File Folder turned Planner

I was so inspired by Anita's Holiday Planner Project I got started on three different folders right away - one for my boss {who also loved the idea} and two for me {one for Christmas, one for everyday}

I finished the one for my boss first and I love how it turned out.  I labeled her four folders "receipts", "to-do", grocery list", and "coupons".

I'm going to finish my Christmas planner next and I'll show the step by step for that one.
{linking up with DIY Day @ Kimba's}

For all the RH of ATL fans...

After hemming and hawing over whether we should spend the money to upgrade from the regional coach class train to the business class express train, our decision to upgrade was rewarded with passes to the first class lounge. And what do you know, two minutes later in walks Nene and Greg Leakes. She was wearing dark sunglasses, all thin and tall and fabulous, but her husband was instantly recognizable. And for full confirmation that it was them, the desk attendant called his name over the PA system. It totally made the upgrade worthwhile.

{from realitytea.com}

I was so excited, my heart rate skyrocketed and my breathing got all quick. She is my favorite of all the ATL housewives.

I also thought it was so nice that it was just a husband and wife traveling together, no assistants, or entourage, or camera crew!

This is my second encounter with a housewife {I met Bethany from NY in Atlantic City when she was promoting her book}

at the end of the night, this was our view from the taxi waiting line.

Merry Christmas, I'm so excited that the season is officially here!!

Thanksgiving Recap

Wednesday started off as travel day.  Here is my suitcase, packed with all the craft/baking/decorating items I needed to bring {my clothes aren't even in yet and I also wound up packing my hand mixer}


We took a train from Union Station to Penn Station {DC to NY}  I was taking these pictures inside Union Station with my husband saying "what are you, a tourist?" - "nope, just a blogger"




Once, we got to my parents house, the baking began, except it kind of didn't since they were missing some essentials, like measuring cups and large mixing bowls, AAHHH!
After a quick trip to BB&B, things really got down to business.


Here are the three layers for my Butterscotch cake cooling.


My sister made homemade cranberry sauce in a can - it was sooo good.


We also got my stepmom crafting, she was making glittered artichoke candle holders {I got this idea from recaptured charm}

We all finally got to bed around midnight.

While all the "kids" {haha, we are all in our 20s} watched the parade, my parents got to work on the Turkey.  We cover ours in cheesecloth and it is soooo good.

Oddly enough, the landscapers showed up in the morning to do a fall clean-up.  I saw them cutting off branches and ran outside barefoot and in pajamas to gather branches to use on one of the buffet tables

{oops, I'm in the mirror}

We did a very simple table, with some scattered silk leaves and a pumpkin candle.


And here is one of the artichokes all lit up


And finally, the food.

The appetizer spread


Featuring a baked brie and vidalia onion dip








































Dinner was in two spots:

The Turkey, cornbread, sweet and mashed potatoes.

And then the stuffing, cranberries, and green beans

I guess I was so stuffed that I forgot to take a picture of the dessert spread.  We had Butterscotch cake, that was the most amazing, rich, decadent cake ever - two bites and I was stuffed to the gills.  My sister's pumpkin pie {I just had it for breakfast and it was so good}.  My chocolate pudding pie and walnut-brown sugar rugelach.

Since it's my blog and I reserve the right to brag - my sister and I did an amazing job with our first thanksgiving.  Everything was so good, everyone was stuffed, and I can't wait to dig into all the leftovers.

Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving too!!

A Special Martha Project

Martha Stewart and I are bff - didn't you know?  Really? Oh, she didn't know either :(

Since we don't get to sit and chat about cooking, crafting and maintaining our homes, I just read all her books and mags and watch her show on days off {or reruns}.

I've had the Homekeeping Handbook in my wishlist since it was published in 2006 and I finally bought it!

A book this special needs its very own bookmark - let's get crafting...

I used an old file folder to cut a six inch long tag on my cricut and cut a piece of scrapbook paper in the same size.

And mod-podged them together.

The bookmark was too wide, so I cut the sides off.

I added the word "home" from the Home Accent cartridge.  I still haven't mastered the cutting depth and pressure settings, so it came out a little messed up {hint - the O is missing}

But that's ok, because I layered the letters in green to make them pop.

