Christmas.. Christmas Time Is Here..

Are any of you constantly singing Christmas music?  I'm am driving my hubby nuts with it!  I just can't get the cheerful songs out of my head!  I just love this time of year.  I love to celebrate my Savior and the gift that has been given to us all!  I love to spend time with family and friends and eat and gather together!  I love to sneak around and shop for things that will put a huge smile on my loved ones faces.  It's a time to GIVE!  To give love.  To give peace.  To give hope.  And to give gifts!  Just a great time of year.  We really should keep all of these gifts going all year long!  

So thought I would share just a few pictures of my tree this year.  It's just a simple theme of red, white and gold!  I actually bought and used the snow spray for my tree this year.  It's a very light coat, so a little hard to see in these pictures.  It's definitely not like those heavily flocked trees, which I LOVE!  Maybe I'll add more to mine next year!  So here is what I came up with for this short season!

 I picked up these cute little lanterns a few weeks ago :)  They definitely add the character I was looking for.

 I found this adorable little red sleigh at a thrift store for a few bucks!  I am so glad I snagged it!  I kept my wrapping paper to a red white and natural paper theme.. 

 I decided to decorate a couple of my daughter's presents by hand!  They turned out pretty cute :)  The girls love them!

 So there you go!  Our Christmas Tree and all it's warmth and goodies :)  Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Linking up at:

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Confessions of a Plate Addict - The Scoop 

Winter Woods Mantle Decor

So I finally made the transition from fall to winter in my home!  I started with my mantle.  I wanted something I could leave up for the whole season.  So I strayed from the Christmas theme, minus the stockings, which will come down after Christmas. ;)  I decided to use the color scheme of white, evergreen, and natural woods.. It's simple but rustic..which I love!  

I used my mix matched creamy white candlesticks, along with some evergreens in a classic white pitcher, more evergreens in a rustic natural basket, and some driftwood.. I love the colors.. the green keeps it alive, but the white brings a hint of winter!

 I hope you are having a lovely winter's day and feel a little inspired to decorate your own mantle!  Thanks for stopping by!

 Linking up at:

Coastal Charm - Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Confessions of a Plate Addict - The Scoop 

Custom Benches.. and a New Restaurant In Town!

 I was recently commissioned these two custom benches!  Their new home is this cute little restaurant called Hello Dinner, located in Boise, Idaho.  They specialize in making delicious and healthy ready to eat, gluten-free meals!  And I can confirm, they are delicious!  They deliver too!

Now, onto the benches.  They already had this cute black and white dining table, so my job was to match that look!  They ordered two of the Rustic Providence benches.  These are so sturdy and heavy duty!  I sealed these with the Deft semi-gloss poly urethane. 

They are a perfect match!  Thanks for the work ladies!!  And thanks for visiting everyone!  

Tablescape..

Holy cow!  This season is just flying by!  I feel like I'm saying that in every post.. ! But it really is.  I have been so busy with work and family and life, it hasn't left much time for me to post!  So here is my Thanksgiving Table from a week and a half ago!  It was simple yet charming.. I thought so anyway! :)

 

I started with a simple white cotton runner, layered with random pieces of burlap.. These were honestly just leftover scraps!  I wanted to achieve that textured look, so it worked well.  Next I placed a few cream pumpkins I had laying around, and some other sparkling gourds.  I then layered in sunflowers and white carnations, a few candles for a touch of "ambiance" and the serving dishes and platter.

I decided to use these gorgeous sea glass colored goblets!  I bought these for a dollar each during the summer and hadn't had a chance to use them!  I LOVE them! 

 I used all white dishware, and a beautiful set of silverware that I bought for a dollar at a garage sale this past summer!  What a steal!  Seriously, if you've never garage-saled it up, you're missing out!  ;)

  

Well that sums up my Thanksgiving Tablescape!  Lot's of cream, white, natural colors, and punches of sea glass blue and yellow!  Have a lovely day everyone!

