Mantle Madness

Loyal reader Sharon made my day by emailing and requesting holiday mantle ideas. Ah, so MANY ideas. She's hosting a dinner party this weekend and wants something woodsy and natural looking. So let's get started!

First, I love to start with a little (lot) of fresh greenery. The price is right (FREE if you can get it from your yard!) and I love the smell and natural element it adds. I also like to add a little eucalyptus berry from the market. And, you KNOW I'd be throwing in a few feathers here and there...




Next, why not add a little Baby Jesus? He is, after all, the reason for the season. And as Babygirl loves to point out..."he gets a birthday AGAIN this year?!". Funny girl. I LOVE this nativity set from Wisteria.



So, we've got our greenery, we've got Baby Jesus, now we need some stockings.
Ballard Designs never lets me down in the stocking department. I've had their polka dot stockings with leopard trim for years. This year, I especially love these adorable neutral stockings with a vintage look. Very chic and understated. Don't forget to "stuff" your stockings with some plastic grocery bags to give them a little body. I also like to have a little greenery hanging out the tops of the stockings to give them more life.



Now that we've addressed our staple items, it's time to have fun! Add some gorgeous candles such as these from Pottery Barn.



I also LOVE these crowns from Wisteria.


They would be adorable worked in amongst your greenery or even bunched on the ground in front of your fireplace. Have fun and be creative! And, don't forget the fire in the fireplace!



If you aren't loving the mess of a fire but still love the flames and the smell...add some lit candles to the fireplace and mix in one of the Slatkin & Co. "Winter" candles from Bath and Body Works. It is practically an exact replica of the old winter candles sold by Slatkin & Co. at Neiman Marcus for three times the price. You will not believe how wonderful your house smells!

Ghetto Thanksgiving

A few shots from today...and a funny story!






We were bored this afternoon. Seriously...who doesn't eat turkey until after 6pm? We aren't the Vanderbilt's for goodness sake!

So, we had an impromptu photo shoot. The above photos were the result.

Babygirl and I were discussing our upcoming trip to NYC to see the Rockettes, visit the American girl store for tea, carriage ride in central park, lunch at the top of Bergdorf's, etc. Babyboy was a bit put out that he was not invited. I said it was a girls' trip and he responded "well then why does Uncle Aaron get to go?"

Babygirl responded "because Uncle Aaron is ghetto?" like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Then I had to interject and say "ummm, you mean Uncle Aaron is GAY?" Yeah, she says, Uncle Aaron is gay with his friend Eric. "No", I respond, "Uncle Aaron is ghetto with his friend Eric. He's GAY with his friend Tobin"...

At which time I realize that my kids will either be the most culturally accepting and advanced kids on the block...or they'll be the most messed up confused kids around! Either way...I'm up for it!

What are you thankful for today?

XOXO Sippycups

New Beginnings!

Sorry for the tardy post. I've been busy with the Junior League bazaar fundraiser, kids school parties, moving, etc. I've also been trying to transition one of my passions into a growing "career". I've always loved photography and have taken photos of friends' kids forever. This year, I've been taking "sessions" and have sent all of my clients to Tiny Prints' website to view Tiny Prints 2009 Holiday Cards. They are awesome!

Here is what I chose for my card...


I love that it's neutral, classic and highlights the photo rather than a flashy card. That's what they're so great about ...they produce great cards that will enhance your photos.

Some other great samples...




Have you started your cards yet? If not, get to Tiny Prints now! They have GREAT deals and as an amateur photographer I can say that their reprints are very high quality and you won't be disappointed!

Happy shopping!

This one is for THE MAID

Lest I become irrelevant for lack of posting...Pete called...he said he wanted some schnookie...with a side of spratt.
XOXO Sippycups

All I Can Say Is...

WOW. Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts and comments. I honestly had no idea when I wrote my previous post what kind of can of worms I was opening. I thought surely I would have some negative comments, and steeled myself as best I could.
I have been so amazed by all your positive thoughts, comments, advice and inspiration. I have had NOT ONE negative comment.
Thank you all so much.
This process is incredibly painful and exhausting and yet a massive relief at the same time. It's so hard to know how you're "supposed" to feel. I'm taking it one day at a time and again, I appreciate all your support.
Cheers!

What Adorable Kids Those Are!

Oh, wait...they're my kids! How excited are we to be featured on Whitney English's Website? Too cute. Check out all of her photo and digital photo cards...I definitely know where I'll be getting MY cards this year!

OMG!

Chris O'Donnell is on NCIS Los Angeles. Obviously, my new favorite show. LOVE HIM.

The Bathroom is Finally Complete!

