It's almost time for our "What do you LOVE about your holiday home?" party!
I'll do my post later Tuesday evening and start linking up as comments come in.
Please remember that you have to leave a comment on THAT post, the Holiday Home party, or I will miss you and won't link.
And what have I decided to send as a prize? Well here is one of them, this great book, Crowns & Tiaras. I'll have more party door prizes for guests that day too.
I will have separate drawings for bloggers who participate and for readers who leave comments about what they love about their holiday homes too. I just want to make sure some one from each group gets a prize.
Here is one little tidbit I love about my own holiday home. This welcoming pink glow in the breezeway, where I have wrapped pink lights around an iron garden topiary frame and set it into a wicker plant stand. People get an idea of what to expect from the rest of my house when they are greeted by this!
And there is more to love around here, my dorkies of course. All cozied up by the wood stove on a fluffy pillow staying warm while an ice storm rages outside.
The weather makes it a perfect night to stay in and make holiday candy. I am a fudge creator. I make tons of fudge each year to give away. Beth claims that my fudge is the reason she had to join the gym
I make the short cut, simple to do, nothing to it variety, always perfect, and quick. All it consists of is melting a bag of chips into a can of sweetened condensed milk and then beating it till it is fluffy and pouring it into a pan. Best, creamiest fudge ever. And everyone thinks you slaved over it. Oops, my friends won't think that anymore, will they? My secret is out. I'm bad with secrets, you can tell by the way I run on and on, I tend to blabber about everything.
I bought these ceramic pans at a garage sale this summer for 25 cents each, never used, still in packages from the store! They are oven and freezer safe, and I will fill them with fudge and wrap them up pretty and give them to friends this year.
So, tonight, I make 14 batches of fudge. I have to have plenty to give away and to feed the family when I host lots of holiday get togethers! I have a 6'4" nephew who is a size 28 waist and can really pack away the peanut butter chocolate fudge. He'll get a batch all of his own.
Yesterday I showed the 3 slate tables I bought for our Eastern apartment, but didn't show why I got them.
The tables are to remind my husband of our home here, they match this floor in our entry way.
I laid this tile myself. I don't know how to use a wet saw (and am afraid of those anyway, I nicked a knuckle on a power saw once and still get the heebie jeebies thinking that I could have lost my right hand!)
Since I couldn't cut the pieces, I made a mosaic with small stones and 4" tiles throughout the 12" tiles. It really was pretty easy to do, except for the kink in my back from crouching on the floor so long.
I also did some of the trim in this area- it is barn wood we tore out of our 100 year old barn that couldn't be saved. (That is how I caught my knuckle on the power saw. ) I sure prefer less dangerous projects like painting, or gluing wallpaper!
Twinkle just can't understand why she shouldn't be in every photo, so I just humor her.
This snowman tree is from Paula Kay's home. She was a door prize winner at our last party and sent me a photo of the tree she created this year.
I am really looking forward to our party tomorrow. If you'd like to take a peek at the last one we had, it is here: http://karlascottage.typepad.com/karlascottage/2007/09/what-do-you-lov.html
Here is a photo of something my neice loves about her holiday home- Baby, her cat peeking out of the tree. Twinkle just wishes she could do that with ours.
Hope to see you all Wednesday!
were going to have so much fun!
see ya wed!
jessi
Posted by: jessi nagy | December 10, 2007 at 07:59 PM
Oh Yum! I can't believe the deal you got on those fudge plates! My Goodness.......I'm so happy you shared the recipe, my husband LOVES fudge and we pay an arm and a leg for it very rarely! Now I can PRETEND it was a lot of work but he was all worth it! THanks for sharing that! I love the idea of buying the slate table to remind your husband of home...so sweet!
Posted by: Robin~Thrifty Miss Priss | December 10, 2007 at 08:23 PM
My mouth is a watering! All that fudge talk, yummy! See you tomorrow:)
Posted by: Rachael | December 10, 2007 at 08:27 PM
Your floor is so pretty! And the pink lights are very YOU!!! I'm sorry I can't link up to your party but I will visit tomorrow!!!! And I love fudge...it sounds sooo good!
