Hello all, happy Friday!  Calendars are filling up quickly with all the activities of the season.  I wanted to take a moment to remind you about three events I’ve mentioned already, and also offer an opportunity for all of you to link up your announcements for your holiday themed link parties this season.  

First, the reminders. I’m hosting a Tablescape Link Party & Contest on November 30th, with $250 in gift cards to Home Goods up for grabs.  Details here! 

Second, there’s still time to enter the Arrow Fastener Dream Room Contest for a chance to win a $10,000 room makeover, I’ve entered my ideas for a new mudroom.   Could you use a $10,000 room makeover?  Enter your room to win! 

Finally, my blog pals Sarah, Rhoda, Layla and I are hosting our second annual round of Holiday Home Parties, we’d love for you to join in the fun!  Dates below.

Are you hosting a holiday link party on your blog this year?  I’ve had several tweet and email me their party dates. If you’d like to spread the word about yours, feel free to link up your party announcement right here!  (Please no weekly link parties, just those that are holiday related).  

Let’s spread the cheer around, so link up!

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Greetings all, happy Monday! Hope your weekend was great! This morning, I’m very excited to announce that I’ve partnered for the second year with my blog buddies Layla, Rhoda, and Sarah to host another round of Holiday Home Link Parties!

These were so much fun last year, so we decided to do it again, but we’re mixing things up. This year, Layla will be hosting Table Decor on Monday December 5th and Rhoda will host Merry Mantels on Wednesday December 7th.  I’ll host Holiday Crafts on Monday December 12th, and Sarah will host her annual Christmas Tree party on Wednesday December 14th. 

Fun fun fun! We hope you’ll mark your calendar and share in the good times…

Be back in a few hours with some pics from my latest project, stay tuned!

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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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Yes, it’s true, I’m a crafty gal around the holidays and now that October is here, it gets me excited and feeling all warm inside. But that could just be my glue gun permanently affixed to my hip which I might as well just leave plugged in until December 26th. 

I’m happy as can be to be hosting a Fall Crafts Link Party today as part of the ongoing series with my blog pals Sarah, Layla, and Rhoda. So glad you’re here, have an hors d’oeuvre! Or better yet, enjoy the virtual eye candy in the form of all the crafty goodness you’ll see linked below. 

Sometimes I think we’ve all gone and done everything we possibly could to a pumpkin, I’m wondering what will be next. As much as I like them in their natural state, I’m always a fan of a little embellishment – I love ‘em gilded and painted too. My first craft you got a glimpse of yesterday and I really bent over backwards man. They are what I call Distressed Pumpkins and they are so easy, there’s no real ‘how to’ necessary.

I’ve never tried this with latex paint, but Chalk Paint is famous for its easy distressing qualities, so I used the ‘Old White’ and it worked really well. Simply paint with one coat then sand with a fine sanding wedge to reveal the skin underneath. 

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Well hello, and happy happy fall y’all.  Let’s kick of the mantel par-tay hosted by Layla with a few changes in the living room.  You’ll see the addition of a floor to ceiling oak tree branch, a new burnt orange throw, and a few decorative new accents too. 

Call me trendy, but yes there are owls on my mantel this season. 

Double trendy points for the golden hue.  I spotted that cool moss covered nine foot tall branch at a local shop specializing in second hand midcentury decor – it was covered with woodland ornaments and I just loved the shape of it.  I asked the owner if he’d give or sell it to me and he said he’d let me have it for free as long as I agreed to buy something in the shop.  Deal!  I choose the 1970’s golden owls ($20 for the pair) – a fun seasonal score. 

The tall amber bottle I found at another local second hand shop, and the lantern is from World Market.  On the other side of the mantel are some birch inspired vessels, found at a local shop here in my town. 

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