con-tain-it

Enchanted by Josephine Bloggiversary and Giveaway...

Hop on over and check out Lucy's wonderful blog post which celebrate's her 1st year Bloggiversary with a wonderful interview with Sandra Gulland who is the author of The Josephine B. Trilogy and Mistress of the Sun books.  Lucy continues her special celebration with a "grand" giveaway of not one, but three books that celebrate her muse, Josephine to three separate winners.  The following are not to be missed...so hop, skip or jump on over to Enchanted by Josephine and get in on the celebration:

The Many Lives & Sorrows of Josephine B.

 

Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe, by Sandra Gulland

The Last Great Dance on Earth, by Sandra Gulland

Winners are to be announced on January 3, 2010 so be sure to go to Enchanted by Josephine's blog and read Lucy's interview with Sandra Gulland and find out the details for entering this great giveaway!  

ps...please mention me as a referral when you visit Lucy's blog and leave a comment to enter this contest so that I receive extra chances...love it!

Merry Christmas...We "Elfed" Ourselves...

 
 Christmas Eve was spent with all of us who were in town, gathering at my sister's home for lots of fun opening up our stockings...aka Elf Hats...I cleaned out all that Dollar Tree had and we were one short.  So DH and I shared one...his name on one side and mine on the other. 

 Front row...left to right...my new nephew (DH to Cortney) Carl, DH Kevin, Me, my sister Debbie...standing...my nephew Wesley, niece Cortney and my oldest son, Mitchell.  

We ate...and drank...all night and played..."So You Think You Are Smarter Than a Fifth Grader"...NOT!  We finally got back to our hotel room by 2:00am...much fun.  Sure do miss having my youngest son Timothy and daughter in-law, Ashley here with us!  They are in Pittsburgh with her family celebrating their first "White Christmas".  Also miss my Mom and sister, Bonnie and her family and my brother, Ray for this final family gathering...for this year...can't wait till we can plan the next family reunion.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas...feeling blessed, celebrating with your families.

Fondly, Roberta & Kevin Phibrick

The Twelve Days of Christmas: WWC Style...

"The Twelve Days of Christmas": WWC style!

Starting December 1st and continuing until December 12th at midnight (MST),  the blog for Where Woman Create will feature a fabulous prize each day. All of the wonderful items have been generously donated by twelve talented artists. You can enter each day by simply leaving a comment on the daily post. THE BEST PART ABOUT THIS CONSTEST IS THAT you can comment on ANY of the posts throughout the contest until the last day at midnight (MST). Please make sure to post only once on each post, unless you have an additional entry. An Additional entry will be given if you put the "Twelve Days of Christmas" WWC image on your blog or website (widget available here), or by posting about the contest on your blog. You may add this one additional entry on every post you comment on by simply posting the word "blog" under your daily entry post (so you will post twice). WWCwill use a random number generator to pick the winners and announce them on December 14th.

Good Luck Everybody and Happy Holidays!

 

Winner...Winner...Chicken Dinner!

Well I haven't been to Vegas...just Pittsburgh, PA...and when I got back I discovered that I was a WINNER once again...WOO HOO!  This time it was for a gift certificate/card to Target for $50.00...great timing with the holidays :}   So...how did I win this time...you ask?  By leaving a comment on a great home decorating site called houzz.  This interactive, design site is being called "The Flicker of design idea sites,"  by The Washington Post.  The best part is...that it is absolutely FREE for everyone to set up an account with your own "page" and "idea books" so that you can keep all your favorite photos handy for your next home project.

Every week I receive an email highlighting all the newest designs, idea-books and interviews that they host on their site.  These interviews can feature professionals, hobbyists and bloggers who all have a passion for home design.  A few weeks ago houzz featured  Mary's Little Red House and her blog and just for leaving a comment, everyone had a chance to win a $50.00 Target  gift certificate/card!  All's you have to do is join houzz by setting up your own page/account so that you too can leave comments!   The fun part is that the individuals's who are being interviewed, Mary in this case, decide on what gift they want to offer.  So THANKS TO MARY for picking out such a great gift AND THANKS TO HOUZZ  for recognizing those bloggers who have a passion for design.

Houzz Interview: Mary's Little Red House

houzz- kitchen design, bathroom design, landscaping and more

So hop on over to Mary's Blog and to houzz and check out all the cool design ideas and get in on the all the fun :}

First Christmas in Pittsburgh...

