Be Inspired Features and Link Party #194

Happy Tuesday! Welcome back for features and party day!

If you live on the east coast, you are probably still digging out from the blizzard. We got somewhere in the neighborhood of 30".  I know these big winter storms create all kinds of problems, but it truly is a winter wonderland out there. Be safe and warm. And have fun!!!

Now check out this week's awesome party features ...

I love the light, fresh and inviting feel of this entryway from Cami at Tidbits!

This gorgeous hutch was a wonderful thrift store find that got a makeover just before the holiday season. Now Barbara from 21 Rosemary Lane has it beautifully decorated for winter!

Shelley from Calypso In The Country has a beautiful new white kitchen and it will knock your socks off!

The completion of this gorgeous new dining room wall was interrupted by a drill incident that required a trip to the emergency room - ouch! But the end result from Megan and her handy husband Rob at Our Pinteresting Family is fabulous!

You will love the way Joan from Scavenger Chic transformed a pair of mismatched metal filing cabinets!

I also think Joan's Rustic Pallet Wood Valentine Heart is just adorable!

These DIY mercury glass pedestal bowls from Master Pieces Of My Life are just so pretty and thrifty too!

How sweet is this playful dresser from UpwithFurniture! 

And Cynthia from Clockwork Interiors shared this darling child-size cabinet!

Meatloaf and mashed potatoes are comfort food in my book and this recipe for Italian Meatloaf Florentine from Jenn's Random Scraps sounds wonderful!

I love the refreshing taste of lemon, so these Lemon Cupcakes from Don't Sweat the Recipe are totally calling my name!

And seriously, these One-Bowl Brownies from Gina at Kleinworth & Co. look so decadent, delicious and pretty too!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up and linked back!

Now on to this week's party...

*Link up your furniture makeovers, DIY projects, home decor, crafts, recipes, thrifty finds, etc... whatever is inspiring you at the moment!

*A link back would be appreciated, especially if you'd like to be considered for a feature.

We'll be back next Tuesday with features and a brand new party!

Be Inspired Features and Link Party #193

Happy Tuesday! Welcome back for features and party day!

A possible big snow for the end of the week, bring it on!

We did see some snow flurries over the weekend and I was lucky enough to share the moment with a sweet little girl who giggled as snow flakes stuck to her eye lashes. Ahh, it really is the little things that touch your heart!

Now for our party, I know you'll enjoy this week's fabulous features .....

Danielle from Finding Silver Pennies took her kitchen from yellow to gray and the result is simply stunning!

Are you loving ship lap? Chelsea from Married Filing Jointly made a ship lap wall her first project of the year!

 Laurel from The North End Loft gave her home a warm and cozy feel for winter with a shades of white and a pop of turquoise - so pretty!

This beautiful dining room update in my favorite shade of black comes from Ashley at Vintage Refined!

And check out Ashley's fabulous bathroom makeover - a total transformation!

Ann Marie and David from Iris Abbey shared these beautiful MCM pieces along with all the details on their super smooth finish! 

Looking for a unique treat for someone special on Valentine's Day? Dreams Factory shared these beautiful homemade Vegan White Chocolates and shared lovely labels for them too!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up and linked back!

Now on to this week's party...

*Link up your furniture makeovers, DIY projects, home decor, crafts, recipes, thrifty finds, etc... whatever is inspiring you at the moment!

*A link back would be appreciated, especially if you'd like to be considered for a feature.

We'll be back next Tuesday with features and a brand new party!

Be Inspired Features and Link Party #192

Happy Tuesday! Welcome back for features and party day!

Oh baby, it's cold outside! I'm going to keep warm carrying all those Christmas tubs down the basement steps. Yes, I've been having a hard time letting go of the holidays this year!

Hope you enjoy this week's party features. Let's party .....

Ann from Farmhouse Blues Interiors shared this striking naval inspired desk!

This dining set was already beautiful, but got a fresh new look with a little paint and glaze from Bonnie at Revolutionaires!

Two homework stations were created from one worn out farmhouse table over at Thirty Eighth Street - how cool is that!

Head over to Mary Beth's Place for a roundup of inspiring furniture makeovers!

This shabby gold inspirational sign from Dreams Factory features one of my favorite quotes!

These homemade "no oil" potato chips from Gina at Kleinworth & Co. are a healthy snack option for the new year, super easy to make and look absolutely delicious - crunch!

And The Honeycomb Home shared a fun post. Roxanne asked eight design bloggers to share their thoughts on what design trends will be hot this year and which trends are on their way out. I'd love to hear your predictions!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up and linked back!

Now on to this week's party...

*Link up your furniture makeovers, DIY projects, home decor, crafts, recipes, thrifty finds, etc... whatever is inspiring you at the moment!

*A link back would be appreciated, especially if you'd like to be considered for a feature.

We'll be back next Tuesday with features and a brand new party!

Be Inspired Features and Link Party #191

Happy Tuesday! Welcome back for features and party day!

And just like that, it's a brand new year!

