Happy Holidays!

Ivan, Seamus the hulk(my Godson), and his twin sister Molly.

It's that time of year.......

Happy Holidays!
Love this song......
Nancy Wilson's - Christmas Waltz
I found our new Christmas Tree at Cliff's on Rte. 1...
I have always wanted a 1950's Aluminum Christmas Tree, and I guess everyone else does as well, because these suckers are priced between $75.00 - $300.00 on e-bay and in vintage shoppes!
I love Cliff's because when they have a sale, they have a sale. The tree was priced $40.00 which was a steal...but the booth had a 50% of sign! $20.00 Score! I have some vintage ornaments that I found at yard sales......It's simple, it glistens, I love it!!!! When the sunlight hits it, it is an amazing play of light....
My son Ivan is not so impressed..."Mamma -trees are green, and real".
hhmph....


I also pine for all things "vintage japan" Christmas.... spaggetti trim is a bonus!

I am totally loving my reindeers!

and my bottle brush trees. I made the two on the upper left.

Grouping like things together makes a nice impact - says Julie the Interior Designer.
Happy Christmas Decorating.................

ugg is for uggly!

I have never understood the appeal of ugg boots....honestly, I think they are the most under designed boot on the market. The lack of curve or sculpture to the boot, along with the sole and exterior stitching just makes me go BLLAHHH.
My friend Becky wants to get a pair....so I have found 2 pairs that I think are pretty nice, and acceptable for her job (not that she will get these...what she likes about uggs are that they are like wearing slippers all day). hmm.


I like these uggs. I like the color, the sole is much better...
the boot has some shape and great stitching.

I like these uggs a lot.....super cute, and fun! Love the buckle! dress me up...dress me down.

I love boots......here are some of my favorites.....


LOVE these boots by ECCO....so stylish and you know they are comfortable.



Frye just came out with these beauties.....I can just smell the leather now.....for a mere $650.00 you can smell too!



I love the stitching and design on these boots...I also think the shape of the toes is very nice....these are by Naot - Illusion.

school and cake

Hola...it has been a while since I have posted on this blog. I get crazy busy at the beginning of each semester, with getting my syllabus and lesson plans done.

(this is the building where I teach)
I am teaching 3 courses this semester, Technical Illustration, which is going great, the students are very good, most haven't missed a class and for the most part they all have great attitudes....which was nothing like the first semster when I taught this class.....my first college class ever....I know the students could smell the fear...and some went for blood...those stinky bastards!
I am also teaching Interior Design which I love, this is my 3rd semester, and the students get better and better.....It's a hard class...I have students with many different ability levels....and it seem i never have enough time to get with all of them during class.....I think next semster I will change my class size from 22 to 15.
I am also teaching Introduction to Visual Art....tons of fun. It is a very laid back class....The first project we did was mail art, and postage stamp design...they all came out pretty good.....This one was my favorite.
..
This is the view out of the windows in the building that I teach in....It's fabulous...
I need to get a better photo!


(the building...it use to be an old boat house....)
you can check out my SMCC DESIGN blog...there is a link on the right.

Tonight is my friend fawn's 40th birthday party......
I want to bring an appetizer and could not get inspired by anything normal, so I made a lovely dessert platter out of Little Debbie snack cakes......
we have moon pies, oatmeal pies, jelly rolls....and I did have swiss rolls but Ivan has been eating those...

isn't it lovely? I added red hots, chocolate chips, and candy sugar...then dusted a bit of powdered sugar on it.....
I know Fawn will love it.

Fabulous Accessories

must have money...must have accessories!

Scarves are it this year...this one has great colors!
free people scarf

these would be great with my FRYE boots!
free people over the knee socks


I soooo love this purse!
lucky hippie hill bag


great for shopping! sling it across your body, and your good to go!
Fossil Weekender Crossbody Bag

I love the colors and design!
free people coin purse

I LOVE the BEATLES! This charm bracelet is soooo cool!
Abbey Road Charm Bracelet

these earrings are so delicate and wonderful!
sunshine through the rain earrings

day 1

my calves need to go on a diet!


check out my new pimped out ride.....

I think this afternoon I will go for a ride on my newly pimped bike with my new boots on!

Birthday Thank You

Now that I am 40 years, 1 month, and 2 weeks old.....I must say things are going quite smoothly...especially now that I have my....
NEW FRYE BOOTS
there is nothing that I can't face in these beauties......(I have been waiting to post this blog so I could take pictures of me in my boots.....since it's been hot and rainy all boot expeditions have been put on hold - stay tuned for boot images!)

Thank you to all of my fabulous friends
who pitched in to get me these must haves for mid-life(some friends couldn't make it to the weekend.....but we had a drink in all of your honors!).

We had a great girls get away at Goddess Deirdre's camp on Sebago Lake....

Deirdre was an amazing hostess....the accommodations were great, the food was amazing! She also got me an amazing sterling bracelet engraved with "Goddess - 2008". Deirdre is one of the most giving and generous people I have ever met! You Rock! She also looks really good when she gets out of bed in the morning.....spooky!

Becky, as always was a great party organizer......and she brought a huge whoopie pie cake.....yum. She was the master mind of an amazing relaxing birthday weekend. BRAVO.
My lovely friend Lisa
came all the way from Long Island...and was the lucky friend who got to snuggle in bed with me. She got there pretty late Friday night; walked into a room filled with people she didn't know and fit right in!!!!

Tanya as always was very entertaining....
lots of hysterical stories...as always, and she parted with a fabulous vintage set of cookie cutters.

Shelley made me the most fabulous rugs for my bedroom. They are the best rugs because they go into the wash, and come out looking like new. I know they took her hours and hours(thank you!!). Here is Shelley's on-line shop where she sells them.

On Saturday, I was surprised with a visit from my ole' friend Linda Lou...she is hysterically funny, and we had a great time telling stories from when we were young and wild.
Since I forgot to take a picture of Linda I put this one in......
this is a picture of Linda when she came to visit me in New Orleans......need I say more???

Then my high school friend Carrie

came toting a fabulous bag full of items to
"pimp my ride"... my ride being my new fabulous cruiser bike......

Crazy Fawnderella came and as always was the life of the party.
doesn't she look like a super model in this photo!


Jen came,with her pug - Lilly...
who hands down is the noisiest dog on the planet...but provided lots of laughs.
Joy came she was pretty quiet, but always has a great comment to add, and was a great addition to all the fun!

We drank lots of fruity adult beverages, and sat in chairs(we finished off a gallon of vodka in one day!).

Lisa's daughter Lauren called, and asked what we were doing....Lisa told her..."I sat in the low chair for a while reading, than I sat in the taller chair to eat, then I sat in the other chair, but it wasn't as comfortable as the first chair so I moved back to that chair." Crazy!!!! But it sums it up.
Here is Becky eating cake....she can eat more cake than anyone I know!!! Seriously, I would vomit, and end up in a sugar coma....she can eat ridiculous amounts....Freaky!
and of course who could forget Chelsey
(major passer of gas!)....Deirdre's younger sister....this is the position she took with most of us at least once during the weekend......this time I am the lucky participant.
Thanks to everyone!!!!!

purl soho fabrics

tar-gea'

Target has amazingly stylish furnishings for a fraction of furniture retail costs. Here are some of my favorites......