Sunday morning was our last morning in Pittsburgh with Tim and Ashley and we decided to celebrate our Christmas that morning.  We all slept in and stayed in our pj's as we came down for a late breakfast and coffee and tea.  Once we were all somewhat awake...we gathered our presents and cards to open them as we stayed warm with blankets in the living-room.  Please note...no one took showers so we look a little "rough" to say the least...Tim looks like "Crammer" from friends...so funny :}

Even when he is "rough"...he is still a cutie...love ya babe...

Also...note to self...please remove all "distractions" from the wonderful photo opps...like in this photo...i.e., the bright orange "level" in the background and the purse and stuff on the coffee table.  It's just amazing what you do not see when you originally look through the camera lens...you tend to narrow your focus on the subject and forget the entire scene which the camera actually "brings" into focus for you once you load your prints.

Here, Ashley opens up her scarf and "mittens"...they are actually these great gloves that have the fingers exposed for completing tasks and then they have this neat little "mitten" that covers the fingers when you need the warmth...a little button holds the mitten flap back out of the way when you need to use your fingers...like when you need to answer your phone or use your keys, etc.   Cool beans...I got Tim and Ashley each a set.

Next up...go "Wolverines"...Tim opened up his "T" monogram to put up on his office wall.

Another great shot...NOT...

Don't you just love it when they cover their faces with the "gift"...lol

Thanks Tim for turning it around...still not the best shot!  So here are a few photos of the gift, close up:

It is a collage, in a shadow box frame, of Tim at NC State during his Senior Year and his Graduation.  Here's a photo of the "T" monogram with it for his office walls...to go with his diploma that he had framed:

Next up is a photo of Ashley opening up their "Vera Bradley" gift box...

 
Their gift box was filled with "travel" bags...which all meet the requirements for "carry on" for those weekend getaways that they want to take advantage of while Tim is working for US Air.

Previously, I had gotten Ashley the "cambridge" pattern and wanted to get them more bags that would coordinate with this pattern...so I got them a "large duffel", a "clear travel pouch", a small "jewelry case", a "zip ID Case" and a "tech case".

Of course we exchanged gifts...but I would not let anyone take my photo without having had a shower or make-up...ugh!  So that's why you don't see any photos of Kevin and myself...but we had a wonderful morning of exchanging gifts and we spent the rest of the day watching movies and playing Kismet.  It was such a relaxing day with "hot turkey sandwiches" and all the leftovers from our Thanksgiving Dinner. 

Needless to say, I was very sad to say goodnight, because I didn't want the time with them to end.  Tim had to go to work the next morning...so I got up to give him one last hug before he went off to work.  Then Ashley drove us to the airport and we were back home here in Charlotte, Monday afternoon before dark.  Can't wait to see my "babies" again...THANK YOU so much Tim and Ashley for such a great time in your new home...love you!  Mom and Dad   

PHIPPS Botanical Gardens

Saturday morning we woke up to snow that was just "spitting" and making the ground wet but not actually sticking to it...however, it did collect on the trees and bushes and made all the "dull" surfaces sparkle.  We decided to play "tourist" for the day and went into the city to the PHIPPS Botanical Gardens where I had read about the "Life in the Gardens" exhibit that featured hand blown glass by the Italian artist, Hans Godo Fabrel.  It was a great way to see the city and we parked and walked on the "Carnegie Mellon" campus and saw all the beautiful, old buildings that had great architectural features.  Holiday decorations were up everywhere, so I grabbed a photo of Tim & Ashley in front of the PHIPPS Christmas tree:

 They are just so sweet...it's beginning to "feel" a lot like Christmas now..yeah :} 

Once inside, we were all pleased with the "Fabrel" glass displays.  All throughout the "gardens" there were hand blown glass flowers, fairies, sprites, amphibians and aliens...it was very cool.

The glass sculptures looked as if they actually belonged in the gardens and every time we turned around we were finding something new to look at.

These large glass flower "bowls" look almost like "venice fly traps" and around the corner you see several forest "sprites" dancing through the forest.

Here we have "visitors" dancing on the tree branches and swinging on the spanish moss.

Next up, the "visitors" are heading back to their geometric "ships"...which are large glass cylinders, connected and constructed into large cubes...that appeared to have landed and "rolled" into their settings in the gardens .

Here we stopped and posed for a group photo...the lighting and the lush backgrounds through-out the gardens are great for all photos...I took over 100 while we were in the gardens.

Then we came around the corner to the open atrium and found this AMAZING structure suspended from the glass ceiling...just unbelievable.  This piece must weigh a ton and it was over 20 feet tall...it reminded me of the Murano Glass Factory in Venice...beautiful.

