wrap it up

i always try to do something special each year when it comes to wrapping my presents.  i like for people to know that i put a lot of thought into wrapping their very special gifts.  last year when i was working with the hospitality company i was really busy during christmas and pretty much a slacker when it came to wrapping my gifts.  i think the extent of my special wrapping was using a wide ribbon…not so special, right?  this year i’m still pretty busy but i’m going to make time to wrap my presents with care.

i’ve been browsing my favorite online spots to see what ideas are out there.  burlap is huge in the design world right now and i think that these gifts wrapped in burlap are quite lovely.

 

i think that tags and bows are the areas that you can be most creative with your gifts.   using your special someone’s initial for a tag is a really cute idea.

 

i would feel so special if i got a gift with this tag on it.  it’s so easy to make too.  just type out your message, print it, cut it out and apply some double-sided table to the backside.  use pinking shears to cut out the tag.  that would make it even better.

take a look at these cupcake carnation bows.  martha you always have the best ideas.

a great way to incorporate your kids into gift wrapping is to let them make the wrapping paper.  take a look at the gifts below.

if you can bake try baking gingerbread name tags. 

this package is so beautiful but i’m not sure i’ll have that much time on my hands.  looks like it would take quite a while.

here are just a few others that caught my eye.

 

 

how do you wrap your gifts?  do you use gift bags? do you have a theme each year?  do you tie an ornament onto your bow? let me know.

**photo credits – southern living and martha stewart

LiveJournal Tags: christmas,gift wrap,southern living,martha stewart living,burlap

holiday color scheme

i hope all of you had a wonderful thanksgiving.  i sure did.  mine was filled with family, fun and lots of food. 

i put my christmas tree up on wednesday night and i love having my house decorated for christmas.  while i was at target over the weekend picking up a few extra decorations i took a stroll through the home decor section and found a few christmas decorations that caught my eye.  it was mainly the colors that caught my eye. 

i’m in love with the color scheme.  if i hadn’t already decorated my tree in red, black and white then i would have definitely opted for this color scheme of fern, light olive, oyster, pearl, silver and wood tones.

maybe some of you haven’t decorated yet and can use it instead of me.  send pics if you do.

happy monday!

LiveJournal Tags: target,christmas decorating,thanksgiving,color scheme

Can't Complain

Now that we are in the thankful spirit, let's remember that complaining is a sort of reverse thankful spirit. Complaining only serves to remind of us of how bad we think we have it. But we must remember the others of the world. The world is not just made of us and the people we interact with.

I came upon this letter that serves as a wonderful reminder of just how good we really have it. Read it and see if you don't feel like the luckiest person alive.

Dear Sisters,

“Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Philippians 2:14

How I hear these Words in my mind over and over, especially when I want to do one or the other. Mostly the complaining part. So within the last year I have had this imaginary conversation with a woman from the mid 1800’s; and when I am tempted to complain, rather than to thank God for His many goodnesses, I say this silently to her in her era:

How can I complain when I can hold the whole counsel of God in my hands and read it any time I want?

How can I complain when I can go to the sink and hot and cold water pours out for me at the flick of my wrist?

How can I complain when at the push of a button I can have instant heat on my stove?

How can I complain when it takes me minutes to load my washer and at the push of a button all the work is done for me?

How can I complain when I can get into my car and be at a market within 15 minutes?

How can I complain when I can have hot or cold air piped into my car while driving?

How can I complain when I can listen to the most beautiful music while driving?

How can I complain when I can see the doctor or the dentist on the same day I am suffering?

How can I complain when I can write a letter and send it to be received on the same day I sent it?

How can I complain when the shelves are so full of good things at my supermarket?

How can I complain when I can buy clothes cheaper than the cost of just the thread at garage sales and thrift shops?

How can I complain when I can turn on this machine called a vacuum and it sucks up all the dirt for me in my house?

How can I complain when I can sleep in front of a fan in the hottest time of summer?

How can I complain when I can go to the air conditioned library in the summer and use their computers for free?

How can I complain when I can talk to my mother in another state on a moment’s notice over a hands free phone?

How can I complain when I can soak away my aches and pains in hot water piped right into my tub?

How can I complain when I don’t have to use an outhouse, rather a lovely bathroom right inside my home?

How can I complain when I have this big above ground pool right in my backyard to jump into when it is so hot?

