{GHP} Gratitude

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

Posted by Karen B. in House and Home, Thanksgiving, Traditions

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Thanksgiving is celebrated here in the U.S. ( I understand Canada has a Thanksgiving Holiday as well) and I’ve always loved this holiday. There’s no gift buying involved, just good food, good friends and family, and for the men in my life, good football.

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{and George}

As I’ve “matured” I appreciate the good things that surround me, there’s no taking this stuff for granite, as maybe I did in my youth, and Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we’re thankful for.

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{Party Resources}

I’ve avoided the trend towards a gratitude journal for a couple of reasons, a) I’m terrible about keeping up with things like this…I start out strong and then let it drop; and b) I think about what I’m grateful for every day from the huge (family, friends, my first (and only-so far) granddaughter, whose birthday is on Thanksgiving Day this year, good heath) to the items that to some would seem frivolous (gardening, nature, good food, a warm house, blog friends, kind acts by strangers).

{heirloom philosophy}

So whatever you are thankful for this holiday, I hope you’ll keep it in your heart and remember everyday as we head into a new year. We need to remember…

Happy Thanksgiving!

{Home and Party} Great style in stationary and design, introducing Minted/Julep.

22 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining, Holidays, House and Home

≈ 10 Comments

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julep blog, minted

One of the many modern conveniences of internet shopping is the ease of finding great invitations and stationery online. I love the advantages of selecting the exact card in the perfect color, ideal paper, appropriate font and a style you want for an event or occasion.

I shared with you my joy with this process when Mr. B and I ordered Christmas cards online a few years ago. Then, in 2011, I needed invitations to our son’s engagement party, that is when I discovered Minted.

As a company, Minted has been around longer than I realized (started in April 2007), but what sets it apart is their use of independent artists. Their high end paper goods come in all imaginable shapes and sizes and serve all of life’s celebrations and holidays.

Their photo-Christmas cards are unique and can be customized with details such as shape, color details, photograph and include your personal names and dates. It’s an online interactive creation and fun to see the options appear before your eyes. Here are some of my favorites.

Minted recently started a blog, Julep. “…a lifestyle blog dedicated to helping the busy, design-savvy woman create beauty all around her.” The contributors are creative and share the most original ideas. It sounds like a challenge, but after nearly an hour perusing their site, I realized there were so many items I wanted to revisit for party ideas and DIY projects around the house. They’ve succeeded in giving a hand with creativity and specific how-to tutorials. You’ll find a wide array of design ideas for home and party. The DIY tab gives you detailed direction on the project you select and most are doable for everyone, even me!

The table below was set for a recent Minted Design Summit. The team started a fun new Minted Party Ambassador program where you can apply for free party decor if you’re willing to blog about your event.

This is a feature for fall wedding ideas. Now you can see how it was easy to loose myself on their new site for quite a bit of time...

I love the tutorial on making these beaded lights. The Edison bulb dresses up any light fixture, doesn’t it?

These cupcakes! This will be in my Halloween file for 2014.

These little beauties can be used throughout November and December…here’s the ‘how to’

If you haven’t ordered your cards for the holidays yet, check out Minted. If you need some additional inspiration for decorations or gift ideas, visit Julep.

Disclosure: Minted sent me an email inviting me to post about their Christmas photo-cards and to share details about their blog site, Julep. I was offered up to $75 credit to Minted to participate. All opinions and ideas are my own.

{GHP} Braised Short Ribs recipe and Happy Halloween

30 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Halloween, Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Recipes

≈ 16 Comments

Since Halloween is on a Thursday night this year, I thought I would make Mr. B. and I a comforting meal to fortify us between the doorbell and goblins. I’m trying Braised Short Ribs from Jenny Steffens Hobick of Everyday Occasions. Doesn’t this look delicious? Jenny comes up with fabulous recipes and I’ve provided the link (above).

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Since it needs to cook some time in the oven, I’ll prepare them this evening and we’ll eat them tomorrow. That often enhances the flavors and makes everything taste even better.

I’m also including a few images I’ve gathered that might offer some ideas for last minute decorations…

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Do you get a lot of trick-or-treat goblins and princesses in your neighborhood?

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

♥

I’m linking to Savvy Southern Style’s Wow us Wednesday

{GHP} Autumn favorites, II

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Halloween, Holidays, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

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Autumn

Note of Appreciation: Some time ago my blog friend Leslie of Around the Table had a giveaway. Winner would receive one of the fabulous candle holders called Glassybaby. These beauties are made in Seattle and come in nearly every color under the sun. Well, imagine my delight and surprise, I won. {Thank you Leslie} If you’ve not already discovered Around the Table blog site, stop by. Leslie shares fabulous design ideas, great (and healthy) recipes and skin care information. Did I mention she has a degree in nutrition and is a licensed medical aesthetician. Most importantly, her posts are always useful and fun!

Glassybaby as displayed in Leslie’s kitchen.

→Hi Everyone. I feel so much better. Seriously, to those readers that host a blog, don’t you sometimes feel like you’ve run out of ideas for a new post…in fact, I sometimes think, “what frivolous topics I gab on about, what am I thinking?” That’s what vacations are for. The break brought home that the fun of this is the blog friends and readers that check in, even if they don’t comment, and the creative wheels that turn each time I work on a post. So, thank you for your interest, friendship (of an internet variety) and support. I so appreciate it.

