Tips-y Tuesday

Today's tip: Command Strips.
Oh, command strips, how I love thee. You come in all shapes, sizes and finishes. I can hang a stocking, a wreath or a garland from you and not harm my precious painted walls, manicured mantle or delightful door. You...rock. Thank you for your genius-ness.

(and no, Command Strips don't pay to me endorse them, they are just that handy dandy!)

Monday: Mad About Monograms, the Holiday Edition.

I have already waxed poetic the trendiness of the monogram. You've seen them. They're everywhere. But, some of the most fun versions I've seen lately are in holiday decor. That's a perfect way to explore the trend, something seasonal. It won't feel stale, but fresh as it's brought out only once a year.
Whether it's something personalized with your last name or just a single initial, it's a treat to have something labeled just for you. Children especially delight in something that says "that's mine!" There's no mistaking little Lulu's stuffed stocking on Christmas morning if there's a big "L" on it!
Ornaments adorned with your initial on the tree make it that much more personal and special. There is so much out there. One outing to the Christmas Tree Shop turned up these goodies:


These harlequin stockings are only $4.99!

                            
Love these gingerbread styled ones at $3.99.

                                                               
The price tag speaks for itself with these glass ornaments...

                         
Ornaments to stocking to mugs to Christmas tree skirts...something for everyone, A - Z.

Simply, Sunday.

It's been a whirlwind Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Family, friends, feasts...
And today? Lighting the lights on the tree and turning our house into 66 Candy Cane Lane. It's not done yet...baby steps...and I love each one.
Is there anything more lovely and magical than fairy lights on a Christmas tree? (I can only think of one and that happened today, in fact. Watching my daughter play with her baby cousin and my nephew, Vincent. Those two are magic.)
So, lights up on tree #1, of three.  The house is beginning to feel festive and warm. The carols are on the radio and this mommy is at peace with her place in the world. I hope that for you, too. Just a simple Sunday...

All I Want for Christmas is...Sesame Street.

I love Sesame Street. I love the Muppets. And whoa nelly, do I love me some Emmet Otter. Muppet gifts aren't *just* for kids. In fact, I swear we mommies and daddies are more into it than our kids ever were. Sure, they had their requisite Elmo phase, but after that, not so much... We, on the other hand, not only had Sesame Street, but The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock and that holiday be all and end all, Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas. Enough said, right? I think a little Muppet love is a great gift idea this holiday. Take a look at some of the goodies out there!
2 classic must have DVD's for we Henson fans:
Christmas Eve on Sesame St. 

Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas

A coffee table book for the ultimate Sesame Street fan:

OR...something totally cute and fun from Knitwits. Last I knew these were available locally at Parkleigh or online at Amazon. (and yes, they are for ADULTS!)

Muppet love. Own it. Watch it. Read it. Wear it. 

A Thanksgiving Thirsty Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours! A quick holiday cocktail to share and I'll be on my way to enjoying this wonderful day, as I hope you will be, too.

                           Cranberry Spice Champagne

* 5 Cranberries

* 1 tsp. pumpkin spice agave nectar**

* 1/4 oz. fresh lemon juice

* 3 oz. Champagne or Sparkling wine

 At the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle the cranberries in the pumpkin nectar and lemon juice. Add the champagne with ice and fold briefly. Strain into a champagne flute and garnish with cranberries. Voila. Beautiful.

**Wegmans might even have pumpkin agave nectar, but for every 1 cup of nectar, combine 5 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice and stir well.

Link Love.

This lovely Wednesday eve before Thanksgiving I would love to share some sites I think are simply chandelierious. They are all lovely in their own right. Please take a look and spread the love...

Juniper Hills B&B...this is owned and run by dear friends. It's a piece of heaven in all ways.

MacKenzie Childs...the company the creates what I believe to be the ultimate in home furnishings.

Parkleigh...a beloved, local store that sells MacKenzie Childs and many other unique and wonderful items.

