kraft-y

All of these spooky snacks can be found at Kraft Foods.com. Don't they inspire you to make something fun and special, not to mention ooey and gooey?

geezy pete...

Can you believe it? NeSts...gone! Lucky Charm Bracelets...gone! The good news is that Deb is going to try to make me another batch of autumn NeSts. And Melissa is already working on more Lucky Charm bracelets. Yay!

Thank you everyone for making my evening so much fun with the flurry of orders. I love each and every one of you.

p.s. I love Oprah & Friends on XM...but I have to say that it is not meant to be listened to 24/7. There is an incredible amount of repeated programming. For instance this morning's Dr. Oz show is repeated from Monday's. And the same show, I think, will be repeated another 2 or 3 times today.

My second favorite channel is number 4 on the dial...the '40s channel. I know almost all of the songs, believe it or not. And it always gives me a thrill to hear Doris Day on the radio...that would never happen on regular radio.

AnnaBelle...

Introducing...




AnnaBelle Parfum

an aroma that embodies modern freshness as its vibrant fusion of sweet peaches and honeysuckle intermingles with a lush spring garden of fragrant floral petals.

etc.

So Sweet! Fleece scarf all curled up and pretending to be a cupcake!



Cute as a button, don't you think? Set of 6 button soaps, boxed up and ready to give!

halloween charm bracelets!

Melissa sent me five of these fantastic Trick or Treat charm bracelets! Aren't they wonderful? They are each a little different.

She also sent this autumn-inspired one...

autumn nests!

at the cottage...

The Cottage's first anniversary celebration is the weekend of October 6-9. I can hardly believe that it's been a year since that blustery day when I met (and fell in love with) the Cottage, Linda, and Ann. You are all invited to the first anniversary party. My friend Debbie will be there showcasing some of her autumnal decorations. And The Cottage will be chockfull of fabulous things.

Today, I worked hard all day sprucing up my room for the celebration...Want to see?

I think I know the answer...


















Tomorrow, I have LOTS of new things to add to the store...including, my friends, NeSts from Deb and Halloween charm bracelets from Melissa! Oh, and a brand new scent from Shelley Kyle. And a few more wonderful things...just you wait!

o o o oprah

I love Oprah. Have I told you that? So when she announced months ago that she is launching her very own radio channel on XM, I knew right then that I really must have XM Radio.

As a side note, my sweet friends, you should note that Rich is adamantly against having to pay for radio programming. He says all the time how ridiculous it is. And, until now, I've kind of agreed with him. $12 a month indeed adds up. And is it really worth almost $150 a year to listen to the radio? How ever wonderful it is?

It has been eating at me for months now. I needed to hear this radio programming, especially the broadcast of Gayle and Oprah's telephone conversations. That was my proverbial dangling carrot.

I even thought about just going out and getting it. I couldn't do it. While I certainly don't have to clear every purchase with Rich, he is so vocally and stubbornly against paying for radio.

I tried to be creative in ways to get XM without really getting it...The Cottage has it. I asked if they would loan it to me for a little while. But it's not that easy. It's a lot of wires and bits and pieces...more complicated than I thought.

Plan B? My friend told me that you can get a "boom box" where you can just plug in the receiver and make it portable. I thought maybe I could just buy the boom box and use The Cottage's receiver. This, too, is a little bit complicated since I would have to make sure I got the right kind of boom box for their receiver. I'm not good at this sort of purchase.

Plan C? Could I hear Oprah's channel online? Last night, in a sort of panic, I was searching XM's website to find out. I signed up for the free online trial but it didn't seem to be on the line-up. I called their hotline and was on hold for a full hour. Finally I got a person on the line, only to find out that this person knew only what he could read in the little manual and, quite unfortunately, this fellow was not at all a fast reader. And there was something about his lack of confidence in his answer that fed my frenzy.

So after witnessing all of this creative-problem-solving-met-with-brick-walls, Rich turned to me from his reclined, television-watching-position and said (with a little scowl) "Put your shoes on." Off we went to Circuit City. And today, I am a very proud (if a little guilty) XM radio listener. Oprah's channel premiers in just a few short hours. I'm as happy as Christmas.

friday field trip

new do...

What you can't see in this picture is that my hair is short everywhere else. I'm still getting used to it...it makes my head much smaller, without all the bulk of my hair around my crown.