How can I complain when I have a closet full of clothes for my whole family?

How can I complain when I can turn on my t.v. and learn a whole new recipe from a celebrated chef for free?

How can I complain when I can buy canned food for my winter pantry already canned for me?

How can I complain when I can lay fully back in my chaise lounge chair on a heating pad when I am ill?

How can I complain when I want to go to a concert that I can listen to it right in my kitchen on a CD?

How can I complain when at the flick of a switch I can light up a whole room?

How can I complain?

How can I possibly complain?

“For if a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness…I say that a stillborn child is better than he…though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, even if he lives a thousand years twice – but has not seen goodness.” Eccl. 6:3-6

How can I complain when every day is such Sweet Sabbath Rest with Him?

Love,
Laine

Let's be thankful for all the little things we take for granted that are huge things to other people. I hope y'all had an amazing and special Thanksgiving!

xoxo

my first guest blog is up

i’m guest blogging for the first time today over at the blog bargains in buckhead.  bargains in buckhead is a local atlanta blog and anna and claire give tons of tips for saving money around town.  stop by and check it out if you get a chance.  it’s my first time doing a video for a blog too.  it took a lot of takes but i finally got it done.  the guest post is about bargain christmas decorating ides.  hopefully you’ll find some that you can use.  click here to go directly to the post.

i’m signing off for the week to enjoy time with my family during the thanksgiving holiday.  i hope you and yours have a very happy thanksgiving.  eat lots of good food, and have fun with your family and friends.  see you back here on monday.

image – here

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

LiveJournal Tags: bargains in buckhead,guest blog,christmas

make your own bar, my sangria recipe & a winner

thanks to everyone who entered a comment to win the giveaway of the book the comfortable home.  i really enjoyed reading your comments about the most comfortable part of your homes.  the lucky winner of the autographed book is….

 

comment number 16, camille r. from the etsy shop blue dogwood stuidos.  congratulations camille! 

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planning a party this holiday season….don’t know what to do about not having a bar….no worries.  create one.  here’s how. 

grab a console table, desk or small dining table and set it up like either of these.

both images – domino

beautiful right?

and here’s a great link if you are trying to figure out how to stock your bar for your party.  it tells you exactly what and how much to buy.  click here to go directly to the site.

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here’s my own personal sangria recipe for you to add to the mix.  it’s so yummy.

cristi’s festive sangria

ingredients:

-2 bottles of red wine (merlot) or white wine (chardonnay).  don’t  buy expensive wine.  i always buy the cheapest biggest bottles.  with all the other yummy ingredients no one will be able to tell that it’s cheap wine.  swear.

-juice from 1-2 lemons

-juice from 3-4 oranges or 6-8 tangerines

-juice from 1 lime

-4 1/2 Tbsp. sugar

-2 “liberal” shots of vodka (i use raspberry flavored vodka)

-1 small can of chopped pineapple

-2-3 cups of ginger ale

-3-4 tangerines sliced or 1-2 oranges sliced (skin included)

-strawberries – as many as you want

-secret ingredient: my extra special, super-secret ingredient is a dash of cinnamon.  the cinnamon makes it oh so good.  you’ll have everyone wondering why it tastes so good.

preparation:

-pour both bottles of wine into a large pitcher or bowl and squeeze the juices from your citrus fruits into the wine.  (make sure you don’t let any seeds into the mixture.) stir.  add sugar, cinnamon, vodka and extra fruit.  ***the amount that i have shown is just a guide.  you can add as little or as much fruit and vodka as you would like.*** chill for a few hours or for the best results chill overnight.

when you are ready to serve pour in ginger ale and stir.  add ice to wine glass and pour.  top with choice of fresh fruit.

***for easy transportation just pour the sangria mix, minus the fruit and ginger ale, back into your empty wine bottles.  once you get to your party pour everything back into your pitcher and serve.***

you’re going to love it!

xoxo,

cristi

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LiveJournal Tags: bar,party,domino,recipe,sangria

mod meadow studios

on saturday this past weekend i went to the indie craft experience(ice) holiday spectacular 2009 at ambiance plus studio.  the indie craft experience is pretty much an etsy art show.  it’s wonderful.  each booth is filled with hand-made crafts from jewelry to artwork.  it’s the perfect place to get unique one-of-a-kind christmas gifts.

my good friend tanya owns a company called mod meadow studios and she had a booth at the ice-atlanta spectacular. 

tanya is an amazing jewelry artisan and artist as well as a great interior designer.  i met tanya a few years ago when we worked together for the same design firm.   she was just starting to build her jewelry and artwork company but now she has a full line of both jewelry and artwork.

her jewelry line is filled with unique stones, felt and vintage finds.  each piece has a style all its own.

i loved how she styled these rings in little birds nests.  they were so sweet.

