Halloween!

Tracy

La Beaute'

Happy Thursday All! I've been creating lately. I created a new necklace which I call La Beaute'! I think it's a beauty. It's made out of vintage glass,translucent beads and an antique brass chain with a vintage shabby chic pin as the pendant.I took the photos this morning and was pleased how they turned out. I'm really liking taking pictures with hubby's camera!Well I'll show you the photos and let you see for yourselves!This necklace is listed in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek at my new creation! Have a great day!

Tracy

Starting to change

As I took my morning run I could see a bit of change in the color of the leaves. My subdivision sits up on a hill and almost looks like we are in the mountains. You need to close your eyes and look up to the tree tops! I took these shots a little while ago and it was cloudy. The sun is peaking out now but I thought I would show you some of the foliage in my neighborhood.

This shot is actually my front yard. We have alot of hard woods mixed in with other trees.

So pretty! The contrast of the colors of these leaves. I love the changing of the leaves and all the colors of fall!Wishing you all a great day!

Tracy

My own Boulangerie

Nothing like the smell of Chocolate Croissants baking in the oven! Then sinking your teeth into a warm melting chocolate bread while sipping your coffee! That's exactly what I'm doing this morning..These croissants taste like they came from a Boulangerie in France! Maybe even better! Fresh out of the oven! Should I tell you my secret recipe? I think I shall because these are the best!

The Chocolate Croissants came from Trader Joe's! You need to let them rise overnight and bake in the morning. I highly reccomend them! Hubby loved them too and he's french. From now on I'll be making these when we feel like Chocolate Croissants! Yum!Have a great Sunday!

Tracy

The chill is in the air

It's chilly outside today and all throughtout the weekend here too! Definately fall is here! The leaves have not peaked here, but there are plenty on the ground! Halloween is almost upon us and I'm offering 20 percent off all Halloween items in my Etsy shop. If you are interested read my store memo.

There are still plenty of Halloween items left! The sale is Oct. 16th-18th. Wishing you all a great weekend!

Tracy

A Room with a View

This is one of my favorite finds at a garage sale!! Actually my hubby found it...I believe it was $10.00. It's an iron wheel. Very heavy and I hung it on my dining room window/office area. My desk sits underneath it with the laptop and this is where I sit while on the computer! I love this view! It looks out into our backyard which is a sea of English Ivy. It has totaly taken over! We have a huge corner lot so the kids play on the side and front yard or at other kids yards. Sad I know but until we do something about the ivy it's pretty to look at! No mowing either. Anyways...I put vintage postcards of France in the wheel and a fall hanging in the center. It's a pretty architectural element to the room! Always be on the look out for these things at garage/yard sales. Think of the possibilities!

Tracy

My bag arrived!

I was so excited yesterday when my bag that I purchased on Etsy arrived! I featured it a few days ago and told you all about this purchase. Well......here it is! I'm totally thrilled with it! It's in perfect vintage condition. It's just my style! It's always scarry purchasing something your not exactly sure what your getting. This time I was lucky! So I just wanted to show you one more time me and my new hand bag! Have a fantastic day!

Tracy

Look what's waiting for my kids.....

Oh yummy! It's that time of year! I love these and so do my kids! Caramel apples dipped in nuts! I have to admit I bought these I couldn't resist. They also had the dipped,caramel apples in choclate chips too but I chose these. Last year one of my poor daughter's had to suffer watching us eat them because she had her braces on but now she can sink her teeth right in because they are off!I love candy apples too! Anyways ,these will be waiting for them when they come back from school today. I thought I would tempt your tummies too!

Tracy

Spiderwebs on my mind

Today I went for my morning jog. Lately I've been running without my i -pod. It let's me think more clearly without the music. I tend to notice more things too while I'm running. I'm actually looking at objects to see what I can use for my crafting. Today is misty and damp. I noticed everywhere there was spiderwebs with droplets of water on them. Pretty... yet not the creature that makes them.

These webs that are on the bush are there when I run by them every day. I usually put the fake webs on my bushes around Halloween but my neighbors don't need to!Ha!

These acorns I found on my run the other day and I dipped them in glitter! Very easy if you have acorns around or you could paint them. Too cute to display in a bowl for the fall! I have these listed in my Etsy shop now for anyone who is interested! Well just a misty ,spiderweb,nature sort of day today!

Enjoy your day!

Tracy