Monday, December 30, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

!!!!HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
 
********
 
WISHING EVERYONE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR
FILLED WITH MANY BLESSINGS
AND A YEAR OF GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS
AND PROSPERITY.
 
SEE YOU SOON.
 
HUGS,
CELESTINA MARIE


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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013

Greetings Blog Friends,
 
Wishing each and everyone
 a very Merry Christmas
filled with many blessings.
 
May your holiday be spent
with family and friends
enjoying the season with
the spirit of Christmas in your heart.


 
*************
 
Happiness, health and love always.
Merry Christmas
Hugs,
 
Celestina Marie


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Monday, December 23, 2013

When The Christmas Trees are Enough~

It is not unusual for me
to décor with two trees at Christmas,
but this year~
I have a few more.
 
I just wanted to enjoy a tree throughout the house
and
display most of my ornaments
with a few accents and wreaths.
 
I did not bring out all my décor this season
keeping it scaled down and simple.
But it seems,
when a Christmas tree
is in a room,
what more do you need.
 
 






 
 
Wishing you
A
SILENT NIGHT
 
Thank you for visiting!
 
********
 
Merry Christmas with Love,
 
Celestina Marie












 

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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Winter Dreams

My guest room
needed
a little Christmas.
 
This spot is one of my favorite  rooms
in my home.
 
I sometimes work in this room
and enjoy the cozy whites.
 
My guests love to stay here,
so I love to decorate
for Christmas.
 
I'll just share the rest in pics.
~Welcome~
your room
is
ready.









Wishing you winter dreams
and Christmas blessings.
 
Thank you for stopping by.
See you next time.
 
Hugs
Celestina Marie



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Saturday, December 21, 2013

Red Toile For a Christmas Stay~

Let's go up stairs to see a bit of Christmas.
 
 
A few months ago
I painted this guest room to a lighter color,
but kept the red toile decor.
 
 
 
Paired with my parents vintage bedroom wedding set,
it becomes a cozy room for Christmas.
 
Here's a bit of the vintage view.





My guests enjoy this room
and the cozy vintage style.
 
Perfect for a long winter nap.
 
Wishing you a cozy winter.
 
See you next time.
Hugs
Celestina Marie
 
 


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Friday, December 20, 2013

Christmas Sugar Cookies, Gluten Free~

Nearly 5 months ago,
I found out I
had a sensitivity to Gluten.
 
You know the wheat binding agent
found in most foods.
Well, since that finding,
I have learned to cook and bake to adapt
to gluten free and feeling great!!
I have to say,
it has made a world of difference and
for that I am so thankful!!
I have never felt so good.
 
I have also used Rice Flour to adapt some recipes
replacing regular white flour which also has wheat in it.
 
There are so many products available now
to choose from in the grocery stores.
Gluten intolerance is a problem for
18 million people and becoming epidemic.
Most people do not even realize they are having a problem.
More about this later~
but today we are baking cookies!
 
Anyway, each year I make Christmas cookies for my family,
to give as gifts and to have on hand for visitors.
Oh and for me too!! I love a cookie now and then.
Okay, more now, then ~~  then!!
 
Looking down the isle of the grocery store,
(you know the isle we are supposed to not shop in
but keep to the outer areas of the store)
~ I came across this!!
Hello ~~Betty Crocker~~
 
WOW
can they really have a cookie to bake  I can eat.
Oh this could be dangerous!!
But I bought a box to try.
It's a bit pricey, but hey~~
If I can make Christmas cookies
and enjoy them with my family,
I can't complain.
 
So home I went to bake my cookies
and I gave these a try for Thanksgiving.
 
The verdict~
They are so good you thing you are eating the regular
wheat filled sugar cookie.
Everyone raved over them.
Iced with my own gluten free cookie icing
they were a big hit.
 
Here is how they looked served on a pretty platter.


Aren't they pretty??
 
Here is my cookie icing recipe.
I have used this for years
and it's gluten free
and the perfect cookie icing.
Dries from a shiny finish to a matt finish
so they are perfect for storing.
 
 
Decorator Cookie Icing
 
1cup confectionery sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
I usually double the recipe for 3 to 4 dozen medium size cookies
 
Add food coloring if you want colors.
Mix all well and use promptly when cookies are cool.
Spread on cookies or can be used in a decorator bag.
Sprinkle with sugars if desired.
Enjoy
 
Now I have to bake some more.
and
hide them till Christmas.
 
Thank you for stopping by.
See you soon.
 
Merry Christmas
 
Celestina Marie
 
 
 
 


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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Vintage Chair Makeover

Thank you for stopping by.
 
Today I have another
chair  makeover to share.
 
I've been on a makeover roll
and
this one was on the list for a redo.
 
Do you remember this chair last spring?
It is a great treasure I found
dated 1926.
 
Sturdy, well made
and perfect for my cottage home.
 
Recently I've been moving
furniture around
and using chairs in
different rooms.
 
Do you do this?
I love to change things up
and do it often.
 
Shopping around the house is so much fun.
***********
Anyway here is the before of the chair.
 
Beautiful
but it just needed a little something new.
 
Again a little slip cover redo~~ since I may want to change it back.
That's what decorators do right.
Change their mind on the décor!!
 
So I found this French inspired fabric
and after a little
"wing it pattern"
I created a new look!
 
What is a "wing it pattern" you ask?
Well,
it's layout the fabric, place the object on said fabric,
measure, cut and sew!!
 
Here is the finished style.
Not an upholstered piece keep in mind,
just a nice slipcover that is no different then a pillow cover.
I moved the chair from the living room to the library.
 


 
Here's a lucky find~~
this Frenchy lampshade from Walmart.
This wall lamp is in the little corner
with the chair.
Perfect for a cozy reading spot!
 

 

Oh and look at this sweet little guy.
Jute snowman with a carrot nose.
Lastly, I created this coordinating pillow for my DH's chair.
It's so cushy and comfy
but promotes too many winter naps.
 
Have a wonderful day.
See you next time!
 
Celestina Marie
 
 


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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Simple Kitchen Christmas

Welcome Friends
I'm back today to share a bit more
of my holiday home tour
in the kitchen.
 
This one is not filled with a lot of words.
I'll just share the pics
and thank you for stopping by.













 



Our Kitchen has had a makeover
but it may see another
with the painting of the cabinets
in the same shade as the table and chairs.
What do you think?
Will I be swinging a paint brush in the new year??


Wishing you
JOY
this Christmas.
 


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