New School year, new decor

So I haven't posted in forever and I apologize! I am starting a new school year in a couple weeks and I'm trying to get excited about it.  I think I'm going to try a few new things to spruce up my work environment.  I share my classroom with 4 other adults so it can be difficult to have our own space.

Here are some ideas I had..

1. New schnazzy desk items.
I saw this picture on Pinterest and there was no link to anything but I think it is totally my style.  I found the gold stapler here.  And the Diptyque here.   I think I can find the rest at one of my favorite stores, Homegoods.

2. Flowers.  

Peonies are my favorite and I know I can't have those all the time but they make me happy and why not bring some fresh ones to work every Monday? 

3. Contact Paper around my Desk.

This might be my biggest adventure yet, my desk at school is metal, old and boring so I had an idea to cover it in Contact paper like this, or wrapping paper? We'll see how it goes! ( source here) 

What have you done to jazz up your work environment? 

XO,

GG

Christmas Festivities

So now that Christmas is over I wanted to share a few items that I made for my family.  I hosted my and my husbands family and since this was our second year doing this I felt like I had to outdo myself and make it different than last year. 

Over the course of 5 days we made quite a few meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner.  However Christmas day was truly an extravaganza!

Our breakfast was a cinnamon crumb cake, Paula Deen's french toast casserole, yum, fruit salad with vanilla pudding, fresh bagels and pomegranate mimosas.  

I made quite a few appetizers in between breakfast and dinner to keep everyone from getting too hungry.  I made a baked spinach, artichoke and feta dip with pita chips, roasted tomatoes with fresh basil, mozzarella, basically caprese on a stick.  I also made a roasted cranberry crostini which was to die for. I forgot to take a picture of my Cheese Ball. It was awesome and I made it twice during the holiday season.  

For dinner my brother-in-law helped me set the table.  He is beyond talented.  We used floating candles with fresh pine, cranberries and cinnamon sticks.  I used a plaid tablecloth and a burlap runner.  ( If you read my last post you would see I used burlap with everything :)) We used our Kate Spade China plates, 2 different patterns, and then 2 different napkins.  We folded the napkins with bakers twine, candy canes and cinnamon sticks.  

For the dishes, I forgot to take a picture of the delicious honey baked ham. We also made roasted brussel sprouts, crushed walnuts, blue cheese and olive oil.  Then a quinoa salad with pomegranate, fresh mint, cucumber, and feta.  Then the classic mashed potatoes. 

Lastly for dessert, again, forgot to take a picture, Ooops.   I made amazing peppermint brownies, peanut butter cookies and a no bake cheesecake.  

That's all I've got for Christmas. Did you make anything wonderful for your holiday?  I hope everyone had an amazing holiday and all the best for a happy, healthy, new year!

XO,

GG 

Christmas Decorations

I love the Christmas Season and decorating for my family is one of my favorite things to do.  Our tree was inspired by the Pottery Barn Catalog.  We got the catalog in October, ridiculous, and I thought, "this is what I want our tree to look like this year, but I can make it my way". 

 I used burlap that I had purchased and cut it into 5 inch strips.  Then wrapped it around the tree. It actually doesn't go all the way around but I don't think you can tell.  Then I used the leftover strip to make a bow for the top.  I really like how it turned out.

I was going to stop there but I had some extra burlap.....  So I decided I wanted to make a banner and a table runner.  I went on Etsy and saw some ideas for different banners.  I decided to do a hybrid of two different ones.  Here was my inspiration

I cut out the burlap using a pattern made from cardboard.  Then I made the stencils for the letters of "Be Merry".   I used Martha Stewart fabric paint for the letters and polka dots and then used spray tacky glue to stick it on the ribbon.     I kind of like how mine turned out better! 

What do you think?? What do your Christmas decorations look like??

                                                            XO,

                                                            GG