Winter Warmth Table

We woke up to snow yesterday!  
Not really that unusual when you consider we live in Colorado but, 
last week the temps were near the 70s!
So, today is cold and, I decided to set a table to convey some warmth.

I started with a wool red and black checked stadium blanket as the tablecloth.

Next came a burlap placemat.

I purchased the dishes some time ago online from Boscovs. 
They were clearanced at some ridiculous low price for the 8 piece set.  
The pinecone motif became my theme for the table.

My friend Cuisine Kathleen has the same set of flatware from World Market.
Mine were a stocking stuffer from Santa. 

As were the embroidered napkins.

The goblets are one of my very favorite thrift store finds! 
I got 6 of them for $3.00. They are etched with pinecones and pine needles.

For the centerpiece, I used another thrift store find. 
A worn wooden basket with handpainted pinecones and greens.
I loaded it with some pinecones from Mr. B's parents yard,
as well as a few red pinecones I had in my craft stash and added a tall candle for height.

So pretty with the goblets don't you think? Rustic and elegant on the same table.

On each side of the wooden basket are birch votive holders.
These are very special to me.
My oldest son made these, and many more, 
for the tables at his and his beautiful bride's wedding reception. 
They very sweetly sent me some to use on my tables.

More pinecones were used to hold name cards. 
I left them blank so that I can add your name should you decide to join us for dinner.

Supper will be warm and hearty beef stew, rustic homemade bread, salad and bread pudding topped with cream for dessert.
And let's not forget,

I always share my tables with 

Kathleen at Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen 

Susan at Between Naps On The Porch Tablescape Thursday

and

Marty at A Stroll Thru Life Table Top Tuesday

Click here to see where else I may be partying this week.

AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's

for my link party.

Thrift Date

If you follow me on Facebook then you know that I recently had the chance to meet up with my bloggy pal, Elaine from Creating Wonderful Spaces. 

I had won her most recent giveaway and what a perfect excuse to get together for some thrift shopping and lunch!

We met in the middle at a Goodwill that neither of us had ever shopped at before.  Let me tell you! This was the nicest Goodwill I had ever been in! It was like shopping at a fancy boutique. And the people working there could not have been any nicer.  Totally different from the location near my home! I know I will be shopping here again!

Anywho, I can't go thrift shopping and NOT show you what I scored! 

 Elaine actually spotted this for me just as we walked into the store. 

Yellow tags were not 50% off but, into my cart it went!  It's a bit scuffed up but, I plan to paint it and put it up in my new office.  That's if Mr. B doesn't claim it for himself!

Elaine is a fellow tablescaper too so, we made sure to go through the plate aisles thoroughly. Look at what made it into my cart!

 4 sweet squarish salad plates. I can't decide what about them I like most, the shape, the checks, the flowers or the price.

White tags WERE 50% off so I only paid $1.00 each. There are some beauty marks, a few chips and crazing in the glaze but, I {heart} them!

I put this next piece in my cart because I really like the shape.  I also plan to paint it to either display in my office or, on one of the mantle shelves in the family room.

Another white tag, so I was only out $3.50 for it. 

Christmas decor was also discounted 50% so we also made sure to check out all of the holiday decor shelves.

I saw this big metal sled and I knew I had to have it!  I can use it next year for a centerpiece, on the buffet or, I can hang it on the wall by the cord. 

$3.00 was worth paying!

And check out these sweet snowman family napkin rings! I may regret posting them as my mother-in-law LOVES anything to do with snowmen and she may want them for herself.

At only $1.00 I may let her have them...if she makes some homemade cinnamon rolls in exchange for them LOL!

My final purchase was this set of four placemats.

 The birdhouses and blue birds will be perfect for a Spring tablescape.  

Only $1.00 for each placemat!

Elaine had a full cart too and I wish I had taken pictures of the beauties she made off with!  Not to worry, we have decided that we will be getting together more often to hit the thrifts.  Next time she will show me her haunts and then, I will have my turn to show her my little secret stores. 
Have you been lucky enough to make friends with a local blogger? I highly recommend it!

