Lovin' A Little Sparkle

I know I love my bling, and I try to tone it down but at Christmas I can't help it. I go all out - full blown sparkle. I think I love the sparkle so much mostly because we always have alot of candles lit and I just love the way the light reflects off the sparkles.


So here's how my mantel looks this year. Scroll down to Cozy Corners post to see how it looked before.



My house is mostly decorated in warm colours but I just couldn't resist the combination of silver, pearly and irridescent whites with some accents of light blue. I love the ethereal look it creates.I also love texture, so I'll be on the look out for some white feather trees.




My youngest daughter Angelique and I did this together. I am amazed at what and eye she has at 10 years old. She lets me know when it doesn't look right and if it get too cluttered....and she's always right. Alot of this mantle is just rearranging what we had. We traded the picture on the mantel for a mirror that we had on another wall. Our new purchases this year were only the light blue snowflakes, the garland and the two silver ball candles.










So this Christmas, add some sparkle to your life but be sure to have candles and mirrors nearby to reflect the beauty of the light.

May a little grace touch your day,

It's All In The Packaging

Went to the post office today and this is what I picked up. This delightful little package:

If I'd bought it at a store I would have brought it home in a plastic bag with a piece of tissue paper if I was lucky. But I bought it from here http://www.thehopejar.com/ a delightful little store that I found online.


Also included was this vintage label:


Once I'd unwrapped the beautiful packaging, this is what I'd actually ordered. Don't you love it ? ......an antique ceiling tile .....with my favourite fleur de lis . I can't get enough but I used restraint and only ordered one.


And to top it off, this magnet of the the Seine River in Paris was also included.


In this high speed processed world, a thoughtful gesture, a personal touch and a little beauty make all the difference to soften our day.

May a little grace touch your day.

The Fragrance Always Remains In The Hand That Gives The Rose

The Fragrance Always Remains In The Hand That Gives The Rose

I love this quote.

We all know someone like this: a selfless friend, a selfless grandpa, a selfless Mom, or a selfless coach - that no matter how busy, no matter what's going on their lives, somehow find the time to give to others unconditionally.

Friends like Gail - who didn't even miss a beat and donated her kidney to her sister n law in need.

Friends like Michelle and Peter who pitched in and helped us empty our old house so a single Mom and her kids could move in.

Coaches like Mark Kauhane that would do anything for your kid.

This post is dedicated to all those humble people that quietly go on giving without expecting anything in return.

.....I know the scent of all the roses you have given will always linger in your palms.

May a little Grace touch your day.

Friday Fill In

I always love reading these on other blogs and getting to know other bloggers so here's my first one:


1. My blueprint for success includes LIVE WELL, LAUGH OFTEN,LOVE DEEPLY
2. Pure milk chocolate from France was the last candy I ate.
3. The best facial moisturizer I've ever used is Vichy.
4. Laughing with girlfriends can be good therapy.
5. I'd like to tell you about what I'd do if I ever had any time to myself.
6. My friendliness and loyalty are my strongest characteristics.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to - not much - I have to write report cards all weekend, tomorrow my plans include writing report cards and Sunday,I'll want to take a break from writing report cards!

Cozy Corners

It's a cool, grey fall day. The trees are almost bare with blankets of yellow leaves at their feet. Feelin' cozy today - the perfect day to grab a cup of tea and a book and sit in a cozy corner.

In my home , I love to make litle cozy corners. Maybe it's because I'm used to composing with paint and a canvas. But I think it's the same process. I love the whole deal. It's all about layering, texture, and a well loved focal point.

Here are a few cozy corners in my home:










This is my mantel before I move into Christmas mode. This is the first year we've lived in this house so I have no idea how I will decorate it for Christmas but I know the fall colours will be gone. Although my house is warm colours, for Christmas I want weathered whites, creams, irridescent colours, mother of pearl, silver and gold, mercury glass and touches of light blue. That's only on my wish list though .... may take a few years and another job to make it the mantel fo my dreams LOL. Anyway, I'll be sure to post a before and after pic of the mantel.



Truth be told, I am at the dining room table now, putting off writing 23 report cards and surrounded by Oh Henry wrappers which I stole from my Kids' Halloween bags.
I guess the cup of tea in a cozy corner will have to wait.


Andre


Alyssa on the left - she says I can't borrow her costume cause the skirt is too short and it definitely won't fit - truth hurts!


Angelique



May a little grace touch your day.

....Been doing a lot of reflecting lately about this "Carousel of Life"





My carousel seems to have been going on warp speed with me hanging frantically on as life blurs by. A lot of things happening in my life right now are not within my control. I really have to force myself to live in the moment and refocus - refocus on what really is important.


I'll leave you with my favourite quote that's been on my bulletin board behind my desk in my classroom ever since I started teaching. Hope you enjoy it.


To Laugh often and much,
To win the respect of intelligent people,
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends,
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better,
Whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition,
To know even one life has breathed because you have lived,
This is to have SUCCEEDED


May a little grace touch your day.

