Happy Halloween and a winner!

Happy Halloween

Thanks for playing Shutterfly Holiday Card Giveaway. 

The 25 Holiday gift card giveaway goes to... Jennifer at

All that Glitters, send me your email please and I'll send you the code to use when you place your order.

Thanks everyone and enjoy the kids tonight.

Shutterfly Holiday Card Giveaway

I was so hoping Shutterfly would do their Holiday Card Promotion again.  And then just as I was thinking  about it, I received and email to join their promotion again this year.  Yay for me and you too!
Check out their Christmas cards selection here.  Don't forget to check out the give-away at the bottom of this post. Sorry I tried to download better pictures.  Some of them came out fuzzy.

Maybe Halloween cards.

One of my favorites below.

You know you want some.  So start taking those family shots now.  Go here to Shutterfly.
It is so easy.  I have had my account with them for about five years.  I love the comfort of knowing that if something happened to my computer, my family pictures are stored elsewhere for me.  I can access them from anywhere.  One of the features I use most is that I can send pictures to the Grand-parents in another state to their nearest CVS/Walgreens or Target for them to pick up when they are out running errands.  They love that just as much.  I have also made numerous photo books from special occasions and trips.  I gave photo books of our family summer vacation as party favors at my Mom's 75th birthday party.  Everyone was thrilled.

Now the great part, you too can win 25 free holiday cards.  Just head over to Shutterfly and then come back here and leave me a comment with your favorite pick.  Let me know you follow me and you get a double chance at winning.  I'll run the contest until the 31st of October, 2011.  Plenty of time for you to take that great shot to include on your holiday card.

PS ~ if you are in the Dallas Area - here is a photographer running a special on family fall photo shoots.  Beautifully Blessed Photography.  Her Fall mini session information is here, but might be full by now.

Take me to your next party

No bake chocolate mini pies.

Buy these

fill them and top them

Serve them and say thank-you to all the compliments you will receive.  

Really, I took them to work for the Susan G. Komen Bake Sale.

You can tell people it was a lot of work if you want to lie.

You just scoop Nutella, about half a teaspoon full (Nutella at Costco, two large jars for the price of one small jar at your local grocery) in the already baked Fillo shells (which you keep a supply of in your freezer, for emergencies) and then top with chopped pecans (that your mother-in-law gave you) and voila.  I'm thinking toasted coconut sprinkled on top at Christmas would look like snow covered chocolate!

You impress the socks of people.  Tell them it's Lori's secret family recipe.

PS ~ I did bake these for about 7 minutes in a 350 degree oven, I thought it would melt the Nutella a bit, but no change, so skip that part.

Sharing with
Meal Planning Magic
It's a Keeper
Holiday Sweet Swap
Crazy for Crust
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday  Coastal Charm

Just me and Annie

I finally broke open my new can of Annie Sloan paint.  My first two projects turned out pretty good.  I still don't have the layering technique down really well yet.  

I have been using this old sewing machine stand as a bedside table.  Perfect height and size.  But, I didn't like the look of it.  I bought it maybe 15 years ago for $25.00 at a garage sale and really used it for sewing back then.  

This step stool/table is a Pier One purchase from long ago too.  Scratched and water stained and ready for some Annie Sloan paint.

I purchased a new color, CoCo at Round Top, TX.  See here.  Lily Lane Home from Waco, TX was set up and selling all colors.  Robin gave me some wonderful tips and a secret that I will be telling everyone at the end of this post.  So the secret will be out of the Annie Sloan can.

Here is just one coat of CoCo below.  It does what everyone says, paints on easily and dries super quick.

As soon as the first coat dried I added a second. I really think the second coat brought out the true Coco color.  Hubby calls it grey.  It really is more of latte color to me.

Then a tea stain layer of Ralph Lauren I already had.

Here are two practice examples that Robin from Lily Lane Home told me about.  Left side is tea stain and rubbed off while wet to show wood.  Right side is one coat of slightly dry AS paint and then a water brushed finish no rub.  It gives a white washed look.