I'm off for a day of fun with my sugar. I'll report back...with pictures...maybe tonight.

half birthday

Today is my half-birthday! I'm 35 and a half!

I don't have a picture to show you and I know you'll want one. I got my hair cut today. It is a bit on the edgy side. I had to swing by Debbie's house afterwards just to make sure it wasn't too "out there". She said that it is definitely creative and artsy...but most of all "hot". That's also what Dusan kept saying as he was cutting it. Rich says he likes it and that it's different. I know he doesn't love it but that's okay too. Just so he doesn't hate it, you know?

autumn nests

My sweet and oh-so-talented friend Deb handcreated these fabulous Autumn NeSts for me. Stay tuned. They'll be available soon at Inspire Company for $19.50 each.

They make the most delightful gift. I should know since I went absolutely ga-ga for it when she sent me one earlier this summer!

oh, it's on baby!

The Coat Challenge, as Alicia posted on her blog, is on. I hurried home from the Cottage to show you some of mine...

I love coats and I've missed mine all summer. This one is a fun one to wear. It's so swingy! I bought it years ago at an after-Christmas sale.

I got this cape last year. It's handmade and, while I do love it, I don't find it particularly wearable. I feel like I'm hiding under a tent. And it cost me small fortune. No kidding.

I just bought this one last Thursday. Nordstrom Rack for $35! I love the buttons most of all. The funny thing is that I bought the very same jacket for my sister for Christmas last year and paid full price.

I bought this last year. You'll never guess where...Target! It was really cheap. When I put it on the first time, Rich fell on the floor laughing. He thought I was joking. When I can muster enough nerve, I do wear it. And I ignore Rich's snickering.

As long as we're confessing things like coat obsessions, I'll make another confession. I am a recovering QVC-addict. It all started very innocently. Rich called one day, and in the middle of channel-changing, I had on QVC. He could hear it in the background and said that it sounded like a real office. Hmmm. I like the idea of sounding like a real office. Next thing you know, it's on all the time and I'm buying things like crazy. (I'm a really easy sell...don't even get me started on me and infomercials!) This coat was a TSV (today's special value) a couple of years ago. It really is nice and people ask me all the time if it is vintage.

My godmother, Aunt Martha, who is about 4 feet tall, routinely gives my mother bagloads of clothes to give to me (5'9"). She once gave me a trash bag full of lacy slips and underwear from the 1950s and 60s, including a pair of sheer panties with a poodle embroidered on it. I'm not making this up.
This coat was in a bag of moth-ball smelling suits. I sent everything else to Goodwill, but I like this coat (minus the fur! which sheds like nobody's business!) Maybe this year I'll find a way to clip off the fur.

I saved the best for last. This is my all-time, hands-down favorite coat. I bought it from Anthropologie a couple of seasons ago. I saw it when shopping with my friend Debbie. It went something like this: "Oh Amy! You have to try this on...it is so YOU!" "You think so? Okay" "Oh...My...God! Amy you have GOT to get that coat! It looks so cute on you!" "I don't know. I will think on it." A few weeks go by. I go back to the store and the coat has vanished from the shelves. Gone. Poof. I find it online. It is backordered for a ridiculously long time. So long that I forget completely about it until it shows up one fine day. My life hasn't been the same since. I am completely cute in this coat. Exhibit A

edible arrangements

I saw that one of these shops popped up close to my neighborhood...have you seen these?



Can you tell I'm hungry?

Oh, and Linda, Ann...remember that chocolate fountain? I'm just sayin'...

happy family

i ♥ shelby

introducing...baby shelby!

i'll meet shelby tomorrow...

Tomorrow morning my sister, Jessica and I will drive to our hometown to meet our precious little new niece Shelby. All reports indicate that she is healthy and sleepy and sweet as candy. She stops crying when she hears my mother talking and she has little dimples when she smiles. I can't wait to meet her. I just can't wait.

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures...hopefully one or two of her big brother Seth holding her. Won't that be cute?

brocade home

When I first checked out Restoration Hardware's newly launched Brocade Home they hadn't set up a catalog preview yet. Well, it's there now and it is oh-so-yummy eye candy. Seriously. Here's what I liked the most...







Rosanna and I are dying over these yummy jars. We're trying to figure out what is in them. I see the sliced fruit candies, and the jordan almond-type candies...I blew up the picture a bit so we could dissect it a little. Any guesses?



