Y’all know I’m a fan of a great before and after, and if it has a little sparkle going on, I’m smitten!  Reader Barbara sent over this dresser redo, and I simply can’t take my eyes off of this beauty.  Want to see how to turn a plain Jane wood IKEA dresser into a sophisticated piece for your boudoir? 

Silver leaf!  Crystal knobs!  Glamorous black frame! 

Hop on over to visit Barbara at Hodge Podge for her step by step!

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Have you seen page 22 of the most recent issue of House Beautiful?  If so, then you saw this felt applique pillow by the one and only Alexandra Ferguson listed in HB’s ‘The Best’ section!  

Alexandra creates handmade pillows with 100% recycled felt stitched into sassy statements and decorative motifs.  She was also featured in ‘Real Simple’ magazine earlier this year. 

With shop categories ranging from ‘House Rules’ to ‘Good Advice’ to ‘Botanicals and Creatures’, this New York designer is sure to have one pillow in her shop that you will love! 

Here’s just a few I fancy (and I actually have the ampersand one, love it!):

Alexandra is giving away one pillow from her shop (under $100) to one lucky winner! 

Eligibility to win a one-of-a-kind Alexandra Ferguson decorative pillow:

1)  Visit the Alexandra Ferguson shop and pick your favorite, then name it in a comment.

2)  For extra chances to win, tweet this giveaway with a link on Twitter, or link to this giveaway on Facebook, then leave a comment telling where you mentioned (FB or Twitter).

Giveaway ends Monday December 6, 2010 at 8 p.m. PST.  One winner chosen by Random.org. 

For those who don’t win, if you simply must have a custom Alexandra Ferguson creation, use the code CENTSATIONAL10 to save 10% on your order!

Good luck and happy Ho Ho Ho weekend!!

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I don’t know about you, but I’m strongly feeling the need to spend less money on things this season, and far more time with family and friends.   The ‘spend less money, spend more time’ notion I mentioned last year is again rearing its head when it comes to decorating around the house. 

Just the other day, I opened the Christmas closet and realized I didn’t even want to bother with half the *stuff* stored away in there.  I pulled out some silver and gold favorites and put everything else back.  Maybe it will stay, maybe it will go, it depends how I feel come January.  Are you feeling the same desire to keep it simple this year?

When it comes to decorating this season, I’m working (mostly) with what I’ve got, trying to create something fresh and new, but not spend money on things I don’t need.  This year, I decided to give a half dozen thrift store candlesticks I had in my stash a quick coat of spray paint . . .

. . . I stacked a few more ornaments in a favorite hurricane, placed some fresh garland to the kitchen mantel, plus my two favorite mercury glass candleholders and called it a day.  Then I made hot chocolate and settled in on the couch with the family for another Christmas movie. 

Quick and easy, cheap and pretty.  

My kind of holiday décor!

More peeks into our home coming soon on Nester’s Christmas 2010 Tour of Homes on December 13th, will you be there?  

The Holiday Home link parties continue next week with little ol’ me hosting Christmas Crafts.  Anything you’ve created for your holiday home counts (ornaments, wreaths, gifts, etc.) so be sure to link up on Tuesday December 7th! 

Here’s a friendly button if you’d like to add it to your post on Tuesday . . .

Later today, a fantastic giveaway from one of my favorite designers, stay tuned! 

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My friends, yesterday I disappeared into a vortex.  I didn’t do all the things I ordinarily do.  I didn’t check my email, I didn’t start my morning by sipping coffee and reading my favorite blogs.  I didn’t login to Facebook, and I didn’t even tweet.  I’m not sure I even showered. 

Where was I all this time, pray tell?  I was busy refereeing a Cookie Decorating Party with 20 kids in my house, all under 7 years of age.  There was frosting and sprinkles, followed by sugar highs and 40 muddy feet running up and down, in and out, all around the borders of our property.   It’s fair to say it was Christmas Cookie Carnage.

Why would I subject myself to such an insanely crazy delightful experience?  My middle daughter begged me to host the event.  I caved.  It’s that simple. 

My day began here.

Thank goodness for Betty C’s sugar cookie mix and mega large cookie cutters from Sur la Table, snagged a few years ago in an after Christmas sale. 

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Greetings!   Last year, made several large poinsettia pillows, and this year I’ve recreated the same project on a smaller scale.  These smaller blooms are the perfect size for embellishing gifts or other favorite things like stockings or pillows!  

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