We´re having A New Year Party !!

According to style setter Carolyne Roehm, the holidays are ideal for hosting as well as actually enjoying your own gatherings.
By Nancy A. Ruhling

For an elegant New Year's Eve dinner, Roehm created a table setting that takes its cues from a wintry landscape. She placed snow-flecked branches in a white bowl atop a snow-dusted linen tablecloth, using all-white china, crystal and 18th-century silver to complement the simple, elegant tableau.

The most successful parties, Roehm says, have themes. These may be as simple as a color scheme – one of her reddest Connecticut Christmases was inspired by damask shawls she found in India. Or they might be as elaborate as a period-style stage set – one of her Halloween parties included a recreation of Miss Haversham's decaying bridal feast from Charles Dickens's Great Expectations. And all else – the decor, the menu, the activities – spring from that one element

There doesn't even have to be an occasion to entertain, but when there is one, well, that's all the more reason to celebrate, Roehm says in her book, A Passion for Parties (Broadway Books, $50).

And the holidays are the perfect time to play the perfect hostess, something she does effortlessly – with pizzazz and panache.

Buy the book A passion for Parties in Sweden at Adlibris

Favorite Projects of 2010~

Honestly, I can't believe that 2011 is just a couple of days away. The last few months of this year seemed to crawl by as the hubby recuperated from his car accident and I wondered if life would ever get back to normal. But as things started to gain some semblance of normalcy, this year sped up and now it's virtually sprinting to the finish line.

As I looked back over 2010 at The Shabby Nest, there were a few projects that really jumped out as my favorites, and I wanted to share them all with you. (Just click on the project's title if you'd like to learn more about it.)

Pillow tutorials...

The Pretty Pleated Pillow

The Snowblossom Pillow

Furniture redo's...

The Rehabbed Console

The Princess' Wrought Iron bed

Miscellaneous...

DIY Smocked Curtains

PB Knock-off Chalkboard

Room Redo's...

The Sock Monkey Bedroom

The Gray and White Master Bedroom

Whew! What a list! Linking up to Rhoda's Top Projects of 2010 Party!

I'm sooooo looking forward to 2011 and all the projects it has to bring! I hope you'll all join me for the ride.

xoxo

Wendy

Sparkling Champagne Cupcakes

These cupcakes have plenty of sparkle to welcome a new year

se the recipes at this fab blog

sprinklebakes.com

images from lovely cupcake blog sprinkle bakes
read more about champagne

bloggar om bakverk leilas bakverk och hellosugar

Inspiring,Dreamy & Beautiful

Lovely and inspiring photo session for Brides Magazine

by the talent photographer Amber Gray.

Via blog 79 ideas

This is Dreamlife,

A princess in a wonderland

Enjoy and Dream away !



beautiful weddingdresses

images amber gray via 79 ideas
more lovely weddingdress inspiration

What To Wear to the Ballet~

I took the Princess to see Ballet West's version of the Nutcracker yesterday. Dance is one of my passions. I danced for many years (mostly jazz and modern with some ballet)...didn't exactly have the figure to become a professional...but I did work in marketing and PR for Ballet West for a few years before I had children.

The Princess inherited my passion for dance. She performed in the Nutcracker last year in Massachusetts. But I didn't find her a studio in time for her to audition this year. After last night, however, she's determined to try out next year. She wants to dance the part of a buffoon... she wants to do cartwheels across that big stage.

Last summer, before we moved back to Utah, we came out to visit for some family weddings. Because I had worked for the ballet, I was able to pull a few strings and get a private tour of the facilities for the Princess and her cousin. They actually got to stand on the stage in the Capitol Theatre. I think that did it. That's when she decided in earnest that she is going to be a ballerina when she grows up. And you know what? I hope she's right.

On the Princess: Dress DownEast Basics girl, Boots Target
On Me: Skirt DownEast Basics, Cardigan Target, Necklace DownEast Basics

French Black Shabby Chic

pictures from Bruxelles Antiques via line and lavender

luxury linen from france agenturfirman
more inspiration from provence

And The Living Room Gets All Dressed Up~

A couple of weeks ago I posted about the fact that I needed to replace my living room rug. The rug we had was pretty with golds, browns and reds. But since I was going to have to replace it, I decided that I wanted to go with something more neutral because I really wanted to introduce some blues and greens to my palette instead of the warmer tones that I had been using.

RUG BEFORE

If you recall, I was set on using a jute or sisal-type rug. But, after asking the opinions of you, my lovely readers, I had many people suggest the idea of using indoor/outdoor carpet. To be honest, that is something I had never really considered. I had this vision in my head of indoor/outdoor being something along the lines of astroturf. I just didn't think it could be something I would want in my living room. I was also told by many people that sisal and jute have a difficult time standing up to traffic. Even though we have a family room, our living room sees quite a bit of traffic, and I didn't want to have to replace the rug quickly, so that also made me reconsider.


