Hello ladies and gents, it’s that time of year where we’re all planning for the holidays and part of that is setting an inviting table.  Would you like a chance to win a gift card to HomeGoods by setting your holiday table and snapping some pics? 

Well I’ve partnered with HomeGoods to host a holiday tablescape contest next month, right here!  It’s gonna be fun and filled with inspiration! 

To get your creativity flowing, take a peek at a few helpful hints for setting a stylish table by interior designer Elaine Griffin. 

I interviewed Elaine last year, and she’s one of my most favorite designers.  Elaine has also partnered with HomeGoods to create a series called ‘Design Happy’ – hop on over to check out her short videos, she’s sharing her best advice on everything from hanging art to arranging vignettes on a table. 

Here’s how the holiday tablescape contest will work.  On Wednesday November 30th, the Link Party will be right here for one day, and here’s what’s up for grabs:

One Grand Prize Winner will receive a $100 HomeGoods Gift Card

Three Runners Up will receive a $50 HomeGoods Gift Card

To enter, you’ll need to style a holiday tablescape and post it on your blog on or before November 30, 2011, then link up to the party on that day. Or you can enter via email with a minimum of two different images sent to tablescapecontest@gmail.com. 

Tablescapes to be judged in the spirit of HomeGoods based on style, affordability, and  creativity.  The tablescapes must be fall or winter holiday related (Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Years, etc.) and must be set on a dining table (no mantels or bookshelves, etc.)  The panel of three judges who will determine the final winners includes myself, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality and Courtney from Courtney Out Loud. 

Here is the Date to Remember:

Tablescape Contest Link Party: Wednesday, November 30, 2011

(or enter via email to tablescapecontest@gmail.com  by midnight PST on 11/30/11, minimum two different images of your table)

Start thinking about the fabulous table you will set !!  

Are you in? 

Disclosure & Rules of Entry:  No purchase necessary. Entrants must be over the age of 18 and a resident of the United States. Official entry occurs by linking up your blog post with images of your tablescape on November 30, 2011 on this blog, or via email (minimum two images) to tablescapecontest@gmail.com  sent before midnight PST on November 30, 2011. 

The odds of winning depends on the number of entries and the final choices of the panel of judges based on the criteria specified. One entry per person. Any disputes to be resolved at the sole discretion of the blog owner. All contest winners will be announced on this blog before December 12, 2011, and via email provided. This blog to be held harmless in the event that the prize or sweepstakes in some way negatively impacts the winner. Home Goods is the sponsor of this contest at no cost, however the blog owner and judges have been compensated with gift cards to Home Goods for this promotion. The state of California is the jurisdiction of the regulation of this contest.  Void where prohibited by law.

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“Happy Holidays!”

Doesn’t that sound weird? And a little premature? It does to me, but I was reminded yesterday that Thanksgiving is four weeks away, and Christmas is eight weeks away, which is just a little frightening. 

Isn’t it crazy how the time between Halloween and New Years Eve goes by in the blink of an eye. Cah-ray-zee! I love this season more than any other but it always seems so rushed unless I make serious efforts to plan ahead. I wrote an article on holiday housekeeping last year as a reminder that I need to start pacing myself in October and get to planning.  I revisited the topic again over coffee this morning and thought I’d share.  Here is a condensed version of last year’s article with a few tips for holiday housekeeping:  

I was at Michaels today and noticed already Halloween is on clearance and the flashy Christmas decorations are all on display. And it’s still October. This is no surprise, it happens earlier every year, but there’s still that moment of “O.M.GEE, it’s almost Christmas!" that makes my head spin. I’ll look on the bright side and interpret all those sparkly ornaments as a nudging reminder that the holiday season is about to descend with all of its magic and mayhem.   

In the last few years, I’ve learned (the hard way) that this season is far more joyous the better prepared I am, so I’m taking some steps in the next two weeks to brace prepare myself for the frenzy:  

1. Swap out the Wardrobe.  I still need to put all the summer attire away in baskets and clear out the shelves of any summer footwear (me thinks it’s this weekend’s project…)  I find having a closet consisting of only cold weather clothing helps me keep it cleaner and more organized.  As the temperatures drop, the entire family will be needing to keep their toes warm.  Matching up all the lonely socks is a laborious task that I would gladly trade with anyone who needs something painted.  Any takers?  :D

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I saw a great project on Pinterest a few weeks ago and I’ve had in on my mind ever since – it was these fabulous dot painted plates and bowls by Ashley Ann at Under the Sycamore.

The idea of dot painted porcelain dishes sat with me for weeks until I decided to play off the same idea and make some accent plates of my own. These versions have a delicate falling leaf design, as an autumn themed appetizer plate or for our Thanksgiving place settings. 

Get all the details on how to dot paint porcelain over at Ashley Ann’s, she has a detailed step by step. Basically, it’s the process of using paint pens designed for porcelain or ceramics to create your design, then baking your finished design in the oven. You can find inexpensive plain white dishes in a lot of places from Walmart to Target to IKEA.

I’m experimenting as Thanksgiving gets closer with some leaf designs formed with a gold paint pen for ceramics.  I used craft foam leaves as a template to form my pattern.

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I think it’s safe to say that most of us busy ladies dream of a perfect mudroom.  Especially if you’ve got kids.  Oh me oh my, just staring at all the colorful coordinated organization of all this real life stuff makes my heart go Pitter Patter with a capital P. 

House Beautiful

I’ve never shown you our floor plan before, here it is. I dug this up out of some old documents from 6 years ago.  You can see where our rooms all sit in relation to each other. We have a 2 ½ garage, meaning there are two spots for our cars, and a space to the right for extra stuff.  My latest idea is to take over part of our garage to construct  a mudroom.

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Hellooooo and happy Monday everyone. Exciting news!  The HAVEN team has been working behind the scenes for the last few months gathering sponsors, keynote speakers, and making a list of workshops for those who are attending the Haven Conference in June 2012 in Atlanta.     

The first part of our exciting news is we’re delighted to have John & Sherry from Young House Love as our keynote speakers, waaaahoooo! 

You’ll get a chance to hear their encouraging words and mix and mingle with this magnificent duo, er, trio!  We cannot wait to meet Clara!   

Did you know we’ve rounded up some major businesses as our Haven Conference sponsors?  Yep!  Those include Home Depot, Minwax and Rust-Oleum to name just a few!

We’ve provided a full list of workshops as well.  Attendees will get a chance to learn basic carpentry from Ana White in the ‘Just Build It’ workshop and meet Rashon Carroway (aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting) who will be coaching the ‘Thrifty Shopping’ workshop. 

There will be other sessions taught by many of the ladies behind HAVEN, I’m signed up to teach at least one too.  For all of you interested in bettering your DIY skills and/or mixing and mingling with those in the DIY & Home Decorating niche, now’s your chance to snag a ticket!

But your ticket to Haven here.

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