Wrap it Up! {Gift Tags}

I've always had this weird obsession with wrapping paper, notecards, tissue paper, bows, ribbon and the like.  When I say weird I mean my mom would find me in the wrapping paper closet when I was little, just wrapping empty boxes! Who does that?!

Now my love affair with pretty wrapping paper continues, and I just can't help but smile when I see a little present wrapped with care. It's the first impression! I've pulled a few of my favorite wrapping jobs and put them below for you to see:

via

via

via

This last one may be my favorite {not just because Noelle is my middle name!} Click on the link below to get the free printables.

via

When I was at Michael's the other week, I picked up some cute red and white polka dot paper and green snowflake ribbon. With it, I decided to make homemade gift tags. Easy peasy!


I just cut out a square of a paper grocery bag, glued some polka dot paper on top then adorned it with some ribbon. I printed out a label and whole punched the top corner of the gift tag. Next I found an inexpensive snowflake ornament and used the string on that to attach the tag to the red ribbon tied around the package. 


{sorry the pictures aren't edited...my computer is acting up!}

The perfect simple and inexpensive touch for a cute gift.
How do you wrap your presents?!


Thanks for all the love on my holiday decor link up post yesterday. The link parties are open until Christmas Day so feel free to join the fun still! So fun to look at all your beautiful decor. I made my way around to almost every link! Can't wait to share my faves next week (:
Have a wonderful weekend! 
Love,



PS. Welcome to my sponsor Nicole from Running in Heels

I adore this girl's passion for life, running and of course, shoes (:  She's sweet, kind, beautiful and loves God! She's also super knowledgable about running, so go read, get tips, ask questions and learn about what Nicole loves!

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'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season for giving! {Or at least starting to think about it!} Have you seen the beyond gorgeous gift guide that Anna {In Honor of Design} has created?  

If not, here it is! Take a look...I promise you'll never need another gift idea this year. She's got you all covered from gifts for mom & dad, husband & wife, kids, cousins, friends, and hostess gifts! Check inside for discount codes, too (:

Open publication - Free publishing

Here are some of my favorite gift ideas...
Umbrella:

Adorable notecards:  

 Dresser Drawer Chevron Liners:

Cake Stand: 

 Bracelet:

And...Little Doodahs {the adorable online kids shop I work for} was included in the gift guide! Page 17 (: Anna featured our Aprons and Art Kits:

Be sure to head over to In Honor of Design to tell Anna how much you adore the gift guide!
What are your favorite things in the magazine?!
Love,


PS. Welcome to my sponsor Taylor of Taylor Morgan blog. She's a Southern California Girl who recently moved to New York City to pursue her fashion design career. With a bridal line out and her ready-to-wear line coming out soon, Taylor is one talented girl with a super sweet personality! Visit her blog

and take a look at her bridal and veil collections here!
xoxo

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The Party's Over; Real Life Begins Again

Yes, our daughter's wedding is now memories and pictures.

 Bedraggled centerpieces from the reception.   They were gorgeous on Saturday, by this morning -- having been "rearranged" by curious small children at the After Party -- they aren't at their best.

But oh, what lovely pink and cream roses!

*************************************************************

You have to love life,

which in the course of 25 years can transform this:

into this:

The wedding, which occupied so many of our thoughts

and so much of our time for the past six months, is over.

Now, the marriage begins.

And that's the important part.

The ceremony was beautiful.

If you are on Facebook, you can go to our dog Dion's Facebook page (link on right of blog)

and see a short video shot by my dear friend Mardi, as Alida and her Daddy walked down the aisle.

The reception was pretty much exactly as we had hoped.

Fabulous food, great guests, loads of dancing and laughing and clinking of glasses.

And the bride danced with her father to that sweet old standard, Daddy's Little Girl.

Yeah, I cried.  But not as much as I thought!

Who wants to smear professionally applied makeup?

Oh my gosh, there are so many things I want to share, but the "kids" are here for breakfast, and in a couple of hours we'll take them to the airport to fly back to California.  They leave Los Angeles next Saturday for a 3-week honeymoon in China.  Howard and I drove to Canada for our honeymoon.  Times change!

So I'm just going to add a picture of Josh and his two dads, sharing cigars in the garden at the Inn.

Howard looks pretty pleased with himself, doesn't he?

And he sure does clean up nice.

