White Christmas with red accents: how to get this look

 

Can you believe we’re already a week into December?

Is it just me? But this season feels like it’s zooming by.

After Thanksgiving weekend I was on a mad rush to get the house cleaned again (when do college guys stop leaving messes!) decorated for Christmas, and finally ready for the official For Sale sign. And I’m happy to tell you it’s all done.

Finally—yes-I-said-FINALLY—our house is on the market. I know. Nothing like waiting for the toughest month of the year to sell our home. But our Open House was Sunday and at last I have a quiet moment to sit down at my computer and show you how things are looking around here.

This is my Christmas dining room.

 

I had so much fun setting this red and white tablescape for our Open House …and I thought I’d show you how I did it. Just in case you’re looking for some decorating ideas.

A White Christmas with Red Accents

I originally saw this idea in Country Living Magazine a few years back and I never forgot it. Does that ever happen to you? You see some image you absolutely love and you think, “I’ve got to do that!”  Well since it’s my last Christmas in this house I thought it was a perfect time to create my own version.

 

 First I bought these little Christmas tins at Hobby Lobby and spray painted them red.

BEFORE

AFTER

But unfortunately these particular tins leaked water so next time I’m using regular soup cans instead. In the meantime I lined these tins with Ziploc bags that I trimmed to fit. So far no leaking. I just put the carnations into water but you could also use floral foam inside the tins if you want the flowers to appear more arranged.

 

For my centerpiece I planted Rosemary inside an old urn that was in the patio. I brushed it with some leftover paint and I went to the The Graphic Fairy where I downloaded two copies of this JOY image, and used Mod Podge to apply the image on both sides of the urn.

In case you don’t know, you can ‘age’ any image by brushing it lightly using a sepia ink pad or soaking it in coffee.

This time I used coffee.

I bought these little floral tubes at the floral supply store and I simply stuck them into the dirt. I filled each one with water before popping in the carnation.

The tablecloth is white. I laid crocheted doilies and ‘snow’ down the center and I loved how the doilies resembled snowflakes.

I really wish you could see this table in person. You can get big drama by choosing flowers in one hue and these simple, red carnations look so stunning against a white backdrop.

 And the best part is, these red flowers will make perfect party favors for your dinner guests.

 little details matter

none of these touches are expensive…you probably have most of these items already.

…mason jars filled with candles, cranberries and holly

…adding seasonal candy to your flower arrangements

 

…winding garland and ribbon in your chandelier

 

…sprucing up your chairs with Santa hats or you might tie a single bulb hanging from a grosgrain ribbon

and how about a hot chocolate bar on a side table?

This is so easy to do. I draped white fabric, snow and white lights on my sideboard. I used glass canisters for the goodies and a little blackboard I bought at Michael’s Crafts Store.

It looks so pretty at night.

 

 

Well…what do you think?

did I give you any ideas you can use?

I sure hope so.

Don’t forget to stop back for my Holiday Tour. I’ve got lots of pictures to show you.

And while I’m relieved to have the house finally ready to sell so my life can get back to normal,  I have to admit, we all have mixed feelings. Moving out of our family home will definitely be hard.

Life is sure interesting.

How is your December going?

xo

Leslie

 

I’m linking this post up with these friends:

• http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/2013/12/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no191.html 
• http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/12/194th-inspire-me-tuesday.html
• http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/12/the-scoop-96.html

 

 

Technorati Tags: christmas dining room ideas,holiday decorating,decorating with red carnations,white christmas with red accents,cottage christmas tips,christmas tablescape ideas

the easiest Thanksgiving centerpiece ever…

 

Simple.

That’s what I’m in the mood for lately. After all this work getting the house ready to sell, this year’s Thanksgiving tablescape is all about ease. Hmm…let’s see….

a few pumpkins collected from around the house. Check.

a runner already on the table. Check.

sticks and leaves from a walk. Check.

Ok, do you see where I’m going with this post? In case you’re interested in a quick, easy centerpiece too… here’s what my table ended up looking like:

Placecards are made from two twigs and a leaf

fresh Eucalyptus from a vase in my kitchen

is laid down the center of the table

over a piece of paisley and gold flecked burlap

Creamy white pumpkins, fresh pomegranates, gilded pinecones, dried artichokes, and berries from the ground are piled around the leaves

mason jars that I sprinkled with gold glitter hold candles with blessings tied around them

plain  grapevine wreaths around white napkins

 

and my inexpensive dishes from TJ Maxx look more special next to gold chargers

 

See how easy this centerpiece is?

You can use orange pumpkins if you like those better… I just didn’t have any around.

and you can exchange the pinecones with gourds

 

By the way, if you’re looking for a new dessert recipe for your Thanksgiving dinner I recently made this Pumpkin Cheesecake with Pecan- Praline topping and it was absolutely delicious!

In the meantime, I’m wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

 

And if you have college kids traveling the roads ( as I do) I know we will all breathe a sigh of relief gratitude when they walk in the door safe and sound.