Click here to see where I may be partying this week.
And don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.

Christmas Buffet - 2012

This year, for the Christmas holidays,
I resolved to take my time in setting
up our Christmas decor.

Instead of trying to get it all done
in a day, I spent two days.
Hey, it's a start right?

One of my first decorating tasks was the
top of the buffet in the dining room.

One of the first things to go up
is this Santa picture I purchased
several years ago from Kirkland's.

It's no secret that I L.O.V.E. Santa!
I have been known to shout "hello"
and wave to him at the mall.

Next, is the gilded reindeer
I purchased many years ago from the thrift store.
 I may change his bow out this year.

My other favorite items are these three
small old world Santas that were
a gift from Mr. B's mother.
She knows how much I love Santa!

Each one is slightly different, making
them unique and loved by me.

This one sits next to a small 
apothecary jar filled
with a few gold ornaments.

A small gold tree purchased from Pier 1
at the after Christmas sale last year
holds some small red ornaments...

except for one. 
It is Mr. B's take on hiding a pickle on the tree.
It makes me smile when I see it peeking out.

I don't remember where the 
gold mercury glass spires came from.
I'm sure it was an after Christmas sale
and I am sure I didn't pay much for them.

If you are a regular reader (you are right?)
you'll notice that I changed out the
lampshades for the season too.
The red is just perfect for the 
colors I am using in the dining room this year.

I am so happy I kept it simple this year!
Even though I have a gazillion bins
full of Christmas decor,
I realize don't have to put 
every.single.piece 
out on display.
It allows me to change the 
decor each year so that it is
always new to us.

I am soooo excited to let you know about
a holiday blog hop I am co-hosting with some
of my very favorite blog gals!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you look!

We want to celebrate the season and share Christmas cheer and are hosting a four week Christmas link party! 

 Four blogs are joining together to share your holiday creations. 

Each week we will host a theme party to feature,

desserts & holiday food, 

ornaments & holiday decor, 

mantels & tablescapes,

and trees and wreaths. 

The host of each week will also share a fun project with you.

Nov. 28th  Life on Lakeshore Drive will host ornaments & decor.

Dec. 5th    Kathe With An E (that's me!) will host mantels & tablescapes.

Dec. 12th  House Honeys will host trees & wreaths

Dec. 19th  One More Time Events will host desserts & holiday food

**There will also be a Grand Prize giveaway from 

Cook in Stuff 

for those who share at all 4 parties!**  

This pan retails for $64.99!

So, mark your calendars!

We want to see you at each party!

 Click here to see where I may be partying this week.

AND
Don't forget to come by on Tuesday's

for my link party.

Halloween Decor

  While I was setting up the table for Griselda's birthday dinnerI also decorated the buffetin a festive manner.

On the left side I placed a purple glittered skullon top of books from Goodwill.Perfect colors and titles for the season!

The tombstone is from the Dollar Tree.

The candelabra was found at ARC Thrift.I dripped some wax from a red candleonto the white candles.This is one time I did not concern myself with the candles being perfectly straight!The ghouls really aren't that particular about details.

Crows are perched here and thereto watch over the birthday festivities.

The orange spidery runnerwas purchased last year, on clearance,from Big Lots.The Witch Is In came fromHobby Lobby several years ago.

The thrift store broom started out like this.I pulled off the heavily gluedChristmas decorations,

spray painted it blackand sprinkled silver and purple glitter all over it.Several coats of spray clearand it was ready to gift to Griseldafor her birthday.

On the left side of the buffetI placed a skull inside an estate sale purchased metal and glass cage.

I was able to capture some of Griselda'spet mice and get them into the cage too.The big rat decided he'd ratherkeep watch from on top.

 All of my guests seemed to be very pleasedwith the party decor.Griselda loved her new broom,as purple is her favorite color, and her centuries old one was too small and worn.

Once again, the ghouls were sureI had cast a mystical spellto obtain such prettydecor at such magical prices!

 

Click here to see where I may be partying this week.

And don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.