Happy New Year - A Year in Review

I would like to wish all of my readers a very

Happy and Healthy New Year!

Hope you enjoy the photos -My Highlights of 2009.

A new puppy! Welcome Bella.

You know I love to cook!

Completed projects at home.

A sample of my work this year. My creative outlet.

Summer memories. The East End...

Northport, LI

A favorite concert with mom.

Shades of Autumn

Merry Christmas! 

The giving....

The decorating...

And finally, an important highlight this year is being a part of this group and the NY Shelter Project. 

Thanks so much to all of my customers and friends that take the time to read my blog, get to know me and leave such beautiful comments.

 I really appreciate it!

Please visit Cindy at My Romantic Home for her

 Year in Review Party.

And make sure you stop by Melissa at The Inspired Room for her Best of 2009 Party!

And Layla at The Lettered Cottage for her "Favorite Blog Post of the Year" Party.

NYC at Christmas

Our youngest has a birthday right after Christmas. So, this year we thought it would be nice to go into the city for the Radio City Christmas show. She loved it! We go every few years and they really do change the show up so it's different and still amazing each time.

Her favorite part... the 3-d movie clip at the beginning of the show...hmm....we could have saved a bunch of money just going to a 3-d movie!

I just have to share a pic of the gorgeous tree suspended from the ceiling in the lobby of the theatre. It's made from 10,000 Swarosvski Snowflake ornaments. Isn't it gorgeous!

After the show we headed over to Ellen's Stardust Diner on Broadway for lunch. She really enjoyed this place. The waitstaff are all aspiring singers and perform in between serving their customers. They're really very good and they make a big deal when it's your bday.

Of course we had to go see "the tree" at Rockefeller and even though my daughter was not happy about it, I had to visit one of my favorites Anthropologie. 

At the end of the day she said it was the best birthday ever - except for the shopping!

Merry Christmas!

This last week has been a fun and crazy one. I was excited about the thought of being snowed in and baking all weekend when the blizzard covered our area with 2 feet of snow.  Then came Monday and a snow day for my kids and a 2 hour delay for Tuesday! I love it when they're home but my list of things to accomplish those days was reduced.

And then shopping at the most popular supermarket in town with all the great Italian specialties is always an adventure 2 days before Christmas, but the hills of snow in the parking lot and ground of ice and slush just made parking and getting to your car with your wagon full of food even more fun (ha!)

Oh and that reminds me, my husband just wrote another funny post on his blog The Honey Do Chronicles. Check it out if you can use a laugh!

So anyway, I did finish my shopping (finally) and we did a lot of baking. I love filling little tins of homemade treats for my kids' teachers. I found most of the recipes I made this year at Martha Stewart's website. I had to stop printing after 7. But they're all so good.
See my post on last year's dipped peppermint sticks here.

There is always something I had planned to do but ran out of time for and this year it's making each of my guests one of these ~ my new white dove ornaments which never even made it to the website either.
Am I the only one that has an overambitious list of things to do and make?

Now to finish up wrapping (click here some wrapping ideas) and start the cooking! Christmas is always at our house which I love but I am looking forward to resting on Saturday....

Wishing you all,
Happy Holidays
and a Merry Christmas!

Christmas - The Home Tour

Today, in between the drop offs and pick ups (I don't remember having this kind of social life when I was a kid), I finished decorating our home for Christmas.

My husband laughed at me " you would be so happy if you could just do this all day!" he says. And he's right. I'd be very happy staying home all day and making the house pretty. I really would!

So let's start with the front porch. My standard basket just changes with the seasons. Most of the porch is done in natural greenery from our own backyard. I like to mix the pine with the cedar and holly branches. For the basket I just added some faux berries for a little color and some sparkly stems too. A big bow in my new burlap ribbon and a joy ornament finishes it off.

I was sure to add some greens and vine balls (leftover stock) all over the porch.

This 3-tiered stand always gets the treatment. I needed the oversized ornaments in silver and gold for a little extra sparkle!

My glittered flying snowman - he'll be here all winter.

Some greens and vines in a pot look pretty too.

Over to my side entrance...

The gate to our yard. A greenery filled basket and pine roping. My husband just built this arbor for me this year. I love it! Something else to decorate.

Even this little wall urn received some greens and a vine ball.

Can't forget the window box.

Back to the front entrance....
Inside you find one of my first painted pieces and a favorite mirror (my husband's grandmother's).
I did mostly whites, creams and silver with a touch of red in the garland.  Some of these pieces of decor inside the house are my own and some of some of my inventory from the boutique. I display the pieces throughout my house to photograph for the site and also for my local customers. I usually do a few open house sales a year but haven't in a while as I've been busy with the website (and the kids).

More fresh cedar tucked here and there.

The bannister just wrapped in snowflake garland and a teardrop swag with a linen bow.

Look to the right, through the french doors to my living room/studio. This is my "sparkly" tree done in creams, whites, pinks and golds and anything that glitters.

To the den...

On the mantel...
We've added a mirror (from the basement) to reflect the tree and candles which I just love. I have also added some fresh greens to the "faux lit garland".

A favorite sign from my mom...

Another favorite...my snowbuddies. Aren't they cute?

And the kids favorite...the snow village. My little one loves to look inside the windows.

This last one is my one new purchase this year. A silver and glass glittered snowflake. It sits on the tabletop tree in my dining room (which is not yet decorated). Love the sparkle of this one!

I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas home tour.

Please visit Karen at Some Days are Diamonds for her Doors of Welcome party on the 15th.

Also be sure to visit the Christmas Tour of Homes at the Nesting Place.

I see there are lots of Christmas parties this week!

Check out these.

Julie at Hooked on Houses.

And Rhoda at Southern Hospitality is having a Home for the Holidays Party.

And visit all of the Christmas trees at Thrifty Decor Chick.

And here at Funky Junk Interiors.

Last but not least the party is hoppin' at The Inspired Room.

And thanks so much for Mary and Dave for featuring my porch on their website

Front Porch Ideas and More.