{All of these photos are from the new Brocade Home Catalog minus the embellishments.

The swirly doodles are by Susan McCormack from this kit, sales of which go to a very good cause.

The other little bits are from my friend mo jackson.

baby shelby! today!

My sister-in-law is in labor this morning. They are saying baby Shelby will be here before lunch.

When I talked to my mother this morning I could hear little Seth cheering in the background "my sister is coming today!" It was just the sweetest thing ever.

teddy bear rescue!

I'll give you the bad news, quick and direct, like ripping a band-aid off. The package that I sent to Rosanna in Italy is lost. Barring a small miracle, it will not arrive to her in time for her Teddy Bear Workshop.

Can you imagine? Poor Rosanna was beside herself. Me, too!

I've been working hard these past two days to recreate as much as I could, as quickly as I could. We changed the theme a little so that she could use these favors and cards for another event if the missing package turns up in time.

The theme: Dolci! I'm really happy with how everything turned out. I had to take these pictures outside, as the dark was creeping in quickly. Sorry they are on the grainy side. If I get a chance, I'll take better pictures tomorrow. I took better pictures...you may have to hit ctrl+refresh to clear out the old pictures.

domestic princess

I just adore this apron that arrived yesterday from my friend Kim over at Olive Juice and Company. What I love most about it is how it wraps all the way around and has such luxuriously long ties. It looks amazing over jeans. I feel rather June-Cleaverish (in the most delightful way). Can't you see me Hoovering the house with this sweet apron, pearls, and pumps?

I'm heading now to my craft room to clean up just enough so that I can mess it up again when I dive into a half dozen projects at once. I'll wear my new apron and put on a Doris Day movie and I'll be in heaven for sure.

Hope you're having a beautiful Sunday. Soak it in because Monday always comes too fast...

feeling fortunate?

I made something fun for the sidebar today. I hope you like it.

What is it? It's a random positive fortune creator...everytime you visit or refresh your screen, the fortune will change. Just a little something to brighten your day.

Got a fortune for me? Email it to me.

let's talk about that dresser...

This dresser was at a wonderful shop called "Details" on Maryland Avenue (which is just the cutest street to shop in Annapolis!) Details is full of "coastal chic" finds...lots of shells and seaside finds all presented in an oh-so-sophisticated way.

I am going to start looking for a piece of furniture to do this same sort of treatment to with buttons. I think I'd like to try something tone on tone...maybe paint the piece beige and use mother of pearl buttons.

annapolis

Rich was off today so we took a mini-break and spent the day in Annapolis...

mini swap

My swap partner Lauren sent me the sweetest package yesterday...

It's a little hutch with all the little things a dollhouse could ever need for Halloween. There's a bowl of candy, two little packages of candies, a trick or treat bag to carry the haul. There is a wonderful autumn leaf garland, a wreath, two pumpkins, and (although you can't really see her in the picture) a black cat! Oh, and best of all, a witch's hat!

And it all came packaged in the cutest little take-out box, which I'll save to store these goodies off-season...

The doll was a gift from my father this past weekend. My sister tried to squirrel it away from me (and yes, Jennifer, I know you're reading this) but she already has the most adorable family of dollhouse china dolls, complete with a father who has the most adorable pencil moustache.

a pram? thank you, ma'am

Just a little while ago, a lady came into the cottage (where I am today) and asked if I would be interested in seeing a pram she had in her car. Boy, would I!



When I dream of someday having a baby, I dream of strolling with the sweet bundle in a pram just like this. It's not practical, I know. But I love it. So when the lady named the incredibly low price, I said yes. And now it's mine.

I think that Rich will think I've lost my marbles when he sees that I put the cart before the horse, or in this case, the buggy before the baby.

p.s. Just wanted the thwart the question before it comes up...No, I'm not expecting a baby anytime soon.

for Rosanna

I've been working hard finishing up a bunch of things for my friend Rosanna in Italy. She's hosting a teddy bear workshop at her home in Italy. These are cards that I made for each guest. They are each a little different. I also made programs that list the event's schedule. And I printed and lined envelopes too. Whew!

drum roll please...

