Halloween

If you know me personally or have been to my home- you know that  I dig decorating for the holidays.... 

ALL  OF THEM..... as a matter of fact.

Halloween is my number one favorite,  followed closely by Christmas and then Easter-

The other 3-4 decor looks are default because I can't NOT decorate.....{pardon the double negative}  but Halloween has a special place in my heart- and holds as many bin spaces in my garage as my Christmas decorations!

My birthday narrowly missed Halloween by just a few minutes - so pretty much every birthday of mine has had a Halloween theme- and I'm totally fine with that- because ever since childhood- my birthday is actually two days of celebrating and who doesn't like to have a two day party???

Seriously- oodles of candy followed by birthday cake and yummy fall comfort foods...

Uhmmmm.... hell yeah!

I am crazy late in posting these- and I really scaled down my decorations this year

{YES- this is the scaled down version} just because I'm trying to crank out everyone's fall images.

But I did want to share a few shots with you all. 

I'm anxiously awaiting next weekend so that I can re-create my home and put up the Winter Wonderland....

Stay tuned!

xoxo Didi V

My daughter Onika giving me her best 40's babe look

My youngest daughter Gabbi strutting her peacock princess look

Even the powder room and kitchen get some spooky love....

 And if it stands still long enough- it gets draped in something.....

 

Merry Christmas Darlings....

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!!!!

I am finally getting my house decorated and prepped for the holidays and did manage to put together our Christmas card photos (thanks to my girl Dr. Nicky for coming along to help me get a snap of all four of us in one place at one time... {NOT an easy task at all with this family....}

I hope that you are all reveling in the hustle and bustle of this crazy season- remember to stop and breathe... step back and enjoy the view- squeeze your dear ones and do a good deed for someone else... after all- 'tis the season.

xoxo Didi V.

{this year's theme is Winter Wonderland.... bring on some of that fluffy white stuff Santa!}

       



Halloween

Take a "stab" at what my favorite holiday is..... LOL!

I tend to go a bit overboard when it comes to Halloween....

I love to decorate both the interior and the exterior of our happy little suburban home... and at the end of the decorating day- if it hasn't run away on it's own- it's been decorated. 

My house this year was once again dripping in Halloween and  the creep-tastic!

I'm sure it's because I'm and All Saints baby- so pretty much every birthday I've ever had has been Halloween based... and I love it!  I've been collecting decor for years... and now that my kids are getting older- I can start to bring the dramatic rather than just the "cute"...   And this year, they were really able to help, create and cook and it is making the holidays just that much sweeter.

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Gabbi is and always has been a horse nut- so when Onika found several components of an equestrian outfit at our favorite 2nd hand haunt- it was as if the costume Gods were trying to tailor the perfect costume for my girl this year.

Not surprising that Onika wanted to be a Vampiress- again.... {for the umpteenth year in a row...} just with better accessories.... LOL-  Oh well- she rocked it.

We had a fun little get together with friends and neighbors and rocked the pre-trick-or-treat snack and the post-frozen children dinner.... witch's fingers, chocolate chip cookies, home-made chili bar, spiced apple cider and a jack-o-lantern pizza.... goodness on a plate!

I even got in on the action as a sugar skull pulled from el Dia de la Muerto lore.  I had fun with it- but felt bad- I scared the pants off of several little ones who came to "twik o tweet" my house.... they were definitely NOT ok with whatever I was and where the heck was Mrs. Miles at?????

Hope you all had a fab Halloween!!!

{and now... back to work for me}

xoxo Didi V.

Move over Martha...

That's right- I said it.... Move over Martha. 

Ok- I'm not really that crafty anymore- altho- I did turn out some pretty darned cute hair pretties for some darling girls for portrait sessions this spring, and I cooked up a storm this weekend...and not just my easy go to basics... I actually- wait for it...... used a recipe this weekend!  I know,... I know- my family was stunned... and rewarded... the braised beef short ribs in a garlic-red wine-balsamic reduction over heavily garlic-buttered smashed potatoes was dare I say- criminal... it was ridiculously good.

Tonight I turned out stuffed pork chops and pan fried zucchini w/ buttered bread crumbs, sprinkled w/ parm s&p, and a dollop of ranch sour cream dip... comfort food to the inth degree on this cold cruddy wet day.

