Holiday Open House Pics

Since I am not a black friday/Thanksgiving weekend shopper, I stay home and open my house to my local customers for holiday shopping. My entry, dining room and living room are filled with pretty things to buy. I have Christmas music playing, a candle burning, and coffee and goodies. I love this weekend because I get to play store. This time, my kids were all involved in the process, unpacking boxes, pricing and displaying. We all had fun working together and they were thrilled to receive some $$ for their hard work. Even my youngest helped hang the ornaments on the tree. Here are some pics of my displays and some new products too!

A table top tree in the dining room with burgandy hydrangeas and white feather birds.

A corner of the living room. The aqua oval frames are new and will be listed this week.

Another corner of the living room.

A pink and silver display.

Love this color combo of bronze, cream and aqua.

Some sweet little bird's nest ornaments I made this weekend.

I would also love to tell you about a new and exciting online Holiday Catalog created by

Make Mine Pink.

Click on the pic below!

And for more inspiring holiday home pics and ideas, visit Melissa's blog at The Inspired Room!

Christmas at Make Mine Pink - Pink Friday!

We are still going strong will Christmas listings at Make Mine Pink. So if you're like me, not choosing to fight the Black Friday crowds. Check out the boutiques' Pink Friday offerings here.

Today I have marked all larger Christmas wreaths and arrangements 10% Off! Check out my listings here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I would like to wish all of my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am looking forward to tomorrow, all I have to be thankful for, and the food, the family, and rest. I am not hosting Thanksgiving so it won't be a ton of work for me. I will be making the Mashed Turnips with Crispy Shallots, see HERE for recipe. And Pilgrim Hats for the kids, see the recipe HERE.

Photo from Family Fun

I am also thankful for the friends that have nominated me for the Marie Antoinette award, that I have taken forever to post. I am horrible at doing what I'm supposed to do with these awards, but appreciate it very much!

Thank you for the nominations from:

Janet - She makes such fun and beautifully creative pillows!

Georgia - Home of "Big Bottom Bags" and vintage linens.

Melissa - Owner of the beautiful new website the Casual Cameo.

Katie - What a beautiful selection of home decor and gifts!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

It's Pink Friday Again!

Wow, this week really flew. I haven't posted since last Friday and it feels like yesterday. Come visit the participating shops at Make Mine Pink for their Christmas offerings for Pink Friday.

In honor of the event, I am giving away a Free Bottle Brush Wreath Ornament with each purchase from my site on Friday November 21st while supplies last. Browse my Pink Friday items here.

Christmas at Make Mine Pink

There's something so magical about the holidays. As you walk past a neighbor's home and catch a glimpse of a tree lit through their window, or the faint glow of a candle through the frosted glass, you can only imagine what lies beyond. Images from our own holidays are readily available to fill in the blanks. It's mysterious, it's magical, it's toasty warm fires and mulled cider. This month, the members of Make Mine Pink will share glimpses into their homes and shops with you. From favorite finds, to treasured recipes and special gift wrap how ideas, we'll have something for everyone. Please come join us each Friday as we open our hearts and homes to you.

Quoted by Joyce Lucas, Make Mine Pink

New Christmas Pretties!

I was busy this weekend creating, photographing and listing. Hope you like the new Christmas decor on my site. I am working on pieces in all colors. So if you like traditional burgandy and green, or cream and pink with lots of sparkle, there is something for everyone! I'm on a roll so check in often for the best selection.

It's also Show and Tell Monday at Make Mine Pink! Be sure to visit their blogs to see what they have been up to.

Christmas Already?

I know it's only November 1st, but let's face it, the stuff has been in the stores for weeks already. I started listing some of my Christmas decor for 2008, just in time for the MMP Twelve Days of Christmas Shop Hop. During the event from November 2nd through November 13th, all Christmas on my site will be 10% off .New treasures will be added to my site between now and December 15th, so check back often! There will be handmade ornaments, xmas tussies, centerpieces and wreaths. I love creating for the season but I am always just a little behind since I can't really get into the mood until after Halloween!

PINK FRIDAY "It's In the Basket"

This is a fun one and a creative one too. Click here to see what the girls at Make Mine Pink are offering for this special pink shopping day. Click here to see my products. Have fun shopping!

Twelve Days of Christmas - Shop Hop

It starts this Sunday so get ready to start searching! There will be great prizes for this event. Click here for more info.

Fall Cooking

One of my favorite parts about the fall and the cooler weather is all of the great food that goes along with it. The soups, chilis, breads and pumpkin spice flavors. Cooking is something that I love to do and have to do. Although, it gets very hard during the week with the kids after school schedules, and of course everything happening during dinner time. But I refuse to give in to that and go for fast food or take out (only if I'm desperate). Besides, my kids really do love to eat home cooked food. I also include them in the preparation of the meals. My oldest is an excellent baker, so we always have great desserts thanks to her. My second one loves to cook and can't walk passed the stove without stirring and he makes a great risotto. My third guy is showing interest too and his specialty is guacamole. And finally, the 4yr old is my vegetable washer and she loves her job! So even if it means starting dinner at 2:00 in the afternoon so that we have something good to eat when we walk in from the soccer field, it's something that is very important to our family. I usually double the recipes I make so that we have enough for 2 nights. However, sometimes the kids enjoy it so much that it doesn't make it a 2nd night. Oh well, I can't complain, they are eating healthy and loving it!

