Slowly... But Surely I'm Decorating For Christmas!

Normally I put up my tree and decorations within a few days of Thanksgiving... but this year I am way behind! It has been very difficult to get into the Christmas "mood"... having temperatures near 80 degrees last week didn't help!

Slowly... but surely I did pull out the decorations, and my 6 foot artificial tree.

This year my tree will have shiny silver and gold beads, and ornaments.

I love the vintage Shiny Brite ornaments that were given to me by my parents... these were on our tree when I was small. They have a place on my tree every year.

Pretty sparkly silver ribbon, and colored lights.

And my Christmas bears that I have been collecting for many years!

Maksim - Somewhere In Time

My daughter sent me this video... She knows that "Somewhere In Time" is my favorite movie! This is just beautiful! Enjoy......

Two Awards!

I was so surprised to receive these two awards this week.

First Jenn & Jacqui from The Bowerbirds Nest were so sweet to pass along the "Friendly Site Award", then Jo from Neere an Dear Creations passed The "Rockin' Girl Blogger" award to me. Wow! Thank you so much ladies... I consider myself blessed to have met all of you!

Now it is my turn to pass these awards on to some wonderful women whose blogs I enjoy visiting. It is always so difficult just to choose a few... when there are so many blogs that I enjoy. I think that you will enjoy visiting each of these wonderful women, and friendly sites as much as I do!

Friendly Site Award:

Ali... Ali's Spot

Ruth... Artful creations

Bren... Brendas Little Cottage

Stephanie... Angelic Accents

Penny... Lavender Hill Studio

Dawn... Hydrangea Home

Lori...Katies Rose Cottage

I think these bloggers rock, and think you will too!

Rockin' Girl Blogger:

Jennifer... Pear Street Studio

Jo Anne... Vintage Rose Collection

Barbara...Barbara Jacksier

Natasha... Natasha Burns

My website has a new look

Chloe's Chic Boutique has a brand new look! Lots of pink polka dots, pink stripes, and beautiful pink roses. I love it!

If you are in need of a designer for a website, banner or business cards... who specializes in feminine web graphics I recommend you check out " In My Cedar Chest".

Ebay sellers... You will love her large selection of auction templates, and store front designs available in her Ebay store.

Bev has designed both of my websites, my Ebay store front, all of my banners, and business cards... Does it sound like I'm hooked on her work?? LOL

Not only is Bev one of the most talented designers available, she's one of the nicest women you will ever meet!

A Nice Surprise!

This morning I woke up to an email from Jenny from The Bowerbirds Nest with this adorable picture she created from the photo of me and Chloe. What a wonderful surprise! I just love it! Thank you so much Jenny!!

Doesn't it look just like us... and I am even holding Ashleighs birthday cake!

If you haven't met Jenn and Jacqui yet be sure to check out their wonderful blog!

Two Birthday Parties!

Since Ashleighs birthday was on a week day not all of the family could come, so she had a second party on the following weekend.
Her second party began with a family get together for lunch at a restaurant. Ashleigh had a window seat.
Doesn't her pink cart cover/ highchair cover look so girly??

After lunch we all we went to her Mimi and Pop pops home for cake, ice-cream and gifts.

I love the way her birthday cake matches the table cloth!

Don't you just love this expression?? I know she must be thinking "I can't reach my cake and ice-cream way over there!"

Finally... a taste!

Thank you for joining me for both of my Birthday parties!

First Birthday

My sweet Grandbaby turned one! Ashleigh had a birthday party complete with a pretty pink cake, lots of presents...

And her very own "doggy" cake that looked like Chloe!

When we went to the bakery to pick up her cake, she kept looking at the "doggy" cakes and reaching out to them with her "gimme" sign (hand opening and closing).... soooo we thought it would be a good idea to buy her very own mini cake. Well, it turned out to be NOT such a good idea... when she tried to "play" with the doggy, and it began to fall apart in her hands she wasn't happy at all! She cried and cried!

After lots of hugs, kisses, and more presents... the doggy was forgotten, and she was happy again! LOL

Smile Award

Jennifer at Pear Street Studios passed this award to me. Thank you Jennifer!

I am supposed to pass it along to ten bloggers who make me smile.

I enjoy visiting so many different blogs, but here are some of my favorites... that do make me SMILE!