Josh's Dad is a doctor with the Navy -- the fellas had medical permission to smoke.  :-)

The two dads, who cannot claim "I didn't inhale."

Eventually most of the gentlemen from the wedding drifted outside to join the Bad Boys Club

in the garden for a smoke, provided by the groom and the best man.

After the reception, about 65 guests drifted to That Old House for an After Party.

These pictures are from After that Party!

 I didn't get any pictures during the wedding, or during the After Party, or the Brunch the next day.

I did take this shot, but I took it this morning, before the rental tent and equipment is taken down and hauled away.

 That Old House loves a good party, and she asked to keep the tent, but we had to say, No.

 Party Aftermath.  Boxes to recycle.  Lawn games my sister brought for the little kids to play with.

 Yesterday, it was Brunch at home, with fresh New Jersey bagels, some egg casseroles, muffins,pastries, fruit, coffee, and juices, and enhancements for those juices for those who wanted a bit of the hair of the dog that had bitten them the night before.

When all quieted down in the afternoon, with the family -- both families! -- and bridesmaids

and some friends here, Alida and Josh opened some wedding gifts in the Parlor.

That Old House loves to gather people under her roof, in numbers, or one at a time.

Saturday morning, in the quiet Parlor . . . 

And that's it for now.  Time for me to grab some breakfast.

I know that the next couple of days will seem awfully quiet.

My thanks to all of you for your good wishes for Josh and Alida!

And also for your prayers for good weather -- it worked!  The day was gorgeous. -- Cass

Links today:

Mary's Mosaic Monday at Little Red House... click here!

Susan's Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps On The Porch ... click here!

Cielo's Show Off Your Cottage Monday at The House In The Roses ... click here!

 P.S.  Come eat leftovers!

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A super easy DIY that makes a great Mother's Day gift

The new home networking site - Link My Home, was awesome enough to publish my post today on turning a Mason jar into a soap pump. Link My Home connects home owners globally to chat, share inspiration, and buy/sell - check it out.

Below is my post and DIY

Decorology DIY: Turn a Mason jar into a charming soap pump – A great Mother’s Day gift too!

via Country Living

I’m far from the first one to present this idea, but it’s really great and perhaps some of you out there have yet to discover it. All you need is a soap dispenser pump (reuse one from your last soap bottle or purchase one from a supplier like onedreamdesign.com), a mason jar, and the jar’s lid. It is also helpful to have a drill, as you will need to create a hole about half and inch wide to accommodate the soap pump. Other supplies you may want to have on hand include scissors, a marker to mark where you will drill the hole, and some 2 part epoxy to seal the cap of the soap pump to the jar of the lid.

(via Apartment Therapy)

Directions:

1. Use marker to measure and mark a circle in the lid of the mason jar the width of you soap dispenser pump
2. Drill hole where you marked in lid of mason jar
3. Mix epoxy and apply to the lower rim of the soap dispenser pump
4. Insert the pump dispenser through the jar lid (if the tube is too long for the jar, just snip it to size with some scissors)

5. Let the epoxy dry according to the instructions
7. Fill with your favorite liquid soap – and enjoy!

Here are some examples of what you can create:

(via Apartment Therapy)

If you don’t have a Mason jar they are pretty easy to find at thrift stores.

via Décor Chick

So cute right? I think I’ll be making a couple for my mom for Mother’s Day!

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Really fun and pretty gifts for everyone on your list - all on one site!

These are just a handful of the really cute and unique gifts you'll find on Swirl, a discount shopping site brought to you by the folks who run Daily Candy. If you aren't a member of Swirl, which is required to shop, this link will take you directly to the sign up page. Membership is free. Once you're signed up, click on the "Holiday Shop" tap on the top of the site next to the "Sale Events" tab. Happy Shopping!



This "bowl" and "pitcher " are so clever!

These cookie cutters are too cute.
chalkboard candle
Perfume in clever packaging
The sale features lots of pretty soap and bath stuff.
The above is felted soap. Has anyone tried this before? I'd like to know how it is.
Lots of boys' toys too.

This totem is actually a stack of little bowls!




Gifts for your cutie too
Lots of cool dishware and kitchen gadgets


Adornments for you and your loved ones beautiful selves.

Like what you see? There's lots more!

Here's the membership link for ya one more time - click here.

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