Wishing you....

Hi blog friends. Are you as busy as I am? I spent the day baking cookies, wrapping presents, cleaning the house, making dinner, etc. There are many preparations, but I am loving them all. I wanted to wish you all a wonderful, happy, and healthy holiday and new year. Each and every one of you is so special. I really am thankful that you take time to visit me at my little blog. For the next two weeks, I will be spending time with my family (can't wait!), so I thought a blog holiday was also in order. I will be surfing my fav blogs and popping in on you all, but I won't be back to my blog until the first of the year. I must say I am really loving all the recipes and decorations I am seeing out there in blogland. What talent you all have! Enjoy yourselves while I am gone, and I'll see you in January. :)Happy holidays! Amy

The Best Baking Time of the Year.....

Can you smell it? There is nothing quite so wonderful as fresh-out-of-the-oven pumpkin bread with raisins and walnuts. Mmmmmm....so heavenly. I am in full baking mode here at my "lodge." My kitchen island has become the headquarters and base of operation for loads of Christmas goodies. Yesterday a lovely banana walnut bread was created, tomorrow a bunch of peanut blossom cookies. Thank goodness this time of year for large freezer space. My plan to is open up my frig. next week, and, voila, homemade goodies for everyone. I hope you are enjoying the height of baking season too. Isn't it wonderful? I'm back to the island now to make some delicious cookie dough....

Who Me?

I have to admit....he is pretty cute. "Little Sid," as we fondly refer to him, is full of holiday cheer this season and been here,there,and everywhere, especially when there is food involved. Look at that face. Who can resist those big, brown doxie eyes? It is tough, but we must try. He often sits on a couch watching me as I work on my computer. For those of you who have little dogs, you are familiar with how attached they can be to their owners. He just wanted to pop in a moment to let everyone know that he has been a good boy this year and would love a peanut butter bone (or two). What he doesn't know, is that Santa has a little something, something under the tree for him this year in the form of a pet Snuggie. "Little Sid" will be the most fashionable dog on the block! What are you giving your doggie this year?

A Little Pampering...

I just love this picture. I think it was taken around the time of the launch of my website around May of last year. This pic was taken on my front porch on a lovely, spring day in May. The sun was shining, the warm air was blowing, and it was..ahhh....wonderful. The weekend was a little hectic around my household between an ice storm and hubby being very sick with a cold. The amount of coughing, sniffling, and sneezing in this house really hit an all-time high to the point I have.....well, a scratchy throat now too. It is pretty obvious I am under the weather a bit when the majority of my Sunday's activities included watching a marathon of home improvement and decorating shows on HGTV and vegging out on chocolate! Never a good sign. Why is it sickness always hits when we have the most to do? With two weeks to Christmas, there is still a boat load of stuff I haven't finished. Oh well, I am off to drink some water (that horrible substance I despise!), take an vitamin, and get the remote to watch the a holiday decorating night of TV on HGTV. Could someone please pass the chocolate?

Simple....

Being the impatient person that I am, I have already received my Christmas present from hubby this year. I was thinking about what item I would like, and I really couldn't come up with one that was just right. Kitchen appliances fill every open space in my cabinets, clothing is never something that I desire, and craft supplies are ever abundant in my little work studio. What was a girl to do? Actually there was one thing that was very distressing to me that I could not wait to change. Yes, that was it! I asked for the money to re-do our bedroom into a spa retreat.

Let's face it, with an impending layoff in the future (3 weeks and counting)stress is at an all-time high here in my humble abode. I guess I wanted somewhere, anywhere, I could go and feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and refreshed. Since an all-expense-paid trip to Cabo or a long pampering day at the spa are really not in my budget at this point, there had to be something I could do to create an indulgent haven in my own home.

Where are my "before" pics? As usual, they are nowhere to be found. Projects like this one are often a "hit and run." When I make up my mind about something, get out my way...things fly here and there until the process is complete. The decor of this room was a warm palette before this transformation. Mustard walls flanked a velvet patchwork comforter in tones of yellow, green, and burgundy.Oh look, I was able to find a "before" shot. As you can see, what a difference color can make!

My inspiration piece for the new style was the yummy, robin's egg faux fur throw. Is that a gorgeous shade or what? Had to have it....totally! The walls are the same exact hue value as the comforter set. Various topiaries are scattered here and there, while black French accents such as a large clock, bulletin board, and toile lamps further enhance the relaxing feel of the room. I still have to finish the canopy above the bed with soft blue panels and a small crystal chandelier. When I walk in my space now, I just breathe a little bit more slowly and feel instant.......ahhhhh....Merry Christmas to me. Santa was extra special nice to me this year!

P.S. I decided to enter this post into the fab Metamorphosis Monday blog party with Between Naps on the Porch Stop by and see Susan for more before and after projects.

Missing in Action and New Ventures

Hi everyone! Why is it that when I am busy, the first item on my list to go on "hold" is always my blog? Are any of your like that too? I really have good intentions, but before you know it, it has been a month since I last blogged. Anyway, you all are in my thoughts, and I will try to be a better blogger ( I promise!)