Blogging Styles Quiz

Go ahead and take the blogging Style quiz. This is mine.

Your Blogging Type Is Thoughtful and Considerate

You're a well liked, though underrated, blogger. You have a heart of gold and are likely to blog for a cause. You're a peaceful blogger - no drama for you! A good listener and friend, you tend to leave thoughtful comments for others.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

True Confessions of Blogger ADHD

........so I think I seriously have a problem. My daughter recently watched me spin circles in my classroom, end up the place I started and hadn't done anything - even forgot what I started to do while I flitted from one thing to another.
That's when she said "Now I know where Andre (my son ) gets his ADHD from"

I know I creativity is a curse for me and 100 ideas pop into my head simultaneously but I had never considered that I had ADHD. I mean, I'm on the other end diagnosing it.
And when my girlfriends send the email about Housekeeping ADHD - the one where you start your day in the kitchen , get sidetracked end up in the garage, get sidetracked again end up in the bedroom and so on...all day long and have nothing to show for your work at the end of the day - it hits a chord with me. I mean, that happens on a regular basis.

But when I watched how I read blogs this morning I knew I was in serious problems and that my daughter just might be right.

First of all, I'm relatively new to this blogger thing - I really have very little time for myself and the kids always steal my computer anyway. So I didn't even realize what a world of bloggers there were out there. But I'm totally loving it.

So it started like this:
- somehow started with the BLAH BLAH blog ( I think - but don't remember)
- Pressed a pretty little button that looked like this:



- was totally thrilled to find this blog - added to my Blogs To Read daily - which had 75 - but now has 76 , plus the three hundred others from The Secret Is In The Sauce that I should leave comments on.

- mosied on over to the post or blog of the day - Food Glorious Food
Read the post but got sidetracked by this pretty button:






- pressed that pretty button and ended up at another blog where you can post your favourited picture - added that log to my list - now have 78 - don't remember the other ones I added

-tried to get back to the blog I was on but had lost it when I had posted a comment - but still don't remember on what blog

-went to my explorer bar to view History to find out where the *bleep* I was

- found out I was at Food, Glorious Food - reading the three posts I'm supposed to read and comment on for this:

- Read and laughed at her Most Mortifying Moment

- looked at the 100+ comments for Food, Glorious Food blog - linked to a new blog that sounded interesting ...........................

- started thinking - now I have no idea what blogs to follow - the funny ones, the decorating ones, the crafty ones.

- realized that I now had low blood sugar cause I've been blogging for two hours and forgot to eat. Got up (yes- out of bed) - wandered into the kitchen - realized that life had gone on without me - hubby and son had left for hockey, two daughters were still sleeping. The dog and cat were hungry - the nerve of them.

Thanks goodness it was till only 9:00 am and I still have a day left - this could get embarassing. It's no wonder I don't paint anymore.

Please - someone tell me - Is There Therapy for this?

Feeling Grateful

Us Candians in the North celebrated Thanksgiving this weekend - one of my favourite celebrations. I love to have the family over to our house and do the traditional turkey feast with stuffing and all the fixings.


It was heartwarming to look at my family and friends this year and realize how grateful I am to have them in my life and how lucky and blessed my family is.

The different stories and happenings in their lives are all woven into our own tapestry.
Of the guests this year :
My brother had a stroke last year so we were thankful to have him still around
His wife and family of seven kids are struggling but due to their faith, always find a way to make ends meet.
My sister n' law's Dad was with us this year - but we had all just attended the funeral of his sweet wife recently so it was a bittersweet first Thanksgiving without her.
My friend and tenant also joined us ......but she too was alone as she had just separated from her husband.
My mom has lymphona cancer, so we were thrilled that she was feeling healthy enough to join us.
However, for an afternoon , we were all able to forget our trials and just enjoy good food, good wine and good company as "family"

They truly say at then end of our life the most important thing that we will look back on is the realtionships we've made with family and friends.......and I say Amen to that.


Some of the 12 children there making a Thanksgiving craft.


Us Canadians in the North just finished our Thanks giving weekend.

A Few Of My Favourite Things

When I chose the colours for our new house I chose to embrace the view of our forest and decorate with muted warm tones........but deep inside I still love combining romantic whites and creams with a little bit of sparkle. They give off such and ethereal quality.
I'd love to do a whole house liked the ones you see in magazines but the setting of our house just wouldn't suit it. So I've kept the muted whites to our bedroom. Your bedroom is the first place your supposed to create a little sanctuary , but of course, ours is still a work in progress. I have precious little time to spend on it , but if I focus on it bit by bit, I'll have my little sanctuary.

Here's my favourite armoire with bits and pieces of things I love in it.








Two pictures that I want to decorate my room around. I just love the peaceful feeling they give off.


One of my most precious momentos - the antique baptism gown all of my children were baptised in . My husband and I shopped for that when we were expecting our first. The image of us going through the antique stores to find that is still imprinted in my mind. The dress is well loved and worn with many tears in it now ......but it means so much to us.



May a little grace touch your day.