Rose ~ Chic ~ Friends: My blog is all about you; friends and sharing lifes journey...My love for all things Chic; repurposed, crafted, painted in many venues... and My LOVE for all things Roses! which show up in my home and created projects.

Monday, December 13, 2010

CHRISTMAS DECOR AT MY HOME ~ PART 1

Hello Dear Bloggy Friends!

I have SOOOOO been enjoying the many pictures of your homes all done up right for Christmas.  BLOGLAND is FULL of gorgeous homes for the Christmas Holidays!

  Last week I shared just a few things I had gotten done...like my kitchen window vingettes and our family room tree.  Well, I have finally gotten things finished, tweeked and pictures taken so I guess its my turn to share.  I have 4 rooms to share and I will try to break it into 3 or 4 posts so you can it all, if you'd like.  I decorate mainly our 1st level of living area so that is what I will be sharing with you.

Today I will start in our Family's main living area.  Hubby LOVES christmas and lights.  I could just put up a tree and pretty up the mantel and he'd be extremely happy.  He loves to sit with just lights on as we Vegg and watch TV.  My theme for this room as well as our adjoining Kitchen area's are kept in mainly golds and reds as you will see...and it all sparkles or has bling!
Enjoy!















Christmas decor for me is so much fun.  I keep tubs full of vintage and new ornies, beads,  greens and Santa's and then I create vingette with my many new and made glass jars and containers.  I love the feel they give all full of my cherished goodies. 

This room is casual yet elegant in feel...and the tree has white lights that lends a wonderful glow to the room at night.  My family and I have spent already, many hours in here enjoying our christmas decor and watching Christmas movies.

I hope you will come back tomorrow as I share pictures of our Royal Blue dining room as I have it set up for entertaining and it will be my TEA Time Tuesday contribution!

Merry Christmas!
Lorena

Friday, December 10, 2010

HAPPY 19th BIRTHDAY DEAREST DAUGHTER!


To my Sweet Daughter Michaela!

Where has the time gone?
Can it really be 19 years ago that you decided you
couldn't wait to enter the world?  You weren't suppose to be
here until January 11th...but I guess you didn't get that memo.

But there is so much more to this story, of course.
Just one week earlier your Aunt delivered your cousin
7 weeks early.  We knew she was coming due to complications
in your aunts pregnancy.  We rejoiced as a healthy 5lb 4 oz cuz girl was born.  
(Little did we know that the 2 of you would be *only's* and
 become more like sisters are you grew older. )
As we rushed to be at the hospital to see our newest
bundle of joy...I clearly remember grammy hugging me and saying
how glad she was to know that we still had about 6
more weeks to wait for you.
Ha...
To the day, 1 week later you awoke me at 4:00 a.m. pst to let
me know that you were on your way.  Being a first time momma
I was so unsure of what to do and was more worried about
you being okay.  On que, you hickuped and I knew you were just fine!
You see, I knew at my last exam that you were
*Footling* breach...meaning your feet were down in the
birth canal, not your head.
As your daddy and I rushed drove that very long 20 minutes
to the hospital I began having contractions that
were 10 minutes apart.  Things were happening soooo fast...

As we got into the hospital  we were greeted by a nurse, who
as she took us to the examing room, mentioned to me  "Oh, this is your
first pregnancy? well, we have many who are probably ahead of you here."
Again...little did she know you...lol
So she told me to get into Hospital garb...then I mentioned
to her that at my last check up that I knew you were breach.
She jerked her head around and told me to get upon that table...
on NOT to move. 
Well as things go here in our story...she realized as she was
checking things...your lil feetsies were in the birth canal.
She FLEW out of that room and started
calling out to the others that they needed help in here...
and to get the anathesiologist in there as fast as we can.
By that time, my contractions were coming VERY fast and she
knew that she needed to get them slowed in order to
get my Doctors notified and me prepped and ready to
deliver...C-section.

Less than 4 hours later at 7:45 am your
little squeals were heard in the delivery room.  Our
Dr. announced to us that we had a girl and then asked your name...
Michaela Ellen Wheeler
5lb 1oz, 17 inches
You were sooooo tiny and 5 weeks early.
But praise GOD you were thriving and needed just
to be placed under heated lights and given a
little sugar water.

After 4 very long days in the hospital we were the
proud parents of a tiny little girl that we
got to take home and introduce to our *other*
kitty children...whom instantly loved you!


And here we are 19 years later celebrating your birth!  What
a pleasure it has been to be your mom.  To see you grow up
and to be a part of your life.  This past year we saw you
graduate with honors and move on to College.  The future holds
so many unknowns but I KNOW you will succeed in whatever you
put your mind too.  Just like you came early into this world
you have never stopped to amaze me with your cheerful
countenance, zest for life and fun and love for GOD.  I can't wait to see
what happens next and hopefully be a part in that too!



Our roles as parents have begun to change and  I am enjoying my baby
girl in a new way...that of being a guide and friend.
Something I cherish more than you will ever know!

I LOVE you my sweet baby girl!
Mom
 


.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

MY FAVORITE Christmas SONG ~ O Come Emanual ~ Sweet Memories

Blogging Friends, Greetings!



Do you have a favorite Christmas song?

Yesterday I turned on my CD player
that had one of my Mannheim Steamrollers
Christmas music on it.  I could listen to this music
all day!  And as the songs played, one paticular
song really stuck out and took me back in time,
many many  years ago in my memories...

