HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

!!!!HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

 

********

 

WISHING EVERYONE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR

FILLED WITH MANY BLESSINGS

AND A YEAR OF GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS

AND PROSPERITY.

 

SEE YOU SOON.

 

HUGS,

CELESTINA MARIE



Merry Christmas 2013

Greetings Blog Friends,

 

Wishing each and everyone

 a very Merry Christmas

filled with many blessings.

 

May your holiday be spent

with family and friends

enjoying the season with

the spirit of Christmas in your heart.

 

*************

 

Happiness, health and love always.

Merry Christmas

Hugs,

 

Celestina Marie



When The Christmas Trees are Enough~

It is not unusual for me

to décor with two trees at Christmas,

but this year~

I have a few more.

 

I just wanted to enjoy a tree throughout the house

and

display most of my ornaments

with a few accents and wreaths.

 

I did not bring out all my décor this season

keeping it scaled down and simple.

But it seems,

when a Christmas tree

is in a room,

what more do you need.

 

 

 

 

Wishing you

A

SILENT NIGHT

 

Thank you for visiting!

 

********

 

Merry Christmas with Love,

 

Celestina Marie

 

Winter Dreams

My guest room

needed

a little Christmas.

 

This spot is one of my favorite  rooms

in my home.

 

I sometimes work in this room

and enjoy the cozy whites.

 

My guests love to stay here,

so I love to decorate

for Christmas.

 

I'll just share the rest in pics.

~Welcome~

your room

is

ready.

Wishing you winter dreams

and Christmas blessings.

 

Thank you for stopping by.

See you next time.

 

Hugs

Celestina Marie



Red Toile For a Christmas Stay~

Let's go up stairs to see a bit of Christmas.

 

 

A few months ago

I painted this guest room to a lighter color,

but kept the red toile decor.

 

 

 

Paired with my parents vintage bedroom wedding set,

it becomes a cozy room for Christmas.

 

Here's a bit of the vintage view.

My guests enjoy this room

and the cozy vintage style.

 

Perfect for a long winter nap.

 

Wishing you a cozy winter.

 

See you next time.

Hugs

Celestina Marie

 

 



Christmas Sugar Cookies, Gluten Free~

Nearly 5 months ago,

I found out I

had a sensitivity to Gluten.

 

You know the wheat binding agent

found in most foods.

Well, since that finding,

I have learned to cook and bake to adapt

to gluten free and feeling great!!

I have to say,

it has made a world of difference and

for that I am so thankful!!

I have never felt so good.

 

I have also used Rice Flour to adapt some recipes

replacing regular white flour which also has wheat in it.

 

There are so many products available now

to choose from in the grocery stores.

Gluten intolerance is a problem for

18 million people and becoming epidemic.

Most people do not even realize they are having a problem.

More about this later~

but today we are baking cookies!

 

Anyway, each year I make Christmas cookies for my family,

to give as gifts and to have on hand for visitors.

Oh and for me too!! I love a cookie now and then.

Okay, more now, then ~~  then!!

 

Looking down the isle of the grocery store,

(you know the isle we are supposed to not shop in

but keep to the outer areas of the store)

~ I came across this!!

Hello ~~Betty Crocker~~

 

WOW

can they really have a cookie to bake  I can eat.

Oh this could be dangerous!!

But I bought a box to try.

It's a bit pricey, but hey~~

If I can make Christmas cookies

and enjoy them with my family,

I can't complain.

 

So home I went to bake my cookies

and I gave these a try for Thanksgiving.

 

The verdict~

They are so good you thing you are eating the regular

wheat filled sugar cookie.

Everyone raved over them.

Iced with my own gluten free cookie icing

they were a big hit.

 

Here is how they looked served on a pretty platter.

Aren't they pretty??

 

Here is my cookie icing recipe.

I have used this for years

and it's gluten free

and the perfect cookie icing.

Dries from a shiny finish to a matt finish

so they are perfect for storing.

 

 

Decorator Cookie Icing

 

1cup confectionery sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

I usually double the recipe for 3 to 4 dozen medium size cookies

 

Add food coloring if you want colors.

Mix all well and use promptly when cookies are cool.

Spread on cookies or can be used in a decorator bag.

Sprinkle with sugars if desired.

Enjoy

 

Now I have to bake some more.

and

hide them till Christmas.

 

Thank you for stopping by.

See you soon.

 

Merry Christmas

 

Celestina Marie

 

 

 

 



Vintage Chair Makeover

Thank you for stopping by.

 

Today I have another

chair  makeover to share.

 

I've been on a makeover roll

and

this one was on the list for a redo.

 

Do you remember this chair last spring?

It is a great treasure I found

dated 1926.

 

Sturdy, well made

and perfect for my cottage home.

 

Recently I've been moving

furniture around

and using chairs in

different rooms.

 

Do you do this?

I love to change things up

and do it often.

 

Shopping around the house is so much fun.

***********

Anyway here is the before of the chair.

 

Beautiful

but it just needed a little something new.

 

Again a little slip cover redo~~ since I may want to change it back.

That's what decorators do right.

Change their mind on the décor!!

 

So I found this French inspired fabric

and after a little

"wing it pattern"

I created a new look!

 

What is a "wing it pattern" you ask?

Well,

it's layout the fabric, place the object on said fabric,

measure, cut and sew!!

 

Here is the finished style.

Not an upholstered piece keep in mind,

just a nice slipcover that is no different then a pillow cover.

I moved the chair from the living room to the library.

 

 

Here's a lucky find~~

this Frenchy lampshade from Walmart.

This wall lamp is in the little corner

with the chair.

Perfect for a cozy reading spot!

 

 

Oh and look at this sweet little guy.

Jute snowman with a carrot nose.

Lastly, I created this coordinating pillow for my DH's chair.

It's so cushy and comfy

but promotes too many winter naps.

 

Have a wonderful day.

See you next time!

 

Celestina Marie

 

 



Simple Kitchen Christmas

Welcome Friends

I'm back today to share a bit more

of my holiday home tour

in the kitchen.

 

This one is not filled with a lot of words.

I'll just share the pics

and thank you for stopping by.

 

Our Kitchen has had a makeover

but it may see another

with the painting of the cabinets

in the same shade as the table and chairs.

What do you think?

Will I be swinging a paint brush in the new year??

Wishing you

JOY

this Christmas.

 

Celestina Marie

joining
What's it Wednesday
What We Accomplished Wednesday