Ringing in the new year

If you are like me - a fresh new year means a fresh new calendar. I am a bit old school - no electronic devises for me I still use the same Daytimer I got with my first job ( along time ago).....but I have say, if you are old school like me you'll love some of these paper (and not paper) versions.

Little Brown Pen (on Etsy) is getting a lot of attention.

This calendar spoof on Keep Calm and Carry On is fantastic...
It is $5 of Twelve months of Keep Calm and Carry On-inspired decrees. This is a printable calendar and makes a fun gift for the girl with a sense of humor.

Your calendar will arrive as a PDF file, so that you may print as many as you like. Print one, print ten or print twenty! Love the inspiration!

The bubble calendar

Our dreams have been answered! A poster-sized calendar with a bubble to pop every day, it puts our love of popping sheets of plastic bubbles to a useful purpose.
The calendar is fully functional, with days of the week and weekends bolded for easy reference. The calendars make a big statement at 48" tall x 18" wide.

The Bubble Calendar is appropriate for any design (and fun) conscious home or office. Just make sure that jealous friends and co-workers don't pop your bubbles!

Calendar Tape

Multi-functional sticky tape that works as a calendar, diary, organizer & planner. It's also pretty useful packaging tape! Easily create each month in any day and date combination, by using the two separate rolls and sticking them next to each other. Pack includes one roll of days and one roll of dates plus a marker.

Stendig Calendar Originally designed in 1966 by Massimo Vignelli and part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, the Stendig Calendar has long been a favorite among architects, designers and others who appreciate its aesthetic simplicity and understated elegance. This classic three foot by four foot wall calendar, arranged in the European style where Monday is the first day of the week, features twelve sheets printed with black ink on white 60 pound paper stock.

The monthly calendar pages are printed alternately as a black background with white numerals or a white background with black numerals. Each sheet is perforated for clean tear offs. (Torn-off pages are excellent for use as gift wrap or to add interest to scrap books or decoupage projects.) The binding strip at the top has three matte black metal eyelets to facilitate hanging. A perfect fit in both modern and vintage interior designs, the large scale Stendig Calendar makes a dramatic focal point in your office or home.
Ok this is not a calendar exactly – but I love the 8 days a week planner!

If you honestly can’t even remember the last time you looked at your calendar and realized you had no plans, the Eight Days a Week Planner from Bob’s Your Uncle is just what you’ve been looking for.

Designed for those of us who don’t get overwhelmed by being overbooked, the Eight Days a Week Planner has room for all your Monday through Sunday plans, and then an extra column for your Someday plans.
It’s spiral bound so it opens flat, and since you fill in the dates The Eight Days a Week Planner is ready to start whenever you are.

Eco Chic desk set

Make environmental responsibility a part of your daily plans with the 2009 Eco-Chic Desk Calendar from San Francisco artist, Cat Seto.
Printed on 100% recycled paper this monthly calendar features a wood block stand made from reclaimed lumber. At the end of the year send your used pages back and Cat Seto will recycle them and send you a coupon for refill pages.

SusyJack 2009 Calendar Twelve tall, thick cover-weight pages with new, abstract illustrations, organic patterns and bright, gorgeous colors...on 100% recycled paper, as always! A spirited piece of wall art to keep you organized and inspired the whole year through.
Months can easily be separated and hung in a row, for more colorful wall coverage.

HAPPY 2009!

New Year Party Ideas

Here are a few ideas when it comes to planning and hosting the party of the year…thanks to BGH.com and hostess with the mostess for the inspiration!

1. Pick a theme It'll help guide your choices for everything from the invitations and decor to the food and drinks. Your theme can be as simple as a favorite color to as specific as an Old Hollywood Glam Cocktail Party, Fortune Telling Party or how about a Vegas inspired setting! Having something in mind will help make the planning process much easier.

2. Make a guest list

The number of guests you invite depends on how much space you have, your budget, and the amount time you have for party planning. Eight to sixteen guests for an intimate, full-course dinner party. For cocktail parties, twenty-five to fifty people. Anything over this number is a full-on, blow-out bash.

