Happy Holidays

The year comes to an end and I will close the blog for a couple of days between the years! Time to recollect my thoughts and to think about my future plans and ideas. I am so looking forward to the next year filled with new adventures.


The last days before every new year are a good time to think back and to look ahead. It is for many a time to make resolutions and start with fresh ideas and flip open a brand new page. I love the idea to begin anew!


I do look back on my experiences, the joys and sorrows, the times with friends and family, work and play!
This year was wonderful for so many reasons!


We had a long time to be with our family in Europe, we traveled with the children and showed them a new culture!


We have stuck to our plan to simplify our life, we have learned to live with a little less buying, more reading, vintage shopping instead of new!
We have cleaned our attic and the basement...
Life has been good!
And the way ahead is full of promise!


I am filled with gratitude and hope! My plans for the new year are within me and I do not have to wait to January 1 to put them into action: To live a mindful life, to love my family and be true to my friends, to always keep an open mind and a open heart!
I want to learn something new and I want to discover more of old...



Wishing you all a festive days ahead and a happy New Year! May your hopes and dreams come true!
See you all back in January!

With love!
XX
Victoria




Photography all V.Zlotkowski, painting 'The five Senses' by Jaques Linard.

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Bubbly chandelier

A few years back we bought some bubble lights for our chandelier at Captiva Island. We spent a few times there over the holidays and after visiting the Bubble Room - a quirky and very entertaining dining spot on the island, we fell for the old fashioned fun! The place is whimsically decorated year round for Christmas -yes - one of those....but the children were considerably younger at the time and yet they still remember!
Adjacent to the restaurant is a small shack, selling everything decorative for holiday fun, from masks to ornaments, wigs to toys!
Since then we pull out those bubble lights every year and our dining room transforms! Having painted the old thing red a few years back, they fit in perfectly!



If you like them, go here!



We love the effect, and we need candles at every meal now, since it's much darker suddenly...it only adds to the festive party atmosphere! Do you have some quirky decorations you want to share with me?

Happy weekend!

XX
Victoria


PS: Don't forget to check out my give away on the post below!!! Still time to enter until December 22!

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GMTV Travel News

Breakfast news has yet again highlighted the benefits of holidaying in the UK this year. This time focusing on Bournemouth, but the point still applies to Cornwall. Take a look at the video clip to see what they had to say, for anyone interested in taking a holiday in Cornwall, or providing accommodation, it is interesting viewing.

See the clip...

So, we are going to see even more visitors to the South West this season, the question is, will we as a county take advantage of the influx or be unprepared? There will be a marked rise in foreign and UK based tourists, so now is the time to make plans to ensure they enjoy themselves, come back again, and do not just view us as a cut price alternative!

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Europeans Holidaying in the UK

If you were watching the breakfast news on the BBC this morning, you would have seen the clip included above; very positive news for those in Cornwall, and especially B&B owners. It is rarely good news when we hear that the Pound is weak against the Euro, but it has caused a flood of Europeans to visit their island neighbours.

Cornwall will benefit a great deal from the foreign visitors - with much of the economy based in the tourist trade - and along with those from across the seas, many are choosing to stay in the UK for their holidays. All of the accommodation owners I have spoken to have mentioned that their bookings are up, with many visitors choosing to stay for two weeks instead of one as they previously had.

The news report also mentioned the advantage of web based advertising to reach these visitors. Having a website for your business is now considered essential, the greater majority of consumers look for a business online first, even if only for contact details. In this time of economic uncertainty, it is vital to make sure that every aspect of your business is working at its best, and an effective online presence is very much a part of this.

It is good to see news reports that are picking up on the positive aspects of the financial climate, and as a businessman myself, it certainly helps to keep me focused. This is also a subject close to my heart - brought up in this county in a tourist related business, and now working primarily in web design Cornwall - but it is important and valuable reportage for bed and breakfast owners along with all sorts of other enterprises looking to take advantage of the influx of tourists.

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Happy Halloween

via, Gemma Comas photography

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Getting it Together for the New Year

2008 is just a couple of days away - Are you ready???? I know I'm not, but I'm trying to get a head start by weeding out some of the clutter and getting my essentials in order.
Here are a few things I found that might help you get the year off to a good start.

First of all, you need to take stock of your general mental health and well being. This diagnosis wheel from Knock Knock should do the trick.



Next, make sure to thank everyone for everything they've done for you over the past year and for all of those great gifts you received over the holidays. These little personalized notes should do the trick!


Now it's time to get serious and get your schedule in order. You're sure to stay on track using this saucy little number from Kate Spade, a pink-gold day planner.