Posted by: bethany | December 10, 2007 at 08:44 PM
Yay!!! It's nearly party time.
Alison
Posted by: Alison Gibbs | December 10, 2007 at 09:04 PM
Hi Karla,
Looking forward to it, I finally put up my trees and lights!!! But my village is still raw and unpainted.... lol!
I've sent you email replies but they aren't getting through again, how strange!
Posted by: Natasha Burns | December 10, 2007 at 09:09 PM
How can you make all that fudge and stay so skinny? Maybe some of us are meant to be eaters (me) and some are meant to be the cooks (you). I'm gaining weight just thinking about your fudge!
Posted by: Beth Leintz | December 10, 2007 at 09:18 PM
What a great gift idea to give fudge in those 2-cent dishes. I will have to keep that in mind for next year when I go flea marketing! Love your Yorkies (or Dorkies) as you call them. We used to have one ourselves years ago.
Posted by: Jeanne | December 10, 2007 at 09:39 PM
Just chocolate chips and condensed sweetened milk? Sounds sinful and heavenly at the same time! LOL!
I can't wait to see all the holiday-bedecked homes. I'm hoping for lots of great decorating ideas!
Posted by: Jessica | December 10, 2007 at 10:40 PM
You did a fantasic job on the flooring, not many lady's would get down and do some hard yacker. I love chocolate, the fudge recipe sound good to me, Let you in on secret shhhh, I eat a family block, for all you that don't know family size that's 375g block of chocolate a night...yum... yum LOL,
peek-boo kitty looks so cute in the tree,
And is that one of your creations the star at the top of your post I LOVE IT!!!! I want one or two or three or more...heeee, know seriously I do want some of them!!
Posted by: Kirstie | December 11, 2007 at 01:23 AM
well, i am laughing because what your niece loves about her holiday home is precisely what i DO NOT love about mine...mr madison is a huge tree climber so i can't put any of my pretty ornaments on the tree *sigh*
Posted by: Lori | December 11, 2007 at 07:12 AM
Hi Karla
Im weeping!! I dont have the possibility to join the christmasparty. The computer at home is broken and im off from work tomorrow so I havent taken lots of cosy photos or written in english. Besides, in sweden we dont hang our tree until a few days left from christmas eve.
Who doesent love fudge!! But in sweden we boil something toothbreaking candy called knack (you know, the sound when the tooth is breaking) ha ha. I prefer fudge and chocolate../linnea-maria
Posted by: linnea-maria | December 11, 2007 at 08:28 AM
I am dong the home tour, too. Better get busy!
Posted by: Terri | December 11, 2007 at 08:48 AM
Karla, I can't find the link but I am doing the What do you love about your holiday home tour today!
Posted by: Terri | December 11, 2007 at 08:50 AM
Karla, Sent you an email not sure if you recieved it. Had to post tomorrows post today due to family obligation and WEATHER...mainly ICE!!! Won't be online on Wednesday till late evening, do feel free to still ad me in the morning. Later, Lori
Posted by: Lori | December 11, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Karla, I posted what I love about my holiday home today because I will be traveling tomorrow. Just wanted to let you know early so I can get on your post. Thanks for hosting. This stuff is always so much fun. I am actually traveling to KC tomorrow. I'm so excited to see the snow and cold. Not much of that here in AZ.
Posted by: Tricia Samsal | December 11, 2007 at 10:20 AM
I love slate and you did a great job on the floor, it's gorgeous. I have a cute picture of my tree from last Christmas, with our kitten sitting in the middle, too! Every night when I got home from work I had to pick up ornaments from the floor. Once the ornaments were off the tree, the cat would bat them all over the place, so you had to really scour the house to find them!
