Archive for December 2015

Dining Room Update & Gift Ideas

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This post is sponsored by Cost Plus World Market. All opinions are mine alone. #worldmarketnj

 A few weeks ago I was excited to tell you all about the Grand Opening of the new Cost Plus World Market store in Shrewsbury, NJ.   You can read about it here if you missed it. Last week, I was lucky enough to be invited to browse in the new World Market store and add some World Market flair to my home!

 Was it fun?  Oh yes!  I can't wait to go back, in fact. There is so much to look at and it was hard not to buy everything!  But I'll show you a few of the things I did get!

 You may remember my white china cabinet from posts way back when. It is a solid, happy little piece but it isn't working for me anymore. I have accumulated a lot of pretty serving pieces, etc and I am running out of space. 

 I fell in love with the Emerson bookcase online and knew it was exactly what I was looking for when I went to World Market. She is huge with deep shelves and I knew she would work perfectly to hold my pretty things. 








The dark wood shelves compliment my wedding china perfectly and I'm so happy to have the china out where I can see it instead of stowed behind doors!
piper-platinum-emerson-bookshelf

  I preferred this bookcase over others because of its interesting details. It has these cool handles at the top and a step rail at the bottom. Very different and industrial which is what I needed in my traditional dining room! 
world-market-emerson-bookcase

details-handles-rustic-industrial

world-market-emerson

To say I adore it may be an understatement!

 I also picked up a few other things!  This sweet, little vintage sign looks perfect in my bay window in my kitchen.  This window ledge is my baking area and I think this sign adds just the right touch.
kitchen-sign-vintage-pies


baking-center-window-sign
The food aisles are so fun to browse through and I scooped up some holiday treats, including some chocolate coins and  Christmas chocolates!  They look so pretty nestled in my milk glass candy bowl.
chocolate-christmas-stocking-stuffers

 I also picked up a few other gifts while I was there.  My mom and aunt will love these sweet smelling French milled soaps and hand creams.


It was so fun to add some new pieces to my home for our holiday guests and to find new and different gifts to give!
Have you spruced up your home for the holidays?

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Giveaway! Win a Free Canvas Print from Canvas Factory!

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We have lived in our home for 4 years and yet we had never displayed a family portrait. The reason? We never had one taken!  So I was excited when a year ago, my friend offered to take one for us. It happily sat in my computer for the next year. I wanted to display it but didn't want to just stick it in a frame. When Canvas Factory contacted me, I couldn't have been happier. A canvas print of my family portrait is exactly what I had in mind!  

The process of ordering my print was easy and I loved how user friendly it is. They walk you through the process step by step and even let you know if the image resolution will create a good print!

My print came quickly and it is gorgeous!  The colors are so vibrant and the details weren't lost as I have seen happen with other canvas prints.  Jim and the girls love it and so do I.




You know I love to share my favorite products with my readers and I'm stoked to be able to offer 1 lucky reader a free 16"x 20" print!  Your favorite picture can become a focal point in your home with a beautiful Canvas Factory canvas print!  Enter below and good luck!




Giveaway ends December 23rd st at 11:59 PM EST. Open to Residents of the US only.  Prizes cannot be shipped to PO Boxes.  Winner will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. Winner have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Please note that Days of Chalk and Chocolate/Jennifer Romaine is not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes.  I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize. If there is an issue with a sponsor, please notify Jennifer Romaine  within 30 days for assistance, after that I may be unable to assist you.  The product provided for the review was free of charge from the company. The product offered for the giveaway is free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.  Facebook, Twitter and Google+ are in no way associated with this giveaway.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to me and me alone.  I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner.




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What The Flock!

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"Oooh, I love all the flocked trees on the Internet!" I said.
"Oooh, there are so many DIY versions!" I said.
"Oooh, I know! I'll DIY flocking! What could go wrong?" I said.




I used two methods. One used shredded Ivory soap bars mixed with liquid starch and hot water. This turned into a slippery, gloopy mess that laid on the branches like bird poop. I also tried using powdered laundry detergent, also mixed with starch and hot water. This went on almost clear but then dried to a white, snowy effect. We all decided we liked this look the best.

But it was seriously the biggest PITA DIY I have done in a while. I will never do this again. It was SO messy!  And the smell! My whole house reeked of soap for days. In fact, I bet I have brain damage. It was that bad. Now I'm brain damaged and I can't even say it was worth the fewer IQ points.

We spend a chunk on our trees because we buy them from a family outfit and the trees are gorgeous.  I decided that this flocking made my beautiful, natural tree look fake. Not that there is anything wrong with a fake tree but when you have a real tree you kind of want that recognized. I mean I'm laying out $70 so we can all join hands and sing about its branches or something.  Covering it up with laundry soap no longer makes sense to me, despite my damaged brain.  Why did that ever make sense now that I read that sentence?

And here is the worst part.




I have actually created stuff I need to vacuum. I can't blame it on those darn kids. I can't blame it on the dog. It is me. All me!  I created something that literally needs to be vacuumed daily. And God forbid anyone actually touches the tree!  I will leave a trail of fire behind me as I run to prevent anyone from even breathing on the stupid tree!  It will moult and I am not real keen on vacuuming in the first place, let alone in the second and third place.  And if you even so much as sneeze near it, you are out. done. goodbye. Leave your dessert and then get out.

So, in case you haven't caught what I'm laying down here I'll spell it out.  Flocking is flocked up. I will either buy real flocking powder (which I will never do because it is too darn expensive) or buy a fake flocked tree (which I also don't see myself doing because I like a real tree. Not that there is anything wrong with a fake tree.).