And of course, no self respecting fashionista using a pink-gold day planner should be caught without a matching pencil bag!!

For those more casual moments on the run you can grab this little gem - compact and self contained, it's a calender at a glance.


Prioritize your calender with these perky place holders

Making lots of lists for the New Year? This pad lets you make them and keep track of them all in the same place!


I'm ordering some of these great painted wood desk organizers from The Home Storage Warehouse for my office so I can start fresh in 08. I figure if I have a lot of really organized looking receptacles, bins, and paper holders in my office, it will automatically look and feel more organized. (I like to live in denial or as I refer to it - living in my bubble!)


Hope you're all successful in getting it together and enjoy a hassle free, highly organized, 2008.

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Merry Merry Christmas

Here's hoping everyone has a happy and meaningful holiday. Take some time to enjoy the little things and the great traditions of Christmas. Here are some images from this years National Gingerbread House Competition. They look good enough to live in.


2007 Grand Prize Winner


2006 Grand Prize Winner



2007 Entry

Merry Christmas!!!!!!

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Not-So-Extreme Holiday Makeover

So, you've decided to host the perfect Holiday soirée. The Tree is trimmed, the halls are decked and the table is set with your finest china. Everything is just as you had envisioned until you take a look at that dingy old sofa or chair with the threadbare, dirty upholstery. Can your party really be the success you are sure it can be when you are overcome with fear that your guests will notice that your furniture hasn't been updated since 1980? Will someone sit on the chair that Uncle Larry spilled red wine on last Thanksgiving? What about the ottoman that serves as your dogs chew toy!

Have no fear - you still have time to pull off an instant makeover with slipcovers.

These great slips from Before-n-After could be hiding all sorts of sins but you'd never know it.


Whether you go with a ready made or semi-custom slip cover companies now offer many options that give your furniture a custom high-end look. These are not your grandma's sofa throws with chain fringe trim.


Stretch and Cover is a company that has pioneered a new type of stretch fabric that is made specifically for slip covers. The weave is multi-directional and is formulated to rebound and keep its shape.


Each product comes with retainer bars and straps that are designed to help keep the covers in place even with daily use.


For a more casual look try these styles from Conterelle, one of the companies that modernized ready to buy slip cover design.


Found these chenille covers on Overstock.com. They are well priced and available in rich colors.
Another Overstock.com find.




For a brighter and more varied selections of fabrics try The Slipcover Company. They have a large selection and very good pricing.

These dining chair covers are my favorite. I love that they come in short and long skirt styles.



Finally, how about these winter whites? These would look beautiful in any holiday dining room and they only cost $10.99 !!!!!!

Here's hoping your Holiday Parties are smashingly successful. That no one gets food poisoning or drinks too much eggnog and that most of all, no one looks under the slipcovers to see what lies underneath!

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Christmas Couture

It used to be that only we humans had to choose just the right outfit for that special Christmas party or event, now we have to worry about dressing our pets as well. My own miniature dachshunds have sweaters that my daughter forces them to wear at Christmas time when we have guests although they invariably wiggle out of them before the night is over. I confess that if they were more comfortable in the outfits and didn't try to chew them off I would probably have them dressed all the time. It's like the ultimate doll, a living toy that you can dress to fit your mood or season.


Look at this guy with his Grinch dog outfit - Love the hooves. He doesn't look that happy though.



My dogs would have this shredded into a million pieces in seconds but I love it.


This one looks a bit more sturdy but it's sized for a larger dog.


Another reindeer outfit - this is the coolest dog! She looks so bored.


This one has a sense of humor.



Foofy outfits for foofy dogs.


Since my dogs won't wear outfits maybe I should have them dyed!!!


Looks like someone's been a naughty dog.



This cracks me up. How do they get three dogs to sit still for this picture. Must have been trained by the Dog Whisperer.



Too cute,


Every dog needs their Christmas pj's.


This cracks me up. Does your dog really need a passenger?


Santa's helper



These two have arms - kind of creepy but very funny.


Last but not least let's not forget our feline friends.


Dog outfit links:

www.dogsmartway.com/Dog-Clothing.php
www.wiggle-n-waggle.com/.../Categories
http://stores.thehautehound.com/-strse-698/Reindeer-Costume/Detail.bok
dinkydawg.com/Pajamas
www.brandnewdad.com/.../halloween/christmas.asp
www.mypethaven.com/santa_dog.htm
www.shortorderdogs.com/HyperCart/Category.asp?category=Holiday+Houndz

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