Couldn't Be More Beautiful

Katy Elliott's blog is one of my favorites! She and her husband are in the process of restoring their beautiful 260 year old New England home. She just posted some tips she learned at a wreath making class recently. Very simple, but really just perfect Christmas style!!!

I'm going to try to get my wreath done today and will post pictures soon.

For the Mantle

For all of you crafters, non crafters, or people like me who like crafts, but have very little time to craft, here is a fun idea that Lorie found on Tater Tots and Jello. This couldn't be easier or more affordable! You know, this would be fun to do with kids as well, my girls would love it!

Be Different Act Normal ... check it out!

That Christmas Feeling

I remember watching this during the holidays with my sister when we were little and feeling very anxious about the whole situation. It's 7 minutes of highs and lows, knowing Pluto will for sure destroy that tree, but enjoying the wonder of it all within the tree in the moment anyway. I love the way the lights look from the inside out and I was/ am jealous of those rascally little chipmunks being able to hang out in there. Watch, you'll see what I mean!

Stencils

I have an enormous home improvement list that I alone have created. One of the projects that has been on my mind forever is doing some kind of stencil on an accent wall in my dining room. I still haven't picked out a stencil yet, but I've narrowed it down.

http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/

Here are just a few of my favorites! I think they're all pretty. It will come down to what Scott is willing to help me with.

Stencils, they're not the "mom jeans" of decorating anymore!

Lawrence Welk

When I was little, we used to watch Lawrence Welk every once in a while. I remember thinking it was great! The dancing, the singing, the bubbles, the polkas... all of it, great! I wish there were shows still like this on TV today.  You don't have to worry about your kids watching as well, unlike 99% of the yuck on today. Do you guys remember the Mandrell Sisters show? Barbara Mandrell rocked the house and her sisters were great too, except there was the one who couldn't sing so they kept her kind of in the back. That was another one of my favorites, and the Muppets of course. Eating dinners together on trays in our living room... aaahhh, I miss the old days. We must have been a lot less messy because I would NEVER let my kids eat in the living room or my parents were way more patient. Maybe a little of both?

I dare you to watch this and not tap your foot, sway or clap. It's impossible!

Rice Rice Baby

• Rice Pudding is one of my favorite cool weather treats. Here's my recipe:
• 
  
• RICE PUDDING
• 
  
• 1/2 gallon of whole milk
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• (You can top it off with some cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or some raisins soaked in warm water and rum extract... If you're really feeling indulgent, you can't go wrong with a dollop of fresh whipped cream!)

Directions

1. In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, combine 1/2 gallon milk, sugar and rice. Simmer, covered, 1 hour, stirring frequently. 
2. In a small bowl, combine eggs, 1/2 cup cream, salt and vanilla. Stir into rice mixture and return pot to low heat, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Cool.
3. You can serve warm with your desired toppings, or wrap tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge.

Classic Martha

 After visiting the Home Depot the other day, I felt more than a little disappointed at some of the MSL products for sale. I don't know what's going on, but Martha, come on!!! Some of the stuff was okay, but some of it made me want to throw up in my own mouth. Something about a black rubber doormat with a picture of Santa bear airbrushed in primary colors. What????!!! I know.

So, I needed a little dose of the classic Martha, the Martha I fell in love with.

I miss her. "sniff"

So here she is, and listen... I am not through with my girl. She is obviously stretched too thin and maybe isn't totally on the ball as far as quality control goes, BUT I am a loyal friend always. We will get through this together, just like her unfortunate incarceration, this too shall pass.

What's For Dinner?

Here is a dish I make when I want comfort food minus the muffin top. It's pretty easy and I think you can find the ingredients at any grocery.

-First you make a pot of good sticky Asian rice, not that fluffy nonsense that comes in a box. Rice should take more than a minute.
-Quarter a small head of cabbage and steam until the leaves are flexible, not soggy.
-Take one 1 lbs of ground turkey and add, 1 egg, 2 chopped green onion, 1-2 cloves of garlic minced, salt, pepper, and 1/2 C of Japanese breadcrumbs. Mix well with your hands. Then shape into small, bite size disks and fry in olive oil until the patties are cooked all the way through. (non stick pan works the best)
-Julienne two small carrots.
-Mix some soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame seeds and a spoons worth of "Sambal Oelek" chili sauce together in a small bowl.

-Assembly: Take a small piece of the cabbage leaf, and layer inside a spoonful of rice, ground turkey patty, a couple of julienned carrot and a couple drops of sauce. Roll it all together and tie it with a thin piece of green onion.

So so SO tasty!!!

So Cute it Makes Me Mad

I love miniature stuff. Doll houses that light up, Christmas villages, petit fours, they all make me smile. These little gingerbread houses, however, are the cutest little things I've seen in a long time!

Lorie, who is my go to girl for everything festive just posted these lovelies on her blog. She found this particular project at Not Martha but there are many more fabulous ideas she's found just in time for the holidays as well!!!

And it is, unbelievably, that time of year again.Yikes!

Party Hats for Cool People

Jordan Ferney, party planner extraordinaire, and author of the, "Oh Happy Day" blog is posting a fun tutorial tomorrow showing how to make these lovely hats.

I'm so there. I'm actually there every couple of days anyway because her stuff is so awesome AND she lives in Paris and her pictures make me gasp and swoon.

Martha's Turkeys

I love Thanksgiving, it's my favorite holiday meal. I love turkey and I love stuffing and I love cranberry relish and corn pudding and mushrooms and sweet potato casserole, pumpkin/apple pie etc... Basic Thanksgiving fare. No turduckin, or Cornish game hen, or whatever. Although I do consider egg rolls traditional Thanksgiving fare as well... and kimche.

Martha's turkeys are so beautiful, huh. I'd love to spend Thanksgiving with Martha! I bet her meal is so good, but I'd be super nervous I'd spill or worse, choke! Can you imagine if I started choking at her table? Oh my goodness, I don't think she'd help me. She'd be so disgusted, and while she'd most definitely have the skills to save my life, her disappointment would keep her from actually using them. Oh Martha!

Funny Stuff

I'm up WAY too late!

Modern Pictures

Grace took her modern pictures the other day and I think they turned out really cute! I don't know anything about modern dance really, but I love to watch my girls anyway.

Holy DIY Headboards

 

http://chicandcheaplifestyle.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-upholstered-tufted-headboard-guest.html

www.imperfectblog.com/2009/01/diy-headboard.html

via Country Living

DIY slipcovers from Martha

http://gardenberger.blogspot.com/2011/04/finally-finally-finally-finished.html

Be Different Act Normal Strikes Again!

Lori found this DIY lampshade at

http://www.alittleglassbox.com/2011/08/horsin-around.html


This gal took a simple (it looks like linen) lampshade and wrote love notes from to her son on it. Very cute! What a fun keepsake that can be a sweet little reminder all year round. I would have to have someone write it for me because my hands shake so badly, BUT if you have steady hands, it's super easy. I think she used a sharpy.

You also have to check out Lori's Halloween posts on her blog. She has so many easy and cute ideas for this very quirky holiday, from mesh ghosts to cute little Halloween hats.

http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/

Is it a holiday? I don't know, I guess not.

Finally!!!

You know that feeling where your stomach is in your throat and you can hardly catch your breath? That's been me for the past six weeks or so, waiting for the first parent's weekend at Oliver's school! I miss my boy so much, but he is doing incredibly well and was definitely ready for this experience.

We had such a great time visiting with him and hearing all the great things he's been up to! The campus is lovely and the weather was beautiful. It was a wonderful weekend!!! Can't wait for Thanksgiving now, his first holiday back home.