3. Plan in advance

With the Christmas just a week before make sure you have everything you need – and that you’ve sent out all your invites well in advance. This time of the year calendars fill up quick so plan and invite early!

4. Time it right

The most important part of a New Year's party is when the clock strikes midnight, so don't start the party too early. If you're hosting a sit-down dinner, start the party at around 8 p.m. with drinks and very light appetizers, and serve dinner around 9 p.m. For a cocktail party, ask guests to start arriving around nine and serve heavy appetizers and finger foods throughout the night.

Appetizers on Tap

A table full of finger food allows for easy munching from the party's start to the big countdown at midnight. Bring out your good china serving pieces for this elegant meal; after all, it isn't often you get an excuse to stay up until midnight to eat hors d'oeuvres and drink champagne.

5. Think bright and bold

Pick a dramatic, high-contrast color palette to liven up the night. Bring in a little sparkle with a metallic accent. How about combining deep red and shimmery silver, or mixing copper tones with a vibrant aqua color.

6. Pop the cork

Champagne is a must on New Year's Eve, but be sure to include sparkling cider or another alcohol-free alternative for non-drinkers. In addition to liquor, stock up on mixers (think club soda, pop, and juice) and drink garnishes (don't forget lemons, limes, olives, and cherries). For a budget-friendly bar, stick to wine, beer, and champagne, and serve one signature cocktail.

Beverage Table

A cocktail bar with plenty of alcoholic and nonalcoholic options serves as the centerpiece of your New Year's party. Be sure to refill guests' glasses or provide fresh drinks before the toasts. To toast after sipping or with an empty glass is considered bad luck.

7. Opt for appetizers

Focus on creative presentation to give the food table a festive look. Serve sweet potato fries in mini Chinese takeout boxes, for example or offer bite-size grilled cheese sandwiches along with tiny tomato soups served in espresso cups.

Vase of Finger Food

Non-traditional containers provide extra interest at the table. These snacks double as decoration when they're layered in a clear glass vase.

8. Crank up the tunes

Create a playlist ahead of time, set the iPod to shuffle, and let it do its thing! Mix up the styles and eras of the songs, but make the tunes in your mix mesh well -- and avoid ballads and somber songs.

9. Dress it up

Forget standard balloons and streamers. Create a chic party atmosphere with festive white lights (the more the merrier!), lots of candles, and unique, contemporary decor. Fill large bowls and vases with shiny ball ornaments, colorful vase gems, or mini disco balls.

10. Celebrate

Create a "celebration buffet" area full of party hats, noisemakers, feather boas, and costume beads for guests to dress up in. Stack piles of glittery hats in neat rows and hang paper tiaras from the rim of a tall vase. Fill bowls and other containers with different styles of noisemakers, horn blowers, and confetti poppers.

11. Say cheers!

Since the toast is the most important event of the night, don't scrimp on stemware. If you don't have enough wineglasses or champagne flutes to accommodate all of your guests, borrow extras from friends or purchase inexpensive additional sets at discount department stores.

Party Keepsakes

Toast the New Year with champagne flutes in custom-etched designs. To make your own, wrap self-adhesive vinyl around clean glasses, and use a crafts knife to cut away the design elements (wherever the vinyl remains, the glass will be clear). Apply etching cream, following the manufacturer's instructions.

EXTRA NOTE: Keep things stress-free with stylish disposable plates, napkins, and utensils that coordinate with your party decor. People are there for the party- so don’t sweat the small stuff. And why not give people a night to remember.

Party Favor Tins At the end of your celebration, present each guest with a small gift tin filled with sweets -- to be savored on the way home or saved for another day.

Enjoy and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Gift Idea for the New Year

Cute little bags with a nice bottle of wine make for a great party fav!

Cheers!

Got a tin of cookies?

I know we all have some cookies around the house this time of year - with Santa coming and all....

