3..2..1..Happy New Year!

It's been awhile since I've joined in on Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Between Naps on the Porch. But I'm back for a wintery, New Years theme.

I went with a soft blue, metallic color scheme.

Layered plates on silver chargers.

My mercury glass goblets.

Crate & Barrel napkins and pearl napkin rings found at HomeGoods.

Appetizer plates found at Goodwill.

My new cloche given to me at Christmas from my mom.

Small silver and pearl colored pinecone ornaments sit inside. And I wrapped the cloche in a blue berry and silver glittered garland.

Silver candles.

Waterford Crystal candlesticks- a wedding gift.

A blue hurricane candle holder.

Have a memorable New Year's Eve and a new 2010 filled with lots of love and fortune.

One Mod Christmas

I wanted to share with you some of the great Christmas gifts I received from my mom.

She found some great serving pieces from the 60's.

Here is a wood tiered tray.

A wood and metal appetizer tray.
I love that it has little feet.

This would make a great veggie tray.
And here is another metal tray...
...with a wooden handle.


And lastly, to complete the look, a vintage-looking owl apron.
Who doesn't love owls???
Thanks Mom!!

Santa's Workshop

I'm in the midst of finishing up my shopping and starting the wrapping.

I thought I'd share some of my ideas with you.

This is my Secret Santa gift that I will be giving out on Christmas Eve at my husband's family gathering. We play a game with all of our gifts.

I took Sherry's advise from Young House Love and checked out some items at Crate & Barrel and here is what I came up with:

A small green jar made out of recycled glass and a matching green plaid tea towel.

I also picked out 2 tea bag rests.

Add some Eggnogg'n tea.

And now you have a cute little tea-themed gift. I might need to play dumb and pick my own gift to open :)

And now time to wrap all the gifts. While looking through Martha Stewart's website, I came across a gift that was wrapped in brown paper with a doily on top. Here is my rendition:

I bought plain brown shipping paper to wrap the gifts. (This is actually cheaper than regular wrapping paper!) The gift below is for a boy so I left out the doily. And then I wrapped ribbon around both sides of the box.

I made several gifts tags by using store bought blank tags and adding my own embellishments and lining the back with scrapbook paper. Tying them off with some jute string.

I am using two different sized doilies and one is white and the other is silver.

This one is my favorite. I layered the doilies and added a white bow.

And these are my pretty gifts! Only 10 more to go!!

My Mom's Merry Home Tour

I just got home from my parents' house tonight. While I was there I decided to snap some pictures of their decked out halls.

The tour begins at their front door.

The porch has one of many Xmas trees.

An adorable garland-wrapped chair with a lantern by its side.

Inside, you find a vase filled with vintage ornaments...

...another vase with red ornaments.

The bar cabinet is draped with garland and lights.

A cute little reindeer.

A nativity scene sits on top of the entertainment center.

The large main Xmas tree in the corner of the family room.

The mantle above the fireplace.

Adorable plaid candle votives. I love love LOVE these!

A gorgeous box filled with poinsettias.

A mini tree by the front door that has an Iowa theme (my mom's home state).

Here are some of the ornaments: a hen

a pig

John Deere tractor lights

a barn

a cow

Another mini tree in the basement that has a fishing/ Up Nort theme.

a catfish

a canteen

a fishing boat

a tackle box

a fishing vest

a bear

a moose

Even the bathroom is decked out!

I love this old shutter. I think I need one :)

And now the kitchen. Lovely poinsettia plates.

Garland wraps around the chandelier.

A beautiful Xmas tray sits on top of a homemade tablerunner.

A vintage Xmas postcard.

And one last themed Xmas tree- a baking theme of course!

Several mini baking tins.

a thermos

a rolling pin

and an apron-wearing snowman.

Merry Christmas to all! There's no place like home :)