I'm Playin' Hooky...

It's cold in NY!! I'm off to Florida for a week !

CSN winner

Congrats to Acorn Hollow from New Hampshire, she is the winner of the $45.00 gift card to purchase something special at CSN!
I will be sending you the details soon!

The 4 Wise Men

This is a funny story: About 8 years ago, when I was teaching high school, a special education student, Yomil, gave me this small gift. He spent his own money on it at the Dollar General store and wrapped it in tissue paper. When I opened it, he exclaimed "Look Mrs P, it's the baby Jesus and the 4 Wise Men"!!!

Each Christmas I pull it out and call my friend Joni to tell her that the "4 Wise Men" are on display again!

The First Ornament

For over 30 years this has been the first ornament I place on the family Christmas Tree every year.

It was a gift from my Aunt Madeline and it is the tiniest ornament I have. I don't know how or why this tradition began, but it has held on and always will!

Last chance to enter my CSN GIVEAWAY for $45.00

Carollers

One of my favorite holiday decorations are my Possible Dreams Carollers collection:

Some are from the 1980's and some are newer.

They remind me of Christmases past when people would go carolling around a neighborhood.

I remember having small carolling books (download one here: paperback carol books)

My problem was that I couldn't carry a tune - still can't - and if I was given three wishes...

I would use one to wish that I could sing like Barbara Streisand or Beyonce!

Where do you suppose I could find one of those old carol books?

Do you go carolling during this season?

Don't forget to enter my CSN GIVEAWAY for $45.00

I am THANKFUL for...

Two beautiful daughters, Caitlin and Sara:

I am pleased and proud that they have grown into lovely, kind, responsible ladies - who come home for the holidays to spend time with us.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't forget to enter my CSN GIVEAWAY for $45.00

Birthday dinner for a friend...

Saturday was my good friend's birthday, so we had her and her husband over for dinner.

Rather than eat in the kitchen, I set the table in my "dining area".

I call it the "dining area" because it isn't a defined room, but rather an area of the house that could be used for anything

The table is an antique table that was my mother's.
The menu was roast pork, spiced roasted potatoes, glazed carrots and warm homemade apple sauce.

The bowls are from my mother's Fukagawa china that my dad bought in Japan during the Korean War. The dinner plates are from Syracuse China and are only a few years old.

The star coasters are from Crate and Barrel

The wine glasses are from the Dollar Tree. I bought 18 last year and I love them!But I think these depression wine glasses look much better!

I bought a small silver bowl at the local thrift shop the other day and filled it with a crystal votive holder, some greenery and copper leaves.

I love the cute little legs on this silver bowl, it cost only $.89 at GW this past week.

I am joining Tablescape Thursday and Vignette Friday

Don't forget to enter my CSN GIVEAWAY for $45.00

Has anyone lost all of their "followers? Mine is blank....and every blog I go to , theirs is blank. Is this happening to you?

Santa Claus is coming...

He's in the mall already and he's been on TV...and he's also beginning to appear around my home - yes, I am decorating and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Have you started to decorate yet?

Don't forget to enter the CSN GIVEAWAY for $45.00

Has anyone lost all of their "followers? Mine is blank....and every blog I go to , theirs is blank. Is this happening to you?

CSN Giveaway

CSN Stores has offered up products for review throughout the blog world. People always seem to be very happy with their products and find their website very easy and convenient to navigate.

CSN stores features over 200+ stores with only one checkout. You can find tons of amazing products at incredible prices on their site. They make it easy to stock up on everything from leather messenger bags to toys for my grandson, Carter! I bought him a tricycle and train set and both arrived within a week of purchase! They have products that are within all different price ranges meaning that there really is something for everyone.

They are sponsoring a $45.00 giveaway for one of Pandora's Box visitors, so you know the routine:
Leave a comment for one entry
Follow me for another entry
Blog about it for a third chance

Winner will be picked on Sunday night!

Lucky Me!

I recently entered a giveaway at The Polished Pebble and look at what I won:

Can you tell what this fabulous, one of a kind lamp is made from? A colander and a toaster! Is she a clever gal, or what!! I can't wait til it arrives - there's a perfect spot in my kitchen that needs a little "light"!

Christmas Sugar!

Remember, I bought this sugar bowl last week with its partner, the creamer, for $4.00? I have decided to take your advice and not shine it up :
very difficult decision!

I put together an arrangement of greenery, pinecones, ribbons and a bird:

And I glued the lid on the back side:

A view from the top:

I am sharing this cute little gift for my friend with Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Mackenzie-Childs knockoff Christmas Tree

Last Christmas, after a holiday visit to Mackenzie-Childs in Aurora, NY, I decided I wanted a courtly check Christmas Tree for my kitchen. I have had this tree for about 20 years and I love that there is a bird house in the middle of it. I have always had apples and cardinals on it, but not this year!

I have painted quite a few glass ornaments white and black checks, stripes, diamonds and polka dots and I began to assemble it over the weekend:

There are a few M-C ornaments on there, but most are my designs painted with paint pens and Sharpie markers:

I can't wait to light it up!

Anyone else anxious to decorate for the holidays?
Joining Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

What's new at Mackenzie-Childs....

Here's the new M-C wreath in their black and white ornaments...don't call them to order it because it cost thousands of dollars!
(I painted a bunch of these ornaments for my kitchen Christmas tree)

I visited the main store in Aurora again this past week and saw some new pieces on display in the farmhouse, like this beautiful buffet:

And I am thrilled to say they are covering their furniture in the new courtly checked fabric:
(note to self: buy some white fabric and pull out your fabric paints)

I love this chair:
(note to self: make this pillow)

And how about this outdoor furniture:

I love the stripes on one side and the checks on the other:

This is my new piece, which holds my tea bags:

And it looks pretty good beside the jar covers that I painted last year:

When I win the lottery, I am going to buy it all!
Stay tuned to see my M-C knock-off Christmas tree - it's almost finished!