Merry Christmas!

 Wishing all of my blogging buddies  a 

Very Merry Christmas!

The Mr. and I are celebrating Christmas at home  in 

Palm Desert, California.

Buddy is relaxing out on the back patio and watching all the golfers.

He is pretty sure that we bought this furniture just for him.

 It is finally cool enough to have candles outside without getting soft. 

I love the little cardinals that I found at the Dollar Tree last year. 

This is the view Buddy is enjoying from our patio.

We get snow in the mountains but we have 

comfortably warm days most of the winter with 

lots of sun!

Hope you are staying warm.

xoxo 

Bunny Jean

A Christmas Welcome

We all know that the front door 
sets the mood for the rest of the home.

My home is casual and I decorate for Christmas in the same manner. I use the standard red and green colors and the decorations have a nature theme. 

Of course I have birds! 

You all know how much I love birds... and for Christmas it is Cardinals. They always make me think of my mother because she also used Cardinals and I still have those hanging Cardinal ornaments. I am sure they were purchased for a pretty penny at that famous card store, as that is where the best seasonal items were found way back in the 60's and 70's.  Now we can get great things at the dollar store! 

I save all my Christmas decor... forever! 

I am very careful what I buy as it will use it over and over. Not everything gets put out every year, but I love to see them as I go through my Christmas boxes. I am very sentimental that way.   I have items that I made in grade school and of course many of my children's as well. How about you? 

Do you toss things in order to have a different theme each year? 

I know a lot of you have multiple trees with different themes. I know Debbie (Debbie- Dabble) does! I love visiting just so I can see all the different colors and styles. I love the soft white decor Sandy (For The Love of White) uses all year around. I love the elegant, traditional and modern themes too! I will be share more blog links on future posts :)

What kind of tree do you use?
A real tree or artificial one?

I use an artificial tree. The newer ones with the lights already on are so easy to set up, much cleaner... and way less expensive especially if you live in an area far away from any tree farms. Once it is fully dressed (and perfumed  it looks beautiful... kind of like me :o)

But some years I don't even put it up. 

I am really getting lazy in my old age...

This may be the only "tree" I decorate this year...

xoxo

Bunny Jean

Sharing at these fun parties:
Mosaic Monday 
Tweak It Tuesday 
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday

A Little Bit of Home

The Pacific Northwest is home 

to huge wonderful Fir Trees...

And for almost 45 years it was home to me!

Every year my husband's brother sends us a beautiful, lush, and very fragrant evergreen wreath from Washington State. It is like getting a little reminder of "back home" for our Christmas enjoyment.

This particular wreath was from 2009, the last last year that we lived in Texas. I hung it on the back patio door so I could smell it every time I open and closed the door. 

Of course I decorated it with my favorite winter bird... Cardinals!

This year's wreath arrived the other day. It will not be able to withstand the heat here in the California desert so it will be kept inside. I think I will be placing it on my square coffee table. I will share some pictures in a few days.

I have artificial wreaths hanging on the outside doors. It was in the mid eighties the other day and should be getting cooler over the next few weeks, but not cool enough for the wreath to last through the holidays.

Here is a sneak peek of our front door wreath(s).

I will share the front entry and courtyard decor tomorrow.

Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo 

Bunny Jean

Good Bye November...

Today is the last day of November... 

That means just 25 days 'till Christmas 

and 24 more days of marathon shopping.

Santa Wallpapers

I have had a busy start to the holiday season.

One of my daughters (and a granddaughter) was scheduled to visit on Thanksgiving,
but she had to have emergency back surgery the day before she was to fly and visit.

Thankfully she is alright. She had a ruptured disc in her lower back.
SO glad it happened when she was home and not in flight, or while visiting. 

The airlines gave her ticket vouchers to be used anytime within the next year
so I will be looking forward to that.

She and my granddaughter will be able to get away from all the cold and wet
in the Pacific Northwest in late winter.

In the meantime I will be traveling up to see her
and most of my family, who still live there.

I will be gone for one whole week!
It has been a few years since my last Christmas visit
and I am looking forward to it!

xoxo

Bunny Jean

p.s. I will not be hosting  the Christmas Pet Parade this year. 

I would have to pay for a new subscription of Linky.