I hope Martha is pleased.

Christmas Plaques

WARNING!WARNING!

My family is NOT ALLOWED to click "Read More..."
everyone else, please continue

Thanksgiving Week!!

Are you all as excited as I am for this week?

I have two projects coming up on Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday, my hubby and I are traveling to Long Island and once we hit my parents house the baking begins!!

Thursday we are having 15 people for thanksgiving dinner.

Friday - time to relax and spend time with the family.  We aren't big on the Black Friday sales, we usually go to the movies and I have to have pizza and chinese food.  No other city does it like the NY metro area.

I'll try to make as many pics of the cooking, table scape and all the chaos FUN of Thanksgiving dinner.

Plus:  Remember my entry table with all the nutcrackers my husband collects?  Over the summer, we finally got all of them out of his grandmother's basement and I unpacked them this weekend.  Here is our mantle:

I can't decide if it is decadent in its abundance or too cluttered.  What do you think?

there are also four 2-foot nutcrackers in front of the fire place and I added more to the entry table.

Thanksgiving Menu Cards

During the planning phase for our T-Day Dinner, Ashley and I wrote up a menu that we could show to our parents. And now I'd like to show it to you!

I started out by making the menu in Word using a cute clipart image I found and the Harrington font.  If anyone wants to make their own just comment that you would like the template.  Print and cut out the images.  They are about 3.5 inches wide. I then used a pair of decorative scissors to make a zig-zag edge.

Next, take a piece of 8x8 cardstock and cut in half.  Then trim the bottom so that you have a 1/4 inch edge on all sides.  Find some ribbon scraps and glue on the diagonal on two opposing corners.  I spread some mod-podge on each ribbon piece with a cotton swab, smoothed them onto the cardstock and trimmed the edges flush once it was dry.

Then attach your menu on top.  I used glue dots to adhere it.

You could stop right there, or if you bought fall paper and brads when target turned the dollar spot into the quarter spot (did any of you catch that sale - I was in heaven!!)  you can add some more dazzle.

Using the same leaf pattern on my cricut, I cut one at 1 inch and another on blackout at 3/4 inch.  Punch a hole on the corner of the light shade of the menu and through the leaves close to the stems - I used martha's 1/16 inch circle punch for a tiny hole.  Put the brad through the whole in the smaller leaf, then the larger and then throw the menu.  Spread the tabs in the back and your done!!

I made four cards and we are going to set them out with the food on the island and the side console at my parent's house.

I'm adding this post to DIY day at Kimba's and Show and Tell at Blue Cricket.

I'm a Winner!!

Thank you so much to Keelie at Red Writing!

I'm the Winner of her Twelve Weeks Of Christmas:  Week 6 Giveaway -

A Starbucks Giftcard, which is a-maz-ing since I am in there every single day.

Thanks Keelie!

xoxo,

Monday Snack

Chocolate-Glazed Pumpkin Cookies a la Martha!

Simple to whip up and perfect for those pumpkin cravings we are all having these days.

P.S. I'm asking Santa for a camera (my blackberry storm isn't cutting it) - any suggestions?

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I know for some it's still to early to decorate for Christmas, but I just couldn't help myself.

Here is the little table in my entryway.

My husband has been collecting nutcrackers his whole life.  Those are only a few of the many, many nutcrackers that we have.  I put together the branches tonight - I mod-podged some candycane stripe wrapping paper onto a Libby's can (cookies coming tomorrow) and stuck some floral foam inside.  I bought the branches at Michael's in 2006 but hadn't found a use for them.  I stuck those into the foam and then put some tinsel in to cover the foam.  When I have some more time, I'd like to go back and hot glue everything together and neaten the tinsel.

I made the Let It Snow cross-stitch banner over the summer - it's so cute!

That's the pot of a little table-top tree I have.  I don't love the brassy finish, so I used some metallic taupe paint to make it more my style.

Half-way done, you can see the difference in the colors.

Ahh, much better - and so cute all lit up!

Join me over at DIY Day with Kimba