Home Bloggers & Happy New Year!

When I started this blog, I didn't know a thing about a "niche" or even that my blog would someday fall into some type of category.  I started writing simply because I was going through lots of changes in my life like being newly married, pregnant, and building a home.  To top it off, I suddenly decided that I wanted to stay at home when my baby arrived and quite unexpectedly left my job.



I needed a place to connect with other women and was delighted to find this world of blogs and bloggers who were interested in the same kinds of things as me.  Welcome to the world of home bloggers.

Modern Jane

Small Shop Studio

Casa Greer

It wasn't really until I went to Blissdom that I even realized how many different types of blogs there were.  Basically, if there's a hobby or business or sport, there are people who blog about it.  At Blissdom, the "home bloggers" were definitely in the minority.

Rambling Renovators

The Fabulous Design File

I have come to have a special place in my heart for the "home blogger."  A home blogger graciously and courageously opens her home (which is synonymous with her heart) and shares it with the world.  We share our not only our decor failures, successes, and dilemmas, but also can't help but letting pieces of our relationships leak out into our blog too.

Schue Love 

Ten June  

And we get to know each other.  

Sixty-Fifth Avenue

I feel like there is a special intimacy and closeness in the relationships we've formed with the home blogger through our readership and comments because of the intimacy of looking into each other's homes.  It's as if we are being invited in for a cup of coffee and a chat.  I know that when life gets busy and I haven't had a chance to "stop by" I miss it.  Like I miss seeing a friend in real life.

A Thoughtful Place

Michaela Noelle Designs

Our homes are decorated with love, and although we may not be trained interior designers, we rock some pretty great personal design.  We bounce ideas off of each other and take comments to heart.

Hi Sugarplum!

Courtney Out Loud

Decor Chick

Brooklyn Limestone

A La Mode

To all you home bloggers and home creators and home lovers,

Our Christmas 2011

Our Christmas this year was so fun with James, who is now 21 months old.  Christmas Eve we always spend with my sister-in-law and her family, eating, playing with kids, and decorating cookies for Santa.  These small cousins in their Christmas pj's melt me:)

James loves to sit on this couch in his cousins' play room.  He's got his best Gabba Gabba friends with him. 

We began Christmas morning with our traditional sour cream coffee cake.

We didn't overwhelm James with gifts, but he definitely understood the concept of opening presents this year.

We had a low-key Christmas dinner at our house, complete with crab cakes, beef tenderloin, sautéed mushrooms, and roasted carrots, onions and potatoes.  Dessert was fudge, brownies, and assorted cookies.

  I hope you enjoyed your holiday too.  Are you looking forward to the new year?? 

Channing & Co. Giveaway WINNER

Hi all!  Hope your holidays were wonderful!  I wanted to pop in and announce the winner of the Channing & Co. giveaway.

Thank you to everyone who entered!

Christmas Tree Lovin'

I have so enjoyed seeing all the Christmas trees that everyone linked up to our Christmas Cheer Blogosphere link party last week.  Trimming the tree really brings out the creativity and love of the Christmas season.  For many of us, putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it with ornaments we've collected over the years signifies love and puts us in the holiday mood.  I especially loved seeing y'all going to the tree lot to choose your tree and then the photos of the little babes hanging ornaments.  So special and sweet.



I had so many favorites that I had to narrow it down to 20.  You can go HERE to see all the links, nearly 200!  Thank you again for linking up!  Enjoy:)

11 Magnolia Lane  I adore the outdoor tree and the view of the lake. 

Peas and Crayons.  Her ornaments and photos were so bright and clear!

The Yellow Cape Cod. Such a pretty color combination for her young daughter's tree.

The Yellow Cape Cod.  The red is so festive.

Modern Maizy.  This flocked tree is the perfect compliment to the chic living room.

Songbird.  Rustic chic at its best.

Modern Jane.  Her full aqua and silver tree is simply stunning.

Diapers and Divas.  My heart melted at daddy lifting up son to put the topper on the tree. Daddy- don't fall off that chair! :) 

Forever 88.  Oliver stole the show:)

House Pretty.  This contemporary tree on branches is just awesome.  (not to mention the gallery wall)!

Decorgreat.  Love, love, love.

The Lovely Cupboard.  I adore the purples in the tree and the lovely wrapped presents.

Note Songs.  This bright tree with the bold ribbon really caught my eye.

Swanky Chic Fete.  Lilli's lime tree is beautiful all lit up.

Worley House.  I thought Andrea's photograph of the ornaments on her tree and the lighting was beautiful. And I liked seeing her reflection in the ornament.

Redhead in Ruffled Flats. How cool is this photo?!  Her ornaments were really cool too.

Plum Patchwork.  Holy cow!!  That's a 12-foot tree they trimmed to fit under the 9-foot roof!

Markham Street Design.  So pretty and I love the skirt and the natural wrapped presents.

The Family Room Design Studio.  The vibrant aqua and limes in this tree are awesome.

Mommas Me Time.  Stole. My. Heart.  

Look- in that first picture, little Ethan has his saw ready to help dada cut down the tree!

Thank you again for sharing your holiday memories, via your trees, with us!  

**********

There is still time to enter to win $100 to Channing & Co. (handcrafted jewelry).  Enter HERE!

Amanda Carol Interiors

Several months ago I met a local blogger, Amanda, when I hosted a blogger get together in our city.  Amanda attended the luncheon and we've kept in touch since and gotten to know each other better.  Her blog is a daily read for me and I just love her work and photographs.  She is so down-to-earth and a complete sweetheart.

Here we are last summer with Kristen (Fit 2 Feel Better)

After growing up with a love for interior design, Amanda is finally realizing her dream and has become an interior designer working with local and online clients.  I want to help spread the word about her incredible talent.  If you are looking for a designer to work with, I really encourage you to check out her blog and portfolio and get in touch with her!



Her home tour alone will inspire you.  Or have you seen her Christmas decor?  Simply stunning!

I wanted to share a few of Amanda's design boards with you.  Which one do you like best?

A sophisticated sitting room that is both masculine and feminine.  

A rustic-chic master bedroom.

A Restoration Hardware inspired dining room:

Bachelors Apartment in the City: