Merry Christmas to all!

I hope all of you had a wonderful, joyful Christmas!

Here are a few pictures of my trees.

 I always put the white tree decorated with red bulbs in my dining room 

to go along with my red, white and black decor.

I love birds so aside from the ones that stay up all year I add them to the holiday decor.

 

A vignette in the dining room

 This has got to be the easiest last minute centerpiece to pull together. 
Any plate or bowl filled with bulbs looks so pretty. I added a candelabra to the center.

 My gold & green pencil tree.

With more birds of course!

 A sweet angel

My snowman clown from Bethany Lowe. Love this piece!

  

 On Christmas Eve we attended a party in Long Beach then took a drive down to the marina. It was 70* out and absolutely beautiful I wanted to show you a Christmas Eve sunset California style!

Wishing you and yours the season's best!
XO~

Apron Winner!

 Thank you for entering the give away

 The names were placed in a bowl

 And watched over by royal guards

 Congratulations K. Graves!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

XO~

Giveaways, Blessings and Congratulations!

photo: Good Life Zen

 First off I would like to thank Melissa Bolton of DesignHer Brands and Catherine Hoagland of Avalon Rose for putting together "The Ultimate No Excuses New Year, New You Giveaway". This truly was a life changer for one lucky winner, Jessie Lowery who one $4500 in prizes. Its a great blessing to me to be able to sponsor the event that helped to support another woman with her dream of starting & building her business.

Whimsical Musings

If you are looking for great business blogging tips be sure to visit Cindy Adkins' Whimsical Musings blog: women-blogging-for-busines-seminar.html

Cindy is a very talented author, artist and motivator. 

She was featured on Launch Your Creativity here

How about another giveaway?

Hurray! I think so too!

Leave a comment here and I will enter your name in the drawing. Entry closes Friday, December 16th at midnight pacific time.The winner will be announced on Saturday morning. Shipping to the U.S. only please.

Good Luck!

XO~

"The Ultimate New Year, New You Giveaway"

Whether you're starting a new business or revamping and expanding an existing business - you don't want to miss out on this UNBELIEVABLE opportunity! 

We're hoping it'll be a life-changer for some lucky dreamer.

 One lucky winner will receive:

~Over $4,500 worth of prizes~

This amazing opportunity starts TODAY, Thursday, December 1st, 2011 and ends on Sunday, December 

11th, 2011 at midnight EST. The winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced on this blog on Monday December 12th, 2011. 

Items donated will be provided to the winner directly through individual sponsors.

 

To see a list of donors & to enter go here~Good Luck!

http://designherbrands.blogspot.com/2011/12/ultimate-4500-no-excuses-giveaway.html

Pansy Cottage & Garden is proud to be a sponsor!

XO~

Dreaming of a "Cottage Christmas"

Ive been playing in my studio with paper & fabrics 

creating cottage style goodies for Christmas and  getting ready for the 

Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA this weekend. 

It is the prettiest flea in So. Cal!

Info is on my sidebar.

 These stockings are easy peasy! You can whip one up in less than 30 mins.

 I love the cottage appeal these fabrics have.

 I will have new stocking kits ready to ship for Tuesday the 6th.

 Here is a fun assortment of banners, tags & goodie bags that I'll be bringing also.

Hope you all have a wonderful creative day.

XO~

Gratitude

 ~A dare to LIVE FULLY right where you are~

I started reading this book last summer and I have to be honest with you, I didn't know what I was in for. You see I have this thing for birds' nests and I was smitten with the blue eggs on the cover shot.
"A dare to live fully right where you are" struck me. I'm up for a good dare if its meaningful and thought provoking.

So, game on!

As I began reading I was truly taken by author Ann Voskamp's ability to be candid. This type of laying one's self completely naked to be scrutinized comes at a high price.
Reading her work is like listening to a conversation she is having deep within her soul. Chewing on thoughts and ideas and being interrupted by the daily chores of farm life. Ann asks the hard questions that many of us ponder but never raise our hand and ask either because of fear or lack of faith. I was one of those that didnt ask the questions, I think it was because of fear.

"What in the world, in a world of certain loss, is GRACE"?  

 

Every time I turn on the t.v. I hear yet another tragedy reported. I have to admit it was stealing my joy, my peace and my passion. I was overwhelmed.

 

Then the most liberating thing happen on page 58 and I quote:

"Why would the world need more anger, more outrage? How does it save the world to reject unabashed joy when it is joy that saves us? Rejecting joy to stand in solidarity with the suffering doesnt save the suffering. The converse does. The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world."

These words spoke so deeply to my heart I sobbed. We have to be the change we want to see in the world otherwise what is it all for and Im not willing to give in to it.

I began writing a list of 1,000 things to be thankful for. This is not just another exercise in list making. It will, I promise, change your life if you approach it with an open heart.

So on this Thanksgiving give yourself the gift of peace and gratitude and begin your list of 1,000 things you are thankful for.

I plan to reread the book every Thanksgiving and start a new list.

 Wishing you and your family all the hope, grace and peace of the season.

 XO~