 

The best part of the whole exhibit, for me, was "Balancing" which is a play on "Frabel's" famous clowns.  This installation consists of 13 clowns balancing on large, brightly colored, spheres that freely float on the water.  It was also "interactive" were you, as a visitor, can participate by pressing buttons on a control panel to make the the "fountains" squirt up and gently move the beautifully "reflective" spheres and clowns around the pond.  The message here was: "to enjoy life as it is one big carnival".  

After we finished touring the gardens, we headed out to find a place to enjoy dinner and we found a great restaurant close to Tim & Ashley's home called "Pittsburgh Chops".  It is a locally own/managed steak and seafood restaurant (not a chain...yeah!) that has a great atmosphere and menu.  However, it did remind us, very much, of "The Palm" restaurants with their cartoon caricactures of sports legends (mainly Steelers) on the walls and the cigar/pipe smoke that came "wafting" in from the bar into the dinning room...thank goodness we were all done eating and that we were just finishing up our coffee and wine.

Oh boy...I'm so full...we need to go home so I can get into my PJ's...

 
Notice how Tim's eyes look like they need "toothpicks" right now...believe me...he barely made it home, to sit in his chair, before he was serenading us all with his snoring...lol 

We had such a wonderful time, and now,Tim and Ashley have a great place to go for a romantic dinner or to take Ashley's family when they come visit over the Christmas holiday.

Second Thanksgiving...

Once the holiday rush was over with all the "black friday" sales and the Thanksgiving travelers had returned home and cleared the airports and highways, Kevin and I grabbed our bags and flew north to Pittsburgh, PA to celebrate our Second Thanksgiving with my son, Timothy and his wife, Ashley and my niece Cortney and her husband Carl.

We arrived on Wednesday night and found the weather to be only a few degrees cooler in Pittsburgh than what we left in Charlotte. Tim & Ashley have a lovely two-bedroom town-home is a great neighborhood just minutes from Tim's work at the airport and from downtown Pittsburgh where there are lots of colleges and cultural activities.

The next morning, Thursday, we slept in and spent the morning relaxing and catching up with Tim & Ashley.  Then we made an afternoon of  browsing at IKEA and eating their famous "Swedish Meatballs" in the cafe...when we took a much needed break.  Had so much fun there gathering all kinds of great storage ideas for our new "smaller" home in Raleigh.  I was "dizzy" looking at all the armoires and storage containers...fabulous!

Ashely and I decided that these plastic bins would be great for "switching" out your seasonal clothes from storage...just throw a label on the container and you are good to go: spring/summer to fall/winter.

Sorry if these are a little blurry...DH took these with his cell phone :}  Then I went crazy when we got to the bathrooms because I'm looking for shelving and a new mirror/medicine chest...when I got to the kitchens it was all over...I died and went to heaven...lol

It took many glasses of wine to calm me down that night so that I could fall asleep...had many happy dreams of "organizing" my stuff...lol

Then on Friday we stayed home and prepared the turkey and all the trimmings during the day while we waited for Carl & Cortney to arrive once they got out of work that day.

So while Kevin and Tim carved the turkey in the kitchen, Ashley and I made the gravy and warmed up the casseroles.

Hmm...what are those boys up too?  Finally...we are hungry...Tim brings the bird to the table...

Now the table is full...Ashley made sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, cornbread and

a tossed salad which had to go on "tray tables" because we ran out of room... what would we do without them...

Now it was time to open up the champagne to toast the holiday and Tim & Ashley's new home.

Ashley said "grace" and Tim gave the "toast" as the hosts in their new home.

Once we finished eating, Ashley & Tim pulled down the "stockings" that they had hung, for all their guests, as a holiday "favor".

See the stockings here, hung in the kitchen...this was a continuation of a tradition that Tim & Ashley started when they were in college...they would give each other stockings to open for their own, intimate Christmas before traveling home to spend the holidays with their families over the school break.

ohhh...Carl got truffles...he's hiding them from Cortney...maybe he'll share them with her later...Chocolate is a commodity in their household...they barter for personal "favors"...lol

We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and making room for the NY style Cheesecake that Tim baked with fresh strawberries...it was so good...my favorite....I like my fork to stand up in the cheesecake...none of that whimpy "jello" or "cheesecake factory" soft stuff!  It was after midnight before we'd let Carl & Cortney go home...poor Cortney had to get up to go to work at the restaurant (her second job) all day Saturday.  So we said our goodbyes and went to bed feeling very, very thankful :} 

Consignment 1st...Matthews, NC

Consignment 1st, for those of you who are not familiar with them, is a locally owned consignment store that specializes in the resale of furniture, home decor, antiques and collectibles.  They are locally owned and have been operating since 1987 here in the Charlotte, NC with several other store locations in the surrounding areas.  Check out their web site if you are interested in your own franchise...right now with this economy it could be a great investment opportunity.

