Elf Boots for the Christmas table

Whaaawhoooo! We have reached 100 followers! How exciting! I will be putting together something very special to celebrate and it will be a free giveaway so please stay tuned!

Until then I have something really fun to share with you:

How would you like to impress your guests this year with a napkin that is folded like an ELF BOOT!

ELF BOOT NAPKIN INSTRUCTIONS

You'll need to start your Elf Boot Napkin like this, just lay out your big SQUARE napkin and you are ready to begin. I like to iron mine as I go along. You can start now and just put these away one at a time and by Christmas they will all be ready.

Next fold the napkin in half.

 

Then in half again in the same direction as you just did.

Now, find the centre and fold one side down.

Now fold the other side down too so they meet in the middle.

Fold one side again into the middle in the same way you just did.

Fold the other side to match.

 

Now this part is a bit tricky due to the bulk but you can do it. Don't lift it off the surface you are working on and that will help.

Fold the whole thing in half along the "meeting line" that you have created by folding all the other folds in to the centre.

Once you have it folded in half you will see the top of the boot showing on the outside. Turn you boot so that the fold is away from you and your open side is facing you.

Now take your top tail that is on the left of this picture and fold it straight up so that the edge of that piece meets the top of the boot fold.

Next, the other tail is left laying on the table right? Well, it is a bit bulky so we need to minimize the size a bit. Just fold a small bit of the edge of that piece up a bit.

We're almost there... stick with it!

Now take that underneath tail that you just minimized and brig it over to hold the tail that is folded up - up.

The last tricky part...

You need to tuck the tails of that piece under the boot flap to hold your boot together.

Lastly... pinch the tip of the boot and push it up a bit to make the turned up point of the elf boot.

That's it

you're done!

You can even use tassel napkins or paper ones!

One side

The other side!

I hope you enjoy your Elf Boot napkin this season!

I will be back really soon with a lovely little package for our CELEBRATION giveaway of 100 FOLLOWERS!

Holiday Home Tour

As you know, I have been working out and in that decided to treat myself as an inspiration to get movin' without excuses. I mentioned the other day that I had to do a workout in the morning hours which is not my fave but I wanted to go to the Holiday Home Tour this year and that was my treat to me but only if I got the workout in!

I had a spectacular time! I took some photos to share with you too... now it was dark for picture taking and I had my pocket camera instead as it was easier to carry but I hope you will enjoy this photos! From beautiful swags to Trees and tree toppers and table centrepieces; I tried to get a range of inspiring items for you to see.

Roses seem to very popular in our town this year!

There was a lot of silver and red and a fair amount of mixed metal looks too.

Just check out the following picture of the bathtub and fireplace combo... I just had to show you this one even though it really has little to do with Christmas... Oh what am I saying, of course it does... ROMANCE is welcome in any season!

I loved the above tree! It was a Kitchen tree decorated with kitchen items like tea and vintage tins etc. If you have a kitchen that is large enough to have a tree in it this was a really sweet edition to the house.

A mantel feature.

  

I was in love with this tree and just look at the Peacock tree topper. That tail hung way down and the tree was stunning in white. I plan to get a white tree for next year.

Add a tropical touch to your tree... these golden pineapples were spectacular.

 

I love pine cones and these were out of this world!

Beautiful hot pink swag lights in an all white and silver room! A fantastic focal point.

Can you see the polar bears in this tree! FABULOUS! I want to create something similar to this one! 

The mix of the roses and bows was stunning and oh so romantic!

Just look at that topper! WOW~

This was an upside down wall tree! It was wonderful and what a great tree for a small space. This was located in a small dining room!

May fave window swags of the night!

I am still working out and I am tired but I will keep going! I have big surprises for all of you coming up soon! I have been contacted by a popular magazine ... I will just leave it at that for now!

Have a wonderfully magical day...

More holiday photos to come so stay tuned!

Playing Games and Plan Ahead

I was thinking that through my weight loss/ get healthy journey I would write to you about tips and things that help me through. Maybe some more wonderful altered recipes also. THIS IS NOT AN EASY TIME TO START A PROGRAM... CHRISTMAS HAS A LOT OF TREATS AND FATTY FOODS... that is why the exercise portion on my plan is most important.

