Organize 2012: Calendars With Style

Happy 2012!

My friend, Netta doesn't own ONE calendar.
When I give her a date to remember over the telephone, she pretends she is writing it down.
She doesn't fool me...well, perhaps the first couple of times she did.

I, on the other hand, have three calendars!
Which is overkill but I couldn't work with just one.
I use...

1. A small spiral calendar in my purse/tote bag...to jot notes/ideas and keep track of billable time.
2. The Google Calendar on my computer and Iphone for appointments.

                                                                                                               Look what I got for Christmas.
     3.   A desk calendar    I just bought the new one below to view months at a time and
         will tack it on my bulletin board.  I like the letterpress style.  You can find it here.

This came very nicely wrapped and she included a gift of holiday tags for next year!
I learned about this Etsy shop from The House on Chambers, a great Australian blog.

I love little touches like this.


JANUARY IS A GOOD TIME TO GET 
YEARLY CALENDARS ON SALE.
Below is another example  of a Letterpress calendar from Paper Source.
 I used one like this last year (that I got on sale in January at Paper Source).
After the months were over, I trimmed some of the cards to decorate gift packages.

At the bottom of my bulletin board, I display at least two months at a time.


My friend, Claire has one of these below on her memo board to remember 
birthdays.  She is so thoughtful.  You can find it HERE.

 Cottage and Vine also did a recent post on some  

darling calendars that you should check out.

This is a pretty Parisian calendar on heavy, matte stock.  

You can trim and frame the photos afterwards. The vegetables and bread would be fun in a kitchen and my favorite is the lamp post photo.

How do you keep your calendar dates?

...or are they all in your head like Netta's?

Happy New Year!

Joyeux Noël Decor and Brunch

Years ago, when we lived in Paris, our son, Tommy surprised his Uncle Billy by 

coming to breakfast as a French guy with savoir faire.

We've loved France ever since our time spent there.
And I miss those herringbone wood floors.

 

This year, I simplified decorating at the beach since we will be spending 

Christmas Eve and Day at my mother's and sister's home in San Diego.
Then we are coming back to Mammoth for some family skiing.

I hope I get some new ski gloves in my stocking.

Having a small tree this year was so quick and easy to decorate!  The roses are from
our garden and smell divine.

Our family has divided up the holiday meal responsibilities and Tommy and I are preparing a French Christmas Brunch.

Place settings
Here is the same table cloth that is in the first photo.  We bought it in Paris and
I like that it's reversible.

Le Menu

While opening gifts...  

Café au lait and Chocolat Chaud

Brunch...                      

Mimosas and Perrier with Orange Juice

Freshly Baked Croissants* and Jam

Mixed Berries with Orange Zest

Bacon, Spinach and Ham Quiche

Nutella and Banana Crepes (Tommy's favorite)

\

*Frozen from Trader Joe's, defrosted the night before and baked in the morning

Joyeux Noël

from our family to yours.

Participating in

Savvy Southern Style , A Home Spun Christmas Vignette

Night of Lights and Angelina's Hot Chocolate

Last Saturday, was Mammoth Mountain's  "Night Of Lights."

Photo: Brad Peatross

  It was a beautiful display of skiing/boarding choreographed to

Christmas carols with a grand finale of fireworks.

It was actually warmer in the igloo.

It's cold at night time...
but you wouldn't know it by all the
happy families singing and
drinking hot chocolate.

Note: One alcoholic drink at sea level =
two at this altitude...
voice of experience.





Which reminds me...
have you ever had Angelina's Hot Chocolate in Paris?

Basically, it's like drinking a melted candy bar...decadent and delicious...
with fresh whipped cream.

If you can't make it to Paris...here is the Recipe.

Everyone in the family, except Rocky, complained about their picture on our
Christmas card this year.

In case you didn't get yours in the mail...
(notice the Arc de Triomphe and Tour Eiffel and not my hair).

Front

Back 

This was my first time using Tiny Prints (I saw their ads on other blogs).

The online ordering was easy, fast delivery and the resolution is better than above.

Can you get cooperation for photos from your family?

Hopefully, we'll have a better one next year.

Best wishes!

Participating in
Open House Party
Voila! French Inspiration

Exterior Holiday Decorating and Festive Cookies!

Come on our walk in this pretty Newport Beach, California neighborhood.

This is one of my favorites.  Great Dutch door with circular window, painted brick and zinc planters.

Love the herringbone brick and curved garage doors.  This home was on the high school home tour and I missed it!  It would be fun to see the inside.

Elegant magnolia trees frame the front walkway. 

This front porch swing has Christmas pillows on display.

Here your eye is really drawn to the red on the door.

And another view of my favorite...that grass is real! Pretty seating and X railing.

The winner of the B. Toffee from my last post (comments and facebook "likes" added together, selected by random.org) is Jesse from Mix and Chic.

Pink Martini's and Pearls is a fun blog and its author, 

Marilyn is a local, Orange County gal.

She makes the most unbelievable cookies, like these snowflakes.

A few nights ago, with Tommy and his friends home from college for the holidays, I decided to 

make some of Marilyn's beautifully decorated cookies.  

(My comment on her blog during baking).

I almost tried her fancy icing decorations, but instead used different sprinkles.

Marilyn's tip of painting milk on the cookies so the 

sprinkles stick during baking was useful.

Good thing I kept it simple (and took a photo)...since the next morning 

only a couple of cookies were left!

 Here is the recipe for the dough.

Marilyn has college aged sons (I get teared up with her funny/touching posts about them).

How does she feel when her masterpieces like these get gobbled up?  

How would you feel?

Participating in 

Cookiepalooza Party

Amaze Me Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Just Something I Whipped Up

My Holiday Traditions and Tasty Giveaway

Elizabeth from The Mustard Ceiling asked if I would write about

 "a favorite holiday tradition, something you look 
forward to every holiday season."

Elizabeth is the talented designer that helped me 
with my blog design.

Check out one of my favorite traditions here...

                                                 

Another special tradition... 

each year, my three long time buddies and I make time to have lunch together.

 Yesterday, we celebrated with Christmas music, scented candles, a fire in the fireplace 

and take-out soup and sandwiches (easy during this busy time).  

Debbie set the table with garden flowers.

Some thoughtful presents were exchanged...most importantly, the gift of friendship!

Get some ideas for "Merry Grown Up Stocking Stuffers for $10 or Less" 

at Houzz.com.

A delicious gift is B.Toffee.  You will love it!

You can get the packaging customized.  We did this for Christmas presents last year.

It's also fun for party favors for other celebrations like showers or birthdays.

EASY to enter giveaway:

Just like B. Toffee on facebook HERE (so Betsy will know I sent you),
follow me and leave a comment on this post.
Drawing to be held on Dec. 18.  Open to US and Canadian residents.  I must have your email address.

Thank you for being here and Merry Christmas!


Participating in
Show Off Your Cottage Monday
Potpourri Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Friday Favorites Party
Flaunt It Friday
Free For All Friday
Holiday House Walk
Inspiration Friday
Christmas Tree Party