Silhouette Holiday Promotion (and Cameo Review)

It is time to start thinking about what might make you giddy

on Christmas morning (or a Hanukkah evening)!

I have along list...and of course crafty tools are on that list.

But Christmas came a little early for me when I received a Silhouette Cameo!

I will tell you I have used other cutting machines...

I wondered how different could this be?

A LOT DIFFERENT!

I found this super easy to set up and to use...super easy - for real!

I will share a bit more about my experience in a second...

but it is Holiday Shopping Time!

So I bet you wan to know about some really AMAZING deals!

Hurry these discounts from Silhouette are available

November 28, 2013 through December 8, 2013

 YOU MUST use the code 504MAIN at checkout to access these discounts!
 (below the graphic is some detailed info!)

My Two Favorite Christmas Tree Projects (DIY's for the Long Weekend!)

Unbelievably...Christmas is here again - almost!

(yeah, I know...every December 25!)

But first Happy Thanksgiving!

I know I will be getting ready for some Christmas decorating after tomorrow...

it always starts with the tree in my house...

so I thought I'd share 2 of my

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TREE RELATED PROJECTS!

 

Over the last couple of years I have made many projects I like...

but here are just a couple you might want to tackle

over the long Thanksgiving weekend.

 Both are (pretty) simple.

First, one for the kiddos!

My little girlie likes to decorate the tree...all month long, so I created

an Ornament Advent Calendar!

And, next, one is for those of us who hate ugly tree stands!

(like me!)

A Christmas Tree Crate to hide that stand!

I hope you have an amazing week with your friends or family!

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Burlap Table Runner for a Turkey Tablescape

A few weeks ago, I was visiting my parents in Southern California,

 and jumped at the opportunity to go shopping at the Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store 

by their house for the supplies for this project.

My head was spinning...I had so many ideas.

I saw burlap...

I saw yarn...

I saw gorgeous papers...

I saw ribbon...

I saw, well everything!
I had a vision (sort of)...and now  I had the supplies.
It all eventually came together with a

Burlap Table Runner

 for a Turkey Tablescape. (#turkeytablescape)

http://www.504main.com/2013/11/burlap-table-runner-for-turkey.html

Tickled Pink Times Two: No. 15

Welcome to the Tickled Pink Times Two Linky Party - 

a creative party to share your very best posts of the week!

 Come on and linkup what made you Fabulous this week!

How to Cook a Turkey in a Slow Cooker

I made my first ever turkey!

  To me, cooking a turkey meant getting up early, gross bird stuff all over,

and hours and hours of cooking for it to still not be done.

I always put my husband on "bird duty."

But no more! I did it!I am like a grown up now!

Playing Dress Up With Hello Kitty and The KuKee app

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and KuKee, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #helllokittyletsplay  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

I LOVE Hello Kitty!
(I might even have a Hello Kitty item or two from my childhood)

Of course my daughter loves Hello Kitty too.
 Recently I had the opportunity to make a 6 year old very happy - 
squeal with delight happy!

Here is how to make a 6 year old VERY happy!
"Jules do you want to go shopping...at Macy's...for Hello Kitty clothes?"

"YES!!!!!" she said.
(Of course she said yes!) 

Turkey & Cranberry Tamales (featuring Save Mart Supermarkets)

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client

I have a confession...I have never on-my-own cooked a turkey.
I always leave it to my hubby.

Well that all changed this week when I headed out to Save Mart Supermarket

to shop their BOGO deal. My kids and I are always on the go and

the mix-and-match meat sale allowed me to grab a great deal on some of

their favorite meal "must haves." Better yet, these cuts of meat were hearty...

so they allowed me to cook up a meal, have some left overs...

and to whip up a batch of tamales.

My kiddos go crazy for tamales!
They have been asking and asking for me to make some, and this presented the perfect opportunity for me to try one of my unique tamale concoctions - I just love trying unusual, non-traditional ingredients in my tamales. So, I figured...it is almost Thanksgiving...
how about some Turkey Cranberry Tamales - oh yeah...yummy!

Now...for your purists...this is my version of a tamale,not necessarily a traditional tamale...but we LOVE it! And so do the guests I serve them too! 
Every time I tell people I make tamales they look at my like I am crazy.
I had always heard how time consuming tamales were,
 but I really don't have that feeling when I make them...so go for it!

Celebrating "My Kind of Holiday" & How to Make a No-Sew Table Runner

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Target. All opinions are 100% my own. Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Target.