Well, the staff at Every Day with Rachael Ray came up with the fun idea to whip up heavenly sweet drinks with some classic cookies like Oreos, Milanos and oatmeal. These inspired cocktails are served straight up, with a twist of cookie. Each recipe makes two drinks.

LIQUID OREO

Ice cubes1½ ounces (3 tbs)

vodka1½ ounces (3 tbs)

Kahlüa1½ ounces white crème de cacao (3 tablespoons)

1½ ounces Baileys Irish Cream (3 tablespoons)

2 Oreo cookies, for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes Add the vodka, Kahlüa, crème de cacao and Baileys and shake well. Strain into 2 martini glasses Slip an Oreo onto the side of each glass

CHOCOLATE CHIP MARTINI

6 chocolate chips, for garnishIce cubes

2 ounces white crème de cacao (¼ cup)

2 ounces dark crème de cacao (¼ cup)

11/2 ounces chocolate vodka (3 tablespoons)

1½ ounces butterscotch schnapps(3 tablespoons)

Place 3 chocolate chips in each of 2 martini glasses Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes Add the white and dark crème de cacao, the vodka and butterscotch schnapps and shake well Strain into the glasses

MINT MILANO REMIX

Ice cubes1 ounce (2 tbs) white crème de menthe

4 ounces white crème de cacao (½ cup)

½ cup heavy cream2 Pepperidge Farm Mint Milano cookies, for garnish

Fresh mint (optional), for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes Add the crème de menthe, crème de cacao and heavy cream and shake well. Strain into 2 wine glasses or goblets Balance a cookie on top or place one inside each glass Add mint sprigs, if desired

OATMEAL COOKIE CRUSHES

Ice cubes3 ounces butterscotch schnapps (about5 tablespoons)

2 ounces Baileys Irish Cream (¼ cup)

1 ounce coconut-flavored rum (2 tablespoons)

½ ounce Goldschlâger cinnamon schnapps (1 tablespoon)

Oatmeal cookies, crushed, for garnish

Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice cubes Add the butterscotch schnapps, Baileys, rum and Goldschläger and shake well Strain into 2 rocks glasses Sprinkle with crushed cookies

Now wouldn't these be a nice additon to that plate of cookies your putting out tomorrow night (hee..hee..hee). Or maybe a replacement for that glass of milk?

A morning to remember

My most memorable Christmas gift as a child was my doll house. It was not just any doll house – it was a Lundby doll house. And for those who know their dollhouses you know Lundby is a little girls fantasy come true.

My house looked similar to this one (before the move- it got damaged – very sad). I loved my house and remember playing with it always.

Eventually the house was passed down from niece to niece and in a couple of years I will give it to my daughter. I will need to repair and restore it….which will be fun (I hope), I’ve started to research a bit on how to it.

Thinking back to that Christmas morning (it is so vivid), I ran down the stairs (we use to set our alarm for 6am Christmas morning – INSANE) to see what Santa brought me. And there it was all set up with the lights on and the table set – it was spectacular!

The memory inspired me to check and see what kinds of dollhouses are out there now – and wow, check it out……

Printed Doll House
From petitflaneur on etsy.com Not only for children, these houses are for anyone who enjoys things in miniature form (like me!!) Modern furniture and detailed wallpaper bring these houses up-to-date.Hand-printed, assembled dollhouses include assembled furniture, made of birch micro-plywood. Houses made of hardboard, which is a pressed wood. All inks are water-based and non-toxic.Available in three colors- cotton candy, creme de menthe, and pigeon blue. In the note to buyer, please specify which color(sheets on bed vary from house to house).

Award Winner I love this modern doll house from award winning designers Wolfgang Sirch and Christoph Bitzer. The simple design is stylish and beautiful.

Smart Design This handmade dollhouse with is made from plywood and wallpaper.This house can be placed on a table or used directly on the floor and what’s really smart is that it is can be cleaned with a damp cloth – hence the wallpaper!

