Oh my, that Nativity is breathtaking...Mary's face is SO sweet! You got some pretty things there Ms. Kathleen!!!!

Thanks, Jay! I know I don't need another Nativity, but the faces were lovely, and the SHAMROCKS!!

That nativity is just lovely, it is going to look really nice set up for Christmas. The rest of your goodies are great too.

I went to Target and got a few things, I got 4 white $2.50 ceramic pumpkins (from the Dollar section...just love that area LOL)

Hmm, no dollar section set up the other day, must have been in transition. Going tomorrow!! I can bring the orange ones back, get four for the price of 2. Are they lidded?

Yes, they are lidded, they are ceramic, BUT they do say made in China...so with some of the dangerous stuff they have been putting out lately, I am not sure I would put food directly in them....but I have small clear glass bowls that would fit inside to line them so I would feel safer...

Kathleen, that nativity is so pretty--don't think I have ever seen one with shamrocks--just perfect for you! What a great deal on those napkins, I really like them. Can't wait to see what you will cook up in the pumpkin baking dish. I love all the covered pumpkin bowls. Even saw some cute ones at Dollar Tree, but they had some warning label on them. Some pretty fall colored plates they had did too. Guess it's good to watch for that kind of thing, however, mine are mostly for decoration more than food so not too concerned! LOL

Judith, we haven't had any pics from you for awhile. Did your new couch arrive? Have you been busy decorating around it? Have you started any of your Fall decorating yet? Remember, it was your Fall stacked plate pics that started all of this! LOL

Luvs

Thanks, J! I know what you mean about the paint. It seems so much is made in China...my Irish nativity set too!

Kathleen, that has to be one of the prettiest Nativity sets I've ever seen. I'd have bought that one!! Great price.

hugs, Karen

Luvs, nope haven't set up and Fall things because of the new couch coming (sale for the other couch fell through, so this should be interesting with 2 of them in there on Sat UGH! Plus I am getting ready to finally get started on the flooring now that the weather is cooler (just in case I need to open windows due to fumes, drywall dust etc...) So alot of my normal decor is on hold a bit....
I did get contacted from an Italian magazine that saw my pics on a photo site and want to use 2 of the dish setups, so that might be interesting... We'll see LOL

kathleen, yes, it seems like most everything is from China, no big deal, except that lately they have had lead, and other bad things included with their products, so in the case of my new white pumpkins I will have to use a small glass liner inside in order to eat out of them, but they were only $2.50 ea, so not too much of a loss.

Oh it's such a nice nativity set!

My manger set was a family one that was pieced together over time. So it has serious proportional issues. (The baby Jesus is MASSIVE and Mary is very, very tiny...)

Funny, but wrong. :-)

Congrats on your great buys!!!

--Jenn

Luvs, did you make anything in your pumpkin bowls? You got such a good deal on them, too. I can't imagine dinner plates having lead in the paint. I hope it is being looked into! I don't know if I have bowls that will fit, but I will look, Judith. And how great is that about the magazine! My neighbor works for Hearst and said she wanted to take some of my pics, but I am sure they wouldn't make the cut!! She is just being kind. She wants my July 4th table..I guess they start early!!
Have fun with your 2 sofas...sitting room only!

Oh my! So sorry about the sofa not going, Judith. I'm sure you will find a buyer soon--if it's like everything else you have, I'm sure it is really nice! ;o) Know you are anxious to get things done in your home--but that's our loss on seeing all your wonderful decorating this season!

Kathleen, no I haven't used my pumpkin bowls yet. I'm watching my friends bird, so her cage is in the middle of the dining room table! Once the bird goes home, then I will do a tablescape and plan to use the bowls in it.

Judith, I keep thinking Romantic Homes should want your table pics--nice that the Italian Co. called you.

Kathleen, your pics should be picked up by a Food magazine! ;o)

Luvs

Way to go on the Ital. magazine wanting some of your pix, Judith. A LOT of magazines should be clamoring for them tho. And Kathleen, I agree with Luvs...the Food mags don't know what they are missing with you!!!
Sooner or later you two ladies are going to be famous, and I can say I knew you "back when". LOL

hugs, Karen

Luvs, well we shall see, I am not sure if I have to reshoot the photos, something about the company wanting a High Res shot, but as far as I know, that is the setting I used on my camera already. A pain to reshoot though since my place is a mess with trying to get ready for new couch (with old couch still here), AND trying to commit to do ALL the prep work for flooring, baseboards UGH.

Karen LOL!

Judith, get hopping on that work, please! You must be ready for the holidays, without construction dust marring the pics, LOL! Are you going to do the Christmas Carol themed tree on the other board, HTE?? We could use the same theme here, if anyone was interested.

Kathleen, I know, I am just dreading going thru the holidays with a mess! If I go with the vinyl wood plank look floors, then I can install myself and save major bucks, but if I go with tile...I will have to hire out...expensive...decisions. decisions!! I have a bunch of new Halloween stuff I am dying to put out, but the house is such a mess I just don't know if it would be worth it.
I think my main tree (if I do one) will my my Cream, gold and crystal one, since last years was the red, crystal and gold. Most likely the mini themed tree in the kitchen will just be a revamped "Sweets tree". For some reason I just can't get my creative juices going for a Christmas Carol tree (more lack of money for buying all new stuff..again) LOL The "Sweets Tree" is sooooo easy to do, everything is at most peoples fingertips, Kmart already had some Candy tree items out, and lets face it "Sweets" in general are easy to find LOL.

