Blogger Secret Santa: Who are you???!!

This year I'm in a Secret Santa exchange with some blogger friends -arranged by Stefanie of Brooklyn Limestone- and I have NO IDEA who my {AWESOME} Secret Santa is!!!

Here is the list of possible culprits:

My Santa seems to know me so well!!  (Or maybe I'm really obvious to figure out????  hahaha)  But, really, when my first package arrived I was thrilled.  She's the best.  It was an itunes gift card (yipeeeeeeee-  I love to dance in the kitchen - or anywhere- to new music) and the most adorable little box of GREEN notecards.:

They'll stay in my kitchen where I'm always scrounging around for a piece of paper for grocery lists or notes.   (It's so funny but I can't believe how having this little box of pretty note paper has made life easier for me...  I know it should be common sense to keep paper in the kitchen but I never wanted to because I never had any that was pretty enough to keep out.  All the rest always felt like clutter.  So no more running around through the house looking for scrap paper to make lists for me!!)

Anyway, I was all happy thinking that was it.  But THEN, another package arrived.  ( !!! ) I tore open the package like a six year-old....  (getting gifts in the mail is awesome.) It was a beautiful Stella & Dot box...

{I'm using stella & dot as a clue...  I know some of those Santa culprits above are stella & dot ladies so I'm narrowing down my guessing pool.}

And this is what was inside:

{Seriously Santa???  You are amazing!!!  I LOVE YOU!!}

How did she know??!!  It's perfect and with green being my favorite color, I am going to wear this baby all the time.  (It is more green in person than in the pic if that didn't make sense ;)  It's so beautiful and (maybe it's the pregnancy hormones) but it made me a teensy bit teary.  Santa, thank you for being so generous & thoughtful. 

So...  now that you have seen the list of Secret Santas,  any guesses as to who sent me my package?  Also, I sent a little Santa package myself over to one of those Santas...  You can click these posts below to see the other gifts & make guesses.  If you follow the link to Brooklyn Limestone, you can also enter a contest with your guesses.  Have fun & I would really love some help as to who you think sent me mine so be sure to enter a guess in the comments section!! :)

4 men 1 lady *** brooklyn limestone *** bryn alexandra *** emilyaclark  *** house of smiths ***

the inspired room *** isabella and max rooms *** la dolce vita  *** making it lovely *** you stir me *** thrifty decor chick ***  tenjune *** lovely little details ***  young house love

Thank you again to my Secret Santa.





If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Italian Pots de Creme

 Image source: scanned cover Victoria Jan/Feb 2009

Did anyone remember this cover of Victoria magazine?  It featured these little Pots de Creme. 

I just so happened to see one of these little pots in the thrift store the other day.  I only found one.  It was $2.  I was really surprised to find it because it really is similar to the one on the cover of Victoria.

Pots de Creme refers to the custard dessert as well as the small lidded pots this dessert is served in. Pots de creme translates from French to English as "pot of cream".  Source: potsdecreme.com

This creme pot is made in Italy.  They could also be served as part of an Italian Christmas Eve dessert.  This little pot is getting wrapped up to go under the tree to my Mom.  She loved the pots on the cover of that Victoria.
May everyone have a fantastic Holiday filled with special desserts, great family, and friends! 

Sherry

 I will link this to:

2nd Time Around at A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

White Wednesday  at Faded Charm

What's It Wednesdays  at Ivy and Elephants

Wednesday Show Off  at Elna-Sudden

Thrifty Things Friday   at The Thrifty Groove 

Little Women and Tea

image source: scanned Victoria, Dec. 1994

One of the movies I love to get out and watch at Christmas is Little Women.  This 1994 version is the one I watch.  Victoria magazine noted the film with this small article when the movie came out.  

 image source: scanned Victoria, Dec. 1994

 image source: scanned Victoria, Dec. 1994

 And of course there are a few tea scenes in this movie.  Here is a screen capture of just one.  This scene is taking place with tea being served by Mrs. March when she has been called upon by Aunt March. 

So, to celebrate the tea scenes in Little Women I created a little tea too.

If the rest of your week is busy, Merry Christmas!  Thanks for joining me for tea here at the Charm of Home.
 Sherry

I will link to these lovely blogs, go and visit:

Table Top Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life

Tea Time Tuesday at Lady Katherine Tea Parlor

Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites

Tuesday Tea for Two at The Plumed Pen

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday  at The Silken Purse

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday at Breath of Fresh Air

Tea Cup Tuesday at Artful Affirmations

Tea Party Tuesday  at Sweetology 

A Return to Loveliness  at A Delightsome Life

Tablescape Thursday  at Between Naps on the Porch

The Holiday Whirlwind

I guess it probably seems like this every year, but this year seems extremely whirlwindish in terms of the holidays coming up quickly. 
At work, our past month (or 2) has been jam-packed with client installations & presentations and it has floooown: 

{mid-installation day in a living room}

{a dining room}

{sneakity peek of the adjoining living room}

{a master bedrom}

{a sliver of a family room}

{the neighboring breafast room with kids' art gallery}

{an almost-finished master bedroom...  will be sure to post a new pic with artwork, styling & new bedding}

...And there are a few more that I just can't post quite yet... but it's been ca-razy.  (And thank God for my assistant, Meghan.)