Even Pixie is fed up.

holiday christmas decorations
"This is for the flocking birds."

Now here is a DIY that was successful!  Glitter ornaments!  We'll talk more about these later.



Cheers!
Jenny

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Holiday Home Spa Ideas

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidayGlow #CollectiveBias



The holidays are a joyful time but all the shopping, preparing, entertaining, and decorating can be stressful as well.  By January we can be frazzled and fatigued. THAT is not joyful. It is so important to give yourself a little extra special treatment during the hustle and bustle to keep yourself feeling and looking your best. Here are some of my home spa ideas that keep me feeling pampered!

Holiday Home Spa Ideas!


Aroma-therapy Steam Facial
Add a few drops of your favorite scented oil, mine is lavender or sweet orange, to a small sauce pan of almost boiling water.  Hold your face over the pan and enjoy the scent as the warm steam hydrates your skin. You'll be glowing! Be careful to keep your face far enough away from the steam so as not to burn yourself.

Warm Hair Conditioning Treatment
The winter can be so drying to your skin and hair. Rejuvenate your hair with a warm, soothing treatment. I recommend using Pantene Advanced Care Conditioner for this treatment as it really leaves hair so smooth, soft, and silky.  Warm a large dollop of the conditioner in the microwave for a few seconds and then stroke it through your hair until all your hair is covered. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes and then rinse. This is the best when it is done by your favorite person and they throw in a little scalp massage.



Create new nail polish colors
Blend two or more nail polishes to create new colors, shimmers, and effects.  You'll feel glamorous and put together when you go out to a party or out with friends.


Give yourself sexy legs
Switch out your soap or shaving cream with olive oil or hair conditioner. Your legs will be soft and silky when you are done.  You'll feel pampered and pretty!  Venus Swirl razors work SO well (believe me, I know a good razor) and the pretty design feels luxurious in hand.


Smooth your lips
Mix a bit of sugar and honey to create an exfoliator for your lips.  Leave it on for a few minutes before scrubbing your lips and then rinsing it off. Your lipstick will go on smoothly and your lips will be super kissable under the mistletoe.

Don't neglect your regular routine
Time is crunched and you need to get up and out quickly. It is tempting to cut out your regular beauty care to give yourself a few extra minutes but I try not to do this. I want to feel my best and cleaning and  moisturizing is essential. I may leave my house without makeup if I'm pressed for time but I NEVER leave without my daily moisturizer with sunscreen, Olay Total Effects 7 in One. You may think you don't need sunscreen during the winter but it is still important.  Keep wrinkles at bay!



7. Whip up a detox smoothie
I don't have an official recipe and there are tons of recipes on the Internet. But when the rich food of the season starts taking a toll, I treat myself to a smoothie made with frozen strawberries, blueberries, almond milk, and honey. It feels clean, refreshing, and as though I am doing something good for my body. The fruit is filled with antioxidants too.

You can find everything you need, including the products mentioned, at your local Costco in the health/beauty aisle!  I like being able to stock up on my favorites before the craziness starts! We visit Costco at least 2x a month so it is convenient that so many great brands are available.



By the way, I encourage you to try my favorite moisturizer, Olay Total Effects 7 in One. It really does make my skin feel beautiful.  What are some of your favorite ways to pamper yourself?  How will you keep yourself going through the holidays?


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Christmas Link Up: Gifts!

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Last week's home tours were awesome!  So many beautiful homes and creative ideas!  Here are my favorites!

An Oregon Cottage


Little Red Brick House


It's Christmas season! Woo Hoo! And what better way to kick off this festive time but with a Christmas Link Up! I am partnering with some of my favorite bloggers to provide you  with 4 weeks of holiday ideas!

Week 1: Christmas trees
Week 2: Home Tour
Week 3: Gifts
Week 4: Holiday Food and Recipes

This week is GIFTS so link up your great holiday gift ideas!!



          
                                     

















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Snowflake Bentley & Winter Craft

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Are you familiar with Wilson Bentley? If not, I urge you to google him right away!  He is the subject of one of my favorite books, Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin,  which to teach when i was always tucked into my teaching toolbox (which isn't an actual toolbox) when I was a second grade teacher. His story is interesting and his art is magical!



Without going into a lot of detail Wilson Bentley, The Snowflake Man, lived in the 1920s and was fascinated by snow.  He developed a way to actually photograph snowflakes in that split second before they melted. What he created was image after image of the most beautiful of nature's art!






His photographs are considered part of the public domain so using them in my classroom (or here!) didn't violate any copyrights.

I would read the Caldecott Award winning book to the class and then we would spend a week on related activities such as writing snow stories, researching biographies of people from that era or other inventors, reading snowy poetry, using cameras to capture "small" objects in different ways, and we would use magnifying glasses to study snowflakes we caught on frozen black construction paper!  The kids loved it!

Although I don't teach full time anymore, I still love looking at Snowflake Bentley's photographs and his story.   This year, I used some extra fine platinum glitter and a wood snowflake form to create my own snowflakes.  I love the sparkle they give our home!


I used a metallic craft paint to completely cover the snowflake and, while the paint was wet I sprinkled on the glitter. I think superfine glitter looks the best and most classy. Once one side was dry I repeated those steps on the other. A piece of twine made a hanging loop.

It is easy to incorporate a little snowflake into your winter decor and I urge you to share Wilson Bentley's story with your children!

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