I miss Williams-Sonoma + a Giveaway

I did not realize how much I miss Williams-Sonoma until this Christmas season. Mr. Perfect and I always went there and picked up some treats for our kitchen around this time of the year. Their products are not the least expensive ones around. However, any time we had a problem with something we bought there, they made it right. Also, whenever you go into a W-S store between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, there is something yummy baking or brewing. It smells so good there!

We gave this to our moms last year. I hope they are using them. If not, they should feel free to send it my way. LOL

I LOVE nutcrackers. I'd like to have a Christmas table set with this one day.

I'm afraid that if I had a box of these right now I'd eat the whole thing!

I'm thinking about trying to make this at home this year. Anyone have a good recipe?

We buy these to use December 26th after our Boxing Day dinner.

If you like to make espresso drinks at home, I recommend giving Illy a try.

In previous years, we've stocked up on mulling spices once they go on sale near Christmas. I cannot find them on the website now. I also can't find any cocktail mixers. I used to buy one each year to put in Mr. Perfect's stocking - kind of a joke since he didn't drink them, but just mixed them for me. I don't see them either. I wonder what happened? Maybe they are still in the stores. I think I'll take a drive to Augusta this weekend to check it out...


Now, for some fun: monogramchick has a super giveaway going right now. Drop on by her blog to check it out. Winners will be announced Sunday, so hurry!  Don't you love these cut travel mugs?

¡Feliz Navidad, amigas bonitas!

Kitchen Designing & a Giveaway

   I just finished shopping for kitchen cabinets. It was much easier this time than a few months ago. Why? Probably because I didn't have to do all the research again. But more likely, because I don't care that much anymore - I JUST WANT TO BUILD THE HOUSE!

   I'm thinking of going with either a red, white and brown theme OR a red, white and black theme. The red would just be in the accents, and the white is more of a linen.
This is the finish for the cabinets along the walls:   

This is the finish for the island cabinets:  or 


    I was leaning toward the black. Maybe it's the Dawg in me... However, the fabrics I'm drawn to would look better with the chocolate.  Here are a few that I'm thinking about for curtains, chandelier shades and cushions, etc.

  

   I was planning to go with neutral colors in the dining room so that I can do more seasonal decorating in there than was able to do before. So, keeping the kitchen a little more neutral than in the past would also be a good idea, I think. In our last house, I had a different color on every wall, so this is a new concept to me.  

How would this look over the breakfast table with some cute shades, Mom?

     On another note, there is a great giveaway at  How I Met Your Father that you should check out if you are at all interested in True Prep. The prize is an autographed copy of the book. Hurry, it ends this Thursday. 

My First Post

I've been trying to think of some clever thought to post for my very first blog entry, but it seems that I've drawn a blank (had too many glasses of wine). So, I'll just pretend that I've been doing this for years and go with it. I know it's summertime and all, but I just cannot get over how hot it is here in South Georgia! Really, how am I supposed to meet my future great friends if every time I walk out of the house I'm a mess? It's so humid here that every bit of makeup slides right off my face before I can walk across the driveway to the golden chariot (mini-van). My only consolation is the knowledge that my wonderful future friends are the kind of quality gals that will understand, because their makeup has also slid off of their faces. I guess there's always the ten weeks of winter that I'm told will begin around Christmas when I can stop perspiring (sweating like a pink pig) and really "shine."

I just read about a great super-cute apron giveaway on another blog, Five Great Kiddos. Here's the link: http://fivegreatkiddos.blogspot.com/2010/07/not-your-grandmas-apron-giveaway.html You should definitely check out her blog.