Eat, drink and who's Mary?

I just made up a batch of these for friend gifts. All you need is one can of black-eyed peas.  Trappey's is the best.  (Kroger was sold out).  Wrap, ribbon and a few poppers or a party blower would be great.  I got the idea here at Miss Janice's.

Also, I thought you would want to see the napkins I am using.  Poor Mary.

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Top Six for 2011

I thought I would share my top posts from this year.  The top six that readers liked.  Why six you may ask, because five just wasn't enough.  

Will start low and work our way to high!  I was pretty amazed when I looked back.

Everybody loves a craft project.  My bride and groom signs were a big hit with 422 views.

Second place, with 466 views
My Bathroom Makeover for $200 dollars.  Well worth every penny.

Also, party people out there loved the fall bridal shower that we had for one of my daughters cheer/best friends.
624 views.

Someone Stop Me Please!  People love little creamers obviously.  I was pretty surprised how close to the top this post was.
1053 views.

This almost tied the creamers.  My IKEA towel apron project.  You can view the tutorial.
1061 views.

I'm very proud of my top post for the year, our home!  I call it Comfortable Traditional.
4338 views!

Thanks to everyone who follows along on my little ol' blog.  It has been pretty fun this year.

Happy New Year early!  Who knows what next year will bring.
Lori

Silent Night

Be still and listen

Lori

Merry Christmas 2011

These are the moments

That we create memories

That we share with family and friends

That we remember and are grateful for that one incredible moment that started it all...

One incredible moment... one new star...sent to save us all.

Merry Christmas


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My Romantic Home

Three Pixie Lane inspiration

I so loved the post at Three Pixie Lane by Christy.  She said I could invite you over for a look here.

Then shopping yesterday, I saw this ornament and decided to re-arrange my kitchen stuff.  I had everything already, the ornament is the only new item.  Check out my before and afters and now my kitchen has a new look for Christmas.  Bright and cheery every where you look.  Christy basically uses red, white and black. 

The ornament first, by Glory Haus

Now I'll show you each area before and after the tweek to each one.

Island ~ before/after

Tray ~ before/after

Tea Towels ~ before/after

Corner counter ~ before/after

Stove backsplash ~ before/after

Chair ~ before/after

I did not need to change my hanger full of aprons or santa's on my black shelf.

The table centerpiece with my inspiration piece.  Thanks Christy, I love my changes.

Centerpiece before/after

Merry Christmas, now I am off to window shop only, I am done buying gifts!  Lori

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Bows are "it" this season and Aggie lights

Napkins I'm using this holiday!

Bows are "it" this season

snowflakes and Red is the new black.

Hope you are having fun too!

Enjoy this Aggie War Hymn Christmas light house in Frisco, TX
Whoop!

Aggie War Hymn House Christmas Lights

Pecan Tassies

Every Christmas I make about 8 batches of these little yummies.  Easy and terrific tassies.

I even made them a little bit healthier this year (if that is possible) but I used half regular flour and half whole wheat flour.  

Louisiana pecans ya'll.

Find a Pampered Chef rep and buy one of these wooden tools.  Only way to smash the dough ball to a perfect shape and saves tons of time.

Pecan Tassies

Pastry

combine

1 cup flour

1 stick butter (softened)

3 ozs of cream cheese (I used reduced fat)

Roll into 1 inch balls and press into mini cupcake pan

Filling

1 egg (whisk)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup brown sugar

dash of salt

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup chopped pecans

Fill each mini muffin cup and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15-17 minutes until they begin to brown. Makes 24.

Eat, gift them and enjoy!

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T~shirt blanket and college memories all sewn into one

It might look easy, but it is a lot of work.  

The first step was to cut t-shirt squares.  We used 12 X 12 inch pieces.  Then numbered them once we got them in the locations Lynley wanted them.  

Next, Lynley ironed a light weight fusible fabric to back of each square to keep them flat and make them thick and easy to sew through.  The three inch crimson pieces of fabric were sewn around each square side and then long crimson pieces attached the five rows of three squares together.  Then I had to sew two long side strips on either side edge and the top part of the blanket was finished.

We used a piece of flannel fabric for the back, sewed the front and back together to form a huge pillow case and filled the inside with a flat piece of poly fill.

We tacked the front and back randomly to hold the poly fill in place.

I finished by sewing the bottom opening shut and we called it done.

We even got a Beat Texas weekend t-shirt in the mix.  

It is warm and comfy and we fight over who gets to be under it when we are on the couch.  Hubby wants me to make a king sized one for our master bed.  Uh - no.  You couldn't pay me enough to make another one.  It was a labor of love.  We figure about 10 hours total to make one twin sized blanket. 

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Kim at Wow us Wednesday
Michelle and Primp your stuff 

Little suprises around the house

I think part of decorating at Christmastime is having a new "something"  to look at in every room.  Even if you have had things since your first Christmas on your own or just found it last year, it surprises you to see them again.  The old things sometimes have the best memories attached to them.  

Let's wander around the house.

First up and most important - the Reason for the Season.

The barn is setting on an iron tray.  The nativity set was a gift from my mother-in-law years ago.

Around the kitchen I have a display of "Santa comes to Town".  Below is the first one of the series.  I made a politcal stand and quit buying them when they started to light them.  I'm sure my little statement really hurt the company.

My first holy family.  When we were first married and I didn't have one I went to one of those Home Interiors parties.  Do they still have those parties?  This was all I could afford, it was probably about six dollars. Love it still.

You can see the cake stand tutorial here that I made last year.

Did anyone else go through a counted cross stitch phase like me.  Obviously it was around 1979.

Fitz and Floyd tumbling Santa's and a silver bowl filled with vintage ornaments.

I really am not sure I should have the tiny nativity ornament next to this cute framed saying.

But it makes me giggle, the saying that is.

Peace on earth and goodwill to men, is what I really mean.