 

xo

Leslie

 

Technorati Tags: easiest Thanksgiving centerpiece ever,holiday entertaining,DIY,rustic and elegant

a love letter to My Body during the holidays…

 

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My dear Body

This is long overdue, an apology of sorts. A moment of reaching out with an olive branch and bowing my head and yes, acknowledging my blatant insensitivity. The silent harshness that I seem to reserve for only you.

Will you hear me out? On behalf of my sisters everywhere?

Because we women are such paradoxical creatures, so capable of tremendous nurturing and care for others and yet when it comes to you, we have the ability to remain so frighteningly cold and detached;

with You we are different

we force food in

some of us force food out

we push you to the point of depletion

we malnourish you with excess sugars and processed foods

and ignore your quiet signals

we treat you as an object to be manipulated and changed, pinched and squeezed and ultimately branded with dissatisfaction. We view you as a project. A body that is never enough. Never thin enough, never firm enough, never quite ready enough to wear a bathing suit on the beach with unabashed self confidence

I am sorry for

standing you under ugly, florescent lights and demanding that you fit into clothing that hangs perfectly on bizarre looking mannequins with 12-year-old body types and enormous breasts.

and for shaming your tender, soft, parts when they struggle to fit into sizes that are mass produced and clearly do not recognize your specialness.  Your soft, fleshy hips that held my beautiful boys for years. Your strong legs that have carried me with unflinching dependability through all my life’s losses and joys only occasionally hinting, with sore knees, that it’s been a long journey. And still, I disparage these same legs with they are in skinny jeans.

Forgive me for my relentless, critical eye which views you through the lens of air-brushed celebrities and fashion magazines that celebrate body types only seen in less than ten percent of the female population.

I apologize for those weak moments when I succumb to this dishonest brand of female beauty.

A beauty without flaws. No smile lines or wiggly parts or signs of cellulite.

Because this affects my relationship with you. It makes me look into the mirror and focus immediately on your imperfect-ness instead of seeing the whole person. My complexity, my smarts, my creativity, my loud, goofy laugh.

And all the while you are still there. My friend and warrior against illness,

my one and only Body.

waiting patiently for a wisdom that comes from a deeper place.

So as the holidays approach I will strive to treat you better.

I pledge to slow down and listen to you. To wait until I hear the rumblings of emptiness that tell me you’re ready for food. I will choose to be grateful for the sensation of fullness instead of guilty.

I will work to recognize the difference between feeling stuffed with food and being stuffed with emotions.

And I will remember this simple truth; people put food into their mouths for two reasons, because they are hungry for food or because they are hungry for something else. And it is up to me to know what I am truly hungry for at any given moment.

In hurried times I pledge to feed you crunchy, raw foods that come from the earth not because I want to you to look a certain way but because I love you…

because I want you to be emboldened with energy and vitality and because

you, my dear Body are the container of all that is precious about me,

my feelings, my life story, my future, the essence of my Soul…

You are me and I am You

and it is impossible for me to be a confident woman without a deep, abiding bond with you.

We are life travelers you and I, so during the holidays let us be best friends

When life gets stressful I pledge to go into nature for a walk that has nothing to do with calories and everything to do with getting in touch with my feelings. I will remember that I cannot change my relationship with food until I change my relationship with others.

And when I’m engaging in mindless eating instead of feeling bad I will look for unrealistic expectations in my life. I will beware of the “shoulds” I may be imposing on myself. And the unspoken expectations I may have of others. I will say “No” without guilt. I will set limits that restore harmony to my daily life.

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I will seek out ways to care for myself. I will use techniques such as this one: I will put my hand over my heart and use the power of my own touch to calm myself, because research tells us that human touch slows down our body’s stress response. And when accompanied by soothing self talk such as, “This is really difficult now, but this too shall pass,” I can choose serenity.

During the holidays I will banish “fat talk” from my surroundings and I will speak up when I hear a family member make comments about a person’s body or weight in my home.

I will exercise when it feels good and stop when it doesn’t

I will write down one thing my body did well each day and offer kindness in return,

(examples: stretching, yoga class, massage, lotions, hot bath)

I will examine my expectations of my child’s appearance and instead of body comments I will re-focus on their unique qualities and talents. Comments directed at their whole person.

 

I will be open to using helpful “tools” that move me toward self knowledge like this hunger chart.

I will seek out material that is grounded in reality

like this refreshing post: What People Really Look Like

And if things get too hard… and I find myself struggling with feelings of sadness and hopelessness I will immediately seek help from a professional. Because in case you’ve never been to a good therapist,

This is why therapy rocks

(I couldn’t have said it better)

Now here’s a question for you, my reader.

When was the last time you looked in the mirror

and thought, “I love my body.”

 

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*This post is dedicated to all the courageous eating disorder women that I once worked with.

 

 

I’m sharing this post at these special places:

http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2013/11/inspiration-monday-guest-hostesses-and.html 

http://www.dwellings-theheartofyourhome.com/2013/11/amaze-me-monday-34.html?

http://www.theviewfromfiveten.com/2013/11/life-created-tuesdays-link-party-12.html

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/11/the-scoop-94.html

 

 

Technorati Tags: women's issues,body image,holiday eating,a love letter to my body,self care,eating disorders,my other life,memoir

this is what I’ve been doing…

Last night I was laying in bed thinking about the blog title I should use for this post.

