West Elm Holiday Decor

Another one of my absolute FAVORITE sites/stores to shop is West Elm.  I would call it modern organic...if that makes sense?!  I have several accessories from there, as well as a desk I picked up when we were remodeling over the winter & I lost my office to the hubby.  I grabbed their Parsons Desk in white so I have my own spot in the guest room for doing "things"...although I have yet to use it.

Anywho...they have some really cool holiday stuff... 

These ceramic owls are adorable, I can picture them with my decor this year.

I LOVE this faux moss wreath & tree.  Very organic feeling with a little modern twist.

I have yet to buy a tree skirt after over four years in our home now.  I think this faux fur one is PERFECT for my style.

I love these scalloped trees and they look great mixed with the mercury glass shown below.  This is essentially what I'm going for - organic pieces mixed with pops of silver & shine!

They also have a variety of paper mache/newsprint ornaments, garlands, and holiday decor.  The first is the David Stark Twig Topiary and the second is the David Stark Sphere Topiary.

Also check out their paper mache bird, newsprint tassel, and newsprint dove & leaf stems - all developed in collaboration with artist David Stark. 

And this multi-colored glass garland is adorable - I had to mention it because I found similar colored glass garland at my local antique store.  You'll see my antique version in an upcoming post of more Christmas decorations.

*All photos are courtesy of West Elm's website.

West Elm never ceases to amaze me - they always deliver modern yet organic feeling decor.  They are one of my absolute FAVORITE places to shop!

~E

If you have a sensitive stomach...

Don't watch...OK, WATCH...

Sorry it's so dark - I was really just trying to take a "cute" picture of Bentley & Christopher sitting together and when I realized my flash wasn't on, I also realized I was recording...at JUSTTTT the right moment!!!  All you really need to see is the projectile vomit and it's light colored so it shows up nicely. ;)

Trying to figure out how to get these videos at the right angle/vertical...but having trouble...I'll figure it out...in the meantime just turn your computer sideways. :)

~E

Nutcrackers!!!

I have a crafty tip for you care of my loyal follower, fellow blogger, & good friend Nicole.  Here we go...

West Elm has adorable nutcrackers for sale, and they are for a good cause!  When you buy a Novelty Nutcracker $5 of the purchase price of the Small Nutcracker will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while $10 of the purchase price of the Oversized Nutcracker will go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Who doesn't want a nice, modern nutcracker for their holiday decor?!  So, although your money will go to a good cause, apparently Christmas Tree Shops sells natural color nutcrackers that you can paint yourself - for $4.99! 

{Photo courtesy of West Elm}

So I guess I would encourage you to buy a West Elm Novelty Nutcracker or make a donation to St. Jude's (or your favorite charity for the holidays).  And maybe if you're feeling crafty head over to Christmas Tree Shops and pick up one to paint yourself, too.  The best of both worlds - it is the holiday season after all, so open that pocketbook and make a donation whether you buy from West Elm or craft your own pretty nutcracker!

~E

Snowballs...

I showed you these snowballs last week from Anthropologie...a set of eight is $20 (plus shipping I'm sure)...

Enter JoAnn Fabrics again...since I'm very Mom-ish these days (although I have not yet picked up knitting or crocheting).  I picked up a few inexpensive packages of white styrofoam balls - the largest package included two for $2.99.  The price went down from there.  I picked up some 3M brand styrofoam spray glue, and then a bag of faux snowflakes A.K.A. "Frosty Snow."  I did not prepare very well for this - the weather was crummy so I used my mudroom and I just basically got after it with no thought or preparation.  The most I did was line a cardboard box with a trash bag and fill it with "snowflakes" so I could put my freshly covered glue balls in there and shake them around.  Essentially, here's what happened...

This is what I can show you but I can also share the level of "highness" that happened from spraying chemicals in a small mudroom with no ventillation!!  Here are my snowballs drying in their box of "snowflakes"...



And here they are all done!

So, although they look nice, let me tell you what NOT to do:

1. Do NOT spray glue or other adhesive chemicals in a small or unventilated space. If you absolutely MUST, wear a mask! DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

2. WEAR GLOVES!  Did you SEE my hands?

3. Definitely use WHITE styrofoam - all of the snowflakes will not stick, and they do make a mess, so to get that white snowball look spring for the white styrofoam balls instead of the green ones.

