CUCINA TREE..

Every Thanksgiving weekend... I pull out my 20+ tubs of Christmas decor.  I try to do a different theme every year.  But one thing I  always do is to create a new Christmas decor piece and also to use family pieces throughout the house.

This year I used my Nonna's eucalyptus tree and then went into my box of her father's old baking tools.  They had a bakery back in the 1930's in Brooklyn New York.   I decided to use the cookie press discs again as ornaments, I also added some of his vintage icing tips and then to top off the tree.  An awesome piece with a RED handle.  Red/Pink mini cupcake liners just for a little holiday pop of color.

Here are the supplies for my baking themed family tree.   Cupcake liners, Vintage Tips, Vintage Cookie Discs, Italian linen towels (cut in strips)

Che bella!    I love this tree like this and think this will be a permanent tree in the collection.

How is your holiday decorating coming along??

-MJ

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Quickly sharing some pics from our Thanksgiving today.   My husband is on duty, and my daughter is working overnight at the bakery.  So we didn't have any company, just us and we also broke tradition and made pork instead of the Thanksgiving Turkey.   We aren't big turkey eaters....so why not pig!


By the way this is the new house, the dining room table had to be turned to accommodate the Christmas tree.   So strange to find a spot in this new house.

This is a view from the kitchen area.   Simple rustic setting with vintage pieces.

I used my favorite wheat pattern china, blue ball glass jars, amber glasses (for toast), and gold family flatware.  Pine cones are sprinkled along with brass candlesticks along a handmade tasseled burlap runner.

Here is some of our dinner....Pernil, Green Beans, Salad, Cranberry Jelly (ugh) we then had 4 huge trays of mashed potatoes, baked mac & cheese, stuffing, candied yams over on the baking station.

Im happy with the way it all turned out and now the wheels are turning for Christmas dinner.   Time to turn it up a notch!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HAPPY HANUKKAH FRIENDS!! 

Stay tuned for lots of makeovers in the new house, with a ton of projects to share.

-MJ

SUNDAY INSPIRATION

Today Im reflecting on the women who inspired my fashion sense and my love of vintage.   I grew up in a 1 parent household after the age of 5.  My mother Maria and I watched alot of tv together and these were the women I would see.  Her mother Anna was a pretty snazzy dresser herself...she has some amazing legs.  Her thing was stilettos, she had a pair of orange ones.   I have saved a pair of her silver leather weaved sandals..lol

My mother's closet was always fascinating to me...always packed to the ceiling with boxes of shoes and tons of bars holding clothing and coats.   I use to hide in there and try on shoes...and she would eventually catch me and tell me to get out!  I always thought of my mother as a cross between Jackie O and a white Diana Ross....she had the poofy black hair, drawn on eyebrows, BIG sunglasses and always dressed even to go to the store.  I can count on one hand how many times I've seen her wear sneakers, in fact it was in the house when she was doing aerobics. hahaha

Diana Ross

Joan Collins & Diane Carroll

Elizabeth Taylor

Faye Dunaway

Eartha Kitt

Diane Carroll

Joan Crawford

Jacqueline Bovier Kennedy (yes..YSL)

Another of Diana Ross...I love this longer full bob and the fur...(sigh..this is my winter inspiration)

Well here is to the fabulous stylish women who inspire my love of all things old and beautiful...thanks to my Nonna and you too Mom!

My grandmother along with my mother as a young girl. (1950's Brooklyn, NY)

- MJ

FRIDAY FINDS....SCHOOL DAYZ

It's been quite some time since I've been in school, however I have a huge love for vintage school supplies, desks, and chalkboards.  Maybe because my mother was a Special Education school teacher and my father (RIP) was a School Administrator at the end of his career.  

Once again....Craigslist to the rescue.    I found this baby on there and lucky me the man lived right in the next town.    I drove 5 minutes, he and a young man carried it from their garage to my van and even loaded it. (thank you gentleman)

I have visions dancing in my head on how I can display this in the store and what will go with it.   Yay!