Are we there yet…has autumn arrived? I don’t care if it is still warmer than ideal fall weather should be, I’m sharing my annual autumn favorites. [It reminds me of back-to-school, when the new sweater was worn that first week back because you loved it and didn’t care if it was 90 degrees outside]

If you missed my fall favorites last year, have a look. You’ll see I haven’t changed much of what appeals to me about the season, other than to add additional images. 10 photographs just wouldn’t allow me all that I love about this time of year.

I always pause before stating this is my favorite season because when spring comes around, I think this is my favorite season! But it’s September 25th and I’m looking forward to the short weeks from now when I can expect to wear turtleneck sweaters, put a fire in the fireplace, have a casserole in the oven and a hot beverage in my hand.

Enjoy!

Have you visited this shop yet? Check it out ~ terrain

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Sitting by a fire, what could be more cozy? Having reason to stay indoors and read a book or two, one more reason to love cooler weather.

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I love turtleneck sweaters…this is definitely a reason to love autumn/winter.

Fall/Winter means comfort food for me. I use portion control to avoid winter waist expansion, but here are a couple of recipes that you might enjoy when it cools down…

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Maybe a ride in the convertible (that I don’t own) with Madison…

Finally, the promise of Christmas and…

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…on January 5th in the U.S, the return of Downton Abbey

Do you have a favorite season or a favorite thing about each season?

HAPPY AUTUMN

I’m joining in the fun: Savvy Southern Style, Wow us Wednesday and Stone Gable Tips and Tidbits

{GHP} Happy Bastille Day

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Bastille Day, Decorating, House and Home

≈ 17 Comments

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Bastille Day - July 14

{Painting ~ Jacques Louis David, 1812}

I realize I’m taking liberties here, Napoleon may have been inspired by the storming of the Bastille, but he wasn’t exactly involved, but this painting is so fabulous and it certainly says “French” like little else. Besides I’m using this historic French holiday to share totally frivolous images of beautiful French rooms, gardens and anything else that strikes my fancy.

Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th’s Ancient Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king’s power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers.”
http://french.about.com/od/culture/a/bastille-day.htm

There are so many things about French culture that hold appeal. But for me, none quite like the influence on home decor. Since that is a favorite topic of mine, I’m here to share with you some images I’ve found that, for me, are symbolic of the ultimate French comfort and style.

One of my favorite French-inspired contributions is toile…

{Charles Faudree}

{Jane Moore}

{Home Bunch}

{Country Living}

Aiden Gray, below, incorporates a couple design styles but the room has the relaxed comfort of a French country home.

{Jane Moore}

{Splendid Sass}

{Vintage by Nina Uslow}

{Susanne Kasler}

Sprinkle a little French goodness in your day.

For all of my non-Francophile friends, July 14th is Bastille Day.

I’m home from Austin. I hope to have some pictures for you of the new house our son and family are tackling. It was built in 1971 (Barton Hills) and they will have work ahead of them, but it holds promise and has a killer view of Austin.

{GHP} Happy 4th of July

01 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Independence Day, Outdoor living, Party Planning

≈ 17 Comments

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Independence Day

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Note: I’m in Austin spending time with family and our granddaughter. I hope you all enjoy your holiday. ♥ Karen

Independence day is my favorite patriotic holiday. For me it always signals the true start of summer, its a reminder of what a great country we live in, and we usually eat some wonderfully simple and delicious foods.

{Pottery Barn}

I found this recipe on Food TV and thought I’d share it. It sounds pretty simple and really fits the bill for the holiday at hand.

Fruit-Tart Flag

Directions
Fill premade miniature tart shells or phyllo cups with sweet mascarpone cream (recipe below), then arrange on a tray and top with blueberries and halved strawberry slices to create stars and stripes.

Mascarpone Cream:

Beat an 8-ounce container of mascarpone cheese and 3 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar with a mixer until smooth. Gently fold in 1/2 cup freshly whipped cream.

Super simple, right?

I’m joining Alison, author of The Polohouse, for her Favorites on the First ~and~

StoneGable: Tutorials and Tidbits

Have a wonderful Independence Day

{GHP} Happy Father’s Day

16 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Family, Holidays

≈ 10 Comments

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Father's Day

This will be short…I want to wish all of the dad’s out there a Happy Father’s Day. It’s a noble, if not challenging at times, profession and I hope you have a wonderful day, filled with the love and attention you deserve.

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…and for the childless man, there’s more than one kind of dad…

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Happy Father’s Day

♥

{GHP} Happy Mother’s Day

08 Wednesday May 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Family, Holidays

≈ 20 Comments

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Mother's Day

My mother passed away 3 years ago, it’s hard to believe it’s already been that long! Still, I’m getting great joy in watching our oldest son and his darling wife raise our granddaughter. It’s the circle of life and there’s nothing quite as satisfying to me as seeing them nurture and teach the sweet toddler.

On this upcoming Mother’s Day, I wish all of you a much-deserved day of love and adoration, and a fun day with family. If you are fortunate enough to still have a mom to visit and celebrate with, cherish the time.

These are things that remind me of my mom…Thank you, Mom!

for introducing me to the love and joy of gardening

for supporting my hobbies and interests

for always being at my side through good and bad

for helping me out of a few jams

for all the time we spent together, talking, laughing and reminiscing

for sharing my love of antique searching

for making childhood fun and filled of love

I miss you mom.

Happy Mother’s Day this coming Sunday.♥

Reminder—next week I invite you to join me in celebration of spring! Link up your favorites about the season, the garden, home and or party you take pleasure in during this time of year! See you Wednesday, May 15th.