French Inspired Chalkboards & an Oak Trestle Table

Holy Cow!! Is it really the day before Thanksgiving??  Is it just me, or does anyone else out there feel like this season is just flying by as we blink our eyes?  Although I feel like its going too fast, I am SUPER excited for tomorrow!  I crave this dinner several times through out the year, and usually end up making it a few weeks before Thanksgiving, I know I'm crazy!  But that's how much I love it!  

Okay, now onto the chalkboards.. I made a few new ones a couple days ago and just took them to the shop yesterday.  Making chalkboads is actually a really easy process, especially if you make multiple at the same time.  I usually bring in a big work table, and set up my workshop.  So for my chalkboards, I pick up a 1/4" 4x8 sheet of masonite board.  You can find this at Home Depot or Lowes.  You can measure your frame openings ahead of time and have them cut to size.  They are really great about that!  Next you need to grab a quart of the roll on chalkboard paint.  You can use the spray cans as well, but I have never used them, so I stick to the roll on, plus it last me a long time.  Grab a small hand roller and some small foam rollers.  I roll on three coats, letting it dry in between each coat.  So for the frames, you can find frames just about anywhere.. home decor stores, garage sales, thrift stores.. I love to find a great deal on one that I can make my own.  After you have three coats dry, you can then pop it into your ready frame and secure it as necessary.  So pretty simple once you done one.  Here are a couple that I finished up.. I love each of these, and they are all SO different!

I painted this frame in French Gray color that I mixed up myself.  The frame already had the gold on it, so I left it showing and rubbed some paint off to show more on other areas.. I love how this one came out!

I love how different this frame is below.. It turned out to be the perfect chalkboard!  I added the writing and buck on Picmonkey ;)  Love that website!

This smaller frame turned out lovely as well.. It's painted with a pretty green and then I rubbed a homemade white glaze on it.  So pretty!  

I have had this old window sitting around for months and finally layered some French Grey and a creamy white painted finish.. added the chalkboards and here she is! 

Now, onto the table!

I picked up this solid wood oak trestle table last summer and finally got around to refinishing it a few days ago.  I had originally planned to do a white wash to the whole thing, but went in a completely different direction as you can see below!

I love the turned legs on this table.. they are pretty substantial and solid too!

I have some wintery decor throughout my shop now.. it's so fun to be able to change it up from season to season :)  We finally got the second wall built on my addition, now I need to paint it and the ceiling.  They will be painted a creamy white, and I'll leave one of the walls bare to show the beautiful barn wood.

Here is a console table I built a few weeks ago.  It's a chic French looking table with dainty fluted turned legs and a tea stained top with a white washed finish.  I'll post more on this table later and my building and finishing process.

This is the wall that will be painted white.  

Well, that sums it up for the latest around my shop!  I hope each and every one of you have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving and have time to just relax with your families!  Thanks for stopping by!
 

Cinnamon Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Glaze

 Mmmmm!  My house smells of fresh cinnamon spiced pumpkin!  I've never made Pumpkin Bread before, but thought I would give it a go today.. it's chilly, kind of cloudy.. the perfect kind of day to make Pumpkin Bread! 

 I absolutely love this bread recipe!  I have used  this same recipe for Zucchini Bread, Banana Bread, and now Pumpkin Bread.  I just change out whatever the main flavor is supposed to be, and it's worked for me so far!  So here she is, the easiest, most moist bread recipe:

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

3 tsp ground cinnamon

3 eggs

2 cups white sugar

3 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp ground nutmeg

1 29 oz can of Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin

Glaze

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup powdered sugar

4 tbs milk, for thinning

For Bread

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  Sift together flour, salt, soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice.  In a separate bowl, beat eggs.  Add and mix well sugar, vanilla, and oil.  Add your pumpkin to the egg mixture.  Add dry ingredients, mixing really well.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

For Glaze

In a small mixing bowl, soften cream cheese.  Add powdered sugar and vanilla, mix well.  Thin down to a pourable consistency with milk.  Mine took about 4 tbs.  Drizzle on top of your pumpkin bread and ENJOY!

Doesn't this recipe make you want to curl up in your jammies and a blanket and sit next to a fire?  Maybe that's just me ;)  I hope you give this a try!  Thanks for stopping by as always!

Linking up at:

Confessions of a Plate Addict - The Scoop