Christmas day no. oh whatever

Okay I am a bad blogger I know anyway moving on ...cause me beating myself up about it is not gonna help.
I saw the wine bottle toppers when I was at Pottery Barn a few weeks ago.. I love the one on the right.
As with all cute things at Pottery Barn, most especially in Canada..it was out of my price range

 At my cooking class last week I happened on this one for $5.00 I could not believe it.. I thought it would be perfect for my home bar.

 My friend Betty is up from the states and she brought me 2 bottles of Andres Champagne...I am saving for Christmas...Thanks Betty.

Awesome...so now my bar has a few bottles of wine....have to have her stocked by Christmas...
Cheers...Till next time, Frances

Christmas 2011 day 2

Now that I have my island in my kitchen 

I have no room for my bakers rack. I ended up putting it in my office area....and turned it into a bar area of all things. Probably doesn't sound too funny unless you know me...I don't actually drink alcohol...a little wine but not much else. 

But you know for someone who doesn't drink I sure seem to have all the little do dads that go with it. 

I am wondering what kind of alcohol to buy to have a good mix just in case the occasion arises? Any ideas?

 Oh and I put up my star "Tis the Season" hanger Just to keep up with my once a day something Christmas challenge.  Lame I know but the best I could do...

 some seasonal cheese spreaders...nice

 There is not a day 3 post because I had to go to Wal Mart today to get not 1 but 3 copies of Call of Duty for my 16 yr old son and a few of his friends so they could start playing the second they got home from school..
And this little item has been taking up a bit of my time. I  made banana cupcakes yesterday to take to work..but Aidan ate them all so I had to make another batch today..

 Who would of thunk it....I am so in love with my mixer and my new island they both make me smile when ever I see them...

Well till next time, Frances

My Kitchen Island

I have wanted a kitchen island since I remodeled this kitchen 4 years ago.  It was supposed to be a flip house but It hasn't tuned out that way

I went to the lumber yard a few weeks ago and got me some melamine shelving and a few packages of beadboard.

Then I was off to Ikea and bought one of there butcher block counter tops. My daughters boyfriend Jay who is a master carpenter took my wood and my plans and came up with what I have below.

 It has only been here for 10 minutes and it is already full of all the stuff I wanted to store in it. Now I will have oodles of counter space, sadly lacking in this kitchen. And somewhere to put all my gadgets so I will have an easier time using them.

These stools I bought a few years ago from Pier 1 and they cost me  a lot of money have been sitting in my garage rotting for 4 years..I have been dying to get them into this kitchen.
The island is not finished yet..trying to decide whether to paint it the same colour as my backsplace a pale green or choose a new colour and repaint the backsplash?  Anyway 2 posts in one day a record for me but I could not wait to show this  I just LOVE it. 

Oh and speaking of love here' s my christmas present I got for myself...sweet.  Till next time, Frances

Christmas 2011 The Beginning day 1

I have decided that this year I am going to go over the top when it comes to christmas decorating.. I know I do every year ...but this year is going to be different. Seriously

 I want to keep a log on my blog as to what I do so next year I will remember what worked and what didn't and not have to rely on my memory.
Also it will help me get my a** off the couch as I have become somewhat of a couch potatoe these days.
For the first year in a very long time I am almost fully booked up pretty much every weekend till Christmas so I thought well I am doing enough I really should be blogging about it. Above is one of the lanterns I have on the side of my house outside my triple french doors....I have them filled with blue stones and seashells for summer...

 Last nite on the way home from Toronto I stopped at Ikea and picked up a few of these beautys..19.99 I mean seriously how much cheaper do you want them? (yes I know I am not allowed to buy any more lanterns due to my addiction but come on.)
Anyhow  I knew they would be perfect for switching out with the old black ones for the winter.

And here you go..now I realize its only a small change but its a start on my Christmas decorating. I did buy to big red candles for them but I put my solar lights in them instead that way they are lit every nite and not just when I can be bothered to go light them...Anyway candles do not fare too well on this side of the house.
The ones I used in the summer literally melted all over my wood deck and have made a right mess.
Anyway that's about it for today, it is so beautiful out I am trying to get some things done before dark with my extra hour..
There are 48 days left till Christmas and I want to be prepared  this is a good first if small step
Till next time, Frances