You really had a great day shopping. I love everything. I need to get out more. Can I go shopping with you guys?!?

Oh, I love the sweets tree idea... I have one myself, a little one, I get out every year.

I was lucky enough to find rock candy-looking lights at Lowe's one year, and the rest just had to happen. :-)

--Jenn

Judith, just a word to the wise--talk to some people who have had the vinyl wood look floors for a few years. I hate mine that we had installed in the family room, they always look like they have a "haze" on them. On the other hand, I love my real wood floors. I also think the real wood just "feels" better to walk on too. Luvs

Luvs,

I would love, love to have wood floors, but 2 problems. I am on a slab, and my dog that has poddie accidents every now and then. I have been told that I can't have the wood on cement (by installers) and of course the major problem too, my dog piddling on it (they would be ruined(not going to get rid of my dog...so I have to work around him) Sigh.....
Hence, trying to go with the vinyl or the tile. The tile is most practical...but I just don't know about a "all tile" home (I don't live in Arizona where it is warmer and more acceptable) Plus...what is on top of my cement slab right now is 1960's asbestos tile. Some are loose, and easily removed and some are on very very tight. So laying the vinyl over the tiles is safer according to the experts rather than tearing the old tiles up and causeing the abestos dust to be in the air.
It is very frusterating to me! One reason why I have waited so long to do either one, I hate having to settle, but have to be practical. I did look into the enginerred hardwood too...no go there either because of the cement floors. Woe is me....

Luvs, do you mean the Pergo type? I have a friend who has it, never noticed the haze, but she would rather have wood. Same with her though, she is right on the water no basement, raised up, so she has the Pergo. I have wood throughout, and in the kitchen it has it's drawbacks.
Judith get that furball some depends! LOL

Kathleen, Aww, he is not that bad, he is good 97 percent of the time, but as you know it only takes 1 time to ruin a section.... Besides he would rip them/Depends off LOL, he won't even let me put a "top knot" in his hair, so I have to cut the top short...he is quite "determined" LOL Oh yeah, and if I even try to touch his feet, it is all over! He is pain somethimes, but I just could not be without him LOL

Judith, I'm in Calif. and my wood floors are over cement slabs. Strange the installers told you that. But you are right--not good with water of any kind. But neither are the Pergo type floors. I have an area by the family room door where our puppy went a few times and the seams are bowed a bit. If I had it to do over, I'd put tile with minimal grout spaces in the family room. Perhaps you could just warm the tile up with some area carpets. And maybe the Pergo type will be fine for you.

Kathleen, I'm not alone on the "haze". Another forum I had read had members with similar complaint. Perhaps it is the brand we bought (Pergo type, but not Pergo). It can be perfectly clean, but looks like there's a "film" over it which detracts from the shine. Haven't found a product yet that makes a difference. And I know what you mean about real wood in the kitchen having drawbacks--mine has a few dents in it from dropped items. ;o(

Luvs

What great finds! Some of you really know how to shop. : )

Judith, I have had engineered hardwood over slab, glued down, for nearly 17 years. Who ever told you it can't be done and will be a problem is wrong. When we had our home built originally I had Mannington oak, random plank (3", 5", 7") in my kitchen and entry. They held up beautifully, even after a flood due to the water line breaking on the fridge. We did have some damage at the back door from a snowstorm and the wood did warp a bit. We were on vacation when it happened so didn't get it cleaned up in time. That is key, getting the water mopped up in time. I think if your pooch's accidents are cleaned up promptly your floors would be fine.

About 5 years ago we took up all the carpeting upstairs and replaced with Mannington California plank, another engineered wood. It is even in our two bathrooms upstairs and no problems whatsoever. And when we began remodeling downstairs two years ago we installed Garrison hickory/pecan throughout, kitchen, powder room, even the laundry room. I am so pleased with it although it does scratch a little easier than the Mannington. I will link you to some pics.

Can you tell I love this kind of wood. : ) If you have any more ?s, please feel free to email me. Btw, I am also in CA.

Here is a link that might be useful: wood floor pics

I have the Pergo wood flooring in my entry and hallway, and I love them. I like anything you don't have to mop, LOL.

hugs, Karen

Wow, that is something Luvs and Angelclub, I have only shopped at Lowes and Home Depot, maybe those sales people had no idea what there were talking about? (strong possibility LOL) I guess I will check into a regular "floor store". I had figured the "box stores" would be less expensive than a regular specialized floor store. I shall start researching again..

Luvs, I don't have a family room, my house is very small, the entry goes straight into the LR and attached to that is the DR where there is a sliding glass door to the backyard, so both entrances will take a beating (and the dog accidents...) Tile would be the most practical, and if I get rugs for the area, I will still have to deal with him "going on" the rug sometimes, but at least that would be easier to clean and if leaked thru, it would not ruin the tile. It is just that a wood floor or wood look has so much more "warmth" visually to me. I guess a trip to a specialized store in flooring is where I will start. Sigh...I so want this to be over with LOL

I love the little pumpkins, are you going to use these as side dishes? And the napkins are just wonderful!!

Michelle