4. If you can hang the balls to get a really even coat of spray glue, I would advise trying that instead of hand-holding them and rotating them while you spray, like I did.

5. Did I say wear gloves?!!!!

If you heed my advice, go for it!

~E

Strazz-Land Holiday Goodies Coming Your Way...

I have been diligently working to get all of my winter decorations put together for the little man's upcoming Christening (we are hosting a BOATLOAD of guests), as well as his first Christmas (even though he won't remember...).  You've seen the front porch and a sneak peak of my wreaths, but stay tuned PLEASE because over the next several days I'll be showing you all of my hard work!!

Until then...

~Mrs. E Claus

MAC Cosmetics...

This is for someone special South of the Border...

I can't resist MAC Cosmetics.  I've loved their makeup since the college days when Miss Alisa Loretta Conchetta first showed me her monstrosity of a makeup suitcase full of MAC goodies.  And then I was hooked, it was all downhill and the college "book money" either went to beer, clothes, or MAC makeup.  Sorry, Mum & Dad!  But I turned out OK, right?!!!  I guess the verdict is still out.

Anyways, I'd call myself a MAC whore.  Sorry for all you G-rated people reading this one, forgive me.  There is no other way to say it.  I'm a sucker for MAC and for Benny Moore paints...yes, random.  I was so lucky that my cousin's friend works for MAC and she did my makeup on our wedding day, plus the entire wedding party, both Mom's, and Chris' Grandma.  (I LOVE me some Cynthia! If you are ever at Solomon Pond Mall - see if she's at the MAC counter and buy whatever she tells you to!  If you are on Facebook, check her out HERE). 

So, being in kind of a Mom slump I hit their new store in the Natick Collection a few weeks ago - I really needed a zhush (Carson Kressley, anyone?!).  This is for Alis, who asked me from afar - South of the Border in Mexico - what I bought so that she could scope it out as soon as she hit the U.S. border for the holidays...

One of these.

And one of these.

And this lil guy in Spice. Except I lost the first one and had to buy another.  BOOOOO.

And a couple of new lipsticks.  My new FAVS are: Cut a Caper and Myth.  Also love High Tea but I've been packin that one for awhile now.

OHHH and for those nights when I really feel like hitting the club (?!) I got this guy. Undercurrent is FABULOUSSSSSSSS.

Last but not least I needed a new foundation - enough coverage without being too heavy or cakey.  I opted for the Face and Body Foundation.  My pasty Irish skin is an N1.

Alis, I'll be waiting for youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...

~E

Friends Don't Let Friends Blog Alone...

This is just one of the many reasons I love Mrs. Greenan A.K.A SloB...

http://nycslob.blogspot.com/2010/12/rita-hurley.html

ily

~E

P.S. AGE - I'm calling you out here, you'll love B's stuff...

SMILEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I know I'm a proud Mom and all, but COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN...LOOK AT THIS FACE!!!

Say cheeseeeeeeeeee!

~E

My Christmas Wreaths...

I was stuck as to what to do for wreaths this year...last year I bought boxwood wreaths and they were very pretty but I wanted something different.  I stumbled across these twig wreaths I had purchased maybe 4 years ago - for the first fall in our home.  A fresh coat of silver spray paint and tadaaaaaaaa...

On the front door...

On an inside door...

Some silver spray paint, a little bit of jute, and these gorgeous glitter peace sign ornaments I scooped up from Pottery Barn last year.  I love using what I have!!

~E

PROJECT = Antique Oak Cabinet Turns Red

I've been waiting to post this little gem, so here 'tis!  This was an OLD oak cabinet my mother-in-law found on the side of the road and had sitting in the basement of the Cape house for a long time.  ENTER = ME.  It was pretty beat up and needed some knobs but I took it home and gussied her up.  Sorry, no before pics!  I think they are on the other computer which is DEAD at the moment.  I used some tomato red paint and a light minty aqua (the same color as Bentley's nursery).  I added some glass pulls from Lowe's and two aqua knobs from Anthropologie.  And then of course I distressed the CRAP out of it - sanded it down a lot to show some of the original wood, and got some nice chippy corners.

Most of the other pieces of furniture I've refinished have been either white or some variation of white - except for a few chairs that I've done in different green shades and another set in turquoise.  This one was a risk for me but I'm happy with how it turned out, and its a nice contrast to the dark walls in my hubby's office. 

Have a great day!

~E