Object of Maya*ffection

I'll be home for Christmas....

....There was snow, ice and freezing temps BUT despite the "White Christmas" we had, almost all the family was able to make it to our place! When reviweing my pics I realized I didn't get very many of the family, the food and only a few of the presents (maybe that's because I had 2 videos hogging up my memory card) my sis has bunches that she said she'll put on disc for me...she really is the family photog!! I hope everypne had a Merry Christmas and enjoyed the festivities! We did!! Before we got started, the kids got a plate ready for Santa (with a little help from mom).... My niece Madeline....doesn't she look adorable?!?! She is saying ..."Oooohhh, I love my new slippers" Even Mommy was a good girl this year cause she got the short grey Uggs she's been coveting!!! (thank you Daddy, Maya and Miguel) I am getting a warning message from my computer, so I am logging off for now....more pictures if the festivities coming soon!!

Hot Cocoa in a bag....

Tomorrow is the last day Mickey will attend his pre-school daycare before the Christmas holiday and we wanted to give a little something special to his friends. I found these adorable drawstring (no ribbon, tape or staples needed...an easy no brainer) at our local grocery store....hmmm, what to fill them with? Any snacks given must be packed and prepared (ie no homemade treats, opened candies, etc) which is a policy I happen to love....I am kinda weird about eating homemade things from people I don't know, so this policy works out great! I have been planning these bags for over a week now and of course I wait until the last minute for fillers (the closest Dollar Store is 20 minutes away), I don't want to fill it with all candy and need something friendly on the wallet. SO, I already had a bag of the new Hot Cocoa Hershey kisses and decided to run with the theme (I LOVE themes). I came up with filling each bag with a packet of hot cocoa, a mini candy cane and a few Hershey Hot cocoa kisses....a sweeet little treat bound to be different than anything else given that moms and dads won't mind giving their kids....AND all this sweet goodness only set me back $8.75 TOTAL (that's .46 a child....as Martha would say, "it's a good thing")...Here's a pic of the yummies... "Food" for thought....

Holiday Home Tour 2008

Thank you Kimba for hosting this fun holiday home tour (it helped spark me on to finish those last few holiday touches that have been on my to-do list) and thank you all for coming by! If you have read my blog in the last week or so, some pictures may be a repeat BUT there are new ones as well....I was a picture taking fool yesterday! Christmas is my F A V O R I T E holiday...so I tend to go decorate a little more, add a few more layers...a little more ribbon... Welcome to my home....this decked for christmas vintage birdcage will be the first thing that greets you on my front porch.... I would show you my wreaths BUT I can't find my wreath suction cups that I used on the glass storm door and windows (and I can't find them out in the retail world either...any suggestions? I tried the command adhesives but the front gets so much sunlight, they fell right off...hence the no picture of the wreaths) This is the "foyer" when you enter the front door...I recently added the paper lanterns in colors of my house / holiday decorating for our annual Christmas party we will be hosting this Friday...I thought they added a fun festive touch! These are a few of my favorite ornaments from the tree in my "formal" living room...they remind me of ornaments my great grandmother had.... I LOVE leopard and had a hard time finding any leopard ornaments last year, so I made my own simply by framing some leopard wrapping paper I had on hand and hung with a gold ribbon... My guest bath is also decorated for the holidays(it was really hard to get a pic in here)... I received this leopard card and again, framed it and added the golden Noel sign... Family room.... The stocking were handmade by my mom...mine was made about 30 years ago and she has carried on the tradition with my children and husband... **** Come back later for part II of the tour (my camera died as I was in the middle of downloading the pictures) ****

Holiday Open House Tour

Mark your calendars...Tuesday December 16th stop back as I will be part of Kimba's holiday open house tour....

Santa goes wild....

...For leopard that is!! In the last post I told you I had altered Santa a little....I bought this set of mugs at the dollar store back when I was 18...so I've had them for awhile and always put them out in all their red glory....but as you can see by looking at the few pictures I have posted of my holiday decor...red just ain't it! I am loving leopard, lime green, plum, teal and terracotta (which all happen to be the colors in my home...except the leopard...there are only touches here and there). SO, I have had a hard time finding leopard that isn't cheesy or expensive (think Ballard....I LOVE their stuff, but on my new found non-existent budget, that's just not an option) so what's a girl to do? Paint your own of course! I knew this would be trial and error and at worst what did I have to lose? My $1.00 that I paid over 10 years ago? SO I took out my paints and got started....if you want a step by step, leave me a comment or message and I will get back with ya! Until then...here is the before... And AFTER.... Here are the wild men at home in my new display (found the Cookies For Santa plate while digging through the many rubbermaid containers I have)...I'm sure the display will change again before the holidays, but none the less,here it is currently! Next project on the list...altering these adorable stockins I got at JcPenny yesterday, to give them a walk on the wild side! Stay tuned!

Garland Party

The Nester will be hosting a garland party...stop by her blog and check it out! She inspired by go big or go home garland that my mantle is sporting....Remember it? If not, here's a reminder pic....everything was FREE and it was a fun challenge to put it together AND get it to stay put!

Crafting with the girls....

Last weekend I had a few girlfriends over for brunch and a craft session....and we managed to squeeze in some shopping too! My girlfriends trekked here from the city and surrounding burbs (they had about an hour drive from all directions...I always joke we are about an hour from everything) and were welcomed by a warm fire in the fireplace and cranberry chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and hash browns....we had our yummy brunch, opened gifts (we did a grab bag with each other...my gift ROCKED!! Thanks Jen...a leopard photo wallet and a leopard and zebra stackable note set...I should take a pic!). Then we made paper covered embellished candles in a jar...Here's mine... and snacked on treats the girls brought...fruit and dip, rosemary infused olive oil and french bread and a spicy cucumber dip... It was a great time and I can't wait for you girls to come back next month!! Speaking of crafting Tia and I made these fun canvases at our last crafty get together!! They are a take on the stocking canvas seen in Ballard Designs...we just went the tree route.... Tia found these great evergreen style pipe cleaners that were the base of our project....and we embellsihed with a little leopard of course! Stay tuned for the red hat Santa mug makeovers...there's a little leopard inspiration there too!

More Christmas....

Today my little guy and I were home and worked on some more Christmas decorations...We hung the stocking by the chimney with care.... Presents are under the tree...(this year we have decided to only buy for the kids due to the economy and the layoffs affecting our family directly AND I know Santa will be bringing them the Wii this year,so we didn't go overboard)... ....and after all the Holly Jolly, have a cuppa cheer at the hot chocolate station set up on the kitchen counter.... There's still lots to do, but we have a start!! It seems December has crept up on me this year...I LOVE the holidays and Christmas is my very favorite! We are hosting our annual holiday party this year and I want to go vintage Bing and Eartha...I am planning on serving martini's...any other 50's ish Christmas themes or recipes you can think of...please send them my way!