Some of the random Christmas Critters

Hiya Blogland!! I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas if you celebrate!!! I am hanging in here. STILL waiting to start the physical therapy.

Christmas Eve was spent with our dear friends Tom and Andrea and my boys. Lauren made some of his famous chili and it was just a quiet enjoyable evening.

I had fun getting gifts for the boys. It's been a long time since we've had kids opening gifts so I forgot how exciting it it!! You see Miss Gracie was all into the fun!

Gracie with the hamburger toy the boys gave her. She LOVES it!!!

Opening the gifts!

Real men don't need no instructions!!

The "boys" playing with the toys

We had stockings for the cats and dogs. The cats got special Fancy Feast and treats. The dogs got Pupperoni chews, special dog food and Rachel Ray soup Bone treats. MrBill just hung back while Gracie went NUTS over the stocking. she pulled the bags of treats out and ran around with the packages and then ran around with the empty stocking.

Pulling the Pupperoni's out!

Playing with the stocking

Taking off with the Soup Bones

MrBill enjoying a Pupperoni stick.

Christmas day we went to my nephew Josh's house for dinner. He's a fantastic cook. Every year I get him a weird random Christmas ornament. Here's this year's find:

Behold the Christmas Beaver!!!

It's a bit of a drive to his house from mine so I wore something easy and comfortable.Thrifted tunic, thrifted black pants, old boots and old tree pin/earrings. Truthfully speaking the car ride about killed my back. I wound up pretty much horizontal all day yesterday recuperating.

Our darling daughter gave me this awesome lamp for the Craft Palace. It's now on my sewing table.

I gave myself a dollhouse kit for Christmas. I've always wanted to build one and decided 2014 will be the year. I'll be documenting my progress here so y'all can join the fun and/or insanity. I chose a simple Victorian style cottage. I plan to make most of the interior furnishing myself. Because obviously I NEED another obsessive hobby to entertain me!! LOLOLOL I've been spending a lot of my enforced down time researching dollhouse building and miniatures.

And because there can never be too much doggie cuteness-MrBill and Gracie chewing a cookie.

I can't express how much I've enjoyed every one's holiday doings you've been sharing on your blogs. It brings a smile to my face as I've been stuck here at home. I'd seriously lose what little mind I have left without y'all!!

Everyone have a fantastic weekend and I'll be back for Visible Monday!!

TTFN
Tamera

Too stupid for a smart phone

Buddies in matching Christmas sweaters!!

Hiya Blogland!! Greetings from snowy Western Maryland!!! We are living in a winter wonderland. MrBill is hating life right now-all of this snow confuses him. Gracie LOVES it!!

I've been hanging in there in regards to my slip last week and my back/hip.  I've got another doctor's appointment Tuesday morning. I've been spending loads of quality time in the recliner with my Kindle. I've been reading every one's posts even if I'm not commenting. Commenting from the Kindle is a pain in the butt. I can't sit in the chair too long to use the computer. The happy pills make me sleep alot. Gracie and MrBill have been enjoying lots of Mommy lap time.

In the spirit of keeping it real I've been rocking a variation of this lovely and flattering outfit all week. Knit pants, fleecy pullover, Tshirt, warm socks and slippers. The pants and pullover are from Goodwill though!!

Setting the fashion world ON FIRE!!!

Lauren and I got new phones as our Christmas gifts to each other. We've had Iphone 3's (HATE)the last few years and it was time to upgrade. Lauren decided on Galaxy Note 2's for us. They are really spiffy and so much easier to use than the Iphone. HOWEVER--it took me a bit to figure out how to answer the phone when someone called.  Lauren is a total techno-weenie and loves all the features. I'm spending my time just figuring it out.

I tried to do a Xmas photoshoot with Gracie and MrBill in their matching sweaters. Gracie is just too curious and busy and wouldn't sit still. I finally got pictures of them napping!!

The Diva LOVED to have her picture taken. The problem with her was her hogging the camera--she'd jump in front of poor Bill. It WAS all about her.

Christmas 2012 - RIP The Diva

Now that I've dazzled you with my styling togs--heres' some more Christmas deco pictures:

Close-ups of living room tree with vintage glass ornaments

The Santa tree in the dining room.

Santa's on dining room hutch. Some DIY and some thrifted.

Hanging Santa's I made.

Dining room decorations. The feather tree was thrifted at  a yardsale for $1 including the vintage ornaments!!

Candy/baking themed display in kitchen. Everything is thrifted.

The "Diva" tree. Amazing that this was in someones TRASH!!

The tree skirt was DIY from a vintage tablecloth. The ornaments are either DIY or vintage.

Close-up of vintage-look batting Santas I made. I want to do more for next year. These are based off a Victorian era Santa ornament

Newest Diva ornament I got at Hobby Lobby. Looks just like her!!

Although I've been a bit invisible this week style-wise I'm linking up with all of the far more fabulous ladies for Visible Monday #119 and Share-in-Style: Christmas. I'm standing next to a Christmas tree so that should count!! Plus Gracie and MrBill are sharing their Christmas sweaters!!

Everyone have a fantastic start to your week !! I'll be back later in the week even if it's to share another stunning pullover and pants and slippers ensemble!!

TTFN
Tamera

Well this week could've gone better

Here's the porch in the snow for Desiree!!