What do you think???

Isn't he handsome 

This was taken by my son...lol

Nice back...no damage

Fresh clean start .......

Friday was always dress down or bummy day at school...so rest assured I am posting this in my husband's coaching sweatshirt and some yoga pants.

Have A Great Weekend!!!

-MJ

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HOLIDAY DECOR....THE PORCH

This year the motto is less is more......I'm not a fan of huge lighting set ups on the roof and obnoxious amounts of blow ups all over the front lawn.

My normal color scheme throughout the year is red/white/turquoise on my porch.   My house is tan and I always have up my Black metal stars on the windows frames and my wicker furniture is painted black and so are my Pottery Barn trunks which I use for storage out there.

So this year it's a simple rustic Christmas here at our home.....How about yours?

Our humble home....Casa Joseph

Our very own HUGE REAL Christmas tree adorned w/ some bows

I will put out presents underneath the tree and around the 2nd sled.

WELCOME

Repurposed chalkboard, handmade holiday crafts

Love displaying vintage on the porch....sled, waste can, lantern. 

My vintage screendoor (newly painted red) w/ my custom made for me wreath from my South Carolina crafty chick LP ..her line of wreaths are amazing...check out her shop SHENANAGAINS

Some cozy moose love on the wicker settee 

This little moose is 17 years old, she and her partner were bought for my oldest daughter

Other sitting area of the porch...vintage wooden wagon

Love this....it's not about the most popular toy or the best gift.

Let's also remember those who can't be home with their families for the holidays.

GOD BLESS.......the men and women of  The U.S. Military!

FROM MY HOME TO YOURS.....

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

-MJ

I'm from Jersey, I'm always ready for a party

The Inspired Room Christmas Home Tours

OCTOBERFEST.......HOLIDAY STYLIN MY NEST

My DR focal wall, crosses always stay....An assortment of black & white vignettes was created to be festive and functional for upcoming parties.

Took the vintage bird cage from the nursey and the crows love their new home...oh well at least the one who survived the rest.  muhahahahahaha

Small vignette of glass containers filled w/ vintage spool of black thread with pins in it.  Other filled with black crow feathers, some pearls and some antique bling.

My DR inspiration, bottle of Jack...two martini glasses with some special additions...a bible,flask and fuzzy creature all on a vintage toile tray painted black

My 3-tier ivy dessert stand that was painted black many moons ago with off white plates and a black pumpkin for fun.

My prize vintage bar cart decked out with some gross creatures.

Apothecary jars, glass bowls, glass candlesticks and a mercury glass candlestick all add some vintage spooky flare.

My favorite trellis black/cream curtains (Lowe's) w/ my Martha Stewart find of the year garland.  Some dangling spiders and my handmade spook board from last year.

My mirror/altar wall with antique frames w/ metallic finishes (I plan of possibly painting black and leaving there forever)  Over the top of the mirror hangs a vintage scroll from a piano player...the song is "Alley Cat"

So cool how you see the impressions and the words to the song next to it!  I have a bunch of these going into the shop!

My Willow House sconce has been invaded by a fuzzy friend

The think this crow likes being King of the Cage..

Where have all my little crows gone????

Scary isn't he

Only purchase made (and it was last year after season) $1.00

Few Updates (C'mon it's me...you know by the time I upload, write the post and launch it something has already been added or changed.  

My handmade tissue paper/coffee filter garland

I chose to do white tissue paper instead of the doilies.

I relocated the spook board and the mercury glass candlestick to create this little vignette in my kitchen/dining room pass through window.  Huge apothecary jar filled with mini skulls and a hungry crow. 

A few changes to the vintage bar cart...notice the picture in the mirror frame...it's from last year's Halloween mag and I loved this women's home because she doesn black & white or creams like me!  I also stole a few pieces to relocate in the room.  

-MJ

Going to the following parties:

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