Natasha - Natasha Burns

Siobhan- Vintage Mosaic Boutique

Claudia- The Paris Apartment

Ele- A Bit of Pink Heaven

Kathy- Shabby Roses Boutique

Lori- Katies Rose Cottage

Dara- Sophie Rose Designs

Jenn & Jacqui- The Bowerbirds Nest

Brooke- Bella Rose Cottage

Dianne- Desperate Diva

Cherubs add a romantic touch to any decor

Cherubs add such a romantic touch to any decor. I love anything and everything featuring angels and cherubs, so am always looking for new items to add to my boutique.
I thought I would share some of my new items listed on my site. If you love cherubs, and romantic decor I am sure you will love these as much as I do!

This set of two little cherubs hang on the wall... I love the colors on their wings. This elegant Victorian Brocade lampshade is enbellished with seed pearls, sequins, beads, lots of roses... and a golden cherub. BEAUTIFUL!

This pretty cherub soap dish comes with two scented decorative bars of soap, packaged and ready to give as a gift to someone special.

This is one of my favorites! This mirror is so feminine and will be gorgeous with any Victorian or Shabby Chic decor. I love all of the pink roses and intricate detailing on this!

All of these gorgeous items are for sale now on my website. I hope that you enjoyed the preview of a few of my favorite cherubs!

Chablis

I have introduced Chloe here, so thought it was time that I introduce her kitty brother Chablis.
He is a flame point himilayan.
Chablis is from one of the litters of kittens that my daughters cat had. I always told her that if they ever had a flame point I wanted it! I don't know if flame points are rare, but even though the daddy (Milo) of the litters was a flame point... none of the kittens ever were. They had four or five litters and all of the kittens looked like their mama - a blue point.
Eventually one of Milos daughters gave birth to Chablis... the one time we were not expecting to see a flame point... there he was!
My daughter brought him to live with me when he was about seven weeks old. He had begun to eat a bit on his own and wasn't nursing so much anymore, and also her husband was beginning to grow quite fond of him, so she figured that I had patiently waited through all of those litters...and if she didn't bring him to me soon, her husband might decide to keep him! My daughter surprised me one afternoon and brought him over in a crate. As soon as I opened the little door to let him out.... in went Chloe to greet him!
Even though I had an older female cat at the time Chablis took to Chloe. He followed her everywhere, tried to nurse on her, and often fell asleep with his head on her back.
They were so sweet together!

When someone comes to my door Chloe is running to the door barking, and Chablis is right behind her "barking" too in his little meowing voice! It is the funniest thing!!

He looks a bit grumpy in this picture, but actually he is a happy little fellow, and sweet as can be!

Toile Fabric Decor

I just love Toile fabrics. They add a French Country feel to any room, and blend nicely with plaids, stripes and other patterns when you want to layer different prints. Toile fabrics are timeless...They never goes out of style! These new items are now available on my site.
These fabric napkins come in a choice of Black Toile, Blue Toile, and Red Toile. The matching table covers are beaded.

The Toile chair covers actually fit over those inexpensive plastic resin outdoor chairs... what a GREAT idea! You can bring those chairs in on your covered porch and give your porch a decorator look with these. Pretty enough for inside! These also come in a choice of Black Toile, Blue Toile, Red Toile, and an Ivory cotton canvas that will be perfect for your Shabby Chic Decor.

Sweet Grandbaby

I couldn't post my first "Grandparents Day" card, and not introduce my sweet Grandbaby Ashleigh... who gave me the card.
Ashleigh is my first grandchild. There hasn't been a baby in my family in 25 years! She is also the only Grand-daughter to her other set of Grandparents... soooo you can imagine just how spoiled she is!!
Little girls are sugar n' spice, and everything nice.... They are also such FUN to buy for and dress up girlie!
We love putting pretty hats, bonnets and headbands on Ashleigh. She used to tolerate such things, but not anymore. Hats and headbands stay on just long enough for you to snap a picture or two... if you're really quick! LOL

There it goes.....

Much more fun to chew on!!

My First Grandparents Day

Today is Grandparents Day, and I received my very first grandparents Day card from my sweet Grandbaby... Ashleigh.

This has been a busy year, with lots of changes, but the highlight of this year was becoming a first time "Nana"!! She is such a joy to me! For all of you who are grandparents... you know what I'm talking about...

Painted Pretties

This week I have been feeling a bit down and discouraged due to some plain ole "rotten luck" I've been experiencing lately... we all go through times like this.

I decided that now was the time to organize and re-arrange my messy walk in closet... that you no longer can walk into for all of the "stuff"! Anyway...Cleaning and organizing always seems to help me to deal with stress.

