Dear Friends

First let me say, I can't believe how fast time has been flying by. I have just been so busy adding new things to Sweet Yesterdays wonderful home accents that are great conversation getters. I love to use the unexpected like the beautiful vintage dominos, how beautiful they are in a vintage compote or on a silver tray. They are sure to get noticed.

I do hope that all of you are off to a wonderful start in 2008. Now if this crazy weather would just calm down we could enjoy the winter. I know many of you are still dealing with low temperatures and snow. Great time to just stay indoors and shop on line or read.

My dear friend Cathy at Treasured Heirlooms was just so sweet to give me this. I actually think we both make each other laugh and smile. So thank you dear Cathy!

So now I am going to pass the Smile Award onto one of my dear friends Janet, at Janet's Creative Pillows She is always so sweet and funny and she extents her kindness and joy to everyone.

Moving Ahead To 2008

Things sure seemed simpler back then. Who even thought about the New Year? I remember watching the ball drop in New York, if I could manage to stay awake. But what did it really mean? Hats and horns brought home from my parents New Years Eve party that's all the New Year meant to me. No decisions to make on what our goals and objectives were going to be for the New Year. Now there's that internal restlessness each year, similar to when I was in my 20's and trying to figure out what I was going to be. I for one hate that feeling, it's the same feeling like going to the dentist and having to sit there in the outer office all full of anticipation and disturbing images of contraptions in your mouth.
I always have the notion that it will all come to me in my sleep. You know the old saying, "just sleep on it and you'll find the answer." Wow, I have been doing a lot of sleeping lately and so far I'm still pacing. The anxiety of it all, I wonder if the people who were putting together the first Sears and Roebuck Catalog experienced this same quizzy feeling.
Each year there is a need to improve, expand and deliver. To re-invent ourselves, to step up to the challenge so that when we are ready to face 2009 it will be smooth sailing.
I have tons of ideas, tons of mental images and tons of gumption. So maybe that's all it ever takes when you are on your own. Decisions, decisions, I think I'm just going to have to sleep on it for awhile. In the meantime, I wish each of you a very Happy and Clear Headed New Year!

Happy Holidays, I Wish You More

What a great year this has been! There is something about Christmas Eve day that makes me start to get energized and become optimistic about the New Year. But it is also a day that makes me reflect on all that has taken place this year and all the blessings that I have had.

We all would like "more", more money, more time, more success, more happiness, more of everything. The truth of the matter is, we already have "more". We are here each day to give more and to receive more. We chart our own course with the belief in ourselves, some days I have very little and other days it is overflowing. I know that whatever I put into my life is what I will get back and even though I always want more I need to remember to give more. With the passing of 2007, I wish each one of you more. More Love, More Joy, More Blessings, More Peace of Mind but most of all I wish you More Belief to believe in yourself and all your gifts.

Happy Holidays to each of you!

I Just Wanted To Share

The holiday is just around the corner, there is still so much to do. Wrapping and shipping presents, finding great stocking stuffers, and if your like me, holiday baking. I did want to share with all of you who have seen the wonderful charms from Cathy Penton, featured in December Romantic Home. I have decided to take $10.00 off each charm for this week only. So for all of you who love Cathy's work and would love to give one of these beautiful charms, now is the time.

I am also so excited about our new website called Timelessly Chic . I hope you will all stop by and take a look at our Scandinavian influenced site. I just love the crisp white accents and the beautiful wall art done in Swedish. Stop by the Timelessly Chic blog and leave a note to be entered into our Holiday give away.

I hope your week is productive and you are taking time to enjoy the season.

Holiday Cookie Exchange

Join the Make Mine Pink Bloggers for a Christmas Cookie Exchange. Starting December 3 and throughout the week. Just go to http://makeminepink.blogspot.com/ and you will find all the Make Mine Pink bloggers who are sharing their recipes.

My favorite cookie for the holidays is one that my grand-mother use to make when I was little. We call it the Spritz cookie and it is made using a cookie press. The press has all different types of designs that you can use. There really is no need to decorate these dainty cookies but as a child we always liked to sprinkle colored sugar or the multi-colored sprinkles. I hope you enjoy these and please leave me a note and tell me what your favorite holiday cookie is.

Recipe

Makes 2 dozen to 3 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 large egg yolks
3 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Colored sanding sugar
Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, flour, salt, and vanilla. Mix thoroughly.

Fill a cookie press with the dough, and turn out cookies 1 to 2 inches apart onto an unbuttered baking sheet. Sprinkle cookies with colored sanding sugars.

Bake until the cookies are lightly browned, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.

Now just enjoy! These are wonderful given as a sweet gift.

Don't forget about our Christmas Extraganza at

www.sweetyesterdays.com

From December 3rd to December 9th you

can receive 15% off

by just entering the word SPECIAL

at checkout.

I wish all of you a very happy holiday!

What Soothes You?

Color plays such an important role about how we feel. What colors soothe you? For as long as I can remember I have always loved white it has such a crisp fresh look. And I really love love love the look of these chairs with the simple green wreaths. Mix this with wonderful Mercury Glass candleholders and the setting would be perfect.

I always enjoy seeing how others decorate for the holidays. The traditional red and green or red and gold. Years ago while living in Louisiana I did a huge tree in all the Mardi Gras colors, green, purple and gold. The tree was gorgeous, and many people decorate their tree in these colors and leave it up for the Mardi Gras season.

I do hope all of you have a wonderful holiday. And you find the colors that will soothe you and bring much joy to your home.

By the way, please be sure to check out my many wonderful charms from Cathy Penton. She is a wonderful designer and was just featured in the December Romantic Home magazine. These charms are truly a treasure.

The Days Are Flying By

Oh My! The days are just flying by, wasn't it just July yesterday? I am in my usual state of shock like a deer caught in the headlights. In a blink of an eye it will be Christmas, yikes!

I always tell myself that I am going to get a jump start on this holiday thing. Like addressing my Christmas cards in September and having them all ready to mail out. Also, keeping my eye open for fabulous and unusual gifts year round so I could have everything wrapped and ready by October 1st.

How are all of you doing? I hope better than me, but I have been to so many wonderful websites I just know I can get my shopping done without leaving my chair. My friend Cathy at Treasured Heirlooms has the most gorgeous wreaths, they would make a wonderful gift. So if your like me, do stop by and say Hi to Cathy and check out those wreaths.

I will be adding new items to my website this week, just waiting for the sun to come out so I can get some great pictures. So do stop by off and on and check out some of the goodies.

I also would ask for prayers for all the people living in Southern California. How sad for those who have lost their homes. I went through Katrina and I know how sad it is to loose everything you own. So thoughts and prayers to all of you.