Posted by: gail | December 11, 2007 at 10:44 AM
Karkie: Hint-next time you need tile cut - take them to Lowe's - they only charge 25 cents per cut with their wet saw - cheaper and safer than losing a finger or hand! Thanks for posting the picture of my baby cat - and yes I too have to pick up the ornaments every day when I come home from work. Love ya!
Posted by: Shelli Lutton | December 11, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Karla, looking forward to tomorrow...that picture of your little kitty cat in the tree is priceless...might be my favorite of the season. Susan
Posted by: Susan at Black Eyed Susans Kitchen | December 11, 2007 at 11:41 AM
I'm getting my post ready to go for your party! It will be lots of fun.
Karla
Posted by: Karla | December 11, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Wow, what a joy to visit your holiday home. I wanted photos of the finished fudge that I am so impressed you make up (so much)!
Your holiday home site has a wonderful nostalgic feel, the reds and greens and poinsettias etc., and I thought your charms were charming. And my favorite for last, what a darling little child on your site. That was the best!
Merry Christmas,
Mary Lou
Marylouweidman.blogspot.com
Posted by: Mary Lou Weidman | December 11, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Oh, this looks great! And such a cute dogs..
I posted my holliday home pictures on my blog today, but what should I do now? (My english is not so perfect..)
Posted by: het lieveheersbeestje | December 11, 2007 at 03:26 PM
Karla, Just wanted to know what the receipe is for the fudge if you want to add nuts, peanut butter. Sound like i need to give it a try. If it is easy i am for it.
Love you blog.
Posted by: Elaine | December 11, 2007 at 04:28 PM
Karla,
Im sooo looking ready for the party tomorrow. My pictures are PICTURE PERFECT! Just for a short time tho' due to my two little little angels. ;)
XO,Jenn
Posted by: Jennifer Hayslip | December 11, 2007 at 05:16 PM
Your ideas are so beautiful! I'm enjoying them all and Twinkle should indeed be in as many photos as possible--so cute. I'm so excited about your big party tomorrow and have been working on my own blog post for it.
Posted by: June | December 11, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Just can't wait! And so glad you are having the party early enough so we can all get great ideas from each other for this season!
Love that star, Karla! And Twinkle could climb my tree anytime! Rosie tried to crawl into, literally into, one of my gift boxes last night. Should have taken a pic of that chubby little blonde shih tzu tryin' to squeeze in there!
See you tomorrow~
Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents
Posted by: Stephanie | December 11, 2007 at 06:17 PM
I can't wait for the party! We'll have so much fun!!
Love,
Julie
Posted by: Julie | December 11, 2007 at 06:27 PM
ohh I am soo excited about tomorrows party!!! where in the world did you find that crown mag? i love it its super cute!! I am going to get my blog ready tonight for the party tomorrow!! see ya tomorrow! toodles!!
Posted by: sarah | December 11, 2007 at 06:40 PM
Karla...
I can't wait for your party tomorrow!
Until then...
Priscilla
Posted by: Flea Market Queen | December 11, 2007 at 06:58 PM
Wish I could join in but I've just been too busy. I'll take a little tour in the morning while the kids are still sleepy. Have a wonderful night. Blessings... Polly
Posted by: Polly | December 11, 2007 at 07:00 PM
Hi Miss Karla!
My holiday blog post is UP now!
Thanks sooo much for sharing your yummy fudge receipe with us! Anything that's chocolate is a winner to me! Your home looks gorgeous and festive as ever. Thank you for hosting such a fun holiday eye candy event! Happy Holidays!!! XO,Jenn
Posted by: Jennifer Hayslip | December 11, 2007 at 11:56 PM
Somehow I almost missed this! I forgot today was the 12th and I have been looking forward to it! So now I have got my party ready over on my blog too. Thanks so much Karla, sure is fun!
Posted by: michelle | December 12, 2007 at 06:57 PM
Happy Holidays, Karla! You have the BEST PARTIES! To keep up with you, I listed you on my blog as a favorite! Hope you don't mind!
Come by and visit me! I joined your holiday party!
Posted by: Cindy | December 12, 2007 at 11:39 PM