Maybe someone else will host it :)

A Warm Fall Welcome

Nothing is more welcoming 

than a light in the window.

This week has been a very difficult one 

for those living on the East Coast.

 My heart goes out to all those 

whose lives have been so drastically changed.

I am so very thankful for everything that I have. 

I will no longer take for granted the simple comforts of life... 

like warmth, light and a secure home.

Please click on the link below and share some of 

your warmth with those less fortunate. 

Red Cross Disaster Relief 

for Hurricane Sandy.

Enjoy your weekend!

xoxo

Bunny Jean

Sharing at these parties:

A Favorite Thing

Halloween Buzzards

These are my 
"Halloween Love Birds".

Some of you may considered them to be Buzzards. 

But since they are birds who are in love... 
I like to think of them as my "Halloween Love Birds". 

They nest every year about this time. 

They always lay two little black eggs!

I have been trying to get a picture of the whole family 

but it is getting late in the day.

 Darn, it's just too late and they have gone to bed for the night!

Buzz and Bertie wish you all a 
Safe and Happy Halloween!


xoxo 
Bunny Jean

Sharing at these fun parties:
Table Top Tuesday 
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday 
Rednesday 
Wow Us Wednesdays

My Holiday Diet Plan

It all starts with Halloween...

Make. Bake. Celebrate.

Some of you may break the holidays down into

separate days or weeks: 

Halloween

Thanksgiving
 Hanukkah
  Christmas
Kwanzaa
New Years

(Please forgive me if I omitted your special holiday.)

However I just group them 

all together as one big holiday called:

"Overindulgence"

Maybe you like to fool yourself into thinking of them as separate holidays....

as if there is some kind of break in between. 

But we all know that once we start eating that

first bite of Halloween candy... 

it's just one big feast until the end of the year.

Then comes January 1st. when we make out our list of

New Year's Resolutions, and at the top of the list is 

starting the newest fad diet.

We all know how that turns out. 

So I am sharing my tried and true diet plan 

that is easy to follow for everyone.

No need to wait until the first of the year! 

This is a diet plan that you can start right now 

and you can adjust it to fit your taste and desired results.

I have  faithfully followed these "diet guidelines" 

and I have seen big results!

The Easiest Diet Plan *
(here is a sample of one day's menu) 

Breakfast

1 grapefruit

1 slice whole wheat toast

1 cup skim milk

Lunch 

1 small portion lean, steamed chicken

1 cup spinach

1 cup herbal tea

1 Hershey's kiss

Afternoon Tea

The rest of the Hershey Kisses in the bag

1 tub of Hagen-Dazz ice cream with chocolate chips
(Maybe even a few chocolate chip cookies)

Dinner

4 glasses of wine (red or white)

2 loaves garlic bread

1 family size supreme pizza

3 Snickers Bars

Late Night Snack

1 whole Sarah Lee cheesecake

(eaten directly from the freezer)

Success at last!


A diet plan that I am able to follow... 
and with predictable results!

Make. Bake. Celebrate.

xoxo 

Bunny Jean

Sharing at these fun parties:

Mosaic Monday 
Tweak It Tuesday 
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Potpourri Friday 
Home Sweet Home

* I am not selling or endorsing this diet plan

Thank you to Make.Bake.Celebrate. for the beautiful Swirly Halloween Cookies. 

Visit her blog to see these are more yummy recipes.

Little White Lies

Do you Lie? 

Maybe just a little white lie now and then?

We are a nation of liars. Americans tell an average of 11 lies, 

both big and small, each week. 

Most of us fib because we’re trying to sidestep something uncomfortable, says Fran Walfish, a family psychotherapist and author in Beverly Hills, Calif. 

"Very often, people lie so no one will be mad at them," she says. At other times, we fudge the truth to feel better about ourselves, impress someone, or escape punishment or other negative consequences. 

To read more about this article  written by Gina Roberts-Grey visit the link at the bottom of the page. *

I know that I don't lie that many times a day! 

How about you? 

Maybe that's because I don't have anyone to talk to on a daily basis. Except for my dogs... maybe I lie to them. Just a little. 

Now that brings me around to a whole other topic. Not only do I talk to my dogs, but I talk to myself as well! I may just save that for another day...

So I am curious... 