And here are the two pieces waxed, distressed and waxed once again.  Robin's tip was to wax first then sand edges and then wax one final time.  I used SP Johnson paste wax and hand rubbed.

Before/after
Much better, don't you think?

Now the secret if you haven't already heard.  Annie in person, will be coming on a US tour in March.  She has scheduled one of her stops to be in Texas.  You can check with Lily Lane Home for more information as they hear more.  Also, Robin tipped me off on a new color in the making, Barcelona Orange. It is being tweeked, they released a first run but weren't happy enough with the results.

I'm happy with my results.  Two more tables are waiting in the wings for their turn.

Sharing with:
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Wow us Wednesday with Savvy Southern Style
My Romantic Home 
No minimilist here, Open House Party
Farmhouse Friday, with Laurie Anna's Vintage

My first can of Annie Sloan paint

Now what to do... I found a whole truck load of her paint at Round Top, TX Antique Week.
Robin from Lily Lane Home in Waco had set up this booth.  She gave me lots of tips too.

I think my project this weekend will include a few tables and just maybe my mantel.  

I bought a new color CoCo and the newest accessory.  A pour lid.  Lily said that everyone was complaining about the paint hardening around the top of the can.  They now have these lids they sell.

She said to give a piece a distressed look you can paint one coat and then sprinkle with water and wipe.  Or if you want to sand paper the piece, do that after you paint and wax.  

A new color is coming soon called Barcelona Orange.  She has ordered it, but it is not here yet.

Hmm... Lily Lane Home doesn't have a blog yet, but you can find the store in Waco in Spice Village.
Robin gave me no discount for the referral.  She is a very sweet lady and I told her I would let people know where she is, tell her you saw her stuff here if you pay her a visit.

First fire of Fall

and I was feeling a little witchy.

Thanks to my witchy friend Jane for my fun napkins.  

The Big Fat mirror project

Redo a bathroom, save 4 x 6 foot mirror 'cause your daughter wants to use it.  Look at mirror in garage for six months.  Buy wood and look at that for three months. Paint, cut, glue and done.

She hammered it up a bit, primed and painted. 

Measure and head back to Home Depot because you need two more inches off each side and you don't own one of those fancy smancy saw things, like Mandi does.  Take your super cute daughter along and smile at the nice guy and ask to "please, can you cut some more wood off?"

Glue was fun!  Let dry for about three days.  Let sit in the dining room for a week more, just because you are afraid when you stand it up, everything will slide off.

Simple project complete in 1,2....199 steps. 

BIG FAT MIRROR

Notice I wore black for the picture, very slimming.  Left the room messy just to be more real life.

See how huge, heavy and wonderful.

Special shout out of thanks to son-in-law, Michael who knows how to miter cut.

Thanks Michael.

Sharing with:
Primp your Stuff Wednesday

Fall Bridal Shower Brunch

Six hostesses, lots of lanterns and pumpkins.
Three Moms and our daughters hosted a bridal shower brunch for Candace.  All four girls cheered together and have remained close friend.

Warning a ton of pictures, hope you make it to the end.

The little white lanterns served as place cards and favors.

Candace, Bride-elect and our Hostess gift.  

Here are the four high school buds.  Ann Marie is my daughter, in the orange dress,  and then next to her, the first one of them to be expecting is on the right, Jessica.  Claire on the left and the party was at her Mom's house.

Candace loves animal print, so we added a bit in the ribbon on the roses.  Old frames painted white made a great accent at the bottom of our table vignettes.

Even the fountain got in on the action.

Colleen's gorgeous home was a fabulous back drop for everything.  

Candace again, I think she enjoyed herself.  You may recognize her, after high school, she went on to be a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and a L.A. Laker Girl.  Fabulous dancer!

Before/After

It was tons of work, but so fun getting to spend time with these ladies again.  Hope you enjoyed a peek at our soiree. 

How I painted the pumpkins white, look here.
How I primped the napkins, look here.

Party here with
Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP
At the Picket Fence
2805 and Potpourri Friday
Laurie Anna's Vintage
My Favorite Things
The Charm of Home
Funky Junk Interiors
Seasonal Sundays