Happy

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whats your New Years resolution?

New Years Party and Decor Ideas & Resolutions

Its almost a new year and a fresh new start. 

How do you celebrate your New Year? Do you have a aprty? Attend a party? 

do you hang out with your family at home? 

Here are some pretty party and decor and a few other ideas for a New Years Eve party

this would make a beautifully decorated table for a New Years party.

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This would be a more fun and colorful New Years party decor

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simple yet fun

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I love all the fluffy white and hanging ornamnets

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I like the balloons on the wall to look like bubbles, great idea for New Years.

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A children's New Years Eve party is a excellent idea

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paper fan clocks

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This is another great idea and besides being nifty for new Years you could do this for a kids party or graduation

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Pretty and sparkling napkin holders

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add some metallic sprinkles to your plain cupcakes

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and paint your nails with glitter polish

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or wear something that sparkles

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I love this dress, its not my style one bit but I do love it

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My New Years resolutions are going to be kept simple.

I need to go for more walks

I need to do yoga more, but mainly I want to keep the house clean and organize and finish a project before starting a new one.

I need to eat more veggies also.

I'm sure I'll add more....Have a happy New Year!

Features & Simply Creations Link Party # 38

First off I wanted to say thanks for understanding about not having my party last week. I had so much to finish up. I enjoyed Christmas very much this year and I'm really enjoying the Christmas break. 

I have to say I haven't done much this week except for cleaning but its nice to sleep in a bit.

I did take the boys to Target yesterday to use there gift cards and for me to check out the leftovers of Christmas decor. I bought some scissors and candy and that's about it. I did pick up some led lights from them the day after Christmas only because when we went to plug the tree in Christmas morning the lights wouldn't work. Its not a Christmas day without working lights on the tree.

This weekend we are not doing much either, we never really go anywhere for New Years, mostly we have friends come over a few drinks some snacks and hang out oh and Chinese Food. 

Now on to the features 

from the previous link party

 The Crafty Cpa's beautiful and simple craft room redo

 A mid century modern desk redo by Because I Like To Decorate

A very cool chair makeover by 551 East Furniture Design

The Pink Postcard used pages from a french vintage book of poetry for the top on this lovely dresser redo

and a few Christmas crafts and decor

Beautifully decorated dining room from The Corson Cottage

Polish The Stars came up with this fun word search Christmas wrapping paper.

and I love this yarn wreath by The Creative Imperative

Now I'm ready to see what you've been working on!

party on 

Simply Creations Friday Link party rules

1. Link up a craft, sewing project, furniture renovation, tutorials,room makeover, organizing or a food item, even a Etsy shop, you can link up as many times as you want and it can be an old project just make sure you link to the direct page the project is on.

2. Please add my button to your post or anywhere on your blog, you can find it on the right side of this page

3. Please be sweet and visit at least a couple other links. Everyone loves comments or a new friend.

4.  Follow me so you can join my next party and feature giveaways 

By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a feature on Simple Home Life.

My Favorite Furniture Projects Of 2011

Here are a few of my favorite furniture projects that I did in 2011 

My absolute favorite is the sofa table made from pallet boards and old kitchen table legs.

My chevron dresser that I put a lot of work into

Cube shelf I made form pallets

Tyler's Dresser

 The server in schoolhouse slate and tailors chalk

Mod Podge dresser

Drop leaf coffee table

Old To Blue server

My blue distressed corner hutch

Side-table transformation 

and my last favorite is

my chair to stool transformation

I chose a lot to share because they are all my favorites really. I hope you enjoyed seeing what I've accomplished over the year. I actually finished another dresser and some tray tables but haven't share those yet but will soon.

The kids are home from school so I've been cleaning, opening toys and enjoying my new Keurig coffee maker.

My Favorite Textiles Projects Of 2011

Its getting closer to a new year and I wanted to share some of my favorite projects, first I'm going to share some of my textile projects.

 My fabric rug has to be my most favorite. The tutorial on this is here.

Next is my painted rug

 

The fabric roman shade in my kitchen window

This is one of my first slipcovers I made and favorite, you can see the original post here.