Ballard Designs...this catalog...well, quite simply, I would like to live in this catalog.

Lollishops..."the fru fru friendly marketplace" or what I like to call, shabbylicious.

Chic & Green...a local blog written by my friend and neighbor Karley, who writes about all things lovely from cosmetics to donuts, with a "green" perspective.

Loubird...also by Karley, it is her beautiful vintage inspired jewelry line.

And you? Do you have a link you'd love to share? Please do!

Tips-y Tuesday

Hello, there. It's Tuesday. Ready for a little tip?
You know those really annoying, clear, twisty things that are wrapped around your kids toys? The ones that take forever to unwind and make your fingers feel prematurely arthritic? These pesky things below?

KEEP THEM! You'll probably have tons of them post holiday, but if you get your hands on some before then, keep 'em. They are fabulous for hanging wreaths, securing garland and more....
I use them to hang the wreath from our lamp post and big ornaments from the Weeping Cherry in the front yard. 

They come in handy all year long, but they're indispensable this time of year! Next time you mumble something naughty under your breath while opening up a toy, keep in mind the sheer handiness of that plastic coated wire. Plus, you're recycling.
You just might thank me later...

33 Days Left...Need a Chandelierious Hand???

Wow. Thanksgiving week is upon us already. I love this time of year...
I would be remiss not to point out the 33 days left until Christmas...
or the 30 days until Hanukkah....
Feeling jolly yet? The Christmas carols have already begun on the radio. Does that get you in the mood or cause you to break out into a cold sweat? (Hopefully not the latter.) This is a joyful time of year. Time to be thankful. Time to be with the ones you love...


Don't forget Chandelierious offers many Holiday services:
*Holiday Shopping
*Gift Wrapping
*Grocery Shopping
*Holiday Cards
*Tree Trimming and interior home decor
Go ahead and consider making life less stressful during this precious time.
Contact Elizabeth (little old me) at info@bechandelierious.com

Simply, Saturday.

Super busy weekend for the Chandelierious Thompson household, so I will keep Simply, Saturday short and sweet. Something simple, savory and spicy to share. (how's that for alliteration?) This has to be the easiest chili on the planet. Just 4 ingredients. If you own a can opener, you're golden.


                                                          Easy Santa Fe Turkey Chili
* 1 can Ro-tel Chili's
*1 can Spicy Black Beans
*1 can stewed tomatoes
*1 lb. ground turkey


Brown ground turkey in a soup pot. Add canned items. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Let sit, so no one burns their tongues beyond repair, and dig in. You'll love this, truly. Soooo simple. It's a regular go to meal when time is of the essence. Bon Appetit!

                                                                (fyi, Ro-Tel rocks!)

It's Easy being Green.

I'm having a love affair with green. Leafy, limey, stem green. Not neon, not sage, not pistachio...but, a happy, vibrant green with the slightest tinge of yellow to it.
I design rooms in my head all the time. I can't help it. Walking through the home accessory department of a store like TJMaxx, just one item will trigger it. Bam.
Then, out of the corner of my eye I'll spot something that coordinates with the first item and...BAM, again. Just designed an entire room in my head.
But, my point: green. A relaxing, yet lively color. The color of grass, leaves...life.
Let's take look at lime...
This paint by Sherwin Williams is called Lime Rickey #6717. Yum.

And look at these fresh items I gathered up:
This Sevilla comforter set by Dwellstudio for Target is divine....

Coordinating Green Melon lamp and Carson Anywhere desk are also from Target.

The finishing touch???? You guessed it....

This room wouldn't It be complete without an utterly fabulous, drippy, limeade colored chandelier! Perfection. The end. 


*I fibbed. I just decided the next room I redo will feature this lively shade. Not sure when that might be, but, knowing me? Stay tuned! Ok, now it's really the end. The end.

Thirsty Thursday

It's a wee bit nasty out there this afternoon...maybe this will warm you up a bit. Today's beverage of choice is nonalcoholic, but one for the grown ups (unless you have a little one with a rather sophisticated palette). There's always next Thursday for cocktails! In the meantime, care for a little spicy with your sweet?