 

she also hung necklaces off of bird cages with painted birds in them.  she did a great job styling her booth.

i love tanya’s artwork line.  it’s so funky and fun.  perfect for children’s rooms.

 

tanya also makes these amazing faux cupcakes that look good enough to eat.  they are completely fake but you’d never know by looking at them.

 

tanya accepts custom orders, and she also is available for jewelry parties in the atlanta area.

if you want to check out mod meadow studio's website click here.

if you want to check out mod meadow studio’s etsy site click here.

LiveJournal Tags: mod meadow studio,indie craft experience,christmas,jewelry,art,handmade

I'm a fabric addict

I'm so loving this new quilt store I found. I can go in there and spend hours just looking at the colors and patterns, dreaming of all the quilts I could make...if I knew how to quilt. But I did start making a little something.

After probably half a year of wanting to make a patchwork camera strap for my DLSR, I just jumped in a did it. That's the thing with me and crafts. I can't plan and plot and conjure up all these schemes. It will take me forever. I just have to jump in and do it.

And I did just that.

I see a lot of these under the tree this year.... ;)

Happy Monday, y'all!
xoxo

the comfortable home and a giveaway

i finally got a chance to sit down over the weekend and read the new book by mitchell gold and bob williams, the comfortable home: how to invest in your nest and live well for less.  i have to say that it is easy to read and also very easy on the eyes.  beautiful interiors grace the entire book.

mitchell and bob have simplified the process of designing a home and provided a wonderful step-by-step “how to” guide to help all readers create a comfortable, livable home. 

they start the book off by explaining easy ways to plan for decorating your space.  they also give tips from measuring to color selection to accessorizing. 

once they’ve gotten you started they take you through room-by-room chapters where they give helpful hints for perfecting each room.  they provide space plan examples for the different rooms and also provide suggested pairings to help you create a particular overall look. 

although each chapter discusses a different room there are many tips that can be used in any room of your house. 

my favorite parts of the book are the “homes we love” sections spread throughout the book.  they highlight different homes and define the styles of each home as well as feature numerous pictures.  the modern cottage home is by far my fave.

  the revitalized ranch comes in at a close second.

 

the comfortable home is a great book for someone who needs a little extra help when it comes to designing their home.  it’s also a wonderful book for those who don’t need help but love to look at beautiful homes.

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now for the giveaway!

last week mitchell gold + bob williams sent me a complimentary copy of the book to give away to one of my readers.  while i was at the book release party at the mitchell gold + bob williams showroom i got mitchell and bob to sign the book.

if you would like to win this book simply leave a comment on this post and let me know what room in your home is the most comfortable room to you.  i’ll choose the winner by using random.org.  the contest will start today sunday, november 22nd and will run through tuesday, november 24th at midnight.  i’ll announce the winner on wednesday the 25th. {this giveaway is now closed}

good luck to all of you!!!

LiveJournal Tags: mitchell gold + bob williams,the comfortable home: how to invest in your nest and live well for less,book,giveaway

Churchill Winners!!

I'm so sorry  I am finally getting around to this. As you can imagine, the holidays have been keeping me busy. I've had so much around the house to catch up on after being sick for almost 2 1/2 weeks. I don't even want to think about the laundry pile that is slowly getting smaller or the fridge that is practically empty.

Anyway, on to the winners!

The winner of Swag Bundle #1 is.... LISA W. from Valdosta, GA.

The winner of Swag Bundle #2 is...ANNA S. from Germantown, TN

The winner of Swag Bundle #3 is...KATHLEEN F. from Charlotte, NC

Winners, please contact me! Again, thank you SO much to all the winners and those who donated to the swag bundles. Y'all are amazing! :) From the bottom of my heart, thank you, thank you! I plan on calling SA Animal Services tomorrow to see how Churchill is doing. I will report anything I find! :)

xoxo

Jennifer