I spent some needed down-time resting and relaxing with my family this weekend- we were sad that Oni's basketball tourney was canceled for her age bracket but happy to have some rest.  We've snuggled, laughed, watched movies, hung out with friends and took a deep breath.. and it was a very good thing.*wink*

And this photo montage- really is my house- inside and out- if you've missed it somewhere in all of my ramblings... I L.O.V.E to decorate for the holidays.....ALL of them actually....  My friend Alicia laughed at me yesterday on a quick visit and told me that she no longer needs to buy a calendar- she just needs to drive past my house to tell what month it is... (I think this is a good thing...)

Anyhoo........I hope you take a big breath and hang out with your family- really listen to your kids and kiss your spouses this week. Keep checking back- I promise to be bringing you all sorts of new photos to oogle and hopefully write something that will make you smile.  Till next time Cio! xoox Didi V.

Room Re-do

You know- there are some days when I question my sanity...ok- let's be honest- there are a LOT of days when I question my sanity.... 

But when I tackle a monster painting project...  and wonder somewhere in the 9th or 10 hour "Who the hell was I kidding -'it'll be quick'...?????"

I totally want to kick my own arse for taking it on- but once involved.. you can't just stop either... so I then push myself to the verge of physical  illness and and a nervous breakdown! (I keep the makers of Advil and my favorite chiropractors in business... so really- I look at my redecorating spells as economic stimulus!) 

All joking aside tho- there is something so liberating and comforting about completing a room re-do.... for the cost of a couple of gallons of paint, and maybe some new linens you can totally transform your space- and the overall feel of your home.

I'm sure there is some deep seeded emotional need for change and fresh starts this year... but I'm just going to go with- 'because I felt like it'...

I tackled our master suite last Friday- and took a warm & cozy (albeit tired) olive and caramel colored Asian/Balinese inspired space to something that feels like I threw some French Country and Montego Bay/Carribean in a blender!  It works tho-  We have heavy black furniture, and a pretty big master suite- so I decided to go with something bright and fun- and how can you go wrong with a box from Tiffany & Co? right????  I shopped around the house and pulled old artwork and books, etc out of retirement and made a space that feels like a vacation.  With the breeze fluttering through the new sheers and a little bit of sunlight- it's so cool and refreshing.  I crave being in there now.

Change can be a very good thing... go outside your comfort zone today... you might be brilliantly rewarded!

xoxo Didi V.

You can always go home.....

It's so comforting to know- that even though I've been gone for coming up on 20 years (gasp in horror- I couldn't possibly be that old.....LOL) that some things just never change back home- and it's a good thing..... that standing up next the barn looking down the canyon- that the sky and the clouds are just as pretty and blue as they ever were....

That harvest time- (where I spent all four of my summers roasting in a grain truck) marks the winding down of the growing season, and tells us that as wonderful as summer has been- that it's time to start preparing for fall, and school.

That there is a perfection in a single stock of grain...

That the humming birds still flock to my parent's front porch, overlooking the canyon- because those feeders are always full- filled with loving care because my folks enjoy them so much.

That color and fun and whimsy are everywhere at my parent's home.

That history- whether it's our own family history or local history, is still alive and well- and cherished here at Rawhide Flats.

That sometimes... bailing wire really is still your friend....

And even a little weed like dog fennel is still your friend....

There is beauty in the everyday....

And the over-glamorized version.. a sign that my kids have been to Grammy's house. :)

Smile today- and find the beauty in your every-day! xoxo D

My tablescape

Happy Independence day everyone!!!! Just thought I'd share my table-scape for this evening. We are keeping it super low key- a few friends and neighbors are coming to BBQ, have some cocktails and have some quality bonding time with a blow torch and some pyrotechnics.....(I know- booze and fireworks... I can see the eye-roll already....) Anyhoo- here are the fresh roses from my garden set with some red marbles and the super cool hurrican lanterns that my momma brought to me a few weeks ago... I love them! All atop bamboo placemats layered over an absolutely divine sheer runner purchased for me, by my sis-in-law on one of her biz trips to India. (the lace edging is A-mazing!)

Hope you all have an awesome (& safe) evening!

xoox Didi