                                                                    Loco Cocoa

*3/4 cup cocoa powder

*3/4 cup sugar

*2 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

*2 1/4 tsp. ginger powder

*1 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

*1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients together in a jar, cover, shake and mix well. Add (to taste) to hot water or milk, your preference. Not overly sweet, add sugar if needed. And go ahead and throw a huge dollop of whipped cream on there, too...why not?

Feeling Chandelierious...

By now you're well aware of my almost unnatural adoration for those shiny, sparkly, gloriously drippy fixtures of light that dangle from the ceiling. We've covered that. Instead, let's talk about the perfection that is the chandelier silhouette. Specifically, the image of said silhouette used on a variety of home furnishings. Be still my heart. Love.
It's not quite as trendy as the monogram, but the image of a single chandelier is very popular....(ehem, as Chandelierious thinks it should be, ehem.)
 So, how can one go about adding a bit of chandelier fab to one's abode you wonder?
Wall art, perhaps? But, of course...

This wall decal is available at Target. Peel and stick style. Nice! A grouping of these would be doubly fantastic. Or...
If a mouse pad could be chic, this one from 3DRose would qualify:

Linens, you ask? Why, yes...that, too!

                                   

How darling is this comforter set by Dwellstudio for Target?  I'm picturing a girlie girl, teen room. This, teamed with a smokey gray/purple paint and 40's inspired mirrored furniture. Fantastic.


Surely, it goes without saying that I have a few items up my sleeve, as well. So, I won't "say it". But, I'll show you a small assortment instead and call it a day.
(a chandelierious one.)

Tips-y Tuesday

Today's topic is less of a Tips-y Tuesday and more of a Two Cents Tuesday, if you will.  You know that china you fell in love with years back and keep packaged up tight and dust free, stashed away in your china cabinet waiting for the next big extravaganza? If you love it that much, why keep it tucked away? If it's so lovely, why not show it off? If not for others to enjoy, then simply for your own viewing pleasure...
I say, take it out and put it out. Take it out and put it up. Or, better yet, take it out and use it. If it's rare and expensive and your teeth chatter to think about daily usage, then don't. But, why not display it? If you rarely use your dining room table and it sits there empty, why not set it? If only because it looks beautiful. I understand that our tables are often a catchall for purses, homework, mail etc. I don't keep my dining room table set, but I do display my favorite dishes all over the house. They are behind the china cabinet window, or on the buffet, or covering the walls of the dining room and kitchen. I collect Mackenzie Childs hand painted majolica and to me, it's far too glorious to pack away. Quite plainly, it makes me happy to look at it. It's bright and cheerful and reminds me of going into Parkleigh as a little girl, gazing at the display of Mackenzie and wishing to have my own collection someday. Well, I'm a big girl now and I have my collection. I want to enjoy it. Everyday. So, today, it's just a suggestion. If it's lovely and you love it, hang it up. It's free art you already own! A grouping of various sized plates is a great remedy for that empty space on the wall...and here's an actual tip for you,  you can get those little plate holder do-dads at the dollar store! 

Go Global...

You probably have one. Might be the one from your childhood, mostly blue, still having that vintage school house scent to it. Or, maybe you have one that has been passed down through the generations, slightly browned and wrinkled over the years. OR, perhaps you have one of those handy ones with the Northern Hemisphere that lifts up to reveal a well stocked bar. Lucky you. In any case, chances are, you have a globe somewhere. Globes are one of the simplest, most affordable ways to add classic intelligence to your home. They're obvious choices in the den or home office, of course. But, I once saw an article in a decorating magazine that featured a playroom/family room whose built in shelves lining the upper perimeter of the room housed a collection of dozens of old school globes. It was a great look! 


I have a couple Thompson Family heirlooms showcased in the living room, myself.