* Do you ever lie?

* Why do you lie? 

* What do you consider a lie? 

* Do you feel guilty for lying? 

Please share with me your thoughts on lying... 

and be sure to tell the truth!

Enjoy this cute 2 minute video.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xoxo 
Bunny Jean

This post is from my other blog 
A Positive View On Life

Sharing at:
Blue Monday

* Read the the complete article by Gina Roberts-Grey 

The Truth Is, Lying Makes You Sick

Spooky Black and White Decor

Here is my Halloween Decor in black and white.

These pictures are edited in Picasa using the 
holga-ish setting to give them an eerie effect.

 My sofa came with these Ikat patterned and plaid pillows.  
They are in tones of black, grey and cream.

The skull pillows were purchased last year from Target. 
They GLOW in the dark!

 
Black and white accents on the end tables. 

This candle is wrapped with vellum paper that I  printed using a Graphics Fairy spider image.

I have Halloween Love Birds on the coffee table... 

Doesn't everyone?

I call them "Love Birds" but of course they are Buzzards!

The little sofa table hold various Halloween decor.

I have to confess that picture of those kids came with the picture frame. I just need to find a picture of my kids or grands.

Want to see more of my 
Halloween Love Birds?

They are ever so creepy! 

They are even starting a family...

I posted some more 
pictures of my Buzzards 
in "living" color, so click the link above. 
Hopefully the eggs will have hatched.

xoxo Bunny Jean


Sharing at these fun parties:
Mosaic Monday
Table Top Tuesday
Tweak It Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Sweet And Simple Fridays 
Show And Tell Friday
Potpourri Friday 
Home Sweet Home

You Have To Accentuate The Positive!

Are you feeling positive about 
what is happening in your life?


I hope you are not feeling blue... 
except to share in Smiling Sally's Blue Monday Party!

I have to say that I am feeling so much better!
I have taken on a big  challenge... 
To try and smile all day.

You might ask just how hard can that be. 
Sometimes It can hard to do, but it sure can sure make a difference in your well being.


So click on the picture and it will take you to my new blog... 
and then Bing and the Andrew Sisters will sing you a wonderful song.

Click on picture to visit my new blog and hear Bing sing a great old favorite from the past.

I hope you are having a great Sunday 
and that you have a "positive" week!

xoxo 
Bunny Jean

Sharing at :
Blue Monday

Fall Bird Dishes

I must admit that these little bird dishes 
are probably my favorite.

I was lucky enough to get four little dessert plates at Marshall's. 

Here is what my dining room looks like as seen from 

the seating area of the great room. 

Do you recognize those plaid tablecloth draperies from my Texas home?
For this house I added the dropcloth panels 

to keep out the strong afternoon sun.

See the layered effect of the curtains?

In the pictures above and below you can see 

how the curtains look when pulled back.

You can see why I need them because those 

windows are on the West side of the house.

I have two of these larger cloches.

 I love this cutwork leaf table runner.

I pull these little faux acorns out every Fall.

They mix nicely with the little pine cones.

I have quite a collection leaf dishes 

and have tried to pass on getting more. 

Oh Buddy!

He must be wondering why all the interest in the tabletop...  

when there is no food!

Do you see what I see?

Well of course, more little birds.

 Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE them? 

Even the real variety!

The little tea light bird is from DollarTree a few years ago. 

Those wonderful napkin rings were 

a super clearance deal that "made my day"!

I love all the bright colors in that rooster and platter.  

This colorful soup tureen is from The Cracker Barrel restaurant. 

I loved shopping in their gift store.

These sweet little brown and yellow birds 

are a salt and pepper set.

Can't have fall without sunflowers!

How do you like the filler at the base of the candle?

Yep, those are just strings that were left over 

from the fringed table runner.

Here is a closer shot of those "custom" draperies!

Please don't judge me for my use of tablecloths and dropcloths 

for my "custom" window treatments :)

Of course Buddy had to get back in the picture!

Does your little fur baby try to get in 

the middle of every "photo shoot"?

Thanks for visiting me. 

xoxo 

Bunny Jean

Sharing at these fun parties:

Tweak It Tuesday

You're Gonna Love It Tuesday

Share Your Cup Thursday 

Tablescape Thursday