Gosh, Did I get side-tracked though! One of the first things that came out of that messy closet was a box full of unused, discarded items that I saved "just incase"... I found an old hand mirror and comb ... a little yellowed from age, but still in good condition, a small wall mirror that no longer had a hanger on the back, (some pretty ribbon solved that problem) and a fresh coat of white paint made it look "brand new" again. I also found this photo frame that I never cared much for because of the color. Well... In stead of cleaning out that closet I ended up painting these things (so much more fun)! Now they have a brand new look, and working on them helped me to have a new out-look!

The closet can wait until another day :)

Retired Designs

I just learned that these gorgeous designs from the Barkcloth Linen and Lace line - The Romantic Victorian Home Collection are being retired ... once they sell out they wont be offered again :(

I have marked what I have left on clearance on my site.

Weekly Special

Hello,

I just wanted to tell you about this weeks "Weekly Special" at Chloe's Chic Boutique.

Everyone likes to get something for FREE, so this week thru August 21st when anyone purchases the Chic Crystal Prisms Candleholder Chandelier, they will receive a Shabby Victorian Photo Wall Frame free.

This chandelier features crystal look (acrylic) drops. I just love it! These candle holder chandeliers add such a romantic touch to any decor, and are the perfect alternative to use wherever you would like a pretty chandelier and electricity is not available.

The photo wall frames are white with a distressed finish... perfect for Shabby decors!

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Jennifer at http://pearstreetstudios.typepad.com/

so now you get to know a little bit about me. Don't worry, it's short... and who knows, maybe you'll be tagged next!

4 Jobs I've Had:
*Assistant Manager of a pet store

* Photo Lab Technician

* Shift Supervisor

* Photographers Assistant

4 Films I would Watch Over & Over:

*Somewhere in Time

*Ghost

*Meet The Parents

*How To lose A Guy In 10 Days

4 Places I have lived:
*Sumter, SC
*West Columbia, SC
*Clovis, NM

* Okinowa

4 Favorite TV Shows:
*Extreme Home Makeovers

*American Idol

*King Of Queens

*Oprah

4 Favorite Foods:
*French Onion Soup

*Prime Rib
*Homemade Pizza
*Pecan Pie

4 Websites I visit everyday:

*My site

*Ebay

*Beautiful Shops

*Friends Blogs

4 Places I love to be:

*In the mountains

*Charleston SC

*Having dinner with my family

*In bed with a good book

4 Favorite Colors:

*Pale Pink

*Baby Blue

*Light Aqua

*French Blue

4 Names I love but wouldn't use for my children:

*Starr

*Anastasia

*Halle (Sounds terrible with my last name)

*Zoe
Okay... Let's see... who shall I TAG... I get 3, right?...
Peggy at So Shabby Pink, Nancy at Roses and Teacups, and Lori at Katies Rose Cottage.

Introducing Chloe

Since my business and this blog are named for my little black and white dog "Chloe", It is only fitting that I introduce her here.

Introducing Chloe... In her own words.

Hello, my name is Chloe. I am a six year old Shih-tzu.

I have a brother and a sister who are both Himilayan Persians.

My brother was very tiny when he came to live with us, and for some reason has always thought that I was his mama. Pleeease... I am NOBODY'S mama!

As for my sister, well that's another story! She has this bad habit of hissing at me whenever I walk by... hmmph! I just ignore her!

They are not very smart, they don't know any tricks, and the only toy they play with is a ball that never goes anywhere - just round and round... Whew, what a waste of time!

Well, enough about them, this is supposed to be about me....

I love to play with toys, and have quite a collection. Stuffed animals are my favorite, and I take really good care of them. I NEVER tear them up!

I also love my treats, but only receive them when I do special tricks, so I have learned how to sit up, speak, fetch, and give a high five when asked.

Another favorite of mine is sleeping. I am usually the first one to go to bed, and the last one to wake up.

I feel pretty special having two sites, and this blog named for me. I always do my part to help when Diana is on the computer working... unless it is one of those late late nights when she stays up way too late for me, On those nights I go on to bed... After all a girl needs her beauty sleep!

First Post!

I have just recently discovered blogging, and have found that visiting and reading other peoples blogs is a relaxing way to unwind at the end of the day - although sometimes I must admit that occasionally I become so interested in some posts that it has the opposite effect and I end up staying up way too late!

I am a member of Beautiful Shops, and recently mentioned to the other girls that I had discovered their blogs and thought it would be fun to have one of my own.
Natasha Burns quickly offered to help me create mine... the next day my blog was born.
Thank You Natasha!