To make a long story short (really, Wendy, I didn't think you could do that...you might be thinking) after researching a bit, I was pleasantly surprised with the range of indoor/outdoor rugs I was able to find. But, then there was the budget constraint. The hubby and I were pooling the money we received from our parents for Christmas...but we still didn't have a huge budget for a new rug.


Enter Costco. Yes, Costco. While we were there one afternoon before Christmas, I happened to notice some area rugs. I walked casually over to the display thinking that there was absolutely no way that I was going to see what I was looking for. After all, I had been scouring the internet, home improvement stores, catalogs...all to no avail.


You can probably guess the rest of the story. There in the front of the display was one rug. The exact right size, the exact right color....AND the exact perfect price. I tried to be nonchalant about it...but I may have yelled the hubby's name across the crowded store as I flailed my arms back and forth in the air to get his attention two rows away. And he may have shot me one of those "are you crazy?" looks. But as he got closer and realized what I found, he was almost as excited as I was.


So we bought that baby. Loaded her up...and here she is. An indoor/outdoor (read that as easy clean-up), neutral-toned beauty. Can you say LOVE?

CARPET AFTER

Okay, so once we got the rug in the room, I felt an intense need to finally get a coffee table. We had been looking and looking on Craigslist and KSL.com (the local online want-ads) for weeks or possibly months with no luck. But that night, the hubby hopped online and found the PERFECT coffee table....again for the perfect price! (I mean it MUST have been fate!!)

So the very next day, while I was laid-up in bed with the worst stomach flu I think I've ever had...the hubby...with children in tow....went and bought the coffee table. And because it had a blue base (which was not the right color blue) he even refinished it for me...that very day...okay it really took two days, but the story sounds better if you think he did it all in one day. Ha!

And now our living room is almost complete. I plan on switching the sofa slipcover back to the white one, and placing my rehabbed console behind the sofa where it belongs while placing a dresser where the console is now. AND, of course, bringing in some blue and green...probably in the form of pillows and accessories. Oh, and accessorizing that pretty coffee table with something besides my decorating books. :-)

But what a difference the carpet and coffee table make!! Can we hear a collective "Woot Woot!"?

For now, I'm just going to sit here and enjoy the view! Have a great day~

My obsessive-need-to-organize-everything-in-my-house-and-life phase~

Normally, my obsessive-need-to-organize-everything-in-my-house-and-life phase hits about mid-January. But this year, it started about mid-December. I don't know if it's because 2010 was a very rough year in our family and I was just ready to cleanse our life... or exactly why it started early, but I have been on an organizational rampage for the past few weeks.



This is good, because I have already accomplished some of my New Year's goals and it isn't even the end of December...and because it is going to give me a lot of blog content for you all in the upcoming weeks, but also because I have started to feel the satisfaction of life-control that organization brings. Do you know what I mean? Or am I the only one who feels more competent and in control when things are in their places?

via The Lettered Cottage


For example, I have already oganized my pantry cupboards. I have my new mudroom area 3/4 of the way finished. Here's a little sneaky-peek of the bench in it's almost-before state (I had actually started to prime it in this pic.) Wait until you see the after!




I have also almost completed the living room. I have gone through the kids rooms with them and organized. It's almost like a nesting phase...except that there are NO new little Hydes on the way. Let me repeat that...NO new little Hydes on the way. ;-)


Of course, there are lots of things still on the to-do list. There always are. Not the least of which are health-related. The hubby and I are entirely revamping our diet. With three little boys that have Alpha-1, and with the fact that we aren't getting any younger, we felt like it was high time that we took inventory of our food intake, and changed it for the better.


Are you still there? Bored yet?? Hope not.

Because along with all of the changes around our house and in our lives, I have been obsessing over the direction I want to take this here little old blog in the new year. Don't worry, it will still feel basically the same. After all, it is me....albeit a digital, edited version of me. ;-) But I have some fun ideas that I have been wanting to implement for a while, and I think that the new year is the perfect time for that. So look for a few FUN changes to be coming your way here on the blog. Things that will make it a little bit more me.

via Southern Living

Okay, if you actually read all of my rantings, you are a wonderfully loyal reader and you deserve a star on your forehead. If you just couldn't get through all of that, then you're not reading this sentence...but you are a wonderful reader too. ;-)

Coming your way tomorrow....my two Christmas presents....and how they changed my living room for the better. One of them rhymes with Bar Pet and the other rhymes with Toffee Mable...and I'm super excited to share them both...so y'all come back now, ya hear?

xoxo

Wendy

Christmas is over...

..I wonder what to do...

pictures from blogg happy photon taken by photographer rodney smith

*take a look at more great photographers at my side

*ore perhaps some lovely livingrooms?