Next I'll share my favorite furniture makeovers

Homemade & Upcycled Gifts { Part 2 }

 

I made a set of four napkins for my sister Liz, she never used paper napkins so this was a great gift for her. 

I can't wait to show off the mugs and saucers and little ornaments she made for our family.

I up-cycled these bookends, and I dont have a before photo because I completely forgot to take one. They were pink and navy blue and had some characters painted on them. I wanted them to fit into a little boys room ( my nephews ) but also be able to stay in there until hers much older. So I kept the colors simple, light green,light blue and gray. I also hand-painted the a and b.

My last gift to share with you is this quilt I made, my first quilt. I made this for the nephew. Hes little over one year old and I made it big enough for his big boy bed.

I started making this in October.

Its made out of  cuddly soft flannel fabrics. All stripes on one side. 

I'm thrilled with how it turned out.....now I can start my quilt for our room .

That's it, those were all the gifts I made or up-cycled, to see my part one click here.

If I get some sun I will take photos of some pieces I finished, I can't wait to share the dresser I finished a few weeks ago, my sister found the knobs for it. 

Now I'm off to relax and watch a movie. Love vacation weeks and not having to wake up so early. 

Christmas Dining Room and After X-Mas

I really did have a great Christmas, although it came up fast and it didn't quite seem like it was Christmas the family and I had a joyful time.

Christmas Eve I made a Cheesecake in the morning and cleaned the house...of course with my guys help. Then I made Christmas bark.

We went to the in laws for Christmas Eve dinner, did a yankee swap which we bring in something from the house we dont use or want anymore.

I received a set of tall glass candles. My guy got a mini food chopper. 

Then we went home and the kids went to bed while I stayed up into the wee hours to complete my gifts and clean the kitchen.

Christmas morning the 3 our of 4 children work up and 4:30 am and were told to go back to bed for a little bit longer. 

At 7:30 they were able to open there stockings and Santa presents.

Then we cooked and baked and cleaned some more and opened more presents and my family came over.

We partied all day, went to another family's house for Christmas dinner and more presents and then the guy and I played the kids Mario Kart....who knew it was so much fun.

The dining room was seriously put together in about an hour on Christmas Eve. Totally Last minute.

Because I used my table for a craft and sewing space it was a disaster but I had last minuet gifts to finish so I didn't want to put anything away until I was done.

We have our family over at 11am for breakfast, Its casual so I set out the plates and the chargers and silverware but unfortunately I couldn't find all my nice napkins so I didn't stress and just used paper ones.

My centerpiece was put together with a nice glass Mikasa cake stand then the smallest plate stand ( I didn't share before ) that I made on top. Then I added the blue tree and filled the stands with silver and blue ornaments. 

I love blue and silver for Christmas, but I keep it in the dining room because it goes well with the wall color ( 

Benjamin Moore's Woodlawn Blue ) and its just so pretty.

I placed my two other cakestands on each end of the table and added silver ornaments on top.

I used my silver glittery deer and my favorite bird lanterns, I've been wanting to use them on this table for a while now. I picked them up after the summer for $3.95 each at Michael's Arts and Crafts.

My runner was made from a cheap like linen material from Joann Fabrics. I made it last year, I had to make it extra long since I used all 3 leafs to fit 10 people at the table. I added silver ribbon along the edge and white pom poms at each end. 

For my window I added garland with hanging ornaments. I actually used this last year as well and I put it away together so all I had to do is hang it up.

I only added some Victorian style ornaments.

I placed the wreath over my chandelier, actually I stretched it out to make it oval and placed it on by going under the chandelier.

Last year it was on my centerpiece. 

I hung ornaments and my silver birds from white satin ribbon and kept the length shorts. I added some silver artfiacal greenery and more ornaments on top of those. 

 I love how it looks and the decor will stay up a bit longer so I can enjoy my last minute decorating.

After X-Mas

not to messy

I put the kids stuff all in there own trash bag so there items weren't spread all over the house

at last the mudroom kept somewhat cleaned.

Today I'm going to finish cleaning up after the Christmas mess and I have tons of dishes to do. Tomorrow I'm going to be cleaning and organizing my workshop to get ready for some custom painting jobs.

Do you clean up the mess first thing or relax more and take some time off?