I am taking a break from blogging for a while. Hope to be back sooner than later.

Cheers, Moi

(had to post this pic, chocolate all over your face is a sign of a good New Years) ;)

...to keep posted on the life of the Bartholomew clan you can go here .

I never get tired of seeing how people take old chairs with good "bones" and reupholster them. Here are a couple of the most recent transformations found on Design Sponge.

My brother in law was tipped the other week in origami dollar bills.

So cool, Max begged me to take a picture

Max made this little man out of the pieces.

I think this will be my last post until after the Holidays. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Much Love, The Bartholomews

I made my mod-podge 3d wreath, finally! I got the idea from here. I began making one of these wreaths in Sept. of this year, but Fall passed too quickly and I never had a chance to finish it. So I decided to make one for Christmas!

I loved the wreaths my friend Liz made over at say yes to hoboken and decided that I was going to use green satin ribbon as well. The only item missing from these photos is my old, messy and trusty glue gun.

You just frost and stack, so simple. I added a little round sugar cookie cut out in between each star to give it some height. (I used the top of an old gerber bottle to cut the circles out with.)

I took a bunch of pictures while in the process of making them and realized when I got to my computer that my memory card was not in it! AAA! Such a Brooke thing to do. So I just got pics of the finished product.

I am going to let them sit for a while so the frosting sinks in and makes them nice and soft and then we'll deliver them to friends and neighbors.

Madeline squealed with delight when my mom said they were going to make a star Christmas Tree. Below is a picture of the tree my mom and Mimi made together while I was running errands.

Best Christmas tree I ever ate! The cookies in the middle were covered with frosting on both sides and after sitting over night were soft and delicious (and completely irresistible).

Above are some ideas for a more star trees. I especially would like to try the gingerbread one above.

For our family's favorite sugar cookie recipe go here. I am still on the search for a great gingerbread recipe. Anyone have a good recipe or know of one?

A kitchen island/breakfast bar! I have been obsessing over adding a breakfast bar to our kitchen, we have the perfect spot for it. But I have been debating whether I want something that is a permanent fixture...or something that is movable?

This idea intrigued me so I searched the world wide web for some ideas. Because there are SOOOO many clever people out there and I knew I could find something and I did!!!

fabricfloozie.blogspot has inspired me to make this movable island/breakfast bar, from an old dresser none the less! Pure genius.

I also was debating whether to use butcher block (so I could use it as a cutting board as well) or match it with the other counter tops. After seeing this I think I love the butcher block that she used here.

I am thrilled about this plan and wonder if I will even be able to sleep tonight (I tend to stay awake thinking about an idea once it gets in my head). My cure for this is usually CHUCK. One of the best shows ever made. I have it in our room on dvd and turn it on and fall asleep to it.

For more amazingly inspired home improvement and sewing projects go here to thefabricfloozie.com.

~I just reupholstered my dining room chairs (pictures to come) I just have to wait for a rare moment when the table isn't covered with...children, leftover food, crayons, homework, bills etc. so I can take a pretty picture of the finished project.

~I also finished 2 small diy Christmas wreaths and some super cute boy capes which I will also post soon.

Oops, I think my mind automatically thinks an in-law has the last name Bartholomew on Steve's side of the family. This isn't the first time I have gotten maiden and married names mixed up, in fact just last month someone asked me my full name and I said Brooke Nelson. Ha!

I have entered many a giveaway, but this is the first time I have won. I am so excited to share these cookies with my family and friends this holiday season...oh, and my husband just told me he is excited for me to share these with him the most. ;)
I will be sure to post pics of the cookies when I receive them and I may just have to send a few to my sis Rozzie from Rozlynn's Homemade Goodness in AL. :)

I love wreaths and I especially love them at Christmas time. I was inspired by the below pictures to hang a wreath in my house. So the above picture is my wreath in my Living Room.

As long as I have known my husband Steve, I have heard many stories about a mission companion he had while serving in Brazil. He credits this companion for the success and joy he found on his mission.

I know this companion as Elder Neff and frequently heard stories of their many adventures together. Well this evening my husband came home more somber than I have seen him in a very long time, he had just attended the viewing of Elder Neff's wife, Julie who passed away this last week due to a very aggressive form of Breast Cancer called IBC that targets younger women. She left behind her husband Brandon, a 5 year old son and 2 year old daughter. Our heart breaks for them and I hope that Elder Neff understands the influence he had on my husband and the person he has become today. So thank you Elder Neff, our love and prays are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Below are some wonderful handmade items that I found on etsy that show support for breast cancer awareness, and many of the shops listed below donate a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer research.

I just watched the last episode and asked myself why aren't I in Italy too? Hmmm, maybe it has something to do with my stage in life right now...but oh, I want to go there! So please Universe email me some free tickets to Italy! I would wait 3 years and save up the money to go to Italy than go on small trips here and there...but I know my kids enjoy the small trips so we'll probably do those for now. ;)

ps funny note, I told Steve I wanted to quit my job today. Yeah, it's been rough. I've been feeling really yucky for bout 4 days and it seems as if the kids have been becoming more demanding since I am not devoting my full attention to them. Humph....sigh...

Congrats to the proud parents, Phillip & Ana. Here is to a new family of 4 and a long break until the next one. (wink-wink)

There are so many different ways to decorate. From retro to vintage, Victorian to country, contemporary to traditional. I love all of these styles and only wish I could change up my house each year with a new design idea. But that would take a lot more time and money than I have at the present. ;)