Hiya Blogland from snowy, cold Western Maryland!! WOW--it's brutally cold and we've gotten 14 inches of snow since Sunday with more to come Saturday. I love winter and snow but this is getting ridiculous!!

My work opened late on Monday. I dressed for a snowy, cold day. Thrifted sweater, DIY stirrup jeans and my Aerosole boots with the nice sturdy sole.

Here's a picture of the leopard coat of Awesomeness reversed to the waterproof side:

I trekked into my office Monday amongst the ice and snow as carefully as I could. I managed to get in the front door and promptly slipped on the wet floor. I AM the Queen of Klutzlvania after all. My right leg slid out and my left stayed planted. I was able to catch myself before I hit the floor. I wrenched my left hip, knee and my back. So I've been vegging out in the recliner taking some awesome happy pills.

My sartorial choices are rather limited this week. I did get a picture of this STUNNING Sears polyester hostess gown I scored at the Goodwill Saturday for $3. I'm thinking it's from the 70's. It was perfect for decorating the Xmas tree. Lauren thought I'd finally lost my mind!!

My little helper in her Santa sweater.

I had a really cool plaid outfit planned for Spygirls 52 Pick-me-up: Mad for Plaid. I wore this outfit to a cookie exchange this weekend. The shirt is thrifted Chaps tartan. I guess this will have to work for this challenge!!

This week is also Shoe Shine at Citizen Rosebuds. I'm sharing these awesome Nine & Co. ankle booties I scored for $4!! Super comfortable--they have a little 1 inch wedge.

I want to share some more Christmas decor. This is our Master Bathroom:

I painted the little Santa. The large was thrifted for $1 at a yardsale.

Yes, I decorate the toilet!!!

I made the stuff on the wreath back when I did craft shows.

Yard Sale Santa for $1

DIY Angel tree

Here's some pix of the Hall/Guest bathroom decorations:

Thrifted garland and a DIY card garland

Christmas Charming Tales collection. Lauren get's me this figurines for different event.

Bleached and glittered trees, old candles and some Epsom salts

Thrifted Nativity, trees, and Epsom salts in an old pedestal dish

DIY Kitty Tree, Santa made by 90+ neighbor lady and thrifted vintage Santa & deer

DIY Bottlebrush trees, vintage angels and elves

Vintage ornament tree. The base is a block of wood with an extendable radio antennae to put the bulbs on.

Everyone have a fabulous day and I'll be back later this week with more Christmas decorations!!

TTFN
Tamera

Unlighting a Christmas tree

Hiya Blogland!! I'm still in Christmas Decorating MODE here!! Every year I say I'm going to down-size and every year there is MORE STUFF. Here are views of some of the Santa's I've made. I started making Santa's about 35 years ago when I wanted to collect them but couldn't afford them.:

Santa's on desk. All but the 2nd from right were made by me.

 

  

I have one last tree to decorate-the big one in the living room that gets all of the vintage glass ornaments. I pulled it out of the box last night to set it up. It's one of the pre-lit ones (but getting a bit old) and this year several strands of lights are ka-put!!  I tried new bulbs and all that but unfortunately it looks like broken wires.

SO tonite I will be unlighting it. Ugh. My hands look like they've been through a shredder. I'll put strands of multi-color LED larger bulb lights on it when I'm done. (It originally had white mini-lights) It will give it a new look I think.

This week is Literary Stylings #6 at Fashion for Giants. This past month I finished up two more Miss fisher mysteries but that was last month's outfit. Other than that I've been reading Christmas Cookbooks from my collection and books from the library on vintage Christmas decor and such. Here's a couple I read. Great for information and spotting the "good" stuff at thrifts!!

Here's my outfit. I'm wearing a thrifted SagHarbor sweater,  thrifted trousers, a thrifted vintage Echo candy cane scarf, thrifted vintage holly earrings and thrifted Lifestyles loafers. That's a sneak peek of the trash tree behind me!

Wednesday's outfit is almost all RETAIL!!! The skirt is George and was brought on sale at Walmart. The sweater in LaneBryant and gotten with a gift card. I had to order it (none in my size in store) and it just came. The bracelets are vintage and the pin is thrifted. The boots are my thrifted Guess boots of Awesomeness!!

Thursday's outfit is for Spy Girl's 52 Pick-Me-Up:Layers Challenge. I decided to go a bit "punk". Couldn't layer too much as it is a bit warmer today before it plunges back into freezing!! I'm wearing a thrifted refashioned tiger cardigan (it had a built in shell I cut out), thrifted LaneBryant skirt, Blondie rocker T (LaneBryant gift card), Rhinestone Necklace from Burlington Coat Factory I got on clearance and fixed, two pair of tights layers, bracelets-thrifted and sweet Krista and thrifted Nine & Co booties.

This outfit got some eyebrow raising at work. LOLOLOL The Blondie T really threw them off!! Here's a close-up of the tight layers:

Well I'm off to pick lights off the tree while I watch the Sound of Music Live. Everyone have a fabulous weekend!!

BTW--I do read every ones comments. I usually like to comment back via email but life is crazy right now and I'm reading on my phone and it's craptacular to respond to emails on. I have trouble typing on a regular keyboard... much less that miniature one!! I appreciate each and everyone!!

TTFN
Tamera