It's Boxing Day

Have a smashing time! 

Boxing Day Hunt
Source: Flickr

Thanks for perusing; I'll be back soon.
tIO x

Waiting Patiently

Patience is something I have been advised never to pray for. (And that suggestion comes from someone who also never uses the word 'never' or ends a sentence with a preposition.) Alas, some of us are not naturally inclined toward it and therefore have to either pray for patience or acquire it through osmosis.

I prefer to 'practice' patience. Currently, I am practicing with this:

It arrived in my mailbox today. However, I am waiting until the day after Thanksgiving, aka 11 more days, to plaster it to the glass side door. Of course, I then will practice additional patience, aka 5 days after that, to begin hanging the 'ornaments'. *sighs*

Wherever did I find such a clever thing? The lovely ladies of Willow Creek Signs created it! After 'Wonderful Graffiti' - my online, go-to wall decal shop - closed earlier this year, I'd been looking for its replacement. Unsurprisingly, I ventured onto Etsy. As ever, I am glad I did.

For this 'Advent Calendar' design, they offer four styles of trees:

And for all of their wall decals, they have literally dozens of colors from which to choose! I do like choices.

Oh, look!  *checks clock*  It's Tuesday already! 10 more days...

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!   tIO x

More designs from Willow Creek Signs:

   

Happy is as Happy Does

As a little blog in the blog pond, I am always surprised when someone comments or follows. So when I was recently paid a high compliment by the lovely Jeanne at Collage of Life, I was humbled, honored, and delighted. Jeanne's blogs are full of encouragement and beauty, and are a wonderful respite on any day. Thank you, Jeanne, my 'blog warrior' friend, for sharing your inspirations. Oh, how I do love an award with cupcakes! x

When receiving an award, one is instructed to do the following:
1. Post-back to thank the person who recognized you. Naturally, etiquette is observed.
2. Offer 10 things that make you happy. Though I've noticed straying from that number is acceptable.
and 3. Pass along the award to 10 bloggers who make you happy. Which may not be such an easy task!

So, in an attempt to respect the set limits, here are "10 things that make [me] happy":
Laughter
Reading
Finding a good math curriculum
Myst
My boys, who aren't 'things', and their tromping through mud, flying arrows, skinned knees, voracious appetites, and flashing eyes
French toast, lemon bars, and potatoes
Wit
Exploring
Design
The color red

Now, it is my happy honor to pass along the above award to the following bloggers, each of whom is a delight for their kind words, sweet thoughts, and good times:

CapeBags
Chatting at the Sky
Daily Violets
Earmark
High Street Market
Home Girl
Marymcdonald
Pillar Box Post
Sweet Puffins
The Indomitably Courageous U

Glancing through my blogroll, it is replete with wonderful reads from diverse, happy people. For those so inclined, please peruse to your heart's content! Or as my husband says: "So many blogs, so little time, huh?" Exactly.

Here's to a happy day, blogfriends!   tIO x

Sequins on Her Wristbands

Inexplicably tied a la Elliot and E.T.
Intangibly bound despite the cut cord.
Apron strings wind around my heart like the laces of her pink Chuck hi-tops.
Sing to me. Send the volley over the net.
Show me your frustration - your courage - your joy.
Inimitable style. Indomitable character.
First call. First friend. First love.
Covering a multitude of sins.
Nobody's perfect.
And I'm not getting another perm.
Thankfully.
Yours.

Happy birthday! ("KMF's gonna rock you!") By-the-way, here's how we wrapped your present:


Hope your day is wonderful!   tIO x

Hey Everybody it's Pancake Day!

It's Shrove Tuesday, aka 'pancake day', aka my pancake-loving mother's favorite day!

If you are not heading out to a traditional pancake breakfast, perhaps you'll want to stay in and try this recipe, a favorite at our house:

OATMEAL-BUTTERMILK PANCAKES
2 cups old-fashioned oats or quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional melted butter (for brushing skillet)
Lingonberry preserves (optional)
Fresh blueberries (optional)Whipped cream (optional)

Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl. Whisk buttermilk, eggs, 1/4 cup melted butter and vanilla in medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients; whisk until blended but some small lumps still remain. Let batter stand to thicken, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover batter and refrigerate.