First I thought about My Fall Home Tour. Only I wonder if I’m too late for that post since I’m already hearing Christmas music in the stores

(Can you believe that? And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet! Please tell me.Whatever happened to enjoying each season?)

OK side rant finished.

I also thought this was a nice title: A few of my Favorite Changes.

Because I do have lots of updated house projects to show you and I really like how things are looking around here.

 

But somehow nothing captures these last crazy, whirlwind weeks. Maybe Nesting on Steroids? Hmm… too strange? Well the truth is, I still can’t believe it’s already been more than a month since we decided to move and do you know what?

I’ve still got my sleeves rolled up and I’m still checking off projects from my list. Yep.

 

(I found this toile fabric in the back of my cupboard and sewed these pillows. Kirsten- -a BFF  and our realtor-- told me I needed color on my couch)

De-cluttering, organizing, painting, fixing, sewing, hot gluing…It’s true that some of these projects are required for selling our home, but honestly, some of the styling and extra touches are simply because it’s me. It’s how I express myself… I guess I just like to make pretty rooms.

Magnolia leaves and oranges ( inside my old window box)

replacing the apples, berries and candles..

The funny thing is, even though I’m incredibly busy I’m not harried. Instead, I seem to be having a lot of contented moments while being immersed in my projects. The best part of this kind of busy work is that it allows me time for reflection.

 

 

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I’m totally aware that this strange, transitional time happens to be my Life right now.

So I’m actually trying to relish it all. Even this in-between period with all its unknowns.

Now each day in my home feels special; I’m conscious of the warm, comfy feeling I have inside these walls because I know I’m leaving them soon.

“Letting go” of something does that. It transforms us from within. It’s like wiping our smudgy glasses and putting them back on; suddenly ordinary things in our life appear larger and colored with meaning as if our vision has been affected. But it’s really our hearts that have been changed.

I feel this way with my parents. All of a sudden, a mundane trip to Home Depot or a cup of coffee over my kitchen island feels like a tender, picture-worthy moment. So I’m taking more IPhone photos lately because it’s the simple things I don’t want to forget. Do you know what I mean?

When we look back on our time with our friends and family, have you noticed that it’s the tiny moments that stand out in our minds? A certain facial expression. Something that was uttered during a random conversation. A shared moment of laughter. The way someone said your name.

Whatever is happening in your life, I hope you try to be fully present in it because there’s a whole lot of special moments in both the good and the bad times--that offer us the chance to grow into something different. A slower, wiser version of who we are now.

“I’m just happy to be here.”  I saw this on a bumper sticker and it’s my new mantra. Bumper sticker wisdom. Isn’t it great?

My big regret lately is that I’ve been away from the computer for long stretches of time and it’s  hard to keep up with my blogging. And I miss it. I miss all of you.

So.

How do you catch up with an old friend? Let’s see. If we were sitting over a steaming cup of coffee I could simply tell you what I’ve been doing but since we’re in front of a screen, how about I just show you what’s been keeping me busy?

Patrick’s old room updated.  Here’s the pillow I sewed after I fell in love with this fabric.

 

Yesterday I made this magnolia wreath to hang on the window since I don’t have curtains in here. I had no idea what I was doing….

but fresh Magnolia leaves + hot glue gun + old burlap wreath =

this

I love Magnolia leaves don’t you?

Here’s Michael’s old room-Before photo

After photo

I actually had those celadon green curtains folded in my linen drawer from another decorating phase of mine. I finally know what it means to “shop your home” for new stuff. It’s amazing what I’m finding.

For the other side of Michael’s room, I needed a lamp to go next to a chair

so I turned this old, yucky thing from this into this:

courtesy of a can of spray paint and a new shade

I gave these three walls a fresh new coat of touch up paint in the upstairs attic room.

 

I made this moss green letter “H”….

to get ready for Christmas…

( I promise to show you how I made this)

I stained this stool and plank wood a dark walnut to finish styling my Master bathroom. (I’ll show more photos later)

 

I planted my Paperwhites. Two entire packs of them in this metal container …

because I like this look.

The only problem is.. I hate tossing out old plants and since I still had a little ivy plant in my container  I decided to make a quick topiary with a clothes hanger.

 

 

 

my clothes hanger topiary…

 

Oh my goodness. I have SO much more to share but I’ve already put too many pictures in this post. I’ll be writing more now that I’m winding down on these house projects…Only a few more things and we’re ready to list it.

Right now I’m loving number seven on this list.

Which one is grabbing your attention?

xoxo

Leslie

 

I’m sharing this post with these friends:

http://www.stonegableblog.com/2013/11/the-scoop-93.html#more

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/2013/11/191st-inspire-me-tuesday.html

 

 

Technorati Tags: Fall decorating,home styling,letting go