yo! yo! yo!

Isn't this cute? My mother made a little forest of these yo-yo trees for Inspire Company.

To order one, click here.


If you'd rather make one yourself, I think I can convince her to give us instructions. Knowing my mother, they will be thorough! I'll post them here next week (if she decides to give them up!)

a little at a time...

I (finally!) put my Christmas tree up this weekend. Little by little, it's beginning to look like Christmas around here. Time was slipping through my fingers and I decided on Sunday that it was then or never.

I love these old Christmas balls! I bought them all at once a couple of months ago from the space in an antique store of a magazine stylist. I looked everywhere for the crystal bowl from Tiffany's, a wedding present, but then sadly remembered that it broke this summer. But I do like the charm this Haviland bowl lends to the vignette.

This little elf was my favorite ornament growing up. I just love how he's snuggled down into the shoe.

Rich and I have a little Christmas tradition. Every year we go to Neiman Marcus to buy a special ornament. Then we have lunch at the NM Cafe. I'm nuts for their monkey bread and strawberry butter. Just thinking of it is making my mouth water. NM puts little charms on their ornaments noting the year. Also they present them in the most wonderful gift boxes.

We have yet to get this year's ornament...maybe this week?


On my way back from the cottage last week, winding through the back roads, I stopped at a nursery and bought the most beautiful pink poinsettias. Just two of them filled my backseat! I just love them...I love to sit close to them and just take in their beauty. The secret, the lady at the nursery confided, is to let them dry out completely before watering them...and then to drench them. Here's hoping that they survive my black thumb.

inspiration

Thank you all for your wonderful words of comfort about Daniele. I will most definitely pass them along to my sister-in-law and her family. Daniele was such a wonderful little girl. Just to give you an idea of how special she was, she would often hurry home after school to do her chores and clean the house before her mother got home. Can you imagine?

I thought you might like a dose of Monday Inspiration...ready?



Tell me, my friends, isn't this an inspiring picture? Wouldn't it be so much fun to make a Christmas tree like these?



And check out the fun puffs of smoke coming out of the chimney in the shape of pom-pom trim! Oh my, what inspiration!

And look at this...it makes me think of my friend Rosanna. I think she will flip head over heels when she sees it...



And this...you know I love this...



All of this inspiration and even more can be found at Doodlebug. You'll love it.