Preheat oven to 250°F. Heat heavy large skillet over medium heat. Brush skillet with melted butter. Working in batches, ladle batter by 1/4 cupfuls into skillet. Cook pancakes until bottoms are golden brown and bubbles form on top, about 2 minutes. Turn pancakes over; cook until bottoms are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet. Keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing skillet with more butter as necessary. Serve with lingonberry preserves and fresh blueberries and whipped cream, if desired. Makes about 20.

(image via charms4you on Etsy; recipe via BonAppetite, August, 1999)

Batter up, blogfriends!   tIO

PS: My lovely mother generally eschews the berries for cinnamon chips and maple syrup. True New Englander/Southerner that she is. xx

"Good Day, Sunshine"

I awoke to this:

Which was followed quickly by this:

And then this appeared:

Sincere thanks to the lovely Town and Country Mom for the honor; I am giddy with delight! 'The Sunshine Award' is "awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world." How encouraging! And as received, my instructions now are as follows: 

1. Post the award on the blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees in a post.
4. Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blogs.
5. Share the love and link to the person from whom you've received this award.

And so with delight I pass-along this award to the following engaging and inspiring bloggers:
CapeBags

Charlie and Sarah Blog

Collage of Life

Content in a Cottage

High Street Market

Home Girl

ModernJune

Pigtown Design

Pillar Box Post

Preppy Player

Social Climbers

Wellies Make the World Go Round

Have a good day, sunshines.   tIO x

"Come with Me"

A little bit of happy on this Friday:



Have a good one.   tIO x

Something Bold, Something to Drink...

...Something Witty, and Something Pink! New customs for a new year; let's begin, shall we?

Something Bold - 

'Bright and black hallway', LivingEtc - February 2009

Something to Drink - 

"Anyone for Pimms?"

Something  Witty - 

"From now on, ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I shall not put."

Something Pink - 

Monica Vinader Opal cocktail ring, theOutnet.com


Happy New Year, lovelies!  tIO x

Happy 2010!

Welcome, New Year; we've been waiting for you! So, pop the cork, and feast your eyes on these bubbly Etsy delights:


'2010' champagne lollies from Vintage Confections


Hand-dyed silk yarn in 'Pink Champagne' from thefiberdennlace


'Petal Rim Bowl' in champagne and blue from StudioElan


'Bubble Locket' from PersimmonTree



Recycled 'Bubble Up' Soda Bottle Glasses from YAVAglass



Pink Champagne Cake from DessertNetCafe



'All About a Pink Champagne Bow Clutch' from DavieandChiyo


Here's to health, happiness, and joy to you and yours in 2010. Cheers! from tIO x

Banner Day! with meringuedesigns

It's the Monday before Christmas, and it's a 'banner day'! Let's celebrate with the wonderful Etsy shop, Meringue Designs.



Cynthia Winward is a SAM of three who " found (her) passion in life" through sewing. When she left finance to raise her children, she also reunited with her serger and that's when things came together. Literally! Drapes, quilts, jackets and clothes for the children and for herself. And now she creates pillows, embroidery, patterns, and - of course - celebration banners like this one:

The best thing about this banner, though, is that it's for sale as a pattern - an "entire alphabet in mirror image...for uppercase and lowercase letters". It is a supplement to her 'Birthday Banner' pattern, which includes instructions for constructing the banner itself (also available in her shop). Wonderful, especially for those of us who like to 'make do and mend' - and create!

More loveliness from Meringue Designs:

  

Meringue Designs is a lovely shop and Cynthia writes an engaging blog, "Deep Thoughts by Cynthia". Reading through, Cynthia is not only "additcted to color", but this little tidbit caught my eye - and made me laugh-out-loud: "There is something ironic about being a seamstress and yet hating to sew costumes for my kids. I swear I can’t be bothered." I love that irony! And finding a terrific shop full of great fabrics, gorgeous pillows, and amazing banners - like Meringue Designs.

Time to wrap-it-up, lovelies! Here's to a great week - and a banner day!  tIO x

PS: Happy birthday, Tim!

Five days and counting...

The anticipation is ramping-up in our house.

Carols are the random song-of-choice, and daily we hear the exclamation: it's almost here! Indeed.

Our shopping might be finished, but the chore of keeping the presents hidden remains. We don't have snoopers, which is a good thing; but it is tiring.

And I end up having weird dreams about camels traipsing through the field and into our back garden.

Today's conundrum: Will the traditional 'Christmas pajamas' arrive this year? Or will we be left with a "ships after Christmas" promise?

