christmas card time

yep, it's that time again.

the dreaded holiday card.

AND getting the perfect photo of the kids! ACK!

over the summer i worked with shutterfly.com

to create a line of designer christmas photo cards.

i thought i would share a few designs...

you can see my entire line of shutterfly.com designs here.

thankful

it's been a big and tough year.

but i'm so so so thankful.

i'm mostly thankful for this crew...

this family challenges and inspires me every day. i love each one to the moon and back.

 

 I'm extremely thankful for this guy...

my rock and my love. i'm so lucky to have him as my partner in life.

i'm thankful for our home. we're happy and settled.

(for the first time in over 2 years)

 i'm thankful i have a fantastic job that allows me to work from home.

AND work only a few months out of the year so I can spend my days with my children.

AND

i'm thankful we're all healthy and happy!

i could probably list about another thousand small things i'm thankful for like coffee, thunderstorms, my children's laughter, etc.... but i don't want to bore you. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Enjoy your families and 

we'll catch up next week. i'm taking a few days to enjoy those i love most!!

thanksgiving wreath

i saw this on casasugar.

loved it so much, i wanted to quickly pass it along to you...

source

easy-peasy and a great way to remember what you're thankful for.

i'm totally stealing this idea!

finding my books a home

i don't have the space for big book shelves in my new house.

or maybe i just don't want a big book shelf.

i don't know. 

so i've been trying to come up with other book storage options.

(besides a box in the basement!)

i'm lovin it. what else can you do with the space above a doorway?

so cool... but i like fire in the fireplace :(

hmmmm.... using the ceiling, not a bad idea

go vertical!

books = the perfect occasional table

i couldn't resist this photo... ahhhhh!

or... maybe... i'll just stack them along the wall

how do you store your books??

happy friday!

xoxo-erin

unfair

it's just unfair.

[picture me stomping my feet in protest, like my son max]

bedrooms shouldn't be THIS beautiful.
it kinda bugs me because it's gorgeous, yet attainable.
please excuse me while i go re-decorate my bedroom.

source: urban grace

i really have nothing else to say.

i've been busy working on my spring 2011 stationery line for shutterfly.com

right about now, i'd love to curl up in the bed and take a nap.

this time next week

this time next week i will be fretting over

THANKSGIVING!

ya, i'll fret over the normal stuff like the turkey, stuffing

gravy, veggie, biscuits, etc.

but you know me, i'll be REALLY be fretting about

my thanksgiving table.

this was last year's table...

i liked it.

it was crisp and clean.

BUT this year???

not sure what i want to do.

especially with my new BLUE dining room.

here's some inspiration...

clean and modern

source

warm and comfy

source

traditional with a twist

 source

 natural and modern-rustic
source: real simple
 

  unconventional colors
source: real simple

 spray painted gourds!! source

FOR THE KIDDOS.... 

 love it!!
 source

gettin it done

over the weekend, paint went up in the dining room!

here's the color...

in case you forgot (which i doubt, because it's all i talk about), 

here's my inspiration for the room...

i think i've shown you this photo a zillion times

 before i can show before and after photos i need to...

1. order and hang the artwork

2. paint some trim

3. shorten and iron the curtains

4. maybe put up the crown molding (i doubt this will happen anytime soon)

my goal is for the room to be complete before thanksgiving... wish me luck!

 

five

i'm having a hard time believing

that this kid is five....

thomas cooper... aka coop

it's especially hard to believe

because i remember this day (see below photo) like it was yesterday...

 the day cooper came home from the hospital. he was a little jaundiced and needed some sun.

in honor of cooper's 5th birthday (november 14th)

5 things i love about my coop-a-loop...

1) he is the sweetest, kindest little guy and is very generous with his love.

2) he LOVES to sing... a lot!

3) he can put anything together... our little engineer!

4) if someone threatens his family, he's a fierce protector, especially when it comes to his sister.

5) he still calls me "ma ma" and my heart melts every time!

your ma ma loves you coop!

xoxo

what about this?

ok.

new kitchen pendant light idea.

what do you think of this?

victory pendant lamp

source: cb2

i have these stools in the kitchen.
maybe a more industrial pendant might look nice??

i'm struggling to find the perfect solution.
humph!

recycle, reuse, rejoice!

have you checked out the

david stark collection from west elm?

it's quite nice.

 find it here

i get the feeling that i could DIY these beauties

and 

save lots-o-cash!
what do you think?

 twig topiary - $39

sparkly decor pick - $12

newsprint leaf garland - $16

silver flower stems - $14 (set of 3)

silver flower clips - $5 (each)

newsprint flower shade - $12 (set of 4)
 use with a wine glass and a flameless tealight

i'm thinking...
with a quick [and cheap] trip to the craft store and the sunday chicago tribune,
i could re-create these for a lot less :)

xoxo-erin

happy

it's a BEAUTIFUL day!

the sun is shinning and warm.

the golfers are outside my door

enjoying one of the last golf days of the season.

sun makes happy.

this photo also makes me happy.

hope it does the same for you...

source:?

i'm signing off.

going to enjoy some of this 

fantastic weather!

xoxo-erin

yes please

our new master bathroom is hideous!

no joke.

so ugly, i can't bare to show you a "before" photo until, i've [at least] painted the walls.

then i will show "before" and "after" photos.

and you will see how paint can transform a room!!!!

just imagine the worst possible peachy/pinky color.

then pair it with gray and blue tiles.

ACK!!

soon i will do a mini bathroom redesign on a BUDGET!

it's on my mile long house to do list.

BUT one day, far far away.

i WILL gut the whole darn thing and start over.

my husband has promised.

this is my vision for my future, future, future, future bathroom.

cute kid with devil horns included!

modern clawfoot tub, octagon tile, nice and bright.... ahhhhhh!!!

don't you just love the POP of color with the foam letters??
source

xoxo-erin