Home Bloggers & Happy New Year!

When I started this blog, I didn't know a thing about a "niche" or even that my blog would someday fall into some type of category.  I started writing simply because I was going through lots of changes in my life like being newly married, pregnant, and building a home.  To top it off, I suddenly decided that I wanted to stay at home when my baby arrived and quite unexpectedly left my job.



I needed a place to connect with other women and was delighted to find this world of blogs and bloggers who were interested in the same kinds of things as me.  Welcome to the world of home bloggers.

Modern Jane

Small Shop Studio

Casa Greer

It wasn't really until I went to Blissdom that I even realized how many different types of blogs there were.  Basically, if there's a hobby or business or sport, there are people who blog about it.  At Blissdom, the "home bloggers" were definitely in the minority.

Rambling Renovators

The Fabulous Design File

I have come to have a special place in my heart for the "home blogger."  A home blogger graciously and courageously opens her home (which is synonymous with her heart) and shares it with the world.  We share our not only our decor failures, successes, and dilemmas, but also can't help but letting pieces of our relationships leak out into our blog too.

Schue Love 

Ten June  

And we get to know each other.  

Sixty-Fifth Avenue

I feel like there is a special intimacy and closeness in the relationships we've formed with the home blogger through our readership and comments because of the intimacy of looking into each other's homes.  It's as if we are being invited in for a cup of coffee and a chat.  I know that when life gets busy and I haven't had a chance to "stop by" I miss it.  Like I miss seeing a friend in real life.

A Thoughtful Place

Michaela Noelle Designs

Our homes are decorated with love, and although we may not be trained interior designers, we rock some pretty great personal design.  We bounce ideas off of each other and take comments to heart.

Hi Sugarplum!

Courtney Out Loud

Decor Chick

Brooklyn Limestone

A La Mode

To all you home bloggers and home creators and home lovers,

Light bulb moment, New year's eve inspiration

So, New Years Eve tomorrow. Yaaay! I am heading off to see a great friend in the countryside which I'm so looking forward to. Are you having people over? If so, how about these festive ideas with lighting or stars. Simple but beautiful. The perfect way to bring in 2012....

Picture: Wikstein studio



Picture: Varpunen. Lights: Granit

FruFly

The setting in the picture above was created by the wonderfully clever Norwegian blogger, Heidi, at FruFly. Visit FruFly for more inspiration for your New Years Eve table!

Thank you so much for reading my blog in 2011, you've made me super happy! I'll be back with a beautiful home to show you on 2nd January. Happy New year!

Bath time!

With all the frenzied christmas shopping, decorating, baking etc behind us what we all need now is a little R & R (relaxation & recuperation) before the new year. And, seriously, I'm voting for one of these baths with a roaring fire to keep me cosy.

Picture: Nu by Staff  Woman

Picture: Via Brown Dress with White Dots

Picture: Via From Moon to Moon

 Tomorrow I'll be back with a little inspiration for New Years Eve! Have a lovely day!

Our Christmas 2011

Our Christmas this year was so fun with James, who is now 21 months old.  Christmas Eve we always spend with my sister-in-law and her family, eating, playing with kids, and decorating cookies for Santa.  These small cousins in their Christmas pj's melt me:)

James loves to sit on this couch in his cousins' play room.  He's got his best Gabba Gabba friends with him. 

We began Christmas morning with our traditional sour cream coffee cake.

We didn't overwhelm James with gifts, but he definitely understood the concept of opening presents this year.

We had a low-key Christmas dinner at our house, complete with crab cakes, beef tenderloin, sautéed mushrooms, and roasted carrots, onions and potatoes.  Dessert was fudge, brownies, and assorted cookies.

  I hope you enjoyed your holiday too.  Are you looking forward to the new year?? 

Oh Deery me!

Hejsan, hejsan! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas? I went home to London with my little family. We stayed near a park with lots of beautiful deer which inspired me for this post. No home would be complete this winter without a deer. I love these 'ideers'. Deery deery me, just lovely! Ok enough...(to many crackers?!).

Ahhhlala

In my house

2modern

Via Utop-ian (Pinterest)

I think a friendly faux deer will definitely be a new addition to my home this winter. Any tips on great places to hang him/her?

Oh and don't forget to enter the competition to win a wonderful picky pic picture for your children's room. You have several more days to enter here and it's sooo quick and easy- how about the deer one?!

Back in a little. Kram!

Down Time

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays.  I am taking some time off this week to enjoy the family, I hope you are getting to relax as well.  

And for those of you wondering, Harry (dog) will make the card again next year.  This year it just wasn't possible.

Merry Christmas

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful, toasty, Christmas!

Picture: Via Castles, Crowns and Cottages

I'll be back with a post on 28th December so pop by and say hi!

PS Don't forget, to enter the competition to win a Pick pic picture. You can enter until 31st December here!

Christmas hugs! 

Wonderland

Via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Christmas Tree Lovin'

I have so enjoyed seeing all the Christmas trees that everyone linked up to our Christmas Cheer Blogosphere link party last week.  Trimming the tree really brings out the creativity and love of the Christmas season.  For many of us, putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it with ornaments we've collected over the years signifies love and puts us in the holiday mood.  I especially loved seeing y'all going to the tree lot to choose your tree and then the photos of the little babes hanging ornaments.  So special and sweet.



I had so many favorites that I had to narrow it down to 20.  You can go HERE to see all the links, nearly 200!  Thank you again for linking up!  Enjoy:)

11 Magnolia Lane  I adore the outdoor tree and the view of the lake. 

Peas and Crayons.  Her ornaments and photos were so bright and clear!

The Yellow Cape Cod. Such a pretty color combination for her young daughter's tree.

The Yellow Cape Cod.  The red is so festive.

Modern Maizy.  This flocked tree is the perfect compliment to the chic living room.

Songbird.  Rustic chic at its best.

Modern Jane.  Her full aqua and silver tree is simply stunning.

Diapers and Divas.  My heart melted at daddy lifting up son to put the topper on the tree. Daddy- don't fall off that chair! :) 

Forever 88.  Oliver stole the show:)

House Pretty.  This contemporary tree on branches is just awesome.  (not to mention the gallery wall)!

Decorgreat.  Love, love, love.

The Lovely Cupboard.  I adore the purples in the tree and the lovely wrapped presents.

Note Songs.  This bright tree with the bold ribbon really caught my eye.

Swanky Chic Fete.  Lilli's lime tree is beautiful all lit up.

Worley House.  I thought Andrea's photograph of the ornaments on her tree and the lighting was beautiful. And I liked seeing her reflection in the ornament.

Redhead in Ruffled Flats. How cool is this photo?!  Her ornaments were really cool too.

Plum Patchwork.  Holy cow!!  That's a 12-foot tree they trimmed to fit under the 9-foot roof!

Markham Street Design.  So pretty and I love the skirt and the natural wrapped presents.

The Family Room Design Studio.  The vibrant aqua and limes in this tree are awesome.

Mommas Me Time.  Stole. My. Heart.  

Look- in that first picture, little Ethan has his saw ready to help dada cut down the tree!

Thank you again for sharing your holiday memories, via your trees, with us!  

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There is still time to enter to win $100 to Channing & Co. (handcrafted jewelry).  Enter HERE!