Where has my time been going these days? Well....I guess you could say the hours in my day are being stretched between many places. Like many of you, I am beyond crazy with sending Christmas cards, gift wrapping presents, and all that is involved with the upcoming holiday. I also just got back from a business trip to Columbus with hubby. Lovely city, by the way!

Another new venture is my new interest in writing "how to" articles for a site called eHow. In fact, there is a new link you can click on my link bar to read some of my pieces. I also had a professional, my dear Ashley, who put a new eHow bar on the right side of my blog with the articles I have written. My daughter, who is a professional writer, is my biggest cheerleader in this new undertaking. Aren't daughters just the best? It has been fun and challenging, but I think it is a new direction I am going to take as I head into my 50s (yes, this year I hit the big 5-0). Want a sample of an one of my articles to get a "flavor?" Read below.

How to Create a Cozy Home

Home….just the word conjures up visions of warm and fuzzy nights by the fire, homemade comfort meals from the kitchen, and lovely times spent with family and friends. When thinking of creating this wonderful haven, incorporate the five senses to make the ultimate cozy retreat.

Sight. There is nothing quite as wonderful as a visually beautiful home. To make the ultimate home retreat, it is important to utilize lots of fabric to soften the look of your décor. Drape dining room chairs in gorgeous covers. Accent the sofa with coordinating pillows and a soft, fuzzy throw. Decorate the bed and bath with a wonderful comforter and thirsty spa towels. By incorporating fabric into a home decor, instant “cozy” is accomplished.

Smell. Mmmmm….the aroma of a well-loved space is something that cannot be underestimated. The sense of smell is the strongest of all the senses, so capitalize on this fact by using fragrant candles, potpourri, and room sprays to accessorize your home. There are options ranging from warm, fresh-baked sugar cookies to fresh, hung-on-the-line cotton breezes. Pick your favorites and add a little extra layer of warmth to your home.

Touch. We all love to feel luxurious items such as leather, velvet, and faux fur. There is just something relaxing about tactile elements in a well-dressed home. With this in mind, fill your home with some beautiful accents that are “touchable.” A leather club chair draped with a faux fur throw in an intimate corner creates a lovely private space for curling up and reading a book. How about accessorizing a sofa filled with velvet pillows for enjoying a late-night movie with someone you love? By providing lots of “touchable” accents in your home, a comfortable and “cozy” home become a reality.

Taste. What are you cooking tonight for dinner? There is nothing that says, “cold home” quite so much as an empty refrigerator full of unrecognizable leftovers. Comfort foods simmering away on the stove, baked goods fresh from the oven, and scrumptious meals concocted in the slower cooker, create a yummy atmosphere that is warm and inviting.

Hearing. Remember those wonderful lazy days on your Grandmother’s porch? The summer breezes were further enhanced by the melodic tones of a well-tuned wind chime blowing in the summer wind. The sound of water has long been known to create a relaxing mood in a home. Beautiful music, as a backdrop for a special repas, complete the mood for a memorable evening. Add wonderful sounds to your haven. It really makes an ordinary house feel like a well-loved home!


That's it! Thank you for reading this no-picture post in honor of my new writing interest. I appreciate you stopping by today to see me. I hope you are enjoying the process of the holidays and will visit again very soon! Take care.

Country Ski Lodge....

Isn't it just so much fun decorating the home this time of year? I think I really look forward to December all year long. There is just something about the brilliant Christmas lights, rustic greenery, and shimmering holiday decorations that make my home feel extra special "cozy" and festive. I have been blog hopping a bit to see all the wonderful ways my blogger friends have been "decking their halls," and I am just beyond words impressed with all that I have seen. There is so much talent out there in blogland.With that in mind I thought I would share a little bit more of my wintery decor with everyone.

As I had mentioned in a previous post, my home is really decorated this year in more of a winter sports theme so I can leave everything up all winter long. There is nothing I hate more than taking down my decorations, so this year, I have planned every detail (except, of course, the Christmas tree) to be left up until February. I am always amazed how my decorating "evolves" as I go along.

I didn't really start out with a wintery theme, complete with lots of old fashioned ice skates, but it evolved as I went along. Some of my skates are from family, others from thrift stores. Do you like the snowflake placemats on my lodge table? Target is such a great resource for upscale decor items at a non-upscale price. Gotta love that!

Want another easy way to decorate for the seasons? How about chalkboards for writing fun sayings to depict the time of year. Here I have taken a really large chalkboard and written, "Let it Snow" on it. I even draped one corner with a hand knit scarf I made.

Speaking of scarves, I have some plaid old ones used as table runners and accents all over the house for an added wintertime accent. Simple and inexpensive.

These white birch skis and poles are a find last year from TJ. Aren't they perfect? One cannot have a ski lodge without skis somewhere, and these are adorable ones that can be left on display until the snow is gone in February (or March).

Other ideas for decorating? I have lots and lots (and lots) of faux greenery trees, in all sizes, around my home.

This time of year these little beauties can be purchased very inexpensively from AC Moore or Michaels. They add that added Adirondack feel that I love so much in this home.

I hope you all are enjoying your decorating this year. I'm off to see more of your lovely holiday homes. Thanks for your inspiration, and thank you all again for visiting my little blog today. :)