At home though, we've tried to take it easy and we've been leaving our weekends fairly open so we have time with each other.  I've been coming out of the first-trimester pregnancy coma and am almost halfway there till baby arrives.  (NOT that I'm wishing this time away...  I know this is the probably the easiest my life is going to be for a loooooong time ;)  But we've been slowly adding Christmas around our house.  One of my favorite simple ways to make the house feel festive is to put hack cut white poinsettias & place them in containers around the house:

{I mentioned last year that I'd seen it in an old Better Homes & Gardens article & it really is sooo fast & pretty.  It's the perfect 1-minute centerpiece.}

We also strung up COLORED LIGHTS outside our house.  I know, I know.  But the kids love them...  And I sort of do too.  (shhhhhhhh ;)

I'm extremely behind on Christmas shopping, as always.

..And...  we celebrated Justin's 2nd birthday last night with my parents & grandparents.   

 I can't believe how big my baby got!! 

{This is a picture of him just after triumphantly annoucing to the table "I'm two!"}

Above, that's his Pop Pop/ my step dad Tom  is making sure he doesn't dive off :)

We celebrated with a caramel cake sent to us by our friends at John Rosselli in Georgetown.  My mom topped it with rice krispy treat snowmen- oh my:

{As you can see, it's tough to have to blow out two whole candles.}

My little sister, "Auntie Morgan," is on the left holding Christian.

 

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying your own whirlwind.  I've realized that life never really does seem to slow down so you have to make your own moments to savor.  We've been trying ourselves & I hope you've gotten some in at your house too!!

If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

English Christmas Crackers

I found the neatest thing at the thrift store a few weeks ago.  I found new in the box original Robin Reed English Crackers. 

They had never been opened $1.oo for a box of 8.  I got two boxes.

Have you ever had the pleasure of popping open a Cracker?  I actually did a report about them in college but, had never seen a real Cracker.  The pop when you pull it apart is just like a cap gun.  Wrapped inside was a little package of party favors.

You get a notoriously silly joke or riddle, this one had a whistle, and a paper crown. 

It was fun to have a try at a real cracker.  I'll save them for the kids at Christmas.   This is a tradition that has been around in Britain for over 150 years.  (source: Robin Reed)
What fun traditions do you have at Christmas?
Sherry
 I will join:
Show off Your Cottage Monday  at The House in the Roses  
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday  at Coastal Charm
Tabletop Tuesday  at A Stroll Thru Life

Home Sweet Home #45

Hello and welcome to Home Sweet Home!   I am winding down the decorating but, I have been a little influenced by the German blogs with their natural materials and Shabby Chic/Nordic flair.  I can not get enough of the natural and rustic Christmas. 

My paperwhites started blooming today!  I can't believe I got them to bloom on my first try at growing them.
Last week's Home Sweet Home was another fantastic party!  Many beautiful homes with a lot of Christmas inspiration.   I am going to show more features than usual because I thought there was so many great decorating ideas for Christmas.  You all are so talented!

First, Elaine at Sunny Simple Life  showed off her adorable kitchen cabinet decorated for Christmas.  

Girl In Pink  gave a little holiday home tour that was gorgeous!!

The very talented Rosemary of Ozma of Odds showed off a table makeover and a Nordic church candelabra she made.

 Rene of Miss Gracie's House showed off her Christmas decorating.

Chari over at Happy To Design  showed off her Christmas decorating which was also gorgeous!

Erika over at Be Book Bound  showed off her Dickens inspired Christmas.  

Kristen over at Sophia's showed off how to make a small tree look grand perfectly.

And last, Marianne at Country Glamour Home showed off her beautiful bannister.

 Thank you to all who join me at Home Sweet Home!  It is awesome to have you here!  
Sherry

I will join these ladies today: 

Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence

Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Fridays Unfolded  at Stuff and Nonsense

Potpourri Friday at 2805
Farmhouse Friday  at LaurieAnna's Vintage Home
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Guidelines for Home Sweet Home Party:

Attention: To link up with inlinkz you must have a permalink back to this party in your post or they will not allow you to link.  

Link up anything in your home or garden.  During the holidays, I'll love seeing neat shops too!

My button is on my sidebar for the party, if you want to use it.   If you are new here I hope you will become a follower. Please don't link up more than two posts.  No Etsy link ups or direct advertising, please.  Please visit some of the other blogs and get some great inspiration.  Thanks.:)

Now let's see your beautiful homes!