REMEMBER: NO EXCUSES! JUST GET STARTED.

If you don't have the Power 90 program that's okay. I started a week or so ago just by getting off the couch to watch a favourite program. For one half hour I jogged on the spot in front of the TV or did sit ups or leg lifts or something... in other words, I kept moving for a half hour and I got to enjoy a program I liked.

Which leads me to my first two tips:

1. Play games with yourself! If there is a program you love or a party tonight etc make yourself a deal that you cannot watch it or cannot go if you don't get that workout in!


2. Plan ahead! If you know you have an event to go to in the evening don't wait to do your workout! Do it in the morning even if you're not a morning person! NO EXCUSES. This leads back to tip #1... if you want to go to that event this evening you have to get that workout in BEFORE you leave for the party!

My game today was just that. I have a wonderful event that I have been trying to go to now for 5 years and finally I am going tonight! Whaaaawhoooo!

I am going to see a bunch of holiday homes tonight. In our town a bunch of people participate in allowing strangers into their home and decorating their homes to the max. I had a ticket last year and was sick and had to give my ticket up so as you can imagine I was not going to let it slip by tonight.

I got up, woke up, and did my workout even though I am a evening workout gal. Not late but I like to do my workout at the end of the day. But today I planned ahead and played the game!

I WIN!!!! I'm going out tonight!

Thanks for all your support everyone! I need it and I'm here for you if you need it too!

Have a wonderful day and remember every day that passes by is one more day you could have started and been that much closer to your goal.

I am now 5 days in... almost 1/4 way through my first week! Whaaaawhooooo!

Bear news soon. I have several on the go and will soon have pictures to show you but... you'll have to wait for those.

Time to make time!

There are no excuses... you just need to decide what you want and go for it...

It's time to make time for me.

Here are the cold hard results of hurting your back, not working out and not making the effort to watch what you eat...

Now it's boot camp time to get back into shape!

I have gained a total of 20 pounds! I want what moved in to move out now so the eviction process has begun.

Many years ago I did the Power 90 program with great results and so I dug out my DVD's and put my mind to it that it was now time to begin the program again.

Let me tell you something, this program is boot camp... you've really got to want it! And I do so I started 4 days ago and I can tell you ... I'm tired. But I also have no desire to gain any more weight.

Bottom line, I cannot afford to buy new clothes, don't like how I am starting to feel and love how I felt when I was finished this program the first time so...

I was recently very lucky that someone (a friend) had to pull out of the Tampa, Florida bear show for Bright Star Promotions coming up 2011, February and I was able to secure the table for myself. I have been invited to join Valerie Rogers from Bears and Buds online magazine by the pool... oh oh! Hiding behind big sweaters and winter coats in our Canadian winter is one thing but a bathing suit by a pool is something that really strikes fear into your heart! LOL! So this has become my motivation!

Here is the bravest thing I have done in quite some time... Here are my beginning photos taken a mere 4 days ago...

Here I am now... (posting your pictures publicly makes everything oh so real... and believe me I don't want to post the next pictures in 30 days still looking the same or worse)

So here is my quote to live by right now..

No excuses about my back or being too tired are allowed ...

"When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; 

you do not change your decision to get there"

Wish me luck...

I'm gonna need it!

A new picture to come in 26 more days! I'll be 1/3 of the way there then... the program takes 90 day to change your body... here's a link if you want to read more or maybe even start this yourself

Power 90 with Tony

Most Amazing thing I've seen in a long time...

Seraphim Bears has opened Santa`s vault - Four Bears Now Available!!!

Seraphim Bears Christmas Adoption Begins Today!

Hello Everyone:

Seraphim Bears now has FOUR bears available for adoption! Just in time for Christmas!

Just pop on over to my website by clicking this link:  Seraphim Bears Christmas Sale!!! 

Happy Holidays Everyone!!! 

Bear show a BIG success !

The Teddy Bears On Vacation show was a great success and we had a wonderful time. I sold 8 bears! It was sooooooo much fun and my Mum was a great help.

We also won third place for best costume (we were dressed as Pa and Ma from the poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas") and won a lovely dinner at the Keg!

The show was very fun and I am now preparing for my next show in February in Tampa, Florida!

I met a ton of wonderful artist and collectors and even blog followers!