Future conundrum: Is the idiom 'happy is as happy does' legitimate? Is it, in fact, an idiom?


Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon! And happy Christmas, kringles!  tIO x

Mid-week Music: Sara Groves "Toy Packaging"

Another Wednesday is here! And it's time for some mid-week cheer, courtesy of the lovely Sara Groves. (And it's set to flashing Christmas lights! Ooohh... But don't get too distracted by the shiny lights; these lyrics are inspired. Sara speaks words of wisdom yet again!) OK, now press play:



Christmas Lights PBL - Sara Groves ~ Toy Packaging from robogeek on Vimeo.

Best line: "Honey!"

Happy Christmas! And may your toys be easily opened. tIO x

PS:  Last year, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos echoed the "wrap rage" described in this song. This year, Amazon is offering "frustation-free packaging" on many items. Visit the previous link for the F-FP homepage on amazon.com, and do notice the offer's sub-title: "Reducing wrap rage since 2008." Clever, Mr Bezos; and thank you so very much.

Santa, Baby...

"Dear Santa,
I've been an awfully good girl this year. And any (or all) of these lovelies would be welcome under my tree:

1.2.
3.    4.5.
6.7.   
8.   9.10.

11.   12.    13.
14. 15.


1. Suzanne Kasler: Inspired Interiors 2. Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall: The Garden 3. Birdsong Farm Botanicals: French Clay & Herb Facial Scrub 4. Laura Mercier Sheer Lip Colour: Sexy Lips 5. Pride & Prejudice DVD (Olivier/Garson) 6. John Adams mini-series DVD 7. tsurubride's 'Orwell Silver Fox Clutch' 8. HighStreetMarket's 'Pair of Vintage Brass Candelabras' 9. fussjewelry's 'All That Glitters' earrings 10. Tissage's 'Tuesday Cloche' in grey felt 11. plumcushion's 'Schumacher Chenonceau' cushion in charcoal 12. 2swansNest's 'Scallop edge Cashmere skirt' 13. 'Vintage Volupte Bookpiecce Bangle' offered by SheriesVintageJewels 14. 'Mitsouko' 15. NEVES for DS

Not to be presumptuous but I've included the links to the shops for you, jolly old sweet Nick. Hope that helps.

As ever, looking forward to next Thursday evening. I'll leave the 'milk and cookies' in the usual spot.

Gratefully,
tIO x"


Today's conundrum: Will he read this? Will he click-through? Will any of these gifts find their way to me (or to you)? *places hands on hips, raises eyebrow*

Future conundrum: Do they know it's Christmas after all?

Thanks for perusing this blog; blog you again soon!

Banner Day! with Earmark

Hear ye, hear ye! Earmark is today's 'banner day' feature, and is a wonderful shop run by husband-and-wife team Bridgette and Mike Berndt. Technically, I suppose, Earmark is the umbrella brand because these two have two Etsy shops - Earmark, their "mother shop" which stands alone as a traditional stationer, and Earmark Gatherings, their "new" shop "filled with fresh and fun party items".

Here are the two Etsy shop banners to start:




As I said, Earmark is a stationer, and a very talented and clever one. They design and sell most traditional paper products, e.g. cards, stationary, prints (like this one I bought), journals, invitations, announcements, etc. And, of course, they produce some terrific banners. Like these:

I may have featured some seasonal banners, but these are the tip of the proverbial iceberg for what Earmark creates and stocks; check-out this one:


Bridgette and Mike are lovely people who create lovely things. And they have turned their passions and talents into a lovely shop for the rest of us: "We have an obsession with paper products, and we cater to the customers that share our obsession."

Do they do custom orders? Yep. Wholesale? Yep. Are they available online? Yep - and not just at their Etsy shops, but also http://earmarkinvitations.com/ (and other online retailers). Bricks-and-mortar? Yep - look on their website for locations. Blog? Yep - http://eigreetings.blogspot.com/ Twitter? Yep - http://twitter.com/Earmark. Go on and click through any of these links to find out how Earmark "creates happiness", some of which looks like this:

      

That's is for today, kids. I'm off to either 'keep calm and carry on' or 'freak out and throw stuff'!

Make it a banner day!  tIO x

PS: Want to read more about Bridgette and Mike? Their interesting tale of life before and since Earmark was posted in May, 2008 as an Etsy "Featured Seller" Story: read it here.