 Our holidays are pretty simple.
I once dreamed of big fancy affairs and elegant tables,
but that does not quite fit into my life at the moment.
However, that does not mean we lack tradition
or that our holiday tables are any less charming,
in fact I think in our house we have created our own unique kinds of holidays! 

One of our favorite family traditions is letting the kids decide on and decorate the Thanksgiving table. I help a little bit, no seriously just a teeny-tiny bit. They take a huge amount of pride in this task and it makes them feel good.

Tickled Pink Times Two: No. 14

Welcome to the Tickled Pink Times Two Linky Party - 

a creative party to share your very best posts of the week!

I need to take a minute and just say a BIG THANK YOU to the BEST Co-Hostess EVER, Meegan. I got very lucky a few months ago when Meegan joined me at Tickled Pink. She is the sweetest...and you really need to head over and visit her features and check out her projects!

Now at 504 Main...I started a new exercise regimen
(and I am still alive).
I also aged wood with vinegar and glittered some burlap.

  But hey...its almost the weekend...
which means it is time for Tickled Pink x2 with Meegan!

Don't forget...Meegan has great features!

Glittering Striped Burlap Wrapped Candles

Can you really ever have enough candles?

No and no and no!
I know that I do start to tire of the same old candles after awhile.
(that might just be my personality!)
So...what's the trick to keeping the look "fresh"? 
Changing up vignettes, adding seasonal touches,
and creating interesting embellishments are the key.

Way back in the wedding planning days, I used these plain candles (that you can purchase at just about any grocery store or mass retailer) ALL THE TIME. I decorated them in a bajillion different ways because these beauties are chameleons - they can be transformed into whatever you want them to be...and as a PLUS, they are totally cost effective.

How to Age Wood with Apple Cider Vinegar

I have become the wood sign lady in town.

But I cannot be content with just plain old signs!

I suppose it is my fashion background - changing styles every season

I have to find new ways to make the signs unique.

So I am using a combination of paint and stains these days.

My favorite and CHEAP wood stain is vinegar!

Tickled Pink Times Two: No. 13

Welcome to the Tickled Pink Times Two Linky Party - 

a creative party to share your very best posts of the week!

There were a ton of great Halloween links last week...but I am so ready for Thanksgiving and (gulp!) holiday decor!

Here is what was happening at 504 Main!

I chatted about hosting a couples shower and have a

$25 Target Giftcard giveaway

Made myself a Sparkling Apple Cardamon Cocktail

and revisited one of my favorite Fall tablescapes (a little Thanksgiving decor inspiration!)

  But hey...its almost the weekend...
which means it is time for Tickled Pink x2 with Meegan!

Don't forget...Meegan has great features!

Harvest Table and Designing Ideas

When I hear the term "Tabletop", I get all dreamy eyed and my mind starts creating and dreaming up inventive ways to do things, and well, I get a little caught up trying to create something really special - my wedding planner mentality takes over - and I spend days fretting over what to do. Visions of lighting and draping and chandeliers, and custom linens...well, you get the picture.

I truly enjoy creating a beautiful tablescape or event space.
It is one of the things that makes me so happy and really inspires my creativity.
I love creating spaces outdoors, perhaps because I am from coastal California where the weather is pretty much the same year round.
I also love creating tables with texture, interest, unexpected surprise...and most of all tables that look rich and expensive...but are not!

You have to see the rest...click on READ MORE!

Sparkling Apple Cardamon Cocktail

During the holiday season, I do a lot of entertaining

(OK, I confess I entertain all year long - I love a party, big or small!).

It's not always formal or fancy...

but I do like to offer my guests amazing food and a specialty beverage...

other than coffee, the beverage of choice

for most of my friends is a sparkling wine (or prosecco or champagne).

While anything sparkling is great on its own...

every once in awhile I like to change things up a bit.

Add a new flavor...

add a new twist...

and surprise my guests!

Wedding Celebrations: Bubbles and Brew Couples Shower

disclosure: I love weddings and am happy to be working with Target to show you the possibilities of the Target Wedding Catalog and Registry.

It has been 16 years since I was married, but I remember every detail of every party and of the wedding. I went on to use my experiences to help other couples plan amazing events. I loved the couples I worked with. All different. All unique. All bright and hopeful for their future and full of ideas about their weddings and life together. All of them wanting, striving to blend their individual interests and ideas and lives together.