For me, Consignment 1st has been a great answer to our current situation...we are downsizing and moving to Raleigh.  My son, Mitchell has been working with Consignment 1st with their website development and he told me to send them an email and find out if they could help me liquidate my inventory from my Black Lion shop as well as some of my personal decor that will just not fit into our new home.

From the first email, Consignment 1st has been a great help and setting up an account was easy...you just bring in your items on Tues/Wed/Thur and they price them while you wait (and try not to spend any money on all the great deals in the store).  So far I have made five trips down with things and they even offered to come to my home and pick up things for a small fee, which they can deduct from your proceeds.  Most items sell within 90 days and Consignment 1st in Matthews had a 97% success rate for their sales last year.  After 90 days you can pick up any items that have not sold that are over $10.00 or Consignment 1st donates them to a local charity like Habitat for Humanity.  So now I just wait for my proceed checks and I do not have the hassle of listing items on Craig's List or trying to do a yard sale...which I'm so over after the last move...lol

So if you are in the Charlotte area, stop by and check out some of the great deals...just in time for the holidays...here's a few photos of the Black Lion stock that I'm liquidating:

Hobby/Artist Pen Holders

Hand Painted Ceramic Platter

 

Hand Painted Ceramic Rooster for serving dinner rolls or planter.

 
Floral Arrangements and much, much more...
 
 

The First Thanksgiving...

This year our FIRST Thanksgiving was spent at home here, in North Carolina, with the few family members that still reside here...as our families have grown (with two weddings this year) each child/adult has pursued their dreams...which ultimately has resulted in them moving out of state.  So with new jobs and responsibilities the holidays are shrinking...yikes!

So, our First Thanksgiving was hosted by my sister Debbie in home here in Concord, NC.  In attendance was her son, Wesley and his girlfriend, Dana as well as myself, DH and my oldest son, Mitchell.  It was a day of great food and fun and games.  Debbie roasted the turkey, made the stuffing, boiled onions and corn on the cob.  Dana made the whipped potatoes, I brought a sweet potatoe casserole and crudites and munchies for the game playing while the turkey was roasting.  One the turkey was done DH carved it while I made the gravy from the pan drippings.  Debbie has a small kitchen so we lined up some tray tables for our "make shift" buffet and everyone loaded up their plates.

Kevin and Mitchell are first in line...

Not to worry...there is plenty to go around and don't forget the yeast rolls and cranberry sauce...yum!

Then we tried to remember to get pictures before everyone sat down and finished their plates...this is a great photo of my son, Mitchell...he rarely smiles when I try to get a shot of him.  So here's a shot (left to right) of my sister Debbie, my son Mitchell, my nephew Wesley and his girlfriend, Dana.

So then Debbie got a shot from the other end so that we'd capture everyone in attendance.  Starting with my husband Kevin at the head of the table, then Mitchell with his milk, then Wesley, Dana and me.

After eating diner we cleaned up the kitchen and played a game of cards before we were ready for dessert.  Dana made a rainbow cheesecake with a brownie crust (yum) and Mitchell brought some pies, apple and mixed berry which we ate with vanilla bean ice cream (of course)...needless to say we were ready to roll home to our beds.  The day was warm and ended with a big hail storm because a cold front moved in when the sun set, so we had to wait for the rain to stop before we could drive home...but we were still happy it wasn't snow...lol   Which...kinda makes up for our babies not being with us... NOT...lol...Timothy (my son and his wife, Ashley) and Cortney (Debbie's daughter and her husband Carl) are all living in Pittsburgh PA right now.  My husband and I will be joining them for our Second Thanksgiving in Dec...stay tuned:}

All in all, we were very grateful to be together and to all be in good health and great spirits to celebrate and have fun together. 
 

Handmade Holiday Day 7 Winners!

HH 2009 Day 7 Winners...

That would be me...yeah!  Just wanted to share with you all that, people that you know...aka ME...really do win these blog contests so be sure to participate and Take The Pledge this holiday season :}

For those of you wondering what I won...well I got to choose a lovely photograph from Kimberly Taylor's lovely ETSY shop, Mimi Charmante - home of lovely things.  I chose this little lovely and now I'm trying to decide if I'm going to keep it for myself or give it away for Christmas...such a touch decision...I'm so bad...lol

I think this would look wonderful in my new kitchen on top of my cabinets with all my cookbooks...be sure to hop on over to Kimberly's shop, Mimi Charmante - home of lovely things for your holiday shopping.