Are you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to take on new projects. Or are you taking it a little slower and thinking about your dreams and goals for the new year? January is definitely my month to regroup and reorganize!

Our tag sale schedule, my Etsy shop and keeping up with real life kept be especially busy last year. There is no quick fix to finding balance. And as a result, the blog took a bit of a back seat. Hopefully I'll get back to a more regular posting schedule this year, we'll see how that goes. But in the meantime, I really enjoy seeing all the creativity, projects and recipes that you all share at the link party each week, so thanks so much for being here!

Our last link party was filled with fabulous holiday house tours and Christmas projects -  be sure to check it out - lots of  great ideas to pin for next year!

And now check out these fabulous features .....

How super cute is this chalkboard hearth bucket from Patti at Old Things New! What a fun winter project!

Love this beautiful staircase makeover from Ashley at Vintage Refined!

This DIY Coconut Lime Body Scrub from Shehla at Shehlagrr would be a real treat for winter skin!

What Meegan Makes shared these Raspberry Filled Muffins that would be such a treat for breakfast, especially on a cold winter morning!

These pretty Cranberry Turnovers are from Robin at Fluster Buster!

And how sweet are these Peanut Butter Brownie Trifles from Gina at Kleinworth & Co!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up and linked back!

Now on to this week's party...

*Link up your furniture makeovers, DIY projects, home decor, crafts, recipes, thrifty finds, etc... whatever is inspiring you at the moment!

*A link back would be appreciated, especially if you'd like to be considered for a feature.

We'll be back next Tuesday with features and a brand new party!

Book Reviews and Gift Ideas

Today I have a review of our final two book club selections of the year and they would both make great gift ideas!

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion can best be described as a romantic comedy and it is totally adorable!

*Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count his friends on the fingers of one hand. Conceding to the statistical probability that there is a significant someone for everyone, he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner that he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical - most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker or a late-arriver. Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent - and on a quest of her own. As an unlikely relationship blooms, the scientifically minded geneticist confronts the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

Thoughts ... My book club absolutely loved this book. It is fun, quirky and light-hearted. Don is certainly socially challenged, but absolutely charming at the same time. We were rooting for him from page one and we appreciated that it was his quirkiness that made him so endearing. And clearly the whirlwind Rosie was exactly who he needed in his life! ... This is definitely a book that you finish and want to pass along to your mother, sister or friend to read - a great gift idea!

Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a love letter to one baby girl written from her two mothers - one by birth and one by adoption.

*Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…

Thoughts ... We thoroughly enjoyed this touching story of one baby girl, told in alternating chapters from the perspective of her two mothers. Khaki and Jodi really were about as different as two woman could be, but they shared the love of one little girl named Carolina and redefined the meaning of family. We enjoyed Kristy's soft, sweet writing style and the way the lives of the characters were distinctly written, yet tightly woven together. ... And as a added bonus, we scheduled a video chat with the author during our book club gathering and found Kristy to be absolutely delightful. She shared her background, the writing process and the heart and soul of Dear Carolina. It was such a treat to have her join us, like sitting down with an old friend and catching up on life. We were prepared with a long list of question and she so graciously answered each and every one. We are already looking forward to her next book and another book club chat with Kristy. ... Dear Carolina would also make a wonderful gift idea. Read the book with a group of friends, co-workers or family members and schedule a chat with Kristy!

Happy Reading!

*The synopsis of each book was taken directly from the author's website.

Be Inspired Features and Link Party #190

Happy Tuesday! Welcome back for features and party day!

We've wrapped up our last tag sale of the year here at Elizabeth & Co. and we're looking forward to a nice long winter break to catch up on real life! Thanks so much to our amazing customers for another wonderful year and to our long-distance friends for your continued words of encouragement and support!

We're also going to take a little link party break the next two weeks to enjoy some quality family time. The party will be stay open, so feel free to link up as often as you like!

Now check out this week's fabulous features .....

This beautiful French Provincial Dining Set got a makeover from Mr. Wilson & Me just in time for Christmas dinner!

Danielle from Finding Silver Pennies has a real cool tutorial for how to make a faux galvanized metal table!

Ashley from Vintage Refined share this stunning and very chic black dresser!

I love the unique design on this transformation from Frugal Furbishing!

Cami from Tidbits has all the details on how to make a pretty throw with great big tassels!

How much fun are these gumball machine waterless snow globes from Kathleen at Charm Bracelet Diva {At Home}!

Janet from Rosemary & Thyme has a beautiful holiday home tour to share!

Robin from Happy At Home has the most charming red and white kitchen!

I love all things coconut, so this Coconut Cream Poke Cake from Kleinworth & Co. looks totally dreamy to me!

Or maybe you're in a chocolate mood and want to give Gina's Chocolate Eggnog Cupcakes a try!

Thanks so much to everyone who linked up and linked back!

Now on to this week's party...

*Link up your furniture makeovers, DIY projects, home decor, crafts, recipes, thrifty finds, etc... whatever is inspiring you at the moment!

*A link back would be appreciated, especially if you'd like to be considered for a feature.

We'll be back next Tuesday with features and a brand new party!