What Gives?

I often get asked "How do you do it?" "It" meaning run my own business, take care of my boys, deal with a traveling husband, blog, write articles, do art shows, etc. Well, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I can't do "it" all. So what gives? Well, most of the time it is my house. Don't ever come over unannounced. Sometimes it is the laundry... as a matter of fact Mount Washmore is screaming my name. Sometimes it is my blog. I haven't posted since Dec. 2nd. Sometimes it is my sanity, nothing a little wine and chocolate can't fix. So to make you all feel better, sometimes I just don't do "it" and I am OK with that. I am only human. I give up things where I can and keep on plugging away at all that needs to be done!


Right now, I am slowly but surely getting my Christmas decorations up. The key word is "getting". Here is my front door entry. I will try to post all my little displays and vignettes once a day between now and Christmas, that is if I get my decorations finished between now and Christmas! I figured I would start at the front door...

I layered and used a bunch of different elements. The bench and the basket were used in my "Fall Back Decor" display. I just changed it out for seasonal greens, a package to Santa and a tree topper.

I found the old sled at a garage sale a few years ago and I can't wait to take it out each year to put on display. I love it! The snow balls were my concoction last year when my boys were so bummed it didn't snow as much in NC as it does at Grammy and Peepaw's. I added the Let it Snow sign this year just for kicks.

So, what gives with you? Or are you SuperWoman?

~MB
http://www.addressingspaces.com/
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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I Believe

I believe, I believe. I have seen Santa with my own two eyes.

It's getting to look a lot like Christmas!

Enjoy the season,

~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
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Occasional Sale this Friday and Saturday

If you are in and around the Winston Salem area this Friday and Saturday, please stop by our Holiday Occasional Sale. There are four designers joining together to offer one of a kind and unique designer finds. I will try to post some preview pix before Friday if I have time! We have a great mix of furniture, decor and gifts galore.

Happy Day After Cyber Monday,
~MB
http://www.addressingspaces.com/
Bringing new life to your decor and more
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Make this!

These were a hit at our recent Whimsical Women Art Show. All the artists bring food for our guests. This one was lovingly created by artist Holly LaPonte. She makes pottery. A couple of my friends requested the recipe so she was gracious enough to share it.

Peanut Butter Balls

Ingredients

• ½ cup Karo Light Corn Syrup

• 2 cups honey nut peanut butter

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Directions

1. Combine Karo, peanut butter, graham crackercrumbs and powdered sugar in a large bowl and stir until smooth.

2. Shape into 1 inch balls. Place on wax paper lined cookie sheet

3. Drizzle melted chocolate over balls or dip balls in melted chocolate. Chill for 30 minutes to set chocolate.

Thanks Holly!

Enjoy,
~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
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Friday Favorite: Historic Charleston, SC

Have you ever been to Charleston, SC? If not, I suggest you go there. It is a beautiful historic town. Here are a few of my favorite sites on my visit.

I loved this sign...It is the polite way of saying "Yo, get off my lawn!"

Look at how these vines/branches grow around the wrought iron fence. Amazing!

The greenery and foliage is gorgeous. The branches and limbs grow in the most unique manor.

I loved the setting of this house. Doesn't it look like it could be on the cover of a best selling novel?

I love the overgrown grass with the isolated tree. They were perfectly and randomly placed throughout this new neighborhood. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are building a new house on it. I am so jealous!

A pineapple fountain just welcoming all those who visit.

I love these lanterns. They are everywhere.

The new bridge.

Come sail away with me...

It was a beautiful day to talk a stroll on the Battery.

OK, I could retire here. I would love to relax on this hammock at sunset. Breathtaking views!


And at sunset the moon was shining bright by the dock. The perfect end to a beautiful day.

Happy Friday,

MB
www.addressingspaces.com
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Thanksgiving Celebration - Southern Style

Whoa! I am kicking back with my feet up after my post Thanksgiving Feast food coma. We celebrated with family in Charleston, SC. Lucky me, huh? I love this city and being able to spend time with family.

Our feast started with an out of this world Pan Seared Oyster appetizer (recipe below).

Then we celebrated in a Southern Style fashion, complete with a Fried Turkey with a "Jive Turkey" rub.

For sides we had squash casserole (we omit the egg and milk), Green Bean Casserole, mashed potatoes, Sweet Potato Crunch (no marshmallows here!),

Cranberry & Apricot Chutney (I use Golden Raisins, thinly slice the apricots and omit ginger), Corn Bread Dressing (we added finely chopped carrots too), Butter Beans, sweet rolls, Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish. Like I said...Whoa! Oh, I almost forgot the Pickled Pears - say that 10 times fast. These were new to me. But they were pretty darn good. I thought it would be great used in a Peach Crisp dessert.

We are now onto Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Apple Pie, Nana's Chocolate Chip Cookies and Ice Cream. I told you we had a feast!

Hot Panned Oysters

1 qt select oysters

1/4 lb. oyster crackers

1/4 lb butter

1/4 large stalk celery (5 pieces) chopped VERY fine

3T Worchestershire

20 shakes Tabasco sauce

lots of salt and black pepper and paprika

Preheat oven to 350 for 20 minutes. Don't wash oysters, but remove any pieces of shell. Drain well in a colander. Into a shallow Pyrex baking dish, put the butter - put in the oven until pan is hot and butter very melted. Into butter drop a layer of oysters, a layer of finely chopped celery, a layer of the four condiments (salt, pepper, Tabasco & Worch. sauce). Top with a layer of oyster crackers that have been crushed to the size of your little fingernail. Repeat layers in same order. Sprinkle paprika freely over the top. Bake oysters for one hour. If juices remain, keep cooking until all are absorbed. Serve very hot in same pan. Don't stir. The oysters have their own juices sealed in by being dropped in the scalding hot butter.

Holy Christmas these are good! We talked about things we could substitute for oysters which can get pricey. We came up with eggplant ad scallops. The topping is so good you will know why we were trying to come up with more creative uses for it. Man, my mouth is watering just writing about them. YUM!

I hope you all had a great day with family and friends. I am very thankful to all my followers!

Happy Thanksgiving,

~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
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Thankful for Sunset Views

I am thankful for the sunset views from our front yard and living room.

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving and some great naps after eating far too much turkey tomorrow.

Safe travels,

~MB
www.addressingspaces.com
Bringing new life to your decor and more
Follow me on Twitter and Facebook