Goodbye to 2011

Hello my dear friends!!! As this year winds down and we welcome a bright new year I want to THANK YOU all for being so supportive and helpful to me on this blogging journey! I have come to love blogging and this year will try to learn how to IMPROVE my blog. I am pretty computer illerate but am going to wotk on that! I want to change my header and the LOOK of the blog somewhat. I also look forward to sharing some new adventures that are coming our way. On 2/1 our daughter and SIL will be moving in with us! They just today signed the papers and put a down payment on their NEW HOUSE!!!!!! I am over the moon with happiness for them. It will be quite an adventure to have them and their 2 dogs here for an extended stay but I am GRATEFUL that we are able to be here for them and help them out in this way. So, please stay tuned, there may be alot of, I hope, fun to come! I also have some rooms to share and projects too. I wish every single one of you the happiest of new years and hope 2012 brings you health, happiness, prosperity and LOVE abounding!  I am awed by the friends I have made through this blog. You are all the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a SAFE New Years Eve if you go out. See you in the NEW YEAR!!!!!!

XO, Pinky

~~~Our Christmas Table~~~

Happy day after Christmas! I wanted to share our Christmas table with you. I decided to do a little different setting this year and I LOVED it! I used my favorite plaid tablecloth with red chargers and my Lenox Ribbons dinnerware. I made these 2 arrangements. They are in a gold container with greens, pinecones, berries and a dancing reindeer in the center!

 Here is a shot down the table.

 I placed a gift box at each place setting. Here is the red one,

 red and gold,

 and green with a red bow.

 I had started out with the 2 gold deer on the table but then remembered the arrangements and poinsetta candle holders.

 Here is a close up of the dishes. I really love this pattern, it is simple but elegant! I love the ribbons and berries on the dishes.

 I also got out the "gold" flatware for this special occasion! The napkins are embroidered with a stocking filled with goodies.

 There is a tree tealight holder at each place too.

 My Lenox wine dishes and red water goblets.

 This is the water pitcher.

 and the cream and sugar.

 It even has a matching S and P on a wooden stand.

 I found these candle holders at Home Goods in the Fall and knew I wanted then for the table. I love the poinsetta on them and the crackled glass! Also the twisted stem.

 Since I only have 8 of the goldware and the napkins I used plaid napkins and red flatware at the ends of the table.

 We set up a card table to put the food on and serve. Our dining room gets very crowded so it is easier to serve, especially since we had 2 big pans of LASAGNA!!!!

 The hot pads are ready for the dishes to come out of the oven.

 The candles are lit, let's eat!

 It was yummy if I do say so myself:):)

I hope you all had a wonderful day yesterday. I hope the new year brings joy, love and peace to each and every one of you. I think you again for being my loyal and supportive followers, I love you guys!!! I will be joining these parties:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Making the World Cuter Monday at Making the World Cuter

More the Merrier Monday at DIY Home Sweet Home Project

Savvy Homemade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Show and Share on Thursday at Southern Lovely

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Remodelaholic's Anonymous on Friday at Remodelaholic

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Love to you all, Pinky

~~~The GIFTS are Wrapped!!!~~~

Hi everyone!!! It is crunch time but I feel pretty good about being ready! Usually I am not this calm but last night I decided I was going to get all of the gifts wrapped and under the tree today. I haven't done my hubby's yet cause he is a BIG SNOOP!!!! He will figure out what is in the boxes:):) So, I always try to use paper that will coordinate with the tree, which is all red and gold so I used gold paper and red and gold ribbons.  That big pile of gifts is all for my daughter, and I will tell you what they all are after Christmas just in case she reads this!!!!

 The gift basket I made up myself for our daughters Mother-in-law. I found a CUTE drum basket at Michaels and filled it with goodies: cocoa and a mug, a box of chocolates, some Christmas dish towels, 3 jars of jams. I got a roll of cellophane and wraped it all up and made the bow. I think (hope) she will like it.

 This pretty gift box I found at Michaels too! LOVE it!

 So, I am ready! Going to the grocery store tomorrow so I can make the lasagna on Sat. and the flavors will meld and be even better on Christmas day. I wish each and every one of you a merry and blessed Christmas. I hope you will be surrounded by family and love. I also want to THANK YOU all so much for following me on this journey and being so loyal and supportive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are all the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!! Merry Christmas and FA LA LA LA LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! XO, Pinky

~~~Our Christmas Dining Room and Stairway~~~

Good Sunday evening everyone! I hope you have had a great weekend before Christmas! We have been busy, busy!!!! I won't list all we have done but let's just say, lunches out, dinners out, shopping, 2 parties.....you get the picture! I wanted to show you our dining room all dressed up for Christmas. This Santa is called a Belsnickle Santa. My son gave it to me, I had admired several that he had so he gifted one to me and I LOVE it. I love the bottle brush tree he is holding and the pack on his back.

 Here is the table. I usually have a pretty gold and black beaded runner on here but this table cloth is also something I treasure. It was my in-laws and it was made in Italy, hand sewn and has 12 matching napkins! It is beautiful in person.

 This is the gold centerpiece that I showed you before, flanked by 2 large gold reindeer and then 2 sets of candles.

 On the candle sticks are 2 sparkly gold candles surrounded by pine candlerings to which I added some sparkly gold acorns. I LOVE sparkle!!!!!!

 Then I have my tree candles. I will burn them on Christmas at dinner, probably.

 In one corner I have a collection of white santas on this tray table, another gift from my son.

 On the left wall is my server. I have a wall tree above it and the server is covered with more santas, 2 gold lit trees and 2 gold reindeer. Next to the server is a large Byers Choice Santa.

 I got him on SALE several years ago, and was thrilled because they NEVER go on sale! I really lucked out on this!

 some details of the wall tree.

 On this round table is a gold tableskirt, with a leopard overlay. I leave it on cause I like the look even at Christmas.

 This guy is new this year, I treated myself! The bottle brush tree is an old one, and I love the vintage ones.

 Pretty face on the tall guy.

 Yup! I even decorate the window sills in here:)

 On the right wall is the bakers rack and it is filled with some more Santas!

 These next 2 pictures are out of order, sorry. This is the middle shelf...

 this is the top shelf,

 and the bottom one.

 On the top shelf I have my sparkly Santas.

 A garland with lights is draped across the top of the hutch.

 Now we move on to the stairway. This is at the back of the house so the only people who see it are the ones who use the guest bath. This is what you see when you come out of the bathroom. The Santa is a Jim Shore.

 I used this pretty holly ribbon so incorporated a LITTLE red and mostly gold in the decorations.

 He has a battery operated candle in his lantern but I forgot to turn it on for you.

 Some pretty dancing reindeer,

 and some birds and pinecones.

 I also love different shaped lights. I am on the lookout for some new ones for next year for the mantle too!

I hope you are ready for Christmas. I need to get the gifts wrapped. We have a party to go to tonight (Sunday) so I will schedule this to post while we are out. Next week I will be taking you downstairs! I will join these parties:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday http://youaretalkingtoomuch.blogspot.com/

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Making the World Cuter Monday at Making the World Cuter

More the Merrier Monday at DIY Home Sweet Home Project

Savvy Homemade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Show and Share on Thursday at Southern Lovely

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Remodelaholic's Anonymous on Friday at Remodelaholic

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Christmas love to you all!!!!!! XO, Pinky