StyleBurbia

Happy Friday! The holidays go by sooooooo quickly.  So, in my attempt to hold on to them as long as possible here is a wrap up (pun intended) of the Christmas decorating over at the StyleBurbia residence. First it started out with the tree:   Mantels and doorways: Cookies from my lovely neighbor. Thanks, Babs! Yum! The first set of ornaments and lights at night: My homemade door knocker:       My wreaths on the front door:           More night views:             More ornaments and gifts from Santa: (strange chandelier? yes. it came with the house. replacement comes next week.)     Holly from my garden: Christmas feast: Ham, Macaroni and Cheese, Green Beans and Mushrooms { see recipe here }, Shrimp w...

Hello!   Missed me?   Things have been uber busy lately. New job has me in a tizzy. I only wish I had more time to throw back some egg nog and listen to Bing Crosby sing Christmas carols on a continuous loop. I kid you not. So in between working and TRYING to spend some QT with the boys and hubby, getting the house in order has fallen by the way side. Luckily I've squeezed in a bit of time to get the StyleBurbia casa in its holiday garb. Let's just say the photo quality ain't the best. I was running around like a mad woman taking pics before I missed my bus. See, that's how much I love you. In case I don't get a chance, I want to wish you and your families Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah (or Chanukah depending on your spelling preference), Happy Kwanza and the very important Festivous!!!! Thanks for reading!           xo, Ris  

Happy Friday!   On days like today that are rainy and grey, remember that sometimes you have to create your own sunshine.     Have a great weekend!   xo, Ris

  Happy Tuesday folks!   We were decking the halls in Burbia this weekend...   I am a Christmas junkie.  All that stuff about Christmas becoming a commercial holiday, etc. etc.... Not in my house.  I can't get enough eggnog, carols, wrapping presents and decorating. Love, love, love!!!     Here's what we were up to.     Pine cones gathered from my parents' lawn by the boys:             A little spray paint action: (Doesn't the top of this can look gold? I was in for a little surprise when my pine cones came out silver. Yes, they are silver, not white.)                   Woila! My door hanger for my back door since there wasn't enough room for a wreath: (thanks to my mother in law for her help)             Some fun with Hayden and my dad picking out t...

Hello there! For those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving last week, I hope you had a lovely holiday.  One of my favorite people, my sister, made it out to spend the holiday with us and I was BEYOND happy.  I also overexerted myself by trying to cook a gazillion side dishes and a dessert.  I made a sweet potato casserole, creamed spinach, butternut squash soup, brussels sprouts, stuffing, cranberry sauce,  cranberry relish and chocolate dipped coconut macaroons.  I think that's it.... yes that's it. So needless to say, I am still EXHAUSTED and didn't use the time to rest up at all, but c'est la vie. Aunty Amby with her favorite guys    I originally thought that we would be hosting Thanksgiving at our house. Images of tablescapes danced in my head.     Table setting via Martha Stewart     Only thing, there were a few things working against us.   No dining room table or chairs. ...

New house, new job with a whole new commute, lots of change going on at the household of StyleBurbia.   Let's just say that it hasn't been easy. I started out this week ready to start my new job. Got to the burbia bus stop an hour and a half before I had to be at orientation. The bus I was planning on taking passed me by. I waited for another bus, that one passed me by too then nothing.... And nothing... Of course I started to panic. So to make a long, pain inducing story short, there were two things conspiring against me- 2 accidents at the Lincoln tunnel and the fact that trains in my town still weren't working because of hurricane Sandy and everyone was taking the bus. I was supposed to be at the office at 9:30 and didn't make it in until 11:15!!!!! What a way to start a new job. Unfortunately, I didn't figure out the issue with the trains until I waited for the bus again on Tuesday and a lovely man saw me waiting and told me there were 40 people do...