Worth the Wait...A Christmas Gift

One of the things that I asked for for Christmas was a new custom camera bag. I found a shop on Etsy with the most amazing bags before Christmas, and I sent the link to my MIL as a gift idea. The shop is called Gypsy Rose Handbags.

I chose the DSLR Deluxe Messenger camera bag with the custom Snugglens interior in a beautiful sage green, ivory and black tiled fabric. Here are the listing photos from the shop:

My bag was delivered this week, and I absolutely LOVE it! Here are my photos:

Tragically I found out today that Judy, the amazing lady who is Gypsy Rose Handbags was just diagnosed with cancer on the 3rd of this month, and she has recently elected to close her shop for all new orders. She has a blog, and you can read more about her here. Such devastating news. I am sending out a prayer request for Judy - that she may have the strength to endure her upcoming treatments and keep her spirits high.

Friday Finds

While planning Emma's birthday party, I had envisioned small cake stands displaying the treats that we would serve...just like these beauties from Sweet and Saucy Supply.

I was not, however, interested in spending a fortune for these decorative serving pieces. Although aren't they just beautiful???

Before Christmas, I had seen a blog post on making your own cake stands using old china. I even made one from a plate and coffee mug that I bought at our $ store...you may remember seeing the photo:

I decided to go to our local Goodwill and see what I could find in the glassware department. There was no "china" to be found, but I did spy these cute aqua plates by Silvestri (I think...the bottom of the plates are now covered).

There were four plates, but I only purchased two for $0.50 each. I then searched for something to use as the base for each plate. I knew that I wanted the two stands to be different heights, but I wasn't sure exactly what I could use. I first spied this glass for $0.25. I decided to buy it because it was only $0.25...if it didn't work, at least I would not be out a small fortune.

I then went down the rest of the home goods aisles, and I saw this VERY tarnished silverplated candle stick for $1.

It was the perfect height and size. My plan was to spray paint it if I was unable to get it polished nicely.

I think it turned out quite nice considering its future as the base to a cake stand.

My next step was to use Liquid Nails to secure the bases to the plates.

And...VOILA

Not bad for $2.25 + tax, huh?

I think they turned out great. I forgot to take specific photos of these platters the day of Emma's party, but you can see them in the following cropped photos.

What do you think?

Moroccan Oil

My husband is famous (to me) for buying me unusual gifts for Christmas...things I have never heard of - much less ask for!!! This year was no exception. I really wish you could have seen my face when I opened a bottle of Moroccan Oil hair treatment. I just looked at him dumbfounded and said something like, "um, I have really oily hair already!!!!"! He just kind of stumbled through a few sentences about how he read about how a lot of "stars" use this product and love it. He thought I may like it too. So sweet!

At the time, I didn't realize the purpose of the Moroccan Oil. However, I am now IN LOVE with this product. I have coarse hair with just enough natural wave to make it look frizzy - especially in humidity. This product helps tame my wild fly-away hair.

I guess JC is more up-to-date on what's hot than I am. Sure enough these products have been featured in numerous publications including In Style, Glamour, People, and Elle just to name a few.

I love that J is willing to go out on a limb and buy me something that I may totally HATE! I have to say...he has a knack for almost always getting it right!

THREE is TERRIFIC

January 24, 2011...Emma turns THREE!

Our celebrations started on Saturday. Emma hosted several friends and her cousins for a Snowflake Princess party.

Although there is not snow on the ground here right now, guests were greeted by snowflakes galore!

Emma's Patsy made her a beautiful Snowflake Princess dress just for her big day.

And Emma's MiMi and her great-grandmother made her a princess castle cake:

It was so yummy! Those towers are made out of rice krispies so that you could also eat them...delicious!

I worked with Amber from Party On Boutique to create the printable paper decorations! She did a great job, and the colors were exactly what I wanted.

We had so much fun creating original works of art with pre-painted blue canvases, snowflake foam stickers and snowman sponges.

I had a few other activities planned for the princesses, but they just wanted to play with Emma's kitchen instead.

Look at these sweethearts...the most grown up and the youngest princesses at the party...

After playing, we all sang "Happy Birthday" to Emma, and she blew out her candles...one.at.a.time!

Everyone waited so patiently for the cake...

Like I said, it was yummy...

Emma especially LOVES icing...she left the cake, but not a spot of icing was left on her piece.

And the ladies took home a treat bag with a snowflake wand, snowflake tiara, candy, and custom paper doll set from Studio 71 Designs.

Emma actually told me last night that she loved her party. I am so happy that she did. Since we missed Emma's first birthday with her, I hope that all of her birthdays are wonderful for the rest of her life.

Happy Birthday Emma. We love you sooooo much!

Friday Finds

I Love Milk Glass!

I don't know when this love affair began, but I think it is beautiful.

This week, I want to share two of the milk glass lamps that I have found at our Goodwill. These are not fine antiques by any stretch of the imagination, but this first one I found at the Goodwill outlet for $1. I like the shape a lot.

This is how it looked when I brought it home.

I cleaned the lamp up just a little and painted the wooden part a color that matches the rest of the great room decor. I found an inexpensive lampshade, and now I have this beautiful lamp for under $20.

Last week when I was in our local Goodwill, I also found this cute lamp for $3. I have not cleaned it up yet, and I don't know what I am going to do with it just yet, but I also loved the lines of this little lamp.

Happy Friday Y'all

Lil' Cowgirl

Patsy (Emma's grandmother) made Emma a cowgirl dress for Christmas...complete with red cowgirl boots and matching hat. Here are a few photos of Emma sporting her new outfit. She was not interested AT ALL in this photo session. Just take a look...

the dress is really really cute though!!!

We start off with some major cooperation:

Then Emma gets really interested in a new necklace she got for Christmas...I think she is just trying to "get rid of me"!!!

Nothing quite like someone turning their back on you...

When all else fails, try sticking your lower lip out!!!

Wow...and for this one, all I can think is "Don't be a horse's behind"!!! Ha!

"The cowgirl faces life head on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses!"
~ Dale Evans (from The Cowgirl Cookbook)

yep...just like our Emma!!!