Classic Style marknadsför SEB

Bild: AnnieLeibovitz fotar Nicole Kidman

Varmt välkommen till Bloggen Classic Style in the City/Dreamlife.
SEB har utlyst en tävling för bloggare.
Har du en blogg du vill marknadsföra mer?
Ansök och tävla du med enklafirman.

Vinstpeng är 100 000 kronor.

Jag anmält bloggen med följande motivering:

Classic Style startades mars-2008 som ett slags

firande/hyllning av inredningsdesign i alla dess former:

det som började som en plats att katalogisera

vackra bilder har förvandlats till en internationell plats

för inspiration, att fånga inspiration och läsare från hela världen.
Classic Style är en livsstilblogg som utforskar en förtrollande rad ämnen,
inklusive design, inredning, resor, mode, konst, fotografi,
och det daliga äventyret i sökandet efter vackra saker.
Classic Style är en plats för inspiration av inredning och modebilder som
en hyllning av det vackra och glamorösa livsstilen.

Syftet med bloggen är att jag delar med mig av vår förtrollande värld
för att inspirera och lyfta fram duktiga och kreativa personligheter.
En marknadsföringskampanj med SEB som samarbetsparter är en
underbart hisnande tanke och ett lyckorus som är helt obeskrivlig.
Bloggen är min passion och Tack för möjligheten att nu expandera bloggen
att bli en av de största i världen.

Varma Hälsningar
Marie Söderberg

Sweet Cream

pink,peach and gold inspiration




Image: elisabethannedesign
Top row: Bride photographed by Steve DePino (see more from this lovely photo shoot on Style Me Pretty), bedroom styled by Eva Lindh via This is Glamorous, fluffy white wedding cake with pink ribbons via Martha Stewart, ceramic birds and baby’s breath from freshlyfound via Decor Amor

Middle row: Bouquet tied with peach ribbon via Martha Stewart, gold vanity table styled by Katie Sellers via

Desire to Inspire, shabby chic chair with pink throw from All Things Bright and Beautiful

Bottom row: Square white and pink rose wreath styled by Tara Guerard of Soiree and photographed by Liz Banfield via The Bride’s Cafe, gold curtains from this London home found via Desire to Inspire, champagne gown and white shoes photographed by Our Labor of Love, wedding program via Blush Floral Design, lace favor box packaging created by

The White Aisle, paper flower garland by Emersonmade via The Sweetest Occasion

Merry Christmas~

The children were nestled all snug in their beds...

Wishing you joy and peace this holiday season.

Merry Christmas from my home to yours.

The night before christmas..

allt klart inför "dopparedan"

matsalen dekoread och dukat med finporslinet,

drycken på kylning,alla paket under granen,

granen klädd..städat undan,smakat glögg,julgodis,skinkan

diskar,tvättar & dammar det sista

naglar ska målas håret ska läggas,klänningen ska strykas

barnen ska underhållas,gröten till tomten ,fylla julstrumpan

en sista gång..snart är det över den härliga julen

..nu dags att njuta

dagen före julafton

I found this lovely images at two amazing

blogsites plumsiena & this is glamorous

the sites are full of inspiration and glamour. I just love

the first picture and I couldnt stop myself of sharing

Merry Christmas

..så är det dags att gå till sängs..

underbara bilder från countryliving,blog plumsiena,
and blog this is glamorous.

A Little More Christmas~

I'm ready. No really, I'm ready. Okay, except the fact that I have to run to the grocery store and pick up a few salad fixins for Christmas Eve dinner. But all the gifts are wrapped. Those that need delivering are delivered. All the preparations are made. Now I can sit back and enjoy the last couple of days before Christmas.

We've had another run in with the stomach flu in our family this week. And it took me completely out of commission for 24 hours. 24 hours of down-time right before Christmas is SCARY if you're a type-A control freak like I am. But at least I was up and running in time to get everything ready. And, at least for the moment, everyone in my house is flu-free. (Knock on wood.)

So I'm going to enjoy some of this...





...pajama-clad littles reading favorite Christmas stories. We'll play a little Wii, watch some movies, snuggle and enjoy. This is such a magical moment in time...with a house full of wiggly little bodies who can hardly contain their excitement. I just want to soak it up, because they won't be this little forever.


Okay, so I haven't mastered the art of photographing in very low light. But I loved this scene in my living room last night, so I had to snap a pic. (And it shows -sort of- my two Christmas gifts...a new rug and coffee table...I'll tell you all about them later. I'm so excited!!)

And, in case you are in need of a last minute Christmas gift...check out these sweet little pillows I whipped up last night while sitting at my kitchen table and staring at the scene above. The downloadable graphics are found on one of my newly-discovered favorite blogs, Dear Lillie, right here. Just print them out in reverse on some photo transfer paper, iron them on your choice of fabrics and stitch up some pretty pillows.

Have a great day~