(But, you know what? It really needs a third, larger one to make the look complete!)


I also pay homage to our lovely earth with this vase.

Consider digging out your globe and adding one or two more of different sizes and colors. Put them on a table or a shelf and voila! Instant classic, classy and smart. Take a look at what the Christmas Tree Shop had on display recently:

Or, as mentioned above, get yourself stocked up for Thirsty Thursdays with this Global bar, from my old online shopping standby, Overstock.com.

Perhaps the good old globe just isn't your cup of tea. To that I say, good for you...come back tomorrow and maybe I'll have something more up your alley in store. Till then, lets just be agreed Mother Earth is a truly Chandelierious thing.

Simply, Saturday.

Delicious. Beautiful. Life. Right? It's a gorgeous day. Go for a walk. If you're able..if not, go sit outside for a bit and enjoy the view. Otherwise, walk. The sun, the blue sky and the red and gold leaves crunching underfoot will clear your head, invigorate and inspire you. Guaranteed.
I walk everyday. Well, ok, maybe not everyday... but approximately 360 days of the 365? Yup... It feeds this little blogger's ever loving soul. In fact, I just got home from my stroll. Didn't even bring my ipod with me. I listened to Mother Nature...(and dozens of cars, but that's besides the point.)
Chandelierious isn't just about decor, recipes and sally homemaker style tips. Oh, no. It's life. Health. Healthy living so you can enjoy those esthetically beautiful things. Fast and on a mission, or slow and easy, go take a walk. What are you waiting for? As for me, I'm off to Wegmans. It's sample Saturday, remember?

Chandelierious Holidays....a small reminder...

43 days left until Christmas...wow. It's time to put it out there once again that Chandelierious offers many holiday services! Whether you need a hand in  wrapping your treasures or waiting in those long lines...garland strung around your stair rail, trees trimmed or stockings hung....even holiday greeting cards hand written, stamped and sent out. Chandelierious can help you with all of it. Consider making things easier, less stressful and simply more enjoyable for you and your loved ones. I would love to help. 
There. Shameless self promotion over. Enjoy this spectacular day!

Thirsty Thursday

It's Thursday. Who wants a cocktail? Or, in this case, a shot?! Give this Autumn goodie a go:
                                                                 The Maple Kiss.
*1/3 Canadian Whiskey
*1/3 Raspberry Schnapps
*1/3 Maple Syrup
Pour in order and shoot!
Mwah.

Mad About Monograms.

You've seen them...they are everywhere. About a year or so ago full monograms and single initials became a huge trend in home decor and personal accessories. Huge! Letters adorned everything from cocktail glasses to doormats to towels. While I like the trend because it's simple and classic, in my humble opinion, it can be overdone.  There's no need to have the entire matching set of "T" mugs, plates, trays, stemware and serving pieces. Certainly, I'm not here to tell you what to do. On the contrary, I am a big proponent of self expression. I always say there's no wrong answer...think of me more as a "guide" if you will. But, just a few random pieces scattered about are a lovely, personal way to express yourself.
At Chateau Thompson, monograms are alive and well and have been for years. There's a collection of old and new letters of different sizes I've found over the years displayed on the living room shelves.

Also in my personal monogram stash are a set of glass hors d'oeuvre plates that coordinate perfectly with whatever dishes I happen to be using.

I did a little bit of online hunting (surprise, surprise!) and came across some  choices you might enjoy: these classic hand towels from Mud Pie available at TartBurners.com.

Also from Mud Pie, these bottle stoppers are on clearance for only $4.99! 

Lastly, this cutting board set would also prove a decorative and useful addition to your kitchen.

(it's not even Tuesday, but here's a tip for you: These three items are available from the same site, are all on sale AND the site offers free shipping! Woohoo!)
Keep in mind, these items make wonderful, personalized gifts. A bottle of wine and a bottle stopper are a perfect way to thank your host at your next holiday fete...or, treat yourself. You're worth it...
and that's "C".... C for Chandelierious.