This recipe for Lentil Soup with Beef is one I made the other night. I doubled it and had enough for 2 nights of dinner and 3 lunches the third day. I served it with Broccoli Rabe toast. I sauteed two bunches of blanched broccoli rabe in olive oil and fresh garlic place on top of slices Italian bread that I first had my son brush with olive oil (they're great for jobs like that) and then placed a slice of mozzarella on top of each and put under the broiler for just a few minutes. I find that my kids really take pride in their part of cooking the meal and my hope is, they take what they learn in the kitchen and cook for my husband and I one day. Let me know if you try these recipes. Enjoy!

Pink Friday "Coming Up Roses"

Please join us for Pink Friday at Make Mine Pink. This week's theme is "Coming Up Roses".

Click here for my specials for Friday only!

Fall Porch Decorating

I have always been one to decorate more for the fall than for Halloween.

Until my kids got older and complained it wasn't scary enough. So we added a huge spider, some webs, an ugly rat and on the night of Halloween I put out a flying bat and turn on the fog machine. They love it!

Every year, one of my neighboors carves these amazing pumpkins. Here are a few pics I thought you might like.

For more fall porch decorating, head over to Melissa's at The Inspired Room.

Retreat Report-Part Two

I can't believe it's over 3 weeks ago that I was on Amtrak on my way to the MMP retreat. We had so much fun over the four days I was there and would love to tell you a little about it. The first night, those of us that had already arrived were able to gather in the hospitality suite (which was available to us the whole trip). This is where we could get together in between all of our planned events.

The first event - Meet and Greet on Friday night. We were given the famous SWAG bags. And we met out on the patio for some amazing desserts and enjoyed the beautiful weather. It was so much fun to guess who was who!

Business Recognition Award set up - Friday night.

Holy cow - I knew we had some talented ladies attending, but these displays were over the top gorgeous. Our lucky winner Eileen of Forget Me Not Dreams has lots of great pics of the displays on her blog. Check them out!

Conference day - Saturday

The conference was amazing - so much information and lots of great food too! I learned so much that day and am still going over all of my notes. Can't wait to see what all of this knowledge is going to do for all of our businesses. My favorite speakers were Lena West of Xynomedia and Alan Thompson our professional photographer. Lena gave us so much info about social media and she is so easy to listen to. I saw her speak in Chicago at the Country Living event and was so excited to hear she was going to be our keynote.

The Extreme Pink Gala - Saturday Night

Joyce - the amazing owner of Make Mine Pink

and Sharon her amazing assistant of C'est Chouette

Katie (Joyce's amazing daughter), Me and Melissa (Joyce's other amazing daughter)

They put so much hard work into this event, making every detail perfect. Thank you girls!

Inka of Inkling's Designs won the Pink Bling t-shirt and tennie contest. Congrats Inka!
Joyce with the Business Recognition Award winner Eileen of Forget Me Not Dreams.

Very emotional! Congrats Eileen!

Congratulations to Joyce and her family for an amazing and very successful First Annual! For more pics from this super event click here.
Can't wait until next year!

*All Photos taken by Alan Thompson

Pink October Shop Hop!

It begins today. I just checked out the prizes - holy cow - too bad I am not eligible to win! This is a fun and easy contest - check out the rules and details here.

Pink Friday "Office Chic"

Click here for my "Office Chic" products.

Visit the Pink Friday page at Make Mine Pink for more "Office Chic" shopping!

When you look around your office, what do you see? Most office furniture is drab utilitarian, designed for function, but not beauty. The good news is, with a little imagination and the right props, you can create a chic office space that can be more than just an office, it can be respite just for you. It's all in the accessories. Add a chandelier, a floral display, pretty fabric organizers, chic storage boxes stacked in the corner, perhaps even a pretty, slip covered chair and ottoman. Awaken your senses - listen to the rustle of silk curtains blowing in the breeze, feel the smoothness of a hand painted desk, smell the scent of a flickering candle, gaze upon a basket of colorful ribbons while doing the most tedious of tasks. Make your office so much more than just an office. Let it be your sanctuary, your inspirational spot to create, a quiet place to write a letter to a friend, a place to get lost in a Victorian novel, a place to listen to music or maybe just a place to feed your soul.
by Joyce Lucas @ Make Mine Pink

Pink October and Make Mine Pink!

Our Friends, Our Neighbors, Our Mothers, Our Sisters, Our Daughters, Our Customers, Ourselves…
Breast cancer knows who our friends and family are and still attacks without discretion.At Make Mine Pink, we wish to honor all those we know and love who have been affected by this disease. Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the leader of the global breast cancer movement. For the past few years MMP has participated in Pink October in various ways, this year Make Mine Pink has created a team at “Passionately Pink” to join Susan G Koman’s fundraising efforts.It's passionate, because the need to end breast cancer is so urgent. It's pink; because that's the color we'll wear to accomplish our goal. Participation is simple. Just wear pink (item of clothing) on Monday, Oct. 6th and make a donation of $5 or more to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.Our Passionately Pink Donation Page is activated now, so feel free to donate anytime ... before, on or after Oct. 6th. In return, we offer our most humble Thank you! Together we can do more to promote Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.But wait! We can offer more!

For each donation of $5 or more, MMP will enter your name into two drawings, each for one most highly coveted swag bags from the recent Make Mine Pink “Getting Down To Business” Retreat. These bags are unlike any SWAG anywhere, each was created with love by your favorite Boutiques at Make Mine Pink. On October 31, MMP will draw two names from all who have donated through our “Passionately Pink” link.

Photo credits: Sharon of C'est Chouette