I bought this wonderful old drum last week and I decided it was just the thing to add much needed levity to my living room. Right now I have it sitting directly on the floor but I'm thinking it might look better if it's lifted just an inch or two up. I'm trying to decide the best way to do that. And I want to add a larger glass top which will sit up on the metal bits but I'm not sure it will be safe that way. Maybe I can put a little dab of that rubbery mirror glue to each of the metal parts so that it will be more sturdy. I have to think about it some more. As it is now, there's a round glass tabletop sitting inside the top of the drum.

Rich was so excited when he came home to see this new drum table. He said "Is that a drum? Can I beat on it?!" Of course!

My father has just finished another costume...this time a big bear. Just imagine how cute he'll be with this big drum and a humungus wind-up key on his back! When I told him this idea, though, he didn't seem all too pleased. And maybe I don't want to risk him getting to excited and, in his zest, putting a hole in the side of my table...I mean drum.

sweets party

For weeks now, nearly every day, I have talked to Seth on the phone, planning our "Sweets Party". We've conspired in whispers, discussing every detail of this celebration of candy and all things sweet. We talked about decorations and which is our favorite flavors and whether or not we should try to add the forbidden Coca-Cola to the menu. We planned when and where we'd buy the candy and even how...He'd pay the "cents", I'd pay the "dollars". We giggled and squeaked with joy while we whispered out our plans.

So when a hurricane swiped my hometown, the scene of the sweets party, I was a little worried. Could we have a sweets party without power? But how could I call this sweet little boy and tell him that he'd have to wait yet another week for me to visit and have the much anticipated sweets party? I couldn't.

And guess what. We had a wonderful time. We decorated lavishly with a curly-cue garland and a banner that said "SURPRISE". We went to the drug store to make our sweet selection. And since I can't seem to say no to this little Charlie Brown look-alike, we ended up with all manner of candy. Fortunately, he agreed to the plan to spread out its consumption over the weekend so that we can make the celebration last.

Seth had the most fun tricking me into eating the really sour gum that contorts my face. Also, he liked picking out the terrible popcorn flavored jelly beans, telling me that they were really truly cotton candy flavored, and then falling down with laughter when I discovered the terrible-tasting truth.

We did end up partaking in a little Coca-Cola...through loopydeloop straws, no less. Maggie, too! The delight in both their eyes, as we all three drank from special straws all at once from the same can, all of our heads together, was worth every bit of scolding I got later from their mothers. We didn't really drink too much because we were so busy giggling at our mischievousness.

Power came back on Sunday afternoon and we all danced with joy. It was fun sneaking around the house, lighting our way with tiny flashlights and reading bedtime stories by candlelight. But taking a cold shower, while invigorating, was not fun. And by Sunday we were just ready for the lights to work again.

I didn't take many pictures because I was so wrapped up in the festivities. But when Seth came running into my parents' kitchen with a bucket as big as him and a fish in it that he caught, of course I remembered to capture that moment.

Thank you so much everyone for lifting me up with your virtual trophies. How inelegant of me to request them, I know. But I sure am happy to have such a full trophy case, and so many wonderful friends to bolster my spirits. Thank you all so much. I feel very loved and appreciated.

mini-swap

I made this little tv, tv guide, popcorn box, and table for my mini-swap partner Jessie. Just as I was wrapping it up, I noticed that it was a little messed up. So I'm fixing it and sending it out a little late. I hope she likes it.

Here's how I made it: The tv part is a block of wood. Head pins made the perfect antennae, anchored with a little button. I printed out an image from "I Love Lucy" and glazed it with liquid glass (available at the craft store). I printed the popcorn box and filled it with tiny crumbles of styrofoam which I dotted with bits of yellow to make it look more realistic. The tv guide was just scaled down from an image I found online and printed out.

In other news, I realized today when I looked on their site and found that I didn't win the Plummy that I should never be an actress up for an Oscar. When I eagerly scrolled to the part of the page where they announced the winners, and didn't see my name there where I expected it, my eyes welled up with tears. Truly!

How silly am I? I do wish that I won it. Pink Loves Brown won and I knew the instant that I saw their sweet site that they'd win.

Rich said that he will give me a trophy that says "Best Miscellaneous Wife". Want to make me feel better? In your comment tell me what trophy you'd give me. Then I'll always have this blog entry as my virtual trophy case.

bon-bonnets!

Isn't this just about the sweetest thing you've ever seen?


Coming soon to Inspire Company and just in time for pint-size fall fashion, these hats are made exclusively for us. They feature a little bon-bon on top.

If you'd like to pre-order yours, click here.