happy holidays!

i hope everyone enjoyed the holidays as much as i did.

our new (or recently installed) light

i could say that this is a new light, but that would be lying. it is however, newly out of the box that it has been sitting in for over 2 years! we finally hung this a couple of weekends ago. i say we, but i actually mean dave. the cord didn't exactly come out of the wall where we thought it would, but who cares. i certainly don't.



special thanks to my dad for the awesome capital bread sign. dave doesn't like it, but i overruled his opinion. and also thanks to my dad-in-law for helping dave install the wiring. thanks!!

the lovely scoutiegirl blog

i was lucky enough to be featured on the scoutiegirl blog last week. it was so cool to see my milk glass wares on another blog. and even cooler was scoring a sale of two beautiful milk glass vases to a buyer in france. it's so amazing to think that someone in france is enjoying these beauties.


i really wish i could go to france at this very moment. i'll have to settle for a visit to this wonderful blog thecherryblossomgirl.com.

here is the link to the post featuring my vintage milk glass scoutiegirl blog

deck the halls

this weekend i finally decorated the house for christmas! is it just me, or is december flying by at a record pace? i have done zero christmas shopping! actually, that is a lie, i have one gift half way done for a couple.

we decided that this year we wouldn't get the usual big (relative to our little house), fresh cut christmas tree. there were lots of reasons, 1) i just got a great gateleg table from craigslist and it's for the only spot in the house that the tree would go, 2) our house is small and the tree looks exactly the same every year (the skinniest one we can find), 3) i always feel sad about throwing out the tree at the end of the season and 4) dave is bringing his pet lizard home during christmas break and the only place he will really fit is on top of the new table. we were going to skip a tree all together, but then we were at trader joe's and i spotted this tiny little beauty. it is perfect and we can plant it after the season ends.

the table was also used for drinks at our holiday party.


one of the best things about forgoing the tree was that i still got to use all of my ornaments in creative new ways. the star i used on the little tree is actually an ornament.

the tree topper from previous years was placed on a shelf in the built-in bookcase. glass ornaments were placed in glass bowls and vases.

some of the glass ball ornaments were strung on ribbon and hung from the bookcase as well.

my favorite ornament is a little frame that says 2004, the year we were married.

and another favorite, a wire tree from smith and hawkin. my mom bought it for me a few years ago.



i hope everyone enjoys the holidays! moz sure is. he is doing really well with the recovery from his surgery.

amazing peanut butter, chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies

these are my favorite cookies ever. and the best part is that they are so easy to make. it's the only recipe i haven't ever screwed up ('overcooking' one sheet doesn't count.)
i can't remember where i got this recipe, i wish i would have written it on the recipe card! the name of it is Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Rounds, which i don't like, so i will just call them...

the amazing peanut butter, chocolate chip, oatmeal cookies

makes approximately 4 dozen cookies (48)

ingredients:
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cup flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips

directions:
in a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer until combined. add sugar and brown sugar, baking power and baking soda . beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl. beat in the eggs and vanilla. stir in flour. stir in oats and chocolate chips. drop by rounded teaspoons on an ungreased cookie sheet. bake at 375 about 10 minutes or until edges are slightly browned. let cool for a couple minutes, then transfer cookies to wire rack and let cool completely. store in an airtight container.




what cookies are you making this holiday season?

recycled wrapping paper and card

do you have any paper bags laying around that are headed for the trash? well put them to use when wrapping gifts for the holidays.
start with a paper bag:

cut off the bottom and down a side to make a sheet of paper. wrap up the present.

add some ribbon. this was leftover from a present i received previously.

you can use some scrap fabric to make a cute card to go with it. either hand embroider or stitch on words for the occasion.

pin to paper then use sewing machine or hand stitch onto paper or card stock. this is a set of paper that made from left over maps.


the end product looked a little wonky, so i added a button from my stash that belonged to my grandma.


and the finished product

quilt for jeff

i got to give my friend jeff his quilt over the weekend. i am pretty sure he loved it as much as i do.

p.s. this was before i washed it so it was still a little stiff.

thanksgiving flowers

i think flowers deserve their own post. i love having fresh flowers in the house, and there is no better reason to buy some then for the holidays. i bought two bouquets from the grocery store and used gourds and apples.

i used a vintage teacup that i have to make this little one, which was my favorite.

first you arrange the flowers in your hand into a little rounded bouquet. i used alstroemeria, carnations and mums.

then wrap a rubber band around the base.

cut off bottom and place in tea cup.

during the day...

and then on the small table during dinner...


i used the alstroemeria leaves to maket this one. unfortunately i forgot to put water in it so it died by morning! but the fruit and pumpkin was still intact. i used a vintage milk glass bowl. i think it probably cost about a buck or two from a flea market.



and you may remember this one from october.


and i made these two little ones for the bathrooms.

happy thanksgiving

i hope that everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving. ours was great, we had both sides of our families over for thanksgiving day, and even the day after.

thanksgiving has to be our favorite holiday, mainly because the focus is on food and thanks.

here is some of the deliciousness:

my, and every one's favorite... apple cider

prepping appetizer


appetizers


i love getting out my china to use, and seeing what serving dishes i can use. i LOVE the amber glasses i have. i bought 6 of them at a flea market, then found 6 more on ebay to make a set of 12.



i picked this flower dish at a flea market this summer. it's the first time i got to use it! it's so adorable.


dinner is served



this is how we all felt after eating all that food

vintage fabric pillows

i have a couple throw pillows i made in my etsy shop. this one was made with vintage fabric (actually sheets) that my mom found in my grandpa's closet. this fabric is to die for. she knew how much i'd love it and i do!

this one, which i will call the jennifer, because i made two for her that she loves, was also made with vintage sheets. why don't they make sheets this beautiful anymore??

and that lovely sewing machine that i bought has a feature where you can sew letters, so i've been adding brandeye to them. cute, right? i think so at least.


they each come with EcoInserts, which were made with stuffing from recycled plastic bottles.
clicking on the pictures will take you to the brandeye etsy listing!