As I may have mentioned (a thousand times before) we've spend the summer renovating BabyBoy's Bathroom. I had very specific ideas about what I wanted. Here was the before:





I really wanted to create a bathroom that would still look "old" but have all the updated features we needed. We replaced tile, tub, fixtures, cabinet, vanity and sink, lighting and window treatment.

The during...






AND...drumroll please...the final outcome!













The details:

I ordered all the tile on ebay. Got a great price...some pieces were broken or cracked but overall I was able to get the molding pieces for top and bottom and wouldn't have if I hadn't purchased via ebay.

The cabinet is from Restoration Hardware. I changed the hardware from brushed nickel to the shiny silver to match the rest of the room.

The sink faucet was purchased from Tuesday Morning.

Mirrored cabinet from Restoration Hardware.

Sconces from Pottery Barn.

Window treatment made by yours truly.

Shower faucet, Toto toilet and tub purchased at a local plumbing store.

Shower curtain and rings from Restoration Hardware.

Brown towels and all other accesories from Target.

Photo taken at the beach this summer and placed in a frame from Pier One.

Overall...I'm very happy with the outcome. It's still a tight space but so much more usable now. Plus, no more leaky faucets!

Total renovation cost: approx. $11,000. This includes all tear out, installation, and fixtures including tile, cabinets, etc.

The Trailer....

Okay. So I've been out of the box for a while. Yes, there has been a lot going on. Yes, my life has taken a life changing turn. Yes, there will be full disclosure soon. Tune in...

What's on YOUR ipod?

You know how they always ask celebrities really lame questions like "What's on your ipod right now?" when they interview them? Or even better, "What books are you reading?", and the celeb names some unheard of book that they think makes them seem really cerebral?

Well, you won't get that from me!

Here's what's on my ipod right now and I am OBSESSED...




I'm trying to muddle my way through "The Time Traveller's Wife" but the beginning is really confusing...especially after a Skinny Girl Margarita. More on that later!

Dining Room Redo

When we originally move into this house I picked a wallpaper for the dining room that I LOVE. It's by Thibaut and it's from the Tea House collection. I pretty much decorated the rest of the room around that paper. I picked curtain panels with pink and green stripes that were really pretty. Then, Happy Housewife came in and turned my world upsidedown by suggesting I put the pink and green panels in my living room instead. Hmmmph. Well, she was right of course. They look great in there. I had another pair made and now it's perfection.

I had a fabric sample I'd been holding onto for two years that I really wanted to use to cover the dining room chairs. It's really a "wow" piece. ie: can't do too much else in the room if the chairs are going to have this fabric. It was pricey, so I was on the fence. Finally Dr. Daddy agreed that if I had kept it for that long and not yet found anything else I liked as much that I could go ahead and use it. Yay! So, here was the before...you may remember
this post.




And now...






The curtains are a gorgeous greenish blue silk with an onion ball trim that incorporates all the colors of the room. I found the asian inspired lamps at a local design store. The rug is one that used to be in the living room; I just switched and put the old dining room rug in the living room and vice versa. The adorable monkey on the table was a gift from my physicians' spouse auxiliary. Now, I just need to figure out what to put on that round table in the corner. I'm kind of sick of the plant. Any suggestions? Oh, and I painted the wall below the chairrail with Benjamin Moore's mushroom cap in a half strength. It has just the right amount of a creamy, buttery color to warm up the room but not over do it. Hope you like!

Lazy Summer

We've had such a lazy summer...I know, I've been a lazy blogger, too! Actually, it hasn't been SO lazy. We've taken some fun trips and done LOTS to the house. BabyBoy's bathroom is ALMOST complete. Here's a little teaser for you...



When it's all complete (cross your fingers that it will be by the end of this week!) I will post lots of before and after pix.

I'm also having new window treatments and pillows made for my family room and having my dining room chairs covered. I bought some great grasscloth wallpaper last weekend in Richmond (I'm pretty sure Mimi thought I was smoking crack for just buying it without even measuring or thinking) and hope to have that hung this week, too. Summer refreshment! Love it. Just what I need to get me in the mood for fall...

I FINALLY went to see a podiatrist about my heel last week. It has been killing me all summer. I haven't really been able to exercise as a result other than swimming and have gained some weight (oh, shut up. It is NOT all the Gin and Wine that caused the weight gain :)) I had the pleasure of a 2 inch needle stick to the heel ( can you say freaking owwww!!!?? ). The cortisone has helped a lot, however, the anti inflammatory he gave me has kept me nauseaus for three days straight. Anyone ever taken Mobic before? I think I'm going to just have to go back and beg for something else. Percocet anyone?!

I took the kids to a friend's house last week for some R and R around her pool. She also has goats so they loved feeding the goats peanuts with LUTBand her kids.






They look miserable, right?

Promise, promise I'll have before and after pics of the bathroom asap!