Rainbow Bright This house is a product from Momoll, where the designs are influenced by Scandinavian architecture. The Furnished Plexiglas Ding house is a toy for kids of 2-8 years of age. The Ding house is designed in such a manner that the strong colors are used to stimulate the child’s imagination. The parts of the Ding house are simple to assemble and can be are modular to suit your child’s imagination. The quality of the materials is very good and the concept and designs are new and wonderful.

Ray Ray!!!

The Furnished Ray Ray doll house is an attractive doll house for your little angel. Your daughter will definitely love the doll house and showing it off to all her friends. The design of the doll house is influenced again by Scandinavian designs that are functional and modern.

Art deco at it’s best! This Art Deco Doll's House was built exclusively for Dolly Daydreams. It sold for around $1,380 which included all the lighting, decorations and Art Deco Furniture.

The new and improved Lundby Lundby architect-designed doll houses have been around since 1947 and the interiors have been repeatedly redesigned over the years, in order to keep up with the very latest in interior design. While I love my 1970 something version the Stockholm house (designed exclusively in Sweden), is the ultimate leisure home with its mosaic patterned pull-out pool, pet deck, hot tub on the party roof and many lush furnishings. The house has floor-to-ceiling windows that retract conveniently for play and there are even two working terrace lights to light it up at night. LOVE IT!!!!

If all else fails…. Then this simple low cost is always an option. Grab a Bonde bookcase from Ikea (like this picture I found on Flickr), and voila you have a loft apartment building…..and endless hours of fun too!

Going with a theme

DIY Ideas for your holiday table setting

The most important element is setting the tone and look for your table. Choosing a theme is crucial! Here are a few to consider, A brighter take on the traditional red and green, or perhaps an existing element in the room will be your inspiration – such as the polka-dotted window valance in this picture which was the inspiration for this colorful holiday theme. Dots appear everywhere and are accented by real oranges on the table and the tree.

Next thing to consider is your table itself. Oh….wait…. don’t forget your chairs! Be sure to add some holiday flair to your chairs with this festive chair back idea. This is a quick decoration on the back of your dining-room chair that is also super easy. Just tie on a big red-ribbon bow along with a wire sprig of greenery and a glittering white snowflake ornament and – VOILA - it’s pretty and simple - your guest can even take the sprig home as a little gift!

Now for your linens….try a ribbon table runner. Simply set the table for a festive meal by layering color, texture, and materials. Purchase runners or make them by cutting lengths of fabric and pressing the edges under. In addition to the runner you can make these pretty napkin rings and place mats. Punctuate a napkin with a ribbon-covered button made using a button kit. A length of ribbon tacked with thread forms the napkin ring, which is topped with the button and second ribbon loop. To add designer details to a purchased place mat, apply a length of ribbon using no-sew adhesive fabrics tape.

Let’s move along to place settings….

Create a special place at the table for each guest with these 3 easy to make ideas:

Elegant Ribbon Roses

Make ribbon roses to fill oversize bowls. For the roses, start with 5-inch-wide wired ribbon cut 60 inches long. Pull the wire on one side of the ribbon, roll it into a rose shape, and tack the ends.

Ribbon-Accented Table Setting Colorful ribbon projects add a festive punch to this holiday table. Simply wrap a ribbon around two plates to create an elegant place setting.

Holiday Place Settings Dress up each place setting with a keepsake ornament. Just replace the metal hook with a pretty ribbon tie.

Serholt Sweden

Weird, I originally found this company at a tradeshow in the orient under the name Storehouse China. But while surfing I found Serholt Sweden – which is the designer of these items and the company I found in the Orient must have been their factory…personal revelation.

Serholt Sweden is a family-owned wholesale company in the textiles, gifts, interior and home furnishings. A large part of their collections change every season and by presenting fresh products at the right time, they have a good market position primarily in Scandinavia and Germany. If you have follow my blog you will know I am a fan of Swedish design and their holiday decorating and traditions are just as beautiful as their everyday! There is not much on-line for this company - and I will have to request a catalog for sure - but I did find these 2 items that would be a nice addition to the holidays! Love their pixies "Lisa" and "Lasse. Advent candlesticks.

Stay tuned I hope to have more for you soon from Serholt!