As a very young girl, my mom, dad and 3 sisters traveled through treacherous icy roads from our home in the Seattle area, across
the Snoqualmie Pass in the Washington Cascades and  the Blue Mountains in Oregon to visit my grandparents 500 miles away in Boise, Idaho.
Those were the days before 4 lane highways and
well kept roads during the bad weather.
This was also where my moms sister and her family, my 3 boy cousins lived as well.
We travled those roads during my earliest childhood to
be together to celebrate Christmas with their families.
On Christmas eve,
our entire family all went with my grandparents to their tiny church for their Candle Light Eve service.
I remember it being dark sitting on those hard pews.  Writhing and trying to get settled and then the choir began to sing...
they sang behind us out in the vestible...
 O Come, O Come, Emmanual
  the song grew stronger as they walked in holding candles.   The only source of light in that dark sanctuary.  A warm glow came forth as they walked the entire aisle way up to the choir area.  I was so enchanted and knew I LOVED that haunting music!
I don't have many other memories of that time that stood out...
but was yet again brought back to that simpler time
as Mannheim's version is this song came on.

Loving Mannheim as I do...
I'd love to share their version with you.  Sit back and enjoy!


Christmas Blessing...Lorena

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

OH MY CHRISTMAS TREE ~ Reds~n~Golds ~ BEFORE/AFTER


Christmas Greetings!

Oh I feel as if I am always LATE to the party!
So many have already jumped upon the season and gotten their
homes all decorated.
I finally had a breakthrough as to why I seem to drag
when it comes to getting started each year.
It's because, even tho
I always LOVE it when its all done...
shhhhhhh...I Clean when I decorate! Yikes!!!
Yep...that way I know its done up for at least till
the end of January when I *may* pull out my
SNOWMEN collection...and then...
clean again! lol

I am sooooo glad tho, I thought to start taking pictures
of my tree as I progressed over 3-4 days of tweaking
to make sure it was just right!
Let's begin, okay?
Just the bare tree and its lights...so Neecked!
 (please pardon my messes)
okay, its starting to get there

hmmmmm....I need to fill in some spaces!

yeah...added some more ribbon bows and its
 reeeeeallly looking much better.
Ahhhhhh...All done!

A view from our hallway, looking into our family room.

Another angle, looking at the tree from the kitchen door way.

How about a few of my favorite ornies and
some close ups?

 The Most IMPORTANT reason I celebrate Christmas!!!







 These last 2 pictures are of an amazing ornie hubby and
I bought many years ago at my daughters school acution.
I just absolutely LOVED its meaning!
I reads...
The greatest gift ever given...

Was given on a tree!

What a befitting reminder of why Christmas
is so important to believers.



For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
 and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful,
 Counseller,
The mighty God,
 The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6
KJV

I love this verse!

May your season be blessed!
Lorena




PS...I am linking in with Kim @ Savvy Southern Style
for her *Boring to Better Party*
Just click to see the other participants!


Monday, December 6, 2010

Christmas TEA Time Tuesday Display



Welcome my sweet Tea Friends!!!

Like many of you, I am in the midst of trying
to decorate my home for Christmas.
A sweet friend of mine came by yesterday for a visit
and she helped me get some Christmas Cheer
in my Kitchen window area and I thought
I'd share it with you since it does have
my Teapot Lamp and a tea cup also included in my
vingettes.

I LOVE my kitchen window area! It jets out about
a foot and is 6-7 feet long.
It gives me so much room for display!
SQUEALLLLL!
This year I decided to Fill my newly made glass
jars with candy. I love adding these to the rest
of my decor! And aren't candy's just as
festive as shiny ornies?

I do apologize tho, as dreary as it is here in
Michigan right now...I cannot seem to get a decent
full on picture of my window area w/ or w/o my flash.
But...my close ups work better for you to see
what I have done in smaller settings!


Love this tray...FOUND at Hob/Lob for $5 last year on
clearance!!!!

See those swirly candies? those are Dollar store ornies!

You can see my lovely Golden Teapot Lamp,
sweet Cardinal Sugar/Creamer set and blue cup.
Nothing matches but I love the all together.

Oh and my vintage Santa and Mrs. Clause stopped by for tea to.

I hope you enjoyed a peek into my kitchen window area!

My hostess today is my sweet friend Sandi at
Rose Chintz Cottage!
I have links on my left sidebar of the many
Tea Links there are in blogland.
Please go over to her blog and visit the other
Tuesday Tea Time particpators!

Have a Lovely Day!
Lorena



Wednesday, December 1, 2010

I have a Winner!!!

Oh my!!!
I have a winner of my Tea Cozy Giveaway!

It's my sweet friend...

Sherry from Edie Marie's Attic!!

I am just so tickled that she has won!
I KNOW it's going to a lovely home!

Thanks everyone who joined in on the fun!
You never know with me when I may have
another giveaway..so stay tuned!

Blessings...Lorena

Tea Cozy Giveaway ~ You can still join in the fun!

Hey Blogging Friends!

Just a reminder that it is NOT too
late to join my Tea Cozy giveaway.
Yep, its the one that is pictured.
To see more of my cozy's that make
and sell in my
etsy shop you can check them out

You have till this evening to enter by just
leaving me a comment.

I can't wait to see who win!


Stay warm my dear Tea Loving Friends!

Lorena