9 weeks until...

Country Living

I was just realizing today that there are just 9 weeks until Christmas!  I can't believe it!  Not that I'm rushing things, but I just LOVE this season.  

Country Living

I look forward to sharing simple, and great ideas for this season with all of you!  I can't wait to see what all of you are thinking about creating and I, myself, have some tricks up my sleeve as well.

Country Living

Which leads me to...Halloween!  Last night we had a Halloween Party for my 4 year old monster and his friends.  I will be sharing these photos this week.  Until then, have a wonderful day in decorating land! 

                                            

ribbon note project reveal

PRESENTS...

I fell into the sink taking this picture!  I had to post this one! :)

Want a good place to put those unforgettable recipes, love notes, etc.  Well, here is the next best thing since sliced bread!  It's the ribbon notekeeper!  It can be yours for a whopping $5.00!  That's what I spent on this project.  I currently have my Mom's classic recipes clipped on that she gave me 9 years ago when I got married.  I also have a fun "Superstitions of the Season" clipart cut-out by Susan Branch.  On the other cabinet, adjacent to this one, I framed my Nana's classic banana bread recipe as you can tell it is VERY old and falling apart, so I decided to buy a $3.00 frame and put a notecard in the back for the matte.

 I also have to blog about our new popcorn air popper.  We are bringing the good ol' days back with fresh, hot popcorn made by air rather than those microwave bags of butter stuff.  This is SO much fun for our family nights.  It's also super cheap.  Think about the trail mixes while out in the powdery snow, and cranberry popcorn strings for the seasons ahead. Yummm... Have I convinced you yet to grab one? 

Cinderella Pumpkins~Boston Bee 2010

More art, more fun, more things to come! Posting soon...our spooky cellar for our little ghoul and his ghoulish friends! STAY TUNED...IF YOU DARE!

Boston Bee~2010

Also, WELCOME NEW FRIENDS!  THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR KIND WORDS! ;)  GLAD TO SHARE WITH YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR GREAT IDEAS TOO!  FREE AND FRUGAL FOREVER! ;)Alyssa

Have you clicked onto the Cottage Home site yet?  Go to the pic., on the right where my husband and son are walking on the beach.  Click and you will be swept away to Cottage Home Maine! This is my favorite shop to go to when I'm visiting my parents in the summah! I think you'll like it;)

my quick weekend project must do

Country Living

Guess what I'm doing this weekend?

1. Going to buy wooden clippy clothespins and some wide ribbon with a vintage pattern

2.  Making this adorable note hanger!

3.  Sharing it with all of you ;)

4.  Let me know if you make one too!

"button, button whose got the button?"

I'm looking to grab as many buttons as I can for the "BIG FUN BOSTON BEE BUTTON EXCHANGE!" starting now!  If you have a button and would like to tell me to snatch it, I most certainly will.  But, to play, you have to snatch mine in the upper right hand corner.  I love all of the great ideas that you've shared, you talented bunch of folks, you.  The more the merrier ;)Alyssa

shabby bats

Who says bats can't be beautiful? I made these little critters out of patterned scrapbook paper and hung them from my chandelier.  I bought the chunky scrapbook pages book at Michael's two years ago.  I brought it out of its bat cave and put it to good use. 
 

you can't miss this! tag sale boutique~Take a looksie!

As I took the day off from painting, I was able to sneak away between church and a soccer game to this beautiful tag sale boutique created by 2 wonderful sisters.  Purchase their cookbook by clicking here-cookbook.  The "Two Sisters Boutique" was a tag sale by invitation only and displayed the most exquisite items.  It was a wonderful time to chit chat about design and creating.  I'm very lucky to live so close and share my love of decorating with Kathy and Nancy. 



Silver Servers



Bone China with tea bags-Great for serving jellies, sauces, etc!

A deco-podged Holiday antique school chair

Fine aprons made from fabric from the garment district in New York City

Personal display of items in the garden kitchen, which is so beautiful!

Organic preserves displayed beautifully in the garden kitchen

More of the personal collection in the garden kitchen

The tray on the left that I purchased.  See it displayed in my kitchen below.

My Nana's cookie jar

In a nutshell, it's all about using what you have and display it in a way that makes you feel beautiful! ;)Alyssa

3/4ths of a nice new england kitchen

I did some more work today...paint, paint and more paint.  But, we're making progress, folks!  Of course, I had to decorate along the way...

View from inside the galley

The Good Stuff and my Nana's Cookie Jar- 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bought this at a boutique sale today.  More about that later! It reminded me of pages from my Nana's cookbooks.

                            I am loving my little New England Kitchen!

This post is sponsored by my front yard

 

Thanks for sharing this transformation with me ;)Alyssa

it's coming together...

I'm very excited!  The painting is coming together and it looks so clean and fresh and I LOVE it! Look at the difference between the brown cabinet (original color) and the new paint.  I just can't believe the difference.  Now, those tiles need to be removed too.  Hmmm.....Sounds like another project to me.  I need to focus on one thing at a time, (reminder to self). ;)

New items will be added above for a whole new look, so disregard the beautiful clutter on the top counter above!

About the paint:  The color is Bay Fog and it is awesome!  It's by Kilz and I'm using Purdy brand brushes.  With one coat of primer and 2 coats of Kilz, just to make sure, my kitchen is transforming sloooowly, but surely!  

                               This post is brought to you by the dancing ghosts in my front yard

What has been your favorite home transformation?
Happy Friday ;)Alyssa